Superhero movies have ruled the box office in the past decade and these 25 actors and actresses have delivered some of the greatest superhero movie performances of the past 10 years!
If you’re a fan of the superhero movie genre, then welcome to the golden age. Superhero movies were once an every so often event. Now you’ll see at least three or four of them a year. The performances have evolved over time as well.
Actors can’t phone in performances anymore. Just look at Joaquin Phoenix in Joker. His portrayal of Arthur Fleck (Joker) was so well done that it’ll be shocking if he isn’t nominated for an award in 2020. Before him, Heath Ledger took home the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor. Not everyone can play these roles well, though, as we’ve seen some A-List stars fail despite their best efforts.
Not everyone is going to be a 10 out of 10. And every flawless superhero movie performance isn’t equal. Some of these performances are better for multiple reasons. Jack Nicholson and Heath Ledger both played classic interpretations of the Joker. Although, they were iconic for different reasons, to some Heath was the better of the two because he was dark and gritty. Others choose Nicholson because he was more like the comic book.
Coming up, we have the best 25 superhero movie performances from the past decade (2010 to 2019). Actors who played heroes and villains and were stunning in their roles. We’ll look at things like longevity, importance to the movie, interpretation of the character, and their potential going forward.
25. Zazie Beetz
Superhero Movie: Deadpool 2
In Deadpool 2 Zazie Beetz was one of those actors who stole scenes when she was in them. It didn’t matter if she was on the screen with Josh Brolin or Ryan Reynolds. Domino had moments where she was dominant. Not an easy feat considering the actors, Deadpool and Cable are more popular than Domino. Zazie delivered all of her lines to perfection. Then there were the action scenes. Luck powers couldn’t have been easy to portray, yet Zazie made it look simple.
Despite only being in one superhero movie, there’s major potential there. An X-Force movie is hopefully still in the works. As exciting as that is, a solo Domino movie is a more thrilling thought. Zazie as Domino would be like the Deadpool movies with all of the comedy and violence. It would also have a deep backstory with the orphanage. She dropped a bomb letting us know she was abused there. It would be nice to see how she escaped and how it affected her life.
Since Domino’s origin story is unknown the creators won’t have to worry about backlash. This will really get a chance to explore who Domino is. There aren’t any rated-R Marvel Cinematic Universe movies. Adding Domino would be a genius decision and Zazie Beetz is ready for a big time starring role.
24. Viola Davis as Amanda Waller
Superhero Movie: Suicide Squad
No matter how bad Suicide Squad may have been, Viola Davis was a terrific representation of Amanda Waller. She was an angry, serious, and ruthless leader, just like she is in the pages of the comic books. It looked like she ever cracked a smile in her life. Furthermore, she performed it well too.
Viola Davis kept that same angry face and demeanor the entire film. When she shot some of her employees, she remained cold and sullen. It was so evil the killers on the Suicide Squad were shocked. No one else could have pulled this off.
Suicide Squad will be looked at as a disappointment for multiple reasons to fans of the superhero movie genre. The story as well as some of the acting and characters were just awful. One thing is for certain, Amanda Waller won’t be criticized.
She was a bright spot in a terrible movie, which is why she’s returning for the next Suicide Squad theatrical release. It’s an easy bet to make that she will come back and be better than she was before. Director James Gunn (Guardians of the Galaxy) will utilize her more than she was in the previous movie. As good as she was then, she’ll be better this time around.
23. Jason Momoa as Aquaman
Superhero Movies: Justice League, Aquaman
No one liked Aquaman due to their ignorance. “Why should we care about a guy who talks to fish?” Easy, by adding the popular and handsome Jason Momoa.
He was entertaining from start to finish. He had a bunch of funny one liners, his action was well placed, and, more importantly, he was a cool Aquaman. Momoa made his DCEU debut (technically) in Batman V Superman; his stamp on the character came during Justice League; and he became a star in Aquaman.
Before Jason Momoa, no one had any faith in the Aquaman project. It’s doubtful many people wanted one at all. With the exception of Wonder Woman, there wasn’t much to get DC Comic fans excited. When Aquaman debuted, it was loved.
