Nobly Non-Neurotic List of the Best Superhero Films of the 1990s

This is the first of what will eventually be a series of best superhero films of the various decades lists. As you can tell from my previous lists on the best superhero films not featuring characters from Marvel or DC comics, superhero films are an intriguing niche genre that I enjoy that has now become mainstream. But as you can tell from those lists, I actually tend to enjoy the more creative and niche entries into the genre than I do the Coke or Pepsi (Marvel or DC) type of entries, especially these days. So in these lists you will see far more than just the conventional Marvel and DC films. And that was actually why I started with the 1990s. The 1990s as a decade represent that sweet spot in the superhero genre where people had started to create good entries into the genre and develop the genre but did so in ways that were creative and intriguing. They did not rely on manufactured corporate storytelling, which has become the problem nowadays with the two behemoths of Marvel and DC churning out more and more films each year that feel formulaic and almost interchangeable. The 1990s were thus that sweet spot of good and creative filmmaking and storytelling without the complete corporate domination of the genre.

That taste and emphasis from me is why you will only see one film featuring Marvel characters and one film featuring DC characters on this 1990s list. So that means eight of the ten films involve neither of the two behemoths. And honestly I think that is for the better. One particularly noteworthy and unintentional occurrence is that while this is a decade list, only a few individual years dominate the list as a whole. For example, three years really dominate the list: 1990, 1994, and 1998. These three years account for seven of the ten films on this list. It is intriguing that this every four year pattern of numerous high quality superhero films would seem to hold true for 2002 as well, but that is a line of inquiry for another decade list. And of course the same broad definitional guidelines apply for the superhero genre that I presented on those earlier lists.

I hope people enjoy this list and list series on superhero films. I always enjoy thinking about and making these types of lists. And of course I enjoy all ten of these films, and I hope you do too. Of course all of these films come recommended from me, so definitely check them out if you have not seen them.

1. The Mask of Zorro (1998)

MPAA Rating: PG13

Regular readers will remember that this one topped my list of the best non-Coke or Pepsi…best non-Marvel or DC superhero films. As I said in that write up, The Mask of Zorro is not simply one of my favorite superhero films of all time, it also ranks highly among my overall favorite films ever. It is eminently rewatchable, and has all the characteristics of the genre, yet does them in a way that also does not make it feel like a conventional superhero movie. It is worth reminding people that with the literary debut of the character in 1919 and then quickly thereafter the film debut of the character in 1920, Zorro is in a number of ways the original superhero and remains one of the unacknowledged archetypes for the entire genre but especially for the masked vigilante variety. While there have been seemingly innumerable adaptations and variations on the Zorro story in film and television, 1998’s The Mask of Zorro quickly became and remains to this day the best and perhaps definitive portrayal of the character. It is also worth acknowledging the solid acting performances given by Antonio Banderas, Anthony Hopkins, and Stuart Wilson, as well as this being the breakout film for Catherine Zeta-Jones.

2. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (1990)

MPAA Rating: PG

This one came in at number two on my best non-Marvel or DC superhero films list, so it should come as no surprise that it ranks just as high on this decade list. As I said in that write up, this one was always a gem from my childhood that I watched on VHS endlessly throughout the 1990s. But this is one of those films that, while perhaps directed toward a youth audience given the source material and sophomoric humor throughout, actually holds up well for adults and is quite serious and dark at times. It is a testament to the real craftsmanship behind this film that they were able to adapt a children’s television show into an actual serious dramatic film. The balance of tones across the film is stupendous as the humor and the dramatic and darker elements flow together seamlessly. The filmmakers pull off the seemingly impossible task of creating a world that both feels somewhat real but also one in which human-sized talking martial arts turtles do not feel completely out of place. That is a task that nearly every other such film that has tried it utterly fails at.

3. Mystery Men (1999)

MPAA Rating: PG13

This was another one that ranked highly on my best of the non-Marvel and DC superhero films list in coming in at number four on that one. So again, no real surprise here that it ranks highly on the decade list. As I said in that previous write up, this movie was lightning in a bottle. The cast list showcases some of the best comedic talents from the 1990s, and gives each of them a moment to shine. And that gets to one of the true highlight elements of the film in that it balances the story across the ensemble cast wonderfully. Each character gets some development, but no individual character dominates the film. This is a true ensemble comedic superhero film. But again with the tone similar to what I said above for Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (1990), there is obviously a strong comedic dimension to this story, but the film also has substantive dramatic elements and works as an underdog superhero film in its own right. Mystery Men is a success largely because it takes some risks and blends different elements together and is able to pull them all off in a satisfying manner. It is difficult to ask for more than that.

