In ascending order, these are the 54 best superhero movies of all time, ranked.
Best superhero movies of all time
54. Batman Forever (1995)
Before excessive silver bat-nipples and other bloat took this franchise into the sewer (and off theater screens for nearly a decade), Joel Schumacher’s original bat-vision was flashy, schlocky disposable fun. This version of Two-Face (Tommy Lee Jones) is more cartoony than the take of the terrific Batman animated show that was nearing the end of its run at the time. Jim Carrey as Riddler is great, campy on a grand scale. Don’t think about it too hard, but Batman Forever is a slickly produced, flashy two-hour diversion.
53. Captain Marvel (2019)
Sandwiched between two of the biggest blockbusters in film history—and in the wake of the zeitgeist-ruling near-perfection of Wonder Woman, this should have been a knockout. Instead, the introduction of Marvel’s “most powerful” is alternately cheesy fun, then surprisingly solemn and wan. It feels like a film from the 90s, and not just because it’s set then. Some strong performances go a long way to elevate a movie that should have committed to being cornier or edgier.
52. Kick-Ass (2010)
Released in the nascence of the MCU, Matthew Vaughn’s British-American co-production (adapting Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Chloë Grace Moretz and Nicolas Cage star in the gory, profanity-filled big-screen take on Mark Millar’s young vigilante. It’s juvenile in the extreme, and a lot of the shock value has worn off (a small girl says swear words OMG), but this is a minor touchstone for the genre nonetheless.
51. Wonder Woman 1984 (2020)
As in the first film, one of the strongest elements is the chemistry between Diana and Chris Pine‘s Steve Trevor. Here, the dashing pilot is Diana’s link to humanity, the race she continues to fight for even as she sometimes struggles to understand our nature. The plotting wobbles, sure, but the four lead performances are first-rate. Jenkins channels Lester and Donner with warmth, optimism and even outright silliness that a lot of audience members crave in challenging times. WW84 is a pleasurable, worthy successor; we’re already looking forward to part three.
50. Spider-Man: Far From Home (2019)
Holland is always aces as the web-slinger–the best Peter Parker ever, in fact, but Far From Home falls short of a home run. It isn’t really a spoiler to say a plot twist around the halfway mark provides an opportunity for some genuine surrealism and inventive, fresh action sequences. And Jake Gyllenhaal is characteristically tremendous and malleable as Mysterio. This is the stuff that really works. However, supporting characters we loved in Homecoming are sidelined with uninteresting, halfhearted subplots. The script leans heavily on a romance that doesn’t work like the Raimi trilogy, and the most exciting plot element is introduced after the end credits. Far From Home is good summer fun, but it doesn’t match the soaring heights of Spidey at his best.
49. Watchmen (2009)
It’s no match for HBO’s brilliant series with Regina King, but when Zack Snyder’s epic adaptation of Alan Moore’s revered book works, it really works. Mesmerizing visuals and strong characterizations go a long way to redeem a script that doesn’t always balance its complex themes and tone, a movie that feels more hollow than it should.
48. Captain America: The First Avenger (2011)
In an age where fourth-wall breaking and snarkiness are en vogue there’s something refreshing about a yarn that’s this old-fashioned, crafted this handsomely. The First Avenger saw square-jawed Chris Evans—on the brink of superstardom—cast to perfection, bringing just the right amount of earnestness to a role that had come off as campy in films from decades past.
47. Aquaman (2018)
Aquaman is dumb on an epic scale. Inventive James Wan direction, eye-popping 3D water effects and a sly, million-watt Jason Momoa up the entertainment value—though the romance never really works. Not adjusting for inflation, this is the highest-earning DC Comics movie of all time, an international smash.
46. Big Hero 6 (2014)
Disney bought Marvel in 2009; five years later, Big Hero 6 (loosely based on a Marvel comic of the same name) became the first Disney animated movie to feature Marvel characters. The 3D-animated blend of action and comedy—about a lovable robot and team of heroes facing a masked villain—won the Academy Award for Best Animated Feature.
45. The Crow (1994)
The tragic 0n-set shooting death of rising star Brandon Lee overshadowed the release of Alex Proyas’ dark thriller, where Lee plays a resurrected, vengeful vigilante. The stunning vision of a dangerous cityscape evokes Batman and Blade Runner—only way scarier. The Crow was a critical and commercial success, became a cult favorite, and led to several sequels.
