Top Superhero Movies Of The 2000s: A Year-By-Year Breakdown

The 2000s were the most crucial years for superhero movies. Although the 2010s saw even greater success for the genre, that growth was built on the foundation laid by the films of the previous decade. Both Marvel and DC launched major franchises, and a wave of original superhero movies helped define what the genre would become.

We’re used to seeing many superhero movies every year now, but that wasn’t always the case. In the 2000s, some years had very few, while others had two or three truly great ones. This created an interesting and diverse range of films within the genre.

2000 – Unbreakable

Touchstone Pictures

The 2000s began with a few popular superhero films. X-Men did very well in theaters and remains well-known, especially with those characters now appearing in Avengers: Doomsday. And Batman Beyond: Return of the Joker is a fantastic, but often overlooked, animated movie.

Forget the big-name superhero franchises like Marvel and DC – the best superhero movie of the year actually came from an up-and-coming director. M. Night Shyamalan, known for his success with The Sixth Sense, released Unbreakable, a unique take on the genre. It focuses more on the characters and their stories than on big action sequences.

The movie Unbreakable centers around David Dunn, played by Bruce Willis, who possesses incredible strength and can’t be harmed. He’s drawn into a complex relationship with Elijah Glass (Samuel L. Jackson), a man whose bones break easily. Their contrasting abilities create a fascinating narrative, and the film’s success led to surprise sequels many years later.

2001 – Spy Kids

Even though Unbreakable and X-Men did well, 2001 wasn’t a big year for superhero movies. A few films based on comics came out, including Ghost World, From Hell, and Josie and the Pussycats, but that was about it.

Okay, so if I had to pick the best superhero movie from 2001, it’s a bit of a surprise pick, honestly. It’s Spy Kids, directed by Robert Rodriguez. It’s a really fun, family-friendly film about these two kids who find out their parents are actually spies, and suddenly they’re thrown right into the middle of the adventure with them!

Unlike typical superhero films, Spy Kids wasn’t based on a comic book and didn’t involve people with superpowers. However, the characters still perform heroic acts, which felt significant in 2001. Ultimately, the movie launched a successful franchise with multiple sequels and related series.

2002 – Spider-Man

It’s tough to think of any movie from 2002 that could rival Spider-Man. The year didn’t have many superhero options anyway, with Blade II being the only other one that really made a splash.

Despite everything, Spider-Man remains a hugely significant film. It was a massive success when it came out, breaking box office records and paving the way for today’s popular superhero movies. Sam Raimi’s version of the character was groundbreaking and is still widely discussed.

Tobey Maguire and Willem Dafoe reprised their iconic roles as Peter Parker and the Green Goblin in the 2021 film Spider-Man: No Way Home. The movie was a critical and commercial success, earning Oscar nominations and significantly impacting the superhero genre. It’s considered just as important to the genre’s popularity as any other major film.

2003 – X2

Back in 2003, superhero movies weren’t as common as they are today, so there weren’t many released that year. The two biggest, Hulk and Daredevil, both received lukewarm reviews and weren’t very popular with audiences.

It’s no surprise that X2: X-Men United came in first. The movie built on the success of the original 2000 film, offering a larger scope, more assured performances from the cast, and overall improvements in almost every way.

The opening scene with Nightcrawler is still considered one of the most memorable in any superhero movie. Hugh Jackman delivers a strong performance as Wolverine with a particularly good story arc, and Brian Cox plays a truly detestable villain. For years, X2 was widely regarded as the best X-Men film, and it continues to be a fan favorite.

2004 – The Incredibles

While films like Hellboy and The Punisher are good, only two movies truly stand out as the best superhero film of 2004. Many consider Spider-Man 2 to be the high point for the genre, and it’s a strong contender for the top spot.

Pixar’s The Incredibles is a really wonderful film. Director Brad Bird created a movie that excels in every way – the animation is gorgeous, the action is thrilling, the characters are engaging, and it’s a genuinely heartwarming story. It’s no surprise it has a 97% rating on Rotten Tomatoes.

