The 11 Best Comic Book Movies You Can Stream Right Now, From Superman to Deadpool
It's a bird… it's a plane… it's a great way to spend your couch time!
DEADPOOLRyan Reynolds is Marvel Comics’ most unconventional anti-hero, DEADPOOL.Photo Credit: Joe LedererTM & © 2015 Marvel & Subs. TM and © 2015 Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation. All rights reserved. Not for sale or duplication.Joe Lederer
With Logan still slicing up the box office and Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2, Wonder Woman, Spider-Man: Homecoming, Thor: Ragnarok, and Justice League on the way, there’s certainly no shortage of superheroes on the big screen. But they're all over the small screen, too. From Superman: The Movie to Guillermo del Toro's Hellboy, Hollywood's back catalog is full of comic book movies that have reinvented, or simply reinvigorated, the genre. Here’s the best of what you can currently find on Netflix, Hulu, and Amazon. It's a bird… it's a plane… it's a great way to spend your couch time!
- With its mix of cutting-edge special effects, genuine humor, and total sincerity, Richard Donner's *Superman* set the standard for every comic book movie that followed. After being sent to Earth from Krypton as a baby, Kal-El is adopted by a Kansas couple who are aware of the boy’s superhuman abilities. Raised as Clark Kent (Christopher Reeve), the Kryptonian makes his way to Metropolis, where he works as a reporter and harbors a crush on colleague Lois Lane (Margot Kidder). When the planet is threatened by mastermind Lex Luthor (Gene Hackman), Kent—as Superman—inadvertently becomes the news as he fights to save Earth and maintain his secret identity. What a difference a pair of glasses makes! Where to stream it: Netflix
- For many American moviegoers, Katsuhiro Ôtomo’s *Akira* was their introduction into the world of anime—and what a wild initiation it was. Based on Ôtomo’s own magna series, the film starts with a nuclear explosion that sets off World War III then fast-forwards 30 years into the future. In 2019, Tokyo (now known as Neo-Tokyo) has become a crime-ridden dystopia where gang violence, organ harvesting, terrorism, and the abuse of military power are everyday occurrences. But when teenage pals Kaneda and Tetsuo happen upon a secret government project, they might just be the city's best bet for a brighter future. Where to stream it: Hulu
- Though one could argue that Christopher Nolan's trio of Dark Knight flicks (which can all be rented or purchased on Amazon, for a price) are more compelling, Tim Burton's signature creepy-but-kitschy *Batman* helped pave the way for more serious comic book movies. It also helped to remind the world of Michael Keaton's enviable range as an actor. Keaton plays billionaire bachelor Bruce Wayne, who spends his days wandering around his massive estate and his nights fighting Gotham's most nefarious criminals, including The Joker (Jack Nicholson), using a range of high-tech gadgets and a pretty tight-fitting batsuit. Where to stream it: Amazon
- There’s a certain amount of morbid fascination surrounding *The Crow*, since star Brandon Lee (son of Bruce Lee) was [mortally wounded](http://articles.latimes.com/1993-04-01/news/mn-17681_1_actor-brandon-lee) during filming—an incident made even more resonant by the fact that in the film Lee’s Eric Draven is resurrected after being shot, stabbed, and thrown out of a window while attempting to fight off a gang of miscreants who were attacking his fiancée. But pull all the real-life tragedy away and *The Crow* remains a stellar vigilante story, with Alex Proyas’ dark and moody style proving a perfect fit for James O’Barr's gritty comic book series. Where to stream it: Netflix
- By imbuing his *Spider-Man* with the same sense of whimsy that turned his *Evil Dead* franchise into an instant classic, Sam Raimi created a new kind of superhero movie—one where the protagonist's life as an average kid could be just as compelling as his life fighting crime. Tobey Maguire, as Peter Parker, expertly projected the excitement, fear, and uncertainty that comes with newfound superherodom in *Spider-Man*, and as a result it's one of the most relatable origin stories around (well, minus the radioactive spider). Where to stream it: Amazon
- *American Splendor’*s meta take on the comic book phenomenon—and the everyday people who are turned into superheroes because of the medium—makes it one of the most unique films within the genre. Paul Giamatti (whose Oscar snub remains one of the Academy’s biggest missteps) plays Harvey Pekar, the curmudgeonly file-clerk-turned-author of the *American Splendor* comic book series, which finds fascinating details in the mundaneness of everyday life. The film itself is a masterpiece in style, mixing Giamatti’s portrayal of Pekar with real footage of the man himself and animated versions of his comics. Where to stream it: Amazon
- James McTeigue did the Wachowkis, his longtime mentors plus the writers and producers on this project, proud when he managed to successfully translate Alan Moore’s moody style to the big screen with *V for Vendetta*. Hugo Weaving plays V, an anarchist in a Guy Fawkes mask who is attempting to overthrow England’s new fascist-like regime with the help of Evey (Natalie Portman), a young woman whose commitment to the cause eventually overpowers her personal feelings of right versus wrong. Though Moore and his fans aren’t often enthusiastic about adaptations of his work, *V for Vendetta* struck a powerful enough chord with real-life freedom fighters that V’s mask has become an easily recognized symbol of protest. Where to stream it: Netflix
- Today, Iron Man is one of Marvel’s biggest assets. But back when his first standalone movie hit theaters, it was a bit of a scrappy endeavor. At the time, Robert Downey Jr. was still doing penance for his wilder days and his bankability was questionable. Director Jon Favreau thought Downey was a great fit for the role of Tony Stark—but he had to fight for it. Good thing he did. The actor brings just the right amount wisdom, baggage, swagger, and humor to Stark, who uses his tech know-how to engineer the ultimate superhero. Where to stream it: Amazon, Hulu
- Modern master of horror Guillermo del Toro used his talent for terror—and passion for Mike Mignola’s Hellboy character—to create a comic book movie that ably mixes horror, action, comedy, and the paranormal into one visually stunning feature. Originally summoned to Earth while still an infant demon by the Nazis during World War II, Hellboy (Ron Perlman) grows up to defend the world against just those kinds of dark forces. Perlman’s commitment to the role of the bright-red demon only adds to the feeling that everyone was having fun with this one. Where to stream it: Netflix
- Like *Hellboy*, the *Captain America* franchise’s tendency to politicize its entries is one of the things that helps it stand out from its fellow comic book adaptations. Its most recent installment sees Captain America (Chris Evans) and Iron Man (Robert Downey Jr.) facing off over the role—if any—government should play in determining which causes are worth defending for a superhero. The disagreement becomes so heated the rest of the Avengers feel forced to pick sides... and nothing good ever comes from dividing a team of people who kick ass for a living. Where to stream it: Netflix
- *Deadpool* spent more than a decade as a non-starter—Ryan Reynolds signed on to play the Merc with a Mouth in 2005—but once it got its green light it completely took off, making more than $780 million worldwide at the box office. A mix of pop culture savvy, ultra violence, and dark blue humor, *Deadpool* is now an instant classic of the genre—even if it doesn't look like any other comic adaptation that came before it. It also stays true to its roots, with Reynolds spending most of the movie seeking revenge on the doctor who turned him into Deadpool with an experimental cancer treatment that left him feeling no pain but looking not-so-hot. Where to stream it: Amazon
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Back to topJennifer M. Wood writes about movies, television, and pop culture. She is the editor of The Curious Viewer: A Miscellany of Bingeable Streaming TV Shows from the Past Twenty Years and the author of The Curious Movie Buff: A Miscellany of Fantastic Films from the Past 50 Years. ... Read More
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