44. Deadpool (2016)
Following the crushing disappointment of the Merc with a Mouth’s first screen appearance in Origins, the passion of Ryan Reynolds and the power of “prosumer” fans made pop-culture history. Deadpool‘s solo picture, a gory and raunchy action-comedy, delivered… and even had fun at the expense of past movies’ shortcomings. Many had long doubted an R-Rated superhero blockbuster could turn a profit. Deadpool grossed over $783 million against a modest $58 million budget. With a net profit of over $322 million, this was 2016’s second most profitable film, behind The Secret Life of Pets.
43. Hancock (2008)
Peter Berg’s unusual comedy-drama originated from a script—about an alcoholic superhero with a poor public image—that floated around Hollywood unproduced for over a decade. A weirdly satisfying black sheep of the genre (script-doctored by Breaking Bad’s Vince Gilligan) benefits greatly from three superb central performances from Will Smith, Charlize Theron and Jason Bateman.
42. Iron Man 3 (2013)
The Marvel movies, largely, follow a formula. Shane Black’s sequel to Iron Man 2 caught some flack from fans for going too far into left field. Critics mostly liked the wit, and a major plot twist. Terrific action set pieces also help to compensate for scenes set in “Tennessee” that are wildly inaccurate to the actual Tennessee.
41. X-Men: First Class (2011)
After Origins failed to take off, the X-Men went back to basics for a prequel set during the Cuban Missile Crisis. First Class boasts several strong performances and well-drawn characters. Particularly of note are MichelFassbender, James McAvoy and Jennifer Lawrence, whose Raven/Mystique is a more three-dimensional conflicted antihero than in previous films. First Class arrived one year after Winter’s Bone garnered Lawrence her first Oscar nod, a year before The Hunger Games and Silver Linings Playbook cemented her as the hottest film star on the planet.
40. The Suicide Squad (2021)
Critically maligned though financially successful, 2016’s Suicide Squad is so stitched together and conflicted it hardly qualifies as a movie, much less a good one. James Gunn’s irreverent, R-rated take on the rag-tag antiheroes is better (though, so is a trip to the dentist), thanks to a refreshingly rebellious spirit, excellent ensemble performances, and moments of genuine surprise and shock. It’s fun.
39. Batman: Mask of the Phantasm (1993)
Stronger than any of the live-action Batman films of the 90s that followed it, this moody neo-noir sees The Animated Series’ Bruce Wayne investigate a sinister imitator… and fall in love. There’s a case to be made for Mark Hamill being the all-time best Joker.
38. The Rocketeer (1991)
Anyone who saw this underrated live-action Disney adventure knew Joe Johnston was the perfect pick to helm a Captain America film. Like The First Avenger, the Rocketeer is a World War II-era adventure that takes itself just seriously enough in homaging serials of the past. Fresh off a short tw0-picture run as 007, Timothy Dalton mostly steals the show as a showy villain based in Old Hollywood myth.
37. Doctor Strange (2016)
Awe-inspiring, idiosyncratic visual effects and a compelling lead enhance an origin story that’s otherwise pretty paint-by-numbers. An impressive, offbeat performance from BenedictCumberbatch—as a cynical surgeon who becomes a mighty sorcerer—explores the dark side of intelligence in a way that’s not too heavy or uncomfortable for the multiplex crowd.
36. The Mask (1994)
The year was 1994. Jim Carrey’s star was on the rise (he’d soon become the first actor ever to be paid $20 million for one film), and three of his biggest, most iconic hits were released: Ace Ventura: Pet Detective, Dumb and Dumber and The Mask. In the Dark Horse Comics adaptation, Carrey played an everyman who takes on the mob thanks to some magic.
35. Blade II (2002)
A decade and a half before he swept the Academy Awards with The Shape of Water, Guillermo del Toro brought vivid artistic flourishes to the Blade franchise’s best entry. Roger Ebert was highly positive in his review, saying, “Blade II is a really rather brilliant vomitorium of viscera, a comic book with dreams of becoming a textbook for mad surgeons.”
34. Hellboy (2004)
The young-at-heart imagination and skillful artistry of Oscar winner Guillermo del Toro is vibrant and intoxicating in this early success, showcasing a gleeful central performance by Ron Perlman. Hellboy was followed by a sequel that was just as good if not better, Hellboy II: The Golden Army. Due to complicated behind-the-scenes stuff, what was intended to be a trilogy sadly never got its part three. A Hellboy reboot, without the joy and wonder, came and went in 2019. The less said about it, the better.
