Biggest Comic Book Super Heroes of All Time

by xzivor | created - 26 May 2011 | updated - 09 Sep 2012 | Public
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1. The Avengers (2012)

PG-13 | 143 min | Action, Sci-Fi

69 Metascore

Earth's mightiest heroes must come together and learn to fight as a team if they are going to stop the mischievous Loki and his alien army from enslaving humanity.

Director: Joss Whedon | Stars: Robert Downey Jr., Chris Evans, Scarlett Johansson, Jeremy Renner

Votes: 1,459,706 | Gross: $623.28M

2. The Dark Knight Rises (2012)

PG-13 | 164 min | Action, Drama, Thriller

78 Metascore

Eight years after the Joker's reign of chaos, Batman is coerced out of exile with the assistance of the mysterious Selina Kyle in order to defend Gotham City from the vicious guerrilla terrorist Bane.

Director: Christopher Nolan | Stars: Christian Bale, Tom Hardy, Anne Hathaway, Gary Oldman

Votes: 1,828,035 | Gross: $448.14M

3. The Dark Knight (2008)

PG-13 | 152 min | Action, Crime, Drama

84 Metascore

When the menace known as the Joker wreaks havoc and chaos on the people of Gotham, Batman must accept one of the greatest psychological and physical tests of his ability to fight injustice.

Director: Christopher Nolan | Stars: Christian Bale, Heath Ledger, Aaron Eckhart, Michael Caine

Votes: 2,871,767 | Gross: $534.86M

4. Spider-Man 3 (2007)

PG-13 | 139 min | Action, Adventure, Sci-Fi

59 Metascore

A strange black entity from another world bonds with Peter Parker and causes inner turmoil as he contends with new villains, temptations, and revenge.

Director: Sam Raimi | Stars: Tobey Maguire, Kirsten Dunst, Topher Grace, Thomas Haden Church

Votes: 637,845 | Gross: $336.53M

5. Spider-Man (2002)

PG-13 | 121 min | Action, Adventure, Sci-Fi

73 Metascore

After being bitten by a genetically-modified spider, a shy teenager gains spider-like abilities that he uses to fight injustice as a masked superhero and face a vengeful enemy.

Director: Sam Raimi | Stars: Tobey Maguire, Kirsten Dunst, Willem Dafoe, James Franco

Votes: 880,123 | Gross: $403.71M

6. Spider-Man 2 (2004)

PG-13 | 127 min | Action, Adventure, Sci-Fi

83 Metascore

Peter Parker is beset with troubles in his failing personal life as he battles a former brilliant scientist named Otto Octavius.

Director: Sam Raimi | Stars: Tobey Maguire, Kirsten Dunst, Alfred Molina, James Franco

Votes: 708,966 | Gross: $373.59M

7. Iron Man 2 (2010)

PG-13 | 124 min | Action, Sci-Fi

57 Metascore

With the world now aware of his identity as Iron Man, Tony Stark must contend with both his declining health and a vengeful mad man with ties to his father's legacy.

Director: Jon Favreau | Stars: Robert Downey Jr., Mickey Rourke, Gwyneth Paltrow, Don Cheadle

Votes: 868,782 | Gross: $312.43M

8. The Amazing Spider-Man (2012)

PG-13 | 136 min | Action, Adventure, Sci-Fi

66 Metascore

After Peter Parker is bitten by a genetically altered spider, he gains newfound, spider-like powers and ventures out to save the city from the machinations of a mysterious reptilian foe.

Director: Marc Webb | Stars: Andrew Garfield, Emma Stone, Rhys Ifans, Irrfan Khan

Votes: 702,560 | Gross: $262.03M

9. Iron Man (2008)

PG-13 | 126 min | Action, Adventure, Sci-Fi

79 Metascore

After being held captive in an Afghan cave, billionaire engineer Tony Stark creates a unique weaponized suit of armor to fight evil.

