DISCLAIMER: This is not a top ten best CBM list. The films listed in this article are not in order by favorite. They're in chronological order.
SUPERMAN THE MOVIE (1978): The first in it's genre, Superman The Movie directed by Richard Donner set such a high standard of quality, even it's numerous follow-ups couldn't hold a candle to the original. No other CBM could compete with it's success for over a decade. Christopher Reeve delivered a legendary performance in the duel role, balancing physical comedy as Clark Kent with physical prowess as Superman masterfully. Reeve was as tailor fit for the role as the tight spandex out-fit he dons as The Man of Steel. Superman The Movie has the right blend of humor, drama and action that many films in the genre, new and old tried/try to achieve. Some more successful than others. Not only is Superman an essential part of CBM history but an important piece of cinema history as well and deserves to be respected as such.
BATMAN (1989): Eager to get out from under the looming shadow of the campy 1960's Batman television series. Director Tim Burton's dark visual sense was perfect for the more serious approach taken to re-introduce The Dark Knight to modern film audiences. The new approach paid off. Resulting in a phenomenon which rivaled the success to the original Superman film. Though initially fans were reluctant to accept Michael Keaton (a comedic actor) as Batman. Keaton managed to deliver a multi-layered performance, wining over most skeptics. Veteran actor Jack Nicholson is no stranger to being dealt roles that require him to play with less than a full deck (The Shinning). But his performance as Joker really personifies the expression "the bad guy you love to hate." Nicholson also succeeded in making the Clown Prince of Crime even more popular than ever before. Batman re-kindled an interest in a genre that was in danger of extinction.
X-MEN (2000): Before Fantastic Four and Avengers, the first ensemble cast to grace the silver screen in a superhero team film was X-Men. Director Bryan Singer's realistic take on mutant outcasts attempting to overcome persecution and prejudice, through peaceful co-existence was well received by audiences and film critics alike. An accessible socially relevant topic which successfully expanded the genre beyond it's core of fans. Professor Xavier's (Patrick Stewart) peaceful approach vs Magneto's (Ian McKellen) militant agenda is in essence the equivalent of Martin Luther King vs Malcolm X. Two men fighting for equality but choose different methods to achieve similar goals. Australian actor Hugh Jackman's spot-on performance of Wolverine has made him an international super-star. A role he recently reprized for the sixth time. Jackman has become as recognizable as his popular comic book counterpart. X-Men also paved the way for one of the best sequels in it's genre, X2: X-Men United.
SPIDER-MAN (2002): Marvel comics trademark character laid dormant in Hollywood hell for over a decade. But the turn of the century brought the success of X-Men. So the prospect of Spider Man becoming a fully realized cinematic experience was closer to fruition. Under the helm of visionary director Sam Raimi, Spider Man exploded onto theater screens, creating a big-bang, which currently continues to expand the genre. Though many films in the genre preceded Spider Man, it was a movie going experience that hadn't been achieved in the genre since the original Tim Burton directed Batman or director Richard Donner's Superman The Movie. Marvel comics film adaptations really started to snowball, building on Spider Man's momentum. Spider Man also laid the ground-work for it's superior sequel, which set the bar even higher than it predecessor.
SIN CITY (2005): Director Robert Rodredgeze's Sin City is the truest adaptation of a comic book ever produced on film. Also benefiting from the assistance of director Quentin Tarantino and Sin City comic book creator, writer/artist Frank Miller. Retaining all the dialog and visual tone of the graphic novels on which it's based, the film adaptation looses nothing in translation. The perfect transition from page to screen, Sin City is without a doubt the closest a comic book has ever come to coming to life. Sin City was essential in paving the way for direct adaptations such as director Zack Snyder's 300 and Watchmen. Though few film studios have attempted to translate page to screen, it's an endeavor that may prove to be box office gold. If studios such as Warner Bros produced a direct adaptation of one of the most revered graphic novels of all time,The Dark Knight Return (Frank Miller) they might revitalize the Batman franchise yet again. Or if 20th Century Fox produced a direct adaptation of Writer Chris Claremont & artist Frank Miller's Wolverine limited series, X-Men fans may actually rejoice and finally get the Wolverine film they've been waiting for.