33. Spider-Man: Homecoming (2017)
As entertainment, Spider-Man: Homecoming is a blast. As a love letter to this character and his fans, it’s even better. Nimble and vivacious Holland is perfect, and he’s backed by a uniformly excellent and high-energy supporting cast. The funniest film in this series, Homecoming throws jokes at you non-stop and dares you to keep up.. Co-writer and director Jon Watts—who had previously only directed low-budget thrillers Clown (2014) and Cop Car (2015), as well as episodes of the satiric Onion News Network—made a remarkably successful transition into mega-budgeted blockbuster entertainment.
32. The Dark Knight Rises (2012)
Christopher Nolan’s third and final Caped Crusader mega-blockbuster has some plot holes you could drive a Tumbler through, frustrating audio mixing, an overstuffed plot, and it simply doesn’t reach the soaring heights of its immediate predecessors. That said, it’s the most wildly entertaining of the series: stunning IMAX action scenes and death-defying stuntwork make nearly three hours fly by. Anne Hathaway all but steals the show with a freshly slinky, unpredictable take on Catwoman. There isn’t a dull moment here.
31. Darkman (1990)
Liam Neeson and Frances McDormand star in Sam Raimi’s original story—created after the Evil Dead helmer couldn’t procure the rights to Batman or The Shadow. Neeson plays a scientist-turned-crimefighter with super-abilities and fits of insanity. Two direct-to-video sequels followed.
30. Thor: Ragnarok (2017)
After two Thor entries that had their moments but were far from fan-favorites, Ragnarok was critical for Marvel, proving the franchise could pull off what is practically a pure comedy. This was also a critical moment for Chris Hemsworth, whose comic chops were struck like gold. It’s hard to believe that he was something of an unknown as recently as the first picture’s 2011 release.
29. Zack Snyder’s Justice League (2021)
To be very clear: this isn’t to be mistaken with 2017’s theatrical Franken-movie Justice League, an infamous case of too many cooks that frankly amounted to one of the worst blockbusters of all time. After years of fan campaigning and rumor, Warner Bros. released director Zack Snyder’s scrapped vision to HBO Max and limited theaters. It was a pandemic-era sensation. The title Zack Snyder’s Justice League represents truth in advertising; gone are the quips about brunch, back is the religious symbolism and stentorian, bravura presentation. Frankly, it’s refreshing. The film feels more confident, unapologetic even. With a four-hours-plus runtime it plays like a miniseries. It’s mostly a triumph.
28. Captain America: Civil War (2016)
Thematically mature with kid-like enthusiasm where it counts, as much a third Avengers film as it is a third Captain America film, Anthony and Joe Russo’s summer blockbuster saw the Avengers team separated into two opposing sides. Highlights include the (universally-hailed) first appearance of Holland as Spider-Man, and a prolonged tarmac action sequence that had audiences laughing and cheering all over the world. This is the highest-grossing film of 2016.
27. Robocop (1987)
Paul Verhoeven’s bold, uncompromising masterpiece works best as a satire—and it succeeds handsomely as a distinct superhero action thriller. Most superhero movies are adapted from comics; this one went the other way ‘round. A Marvel comic first ran in 1990. Starring Peter Weller and Nancy Allen, Robocop was originally so violent it got slapped with an X-rating (this is the cut now available on streaming and home video). The watered-down PG-13 remake completely missed the point.
26. Shang-Chi and the Legend of theTen Rings (2021)
Long-delayed Black Widow underwhelmed with an uneasy blend of strong performances and character work—and loud, bland, weightlessly bombastic action sequences. Shang-Chi brought the MCU back full blast. Destin Daniel Cretton seamlessly leaps from small-scale dramatic work (Short Term 12 and Just Mercy) to a heartfelt martial-arts epic. The second half gives way to some CGI schlock (oh-so-common in this genre), but it’s a rousing crowd-pleaser overall.
