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Whether you love them or hate them, there is no denying that superhero movies have become one of the biggest box office draws of the last 15 years, give or take. And while superhero fatigue has become a lot for many, myself included, the genre's ability to meld with other genres can keep it fresh, exciting, and the perfect pairing. Yes, most Marvel and DCU moments have humor, but here we want to focus on those that deliver equal parts comedy and action.
To pick these movies, I went with some obvious heavy hitters that have been met with fanfare, a few cult classics, and a few even deeper cuts as my honorable mentions. Here are the best superhero comedies of the 21st century, ranked from great to phenomenal.
Honorable Mentions
Before the main event, these five deeper cuts prove the superhero comedy has thrived far outside the studio system, and each one is worth tracking down:
- Smoking Causes Coughing (2022): Quentin Dupieux's French absurdist gem follows the Tobacco Force, a squad of heroes with tar and nicotine powers, on a team-building retreat.
- The Box Man (2024): Gakuryū Ishii's surreal Kōbō Abe adaptation is no superhero movie in the traditional sense, but its cardboard-clad loners dueling for the mantle of the one true Box Man play like a secret identity mythology filtered through the Japanese avant-garde.
- Special (2006): Michael Rapaport gives a career-best turn as a lonely traffic officer convinced an experimental antidepressant has given him superpowers. Equal parts hilarious and heartbreaking.
- Defendor (2009): Woody Harrelson plays a troubled everyman who patrols the streets with marbles and a trench club. A dark Canadian comedy.
- Griff the Invisible (2010): Ryan Kwanten stars as a meek office worker moonlighting as a costumed hero in this Australian oddity.
'The Specials' (2000)
An Anti-Superhero Hang-Out Film
A unique and lo-fi take on superheroes, The Specials successfully satirized the ridiculousness and corporate synergy of comic book characters by placing them in realistic situations long before The Boys. For a forgotten indie flop, the film has a stacked cast: Thomas Haden Church, Rob Lowe, Paget Brewster, Jamie Kennedy, Judy Greer, Jordan Ladd, Jenna Fischer, Melissa Joan Hart, and a pre-fame James Gunn, who also penned the script, alongside his brother Sean Gunn. Most of them star as members of the misfit team known as The Specials, who are looked down upon in the superhero community and lack the corporate sponsors and merchandising deals that other groups enjoy.
The Specials is notable for not really featuring any superpowers until the very end of the movie (when mutant ants attack the White House). Instead, the story grounds superheroes as weirdos with big dreams but lots of flaws, more interested in dysfunction, adultery, and envy than the epic action sequences we usually see. It's a small, very human film, and a very funny one in its own droll way. The movie is a far cry from the future work of director Craig Mazin, who would go on to create Chernobyl and The Last of Us, but it shares a similar cynical streak.
'Super' (2010)
James Gunn's First Superhero Movie
Small indie flick Super might not be as well-known as the other titles on this list, despite boasting an impressive cast including Elliot Page, Kevin Bacon, and The Office's Rainn Wilson. Moreover, the movie was an early effort by director James Gunn, who has become synonymous with comic book movies following the success of Guardians of the Galaxy and The Suicide Squad and his subsequent hiring as co-CEO of DC Studios.
Super certainly pushes the boundaries of what might be considered common decency. While not based on an existing comic book, the story follows a man who turns to comic books for inspiration to become a superpower-less vigilante known as the Crimson Bolt. The movie is about underdogs and the desire to be something greater than ourselves, and while the superhero comedy has heart, Gunn's absurdist humor is on full display. This one is a must-watch for those who enjoyed his later work.
'Kick-Ass' (2010)
The Youth and Their Ultra-Violence
Directed by Matthew Vaughn and based on the comic book of the same name by Mark Millar and John Romita Jr., Kick-Ass tells the story of a teenager, played by Aaron Taylor-Johnson, who attempts to become a real-life superhero, calling himself "Kick-Ass." The movie also stars Nicolas Cage channeling old-school Adam West as fellow vigilante Big Daddy and Chloë Grace Moretz as his foul-mouthed, ultra-violent 11-year-old daughter, Hit-Girl.
Kick-Ass was almost an instant cult hit, with plenty of violence and a whole heap of pitch-black comedy. The superhero dark comedy is not one you can watch with the kids, but it will appeal to those who like their comic books violent, over-the-top, and tongue-in-cheek. The movie has also aged well, thanks to its great practical effects and witty script. There is a sequel, but it is best to stick with the original.
'Incredibles 2' (2018)
Perfect Superhero Comedy for the Whole Family
The Parr family finds themselves in trouble when a battle with the villainous Underminer causes property damage to their town. This sparks a backlash toward the superhero community, and they soon see their funding pulled. Help arrives in the form of two wealthy siblings who call on Helen (Elastigirl) to reinvent the superhero image. While initially a PR campaign, her actions put her face to face with a new villain, the Screenslaver, who is looking to control people through their mobile devices.
