The superhero film is a much-celebrated genre in contemporary Hollywood, and it has definitely hit its stride over the last decade or so. There’s been a long cycle of films adapted from comic books and feature heroic characters with superhuman powers, coupled with a rich diversity of villains. Here’s a quick look at the genre.
Since the 1930s, superheroes have been part of the hinterland of American cinema, with characters like Flash Gordon, Buck Rogers, and Superman appearing not just in comic books but also newspaper comic strips, radio serials, and television. Note, though, that the dedicated, large-budget superhero film that enjoys special effects is a relatively new phenomenon, one that is traceable to the blockbuster “Superman” in 1978 and its sequels.
Image source: Collider.com
There’s also the success of Tim Burton’s “Batman” in 1989, which offered a rebooting of a preexisting superhero and combines adult themes, morality, and a dark mise-en-scène with intense fight sequences.
This and previous superhero films encouraged Hollywood to further explore superhero franchises through the ‘90s.
Several franchises defined this genre. 2000’s “X-Men” is noteworthy, with filmmaker Bryan Singer and company opting for something realistic to ground general audiences who were not previously familiar with the characters. “Spider-Man” in 2002 also had a profound effect on the genre, which featured a spectacle that deviated a bit from the dark, far more serious “X-Men,” albeit with touches of director Sam Raimi’s dark humor.
“Catwoman” (2004), “Elektra” (2005), “Batman Begins” (2005), “The Dark Knight” (2008), “Iron Man” (2008), “The Avengers” (2012), and “Deadpool” (2016) are just some of the many that helped the superhero film further flourish and attain massive commercial and artistic success.
Jeff Mohlman is a college student at the University of Ohio who unwinds by sharing his thoughts on movies and art online. More on his interests here.
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