10 Superhero Movies That Defined Other Superhero Movies
Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery.
The record-breaking accomplishments of Avengers: Endgame are only the latest examples of the Marvel Cinematic Universe's success. The culmination of a decade's worth of storytelling, the film (and the MCU in general) will undoubtedly influence the genre for years to come, paving the way for the future of superhero movies and inspiring the next generation to follow in its footsteps. That said, it wouldn't be the first time we've seen this happen.
Superhero movies have been part of the very fabric of Hollywood for a very long time now and, during that time, they have evolved and adapted in a bid to please their audiences and, perhaps more importantly, remain relevant. Though these risks don't always pay off, they are one of the many reasons why the genre continues to break new ground.
Like life itself, the film industry is all about learning, so if a new formula turns out to be successful, of course it's going to inspire others to try it out for themselves. Similarly, should something go horribly wrong, it will go down in history as a lesson which others can learn from, ultimately influencing them to steer clear of trying anything remotely similar.
Both of these lessons have played quite the role in the superhero movie genre over the years...
10. Captain America: The First Avenger
Steve Rogers' MCU debut took place towards the end of Phase One in what is perhaps the shared universe's most underrated film. Captain America: The First Avenger flashed back to the days of World War II in order to introduce us to the Star-Spangled Man and, from that moment on, the MCU had its most patriotic hero.
With that in mind, you'd be hard-pressed to find anyone that would disagree that this film didn't play a large part in inspiring Warner Bros. to produce Wonder Woman.
From the structure (a present-day object initiating the flashbacks) to the period setting, and let's not forget the fact that both heroes managed to find love in a hopeless environment, it's clear that the DCEU's most beloved film borrowed a lot from the successful formula that Marvel employed for Cap's origin story.
While it's true that much of Wonder Woman's source material was set during the wars, and the fact that the classic '70s TV series found success in a period setting, there is no denying that it owes a lot to the success of Captain America: The First Avenger.