It’s the classic question that all comic book fans have argued about at some point or another: What is the best superhero movie of all time? From the dark street level of Gotham to the cosmic chaos of the multiverse, everyone’s got one they love. But if you leave personal bias out of it and look just at numbers, Rotten Tomatoes gives a surprising answer—and a solid list of all-time greats.

From pioneering animation to world-changing blockbusters, these superhero movies have won the hearts of critics and audiences alike. These are the top titles that cut, according to their Tomatometer scores and their lasting impact.

1. Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse (2018)

Tomatometer: 97% | Audience Score: 94%

Who would have thought that an animated Spider-Man film would web its way to the front of the pack to become one of the best films ever created—superhero or otherwise? Into the Spider-Verse not only heads the superhero list; it was ranked #21 on Rotten Tomatoes “300 Best Movies of All Time,” outperforming legends such as Citizen Kane and The Dark Knight. With its breathtaking visuals, colorful storytelling, and touching interpretation of Miles Morales’ journey, this movie revamped the genre—and demonstrated that animation can pack just as much of a punch as live action.

2. Black Panther (2018)

Tomatometer: 96%

A superhero film in its function, Black Panther was also a cultural reference point. Its unapologetic Afrofuturist vision, glorious soundtrack, and superb performances made it a sensation. The most highly rated movie in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Black Panther proved that superhero stories could be steeped in heritage, socially conscious, and yet deliver the grand action aficionados love. Wakanda forever, indeed.

3. Avengers: Endgame (2019)

Tomatometer: 94%

Years of building towards this: the film event of a generation. Avengers: Endgame assembled dozens of characters and arcs in a fashion that was both rewarding and emotionally resonant. From climactic sacrifices to Easter egg callbacks, the movie provided fans with the closure they needed and a reminder of why they loved the MCU in the beginning.

4. Iron Man (2008)

Tomatometer: 94%

There’s no exaggeration to how much Iron Man pioneered. With the charismatic introduction of Robert Downey Jr. as Tony Stark, Marvel set in motion everything that came after. The movie so effortlessly blended wit, heart, and high-tech spectacle—and showed that a B-list character could become the face of a franchise worth a billion dollars. Over 15 years later, it remains one of the genre’s most iconic entries.

5. Thor: Ragnarok (2017)

Tomatometer: 93%

Come on: few people expected Thor to become the MCU’s comedic MVP. Ragnarok flipped that script, however. With its colorful direction by Taika Waititi and cheeky humor, the film reimagines the God of Thunder as a likable, self-deprecating hero riding an intergalactic fantasy rollercoaster. It’s quick, it’s fun, and it’s wonderfully bizarre—all well-deserving its place among Marvel’s best.

6. Spider-Man: No Way Home (2021)

Tomatometer: 93%

Three Spider-Men, a multiverse, and a theater packed with joyous fans—No Way Home was a Valentine to two decades of Spider-Man film. But nostalgia was not all it was about. The movie served up an authentic emotional resonance along with its fan service, providing a coming-of-age trajectory that established Tom Holland’s Peter Parker as the hero in his own right. It is crowd-pleasing and cathartic in exactly the best ways.

7. The Dark Knight (2008)

Tomatometer: 94%

Though it doesn’t rule the Rotten Tomatoes charts, The Dark Knight continues to be the gold standard for superhero movies. Christopher Nolan’s dark, realistic interpretation of Batman rewrote the rules for comic book movies. And Heath Ledger’s Joker? One of the most frightening, indelible performances in film history. It’s not a superhero movie—it’s a crime thriller with a cape.

So, What Makes These Films Special?

It’s not only the action scenes or cool costumes. These films innovated the genre—through storytelling, emotional resonance, cultural connection, and stylistic risk.

• Into the Spider-Verse altered superhero animation forever.
• Black Panther raised the bar for representation in a blockbuster universe.
• Endgame and No Way Home demonstrated that extended-form cinematic storytelling can yield actual emotional dividends.
• Iron Man and Ragnarok demonstrated that reinvention and taking risks can be rewarded.
• The Dark Knight established a benchmark for realistic, adult superhero stories that continue to shape the genre to this day.