All of the overly dark tones that people liked stayed, but what Momoa added was much-needed glee and humor. He was still the tough and rugged Aquaman from Justice League, except he came with a lovable and fun personality. That was the thing that was missing from the DCEU. Levity. There were even jokes about him talking to fish. Momoa is one of the few reasons moviegoers have faith in future DC Comics movies. He will be around as long as he wants to play the King of Atlantis.
22. Letitia Wright as Shuri
Superhero Movies: Black Panther, Avengers: Infinity War, Avengers: Endgame
Black Panther was full of inspiring characters. Especially the women. They weren’t just fighters or brains. They had both. Among those was T’Challa’s youngest sister, Shuri.
Shuri is one of the smartest people in the world. She even made Bruce Banner look foolish. However, when it was time to fight, she put on her gauntlets and fired attack. Without her gauntlets, she was just as deadly. She didn’t lose a step when she came back in Avengers: Endgame. Shuri was one of the women in the front making a hole for Captain Marvel.
The scene where Shuri gave T’Challa his new suit showed us everything we needed to know. Letitia Wright played both the annoying and supportive little sister. Try thinking about that scene without smiling. Or the scene where she stood up during T’Challa’s open challenge and said this was a waste of time. She’s the personification of a little sister.
Most importantly, Shuri was one of the many women who couldn’t help but shine whenever she was on screen. Hopefully we’ll get the comic book version of her when she’s the Black Panther. Ms. Wright has all the talent and skill to pull it off. To show off a Black Panther who relies on technology more than mysticism.
21. Margot Robbie as Harley Quinn
Superhero Movie: Suicide Squad
Margot Robbie was flawless as Harley Quinn. She adds all of Harley’s qualities, moving with the fluidity of a ballerina, acting like an idiot but still showing her genius intellect, and still managing to play the murderous psychopath that everyone loved. We knew that Margot Robbie could act. What we didn’t know is that she would be able to outshine Will Smith and Viola Davis in Suicide Squad.
Since the movie wasn’t good, Margot was going to be unfairly judged. It’s hard to pick out the flowers in a pile of trash. Regardless of that, Margot Robbie’s flowers bloomed. So much so that she was given the starring role in the upcoming Birds of Prey: And the Fantabulous Emancipation of One Harley Quinn movie. All we’ve seen is the preview and she looks better than she previously did. Putting her in the starring role was smart. Margot is a box office draw that can carry a movie on her own and hopefully start a franchise.
Margot has only been in one movie, but she’s proven to be better than a lot of the superhero movie actors that have come before her. In ten years, you better believe we’ll be looking at her as one of the better representations of a character. Had she been in more than one project she’d be higher on this list.
20. Samuel L. Jackson as Nick Fury
Superhero Movies: Iron Man 2, Captain America: The Winter Soldier, Captain Marvel, Spider-Man: Far From Home, The Avengers franchise
Do people really appreciate what Samuel L. Jackson did for the Marvel Cinematic Universe? You can’t cast just anyone to play Nick Fury. Jackson added smoothness to the spy game, while being dangerous. Fury needed to be someone who could talk down to some of the toughest members of S.H.I.E.L.D. and the most power heroes in the world and make it believable. He looked at literal gods and didn’t flinch. You can’t throw anyone in that spot and expect them to succeed. That is what made Sam Jackson good. Then again, Sam Jackson makes everything look good.
Nick Fury is an important part of Marvel Comics and the MCU. Just because we don’t see him a lot doesn’t mean he isn’t valuable. Sam Jackson helped get the MCU started in Iron Man by mentioning the Avengers. A simple line that could have gone wrong. If someone stumbled on that sentence or made it seem corny, it would have ruined the plan Marvel Studios had.
Instead, Jackson helped usher in a new age of superhero movies. When he returned in other MCU movies, he always seemed to have a crucial role. Nick Fury and Sam Jackson’s contribution is definitely under appreciated.
19. Henry Cavill as Superman
Superhero Movies: Man of Steel, Batman V Superman, Justice League
People love to trash the DCEU superhero movie franchise. Almost like it’s the cool thing to do. The movies are too dark or the characters aren’t like the comic books they love. Some of that may be true, but it doesn’t tell the entire story. Not all of the DCEU movies are bad. In fact, Man of Steel may be their most complete project, largely due to Henry Cavill’s performance as Clark Kent and Superman. Yes, you have to separate the two; they’re two different characters. Superman is the hero who inspires the world while in public, while Clark Kent is the mild-mannered reporter and friend. Henry Cavill did a bang up playing both.
