8 Of The Most Divisive Superhero Costume Reveals Of All-Time (Including James Gunn's SUPERMAN)

Our first look at SUPERMAN's Man of Steel divided opinions earlier this week, though it's far from the first time we've seen that happen with a splashy costume reveal. You can find the most divisive here!

By JoshWilding - May 08, 2024 12:05 PM EST

Filed Under: Superman: Legacy

A couple of days ago, DC Studios and James Gunn shared a first look at David Corenswet suited up as Superman. It's been a while since we've seen a superhero movie costume divide opinions to such a large degree, but it's certainly not the first time.

The Man of Steel isn't the first character to take centre stage in a splashy sneak peek meant to get fans excited. While that usually works, there are occasions when fans hate what they see. Others, meanwhile, are quick to defend what usually amounts to a complete overhaul which takes place during the transition from page to screen.

This isn't a list of the worst superhero movie costumes...just those that divided opinions when they were first shown off to the world (and sometimes continue to do so to this very day).

To read through this feature, all you need to do is click on the "Next"/"View List" buttons below.

8. Spider-Man (The Amazing Spider-Man)

The Amazing Spider-Man failed to tell the "Untold Story" promised in the trailers and this Peter Parker's origin story ended up playing out very similarly to his predecessor.

Sony did shake things up with Spidey's suit, though, and fans weren't happy. The missing "belt" ruined the look for many, as did the basketball-like texture and fairly busy design around the wrists (as for the logo, it was always going to receive a love/hate response).

Later, the gold eyes and trainers also split opinions, but The Amazing Spider-Man 2's suit reveal fared considerably better a couple of years later.

7. Captain America (Captain America: The First Avenger)

Our first look at Marvel Studios' Star Spangled Avenger came in the form of set photos, and boy, a lot of people really didn't like Captain America: The First Avenger's take on Steve Rogers' World War II-era costume.

The suit was compared to a quilt and proved perfect fodder for those who'd argued Chris Evans was too skinny to play a Super Soldier.

He'd later prove them wrong, of course, while Cap's uniform ended up looking much better in motion. However, Evans found himself decked out in yet another divisive suit when The Avengers was released (even he wasn't a fan of that one).

6. The X-Men (X-Men)

The superhero movie genre was in its infancy when X-Men was released, so Bryan Singer mostly managed to get away with making sweeping changes to the mutant team.

We ended up with a pretty good movie when all was said and done, but the team's black leather costumes still split opinions. It's easy enough to understand why colourful spandex didn't make the cut in 2000; the X-Men deserved better than suits with zero personality, though.

The one time the heroes donned anything close to comic-accurate costumes was during X-Men: Apocalypse's closing moments (it didn't last). Thankfully, Marvel Studios is making moves to change that.

5. The Joker (Suicide Squad)

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This was messy. Initially, the buzz surrounding David Ayer's Suicide Squad was positive. He was fresh off the success of Fury and a dark, gritty take on Task Force X seemed like exactly what the DCEU needed to differentiate itself from the MCU.

Then, we saw Jared Leto's Joker. News of the Oscar-winner playing the Clown Prince of Crime led to the belief we'd get a take on the villain that topped even The Dark Knight's Heath Ledger.

The tattoos...the teeth...the fact "Damaged" was right there on his forehead...this wasn't what DC fans wanted. The finished product looked no better.

4. Green Lantern (Green Lantern)

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You really had to be there to understand what the build to Green Lantern's release was like. Leaked concept art showcasing the Green Lantern Corps quickly built excitement, leading to a deep-rooted belief this movie would be DC's Star Wars or Avatar.

Ryan Reynolds being cast as Hal Jordan was divisive from the start, of course, and when the first trailer dropped, the sh*t really hit the fan.

Unfinished VFX made the actor look like a complete joke. As for the Corps members, unflattering comparisons were made to the sort of rudimentary CG characters you'd see in the 90s. The visuals in the final cut were slightly better, but a fully CG suit was a major blunder.

3. Green Goblin (Spider-Man)

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We're keeping it green and hopping over to the Marvel Universe for this entry. Sam Raimi attempted to faithfully adapt the Green Goblin in 2002's Spider-Man (test footage has proved that), only to decide it wouldn't work.

The technology just wasn't there at the time for a realistic animatronic Goblin, so the villain was overhauled and looked like what many would later describe as a green Power Ranger.

From a storytelling perspective, the change made sense. It was bland, though, and lacked much of what made the character leap off the page. Marvel Studios tried to make up for this and we'd say they mostly succeeded.

2. Scarlet Witch (Avengers: Age of Ultron)

Marvel Studios has always had a pretty good track record with costumes. Alas, Avengers: Age of Ultron's take on the Scarlet Witch wasn't what some fans had in mind for the character's long-awaited live-action debut.

They wanted to see Elizabeth Olsen in the skimpy outfit from the comics, not what essentially boiled down to street clothes.

Several looks were tested over the years, with WandaVision finally nailing that comic-accurate design (without looking like underwear). It's just a shame it took us so long to get there.

1. Superman (SUPERMAN)

We've already talked a lot about this suit reveal this week, but it's an undeniably unique case. For the most part, the costume has received a positive response from fans eager to see SUPERMAN.

However, it's the presentation that's causing a problem.

By having the Man of Steel sit down in an attempt to portray him as an everyman, the suit is bunched up and appears ill-fitting. And why is he taking his boots off while ignoring the destruction raining down outside his window? No wonder people are divided on this one.

Have we missed any other particularly divisive superhero movie suits? As always, head to the comments section below to let us know your thoughts.

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56 Comments

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OleBobbyTiger - 5/8/2024, 12:11 PM

@joshwilding Pro tip, when you are taking your boots off, you push on them, you don't pull on them.