Superhero movies have come a long, long way from their comic book beginnings. They’re now cultural touchstones, critical favorites, and yes—some of the most well-reviewed films ever. The capes might remain the same, but the tales continue to change.

And with new players entering the field every year, the argument isn’t disappearing anytime soon.

Daredevils always existed a bit on the fringes of the Marvel world—a red-clad, guilt-wracked Catholic ninja who spends as much time brooding on rooftops as he does throwing punches in dirty hallways. When the original Daredevil series landed on Netflix in 2015, it seemed like Marvel was at last ready to get its hands dirty.

The series adopted a darker, more realistic tone that was every bit as inspired by Frank Miller’s classic comic book runs as it was by the Dark Knight trilogy of Nolan. Charlie Cox brought actual depth to Matt Murdock—tough and tortured—and Vincent D’Onofrio’s Wilson Fisk gave one of the most memorable villainous performances in the Marvel universe. That first season had grit, intelligence, and an actual adult edge. This wasn’t your typical Marvel fare. There was blood, profanity, and even the occasional sex scene. And somehow, it worked.

But the Netflix experiment with Marvel ultimately was a mixed bag. Daredevil got off to a strong start, but the shared Defenders universe soon ran out of steam. As spin-offs mounted and subsequent seasons struggled to maintain momentum, the quality became spotty. By the time season three attempted to get the ship back in order, Marvel was already beginning to walk away from the Netflix era, leaving audiences with a sense of something unresolved, like the tale had more to tell, but never got the opportunity.

Fast-forward to 2025, and Daredevil is back—or at least, a part of him. Daredevil: Born Again has arrived on Disney+, welcoming back Cox, D’Onofrio, and a few other familiar players. The title nods to the iconic Frank Miller tale, but don’t anticipate page-for-page fidelity. Rather, we see Matt Murdock in mourning following a personal tragedy, while Fisk—purportedly reformed—has set his aim on becoming the mayor of New York.

It’s a setup that might have potential, but the series rapidly becomes bogged down with a mess of plots: serial murderers, bank robberies, prison escapes—storylines that tend to appear haphazardly stitched together instead of meaningfully tied together.

The off-stage drama isn’t helpful. Production had commenced in 2022, but halfway through 2023, Marvel dismissed the key writing and directing staff. Then comes a Frankenstein of a show, where the stitches are difficult to overlook.

Characters and plotlines pop off the screen, vanish, and change tone without notice. And while the series attempts to find a middle ground between the dark feel of the Netflix shows and the lighter, more family-oriented feel of Disney+’s MCU, it ends up stuck in the middle, never quite knowing what it is.

All that aside, there are still scenes of note. The acting is good—Cox and D’Onofrio haven’t skipped a beat—and when the fight choreography kicks in, it kicks in. There’s a bit of excitement to be found in seeing these actors reprising their roles, even though the narrative doesn’t always quite know what to do with them.

The real problem is that Born Again never quite commits to a clear identity. It wants to honor the darker legacy of the original show while also playing by the rules of the broader MCU, and that tension shows. The result is a series that’s entertaining enough but often feels disjointed. Easter eggs and cameos are sprinkled throughout, but they start to feel like distractions rather than meaningful additions.

Daredevil has long been one of Marvel’s richest, most nuanced heroes—a man as defined by his shortcomings as his virtues. Born Again is an earnest effort to bring him back home, but it falls short of what made the character—and the original series—so effective. Rather than allowing Daredevil to be Daredevil, the show insists on trying too hard to make him fit into a more general MCU. And in doing so, he loses a lot of what made him unforgettable in the process.

True crime isn’t just a genre—it’s a global phenomenon. Whether you’re a longtime fan who can’t resist unraveling a cold case or someone who’s just getting hooked on the mysteries behind real-world headlines, the draw of true crime is hard to ignore. From gripping documentaries to game-changing podcasts, this genre has exploded into a multi-billion-dollar industry. And at the center of it all are the tales—raw, unvarnished, and often stranger than fiction. Here are 10 of the most popular true crime documentaries and television shows that have dictated how we perceive crime, justice, and everything in between. 

