The aughts, 2010s, and 2020s were and have been populated by a vast number of superhero films. However, the subgenre hadn’t quite hit the zeitgeist in the ’90s, even with four Superman movies and 1989’s Batman in the rearview mirror. And, yet, that latter 1989 movie did lead to a slight increase in superhero properties throughout the subsequent decade.
However, save for other Bats adventures, the movies weren’t really of the mainstream variety. That said, there’s been another mainstream superhero adventure down the line that emulated the decade’s vibes…and that movie’s included here too. These are the superhero films that will remind one of ’90s staples, regardless of whether they hit theaters before the Millennium.
10 The Crow (1994)
A film marred by a real-life tragedy, Alex Proyas’ The Crow has a reputation that precedes it. But, that probably wouldn’t quite be the case were the movie itself not solid, which Proyas’ heartbreaking film very much is.
The film is impressive on several fronts, and as a member of several genres. It was a trendsetting off-kilter comic book movie, it functions very well as a horror film (especially with Michael Wincott’s horrifying antagonist performance as Top Dollar), and its action sequences are well-choreographed and evoke thoughts of the underrated Punisher: War Zone. But, of course, the true high point is Brandon Lee’s lead performance as Eric Draven, a well-drawn character that still could have played off as cardboard were the right actor not inhabiting him.
Stream it on fuboTV, Paramount+, and Showtime
9 Blade (1998)
Blade, an early Marvel trendsetter, follows the titular half-human half-vampire character as he seeks to kill every one hundred percent vampire out there. But, they want him to, for his blood contains the key to reawakening a hungry, vengeful vampire god.
Blade is a success on several fronts. For one, the action sequences are some of the best of the ’90s (even if the CGI has aged quite poorly), but most of all it works due to the complicated protagonist portrayal from Wesley Snipes and the sneeringly antagonistic one from Stephen Dorff.
Stream it on Max
8 Darkman (1990)
Before he was directing the Spider-Man trilogy, and well before he was showing audiences Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, Sam Raimi was creating his own superhero in Darkman. Starring a young Liam Neeson and Frances McDormand, the plot follows Neeson’s Dr. Peyton Westlake, a scientist with the ultimate goal of crafting synthetic skin to assist burn victims.
Unfortunately, some gangsters come after a document held by Westlake’s girlfriend (McDormand), leaving the good scientist and his lab a wreck. But, with his studies, Westlake has an idea how to exact vengeance on the crooks, especially their leading figure: Robert G. Durant (Larry Drake, wonderful in the role).
Stream it on AMC+
7 RoboCop 2 (1990)
RoboCop 2 picks up where the first one left off, with Peter Weller’s Alex Murphy fully (but unwillingly) inhabiting his role as the titular character. This time, however, instead of a corrupt company exec and his henchmen, RoboCop has to take on an even bigger version of himself.
On one hand, RoboCop 2 is an admirable sequel with some major talent behind it. Weller and Nancy Allen reprising their roles helped keep it in line with Paul Verhoeven’s near-perfect original, but the new additions in The Empire Strikes Back director Irvin Kershner and Batman: The Dark Knight Returns author Frank Miller helped make it feel fresh. Unfortunately, that attempt to be fresh makes the sequel less of the brilliant indictment of consumerism and glamour-obsession that Verhoeven’s film was and more of…well…a superhero movie sequel.
Stream it on fuboTV, MGM+, Hoopla, and Tubi
6 Batman Returns (1992)
After Batman broke records, a young Tim Burton was given complete control over the direction of its immediate follow-up. The IP’s production house, Warner Bros., came to regret this, as Batman Returns is arguably the most Burton film in his oeuvre outside Beetlejuice. The biggest issue? McDonald’s.
The fast food chain’s tie-in toys weren’t recalled, but they did back away from their promotion of them (and, thusly, the film itself). There were many reasons behind this, but as Burton told Yahoo! in 2015, the company asked “‘What’s that black stuff coming out of the Penguin’s mouth? We can’t sell Happy Meals with that!'” And the rest is history. Burton walked away and, after one more success in Batman Forever—which ironically enough didn’t make that much more than Returns, even accounting for inflation—the IP fell flat. That is, until Christopher Nolan. Regardless, Batman Returns can safely call itself the best superhero film of the 1990s.
Stream it on Max
5 Judge Dredd (1995)
Make no mistake, 2012’s Dredd is objectively superior on every level to 1995’s overproduced and way over-silly Judge Dredd. Fans at the time were upset by the fact Dredd removes his helmet, not only for a scene, but for the vast majority of the film.
Of course, this was done to play up Sylvester Stallone’s star power, but it’s also indicative of just how much Judge Dredd misunderstood the appeal of its IP. But, like with Super Mario Bros., so many bizarre decisions contributed to the final product that it’s almost impossible to take one’s eyes off of it.
Rent it on Apple TV or Google Play
RELATED: Samaritan Sequel Starring Sylvester Stallone Now in the Works at Amazon
4 Batman Forever (1995)
After 1989’s Batman, it seemed as though Tim Burton would be kept as the Caped Crusader’s director as long as he wanted the gig. But, after being given greater creative control over Batman Returns, that went away. Enter Joel Schumacher, a versatile director who still tended to deliver average films more often than not. As could be expected, he delivered a safer take on the IP in Batman Forever, one that would appeal to audiences on a macro scale. And, with Jim Carrey as Riddler (alongside Tommy Lee Jones’ awkward Two-Face), the director had the key to appeasing children as much as adults.
From the swooping opening credits to Seal’s “Kiss from a Rose,” Joel Schumacher’s Batman Forever is as ’90s as a ’90s superhero movie can get. And, in spite of backlash at the time (and the natural disappointment of Tim Burton not being able to continue his vision), it’s a well-aged film.
Stream it on Max
3 Spawn (1997)
Spawn, an admirable but not entirely effective adaptation of Todd McFarlane’s source material, is essentially the prototypical third party (read: not Marvel or DC) superhero film. And, yet, it’s not the title character who’s the highlight, so much as his adversary: John Leguizamo’s Clown.
The film has CGI that feels very much a product of the ’90s, but for the most part the film’s impact has held. At the very least, Leguizamo and Martin Sheen’s antagonist performances have.
Rent it on Google Play and Amazon
2 Batman & Robin (1997)
Joel Schumacher successfully kept Warner Bros. Batman film franchise going with Batman Forever, at least as far as box office tallies were concerned. But, Batman & Robin, the film to pit Bats and his partner against Poison Ivy and a pun-spewing Mr. Freeze, took a baseball bat to the IP’s knees.
However, it’s possible to see what Schumacher and crew were going for. It’s just a platform to sell toys…but at least it’s a platform that has several solid action sequences and an admirable preference for practical effects (even if they often are as cartoonish as the costuming).
RELATED: Batman & Robin Get New Action Figures from McFarlane Toys
Stream it on Max
1 Captain Marvel (2019)
Captain Marveltells the story of pilot turned superpowered hero Carol Danvers. Lead by Brie Larson, it’s a tale of recognizing one’s own power, pushing aside those who doubt you, and going out there to make the world a better place.
The MCU’s Captain Marvel may be the only film on this list not actually produced in the ’90s, but it sure does (intentionally) carry the decade’s vibes. Captain Marvel makes a point of being set in the ’90s, whether its a surplus of Radio Shack stores or a single Blockbuster Video.
Stream it on Disney+
These ’90s superhero movies weren’t all Da Bomb, but a few were Fly and fun enough to Chillax with. Read More