The one negative that people had was that he killed General Zod in Man of Steel. However, his reaction was perfect. The look of sorrow after he snapped Zod’s neck was exactly what we’d expect. Then, to see him break down in tears after was everything we needed to see. That should have been enough to quiet the comments.
Cavill showed personality. He had the same infectious smile as Superman, he was funny, and looked the part when he was fighting villains. During Justice League, it was entertaining watching him fight alongside his teammates. Before that, there was a scene where he came back to life (that you can see above). A different side was on display. The one that proved that Superman could do whatever he wanted whenever he wanted. A quick glimpse of what Batman saw in his dream. Sure, Cavill’s Superman wasn’t exactly like the comic, but it was still damn good.
18. Ben Affleck as Batman/Bruce Wayne
Superhero Movies: Batman V Superman, Justice League
It doesn’t matter who plays Batman, they’re going to be criticized. It didn’t matter if it was Michael Keaton, Christian Bale or George Clooney — OK, that last one was justified. Now, enter Ben Affleck, an actor who’s received more criticism than almost anyone. No one believed in him. Well, how do you like them apples? Affleck killed it.
Unlike some of the other actors who have played the character, Affleck was great as both Bruce Wayne and the Dark Knight. There’s a scene where Wonder Woman and Bruce were at a party and Affleck did a fantastic job playing the oblivious playboy and then switching to the guy looking for information.
Not seeing Affleck as Batman in a solo Batman movie is disappointing as his franchise could have been one of the best. We were going to get a Batman that may have been more raw than Christopher Nolan’s Dark Knight Trilogy. Look at the things Batman did to Luthor’s goons. Batman was brutal. He took them apart without impunity. You could feel every blow he dished out. Some of them were certainly killed. At the very least they were crippled.
This Bruce Wayne had another quality that some of the others didn’t. He was a detective. That’s a huge part of what makes Batman the dominant force that he is. Everything about him was what people wanted Batman. Especially an older Batman. Playing a regular guy who’s taken a lot of punishment as Batman over the years and it took a toll on him. People can say whatever they like about Justice League and Batman V Superman, but Affleck rocked.
17. Brie Larson as Captain Marvel
Superhero Movies: Captain Marvel, Avengers: Endgame
The role of Captain Marvel was going to be a key one to fill. It had to be played by someone who can carry the torch of the most powerful being in the universe. More importantly, she would be the first woman in the Marvel Cinematic Universe to lead a franchise.
Brie Larson was picked and one of the first things she did was take a picture to commemorate the news. She was laying on the couch in Captain Marvel pajamas reading a Captain Marvel comic book. Anybody who was a fan of comic books was happy. She showed how into the character she was. Captain Marvel debuted and we saw she did her homework and applied it.
One of the first things you’ll notice is Brie Larson’s swagger as Captain Marvel. She never acted like she couldn’t win. That’s straight out of the comics. She understood her power and her worth as a person and hero. Seeing what she means to the MCU and the Avengers, that confidence is needed. On top of the belief she had in herself, she was funny. The, “Hey, Peter Parker” scene and the smile she gave Thor in Endgame was hilarious. It’ll be interesting to see what happens with her next. Especially when she’s the one leading her squad and saying, “Avengers Assemble.”
16. Dave Bautista as Drax
Superhero Movies: The Guardians of the Galaxy franchise, Avengers: Infinity Wars, Avengers: Endgame
Stay calm and don’t look! Drax is standing next to you. He’s standing entirely still so you can’t see him. It’s moments like this that made Drax, one of the most recognized characters in the MCU.
Not every character has to have a profound story to have great performance. Drax was more of the comic relief. That’s not to say that Drax didn’t have depth. His family was murdered and he spent years looking to get revenge. One moment almost cost him and his teammates their lives. In his own way, his talk with Mantis helped her move on from Ego.