Unsolved Mysteries

Few programs have enjoyed the long-term longevity of Unsolved Mysteries. From its premiere in the late ’80s, it’s been pulling viewers in with its chilling reenactments, engaging narration, and interviews with real people. The new revival has brought a new generation of viewers into the fold of the show’s mix of cold cases and weird occurrences—evidence that our interest in the unexplainable isn’t fading.

Making a Murderer

This Netflix show was a cultural lightning rod that raised serious questions about the American justice system. Focusing on Steven Avery’s contentious conviction, it provoked national conversation and took true crime beyond entertainment, demonstrating how these types of stories can propel real discussions of guilt, innocence, and institutional failure.

Dahmer — Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story

Ryan Murphy’s dramatization of Jeffrey Dahmer’s atrocities attracted huge viewership and equal amounts of controversy. It reminded us that public fascination with serial killers is strong, but ethical boundaries should not be crossed when dramatizing actual trauma. Nevertheless, its popularity demonstrated how strongly such stories could connect—polarize—and affect audiences.

The Keepers

This unflinching Netflix docu-series uncovers more than the killing of Sister Cathy Cesnik, with its investigation into abuse and cover-ups in the Catholic Church. What sets The Keepers apart is its tactful approach. It does not recount a crime—it respects the women who are now fighting for truth, decades later, with the victims and survivors receiving the attention they are owed.

Serial (Podcast and Adaptations)

When Serial debuted in 2014, it revolutionized everything. Overnight, millions of people were fascinated by the Hae Min Lee murder and the Adnan Syed conviction. The podcast format introduced a new type of closeness and depth to true crime and demonstrated that audio storytelling could be as engaging—and impactful—as anything on TV.

The Real Bling Ring: Hollywood Heist

This docu-series plunges into the strange real-life tale of teenagers who burglarized Hollywood stars’ homes in Los Angeles. A crazy, open-mouthed rollercoaster ride through a world driven by social media, celebrity worship, and a sense of entitlement. Part cautionary tale, part cultural commentary. It’s a pop culture observation with a dash of true crime.

Tiger King: The Doc Antle Story

This offshoot of the popular Tiger King series centers on Doc Antle and the seedy underbelly of the exotic animal trade. Cult-like practices and shady legal activity, the series unpeels layers of a strange subculture that’s equally horrifying and mesmerizing.

The Innocent Man

Based on John Grisham’s nonfiction book, this series delves into two murder investigations in small-town Oklahoma. It’s a grim examination of how flawed prosecutions and zealous prosecutions can destroy lives, and that the truth can be much more nuanced than guilt or innocence.

Murder Among the Mormons

This limited series brings audiences into the realm of rare document forgery and religious history, where a seemingly minor case results in fatal bombings. It’s a meticulously paced thriller that delves not only into who was responsible but the shocking mechanics as well.

The Alcàsser Murders

This Spanish docu-series revisits the terrible 1992 slaying of three teenage girls. It’s not only a true crime tale—it’s an indictment of media hype, public hysteria, and police incompetence. The show is raw, emotive, and a potent reminder of how a nation’s mourning can be mismanaged.

True crime continues to adapt, intermixing formats, tones, and perspectives. From podcasts that inspired new investigations to documentaries that defied institutions, the genre is much more than entertainment. But with popularity comes responsibility—how do storytellers tell these stories without exploiting trauma or re-traumatizing victims? It’s a question that warrants ongoing debate. What’s certain, however, is that true crime is staying around. And these 10 shows and documentaries are among the strongest evidence of why we just can’t look away.

There’s nothing worse for a TV fan than watching a series you’ve loved for years end on a sour note. You’ve laughed, cried, theorized, and waited patiently—only to be hit with a finale that either unravels everything or just doesn’t stick the landing. Some shows go out with a bang, but others leave us shouting at the screen and wondering. That’s how it ends?

