100 Greatest Comic Book Movies Of All Time
16. Black Panther
Proving the power of comics books and their adaptations as social and cultural weapons to blow open the conversation of representation in Hollywood, Black Panther is the perfect example of a film that wields an important message underneath its star power and filmy sparkle. It writes a love letter to African heritage and celebrates black culture with an expert hand, with T’Challa attempting to balance conflict both in Wakanda and the wider world through advanced technology developed under the ruse of a poverty-stricken nation.
Whilst the CGI efforts might not be up to scratch, the character building more than makes up for it. Black Panther’s overarching narrative is a great one, and intrinsic to the MCU as we know it too: it’s more than worthy of a high ranking for its immersive world, excellent progressive message, and wonderfully realised characters in one neat bundle.
[AM]
15. Guardians Of The Galaxy Vol. 2
Sometimes, it's absolutely fine for a film to be rather in love with itself and that's definitely the case with James Gunn's swaggering, charming Guardians sequel. The film's spirit - tied up in lots of jokes and lots of carefully crafted character moments - is deeply infectious and the whole affair takes everything that worked with the first movie and ladles even more of it on top.
Gunn obviously has more freedom to make his own movie here, so we get something wilder and weirder, but also more heartfelt and funny. And even when it dates itself a little (as with the Groot dancing opening), it's balanced with something emotionally authentic, like the devastating ending (which should make you cry TWICE).
It's got a great villain, played by the cleverly cast Kurt Russell and almost every character is given more chance to explore what defined them in the first movie.
[SG]
14. The Avengers
Five movies and four years was all leading to this, the culmination of the Marvel Cinematic Universe up to that point. Given the success of Avengers: Infinity War, this seems easy, but it was a risk prospect and a difficult balancing act at the time.
Enter Joss Whedon who, after mostly being known for TV, steps up to the big leagues in a big way. The director maintains the trademark dialogue, filled with pop-culture references and witty one-liners, that helped make the likes of Buffy so popular, and does an incredible job of balancing his many characters.
The way each of their team and their differing personalities bounces off each is other is great, while Tom Hiddleston’s charismatic Loki holds up his end as the villain. There are heroes clashing but coming together for the greater good, a lot of humour, real heart, moments to make everyone nerd out, and some awesome action, including that stupendous oner during the Battle of New York. In short, it’s everything the MCU should be, distilled into one near-perfect two-hour comic book movie.
That this isn’t in the top #3 is proof that democracy is broken.
[JH]