To say that Dave Bautista was a surprise is an understatement. He was fresh off of his time in the WWE. No one knew how good he’d be. He’d played in a few roles before he was Drax, but this was his big break. He crushed it. His inability to deliver sarcasm, rage when he was fighting, and goofy actions were a perfect fit to the Guardians of the Galaxy.
Hopefully we’ll get more of him in the MCU superhero movie franchise. Not just with the Guardians of the Galaxy. He would be a welcomed addition to any MCU movie. Maybe we’ll see him if Marvel Studios does an intergalactic phase like Annihilation. If that happens, we may see another side of Drax; a caring big brother.
15. Michael B. Jordan as Erik Killmonger
Superhero Movie: Black Panther
Some superhero movie villains are good because of their fighting ability, ruthless nature, or intelligence. Others became popular because of the reason they fought. Killmonger had all of this and more.
He was one of the best fighters in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. He defeated T’Challa, took over Wakanda, and held his own against the Dora Milaje. His unrelenting ruthlessness allowed him to realize anyone is expendable if it furthered his goals. He was smart enough to formulate a plan to get in Wakanda. Lastly, his reason for revenge was something that fans related to. Simply put, Michael B. Jordan portrayed a lesser known antagonist and made him a superior villain.
"“Bury me in the ocean, with my ancestors that jumped from the ships, because they knew death was better than bondage.” -Erik Killmonger"
Michael B. Jordan has become one of the more well-liked actors in Hollywood. This role propelled him to another level. He showcases sides of Killmonger we hadn’t seen: an aggressive killer and genius strategist. Jordan made Killmonger look smooth as well.
Despite killing innocent people, Killmonger was likable. It was like he could do no wrong. In the end, Jordan delivered one of the best lines in the movie. Even in death, he still shined. Don’t be sad. I’d wager Killmonger will return. Michael B. Jordan was too good and Ryan Coogler is a creative genius. He’ll find a way to bring him back in a future project.
14. Danai Gurira as Okoye
Superhero Movies: Black Panther, Avengers: Infinity War, Avengers: Endgame
Okoye was another character in Black Panther who wasn’t well known, including among those who are fans of Marvel Comics as well. This meant Ryan Coogler had a character who he could mold into something better than we’ve seen.
DanaiGurira made her stamp as Michonne in AMC’s show The Walking Dead. When she was cast as the Wakandan warrior Okoye, people were ecstatic. She was a bad-@$$ in The Walking Dead, so there was no reason to doubt her ahead of her superhero movie debut. She exceeded what anybody thought she would do, so much that she put on a better performance than Michael B. Jordan as Killmonger.
"“For Wakanda, without question.”- Okoye"
It didn’t matter who was on-screen. Danai Gurira stole the show. She had an aura that couldn’t be hidden. There were scenes where she was flat-out hilarious such as scenes with her being annoyed by the wig she was wearing or calling guns primitive while she was using a spear. She also had intensity. Delivering that line where she pointed her spear and told her love that she’d drop him without question let you know she meant it.
When she was around the big gun Avengers, she still held her own. The look she gave Banner as he tripped over himself perfectly portrayed disgust. And she still had her one liner when she asked why Wanda wasn’t with them the entire time. Danai Gurira has been amazing thus far and she’s only going to get better.
13. Chris Pratt as Star-Lord
Superhero Movies: Guardians of the Galaxy franchise, Avengers: Infinity War, Avengers: Endgame
This was another confusing supehero movie casting. The chubby guy from Parks and Recreation was going to play a superhero and lead a superhero movie set in the MCU? We knew he could be funny, but did he have what it takes to carry a movie? Shockingly, he did.
Chris Pratt gave us everything. He was a goofy space pirate who spent his life pillaging and having sex, who ended up becoming the leader of a random group of beings. What puts Pratt above some people is his ability to do it all. He was more funny than he was serious, but he played his emotional roles to a T.
"“You said it yourself b****, we’re the Guardians of the Galaxy.”-Star-Lord"
Watching Pratt get angry when he found out Ego was the reason his mother died was unlike him. We’ve seen Peter Quill sad and in love, but not this. This was the first time we saw Quill enraged. The best part is it was believable. That on top of his, “We’re the Guardians of the Galaxy” line was his best moments by far.