Let’s take a stroll down memory lane and revisit 9 TV show finales that disappointed fans, frustrated them, or left them plain confused.

1. Game of Thrones

After eight seasons of politics, dragons, and battles, Game of Thrones wrapped up with Jon Snow killing Daenerys, Bran sitting on the Iron Throne (despite his protestations that he didn’t desire it), and Arya sailing off to see what’s west of Westeros. For many viewers, it was a hasty and baffling conclusion to what had once been television’s most engrossing show.

2. Lost

For several years, Lost held audiences in thrall to island secrets and character histories. But its series finale, which explained that most of what audiences were watching was some form of spiritual afterlife, disappointed many fans. The makers had long refuted a purgatory theory—only to present a variation thereof. For those expecting definitive answers, the conclusion was more infuriating than illuminating.

3. The Sopranos

The last shot of The Sopranos remains one of television’s most contentious moments. Tony is sitting in a diner, gazing up—and the screen fades to black. Some praised it as sheer brilliance. Others felt utterly robbed of closure. Either way, it caused controversy and debate and left many of its loyal fans cold.

4. How I Met Your Mother

After nine years of build-up, the “Mother” was finally revealed—only to be dismissed and murdered within minutes of the finale. Ted then returned to Robin, leaving many fans with a sense of having been bait-and-switched. For a show so storytelling-centric, the conclusion left folks scratching their heads and wondering what the point had all been. 

5. The Walking Dead

The Walking Dead had lost some of its steam by the time the series ended. Instead of resolving long-term character storylines or arcs, the series finale spent more time hinting at spin-offs. Fans expecting closure instead received an advertisement for upcoming shows, so the conclusion felt like a setup rather than an actual ending.

6. Scrubs

Scrubs wrapped season eight up just right. And then there was season nine: the quasi-reboot with a largely new cast and different feel. It wasn’t terrible TV, but it wasn’t Scrubs. The legacy of the show would have been even greater had it ended a season sooner.

7. House

House concluded with his genius, but his self-sabotage led to staging his death to be with his terminally ill friend Wilson. Though the idea was a tip of the hat to Sherlock Holmes’ thespian flair, it didn’t quite pay off emotionally for audiences. Eight seasons of moral complexity and medical drama culminated in an abrupt and somewhat too-neat conclusion.

8. The X-Files

After a decade of alien conspiracies and paranormal cases, The X-Files attempted to wrap up everything with a courtroom thriller and more ambiguous government secrets. Sadly, the finale only raised more questions than answers, and even its subsequent revival seasons failed to clear up the mess. For a show that was so influential, it should have had a neater wrap-up.

9. Friends

Friends is a popular sitcom, but its series finale wasn’t controversy-free. Rachel forgoes her Paris dream job to be with Ross—a decision that didn’t sit well with fans who had watched her career develop over a decade. Although the gang’s final moment together in Monica’s apartment was sappy, some fans felt that the show played things too safe.

For more than a century, alien contact and invasion films have ignited our passions, mixing wonder with horror and trepidation. From an isolated guest-provoking emotional resonance to an all-out extraterrestrial attack, these films condition us to consider the universe—and ourselves. Here’s a ranked exploration of some of the most memorable alien tales ever put on screen.

1. E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial (1982)

Steven Spielberg’s tearful sci-fi classic remapped the alien encounter genre. Instead of an aggressive intruder, E.T. is a peaceful outsider who bonds with an isolated boy. With its legendary score by John Williams and sentimental tale, it has been a film landmark for generations.

2. Close Encounters of the Third Kind (1977)

Another Spielberg classic, the film examines how everyday individuals react to out-of-this-world contact. It’s filled with wonder, intrigue, and one of the greatest uses of music as a form of communication in cinematic history.

3. Arrival (2016)

Denis Villeneuve gives us a smart, haunting take on first contact. Amy Adams stars as a linguist against the clock—and worldwide panic—to decipher alien language and reveal a greater truth. It’s emotionally resonant and intellectually daring, with a twist that recontextualizes the entire story.

