The 11 Best Animated Superhero Movies

Superhero movies have dominated the box office for the last 20ish years, so much so that we're getting them at an accelerated clip. Recently, we've been getting more of them within the medium of animation. These movies can be theatrical or straight to home, but the animation helps capture angles and some effects that feel close to the comics they've been adapted from. I've really enjoyed watching these animated superhero movies and wanted to walk you through my 11 best today. Let's dive in. 1. Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse (Trilogy)Cast: Shameik Moore, Jake Johnson, Hailee Steinfeld, Mahershala Ali, Brian Tyree Henry, Lily Tomlin, Nicolas CageDirectors: Bob Persichetti, Peter Ramsey, Rodney RothmanWriters: Phil Lord, Rodney Rothman, Dave Callaham I know only parts 1 and 2 have been released, but they've been some of my favorite movies of the last decade because they push the envelope in terms of visuals and animation. 2. Batman: Mask of The PhantasmCast: Kevin Conroy, Mark Hamill, Dana Delany, Hart BochnerDirector: Eric Radomski, Bruce TimmWriters: Alan Burnett, Paul Dini, Bruce Timm, Randy RogelI remember this coming out when I was in third grade, and it had such a great twist in terms of who was the bad guy. It really influenced me as a writer. 3. The Incredibles 1&2Cast: Craig T. Nelson, Holly Hunter, Samuel L. Jackson, Jason Lee, Elizabeth Peña Director: Brad Bird Writer: Brad BirdMy two favorite Pixar movies, they have some of the best worldbuilding I've seen in any movie. And they draw such distinct characters with relatable motivations. It adds to their re-watchability. 4. Batman: Under the Red HoodCast: Jensen Ackles, Bruce Greenwood, John DiMaggio, Neil Patrick Harris Director: Brandon Vietti Writer: Judd Winick (comic), J.M. DeMatteis (screenplay)DC really conquered straight-to-video animated superhero movies. Batman has so many fun stories, and this one keeps you on the edge of your seat. 5. Batman Beyond: Return of the JokerCast: Will Friedle, Kevin Conroy, Mark Hamill Director: Curt Geda Writers: Bruce Timm, Paul Dini, Stan Berkowitz, Alan BurnettAnother one that sort of connects to my youth, Batman Beyond is such an interesting world, with an elder Bruce Wayne unable to continue with the mantle of the bat, but we see the return of many villains with a cyberpunk flair. 6. Justice League: Flashpoint ParadoxCast: Kevin Conroy, C. Thomas Howell, Michael B. Jordan, Gina TorresDirector: Jay OlivaWriter: Geoff Johns (comic), James Krieg (screenplay)I think the best animated movies take on huge comic events and adapt them really well. In this case, we have jumping in time and universes via the Flash, and lots of hero cameos as well. 7. Planet HulkCast: Rick D. Wasserman, Lisa Edelstein, Mark Hildreth Director: Sam Liu Writer: Greg Pak (comic), Joshua Fine (screenplay)One of the best Marvel movies on this list, I think Marvel just needs to make more of them. this is a fun and refreshing look at the Hulk in space, kicking butt and making jokes. More of this, please! 8. MegamindCast: Will Ferrell, Tina Fey, Jonah Hill, David Cross, Brad Pitt Director: Tom McGrath Writers: Alan Schoolcraft, Brent SimonsI had to put this on here because my wife loves it so much. It's another fun look at the tropes in superhero lore through a bad guy turned good guy. Really fun. 9. Batman: The Dark Knight Returns 1&2Cast: Peter Weller, Ariel Winter, David Selby, Michael McKean Director: Jay Oliva Writers: Frank Miller (comic), Bob Goodman (screenplay)One of the greatest comics ever written was adapted into a gritty and apocalyptic world. It has all the stunning visuals and brings them to life in an epic journey into a future of mutants and dystopia. 10. All-Star SupermanCast: James Denton, Christina Hendricks, Anthony LaPaglia Director: Sam Liu Writer: Grant Morrison (comic), Dwayne McDuffie (screenplay)Easily one of my favorite comic runs, this has just the warmest world for Superman. I think its campy stuff also translates well to the big screen. 11. Superman/Batman: Public EnemiesCast: Tim Daly, Kevin Conroy, Clancy Brown Director: Sam Liu Writer: Jeph Loeb (comic), Stan Berkowitz (screenplay)Another great run with the two most famous heroes in the world. This takes a long comic series and abridges it to fit into a feature film. I love how it kept the core of the comic's story but also felt like it belonged as a movie. Summing Up the 11 Best Animated Superhero MoviesSo, there you have it. It's a DC-heavy list, so I think Marvel should take note and get on their game. It's also a Batman-heavy list, but I think that speaks to how many legendary comics they have to adapt in that series. Did I miss any of your favorites? I'd love to hear about them. Let me know what you think in the comments.