Hopefully, we’ll see more of his acting skills in future. Pratt is a better performer than we give him credit for. If there is an Annihilation project in the future, Quill will be at war. When the lives of innocent people and loved ones are threatened, Quill will reach a new level. There won’t be many smiles and jokes. Just him killing the enemy.
12. Gary Oldman as Commissioner Gordon
Superhero Movie: The Dark Knight Rises
When people think of the Dark Knight Trilogy, their minds go to Batman’s gruff voice or to Heath Ledger’s iconic Joker. What’s sad is there’s someone who’s just as important to this trilogy as Batman: Commissioner Gordon.
Nothing would have been accomplished without him. That’s how important the role of James Gordon was then and will continue to be. The third movie (The Dark Knight Rises) may not have needed Batman or Bruce Wayne as Gordon did a good amount of the heavy lifting, motivating the city into rising up. You can chalk up the importance to Gary Oldman.
"“I see a beautiful city and a brilliant people rising from this abyss. I see the lives for which I lay down my life, peaceful, useful, prosperous and happy. I see that I hold a sanctuary in their hearts, and in the hearts of their descendants, generations hence.” -James Gordon"
Looking back at the Dark Knight Trilogy, it wouldn’t have been as good without Oldman. There should be more people praising Gary Oldman for his part in this historic Batman run. It was believable watching him climb the ranks of the police force after each movie. What was even better was the relationship between Batman and Gordon. It was right out of the comic books and Batman the Animated Series.
Oldman carries himself like Gordon did as well. Especially at the end of Dark Knight. The speech he gave at the end was delivered to perfection. It capped off what was already an amazing movie.
11. Gal Gadot as Wonder Woman
Superhero Movies: Wonder Woman, Batman V Superman, Justice League
Gal Gadot is another pick that looked the part. Not only does she appear strong, she actually is… and she’s a legit bad-@$$. Gadot spent two years with the Israel Defense Forces. When she’s kicking butt in the movies, know that she could do it in real life as well. This is why watching her play Wonder Woman (one of the toughest characters in any genre) makes sense. Because a lot of it is who she is in real life.
"“I will fight for those who cannot fight for themselves.”-Diana Prince"
The moment that solidified her as Wonder Woman came in Batman V Superman. Doomsday hit Wonder Woman and she slid back. She looked up at that monster and just smirked. It looked like she was having fun. It was both funny and showed how tough she is. She continued to be amazing in Wonder Woman and then again in Justice League.
For those counting, this is the sixth character from the DCEU superhero movie franchise. This is pointed out to prove that the entire universe isn’t as bad as people have made it out to be. Wonder Woman being the greatest out of them all.
Her next movie will help cement her as one of the great actors in a superhero movie. When she first got to England, she played naive without appearing stupid. During her first battle, Gadot made fighting look easy. During the terrible ending while she fought Ares, Gadot was still amazing. In Wonder Woman 1984 Gal Gadot will be better than we’ve seen.
10. Karen Gillan as Nebula
Superhero Movies: Guardians of the Galaxy franchise, Avengers: Infinity War, Avengers: Endgame
Said it before, it’ll be said again. Nebula is hands down the most underrated character in the Marvel Cinematic Universe and maybe in any superhero movie.
Nebula had the biggest change in personality over her character arc, going from an envious villain to someone you sympathize with. Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 didn’t live up to everyone’s expectations, but one good thing that came out of it was the dynamic Nebula and Gamora’s changing. Nebula finally admitted why she hated Gamora for so long. Hearing how much Thanos put her through would make anyone angry and vengeful. It was an emotional moment. We should thank Karen Gillan for making this happen.
"“You were all I had. But you were the one who needed to win. Thanos pulled my eye from my head… and my brain from my skull… and my arm from my body… because of you.”- Nebula"
Karen Gillan made Nebula funny and likable, while keeping her toughness. She never seemed to change so much that she was a completely different character. The most important things that should be noticed are her facial expressions and the slight changes in her voice during emotionally driven moments. When she found out Gamora was killed and when Thor killed Thanos, you could see her showing emotion. A difficult thing to do while keeping the robot and stoic face.