4. Blade (1998)

MPAA Rating: R

Blade is an important film in its own right and for the purposes of this film list in at least three ways. The easy one to knock off is that this is our first repeat year for the list in 1998, which was the same year as the aforementioned The Mask of Zorro. More substantively though is the next point, which is that this is the first and (spoiler alert) only film to make this 1990s decade list based on a Marvel character. For those that do not know, this is one of those where we have to make the distinction between films utilizing Marvel characters versus the Marvel Cinematic Universe films that were produced by Marvel itself. Blade was created and released by New Line Cinema. The film is significant though both for Marvel characters and the entire genre in demonstrating that you can actually produce a quality film based on a comic book character and do so by staying true enough to the character and the subject matter to earn the R rating. Blade, as a vampire hunter, not only earns the rating, but the film delivers on quality action sequences and a serviceable plot. Some of the CGI looks a bit dated given the late 1990s time period, but that should be only a minor issue for the modern viewer. Overall, this is satisfying film that pushed the boundaries for what you could do within the superhero genre. The third important factor here is that it was one of several Black-led superhero movies from the 1990s. And this was the only Marvel film to fit that description (and notably was an area where they were behind DC’s Steel film from 1997). Wesley Snipes excels in the titular role and his performance is one of those elements that makes the film work and where it earns its somewhat cult status.

5. The Crow (1994)

MPAA Rating: R

The Crow was another one that found a spot on my best of the non-Marvel or DC superhero films list coming in at number eight. As I said then, this is one of those films that people often overlook when talking about the superhero genre, and that is because this is one of the least conventional takes on the genre. The Crow is an avenging angel type of an entity that reanimates the body of a person that was brutally murdered to allow them to enact their vengeance. Thus, for some people the character perhaps does not fit many definitions of ‘heroic’. However, for me this film fits well within the darker and more violent antihero side of the superhero genre akin to a Punisher type of character, except with The Crow being supernatural in origin. The Crow film is based on the graphic novel of the same name from 1989. The plot is rather straightforward as a revenge tale. However, what elevates the film is the visual style and look of the character that was not only well executed but would prove influential throughout the genre, and especially into Christopher Nolan’s Batman movies. The Crow is also infamous for being the final film by rising action star Brandon Lee, son of martial arts icon Bruce Lee, who was accidentally shot and killed during the film’s production.

6. Blankman (1994)

MPAA Rating: PG13

Blankman will be the last of the films from my best of the non-Marvel or DC superhero films list to make an appearance on this 1990s decade list, having come in at number ten on that list. Blankman stars Damon Wayans at his peak coming off the success of In Living Color. Wayans’ character Darryl Walker is a repairperson and amateur inventor who unintentionally invents a way to make his clothing bulletproof. From there, and following the murder of his grandmother, Walker sets out to fight crime and corruption. Blankman also stars fellow In Living Color cast member David Alan Grier as Walker’s older brother who is reluctantly dragged into assisting him. The strengths of the film are Wayans’ comedic take on the genre, with him also serving as co-writer, and the overt homage to the fun of the 1960s Batman show. The ensemble supporting cast also performs well. And another strength of the film is that it operates as a more working class take on the genre, given the brothers’ impoverished background and neighborhood situation. The film also plays on the then-rarity of a Black superhero. And given the comedic tone, there is genuine drama throughout the film and it succeeds on the heart and sincerity in portraying something approaching normal people in human-scale situations.

7. Batman Returns (1992)

MPAA Rating: PG13

You might have noticed a distinct lack of DC superhero films on this list. That is for a couple of reasons. For one, there actually were not that many live action DC superhero films released during the 1990s, and of those that were most of them were Batman films. The other reason is that most of them were not that great. Of the Batman films from this era, the best one was the first one but unfortunately that came out in 1989 so it does not count for this list. But having said that, Batman Returns was an intriguing and worthy successor. Like its predecessor, Batman Returns was directed by Tim Burton, and very much feels like it; showcasing Burton’s aesthetics and visual style throughout. We also get the second and final appearance of Michael Keaton as Batman, as well as great villain performances by Danny DeVito as the Penguin, Christopher Walken as Max Shreck, and Michelle Pfeiffer as Catwoman. And it’s worth throwing out there that Key & Peele did shoutout this movie in their sketch about the Batman movies.

