It’s 2018, and superheroes are real. There isn’t a street in America that Chadwick Boseman can walk down without someone attempting to give him the “Wakanda Forever” crossed arms. The same goes for Robert Downey Jr., who is Iron Man whether he is on a movie set or not. Nobody can even look at Stephen Amell without connecting him to Green Arrow, and Gal Gabot will forever be the viewed as the wonderous hero that saved DC from complete failure. Maybe that’s why the obsession with superhero movies and shows is at an all-time high. Since we don’t have any real-life superheroes with extraordinary powers, we can view the people that play them in the same light.
Many aggravated actors and directors are praying on the onset of superhero fatigue, most notably James Cameron (who’s probably more concerned with Marvel replacing his top spots on the all-time grossing list) and Jodie Foster (who compared superhero flicks to fracking). Their prayers have not been heard. Avengers: Infinity War is currently blazing through every record imaginable, and the sequel will most likely do the same. Black Panther became a cultural movement and a box office juggernaut. Even looking back eleven years ago to Heath Ledger’s portrayal of The Joker is proof that superhero movies are more than just big budgets and spectacular fight scenes (even though those do help).
Netflix has a long list of superhero content. From TV series and movies, to their own exclusive shows, the streaming site has a bit of everything for everybody. Like always, the issue of digging through all the content is time-consuming. Wasting time trying to pick the right movie to watch, or to decide which series to binge, can be exasperating. That’s why we did the job for you. Here is our list of the best superhero movies and shows on Netflix right now.
Captain America: Civil War
The first appearance of Black Panther and Spider-Man in the MCU was groundbreaking. While for years it was unanimously decided that placing too many heroes in one film was cinema suicide (Spider-Man 3 is a good example of this), the Russo brothers pulled it off miraculously. Captain America and Iron Man draw lines in the sand after a government initiative forces the heroes to either sign up to be controlled, or be labeled as a criminal.
The Dark Knight
The Dark Knight was an epic masterpiece. Batman's best film was completely reliant on the villains, who became cultural icons. Heath Ledger's Joker is the pinnacle of villainy and artist dedication, while Aaron Eckhart's Two-Face had gripping character progression and a tragic ending. When the Joker turns Gotham city upside down, Batman is pushed to his limits as the Caped Crusader.
Iron Man
Robert Downey Jr. made the comeback of a lifetime and jump-started the Marvel Cinematic Universe when he filled the shoes of Tony Stark. The first Iron Man is arguably the best in the trilogy. There were no expectations, just pure vision. Tony Stark is an arms dealer who is kidnapped and injured, causing him to create the Iron armor he wears to keep him alive. Stark seeks retribution for all the lives he affected selling weapons over the years, and becomes Marvel's leading superhero.
Captain America: The Winter Soldier
Arguably one of the best Marvel films to date, Winter Soldier turned the same old "hero saves the world" plot into a smart political thriller. Bucky Barnes, who "died" in the first Captain America film, is discovered alive and well, and is brainwashed into being a soldier for a cunning terrorist group. Things get complicated once Cap decides to help his friend, who is a murdering psycho-path, putting him on what will be a collision course with the government and his own team.
The Incredibles
This superhero film is fun for the entire family. After society turns on their heroes, the once worshiped icons become boring civilians. All that changes when a new villain makes himself known and threatens to destroy the peace that has lasted since the age of the heroes ended.
Daredevil
Marvel's first original Netflix series set the bar high, and kept it there. The fight scenes in Daredevil are so intricately choreographed that you'll forget you're watching someone get the snot kicked out of them and just view the battle as a work of art. After a young Matt Murdock loses his eyesight as a child, he gains super sensitive hearing, smelling, and touch that makes up for his blindness a million times over.
Luke Cage
Luke Cage plays like a hip-hop epic meets a blaxploitation film, and it works like magic. Besides the fact that each episode of the show is named after a Gang Starr song, the series is based in Harlem, the birthplace of a cultural Renaissance. Cage is wrongfully convicted of a crime and experimented on in prison, which leads to him gaining superpowers. A black guy wearing a hoody who's bulletproof is a statement all by itself.
Gotham
Rewriting Batman's origin was a risky move, but Fox and DC pulled it off perfectly for this television series. Focusing on Detective Gordon, before he becomes the fabled Commissioner, Gotham shows how the city that made Batman came to be such a villainous cesspool. All your favorite bad guys make an appearance, and a young Bruce Wayne learns what it means to become a hero.
Black Lightning
Black Lightning is one of the better DC shows on television right now, and the plot is both engaging and emotional. Jefferson Pierce is a high school principal who retired from being a vigilante, but is forced back into a hero role after a local gang threatens the safety of his community. Cress Williams kills it as the titular hero who can control electricity.
The Punisher
Jon Bernthal puts his all into The Punisher, which is the most brutal Marvel series to date. This father and husband is left in an emotional hole of grief after his family is murdered in a plot that traces back to his time in the military. Stubborn as hell and impossible to kill, The Punisher will not stop until he avenges the death of his loved ones. Punishment has never been so entertaining.