We deserve more Nebula in the future. A project with her and Gamora would be fun. At the very least she should remain a Guardian of the Galaxy when the roster eventually changes.
9. Tom Hiddleston as Loki
Superhero Movies: Thor franchise, The Avengers franchise
As Loki, Tom Hiddleston has been consistent in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Since the first Thor movie, Hiddleston’s portrayed the God of Mischief in a way that changed how villains are perceived in a way that showed that the bad guys can be loved, hated, and also be your favorite part of the movie. Hiddleston did that with ease.
He was charming, intelligent, and entertaining whenever he was on screen. When he had to show emotion, you couldn’t help but feel what he was going through. Yelling at Odin about being lied to and lashing out when his mother died were two of his best moments. Proving that even the God of Lies has a heart.
"“You’ll kill me? Evidently there will be a line.” -Loki"
You’re probably wondering why he’s ranked so low. Yes, nine is low for Loki. This isn’t about who the character is. It’s about the performance. Loki is definitely one of the five great characters in a comic book movie. Tom Hiddleston is also one of the better performers. Heck, he’s still top ten. However, his character slowly became less important the MCU as time passed, meaning we saw less of him while others improved.
Thankfully, Loki is coming to Disney Plus. This means we’ll have the opportunity to see more of the God of Mischief. And in a role that will affect Thor: Love and Thunder. It’ll be interesting to see what new things Tom Hiddleston will bring to the table.
8. Michael Fassbender as Magneto
Superhero Movies: X-Men: First Class, X-Men: Days of Future Past, X-Men: Apocalypse, Dark Phoenix
It’s sad that only a couple of people from the 20th Century Fox superhero movie franchises made this list. The X-Men have so many great characters and stories to tell. What’s worse is they cast some incredible actors. Like it was said earlier, not every performance is created equal. In this case, we have Michael Fassbender who played Magneto. The deepest character in the new series of X-Men movies. A ten who only made eighth on this list.
"“I’ve been at the mercy of men just following orders. Never again.” -Magneto"
Fassbender had the challenge of depicting one of the most popular comic book villains of all time. This meant there would be plenty of critics waiting to chastise him for every mistake he made. Well, there weren’t any. If there were, they weren’t on his end. He played the role exactly like he was supposed to. Magneto was the only part of the franchise that won’t receive negative comments and he was even good in Dark Phoenix.
Fassbender showed the dramatic and sometimes flamboyant Magneto. The guy who was willing to live by the mantra of, “By any means necessary.” His best moment may have been the coin scene. Magneto getting his revenge while giving a speech was one of the greatest moments in the 20th Century Fox series. He slowly pushed that coin through his enemy’s skull until it came out the other end. Vicious, but a satisfying ending to Sebastian Shaw.
7. Chris Hemsworth as Thor
Superhero Movies: Thor franchise, Avengers franchise
On the surface, Thor may seem like just a brute who solves all of his problems with Mjölnir and lightning. If you’ve followed him throughout the Marvel Cinematic Universe, you’ll see that he’s more than that.
Thor’s gone through so many traumatic and life altering moments. Becoming unworthy, learning humility among mortals, seeing his mother and father die, losing his home, and not being able to prevent an apocalyptic event. We saw the results of this in Avengers: Endgame. Depression and self-doubt hit him and Thor put on some weight. It takes a special kind of actor to portray all of these emotions from the same character.
"“Fortunately, I am mighty!” – Thor"
Chris Hemsworth nailed the role of Thor. Having to adjust his character multiple times couldn’t have been easy. Sometimes he had to be overly serious then become naive in the same movie. Other times the movie and directors would switch and he’d have to become a new Thor. It didn’t matter. Hemsworth continuously took the challenges and made Thor a fan favorite.
Recently, Thor made the transition and became goofier. Some people aren’t fans of it. They feel like it’s made Thor a joke. That couldn’t be further from the truth. Sure, Thor is funnier. That doesn’t mean he should be taken lightly. We saw that when he nearly beat Hulk in Thor: Ragnarok. If Thor: Love and Thunder means a new change for the God of Thunder, you can trust that Hemsworth will knock it out of the park again.