Released before many similar stories, The Incredibles told a compelling tale of a world where superheroes were forced into hiding due to public fear and legal issues. Its unique approach made it memorable, and it’s still considered one of Pixar’s greatest achievements and a fantastic superhero movie.

2005 – Batman Begins

In 2005, Marvel tried to launch another major movie franchise with Fantastic Four, but it received a mixed reaction from audiences. That year also saw the release of The Adventures of Shark Boy and Lavagirl and Constantine.

Ultimately, Batman Begins is a truly exceptional and influential superhero film. Christopher Nolan’s realistic and intense portrayal of Batman’s beginnings redefined the genre, inspiring many subsequent films to explore darker and more complex superhero stories.

Nolan’s Batman films are truly exceptional. The dark and realistic world perfectly suits the character, Christian Bale delivers a compelling performance as Bruce Wayne, and Liam Neeson and Cillian Murphy are both incredible as villains. The result is one of the greatest superhero movies of all time.

2006 – Teen Titans: Trouble In Tokyo

Even though superhero movies were becoming increasingly popular, 2006 wasn’t a great year for them. Marvel’s biggest film, X-Men: The Last Stand, didn’t live up to expectations, and DC’s Superman Returns also failed to impress audiences.

When choosing the best movie of the year, we’re highlighting Teen Titans: Trouble in Tokyo, which was originally made for television. This film continues the story of the popular Cartoon Network animated series and effectively serves as its final episode.

In the movie, the Teen Titans journey to Japan and find themselves fighting an old, powerful foe. “Teen Titans: Trouble in Tokyo” was generally liked by viewers, although some characters didn’t have much to do.

2007 – Spider-Man 3

2007 wasn’t a particularly strong year for superhero movies, possibly because filmmakers were already looking ahead to the bigger releases planned for 2008. Both Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer and Ghost Rider were released that year, but neither became a standout hit in the genre.

Most fans don’t look back on Spider-Man 3 with much fondness, but it still ended up being the best superhero movie of its year simply because the other options weren’t very strong. The first two Spider-Man films were huge hits, and the trailers for Spider-Man 3 initially created a lot of excitement, which contributed to its success at the time.

Spider-Man 3 attempts to cover a lot of ground, including Peter’s battle with the symbiote, the Sandman storyline, Harry’s transformation into the Green Goblin, the debut of Venom, and ongoing relationship issues with Mary Jane. Unfortunately, this leads to a cluttered and confusing film, despite some bright spots.

2008 – The Dark Knight

Many consider 2008 to be a turning point for superhero films. That year, Iron Man and The Incredible Hulk were released to positive reviews, effectively launching the massively successful Marvel Cinematic Universe. It also saw the release of well-received movies like Hellboy II: The Golden Army and Hancock.

As a huge movie fan, I always say The Dark Knight really changed things for superhero films. It wasn’t just another costumed hero story; it felt like a genuinely fantastic crime movie. It was a huge moment when it broke the billion-dollar mark at the box office, and even more incredible when it got nominated for Best Picture at the Oscars. It truly elevated the genre.

The Dark Knight received eight Academy Award nominations and won awards for Best Sound Editing and Best Supporting Actor. Heath Ledger’s performance as the Joker remains iconic, and Aaron Eckhart gave a memorable, yet often overlooked, performance as Harvey Dent, creating two truly compelling villainous characters.

2009 – Watchmen

Image via Warner Bros. Ent.

By the start of the 2010s, superhero movies were becoming incredibly popular. The next ten years would bring a record number of films in the genre. However, 2009 was a bit of a slow year, with only two big superhero releases, and one of them, X-Men Origins: Wolverine, wasn’t well-received.

Because of all this, Watchmen is easily the best superhero story of the year. It offered a fresh, often bleak, perspective, showing a team of heroes who ultimately fail.

The movie Watchmen takes place during the Cold War, in a world different from our own. It centers around a team of former superheroes who come together to solve the mystery of a fellow hero’s death. While it was initially praised, many now consider Watchmen to be even more impressive with the passage of time.

2026-01-14 18:02