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1Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitches2Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors3Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteIn Parade film critic Samuel R. Murrian’s September 3, 2026 ranking, the top three superhero movies are The Dark Knight, Black Panther, and Spider-Man 2. The list weighs overall quality, how well each film has aged, and rewatchability, but it is one writer’s editorial judgment—not a universal verdict. Its broad definition also reaches beyond conventional costumed heroes to animation and superhero-adjacent films such as RoboCop and Darkman.
How this ranking works
Murrian’s ordering is based on three stated considerations: a film’s overall quality, how well it has aged, and how rewarding it is to revisit. Those measures explain why the list is more than a tally of franchise popularity, but they do not make the order objective. Viewers who favor animation, standalone stories, or a lighter tone may choose a different starting point.
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The selection spans superhero franchises, animated features, darker crime drama, satire, and stories at the edges of the genre. RoboCop and Darkman, for example, are less conventional choices than a standard comic-book team-up. Their inclusion reflects the article’s generous view of what can count as a superhero movie.
The top 10 superhero movies in Parade’s ranking
| Rank | Film | Release year |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | The Dark Knight | 2008 |
| 2 | Black Panther | 2018 |
| 3 | Spider-Man 2 | 2004 |
| 4 | Avengers: Endgame | 2019 |
| 5 | Wonder Woman | 2017 |
| 6 | Iron Man | 2008 |
| 7 | Superman: The Movie | 1978 |
| 8 (tie) | Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse and Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse | 2018 and 2023 |
| 9 | Marvel’s The Avengers | 2012 |
| 10 | Guardians of the Galaxy | 2014 |
The shared eighth-place entry groups the two animated Spider-Verse films together. The ranking’s top choices offer several distinct routes into the genre rather than one single model of a great superhero film.
#1 Best Overall
What makes the top picks stand out
The Dark Knight: a darker crime story
Murrian presents The Dark Knight as a crime saga as much as a superhero story. It is a natural starting point for viewers drawn to a tense, grounded tone rather than bright adventure.
Black Panther: a distinctive world and cultural significance
The ranking highlights the film’s visual identity and cultural significance. The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences gave it a Best Picture nomination at the 91st Oscars; the Academy’s sidebar describes it as “the first comic book-based film to earn a Best Picture nomination.” That is the Academy’s specific formulation, not a broader claim about every kind of superhero film.
Rank #2
Spider-Man 2: character-driven storytelling
For viewers who want a superhero film centered on its protagonist’s personal life as well as action, Murrian singles out Spider-Man 2 as character-driven.
The Spider-Verse films: animation as a source of invention
Murrian calls attention to Into the Spider-Verse for its formal inventiveness. At the 2019 Oscars, the Academy listed it as the Animated Feature winner. Its placement alongside Across the Spider-Verse also makes the ranking’s openness to animation especially clear.
Rank #3
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Choose a superhero movie by the experience you want
- For darker crime drama: Start with The Dark Knight.
- For an expressive animated style: Try the Spider-Verse films; Into the Spider-Verse is also the Academy’s 2019 Animated Feature winner.
- For a character-focused story: Choose Spider-Man 2.
- For an earnest superhero adventure: Consider Wonder Woman or Superman: The Movie.
- For a team-based franchise entry: Pick Marvel’s The Avengers or Avengers: Endgame.
- For a less conventional take on the genre: The list’s inclusion of RoboCop and Darkman points toward satire and darker superhero-adjacent stories.
These are viewing lenses, not a second ranking. A film’s place on Murrian’s list does not determine whether it will suit your mood or viewing preferences.
Quick Recap
Sources
- Samuel R. Murrian’s Parade ranking of the best superhero movies, published September 3, 2026.
- The Academy’s official record for the 2019 Oscars ceremony.
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