6. Josh Brolin as Thanos and Cable
Superhero Movies: Deadpool 2, Avengers: Infinity War, Avengers: Endgame
Josh Brolin killed both roles he was in. As Cable (Deadpool 2,) he had the essence of everything Nathan Summers was in the comics. Somehow, he made Cable darker, angrier, and grittier.
As Thanos (Avengers: Infinity War and Avengers: Endgame), he became one of the greatest villains in movie history. It seemed cheap to put him on here twice. However, both roles have to be acknowledged, especially since he was in two record-breaking movies in the same year. Something else should be acknowledged: playing two different characters with two different challenges.
"“The hardest choices require the strongest wills.” -Thanos"
Brolin may have been in a CGI suit as Thanos, but there was a lot of voice work that went along with it. Physical things can be fixed in the final edit. The voice acting is something different. Brolin added a calming voice to Thanos. He was rarely angry even in the face of death. It was masterful. As Cable, he was violent, aggressive, and mean. It made sense. Cable lost everything and trying to get it back, even if it meant killing a kid.
Hopefully we’ll get more Thanos and Cable in the MCU. Thanos could be in a past movie (looking at you, Eternals). Since fans want more Deadpool, Cable, and Domino, hopefully we’ll get it. Who knows. Cable is a time traveler. Will we get the ultimate crossover of Thanos and Cable?
5. Hugh Jackman as Logan
Superhero Movies: X-Men: Days of Future Past, Logan
It took 17 years, but it happened. We finally saw what it would look like if 20th Century Fox gave us an R-rated Wolverine movie with the release of Logan. It was one of the best superhero movie performances of all time.
We already know there’s nothing Hugh Jackman can’t do. Nonetheless, Logan is the moment we’d been waiting for. It wasn’t about excessive cursing and violence. It was about the freedom to be able to do those things without having to be stifled. Logan was all of that, but within reason. It was all to further the plot in the movie. This was 20th Century Fox’s best movie and Hugh Jackman’s perfect portrayal of Wolverine.
"“Listen, you don’t have to fight anymore. Go, go. Don’t be what they made you. Laura…”-Logan"
Hugh Jackman always delivered a great performance as Wolverine. Even when the movie itself wasn’t good. Playing Wolverine isn’t a simple job. He’s a layered character. Sometimes he’s the angry guy looking for a fight. Other times he’s the caring father figure who’s looking out for his family. There are also times where he hides his emotions and it makes him a jerk. We got all of these in Logan.
It’s disappointing seeing what could have been. Hugh Jackman should have been the greatest superhero movie star of all-time. He’s easily the best actor on this list. At least we got Logan. A movie that is unlike any Marvel superhero movie and gave us the Logan we’ve always deserved.
4. Tom Holland as Spider-Man/Peter Parker
Superhero Movies: Captain America: Civil War, Spider-Man: Homecoming, Spider-Man: Far From Home, Avengers: Infinity War, Avengers: Endgame
Tobey Maguire was an incredible Peter Parker and a so-so Spider-Man. Andrew Garfield was an Amazing Spider-Man (rim-shot) and a decent Peter Parker. Tom Holland knocked both roles out of the park.
In Captain America: Civil War, we got a sample size. Holland was timid around Tony Stark outside of his uniform (like he is in the comic books). When he put the Spider-Man costume on, he was confident, annoying, and smart (again, like he is in the comics). There was no adjusting the character for Holland. It was like Holland knew how to play the role and just did it.
"“Oh and I helped this old lady and she bought me a churro so…yeah, that was nice.” -Spider-Man"
Tom Holland got better every time he played Peter Parker. In Spider-Man: Far From Home he took things to new heights. It was like watching a comic book character come to life. Holland had to hide his secret identity, be a hero, stop a missile from hitting his bus, all while attempting to stop Mysterio.
Doing all of this would exhaust anyone physically and emotionally. Holland acted like it did as well. Always selling his injuries and fatigue. Things like this are appreciated. It reminds us that he did go through a battle and is hurting. Ten years from now, Tom Holland will be at the number one spot.
