10 Greatest Superhero Movies of the Last 5 Years, According to Rotten Tomatoes
There has been no shortage of superhero movies, particularly in the last five years, since movies came back from the COVID-19 pandemic and the strikes. Rotten Tomatoes curates scores from critics and audiences to give viewers a sense of how these movies are being received. Critics in particular have had a lot to say about the superhero movies that have been released over the last five years, especially since there have been so many to choose from.
While many of the best superhero movies from the last five years are from Marvel or DC, there are some that feature original characters and stories. Some of the best recent superhero movies have offered new takes on already established and beloved characters. It’s clear from the Rotten Tomato scores that the superhero movies that have resonated most with audiences have focused on presenting emotionally complex characters rather than focusing on endless action sequences.
10
‘Superman’ (2025)
Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer Score: 83%
The most recent adaptation of the Man of Steel has been a massive hit with audiences, who responded to Superman‘s more positive overall vibe. In this version of the story, Superman (David Corenswet) is already well-known to the people of Earth, as are various otherworldly creatures. After preventing a war between Boravia and Jarhanpur, Superman is publicly undermined by Lex Luthor (Nicholas Hoult), who employs a metahuman clone known as Ultraman that the Justice Gang have to fight together.
In a media landscape saturated with origin stories and projects that are supposed to lead into other projects, Superman stands out. It makes sense that critics would appreciate an optimistic story about a superhero simply trying to do his best. Additionally, based on Superman‘s Rotten Tomatoes score, it’s clear that critics responded to the pivot away from the darker tone that’s characterized many of the DCEU projects to date.
9
‘The Batman’ (2022)
Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer Score: 85%
The Batman offers a gritty, noir-inspired reimagining of the iconic DC hero. The movie takes place during Bruce Wayne’s (Robert Pattinson) second year as Batman, and follows him as he investigates a series of cryptic murders committed by the Riddler (Paul Dano). As he digs deeper, he uncovers a web of crime and lies that connects the city’s political figures, mob bosses like Carmine Falcone (John Turturro), and his own family’s hidden past.
The Batman stands out as one of the best superhero movies of the last five years because it creates a dark, immersive Gotham that feels lived-in and real. This version of Bruce Wayne is haunted, isolated, and still forming his identity as a symbol of justice without ever feeling over the top. The fact that this movie showcases Batman as “The World’s Greatest Detective,” also clearly resonated with critics looking for a fresh take on one of the most well-known superheroes of all time.
8
‘The Toxic Avenger’ (2023)
Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer Score: 86%
The Toxic Avenger is a horror-comedy that follows Winston Gooze (Peter Dinklage), a terminally ill janitor who, desperate to afford life-saving treatment, steals from the corrupt pharmaceutical corporation, BTH. After he’s shot and thrown into a batch of toxic sludge, he’s revived and becomes a mutant. With his glowing mop in hand, he takes on the morally bankrupt elites in an often gory and satirical quest for justice.
The Toxic Avenger can be considered one of the best superhero movies of the last five years because it completely commits to its wild premise. Underneath the wild story, there’s a poignant social commentary about the inaccessibility of healthcare for too many people, and the lengths they will go to get the help they need. It also makes sense that critics would appreciate The Toxic Avenger‘s original story that keeps the spirit of the original 1984 movie.
7
‘The Fantastic Four: First Steps’ (2025)
Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer Score: 87%
The Fantastic Four: First Steps is the most recent movie to introduce Marvel’s iconic first family. In this version of the story, Reed Richards (Pedro Pascal), Sue Storm (Vanessa Kirby), Johnny Storm (Joseph Quinn), and Ben Grimm (Ebon Moss‑Bachrach) are already established heroes in a 1960s-inspired, retro-futuristic alternate universe called Earth‑828. When Sue reveals she is expecting, the family must confront the planet—devouring Galactus (Ralph Ineson) and the Silver Surfer (Julia Garner).
With the MCU growing larger and more overstuffed seemingly every day, it makes sense that The Fantastic Four: First Steps would stand out as one of the best superhero movies of the last few years. The movie manages to combine nostalgia and innovation and gives these characters a chance to be in anything other than an origin story. What ultimately sets The Fantastic Four: First Steps apart is the fact that it’s one of Marvel’s most accessible movies, and is a great entry point for new fans.
6
‘Thunderbolts*’ (2025)
Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer Score: 88%
Thunderbolts* follows some of Marvel’s most morally complex characters who are manipulated by CIA director Valentina Allegra de Fontaine (Julia Louis-Dreyfus) into completing a deadly mission. Yelena Belova (Florence Pugh), Bucky Barnes (Sebastian Stan), Ghost (Hannah John-Kamen), John Walker (Wyatt Russell), and Red Guardian (David Harbour) have to put their differences aside to stop Bob Reynolds (Lewis Pullman), a traumatized super-soldier with immense power, whose darker alter-ego known as The Void threatens New York with unimaginable destruction.