Director: Jon Favreau | Stars: Robert Downey Jr., Gwyneth Paltrow, Terrence Howard, Jeff Bridges

Votes: 1,125,218 | Gross: $318.41M

10. X-Men: The Last Stand (2006)

PG-13 | 104 min | Action, Adventure, Sci-Fi

58 Metascore

The human government develops a cure for mutations, and Jean Grey becomes a darker uncontrollable persona called the Phoenix who allies with Magneto, causing escalation into an all-out battle for the X-Men.

Director: Brett Ratner | Stars: Patrick Stewart, Hugh Jackman, Halle Berry, Famke Janssen

Votes: 540,901 | Gross: $234.36M

11. Thor (2011)

PG-13 | 115 min | Action, Fantasy

57 Metascore

The powerful but arrogant god Thor is cast out of Asgard to live amongst humans in Midgard (Earth), where he soon becomes one of their finest defenders.

Director: Kenneth Branagh | Stars: Chris Hemsworth, Anthony Hopkins, Natalie Portman, Tom Hiddleston

Votes: 900,444 | Gross: $181.03M

12. Batman (1989)

PG-13 | 126 min | Action, Adventure

69 Metascore

The Dark Knight of Gotham City begins his war on crime with his first major enemy being Jack Napier, a criminal who becomes the clownishly homicidal Joker.

Director: Tim Burton | Stars: Michael Keaton, Jack Nicholson, Kim Basinger, Robert Wuhl

Votes: 404,368 | Gross: $251.19M

13. X2 (2003)

PG-13 | 134 min | Action, Sci-Fi, Thriller

68 Metascore

When anti-mutant Colonel William Stryker kidnaps Professor X and attacks his school, the X-Men must ally with their archenemy Magneto to stop him.

Director: Bryan Singer | Stars: Patrick Stewart, Hugh Jackman, Halle Berry, Ian McKellen

Votes: 576,329 | Gross: $214.95M

14. Superman Returns (2006)

PG-13 | 154 min | Action, Adventure, Sci-Fi

72 Metascore

Superman returns to Earth after spending five years in space examining his homeworld Krypton. But he finds things have changed while he was gone, and he must once again prove himself important to the world.

Director: Bryan Singer | Stars: Brandon Routh, Kevin Spacey, Kate Bosworth, James Marsden

Votes: 291,408 | Gross: $200.08M

15. X-Men Origins: Wolverine (2009)

PG-13 | 107 min | Action, Sci-Fi

40 Metascore

The early years of James Logan, featuring his rivalry with his brother Victor Creed, his service in the special forces team Weapon X, and his experimentation into the metal-lined mutant Wolverine.

Director: Gavin Hood | Stars: Hugh Jackman, Liev Schreiber, Ryan Reynolds, Danny Huston

Votes: 530,740 | Gross: $179.88M

16. X: First Class (2011)

PG-13 | 131 min | Action, Sci-Fi

65 Metascore

In the 1960s, superpowered humans Charles Xavier and Erik Lensherr work together to find others like them, but Erik's vengeful pursuit of an ambitious mutant who ruined his life causes a schism to divide them.

Director: Matthew Vaughn | Stars: James McAvoy, Michael Fassbender, Jennifer Lawrence, Kevin Bacon

Votes: 723,904 | Gross: $146.41M

17. Batman Begins (2005)

PG-13 | 140 min | Action, Crime, Drama

70 Metascore

After witnessing his parents' death, Bruce learns the art of fighting to confront injustice. When he returns to Gotham as Batman, he must stop a secret society that intends to destroy the city.

Director: Christopher Nolan | Stars: Christian Bale, Michael Caine, Ken Watanabe, Liam Neeson

Votes: 1,579,024 | Gross: $206.85M

18. Captain America: The First Avenger (2011)

PG-13 | 124 min | Action, Adventure, Sci-Fi

66 Metascore

Steve Rogers, a rejected military soldier, transforms into Captain America after taking a dose of a "Super-Soldier serum". But being Captain America comes at a price as he attempts to take down a warmonger and a terrorist organization.