4. The Day the Earth Stood Still (1951)

A science fiction classic, this Cold War-era film is about Klaatu, an alien who is human-like but not here to conquer, but to warn us. At its measured pace and introspective themes, it’s a reminder that sci-fi stories can carry very human morals.

5. Invasion of the Body Snatchers (1956)

A paranoia parable, the film captured Cold War hysteria with its tale of a man driven out by emotionless clones. Its dark tone and social commentary are still valid today.

6. War of the Worlds (2005)

Spielberg brings H.G. Wells’ classic novel into the 21st century, as a father (Tom Cruise) tries to rescue his children from an unanticipated Martian invasion. It’s a horror, visceral survival story with tense set pieces and psychological depth.

7. Independence Day (1996)

Equal spectacle and crowd-pleaser, this blockbuster is the quintessential ’90s alien invasion film. Whether the wisecracks of Will Smith or the indelible incineration of the White House, it’s popcorn fare at its finest.

8. Predator (1987)

This sci-fi-action hybrid filmed in the jungle boasts one of the greatest alien hunters to ever walk onto film. With tension, gritty action, and just the right amount of one-liners, Predator continues to hold sway.

9. Cloverfield (2008)

Told entirely in found footage, this hyperactive monster movie drops viewers in the middle of an alien occupation of New York. The first-person narration gives it a raw, jangly urgency.

10. Avatar (2009)

The invasion subgenre gets a twist with James Cameron’s lushly detailed, visually stunning epic. With its green-minded politics and record-breaking effects, Avatar flips the invasion genre on its head.

11. Signs (2002)

M. Night Shyamalan offers a low-key thriller around a besieged family. The film raises suspense to fine art, turning crop circles and home invasions into a deeply personal story of loss, faith, and fear.

12. Men in Black (1997)

This fashionable science-fiction comedy demonstrates that Earth is already overrun with aliens, most of whom are surprisingly mundane. Will Smith and Tommy Lee Jones enjoy an effortless chemistry, and the film’s blend of fantasy and humor makes it a classic.

13. Super 8 (2011)

J.J. Abrams name-checks Spielberg in this nostalgia-soaked, sentimental story of children in a small town uncovering a government secret. Half monster thriller, half coming-of-age, Super 8 captures the wonder and terror of discovering something bigger than our world.

14. Earth vs. the Flying Saucers (1956)

This B-movie cult classic provided the template for the flying saucer age of science fiction. With Ray Harryhausen’s stop-motion special effects, it’s an old-fashioned, action-adventure relic of 1950s space panic.

15. Quatermass 2 (1957)

One of the more obscure entries, this Hammer Studios British production cashes in on invasion and government conspiracy scares. A tense, slow-burning thriller with building unease and a razor-sharp script.

16. Superman II (1980)

Not really a classically styled alien invasion film, but its sequel has three super-powered Kryptonians wreaking havoc on Earth. Their battle for domination with Superman is an exciting combination of comic book action and sci-fi spectacle.

From peaceful meetings to end-of-world invasions, these movies delve into what occurs when the unknown collides with our reality—whether in awe, terror, or a touch of both. Whatever the number of times we envision aliens coming, there’s always space for another good tale about what could be when they do.

Apple TV+ has quietly become a sci-fi haven, offering a bold mix of speculative storytelling that goes way beyond the usual space operas. From dystopian thrillers to robot dramas and time-bending mysteries, Apple’s streaming lineup has evolved into one of the most creative spaces for genre fans. Whether you’re in the mood for a mind trip or a monster hunt, here are the best sci-fi shows on Apple TV+, ranked and ready to binge.

1. Amazing Stories

Steven Spielberg’s iconic anthology gets a modern facelift in this 2020 reboot. Each episode delivers a standalone tale that leans into the wonder, danger, and emotional weight of speculative fiction. While some entries are stronger than others, the series captures that timeless Spielbergian magic and earned a Saturn Award nomination to boot.

