Those who have been following my 100 Days of Superheroes will know what this is all about. I’m currently reviewing and ranking 100 superhero films over the course of a year, building up to the release of Amazing Spider-Man, Dark Knight Rises, and Avengers.
Here is how it works. The ranking is determined by two factors; the average audience ranking (by poll votes) combined with my own score for the films in the reviews I wrote. These rankings will be posted every ten reviews so be sure to vote. As more votes and movies are added to the ranking, films will slide up and down on the scale.
You can also go back and vote on previous films already ranked as it could change their score in future updates. So if you don't like the ranking GO VOTE!!! Just click the 100 Days Logo to the Fansite to both vote and read the reviews. So let's get started!
NEWLY RANKED:
#35- Inspector Gadget:
The third superhero film out of the Disney library fails to scratch the potential of the popular cartoon character. This action comedy has little laughs, a plot the is eerily similar to Robocop, and lackluster action. Readers voted it at 23.25%. This is a prime example of a kids film that doesn’t need to exist.
Ranked At: 26.8%
#23- The Specials:
Most indie superhero films are known for doing the “superhero with no powers or thinks he has powers”, so you have to give credit for this low budget comedy at least trying something new. Yet it is too painfully uneven in tone and quality to make the grade. Readers voted it in at 48%. It has legitimately funny parts but it’s nothing you wouldn’t find in one episode of Saturday Night Live.
Ranked At: 44%
#15- Mystery Men:
Though definitely not for everyone, Mystery Men is the polar opposite of The Specials. It has a bit more consistent comedy but is thin on plot. Whether this movie appeals to you or not is completely decided by taste (or tolerance) of slapstick comedy. Readers voted it at a 66.8% score.
Ranked At: 58.4%
#12- Blade:
Blade barely misses out on the top ten for the round, coming out just below The Mask. Blade is considered by many to be Marvel’s first good film and readers only agree with that sentiment with a 82.9% reader score. It’s bloody, it’s fun, but it lacks a little in the way of plot and characters. Yet the charismatic screen presence of Wesley Snipes and the great action scenes more than make up for it.
Ranked At: 71.45%
THE TOP TEN COUNTDOWN:
#10- X-Men:
Just barely making it into the top ten list for this round, the X-Men rightfully belongs high up on the list. Featuring strong performances and state of the art effects, X-Men is considered one of the major contributor to comic book adaption’s on a large scale. Readers voted it in at a 77.9%, bringing it close to my initial score.
Ranked At: 73.95%
#9- Unbreakable:
I might not have been as fond of the film as most people on this site but there is no denying that Unbreakable is one of the most original tellings of a superhero origin. Readers voted it in at 79.2%. Featuring strong performances from the leads and an intriguing premise, it only stumbles a few times in the area of dialogue and a couple silly scenes.
Ranked At: 74.6%
#8- Darkman:
Surprisingly Darkman manages to hold onto it’s old spot on the Top Ten list from last round. Seeing a 0.4% rise in the polls, Darkman is artistically appealing and plays off Sam Raimi’s talents for the horror genre, also test piloting is ability to make superhero films. It manages to just squeeze by Unbreakable for the eighth spot.
Ranked At: 74.7%
#7- Batman (1989)
Tim Burton’s critically acclaimed film also continues to rock the Top Ten for the third round. It drops again, this time from the #6 spot but went up .15% in the polls. Batman 1989, like Darkman, is very dependent on its director’s visionary finesse.
Ranked At: 75.7%
#6- Batman Returns:
Again, coming out just a little bit ahead of the first film is the sequel. Batman Returns saw a very small drop in the polls with a 0.1% decline. It features a great balancing of villains, a stronger story, but unfortunately the title character again seems to take a back seat. It also drops one placement in the list from it’s previous spot at #5.
Ranked At: 76.8%
#5- The Rocketeer:
This older Disney classic remains high up on the list of the best of the best. It falls from the #4 spot and also drops 0.2% in the polls. Yet the Rocketeer still remains strong and an excellent example of a superhero period piece done right.
Ranked At: 82.3%
#4- Superman: The Movie
Richard Donner’s much beloved film finally fell from the number #3 spot after sitting on it for three rounds in a row. Superman also took a big hit in the polls falling a staggering 3.53% in the polls. Yet Superman’s score is still strong and it remains standing as one of the greatest superhero films to date.