Director: Joe Johnston | Stars: Chris Evans, Hugo Weaving, Samuel L. Jackson, Hayley Atwell

Votes: 897,066 | Gross: $176.65M

19. Batman Forever (1995)

PG-13 | 121 min | Action, Adventure

54 Metascore

Batman must battle former district attorney Harvey Dent, who is now Two-Face and Edward Nygma, The Riddler with help from an amorous psychologist and a young circus acrobat who becomes his sidekick, Robin.

Director: Joel Schumacher | Stars: Val Kilmer, Tommy Lee Jones, Jim Carrey, Nicole Kidman

Votes: 266,637 | Gross: $184.03M

20. Fantastic Four (I) (2005)

PG-13 | 106 min | Action, Adventure, Fantasy

40 Metascore

A group of astronauts gain superpowers after a cosmic radiation exposure and must use them to oppose the plans of their enemy, Doctor Victor Von Doom.

Director: Tim Story | Stars: Ioan Gruffudd, Michael Chiklis, Chris Evans, Jessica Alba

Votes: 343,934 | Gross: $154.70M

21. The Mask (1994)

PG-13 | 101 min | Action, Comedy, Crime

59 Metascore

Bank clerk Stanley Ipkiss is transformed into a manic superhero when he wears a mysterious mask.

Director: Chuck Russell | Stars: Jim Carrey, Cameron Diaz, Peter Riegert, Peter Greene

Votes: 420,962 | Gross: $119.94M

22. X-Men (2000)

PG-13 | 104 min | Action, Adventure, Sci-Fi

64 Metascore

In a world where mutants (evolved super-powered humans) exist and are discriminated against, two groups form for an inevitable clash: the supremacist Brotherhood, and the pacifist X-Men.

Director: Bryan Singer | Stars: Patrick Stewart, Hugh Jackman, Ian McKellen, Famke Janssen

Votes: 646,778 | Gross: $157.30M

23. Superman (1978)

PG | 143 min | Action, Adventure, Sci-Fi

82 Metascore

An alien orphan is sent from his dying planet to Earth, where he grows up to become his adoptive home's first and greatest superhero.

Director: Richard Donner | Stars: Christopher Reeve, Margot Kidder, Gene Hackman, Marlon Brando

Votes: 187,583 | Gross: $134.22M

24. Batman Returns (1992)

PG-13 | 126 min | Action, Crime, Fantasy

68 Metascore

While Batman deals with a deformed man calling himself the Penguin wreaking havoc across Gotham with the help of a cruel businessman, a female employee of the latter becomes the Catwoman with her own vendetta.

Director: Tim Burton | Stars: Michael Keaton, Danny DeVito, Michelle Pfeiffer, Christopher Walken

Votes: 327,567 | Gross: $162.83M

25. Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer (2007)

PG | 92 min | Action, Adventure, Fantasy

45 Metascore

The Fantastic Four learn that they aren't the only super-powered beings in the universe when they square off against the powerful Silver Surfer and the planet-eating Galactus.

Director: Tim Story | Stars: Ioan Gruffudd, Jessica Alba, Chris Evans, Michael Chiklis

Votes: 277,443 | Gross: $131.92M

26. The Incredible Hulk (2008)

PG-13 | 112 min | Action, Adventure, Sci-Fi

61 Metascore

Bruce Banner, a scientist on the run from the U.S. Government, must find a cure for the monster he turns into whenever he loses his temper.

Director: Louis Leterrier | Stars: Edward Norton, Liv Tyler, Tim Roth, William Hurt

Votes: 523,653 | Gross: $134.52M

27. Hulk (2003)

PG-13 | 138 min | Action, Sci-Fi

54 Metascore

Bruce Banner, a genetics researcher with a tragic past, suffers an accident that causes him to transform into a raging green monster when he gets angry.

Director: Ang Lee | Stars: Eric Bana, Jennifer Connelly, Sam Elliott, Josh Lucas

Votes: 278,628 | Gross: $132.18M

28. Batman & Robin (1997)

PG-13 | 125 min | Action, Sci-Fi

29 Metascore

Batman and Robin try to keep their relationship together even as they must stop Mr. Freeze and Poison Ivy from freezing Gotham City.

