Here are Cinephile Corner’s 10 recommendations for movies like Superman:
The Flash
The Flash doesn’t do the skeleton of the DCEU any favors. A cartoonish and goopy visual mess, the movie shows the worst of this expanded universe – cobbled together crossovers and derivative stakes.
Read our full review of The Flash
Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom
I rarely subscribe to the notion that a movie can be “so bad that it’s good,” but there’s a rhythm to Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom that occasionally worked for me. I acknowledge so many of the aspects that cause it to fall short, but in an era of superhero movies (particularly DC superhero movies) that are content with being unadventurous, at least The Lost Kingdom finds some glossy, overly indulgent ways to be weird. It has the usual James Wan touch.
Read our full review of Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom
Fantastic Four
Fantastic Four arrived during a transitional era for superhero movies—after Sam Raimi’s first two Spider-Man movies but before Iron Man—and in hindsight, it embodies the worst instincts of that in-between phase. Directed by Tim Story, this early attempt to bring Marvel’s first family to the big screen is less a celebration of its source material than a clunky adaptation that coasts on name recognition and outdated visual effects. With The Fantastic Four: First Steps about to join the Marvel Cinematic Universe next month, revisiting this original version only underscores how low the bar really is for improvement.
Read our full review of Fantastic Four
Guardians of the Galaxy
As if Marvel couldn’t improve on the foundation they’d already built for themselves, they brought James Gunn on to make a surprisingly energetic, original hit with Guardians of the Galaxy that would infuse new juice into everything Marvel did after the fact. Chris Pratt, Zoe Saldaña, Dave Bautista, and others helped bring in a new order to the MCU.
Read our full review of Guardians of the Galaxy
Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3
Remember feeling overwhelmed and fulfilled leaving a Marvel movie? Neither did I, until I saw James Gunn’s Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 – an emotional gut punch and a perfect swan song to this set of weirdos. The first must-see Marvel film in a while.
Read our full review of Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3
The Batman
The Batman is a complete reimagining of superhero genre tropes. A moody noir piece backed by a haunting score and Robert Pattinson as the caped crusader, Matt Reeves’ 2022 blockbuster rewrites what’s possible for these genre films.
Read our full review of The Batman
Incredibles 2
Incredibles 2 is about as action packed, well-conceived, and carefully executed as sequels can get in the superhero (and animated) genre. Brad Bird and Pixar Studios manage to inject new life into a world we haven’t visited in well over a decade.
Read our full review of Incredibles 2
Deadpool & Wolverine
The Marvel Cinematic Universe has faced challenges since its peak with Avengers: Endgame in 2019. Public interest has waned, and while Marvel continues striving to recapture that magic, it often comes at the expense of patience and character development. This trend is evident in Deadpool & Wolverine, which prioritizes cameos, quick laugh lines, and flashy action sequences over meaningful storytelling or fully realized characters.
Read our full review of Deadpool & Wolverine
Shazam! Fury of the Gods
After successfully delivering a grounded superhero movie in 2019, Shazam! Fury of the Gods aims for new heights, losing it’s own magic in the process. A film filled with generic villains and poor CGI work, Fury of the Gods leaves a lot to be desired.
Read our full review of Shazam! Fury of the Gods
Thunderbolts*
Thunderbolts* may not feature the most iconic names in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, but it finds unexpected strength in its emotional core and character-driven storytelling. Directed by Jake Schreier, making his MCU debut after co-directing the acclaimed series Beef, Thunderbolts* brings together a group of misfit characters from previous MCU movies and television series like Black Widow, The Falcon and the Winter Soldier, and Ant-Man and the Wasp to form a surprisingly effective and introspective superhero team-up.