After running this site for a few years where I have been trying to seek out, watch, and review every superhero and comic book movie that I can find, I decided that I wanted to make a definitive list of superhero movies that captured the essence of the range of superhero movies. Going through the decades and choosing the most influential, the biggest disasters, and simply the best superhero movies out there I hope to try and capture what I like to call the 100 Essential Superhero Movies. If you are a fan of superhero movies at all, these are the first ones that you should seek out. Not all of them are great, but when studying history it pays to not just look at the successes, but to also look at the failures. Also, as this list is being made in 2014, only includes movies made through 2013.

Superman Movies # 1 – 8

Marvel Cinematic Universe # 9 – 15

Comedies # 16 – 24

Batman Movies # 25 – 38

Early Marvel # 39 – 46

Animation #47 – 56

Original Heroes #57 – 65

Borrowed Marvel #66 – 72

Indie Comics #73 – 84

100 Essential Superhero Movies by Release Date

1. The Superman Animated Shorts 1941-1943
2. Superman and the Mole Men 1951
3. Batman: The Movie 1966
4. The Wild World of Batwoman 1966
5. Mr. Freedom 1969
6. Super Infra-Man 1975
7. Superman: The Movie 1978
8. Superman II (The Richard Donner Cut) 1980
9. Flash Gordon 1980
10. Swamp Thing 1982
11. Return of Captain Invincible 1983
12. Superman III 1983
13. Supergirl 1984
14. The Toxic Avenger 1984
15. Howard the Duck 1986
16. Robocop 1987
17. The Punisher 1989
18. Batman 1989
19. Return of the Swamp Thing 1989
20. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles 1990
21. Darkman 1990
22. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles II: Secret of the Ooze 1991
23. The Rocketeer 1991
24. Batman Returns 1992
25. Batman: Mask of the Phantasm 1993
26. The Meteor Man 1993
27. Fantastic Four 1994
28. The Shadow 1994
29. The Mask 1994
30. The Crow 1994
31. Tank Girl 1995
32. Batman Forever 1995
33. Men in Black 1997
34. Batman & Robin 1997
35. Orgazmo 1997
36. Spawn 1997
37. Nick Fury: Agent of S.H.I.E.L.D. 1998
38. Blade 1998
39. The Iron Giant 1999
40. Mystery Men 1999
41. X-Men 2000
42. Unbreakable 2000
43. Blade 2 2002
44. Spider-man 2002
45. X2: X-Men United 2003
46. Hulk 2003
47. Daredevil 2003
48. Catwoman 2004
49. Hellboy 2004
50. The Incredibles 2004
51. Spider-man 2 2004
52. The Punisher 2004
53. Constantine 2005
54. Sky High 2005
55. Batman Begins 2005
56. Fantastic Four 2005
57. Superman Returns 2006
58. TMNT 2006
59. Ultimate Avengers 2006
60. Hellboy: Blood + Iron 2007
61. Doctor Strange 2007
62. Ghost Rider 2007
63. Superman: Doomsday 2007
64. The Incredible Hulk 2008
65. The Dark Knight 2008
66. Iron Man 2008
67. Hellboy II: The Golden Army 2008
68. Hancock 2008
69. Batman: Gotham Knight 2008
70. Dr. Horrible’s Sing Along Blog 2008
71. Green Lantern: First Flight 2009
72. Watchmen 2009
73. Wonder Woman 2009
74. Defendor 2009
75. Batman: Under the Red Hood 2010
76. Megamind 2010
77. Super 2010
78. Iron Man 2 2010
79. Kick-Ass 2010
80. Planet Hulk 2010
81. Gantz 2010
82. Green Lantern 2011
83. X-Men: First Class 2011
84. Captain America: The First Avenger 2011
85. Thor 2011
86. All Superheroes Must Die 2011
87. Chronicle 2012
88. The Avengers 2012
89. The Amazing Spider-Man 2012
90. The Dark Knight Rises 2012
91. Dredd 2012
92. Justice League: Doom 2012
93. The Dark Knight Returns Part 1 & Part 2 2013
94. Thor: The Dark World 2013
95. Legends of the Knight 2013
96. Iron Man 3 2013
97. Justice League: The Flashpoint Paradox 2013
98. The Wolverine 2013
99. Lego Batman: DC Heroes Unite 2013
100. Man of Steel 2013