I expect rage bait from you, but that's just laziness right there.

Malatrova15 - 5/8/2024, 1:35 PM

@OleBobbyTiger - ok buddy thats enough

TrentCrimm - 5/8/2024, 3:42 PM

@OleBobbyTiger -

The whole article is lazy.
People had no issues with Captain Americas costume when we got a first look at it. Most people loved it.

dragon316 - 5/8/2024, 4:51 PM

@OleBobbyTiger - maybe he’s putting boots on…

Oberlin4Prez - 5/8/2024, 12:14 PM

Oh Josh, you silly little scamp.

YouFlopped - 5/8/2024, 12:14 PM

Scarlet Witch over Joker? 🤭

Doomsday8888 - 5/8/2024, 12:15 PM

"For the most part, the costume has received a positive response from fans eager to see SUPERMAN."

Guess i must live in a different timeline! :S

TheLight - 5/8/2024, 4:05 PM

@Doomsday8888 - Yeah I was like this when I read that.

The only real positive response was how comically memed it's been made into.

MisterDoctor217 - 5/8/2024, 12:15 PM

The First Avenger’s costume was divisive ?

I thought it was The Avengers one that was the one almost no one liked.

WhatIfRickJames - 5/8/2024, 12:27 PM

@MisterDoctor217 - the First Avenger costume easily the least divisive costume in film. FATWS Cap costume however....

MisterDoctor217 - 5/8/2024, 12:55 PM

@WhatIfRickJames -

I actually like the FATWS costume 😭

TheVisionary25 - 5/8/2024, 12:19 PM

Is he taking his boots off or on so he can go deal with the situation?.

Anyway aside from the lines , the suit is growing on me and I’m liking it more (has a regalness to it).

marvel72 - 5/8/2024, 12:19 PM

Superman Number 1? Captain America costume from The Avengers(2012) is worse.

HermanM - 5/8/2024, 12:57 PM

@marvel72 - I liked this suit. I also liked it much better than the Winter Soldier suit.

TheNewYorker - 5/8/2024, 1:15 PM

@marvel72 - I agree. But that Kmart-Cavill has a freaking turtleneck!

marvel72 - 5/8/2024, 1:56 PM

@HermanM - I'm surprised at that,Captain America outfit looked OK if you lose the helmet.

IAmAHoot - 5/8/2024, 12:23 PM

Who didn't like that Captain America suit??? Legite asking, cause that's news to me.

And how did you not mention that people said Garfield's Spider-Man suit look like a basketball?

TheVisionary25 - 5/8/2024, 12:26 PM

@IAmAHoot - I don’t remember that , I thought it worked

I know some people don’t like The Avengers suit…

I still think it looks better without the helmet and with it on , it would have worked more with the ear holes.

tluciotti74 - 5/8/2024, 1:39 PM

@IAmAHoot - "The missing "belt" ruined the look for many, as did the basketball-like texture"

TheBlueMorpho - 5/8/2024, 5:00 PM

@TheVisionary25 - A chin strap might have made the helmet look better.

WhatIfRickJames - 5/8/2024, 12:28 PM

When microdosing and list writing collide

newhire13 - 5/8/2024, 12:29 PM

People bitched about the Man of Steel costume too, it’s pretty much expected at this point.

HulkisHoly - 5/8/2024, 12:59 PM

@newhire13 -

A lot of people didn’t like that suit when it was released. People got used to it and moved on to other complaints. But yes, it was a crap show when it was released

SummersEssex - 5/8/2024, 12:30 PM

Seriously. That suit was fine, it was the Avengers costume that was a problem.

marvel72 - 5/8/2024, 12:31 PM

Why isn't Ms.Marvel and Ironheart costumes on this list? They both are crap designs.

zeon00 - 5/10/2024, 10:31 AM

@marvel72 - thanks you

BruceWayng - 5/8/2024, 12:33 PM

Her look at the end of AoU was quite the reveal…

HermanM - 5/8/2024, 12:57 PM

@BruceWayng - sschwiiiiiingg!

GodHercules20 - 5/8/2024, 1:05 PM

@BruceWayng - My favourite Scarlet Witch look, just needed that crown

Gambito - 5/8/2024, 12:39 PM

Worst first reveals and NOT include the recent Falcon reveal smh

DravenCorvis - 5/8/2024, 12:39 PM

Superman isn't taking his boots off, FFS.

You really are on a whole other level today.

marvel72 - 5/8/2024, 12:43 PM

How can you dislike an outfit that shows cleevage?

MisterDoctor217 - 5/8/2024, 12:54 PM

@marvel72 -

That’s what I don’t get

Supposedly she didn’t get her comic accurate costume cause of too much cleavage , but in the movie she ended up showing it anyway , literally the whole movie lol

Skestra - 5/8/2024, 1:00 PM

@marvel72 - I'm sorry... did you say something? I was distracted by those photos.

marvel72 - 5/8/2024, 1:46 PM

@Skestra -

marvel72 - 5/8/2024, 1:47 PM

@MisterDoctor217 - I know man, they cover them up so much now they look flat chested.

Floke - 5/8/2024, 12:50 PM

Really...?

HermanM - 5/8/2024, 12:59 PM

Swercide Squad Joker's tattoos and grills and the all black X-men suits are the worst.

mgeoff88 - 5/8/2024, 1:04 PM

"And why is he taking his boots off while ignoring the destruction raining down outside his window?"

Superman is obviously putting his boots on. Probably not a good idea to be drinking while writing an article.

TheVisionary25 - 5/8/2024, 1:05 PM

Also I don’t mind the Joker with tattoos , I just think they are excessive amount such as the forehead and face ones so I would have gotten rid of those atleast.

It’s the try hard performance that bothered me more.

1 2

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