2016's 6 Superhero Movies Ranked From Worst To Best
On the eve of Doctor Strange's release in theaters, we take a look at 2016's six superhero movies and rank them from worst to best. It's Marvel Studios vs. Fox vs. Warner Bros. Who will come out on top?
Outside of Doctor Strange - which may already be in theaters by the time you read this or depending where you live - none of those now include superhero movies, so looking back, how did 2016's comic book adaptations really fare? Marvel Studios, 20th Century Fox, and Warner Bros. each released two of them over the course of the year, and they all received very different reactions from fans and critics.
What you'll find here then is my take on how they all fared in terms of quality. Ranked from worst to best, this is how I believe Deadpool, Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice, Captain America: Civil War, X-Men: Apocalypse, Suicide Squad, and Doctor Strange all deserve to be remembered after 2016...
6. Suicide Squad
Suicide Squad didn't deserve the mauling it received from critics, but there's no denying that it was a disappointment. The movie got a lot right (Amanda Waller, Deadshot, and Harley Quinn were clear highlights), and I would even argue that The Joker should be included in that statement. Unfortunately, with so much of Jared Leto's performance left on the cutting room floor, many fans have already dismissed his take on the Clown Prince of Crime as being one of the worst ever, but the biggest problem with Task Force X's DC Films Universe debut was the generic story and terrible villains.
Enchantress and her brother Incubus were laughable, while Warner Bros.' last minute attempts to lighten the tone and make it more stylish ultimately turned Suicide Squad into something of a disjointed and frustrating mess. Comparing the movie to the trailers, it's clear that entire subplots were cut, and despite the fact that it would go on to find great success at the box office, it's clear that a lot of work needs to be done if these villains are ever going to return.
5. Deadpool
That's not to say Deadpool is a bad movie though. It deserved the success it found and was undoubtedly satisfying for fans of the hero's comic book adventures. The action scenes also delivered and there's no denying that Ryan Reynolds was excellent. Still, the low budget may have held it back, and while some are still mourning the loss of director Tim Miller for the sequel, some fresh blood to shake things up could end up being for the best. In fact, with the origin out of the way, Cable and Domino may be just what's needed.
4. X-Men: Apocalypse
For whatever reason, X-Men: Apocalypse didn't end up connecting with many moviegoers (the disappointing box office numbers are proof of that), though I remain firmly on the side of those who believe this movie was better than many said. It's definitely not without its problems, but there's enough in here to at least somewhat redeem its failings, particularly when it comes to setting up the future of the franchise. It may not have been Bryan Singer's strongest entry in the X-Men Universe, but it was the one closest to the source material, and for better or worse, that leaves things in a interesting state for the future.
3. Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice
That led to an overlong movie which could never work without feeling disjointed, and while the "Ultimate Edition" helped by adding another half hour, it's clear that edits should have been made before cameras started rolling, not after. Regardless, in terms of delivering in spectacle, Batman v Superman succeeded, with the fight between the two heroes proving to be nothing short of excellent. Throw in the awesome debuts of Batman and Wonder Woman along with a unique (but far from perfect) take on Lex Luthor, and this is a movie which was better than the controversy surrounding it would have you believe.
2. Doctor Strange
There's no denying that this movie suffers from some typical issues when it comes to an uninspiring villain and some charaters who could have done with more screentime, but it's still an exciting and surprising adaptation which exceeds expectations and proves that Kevin Feige and company really can do anything. As of right now, Doctor Strange is poised to be a huge hit, and so this is yet another new franchise we're going to see stick around for the long haul. After this first instalment, that is obviously well worth being excited about.
1. Captain America: Civil War
That airport battle is going to be damn near impossible to top, while a huge amount of credit needs to be given to screenwriters Christopher Markus and Stephen McFeely for delivering one of the best Marvel villains to date (despite him not having a costume or alter-ego) and so effortlessly introducing us to characters like Black Panther and Spider-Man. The latter finally showing up in this world inevitably makes Captain America: Civil War feel even more special, and it's easy to see why this was 2016's only superhero movie to reach that coveted $1 billion mark at the worldwide box office. There was just no way this one would ever be topped.
How would you rank 2016's superhero movies? Do you agree with this list? As always, be sure to let us know your thoughts on all that and more in the comments section below.