Director: Joel Schumacher | Stars: Arnold Schwarzenegger, George Clooney, Chris O'Donnell, Uma Thurman

Votes: 268,185 | Gross: $107.33M

29. Constantine (2005)

R | 121 min | Action, Fantasy, Horror

50 Metascore

Supernatural exorcist and demonologist John Constantine helps a policewoman prove her sister's death was not a suicide, but something more.

Director: Francis Lawrence | Stars: Keanu Reeves, Rachel Weisz, Djimon Hounsou, Shia LaBeouf

Votes: 374,346 | Gross: $75.98M

30. Ghost Rider (2007)

PG-13 | 110 min | Action, Fantasy, Thriller

35 Metascore

When motorcycle rider Johnny Blaze sells his soul to the Devil to save his father's life, he is transformed into the Ghost Rider, the Devil's own bounty hunter, and is sent to hunt down sinners.

Director: Mark Steven Johnson | Stars: Nicolas Cage, Eva Mendes, Sam Elliott, Matt Long

Votes: 252,327 | Gross: $115.80M

31. Green Lantern (2011)

PG-13 | 114 min | Action, Adventure, Sci-Fi

39 Metascore

Reckless test pilot Hal Jordan is granted an alien ring that bestows him with otherworldly powers that inducts him into an intergalactic police force, the Green Lantern Corps.

Director: Martin Campbell | Stars: Ryan Reynolds, Blake Lively, Peter Sarsgaard, Mark Strong

Votes: 296,174 | Gross: $116.60M

32. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (1990)

PG | 93 min | Action, Adventure, Comedy

51 Metascore

Four teenage mutant ninja turtles emerge from the shadows to protect New York City from a gang of criminal ninjas.

Director: Steve Barron | Stars: Judith Hoag, Elias Koteas, Josh Pais, David Forman

Votes: 104,852 | Gross: $135.27M

33. Superman II (1980)

PG | 127 min | Action, Adventure, Sci-Fi

83 Metascore

Superman agrees to sacrifice his powers to start a relationship with Lois Lane, unaware that three Kryptonian criminals he inadvertently released are conquering Earth.

Director: Richard Lester | Stars: Gene Hackman, Christopher Reeve, Margot Kidder, Ned Beatty

Votes: 114,660 | Gross: $108.19M

34. Blade II (2002)

R | 117 min | Action, Horror, Sci-Fi

52 Metascore

Blade forms an uneasy alliance with the vampire council in order to combat the Reapers, who are feeding on vampires.

Director: Guillermo del Toro | Stars: Wesley Snipes, Kris Kristofferson, Ron Perlman, Leonor Varela

Votes: 234,488 | Gross: $82.35M

35. The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen (2003)

PG-13 | 110 min | Action, Adventure, Fantasy

30 Metascore

In an alternate Victorian Age world, a group of famous contemporary fantasy, science fiction, and adventure characters team up on a secret mission.

Director: Stephen Norrington | Stars: Sean Connery, Stuart Townsend, Peta Wilson, Jason Flemyng

Votes: 183,996 | Gross: $66.47M

36. Daredevil (2003)

PG-13 | 103 min | Action, Crime

42 Metascore

A man blinded by toxic waste which also enhanced his remaining senses fights crime as an acrobatic martial arts superhero.

Director: Mark Steven Johnson | Stars: Ben Affleck, Jennifer Garner, Colin Farrell, Michael Clarke Duncan

Votes: 229,116 | Gross: $102.54M

37. Kick-Ass (2010)

R | 117 min | Action, Comedy, Crime

66 Metascore

Dave Lizewski is an unnoticed high school student and comic book fan who one day decides to become a superhero, even though he has no powers, training or meaningful reason to do so.

Director: Matthew Vaughn | Stars: Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Nicolas Cage, Chloë Grace Moretz, Garrett M. Brown

Votes: 593,517 | Gross: $48.07M

38. Watchmen (2009)

R | 162 min | Action, Drama, Mystery

56 Metascore

In a version of 1985 where superheroes exist, the murder of a colleague sends active vigilante Rorschach on the trail of a conspiracy that will change the course of history.

