10 Critically-Reviled Comic Book Movies (That Weren't Actually That Bad)

Daredevil is nowhere near as bad as fans like to make out!

Tom Hardy Venom
Sony

The comic book genre has been spawning movie adaptations for decades now, and during that time, we've seen some truly revolutionary comic book capers come to life on the big screen.

Heroes like Batman and Superman exploded into movie theaters in the seventies and eighties, putting the genre on the map and paving the way for further superhero flicks to follow. Now, here we are decades later, and the Marvel Cinematic Universe is dominating the box office unlike anything we've ever seen before.

But not every superhero movie achieved success anywhere near the level of that lot. Some were outcast by critics, fans and just about anyone who watched them. Others made a lot of money regardless of what the critics said and still live in infamy because of it.

There are a lot of bad superhero movies out there, but there are also some that hide behind the reputation of being a bad superhero movie - some that, upon reflection, actually aren't so bad after all... and some that deserve a lot more credit than they actually get.

With that in mind, let's meet these superhero outcasts and discuss why their reputation just doesn't do them justice.

10. Justice League

Tom Hardy Venom
Warner Bros.

Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer Score: 40%

Critics Consensus: "Justice League leaps over a number of DC movies, but its single bound isn't enough to shed the murky aesthetic, thin characters, and chaotic action that continue to dog the franchise."

Justice League will forever live in infamy as the biggest missed opportunity in a shared universe intent on fast-tracking its way to the top. That, coupled with the mismatch of styles between directors Zack Snyder and Joss Whedon, made it impossible for the film to succeed.

It made a lot of money, but it didn't make anywhere near enough and this rush-job of a gamble ended up costing Warner Bros. in and around $60 million. But there are redeeming qualities.

Justice League's biggest sin is that it's just inherently flat. It stays in the same place for the vast majority of its run-time, only occasionally rising to the challenge and it suffers from a plot that is both on-the-nose and by-the-numbers. Does that make it awful though? No, just flat.

If you can overlook that initial disappointment, however (and turn your brain off for a while), you might be able to enjoy the film during its better moments. Just don't look at Superman's face. Like, ever.

Contributor
Contributor

Michael Patterson is an experienced writer with an affinity for all things film and TV. He may or may not have spent his childhood obsessing over WWE.