Superhero movies have evolved dramatically over the decades, marked by landmark movies that forever altered what the genre could be. While dozens of Marvel and DC movies have left their mark, only a select few truly changed the genre forever. These entrants reshaped how audiences, critics, and studios viewed the potential of comic book storytelling forever.

These game-changers didn’t just entertain; they redefined tone, structure, and cultural expectation. Some elevated the genre into prestige territory, others opened new creative or demographic doors. Together, they trace the evolution from sincere heroism to moral nuance, shifting the genre’s perception until the MCU timeline and the DC Universe became the dominant cultural output of modern cinema.

Superman (1978)

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