The 20 best Marvel and DC movies that aren’t part of the MCU or DCEU

Peter Parker’s first big screen outing is the ultimate 2000s blockbuster and is argued by many to be the best portrayal of the character. Tobey Maguire brings charm and awkwardness to Peter, and Willem Dafoe’s Green Goblin remains one of the most iconic comic book villains. As one of the first major superhero movies of its era, the film laid the foundations for the many superhero origin story films that would follow in years to come. 

X-Men marked the cinematic debut of the famous comic book mutants. With characters such as Hugh Jackman’s Wolverine, Halle Berry’s Storm, and Patrick Stewart’s Professor X, the film introduced audiences to the superhero group who fight to protect a society that fears them and their differences. It was the first major superhero ensemble film, with an all-star cast to match and plenty of spectacle that was groundbreaking for the early 2000s.

Deadpool is the foul-mouthed and fourth-wall-breaking anti-hero Ryan Reynolds was born to play. The film follows wisecracking Wade Wilson, who exacts revenge after an experiment leaves him immortal but disfigured. With its R rating, there’s plenty of room for over-the-top violence, sex, cursing, drugs, and other elements you wouldn’t usually find in a superhero movie. It’s utterly refreshing amongst the typical Marvel fare that plays it safe.

Joker totally subverts comic book movie conventions, giving us a gritty character study and thematic origin story for the Joker. In the film, aspiring comedian Arthur Fleck is shunted by society and descends into madness, transforming into Batman's famous nemesis. The clown prince of crime has been portrayed plenty of times, but Joaquin Phoenix’s disturbing and deranged performance is one of the greats.

When another standalone Batman film was announced, audiences were fatigued and wondered why this character needed to be reinvented. However, The Batman delivered something completely fresh and intriguing, bringing to life Gotham City in grunge fashion. From Nirvana needle drops to smokey eyeshadow, Robert Pattinson’s Bruce Wayne is dark and moody, and the film offers the most sinister portrayal of The Riddler to date.

Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse is one of the most innovative and groundbreaking animated films of the 21st century and happens to be a great Spider-Man movie. It features stunning stylized animation, combining both 2D and 3D elements heavily influenced by the comics on which it is based. Featuring different Spider people from alternate universes, the film has a huge heart and redefines what it means to be Spider-Man.

Many people don’t know that Disney’s Big Hero 6 is actually based on a Marvel comic. A hint is a post-credits scene where Stan Lee appears in animated form. The film is set in the fictional city of San Fransokyo (a fusion of San Francisco and Tokyo). It follows the bond between Baymax, an inflatable robot, and Hiro, a robotics prodigy. They team up with friends to form Big Hero 6, the superhero group initially appearing in the comics.

There has been an abundance of animated Batman movies over the years, but Batman: Mask of the Phantasm is considered the best of them all. Based on Batman: The Animated Series, the film sees Batman wrongly accused of a series of murders that were actually committed by a new criminal. The story puts Batman’s love life at the center, with a heavy mystery at its core and a ton of emotion infused throughout, which is why it is so highly regarded.

Before Mahershala Ali suits up to play Blade in the MCU, there was the original Blade starring Wesley Snipes. The character is part vampire and part mortal, and the film sees him become a vampire hunter, determined to protect humanity from their evil. Utilizing horror elements rarely seen in superhero movies, Blade offers unique visual flair, surprising gore, martial-arts-inspired action, and plenty of dark fun, with a memorable turn from Snipes.

Despite being released over ten years after the first X-Men film, X-Men: First Class is the prequel that sets up the bones for that film. A young Charles Xavier and Erik Lehnsherr met long before they became Professor X and Magneto. The two team up to find others like themselves, but Erik doesn’t believe in the coexistence of humans and mutants. With an A-list cast including James McAvoy and Jennifer Lawrence, the film relaunched the franchise in a new direction.

The Spider-Man franchise was rebooted in 2012 with The Amazing Spider-Man , starring Andrew Garfield in the lead role. While many criticize the film for a number of reasons (including their love for the original trilogy), it has a lot of redeeming factors. Garfield’s portrayal of Peter Parker is full of charm and charisma, and his chemistry with Emma Stone’s Gwen Stacey oozes off the screen. Plus, Sally Field is Aunty May, and how could anyone not like that?  

Everyone has a favorite Batman; for many, it’s Michael Keaton. The legendary actor played the Caped Crusader in Tim Burton’s Batman , a stylish and highly entertaining take. Tim Burton imbues his signature spooky and quirky style into Gotham City but manages to stay true to the character. Jack Nicholson’s Joker steals the show with his iconic make-up and killer smile, and Danny Elfman’s score has become iconic.

For many, the 1978 Superman is the best Superman movie ever made. Christopher Reeve stars in the titular role, and he is the defining Superman for so many people. Although it was released in the '70s, and the visual effects are outdated, the rest still holds up quite well. Reeve is perfectly cast as Clark Kent, embodying the goodness and strength of the character to a tee. When it comes to superhero movies, this one really started it all.

Zack Snyder has been a key player in the DCEU, but his collaboration with DC started long before. Snyder directed Watchmen, which follows vigilante Rorschach as he investigates the death of a colleague, leading him into something much bigger. The film is highly character and plot-driven, rather than constantly focusing on large action pieces. With its dreary and violent neo-noir tone and setting, it’s a singular vision focusing on the dark side of being a superhero. 

Venom has received its fair share of criticism, but it’s also an unexpectedly camp and undeniably entertaining romp. Tom Hardy plays Eddie Brock, a journalist who merges with a symbiotic alien. Using a blend of action and comedy, the film delivers thanks to Hardy’s eccentric performance as the anti-hero and the odd-couple relationship between Eddie and Venom. It’s not perfect by any means, but it’s a guaranteed good time. 

Batman was one of the standout characters from The Lego Movie, so it was only appropriate that he got his own film. The Lego Batman Movie sees Batman find an unexpected sidekick and newfound family in Robin as they team up to take down the Joker and other villains. With plenty of comedy and references that poke fun at Batman over the years, as well as Batman at brooding best, it’s one of the dark knight’s best outings.

Although the original V for Vendetta comic was not published by them, DC reprinted and completed the series, and all subsequent comics were therefore published under their name. Set in a dystopian British society, the film adaptation follows V, a masked freedom fighter who uses terrorist tactics to bring down the fascist government. Highly political and thought-provoking, the film is a powerful examination of the loss of freedom under oppression. 

Logan is not at all your usual superhero fanfare. Bleak, somber, and gritty, the film is a character study following a weary and aged Logan in a world where most mutants are extinct. However, he is forced to sharpen his claws once more and come out of hiding to save a young mutant. Western-inspired and emotionally charged, viewers get to see a more complex and human side to Logan, and Jackman’s performance wraps it all together beautifully. 

Christopher Nolan’s second entry in The Dark Knight trilogy is often regarded as the best superhero movie ever. There’s Nolan’s thrilling and crime-ridden Gotham and Christian Bale’s highly praised portrayal of Bruce Wayne, but then there’s Heath Ledger as the Joker. His transformative and terrifying performance is considered one of the best of all time. It is undoubtedly the most iconic version of the classic comic book villain to be put to screen. 

Based on the popular animated TV series, Teen Titans Go! To the Movies finds the titular teens pursuing Hollywood stardom, only to become distracted by a maniacal villain bent on world domination. With hilarious voice performances, including Nicolas Cage as Superman, the film is a clever take on the superhero genre with plenty of fun references. It’s also the closest thing we have to a DC and Marvel crossover, with Stan Lee making an animated cameo.