Ranked At: 85.07%
#3- The Mask of Zorro:
Picking up the number 3 slot is the “rebooquel” of the of Zorro. Featuring great performances from the case, almost completely practical effects, and a well written story. It is probably the best Zorro film since the Mark of Zorro. Readers voted it up at an 86.7%.
Ranked At: 88.35%
#2- Robocop:
This cyborg refuses to be moved from his second place standing for the fourth round in a row. Robocop is a triumph of visual effects, social examination, and outright well crafted story. It had a 0.35% drop in the polls.
Ranked At: 89.4%
#1- The Crow:
As for the Crow, he sits proudly on his first places throne, seemingly unstoppable. Still retaining a huge 8.35% lead over Robocop, it will take a lot to beat it. The Crow saw no change in the polls for this week and it might take something as big as The Dark Knight to ultimately beat it.
Ranked At: 97.3%
BOTTOM FIVE- WORST OF THE WORST
#36- Supergirl
This film has come a long way from being the bottom of the list…oh wait. No it hasn’t. Just more crappy films have been made. No matter how bad the Superman films got they never could compete with the horror that was Supergirl. Though it did see a 0.3% rise in the polls.
Ranked At: 26.3%
#37- Nick Fury Agent of Shield:
Joining the other members of the crapfest I viewed this week is the made for TV movie, Nick Fury Agent of Shield. Cheap and badly written, it is fully deserving of the readers 37.1% score. Needless to say, this won’t be airing on TV again any time soon.
Ranked At: 23.55%
#38- Steel:
The movie needs no words to describe it, but perhaps the most accurate are “the poor mans Iron Man” and that is exactly what it is. Take everything good out of Iron Man and you are left with this hollow shell of a film. Readers ranked is at a 35.45%.
Ranked At: 22.73%
#39- Captain America:
A movie hoping for a theatrical release that never came. This cheap adaption of a classic superhero is a mess of bad writing and bad acting. Captain America saw no change in the poll and that helped it too stay at the second worst film reviewed yet. Coming out just a little below Steel.
Ranked At: 22.7%
40- Batman and Robin:
A movie that needs no introduction, being so well known as the killer of the Burton-Schaumacher franchise and the bastardization of one of the most icon characters in comic book history. It is so bad it almost rebounds back into good….but not quite as it is too boring. And downright obnoxious. Readers showed it no sympathy at a 24.25% score.
Ranked At: 17.1%
COMPLETE CURRENT RANKINGS LIST:
1. The Crow…………………………………….97.15%
2. Robocop………………………………………89.4%
3. The Mask of Zorro………………………..88.35%
4. Superman: The Movie…………………..85.07%
5. The Rocketeer……………………………...82.3%
6. Batman Returns…………………………...76.8%
7. Batman (1989)…………………………….75.7%
8. Darkman……………………………………...74.7%
9. Unbreakable………………………………...74.6%
10. X-Men…………………………………………..73.95%
11. The Mask……………………………………...72.25%
12. Blade…………………………………………….71.45%
13. Superman 2…………………………………..69.12%
14. Swamp Thing………………………………...65.25
15. Mystery Men………………………………….58.4%
16. Hero at Large…………………………………58.01%
17. The Phantom…………………………………57.65
18. Toxic Avenger………………………………..56.54%
19. Robocop 2……………………………………..56.08%
20. Danger Diabolik……………………………..49.28%
21. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles…………48.8%
22. Condorman…………………………………….46.15%
23. The Specials……………………………………44%
24. Batman (1966)……………………………….43.4%
25. Superman and the Mole Men…………...43.12%
26. Howard the Duck…………………………….40.25%
27. Batman Forever………………………………39.3%
28. Superfuzz………………………………………..39.23%
29. The Shadow…………………………………….38.6%
30. Spawn……………………………………………..37.13%
31. Superman: Quest for Peace………………32.4%
32. Punisher (1989)………………………………31.85%
33. Superman 3……………………………………..30.65%
34. The Fantastic Four (1994)………………..29.7%
35. Inspector Gadget………………………………26.8%
36. Supergirl…………………………………………..26.3%
37. Nick Fury Agent of Shield………………….23.55%
38. Steel…………………………………………………22.73%
39. Captain America………………………………..22.7%
40. Batman and Robin…………………………….17.1%
So there you have it. Don't like the results GO VOTE and change it in future updates. Follow the links below to check out previous rounds
Previous RANKINGS #3-
http://www.comicbookmovie.com/fansites/100superherodays/news/?a=50228