Director: Zack Snyder | Stars: Jackie Earle Haley, Patrick Wilson, Carla Gugino, Malin Akerman

Votes: 582,681 | Gross: $107.51M

39. Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance (2011)

PG-13 | 96 min | Action, Fantasy, Thriller

34 Metascore

Johnny Blaze, tortured by the Ghost Rider's curse, gets a chance of redemption through protecting the Devil's son, whose father is pursuing him.

Directors: Mark Neveldine, Brian Taylor | Stars: Nicolas Cage, Ciarán Hinds, Idris Elba, Violante Placido

Votes: 126,253 | Gross: $51.77M

40. Blade: Trinity (2004)

R | 113 min | Action, Horror, Sci-Fi

38 Metascore

Blade, now a wanted man by the FBI, must join forces with the Nightstalkers to face his most challenging enemy yet: Dracula.

Director: David S. Goyer | Stars: Wesley Snipes, Kris Kristofferson, Parker Posey, Ryan Reynolds

Votes: 188,353 | Gross: $52.41M

41. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles II: The Secret of the Ooze (1991)

PG | 88 min | Action, Adventure, Comedy

45 Metascore

The Turtles discover their origins while they endeavour to save New York City from the evil Shredder and his Foot Clan.

Director: Michael Pressman | Stars: Paige Turco, David Warner, Michelan Sisti, Leif Tilden

Votes: 61,023 | Gross: $78.66M

42. TMNT (2007)

PG | 87 min | Animation, Action, Adventure

41 Metascore

When the world is threatened by an ancient evil, the Ninja Turtles must reunite and overcome their faults in order to stand against it.

Director: Kevin Munroe | Stars: Patrick Stewart, Mako, Chris Evans, Sarah Michelle Gellar

Votes: 69,263 | Gross: $54.15M

43. Superman III (1983)

PG | 125 min | Action, Adventure, Comedy

44 Metascore

Synthetic kryptonite laced with tar splits Superman in two: good Clark Kent and bad Man of Steel.

Director: Richard Lester | Stars: Christopher Reeve, Richard Pryor, Margot Kidder, Jackie Cooper

Votes: 74,794 | Gross: $59.95M

44. Blade (1998)

R | 120 min | Action, Horror, Sci-Fi

47 Metascore

A half-vampire, half-mortal man becomes a protector of the mortal race, while slaying evil vampires.

Director: Stephen Norrington | Stars: Wesley Snipes, Stephen Dorff, Kris Kristofferson, N'Bushe Wright

Votes: 299,065 | Gross: $70.09M

45. Elektra (2005)

PG-13 | 97 min | Action, Adventure, Crime

34 Metascore

Elektra the warrior survives a near-death experience, becomes an assassin-for-hire, and tries to protect her two latest targets, a single father and his young daughter, from a group of supernatural assassins.

Director: Rob Bowman | Stars: Jennifer Garner, Goran Visnjic, Will Yun Lee, Kirsten Zien

Votes: 97,954 | Gross: $24.41M

46. Catwoman (2004)

PG-13 | 104 min | Action, Crime, Fantasy

27 Metascore

A shy woman, endowed with the speed, reflexes, and senses of a cat, walks a thin line between criminal and hero, even as a detective doggedly pursues her, fascinated by both of her personas.

Director: Pitof | Stars: Halle Berry, Sharon Stone, Benjamin Bratt, Lambert Wilson

Votes: 125,818 | Gross: $40.20M

47. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles III (1993)

PG | 96 min | Action, Adventure, Comedy

40 Metascore

When journalist April O'Neil discovers an ancient scepter with magical powers, the Turtles must cow-a-bunga their way back to 17th century Japan to rescue her from the evil clutches of Lord Norinaga.