THE DARK KNIGHT (2008): Batman Begins deserves all the credit for successfully rebooting the Batman franchise after the massive failure of director Joel Schumacher's ridiculously campy, Batman & Robin (1997). However, Batman Begin's sequel The Dark Knight, directed by Christopher Nolan would go on to be revered (arguably) as the greatest comic book movie of all time. It's main-stream accessibility along with it's Oscar worthy performance from The Late Great Heath Leadger, as Joker (Batman's arch-nemesis), drew attention to the genre like never before. The Dark Knight is essentially the God Father II of comic book movies! Not only is it one of the best in it's genre but also one of the best sequels to ever hit theater screens.
IRON MAN (2008): Under the helm of director John Favruea, Marvel Studios first official comic book movies jump-started the Marvel cinematic universe. With an after-credits scene featuring a cameo by an eye-patch sporting Sam Jackson as S.H.I.E.L.D Director Nick Fury, informing Iron Man of the Avengers initiative. Future Marvel films all strategically followed-suit with cameos, Easter eggs and after credits teasers. All accomplishing there goal. To excite and build anticipation of a big screen Mighty Marvel team-up! Tony Stark/Iron Man played exceptionally well by Robert Downey Jr. not only revitalized the actors career but breathed new life into one of Marvel comics second-tier characters. Catapulting shell-head into icon status, among fellow Marvel trade-mark heroes such as Spider-Man, Hulk and Wolverine.
X-MEN: FIRST CLASS (2011): The poor reception of X-Men III: The Last Stand and X-Men Origins: Wolverine seemed to be the end of what started out as a promising franchise. X-Men: First Class seemed like a lost cause. Early promotional footage didn't help fans from being skeptics either. However, upon it's release a buzz began to spread like wild-fire. Pessimists became optimists. Fans who condemned the film before it's release had to retract their negative, premature judgement. Despite it's two predecessors failure, director Mathew Vaughn and company successfully revitalized the X-Men franchise. Paving the way for future X-Men projects such as director James Mangold's The Wolverine and First Class' highly anticipated sequel, Days of Future Past, which will mark the return of original X-Men & X2: X-Men United director Bryan Singer.
AVENGERS (2012): Marvel Studios: Iron Man, Incredible Hulk, Thor and Captain America collectively laid the ground-work for assembling Earths mightiest heroes on the big-screen. The success of director Joss Whedon's Avengers brook new-ground, not only in the comic book movie genre but in cinema as well. By successfully translating the Marvel comics formula of heroes all existing in a shared universe to film. Other film studios such as 20th Century Fox (X-Men/Fantastic Four), are attempting to do the same. Though Marvel Studios was already giving DC/Warner Bros a run for their money against their power-house Batman franchise, the competition from Avengers kicked Warner Bros rears-into-gear to fast-track the prospect of a Justice League movie. A project that's been put on the back-burner due to box office flops such as Superman Returns and Green Lantern.
MAN OF STEEL (2013): Director Zack Snyder & writer David S. Goyer's modern, darker approach to DC Comics' most iconic and most recognizable Superhero, stirred-up quit a bit of controversy. The films third act is jammed-pact with scenes of excessive violence, leading-up to the films shocking end-game. Whether you agree with Man of Steel's final action sequence or not, by putting him in a no win scenario the film pushes the boundaries of one of the themes most commonly associated with Superman. His value and respect for all life and what he's willing to do in order to protect the innocent. Although, if you consider the devastation caused to Metropolis in the wake of Superman's battle with Zod and company the films message is a big contradiction. The main reason Man of Steel is featured on a list of essential comic book movies is it's success being essential to the foundation of the DC cinematic universe. Green-lighting the Batman vs Superman sequel to Man of Steel and hopefully the much talked about and anticipated Justice League film.
If I missed any films that you think are essential to the expansion to the genre, please feel free to sound off below. As if you need my permission. Thanks for reading.