2. Extrapolations

This climate-themed anthology spans decades, presenting a somber but imaginative view of our potential future. Featuring an A-list cast of Meryl Streep, Kit Harington, and Sienna Miller, the show examines the human cost of a warming world. It’s a lot to process, but one of the most ambitious environmental sci-fi endeavors to date.

3. Hello Tomorrow!

What if the future were like a 1950s magazine advertisement? That’s the world of Hello Tomorrow!, where moon timeshares are marketed with charm and dishonesty in equal proportions. Billy Crudup plays the charismatic but troubled salesman Jack Billings. It’s a stylish, retro-futuristic dramedy that’s as odd as it is aesthetically pleasing.

4. See

In a world where vision is a dim memory, See recounts a vicious but intimate history of survival and identity. Jason Momoa grounds this post-apocalyptic saga with intensity and emotion. The violence is visceral, the world-crafting elaborate, and the three-season journey concludes with welcome emotional closure—even if the violence is not for the squeamish.

5. Shining Girls

Elisabeth Moss stars in this smart thriller about a woman whose reality continually changes after having survived a violent assault. It’s a mix of crime mystery and sci-fi brain-twister, and completely addictive. If you prefer your narratives complex and your heroes mercurial, Shining Girls is for you.

6. The Last Days of Ptolemy Grey

Samuel L. Jackson delivers a forceful, subtle performance as a man fighting dementia—and discovering a family secret through an experimental treatment. The sci-fi is minimal, but the emotional risk is great. It’s a moving, contemplative exploration of memory and mortality.

7. Invasion

An otherworldly invasion narrated from five international viewpoints, this show is slow-burning but repays the patience of viewers with a complex tapestry of interlinked stories. Season 2 tightened up the pacing and intensified the stakes, and with Season 3 pending, Invasion is only just getting going.

8. Dark Matter

Multiverse thrillers are the rage now, but Dark Matter is different in that it has a personal tone and high-concept surprises. Joel Edgerton stars as a physicist hurled through parallel universes, racing against time to find his way back to his own life. Based on Blake Crouch’s hit novel, it’s sleek, suspenseful, and unexpectedly emotional.

9. Silo

Based on the dystopian novels of Hugh Howey, Silo is a tightly regulated underground society with secrets. Rebecca Ferguson gives a commanding lead performance, and the slow-burn mystery is as compelling as the world-building. With Season 2 looming, this one’s only getting deeper.

10. Monarch: Legacy of Monsters

MonsterVerse gets serious with this ambitious extension of the Godzilla mythology. With Kurt and Wyatt Russell both playing the same character from different timelines, Monarch is as much a family drama as it is a kaiju franchise. It’s all about spectacle but explores the human toll of existing in a monster world.

11. Sunny

At first blush, Sunny appears to be a kooky dramedy involving a lady and her robot friend. But what begins with grief and cringeworthy laughs evolves into a complex mystery with corporate machinations, underground informant rings, and some surprising violence. Rashida Jones is terrific as emotionally closed-off Suzie, and the show’s tightrope walking tone makes it one of Apple’s most daring efforts thus far.

Apple TV+ doesn’t have the volume of content of its competitors, but when it comes to science fiction, it hits much harder than its weight. They don’t just bank on spectacle—instead, they take risks with creativity, combine genres, and deliver very human stories in the context of an imagined world. Whether you’re in it for robot friends, virtual realities, or a post-apocalyptic Game of Thrones, Apple’s science fiction slate is a testament to the fact that amazing storytelling is still very much alive today.

Superhero movies are where pop culture, fandom, and critical opinion intersect—and Rotten Tomatoes is usually the battlefield where it all happens. Whether a film breaks the genre or is hardly watchable, the Tomatometer has become a critical scorecard for fans and filmmakers alike. Here’s a closer look at the superhero movies that critics and audiences have come to praise or denounce—and what makes them different.

