100 Greatest Comic Book Movies Of All Time

by Simon Gallagher

1. The Dark Knight

The Dark Knight The Joker Heath Ledger
Warner Bros.

Was it ever going to be anything else? Well yes, actually, because someone - someone who has the audacity to call themselves Comics Editor, no less - didn’t even include it in their top 10, but luckily common sense has for once prevailed, and The Dark Knight rules supreme over all other comic book movies, much like it has done for the past 10 years.

Christopher Nolan’s towering epic isn’t just a great comic book movie; it’s a great movie, period. Switch it out for characters not drawn from the page and you’re still left with a towering crime epic and blockbuster filmmaking on a scale few can match. But with those comics elements, it becomes something even greater.

There’s Christian Bale growing further into the dual role of Bruce Wayne and Batman, becoming the first to truly rival Michael Keaton’s portrayal. Michael Caine adding a layer of gravitas and wisdom. The sheer technical brilliance, the blistering action, an escalation of threat and violence that examines everything Batman is.

And there’s Heath Ledger’s Joker. An agent of chaos, but also a meticulously crafted performance that turns this into a truly transcendental piece. The Dark Knight redefined comic book movies in 2008, and the genre still hasn’t fully caught up.

[JH]

Agree with this ranking? What do you think is the greatest comic book movie of all time? Let us know down in the comments.

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We love teamwork! Who doesn't? This article is a collaborative effort between Simon Gallagher, Scott Tailford, Josh Brown, Ewan Paterson, James Hunt and Ashleigh Millman.
 
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