The pandemic might have caused the rest of the world to grind to a halt, but comic book and animated film franchises never lost their rhythm. As a matter of fact, with streaming services releasing new films directly into our living rooms, it has never been easier to binge-watch superhero mayhem, multiverse conflicts, and animated experiments. No matter if you swear allegiance to Marvel, cheer for DC, or simply appreciate a good cape-and-cowl tale with a little bit of silliness, the last couple of years provided us with more than enough to get excited about. So get yourself a snack, perhaps even stretchy sweatpants, and let’s get to the top 10 movies and animated films that made lockdown slightly more tolerable.
10. The Suicide Squad
James Gunn swung into action and gave audiences at last the chaotic, gore-soaked, laugh-out-loud Suicide Squad film they deserved. This one abandons the cautious strategy of its predecessor and goes full-tilt crazy—characters fall by the dozen, the humor pays off, and the set pieces are unreleasable. (That Peacemaker vs. Bloodsport fight? Priceless.) It’s violent, ridiculous, and shamelessly entertaining.
9. Injustice
Taking over a beloved comic book and video game property was no easy feat, but Injustice succeeds in boiling the central drama down to a surprisingly compelling movie. Sure, the animation is imperfect, but the character dramas are full of emotional punch. Wonder Woman, in turn, receives some overdue depth, and the voice cast delivers it all with an extra impact. It’s sloppy at times, but irresistibly so.
8. Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings
Marvel gambled on showcasing Shang-Chi, a character barely on the A-list, and it paid off in a big way. The movie provides some of the MCU’s most impressive martial arts action, with the help of a cast you immediately crave more of. As the second half gets into mythic fantasy mode, the core of the story—the tense father-son relationship—grounds it.
7. Black Widow
Better late than never, Natasha finally has a solo film. The opening scene is one of the darkest Marvel has ever done and establishes a tone for a tale of trauma, family, and survival. Yelena steals every scene with her wit and ruthlessness, and the action delivers. It doesn’t revolutionize the MCU formula, but it gives Natasha the spotlight she always deserved.
6. Venom: Let There Be Carnage
This film is evidence that sometimes chaos and a relationship-problematic talking alien symbiote are all you need. Let There Be Carnage doubles down on the surreal buddy dynamic between Eddie and Venom and allows Woody Harrelson’s Carnage to wreak havoc. It’s ridiculous, ham-fisted, and not subtle at all—but it’s a ride worth taking if you’re on its frequency.
5. Justice Society: World War II
DC animation is obsessed with trying new things, and this entry demonstrates a shiny new style while exposing viewers to an underappreciated team. The film blends traditional war fiction with superhero action, juggling an oversized cast surprisingly effectively. The story wanders occasionally, but the innovative action scenes and team dynamic make it shine.
4. Spider-Man: No Way Home
If you’ve managed to avoid spoilers by now—seriously, how? This multiverse event turned into the ultimate Spider-Man movie, weaving together three generations of web-slingers and their foes. It’s nostalgic, yes, but also deeply emotional, giving Peter Parker one of his most defining stories. The jokes land, the action sings, and the ending leaves Peter in a place truer to the comics than ever before.
3. Zack Snyder’s Justice League
After decades of fan lobbying, Snyder’s cut finally arrived—and it was worth the wait. Four hours long, it’s an operatic, character-oriented epic that remakes the Justice League as a genuine team. From Cyborg’s tragic journey to Flash’s mind-blowing Speed Force experience, it’s a richer, more unified vision than the theatrical cut. A genuine redemption story, both on and off screen.
2. Batman: The Long Halloween
Arguably one of the greatest Batman tales received the animated adaptation, and it plays most effectively as a single, two-part movie. The Long Halloween goes all in for noir ambiance, a year-long murder mystery that transmutes Gotham from a city controlled by mobs to the origin point of supervillains. Harvey Dent’s heartbreaking arc is the highlight, supported by a superb voice cast that captures the brooding atmosphere.
1. Batman: Soul of the Dragon
You wouldn’t think Batman would be the star of a ’70s kung fu, blaxploitation-fueled animated saga, but here we are—and it’s great. Soul of the Dragon mixes martial arts chaos, supernatural menaces, and retro suaveness into one of DC’s most adventurous animated efforts. It’s more of an ensemble vehicle with Lady Shiva, Bronze Tiger, and Richard Dragon than a Batman tale. The plot is taut, the aesthetic is far out, and the cliffhanger has you starved for the next installment.
From multiverse mayhem to kung fu throwbacks, pandemic years demonstrated that comic book movies weren’t fading into obscurity. They kept the faithful entertained in troubled times, providing spectacle, drama, and lots of reasons to get online and squabble endlessly about which one was best.