3. Chris Evans as Captain America
Superhero Movies: Captain America franchise, Avengers franchise
Who would have thought that Chris Evans would be one of the premier actors in a superhero movie and not as the comic relief? Evans’ Steve Rogers was perfect. He showed everything that embodied what made Steve Rogers inspirational. Just like his character in the comic books. From the very first time he said, “I can do this all day” all the way to giving his shield to Sam Wilson, Cap was gripping.
"“I can do this all day.” -Steve Rogers"
The entire franchise we’d been waiting for Captain America to say two words. “Avengers, Assemble!” The look on his face coupled with the emotion in his voice made that moment worth waiting for. Evans’ Steve Rogers was entertaining for people who thought he was boring and kept the essence of Rogers for those who loved him for what he is.
Evans also showed Rogers’ determination. No matter how many times he was knocked down (and it happened often) Cap got right back up. Evans showed the pain on his face and then turned that pain into determination.
For eight straight years Chris Evans was the complete package. However, some of his best moments came towards the end of his run. His feud with Tony Stark made for fantastic cinema (take that, Scorsese). All of the tension that’s been built up for years finally came to a head. When they finally came together buried the hatchet, it made the fighting worth it. There aren’t any moments where Chris Evans didn’t rock.
2. Ryan Reynolds as Deadpool
Superhero Movies: Deadpool, Deadpool 2
After flip-flopping back and forth on putting Ryan Reynolds and Chris Evans at the number two spot, Reynolds seemed like the right choice. Both men had stellar performances and carried their movies. What Reynolds had that Evans didn’t was extreme pressure.
There were some things riding on the success of the Deadpool movies. First, could Reynolds make good on his promise on the R-rating making a difference? Second, can he be more than an internet meme? Would Deadpool overcome the stain caused by 20th Century Fox comic book movies? Could a movie this vulgar and violent be profitable? Would he make us forget Green Lantern the Merc Without a Mouth? The answer to all of these questions were yes.
"“You’re so dark! Are you sure you’re not from the DC universe?” -Wade Wilson"
The Deadpool franchise brought back the trend of R-rated comic book movies and did it with style. He did curse a lot and there were a ton of sex and sexual innuendos. However, those weren’t the only things that made Ryan Reynolds the second best performer in a comic book movie. His interpretation of Deadpool was spot on. So much so that it will be a long time before anyone sees someone play Deadpool and not see Ryan Reynolds. It was like he was born to play Wade Wilson. You could see his passion for it. Especially during his press run.
There were also the somber moments. Reynolds showed that Wade Wilson was more than a joke. Things like Vanessa dying and his reaction to the cancer diagnosis proved this. He was capable of romantic and family love. Only one other person was better than him.
1. Robert Downey Jr. as Iron Man/Tony Stark
Superhero Movies: Iron Man franchise, Captain America: Civil War, Spider-Man: Homecoming, Avengers franchise
At one point, Robert Downey Jr. was a disgraced actor. He had tons of problems that made him a pariah in Hollywood. Marvel Studios took a chance on him and they won the bet.
Nobody has done more for the superhero movie franchises than he has. You can look to any of the Iron Man, Avengers, or Spider-Man movies and see why. He reinvented what it meant to be in a comic book movie. Combining witty humor, with deep messages, and an incredible story-line. Iron Man may have been a more sought after movie than Batman. Mostly because he was cooler. What made him the best in this group was the evolution of the character.
"“I came to realize that I had more to offer this world than just making things that blow up.”-Tony Stark"
Tony Stark will always be arrogant. It’s part of his charm. As time went on, he did begin to humble himself. He fell in love with Pepper Potts, joined a team and realized he wasn’t the only person that mattered, became a mentor, and sacrificed himself to save the universe. There aren’t many actors that can do all of that and make it believable for this particular character. Robert Downey Jr. did and made it look good.
There are a lot of examples that could be used to show how good he was. Telling Peter he didn’t need the suit to be a hero. Hugging him when he came back from the snap. Having that emotional fight with Steve Rogers in Captain America: Civil War. In the end, nothing beats his final moments in the MCU. Saying “I am Iron Man” one last time, taking out Thanos, and slowly fading away. That moment cemented his number one spot. It wasn’t the jokes or cynicism. It was his final sacrifice that did it.
Who do you feel delivered the best superhero movie performance of the decade? Share your top superhero movie performance rankings below!