What a year for superhero films after nearly a drought over the course of 2020. The MCU especially had a ball and more than made up for its absence with a combined nine movies and TV shows. With fan favorites from Marvel and the bold and bloody The Suicide Squad from DC, this was a banner year for film lovers.
Superhero fans were rejoicing and their starved stomachs were satisfied with comic book heroism. Now that superhero films are making a comeback, let’s go through all the major films that came out this year and rank them based on their IMDb rating.
Venom: Let There Be Carnage
The messy Venom (2018) was the first standalone film for the Spider-Man arch-nemesis and reintroduced Venom to the mainstream after Spider-Man 3 for the first time. The sequel Venom: Let There Be Carnage is a much more silly version of the first film, much more tightly written and focused than its predecessor. It was a treat to see Carnage teased at the end of the first film, and he was fully brought to life in this sequel.
If Venom takes itself quite seriously as a comic book film, then Venom: Let There Be Carnage fully embraces its campiness. Fans of the first film’s traditional superhero structure might end up disappointed with the result, however, opting to focus more on Eddie and Venom’s comedic buddy-buddy relationship. It’s probably the most unique and unconventional superhero movie to come out this year, netting a solid 6 on IMDb.
Black Widow
Black Widow’s solo film was a long-time coming, given the character’s first appearance all the way back in 2010’s Iron Man 2. The fan-favorite character aided Steve and the rest of the Avengers for a decade and so an origin movie – or just a standalone Black Widow film – wouldn’t be too far off.
Black Widow had a lot of obstacles to face in its release, namely constant delays due to the rise of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020. Because of this, the film, released in July of 2021, was delayed over a full year after its original release date of May 2020. Black Widow was celebrated for its action sequences and a stellar cast. It’s an entertaining action ride that does, however, sour some of the themes and drama within the film. The film stands at a relatively mixed 6.7 on IMDb.
Eternals
In terms of reception, Eternals was a mixed bag for Marvel. The film was a noticeable change in tone and style for Marvel Studios, something the studio took a risk at. It was a risk that didn’t exactly pay off for them, becoming Marvel’s lowest-rated movie on Rotten Tomatoes with a “Rotten” 47% and an average box office performance for the studio.
Eternals still wound up having some fans though, defending the film's slow pace and praising the lush environments and emphasis in character writing. Chloe Zhao, who won Best Director and Best Picture for her acclaimed Nomadland the previous year, was a surprise director pick for Marvel. Despite the average performance, it still has a 6.8 on IMDb.
The Suicide Squad
When Warner Bros announced they were making a reboot/lite-sequel of the misbegotten Suicide Squad (2016), eyebrows were raised but optimism was high. While, yes, you can only really go up from here, you still had to win over the good graces of people all over. This is why it’s a miracle that The Suicide Squad is bombastic, absurd, and absolutely vile – in all the best ways.
All the crew needed to do was make a subversive and entertaining superhero flick and he more than delivered. Not only was The Suicide Squad a giant step-up from the notorious original, but it was just a vulgar, violent, entertaining ride from beginning to end. It may not be very emotionally profound, but it is just a lot of simple fun. It stands at a 7.3 on IMDb.
Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings
By paying loving tribute to the greatness of Jackie Chan and Zhang Yimou, Shang-Chi is a martial arts fest that combines the action, comedy, and emotion that the MCU is known for. The first Marvel film with a predominantly Asian cast, Shang-Chi is filled with authentic stunt performances with colorful visual effects to bring every action scene to life.
The film does get bombastic by the end as it has to fill in the CGI-ridden big climax quota by Marvel. After all, they had to put the budget somewhere. Yet, the real charm of the film is when it goes small, and the stunt choreography shines thanks to coordinators Andy Cheng and Brad Allen – both members of the legendary Jackie Chan team. There’s a lot to appreciate here, as Shang-Chi holds a 7.5 on IMDb.
Zack Snyder’s Justice League
The complicated production history, the negative backlash from the previous version, and a seemingly endless fan outcry for Zack Snyder to complete his vision have made this the most recognized and discussed film on the internet. It’s all thanks to the massively trending #ReleaseTheSnyderCut movement shared by millions online. When the film was released, it was a massive catharsis for both the fans and Snyder.
Standing at just over four hours in length, Zack Snyder’s Justice League is a whole new story and experience. Character moments that were brushed to the sidelines – controversially, multiple plot points centered around Victor Stone and his family – are recontextualized to give the film a much more emotional and human feel than your typical superhero film. Zack Snyder’s Justice League stands firm with an 8.1 on IMDb.
Spider-Man: No Way Home
It should be no surprise to anyone that the most anticipated movie since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic happens to be this hotly theorized and massively successful Spider-Man sequel. Spider-Man: No Way Home isn't just a trip down memory lane; it's a celebration of the film history of Spider-Man, No Way Home simply rewards you for being a Spider-Man fan all the way back from Tobey Maguire’s trilogy. We may never see the end of Tom Holland's Spider-Man, given he has since been given a whole new trilogy, but this film feels like the Swan Song to this franchise's web-slinger and a celebration to those who wore the mask before it.
Up until this point, Tom Holland never felt like a hero to many. He was always just a kid wearing the suit. Moments within the shining cinematography and striking music it's clear that this is the Spider-Man we've always dreamed of. The pain he endures, and his growth felt like the pinnacle of Spider-Man. We can’t be certain of what the future of Spider-Man holds, but this one is like no other before it. The highest IMDb for a superhero film score of 8.8 easily goes to No Way Home.