8. The Mask (1994)

MPAA Rating: PG13

1994 truly was an amazing year, both for Jim Carrey himself and for superhero films. 1994 truly was the breakout year for Carrey that shot him into superstardom and comedy immortality, with the huge success of Ace Ventura: Pet Detective, Dumb and Dumber, and of course this one, The Mask. All three of these films were commercially successful, and again, made Carrey into the superstar and comedic legend that he is. But you will also notice that The Mask is the third superhero movie on this decade list to come out in 1994, with Blankman and The Crow being the other two. Retrospectively, 1994 was a pivotal year for the genre that produced several quality films of both the lighter and darker varieties. Due to the presence of Jim Carrey, I think some people actually forget that The Mask counts as a superhero film, and was based on the Dark Horse Comics character of the same name. In short, Carrey’s character Stanley Ipkiss is a bit of an everyman and one days finds a mask in the river that belonged to the Norse god Loki. When he puts on the mask it brings out several submerged components of his personality, takes over him, and gives him superhuman abilities. The plot itself is a bit thin, but this is a fun film that showcases Jim Carrey’s talent, especially in a more morally ambiguous and antihero role. He is truly what makes this movie work, and without him it would likely fall flat. This was also the first film appearance of Cameron Diaz, so there you go.

9. Darkman (1990)

MPAA Rating: R

Director Sam Raimi is perhaps more well known for what he did before this movie, the Evil Dead horror films, and what he did after this, the Spiderman movies of the 2000s. However, Darkman is a wonderful middle point that features both the horror elements and what would become the classic superhero elements. And that is really how I would recommend watching this film. Darkman stars Liam Neeson as Peyton Westlake, a scientist that invents a rapid synthetic skin technology and is then seemingly murdered when his lawyer girlfriend (played by Frances McDormand) uncovers evidence of corruption in a case she is pursuing. Westlake is severely burned and disfigured in the attack, and he works in secret to further develop his technology to both permanently restore his own face and enact his revenge against the people who ruined his life by using their faces to infiltrate and take down their organization. The name Darkman comes from one of the flaws in his technology that the synthetic skin loses structural integrity following 99 minutes exposure to sunlight. Overall this is a unique and rather solid take on the superhero genre, and features a good acting performance by Liam Neeson in the lead role. And again, I love that Key & Peele give this movie in particular a shoutout in how much they love Liam Neesons (sic). There were two sequels made in the 1990s but neither involve either Liam Neeson or Sam Raimi, and are thus significantly inferior products.

10. The Rocketeer (1991)

MPAA Rating: PG

The Rocketeer is a fun but a bit of a strange movie in that it does not perfectly fit within the superhero genre, but that is true of several of the films on this list as the conventions of the superhero genre had not yet been set in stone. The Rocketeer incorporates science fiction, period drama, spy thriller, and adventure elements into the story, as well as something approaching a conventional superhero origin story. Believe it or not, this was actually a live action release by Disney that was a relative box office bomb at the time. However, it has lived on as a cult film and there have been rumors over the years about a sequel or reboot. The Rocketeer as a character has his origins in Pacific Comics in the early 1980s. Bill Campbell stars as Cliff Secord, a pilot in the late 1930s who finds a rocket pack that had recently been stolen from Howard Hughes by mobsters. The plot expands into a spy thriller with a Nazi element as we learn that the mobsters were hired by a famous Hollywood actor who is a Nazi agent and wants the rocket pack technology to give the Nazis a military and technological advantage. Secord’s girlfriend (played by Jennifer Connelly) gets pulled into this as she is an aspiring actress that is serving as an extra on the set of a film production starring our secret Nazi agent (played by Timothy Dalton). This film showcases a pretty solid script and execution, and a good ensemble cast including Bill Campbell, Jennifer Connelly, Timothy Dalton, Paul Sorvino, and Alan Arkin.