It makes sense that Thunderbolts* would be considered one of the best superhero movies of the last few years because the story’s emotional depth is what elevates it above other movies in the genre. Unlike many other superhero blockbusters, Thunderbolts* roots its characters in raw, human emotion, and has them grapple with themes like trauma, depression, guilt, and self-forgiveness. The movie embraces this new group of heroes and allows them to be fully human, which makes it memorable.
5
‘Mortal Kombat Legends: Scorpion’s Revenge’ (2020)
Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer Score: 90%
Mortal Kombat Legends: Scorpion’s Revenge introduces Hanzo Hasashi (Patrick Seitz), the Shirai Ryu grandmaster whose clan, wife, and son are killed, seemingly by Sub‑Zero. After being killed himself, Hanzo is resurrected by the sorcerer Quan Chi (Darin De Paul), who manipulates him into entering the Mortal Kombat tournament under the pretext of being able to seek revenge. As the brutal tournament unfolds, Hanzo learns the truth about who ordered his family to be killed.
Mortal Kombat Legends: Scorpion’s Revenge isn’t a traditional superhero movie. However, the story re-imagines Scorpion not just as a brutal antihero, but as a tragic, vengeance-driven father whose emotional arc adds weight to the typically violent Mortal Kombat lore. The fact that the movie balances staying faithful to the Mortal Kombat lore with telling an original story that fans of the superhero genre can appreciate makes it noteworthy.
4
‘Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings’ (2021)
Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer Score: 92%
Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings follows Shang-Chi (Simu Liu), a skilled martial artist living a quiet life in San Francisco, who is drawn back into the world of his mysterious past when his father, Wenwu (Tony Leung). Wenwu is the leader of the Ten Rings organization, and suddenly re-appears in Shang-Chi’s life. With his sister Xialing (Meng’er Zhang) and best friend Katy (Awkwafina), Shang-Chi confronts the legacy of his family and the trauma of his mother’s death, while uncovering the mystical realm of Ta Lo.
It’s easy to see why Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings is rated so highly by critics, since it represents a milestone for Asian and Asian-American representation in Hollywood. The movie presents characters who are rooted in East Asian traditions and mythology. While this is a culturally authentic story, Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings is also a universal one since it explores themes like identity, grief, and the importance of family.
3
‘Spider-Man: No Way Home’ (2021)
Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer Score: 93%
Spider-Man: No Way Home follows Peter Parker (Tom Holland) as he grapples with the fallout of his identity being exposed to the world. He seeks help from Doctor Strange (Benedict Cumberbatch) to magically erase the public’s memory. By doing so, he accidentally fractures the multiverse, which brings in villains from other dimensions, including Green Goblin (Willem Dafoe), Doc Ock (Alfred Molina), Electro (Jamie Foxx), Sandman (Thomas Haden Church), and Lizard (Rhys Ifans).
Spider-Man: No Way Home is one of the most notable superhero movies of the last five years because it combines fan service, emotional storytelling, and endearing character development. The movie brings together three generations of Spider-Man by having Tom Holland, Andrew Garfield, and Tobey Maguire share the screen. While this could have easily been turned into a gimmick, the story pays tribute to each version of Spider-Man, and what each of these actors has brought to the role.
2
‘Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem’ (2023)
Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer Score: 95%
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem follows the iconic brothers Leonardo (Nicolas Cantu), Donatello (Micah Abbey), Raphael (Brady Noon), and Michelangelo (Shamon Brown Jr.) as they are transformed into humanoid mutants by a mysterious ooze and raised by a rat named Splinter (Jackie Chan) in New York City’s sewers. When they want to experience the world as normal teenagers, they leave the sewer and meet April O’Neil (Ayo Edebiri), an aspiring journalist.
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem is another example of a superhero movie from the last five years that successfully adds a new layer to an already beloved story. It’s not hard to see why this movie is so highly-rated on Rotten Tomatoes, since it reinvigorates a franchise and serves as an entry point for those who aren’t yet familiar with these characters. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem is a heartfelt story about the challenges of being a teenager, which makes the story deeply relatable.
1
‘Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse’ (2023)
Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer Score: 95%
Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse continues the story of Miles Morales (Shameik Moore) as he navigates life as Brooklyn’s only Spider-Man. He’s pulled into the multiverse by Gwen Stacy (Hailee Steinfeld) and introduced to the Spider-Society, a vast network of Spider-People led by the intense Miguel O’Hara (Oscar Isaac). As Miles learns about “canon events” that define every Spider-Man’s fate, he discovers that saving someone he loves may threaten the entire multiverse.
Like its predecessor Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse, Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse is a visually stunning spectacle. Each universe has its own distinct visual language, which makes the movie seem like a comic book that’s been brought to life. Emotionally, each character’s story is devastating as they have to confront the tragedy that’s always been part of Spider-Man’s destiny. At its core, this is a story about taking charge of one’s own destiny, which sets it apart from other recent superhero projects.