The Best Superhero Films (As Crowned by Rotten Tomatoes)

Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse (2018)

With a virtually flawless 97% Tomatometer and a 94% Audience Score, this cartoon phenomenon didn’t merely set the bar high—it flung it into another dimension. Sitting proudly at 21st place on Rotten Tomatoes’ list of the “300 Best Movies of All Time,” Spider-Verse was shoulder to shoulder with film giants such as Citizen Kane and The Godfather. Its daring animation, rich storytelling, and moving portrayal of Miles Morales make Spider-Verse a gem not only in the superhero genre but in animation in general.

Logan (2017)

Logan reset the parameters of what a superhero film could do. With its 93% critical and 90% audience score, it’s a dark, emotionally naked goodbye to Hugh Jackman’s Wolverine. In a grim future world, Logan focuses on family, mortality, and legacy—eschewing spectacle for soul—and the result is unforgettable.

Black Panther (2018)

With a 96% rating, Black Panther is still the top-rated MCU movie on Rotten Tomatoes. Aside from the accolades, it had a seismic cultural effect, marrying Afrofuturism, political commentary, and traditional superhero narratives. It wasn’t a movie—it was an instant in movie history.

Other Top-Rated MCU Titles

The Marvel Cinematic Universe is well accustomed to having high scores. Avengers: Endgame (94%), Iron Man (94%), Thor: Ragnarok (93%), and Spider-Man: No Way Home (93%) received critical acclaim while smashing box office records. These movies live off character development, interesting arcs, and the right mix of humor, emotion, and high-stakes action.

The Worst Superhero Movies (By Rotten Tomatoes Standards)

Madame Web (2024)

At the top of the list of superhero flops is Madame Web, which scored a merciless 11% on the Tomatometer. Despite a hot cast featuring Dakota Johnson and Sydney Sweeney, the movie was uniformly trashed for its disjointed plot and missing direction. Even the stars appeared to distance themselves from it after release.

Kraven the Hunter (2024)

Another misstep from Sony’s Spider-Man franchise, Kraven the Hunter grossed an unimpressive 15% critic score on its opening. Kraven the Hunter puffed along with issues of pacing and confusion in tone, not delivering the intensity fans wanted from one of Spider-Man’s most classic villains.

The Crow (2024)

Lionsgate’s reboot of The Crow never really got off the ground. Stuck with a 22% score and lackluster box office attendance, this remake of the cult favorite wasn’t able to bring the original’s gothic urgency or emotional resonance.

Joker: Folie à Deux (2024)

One of the biggest surprises of the year, Folie à Deux received a 32% rating despite the star power. Fans were split on its musical style and courtroom drama format. It just didn’t hit the same as the original Joker.

Hellboy: The Crooked Man (2024)

While it sought to bring the character back to horror, The Crooked Man received only 37% on the Tomatometer. While a few critics enjoyed the tone adjustment, the majority were disappointed with the underwhelming and unevenly performed effort.

Venom: The Last Dance (2024)

The last book in the Venom trilogy ended with a critical clunk, mustering only 41%. The die-hards came out in respectable numbers, but overall, the word was that the franchise had lost its momentum.

In the Middle: Deadpool & Wolverine (2024)

With a 78% Rotten Tomatoes rating, Deadpool & Wolverine were able to win the hearts of both fans and critics alike. As a raucous conclusion to Deadpool’s trilogy and a goodbye to Fox’s Marvel legacy, the movie struck a delicate balance between irreverent humor, action-packed pandemonium, and surprising emotion, demonstrating there’s life in the superhero format yet.

What Makes a Superhero Movie Soar or Sink

Rotten Tomatoes shows us one thing: superhero films thrive when they are risky. Whether it’s Into the Spider-Verse’s adventurous visual style or Logan’s grit and character-study sensibility, the best of them take the genre in bold new directions. Conversely, the duds seem to be hasty, by the numbers, or unclear of their vision, usually hamstrung by messy screenplays, underwhelming effects, or tone issues.

In a crowded genre like superhero movies, it’s not easy to do something different. But when a film finds that sweet spot between spectacle, story, and originality, it not only entertains but also leaves its mark. And as Rotten Tomatoes continues to demonstrate, not even caped crusaders are safe from the magic of a good (or bad) review.