Incredibles 2 is one of the rare examples of a movie, animated or otherwise, that arguably surpasses the original. Pixar's take on the superhero genre acts just as much as a sharp satire of sitcom-like suburban life as it does an homage to the great comic book heroes. For fans of the more humorous side of Marvel and DC, the sequel is a loving homage, but its appeal is universal thanks to the heartwarming, comedic approach Pixar has mastered.
'Ant-Man' (2015)
A Hero of Minuscule Proportions
Scott Lang (Paul Rudd) is a recent ex-convict struggling to find work and support his daughter. Scott receives a peculiar job offer from scientist Dr. Hank Pym (Michael Douglas) to don his invention, which allows him to shrink while retaining the strength of a full-grown man. At first reluctant, Scott comes to embrace the role and joins a heist to steal the Yellowjacket, a weaponized rival suit developed by Pym's dangerous former protégé, Darren Cross (Corey Stoll).
Ant-Man might not be an all-out comedy like many other movies on the list, but it’s certainly not without its funny moments. Much of this comes from the casting of Paul Rudd as the titular hero, who is effortlessly amusing and brings his trademark laid-back humor to the role. Aside from Rudd, the concept of a superhero who can shrink to the size of an ant lends itself to numerous sight gags. The original still stands tall as the best, but the series has seen two sequels, Ant-Man and the Wasp (2018) and Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania (2023).
'Shazam!' (2019)
The Amazing Teenage Superhero
Bounced between foster homes but resilient as ever, teenager Billy Batson is summoned to the magical Rock of Eternity, where an ancient wizard grants him incredible powers. Now, when he shouts the wizard's name, Billy transforms into an adult superhero (Zachary Levi) with the abilities of the ancient gods. He begins to use his powers to save people in need while goofing around with his foster family. However, the embittered Dr. Sivana, who unleashed the imprisoned Seven Deadly Sins from that same lair and harnessed their powers, arrives to challenge Billy.
Shazam! exceeded expectations, both at the box office and with critics. The premise lends itself to all sorts of humorous situations as it explores what would happen if a teenager could transform into a superhero with extraordinary powers at any time they wanted. The movie certainly plays into that desire with a comedic twist, boasting great banter between the adult-sized Billy and his foster family. The sequel, Shazam! Fury of the Gods may have been a flop, but it does contain similar charms.
'The Lego Batman Movie' (2017)
Creativity and Humor from the Lego-verse
2014’s The Lego Movie surprised everyone with its hilarious, fun-filled appeal to children and adults of all ages. It was a stroke of genius to team up with DC, license its most recognizable characters, and turn them into Lego sets. Will Arnett's Batman was such a standout in The Lego Movie that it is unsurprising he would be spun off and given his own movie. Here, the Caped Crusader faces one of his greatest challenges: forming a relationship.
By keeping the same stunning animation style and adopting the same sense of humor as its predecessor, The Lego Batman Movie arrived as a spin-off with all the same comedic beats. Combine that with a fantastic voice cast consisting of Will Arnett, Zach Galifianakis, Michael Cera, Rosario Dawson, Ralph Fiennes, and Mariah Carey, and the film stands as one of the best-executed and most hilarious superhero movies.
'The Suicide Squad' (2021)
A Second Suicide Mission Turned into a Success
In 2016, Warner Bros. and DC attempted to pull off one of their most ambitious projects, the highly anticipated Suicide Squad movie featuring many of their most popular characters, including Harley Quinn, the Joker, and Deadshot. It brought in some of Hollywood’s biggest players, including Will Smith, Jared Leto, Margot Robbie, and Cara Delevingne. Unfortunately, the first Suicide Squad did not meet expectations and was widely regarded as a disappointing, uneven mess.
Fast-forward to 2021, and the studio made another attempt at bringing the notorious squad to the big screen in a kind of reboot/sequel titled The Suicide Squad. This time, they brought in James Gunn, who had already found success with the Guardians of the Galaxy franchise. Focusing far more on his unique, edgy comedy and aiming it squarely at adults, the movie was a massive hit with critics the second time around, embracing the chaotic, high-stakes spirit of the comics that has made the Suicide Squad a consistent fan favorite.
'Guardians of the Galaxy' (2014)
Intergalactic Superhero Silliness
Comedy and superheroes seem to be the perfect coupling for director James Gunn, as here we have his third entry on this list. His edgy and often controversial sense of humor has come to help define the direction of many superhero comedies. This has been proven with films lacking big-name value, like Guardians of the Galaxy, which was able to make bank at the box office and spin off into one of the MCU's best movies.
The sci-fi superhero comedy has become one of the MCU's most popular franchises, with the sequel, Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2, making more than the original at the box office. Still, the original remains our favorite; it is a laugh-out-loud intergalactic romp with stellar performances from an ensemble cast featuring Chris Pratt, Zoe Saldaña, Dave Bautista, Vin Diesel, and Bradley Cooper.