25. Joker (2019)
Nothing super or heroic happens in Joker, and yet it’s one of the most influential films of the genre’s history. Sure, 2019 gave us the highest-grossing movie ever (Avengers: Endgame), but nothing struck a nerve in the zeitgeist quite like Todd Phillips‘s insanely profitable, divisive DC origin story (the top-earning R-rated movie in history). Joker doesn’t go deep enough to be the kind of genre-defining masterpiece some have proclaimed, but it’s a gripping, immersive period pic that should raise serious questions about mental health. Joaquin Phoenix won a Best Actor Oscar for his tortured take on the Clown Prince of Crime, and Joker became the second comic-book film (after Black Panther) to receive a nomination for Best Picture.
24. Shazam! (2019)
There are so many superhero movies out there right now. So what makes Shazam! stand head-and-shoulders above most of them? For one, it’s the enormous heart it wears on its sleeve. David F.Sandberg‘s critically-acclaimed addition to the DCEU is all about the importance of family, even the family you make. And then there’s the relentlessly irreverent humor. It’s like 14-year-old boys actually wrote the script, in the best possible way. There’s exciting action and even some red-blooded horror here, too. Shazam! is a winning delight.
23. Superman II (1981)
Fighting between filmmakers, producers and studio heads famously toxified the original Superman films behind the scenes; much of part two was shot simultaneously with the first one, before Richard Donner was unceremoniously ousted. There are two cuts of Superman II, the theatrical cut and the “Richard Donner Cut.” Neither are as great as the original; both rank among the best of the genre. The theatrical cut has too much slapstick; the Donner cut lacks polish. Seek them both out on streaming and home video, and decide for yourself. The third and fourth Superman films were, simply, awful. It’s a shame that clashing egos destroyed this series, especially considering the potential shown out of the gate.
22. Unbreakable (2000)
The first entry of M. Night Shyamalan’s Eastrail 177 Trilogy stars Bruce Willis as a civilian who’s the sole survivor of a deadly train crash. It’s an uncommonly mature examination of themes central to these stories. Initially failing to capture the public imagination like previous year’s The Sixth Sense, Unbreakable steadily developed a serious following—many fans think it’s Shyamalan’s best.
21. Logan (2017)
It was a creative risk to shape Hugh Jackman’s farewell as Wolverine into a patiently-paced, graphically violent and blood-soaked American Western. The risk paid off, and this emotion-rich adventure has even been hailed by some critics as the genre’s high-water mark. The dour tone sometimes hammers, at odds with the material, but it’s a thoughtful story, and it finishes Wolverine’s arc more completely than perhaps fans could have even hoped for. This is the first superhero film nominated for a screenwriting Oscar.
20. Batman Returns (1992)
One of the best films in the Batman series and likely the most underrated, Batman Returns is a vivid and wondrous marvel of production design and world-building. Tim Burton and his technical team took everything that made 1989’s Batman stand out to the next level, and this is the most ravishing, distinct vision of Gotham City ever. Batman Returns was a box office disappointment following its predecessor’s astronomical haul, and much of this certainly has to do with the film being marketed at families and very young children, including a now-notorious McDonald’s Happy Meal toy tie-in that sparked outrage. Here’s a tip: don’t show Batman Returns to small children. Its graphic violence and relentless dark tone are enough to alarm most grown-ups. There’s so much to love here though, including Michelle Pfeiffer‘s captivating Catwoman, Danny DeVito‘s pitiful and grotesque Penguin, and Michael Keaton‘s masterfully manic-depressive take on Bruce Wayne.
19. X-Men (2000)
Before Spider-Man broke records, and before Batman Begins atoned for the sins of Batman and Robin, the original X-Men was a relatively low-key win for comic-book heroes on-screen. From an opening set in Auschwitz that straddles the line of good taste to some effective gross-out bits, there’s a confident strangeness to the X-Men’s first outing that makes it stand out to this day. Most important here is the attention to sympathetic characters. A last-minute choice to play Wolverine (several weeks into shooting), 6’2″ handsome Aussie Jackman wasn’t the short furball of the comics, but his take on the character became instantly iconic, and this movie made him a star.
18. Spider-Man (2002)
Sam Raimi‘s original blockbuster is more than just wonderful entertainment with great characters and inspired, spirited storytelling; it’s just the movie we needed in the spring of 2002. Following the devastation of 9/11, America, Peter Parker’s hometown especially, was in need of bold optimism and a cinematic hero to look up to. Prior to the release of Spider–Man, no film in history had crossed a $100 million North American opening weekend. When Raimi’s film opened to $114.8 million, it sent shockwaves through the entertainment industry, and executives scrambled to green-light as many superhero films as they could. It holds up reasonably well 15 years later, thanks to great performances and a character-driven script by David Koepp (Jurassic Park). One of the biggest reasons for this trilogy’s record-setting box office success is the romance between Peter Parker (Tobey Maguire) and Mary Jane Watson (KirstenDunst). If anything, the film works best when Spidey is out of costume. In 2002, the visual effects lacked polish, and the action sequences left something to be desired.
