1. Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse (Trilogy)
Cast: Shameik Moore, Jake Johnson, Hailee Steinfeld, Mahershala Ali, Brian Tyree Henry, Lily Tomlin, Nicolas CageDirectors: Bob Persichetti, Peter Ramsey, Rodney RothmanWriters: Phil Lord, Rodney Rothman, Dave Callaham
I know only parts 1 and 2 have been released, but they've been some of my favorite movies of the last decade because they push the envelope in terms of visuals and animation.
2. Batman: Mask of The Phantasm
Cast: Kevin Conroy, Mark Hamill, Dana Delany, Hart BochnerDirector: Eric Radomski, Bruce TimmWriters: Alan Burnett, Paul Dini, Bruce Timm, Randy Rogel
I remember this coming out when I was in third grade, and it had such a great twist in terms of who was the bad guy. It really influenced me as a writer.
3. The Incredibles 1&2
Cast: Craig T. Nelson, Holly Hunter, Samuel L. Jackson, Jason Lee, Elizabeth PeñaDirector: Brad BirdWriter: Brad Bird
My two favorite Pixar movies, they have some of the best worldbuilding I've seen in any movie. And they draw such distinct characters with relatable motivations. It adds to their re-watchability.
4. Batman: Under the Red Hood
Cast: Jensen Ackles, Bruce Greenwood, John DiMaggio, Neil Patrick HarrisDirector: Brandon ViettiWriter: Judd Winick (comic), J.M. DeMatteis (screenplay)DC really conquered straight-to-video animated superhero movies. Batman has so many fun stories, and this one keeps you on the edge of your seat.
5. Batman Beyond: Return of the Joker
Cast: Will Friedle, Kevin Conroy, Mark HamillDirector: Curt GedaWriters: Bruce Timm, Paul Dini, Stan Berkowitz, Alan Burnett
Another one that sort of connects to my youth, Batman Beyond is such an interesting world, with an elder Bruce Wayne unable to continue with the mantle of the bat, but we see the return of many villains with a cyberpunk flair.
6. Justice League: Flashpoint Paradox
Cast: Kevin Conroy, C. Thomas Howell, Michael B. Jordan, Gina TorresDirector: Jay OlivaWriter: Geoff Johns (comic), James Krieg (screenplay)
I think the best animated movies take on huge comic events and adapt them really well. In this case, we have jumping in time and universes via the Flash, and lots of hero cameos as well.
7. Planet Hulk
Cast: Rick D. Wasserman, Lisa Edelstein, Mark HildrethDirector: Sam LiuWriter: Greg Pak (comic), Joshua Fine (screenplay)
One of the best Marvel movies on this list, I think Marvel just needs to make more of them. this is a fun and refreshing look at the Hulk in space, kicking butt and making jokes. More of this, please!
8. Megamind
Cast: Will Ferrell, Tina Fey, Jonah Hill, David Cross, Brad PittDirector: Tom McGrathWriters: Alan Schoolcraft, Brent Simons
I had to put this on here because my wife loves it so much. It's another fun look at the tropes in superhero lore through a bad guy turned good guy. Really fun.
9. Batman: The Dark Knight Returns 1&2
Cast: Peter Weller, Ariel Winter, David Selby, Michael McKeanDirector: Jay OlivaWriters: Frank Miller (comic), Bob Goodman (screenplay)
One of the greatest comics ever written was adapted into a gritty and apocalyptic world. It has all the stunning visuals and brings them to life in an epic journey into a future of mutants and dystopia.
10. All-Star Superman
Cast: James Denton, Christina Hendricks, Anthony LaPagliaDirector: Sam LiuWriter: Grant Morrison (comic), Dwayne McDuffie (screenplay)
Easily one of my favorite comic runs, this has just the warmest world for Superman. I think its campy stuff also translates well to the big screen.
11. Superman/Batman: Public Enemies
Cast: Tim Daly, Kevin Conroy, Clancy BrownDirector: Sam LiuWriter: Jeph Loeb (comic), Stan Berkowitz (screenplay)
Another great run with the two most famous heroes in the world. This takes a long comic series and abridges it to fit into a feature film. I love how it kept the core of the comic's story but also felt like it belonged as a movie.
Summing Up the 11 Best Animated Superhero Movies
So, there you have it. It's a DC-heavy list, so I think Marvel should take note and get on their game. It's also a Batman-heavy list, but I think that speaks to how many legendary comics they have to adapt in that series.
Did I miss any of your favorites? I'd love to hear about them.
Let me know what you think in the comments.
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