Director: Stuart Gillard | Stars: Elias Koteas, Paige Turco, Stuart Wilson, Sab Shimono

Votes: 36,451 | Gross: $42.66M

48. The Punisher (2004)

R | 124 min | Action, Crime, Drama

33 Metascore

An undercover FBI agent becomes a vigilante and sets out to unleash his wrath upon the corrupt businessman who slaughtered his entire family at a reunion.

Director: Jonathan Hensleigh | Stars: Thomas Jane, John Travolta, Samantha Mathis, Laura Harring

Votes: 170,609 | Gross: $33.81M

49. Swamp Thing (1982)

PG | 91 min | Horror, Sci-Fi

50 Metascore

After a violent incident with a special chemical, a research scientist is turned into a swamp plant monster.

Director: Wes Craven | Stars: Louis Jourdan, Adrienne Barbeau, Ray Wise, David Hess

Votes: 16,350

50. Supergirl (1984)

PG | 124 min | Action, Adventure, Fantasy

41 Metascore

After losing a powerful orb, Kara Zor-El, Superman's cousin, comes to Earth to retrieve it and instead finds herself up against a wicked witch.

Director: Jeannot Szwarc | Stars: Helen Slater, Faye Dunaway, Peter O'Toole, Mia Farrow

Votes: 24,032 | Gross: $13.60M

51. Superman IV: The Quest for Peace (1987)

PG | 90 min | Action, Adventure, Sci-Fi

24 Metascore

The Man of Steel crusades for nuclear disarmament and meets Lex Luthor's latest creation, Nuclear Man.

Director: Sidney J. Furie | Stars: Christopher Reeve, Gene Hackman, Margot Kidder, Jackie Cooper

Votes: 52,746 | Gross: $15.68M

52. Son of the Mask (2005)

PG | 94 min | Comedy, Family, Fantasy

20 Metascore

Tim Avery, an aspiring cartoonist, finds himself in a predicament when his dog stumbles upon the mask of Loki. Then after conceiving an infant son "born of the mask", he discovers just how looney child raising can be.

Director: Lawrence Guterman | Stars: Jamie Kennedy, Traylor Howard, Alan Cumming, Liam Falconer

Votes: 59,324 | Gross: $17.02M

53. Steel (1997)

PG-13 | 97 min | Action, Adventure, Crime

28 Metascore

A scientist for the military turns himself into a cartoon-like superhero when a version of one of his own weapons is being used against enemies.

Director: Kenneth Johnson | Stars: Shaquille O'Neal, Annabeth Gish, Judd Nelson, Richard Roundtree

Votes: 15,074 | Gross: $1.71M

54. The Return of Swamp Thing (1989)

PG-13 | 88 min | Action, Adventure, Comedy

39 Metascore

In this tongue-in-cheek sequel, the benevolent bog creature falls for the vegetarian, plant-loving daughter of the evil scientist who created him.

Director: Jim Wynorski | Stars: Dick Durock, Heather Locklear, Louis Jourdan, Sarah Douglas

Votes: 6,306 | Gross: $0.19M

55. Punisher: War Zone (2008)

R | 103 min | Action, Crime, Drama

30 Metascore

Frank Castle, known as the Punisher, ruthlessly demolishes organized crime, but it starts an even bigger war.

Director: Lexi Alexander | Stars: Ray Stevenson, Dominic West, Julie Benz, Doug Hutchison

Votes: 67,177 | Gross: $8.05M

56. The Punisher (1989)

R | 89 min | Action, Crime, Thriller

63 Metascore

When Frank Castle's family is murdered by criminals, he wages war on crime as a vigilante assassin known only as The Punisher.

Director: Mark Goldblatt | Stars: Dolph Lundgren, Louis Gossett Jr., Jeroen Krabbé, Kim Miyori

Votes: 25,815

57. Captain America (1990)

PG-13 | 97 min | Action, Adventure, Sci-Fi

Frozen in the ice for decades, Captain America is freed to battle against archcriminal The Red Skull.

Director: Albert Pyun | Stars: Matt Salinger, Ronny Cox, Ned Beatty, Darren McGavin

Votes: 15,131 | Gross: $0.01M



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