CBM Top 5: Greatest Superhero/Comic Book Movie Actors of All Time

CBM Top 5: Greatest Superhero/Comic Book Movie Actors of All Time

My opinion on the greatest superhero actors of ALL TIME! Check it out!

Editorial Opinion
By CaptainDC - Jun 09, 2011 04:06 PM EST
Filed Under: Spider-Man

Hey comic book movie members, today I'm back to tell you my opinion on the greatest superhero actors of all time. This is the second of many to come of my "CBM Top 10" or "Top 5." If you'd like to check out my last article on the greatest comic book movies of the 21st century this link is: http://comicbookmovie.com/comic_news/news/?a=36451 I got pretty good feedback last time, and I've been watching supehero movies ever since I can remember. Please leave you comments, questions, or your own list in the comments below, and hope you enjoy!

5) Tobey Maguire as Spiderman/Peter Parker: Spider-Man (2002), Spider-Man 2 (2004), Spider-Man 3 (2007)

Is this the most controversial pick on my list? Yes it is, but were the first two Spider-Man's amazing? Yes they were! Holding the 9th and 2nd spot on my best comic book movies of the 21st century, Tobey Maguire did lead this film in the direction it needed to go. The second highest grossing supehero franchise of all time, the first two Spider-Man were so new and bold that people just fell in love with Spider-Man. He wasn't the greatest actor sure, but like it or not Maguire has still led us to love the first two films. The third one is terrible so that might twist your view, but without that film, you just have to love it. He played a quite, friendly hero that we've never seen before. But when he's in that suit, he's a different person, a hero that can defeat the Green Goblin and Doctor Octopus. As time rolls on, someone will replace his spot, but until then, this number 5 spot belongs to the leader of the franchise that is now, Spider-Man.



4) Hugh Jackman as Wolverine/Logan: X-Men (2000), X2 (2003), X-Men: The Last Stand (2006), X-Men Origins: Wolverine (2009), X-Men: First Class (2011) (Uncredited)

Wolverine has been the main reason for the success of the X-Men franchise. The third highest grossing supehero franchise, Wolverine has practically stepped up as the X-Men's most popular character. We've seen Logan/Wolverine progress through the years, each time giving an even more impressive performance. Hugh Jackman fits the role perfectly, this has been made evident when being the only X-Men character to have his own movie. When you think of Wolverine, Hugh Jackman pops up straight into your head, earning his way easily at the number 4 spot, and arguably can fill the third or maybe even second spot too.



3) Robert Downey Jr. as Iron Man/Tony Stark: Iron Man (2008), Iron Man 2 (2010), The Avengers (2012)

You know when someone is an amazing superhero when with only two movies they are number 4 on the highest grossing supehero franchises of all time. Iron Man's success mostly goes to Robert Downey Jr., whose witty humor, intelligence, and badass superhero suit makes him the supehero figure he's become in the past 4 years. Both movies hold there own in my greatest comic book movies of the 21st century, and it's hard to not enjoy Robert Downey Jr.'s excellent performance as one of our favorite superheroes, Iron Man. And if you loved him in the first two Iron Man's, imagine him in The Avengers, he's incredible.



2) Christian Bale as Batman/ Bruce Wayne: Batman Begins (2005), The Dark Knight (2008), The Dark Knight Rises (2012)

You can't disagree with our favorite hero, Batman, can you? The star actor of the third and first best movies on my top list of the 21st century has to be here. He's given a more darker, edgier Batman that we always dreamed of. The Dark Knight is the 7th highest grossing film of all time! He's made us believe that there can be a real life Batman, and with all of the skill and effort Bale put in to make Batman come alive in the first film, and then develop the Dark Knight into this hero unlike no other is extraordinary. This third film coming to us next year, and I'm sure Bale is going to make the Dark Knight as badass as it gets. Between fighting, his love interests, and his way of handling himself as both Wayne and Batman, truly makes him the second greatest supehero actor ever!



1) Christopher Reeve as Superman/Clark Kent: Superman (1978), Superman II (1980), Superman III (1983), Superman IV: The Quest for Peace (1987)

The most popular superhero in the world is undoubtably Superman. The first superman of 1978 changed supehero/action movies for ever. It was revolutionary, it was perfect, and it was even captivating. Superman II also was spectacular, General Zod's famous saying came to life, and Superman proved his stardom. Christopher Reeve is Superman, enough said. He had the look, the acting skill, the strength, the height, everything! Anybody that grew up during the 70's or 80's knows just how great Christopher Reeve is. He doesn't give an "oscar worthy performance," but it wasn't needed, everything that was needed was given, and it was simply PERFECT. Superman started it all, without Reeve's power as the role of "The Man of Steel," movies like The Dark Knight, Iron Man, X-Men, Spiderman, etc.... would have never happened the way it did. Reeve was inspiring, he was a role model! Henry Cavill, Dean Cain, Brandon Routh, Tom Welling, they can all do a good job of being Superman. But never, ever will anyone be Christopher Reeve, and do what he has done for the supehero film industry.



Thanks for reading CBMers, I hope you enjoyed. Please leave you comments and own personal opinons down below, I'd love to hear them! Also if you like this, give it the thumbs up! If you like this, stay tuned because more top 5/10's are one there way!!!
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crimsoncrusader
crimsoncrusader - 6/9/2011, 6:17 PM
@ Intruder. What about?
Henry Cavill (Clark Kent/Superman)
Christian Bale (Bruce Wayne/Batman)
BrotherQStark
BrotherQStark - 6/9/2011, 6:24 PM
@crimsoncrusader Naw I'm going to have to agree with Intruder
superbatspiderman
superbatspiderman - 6/9/2011, 7:01 PM
I probably would have put Robert Downey Jr. before Christian Bale mainly because of the batman voice but Bale is still the best Batman ever.
BIGBMH
BIGBMH - 6/9/2011, 7:27 PM
Come now. Ruffalo and Renner kicking Reeve, Jackman, and Bale off the list? Nah.
Jagfan28
Jagfan28 - 6/9/2011, 8:25 PM
@CaptainDC Couldn't you also put The Incredible Hulk alongside Robert Downey, Jr. even though he was uncredited?