17.Batman (1989)
Lavish, cerebral—also creepy and morbid in a way few blockbusters aspire to be, Burton’s original is a watershed moment for superhero cinema. Top-billed Jack Nicholson’s Joker (he was always the studio’s top pick for the part) is iconic—and thanks to a back-end deal. it’s estimated the actor received between a $50 and $90 million payday. It won one Oscar, for its German Expressionism-inspired vision of Gotham.
16. X2: X-Men United (2003)
This is a textbook example of a blockbuster sequel properly utilizing more resources and a bigger budget to tell a richer, better story. X2 amplifies the social themes as frenemies Charles Xavier (Patrick Stewart) and Magneto (Ian McKellen) join forces in a struggle against anti-mutant zealot William Stryker (Brian Cox). The lived-in chemistry between real-life besties McKellen and Stewart was invaluable in making these first installments work, giving them heart. X2 was a test run for the MCU—juggling a lot of characters, their motivations and secrets—with precision. There’s also some seriously badass action scenes, like an attack on the Oval Office, and a plane chase that will raise your pulse. It all holds up as smashing entertainment.
15. Batman Begins (2005)
Taking the outlandishness down considerably following the circus of Batman & Robin in favor of a streamlined story and action with weight, Nolan’s crime thriller/superhero hybrid inspired legions of gritty franchise reboots. Some worked (like Casino Royale), others did not (remember Robin Hood from 2010?).
14. X-Men: Days of Future Past (2014)
Emotionally gripping, densely-plotted yet light on its feet and entertaining, Days of Future Past gets pretty much everything right. Thanks to the added element of time travel, this is the moment fans could bask in the charms of both X-Men casts, with many characters played by two actors. Newcomer Evan Peters became a fan-favorite as Quicksilver, and the how-did-they-film-that? sequence where he springs Magneto from the Pentagon is the key reason this became the first X-Men movie nominated for an Oscar, for its visual effects.
13. The Incredibles (2004)
The only good Fantastic Four movie further established Brad Bird as a new master of animation. The Incredibles is stylish, retro and breathlessly dynamic—among other things, it’s a modern action classic with more heart-stopping moments than most R-rated explosion fests. It was followed by a lucrative 2018 sequel that was entertaining but rushed, lacking the uncommonly slow burn, character-driven buildup that made the original so memorable.
12. Avengers: Infinity War (2018)
Kevin Feige and the MCU filmmakers were so organized and focused that the series arguably works even better as a whole than as the sum of its parts. There are uniformly excellent performances here—the best are from Zoe Saldana and Josh Brolin, who give the MCU’s richest plot thread a weight that at times feels downright Shakespearian. The battle of Wakanda near the end is a lot of fun, too.
11. Captain America: The Winter Soldier (2014)
A sophisticated leap for the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Captain America: The Winter Soldier tells the story of a superhuman World War II veteran who is thawed from suspended animation into the modern world. Evans is so good in these movies, and Steve Rogers’ struggle to make sense of how his country and society at large have evolved, for better or worse, makes for enthralling drama. It’s like a spy thriller of a bygone era, only with superheroes.
Top 10 superhero movies of all time
10. Guardians of the Galaxy (2014)
James Gunn brought an irresistible blend of pathos and merciless irreverence to the sci-fi action/comedy that made Chris Pratt a household name. A lesser-known Marvel strip became one of the must-see movies of 2014. The 2017 sequel recaptured the magic to an extent, but the non-stop humor became too much of a good thing.
9. Marvel’s The Avengers (2012)
Joss Whedon’s snappy, innovative and grand mega-teamup shattered international opening weekend box-office records, cementing superhero films as the most fashionable genre on Earth. A few years later, DCEU brazenly tried to replicate Avengers’ success, without putting in the work. The movie went splat.
8. Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse (2018)
A funny and heartfelt work of dizzying invention, Into the Spider-Verse is Spidey’s first entirely animated theatrical outing. With a texture like a living painting, Spider-Verse is one of the most idiosyncratic, confidently original works of art to hit the multiplexes–from any genre–in years, Spidey’s critically acclaimed spin through the multiverse opened up this character’s already formidable big-screen legacy to limitless possibilities. It won the Academy Award for Best Animated Feature.
7.Superman: The Movie (1978)
If it’s a little cheesy or slow-paced by today’s standards (and to many it is), it’s easy to appreciate the sincerity and optimism of Donner’s blockbuster classic, and its indispensable place in film history. No other film on this list would exist without Donner’s ambitious original; this is the moment a genre perceived to be B-grade went legit. The special effects (the poster famously promised “You’ll believe a man can fly”) still impress with the kind of personality it’s harder to find in CGI. And Christopher Reeve is perfect. We believe his Clark Kent can be anonymous in Metropolis because of his personality and presentation.
6. Iron Man (2008)
Iron Man is enthralling popcorn entertainment with something to offer just about everyone in the audience. Robert Downey Jr.’s unexpected performance, more of an assimilation with, Tony Stark—brilliant, self-deprecating, melancholic, witty and lonely—propelled one of Marvel’s second-tier heroes to the top. Iron Man was the center of the MCU’s decade-spanning original saga.
5. Wonder Woman (2017)
Following a string of DCEU duds, we were all hoping this would be fun and entertaining, and then director Patty Jenkins gave us one of the most stirring and dramatically satisfying adventure films of the past decade, a film that puts story and character first at nearly every turn. Breakout superstar Gal Gadot’s wide-eyed, earnestly empathetic, screen-commanding performance is worthy of comparison to Christopher Reeve. Wonder Woman captured the imagination of the public like no other film in 2017. Jenkins fought for the No Man’s Land set piece; no other sequence better defines this genre. How many action pictures are sophisticated enough to show us a woman’s inner triumph with visual effects? When was the last time a superhero movie made you cry?
4. Avengers: Endgame (2019)
Following the relative meh of Captain Marvel, the final installment of Marvel’s “Infinity Saga” is so good, so complete and satisfying, it makes Infinity War retroactively even better. Combined, they’re a landmark moment for not just the superhero genre, but popcorn entertainment at large. It’s not a spoiler to say that the final shot of Endgame was a big creative risk. It paid off, big time. Who knew a movie this huge could feel so intimate?
3. Spider Man 2 (2004)
Alvin Sargent, the two-time Academy Award-winning screenwriter of World War II drama Julia (1977) and Robert Redford‘s Ordinary People (1980), might have seemed an unusual choice at the time to pen a Spidey screenplay, but the result is a masterpiece of character-building—as well as film craft. Earnest, imperfect Peter Parker’s personal life becomes relatably complicated as he meets his match in Doc Ock (Alfred Molina as the most soulful of supervillains). Raimi glides between heart-stopping romance, corniness in the name of fun, messy coming-of-age drama—and even some scares, with an invisible touch. Focused and captivating, Spider-Man 2 is a story about growing up, making tough choices that define our lives. It’s about the fact that life will never look perfect; we’re all just supposed to do our best. The film masters, crystallizes universal themes with resonance a lot of prestige dramas can’t muster. This is high drama in spandex. This is escapist Hollywood filmmaking at its finest.
2. Black Panther (2018)
The memory of late Chadwick Bosemanlives on in one of the most popular action blockbusters of all time. Black Panther transcended its genre at a moment when it was most needed. It is a cultural landmark, and it’s hard to remember the last time a blockbuster of this scale had such a striking, singular sense of visual identity. This is the one that broke the ceiling; Black Panther is the first superhero film nominated for a Best Picture Academy Award. It’s also the first comic-book film to win Best Ensemble at the SAG Awards.
1. The Dark Knight (2008)
Best known for a towering Heath Ledger performance that gave the film an air of myth months before it was released, Nolan’s aggressive expansion of the Batman saga was one of the most thrilling crime sagas since Heat, critically revered as it became the fourth film to gross $1 billion worldwide, forever altering the way audiences and movie studios would look at the superhero film. The Dark Knight’s head-scratching exclusion from the Best Picture race was a key factor in a major rule changeup the following year. It’s perfectly possible this is the most influential movie of the century so far. Next, check out the 100 best movies of all time, ranked.
