As the March 25, 2016 release date for Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice approaches, it's undeniably one of the most controversial and divisive comic book movies in recent memory. Fans have been split over the casting, appointment of Zack Snyder as the "Godfather" of the DC Extended Universe, the tone of the film and also the erratic marketing campaign. Whether it can deliver the goods remains to be seen, but as much as we all want it to succeed, there's every change it could score mixed notices ala Man of Steel...or worse. So, it's time to consider the upcoming comic book movies that could make mincemeat out of the Justice League primer, the films that have so much promise if they're executed with style and panache. Naturally, the list doesn't include massively questionable quantities such as Marvel's new Spider-Man, the solo Aquaman, Flash and Green Lantern movies or the upcoming Justice League (because the latter seems both obvious and unfair), but rather movies we can easily trust could knock it out of the park. Here are 13 upcoming comic book movies that could beat Batman v Superman...
13. Guardians Of The Galaxy Vol. 2
Much like Batman v Superman, Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 is set to be an ensemble superhero flick with an epic scope...but the major ace up its sleeve is the irresistibly fun tone that made the original such a hit. There's a reason Marvel movies have performed so well both critically and commercially: audiences, especially younger ones, prefer light, arguably disposable entertainment over the grit and heaviness of something like Man of Steel. Though the more recent marketing for Batman v Superman does suggest there will be some quips to lighten the load, it's still a bit of a guessing game compared to Guardians, which became a surprise success in 2014 and will reunite audiences with a host of charming characters they fell in love with next year. Audiences know Batman and Superman, sure, but there's no guarantee that pairing them together along with Wonder Woman and other Justice Leaguers will actually work.