Not complaining, it was a great article; I was just wondering.
LP4
LP4 - 6/9/2011, 9:42 PM
My top two are Heath Ledger and Robert Downey Jr.

I'd also like to put Michael Keaton on my list...and Ed Norton.

LP4
LP4 - 6/10/2011, 1:01 AM
@BaneKill- Ah shiznit! You're right. I shoulda read the article better. lol

Yeah scratch Ledger then. I guess I'd just put Downey, Keaton, Reeve...hard to say the others. Oh yeah Norton.

profamagoole
profamagoole - 6/10/2011, 7:23 AM
Don't disagree with your 5, but I put Bale's @ 5 under the others.
PaulRom
PaulRom - 6/10/2011, 9:44 AM
1. RDJ as Iron Man
2. Hugh Jackman as Wolverine
3. Heath Ledger as Joker
4. Tom Hiddleston as Loki
5. Christian Bale as Batman
TheShadow
TheShadow - 6/10/2011, 10:12 AM
@Intruder
More like this....
5.Liam Neeson-Ra's Al Ghul
4.Tom Hardy-Bane
3.Anne Hathaway-Catwoman
2.Christian Bale-Batman
1.Heath Ledger-Joker
Nice try...
ArthurNumeriano
ArthurNumeriano - 6/10/2011, 11:50 AM
For the next year these will be the best five, in my opinion:

1. Andrew Garfield - Peter Parker/Spider-Man
2. Tom Hardy - Bane
3. Robert Downey Jr. - Tony Stark/Iron Man
4. Mark Ruffalo - Bruce Banner/Hulk
5. Anne Hathaway - Selina Kyle/Catwoman
x2SMONEY
x2SMONEY - 6/10/2011, 12:00 PM
Now, while I respect all of your opinions, some of you are just saying cerain people because you like the character they portray the most. Its kinda obvious that Christian Bale is the best actor up there, between the Batman franchise and The Fighter its become obvious. The point of who the best SUPERHERO actor is can be argued. It really depends on which actor portrayed the character the best, but basically everyone on this site will just argue for their favorite character, so we'll never really know for sure
doibydickles
doibydickles - 6/10/2011, 12:55 PM
5. George Reeves - Superman / Clark Kent
4. Ron Perlman - Hellboy
3. Heath Ledger - Joker - Dark Knight
2. Mickey Rourke - Marv - Sin City
1. Hugo Weaving - V for Vendetta
vermillion
vermillion - 6/10/2011, 2:17 PM
Intruder is like that not funny guy that comes up before the funny guy that everyone paid to see... ;P I kid.
TheDetectiveComicRises
TheDetectiveComicRises - 6/10/2011, 10:07 PM
Good list, I definetly agree with the first two Reeve & Bale....@SUPERBATSPIDERMAN sorry but Bale comes b4 Downy Jr. on my list two because bale is a great method character actor not say RD jr. isnt but I enjoy Bales Batman/Bruce Wayne better than RD Jr. IronMan/Tony Stark but don't get me wrong I like both & also Hugh would come b4 Downy Jr. on my list as well.

As for Bale's Bat voice, he is an actor and he is doing his job he is following the directives given to him plus think about it if U meet Batman U want to be able to not tell it is Bruce Wayne because Bruce is well known in Gotham and Worldwide plus Batman is suppose to be terrifying and Bale's Batman is suppose to be separated from the rest of the previuous Batman actors.

My honorale mention would have to be Michael Keaton & Heath Ledger...I understand why Heath was not in ur top 5 but if we would have seen him at least one more time as The Joker he would be in there I'm sure
superbatspiderman
superbatspiderman - 6/11/2011, 11:54 AM
@cbegin09 - I didn't mind Bale's Batman voice in Bastman Begins and the begining of The Dark Knight but by the end of the Dark Knight he was starting to over do the voice and he just sounded ridiculous. I would have put Heath Ledger in the list and not as an honorable mention because he owned the role and reinvented The Joker for the better.
TheDetectiveComicRises
TheDetectiveComicRises - 6/11/2011, 3:20 PM
@SUPERBATSPIDERMAN, understood & I respect your points :)
Simply7Muggs
Simply7Muggs - 6/11/2011, 7:00 PM
Micheal Keaton is a must for this list. His Bruce Wayne was spot on. I like Viggo Mortinson in A History of Violence. But that movie does not have a comic book feel even though it is a graphic novel. Hands down the single best performance goes to Heath's joker.
IndigoDevil
IndigoDevil - 6/12/2011, 1:09 AM
I think Heath Ledger should be #2 cause he was just AWESOME as The Joker.
A6K
A6K - 6/12/2011, 6:52 AM
Lists and Fanboy sites are bad ideas.
blackcelebration
blackcelebration - 6/13/2011, 12:33 PM
Err Marlon Brando is obviously number 1... I mean, he's considered one of the greatest actors of all time... HELLO!!!

Only kidding, but, if you're going by performance in a comic book movie, then Reeves is the undisputed number 1.
batman92
batman92 - 7/20/2011, 4:31 PM
1 Christan bale / batman
2 Christopher reeve / superman
3 heath ledger / joker
4 Jackie Earle Haley / Rorschach
5 Ryan Reynolds / green lantern
View Recorder