Feb 17, 2025 - 14:30

Superhero movies have dominated the box office for the last 20ish years, so much so that we're getting them at an accelerated clip. Recently, we've been getting more of them within the medium of animation.

These movies can be theatrical or straight to home, but the animation helps capture angles and some effects that feel close to the comics they've been adapted from.

I've really enjoyed watching these animated superhero movies and wanted to walk you through my 11 best today.

Let's dive in.

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

Cast: Shameik Moore, Jake Johnson, Hailee Steinfeld, Mahershala Ali, Brian Tyree Henry, Lily Tomlin, Nicolas Cage

Directors: Bob Persichetti, Peter Ramsey, Rodney Rothman

Writers: Phil Lord, Rodney Rothman, Dave Callaham

I know only parts 1 and 2 have been released, but they've been some of my favorite movies of the last decade because they push the envelope in terms of visuals and animation.

2. Batman: Mask of The Phantasm

Cast: Kevin Conroy, Mark Hamill, Dana Delany, Hart Bochner

Director: Eric Radomski, Bruce Timm

Writers: Alan Burnett, Paul Dini, Bruce Timm, Randy Rogel

I remember this coming out when I was in third grade, and it had such a great twist in terms of who was the bad guy. It really influenced me as a writer.

3. The Incredibles 1&2

Cast: Craig T. Nelson, Holly Hunter, Samuel L. Jackson, Jason Lee, Elizabeth Peña

Director: Brad Bird

Writer: Brad Bird

My two favorite Pixar movies, they have some of the best worldbuilding I've seen in any movie. And they draw such distinct characters with relatable motivations. It adds to their re-watchability.

4. Batman: Under the Red Hood

Cast: Jensen Ackles, Bruce Greenwood, John DiMaggio, Neil Patrick Harris

Director: Brandon Vietti

Writer: Judd Winick (comic), J.M. DeMatteis (screenplay)

DC really conquered straight-to-video animated superhero movies. Batman has so many fun stories, and this one keeps you on the edge of your seat.

5. Batman Beyond: Return of the Joker

Cast: Will Friedle, Kevin Conroy, Mark Hamill

Director: Curt Geda

Writers: Bruce Timm, Paul Dini, Stan Berkowitz, Alan Burnett

Another one that sort of connects to my youth, Batman Beyond is such an interesting world, with an elder Bruce Wayne unable to continue with the mantle of the bat, but we see the return of many villains with a cyberpunk flair.

6. Justice League: Flashpoint Paradox

Cast: Kevin Conroy, C. Thomas Howell, Michael B. Jordan, Gina Torres

Director: Jay Oliva

Writer: Geoff Johns (comic), James Krieg (screenplay)

I think the best animated movies take on huge comic events and adapt them really well. In this case, we have jumping in time and universes via the Flash, and lots of hero cameos as well.

7. Planet Hulk

Cast: Rick D. Wasserman, Lisa Edelstein, Mark Hildreth

Director: Sam Liu

Writer: Greg Pak (comic), Joshua Fine (screenplay)

One of the best Marvel movies on this list, I think Marvel just needs to make more of them. this is a fun and refreshing look at the Hulk in space, kicking butt and making jokes. More of this, please!

8. Megamind

Cast: Will Ferrell, Tina Fey, Jonah Hill, David Cross, Brad Pitt

Director: Tom McGrath

Writers: Alan Schoolcraft, Brent Simons

I had to put this on here because my wife loves it so much. It's another fun look at the tropes in superhero lore through a bad guy turned good guy. Really fun.

9. Batman: The Dark Knight Returns 1&2

Cast: Peter Weller, Ariel Winter, David Selby, Michael McKean

Director: Jay Oliva

Writers: Frank Miller (comic), Bob Goodman (screenplay)

One of the greatest comics ever written was adapted into a gritty and apocalyptic world. It has all the stunning visuals and brings them to life in an epic journey into a future of mutants and dystopia.

10. All-Star Superman

Cast: James Denton, Christina Hendricks, Anthony LaPaglia

Director: Sam Liu

Writer: Grant Morrison (comic), Dwayne McDuffie (screenplay)

Easily one of my favorite comic runs, this has just the warmest world for Superman. I think its campy stuff also translates well to the big screen.

11. Superman/Batman: Public Enemies

Cast: Tim Daly, Kevin Conroy, Clancy Brown

Director: Sam Liu

Writer: Jeph Loeb (comic), Stan Berkowitz (screenplay)

Another great run with the two most famous heroes in the world. This takes a long comic series and abridges it to fit into a feature film. I love how it kept the core of the comic's story but also felt like it belonged as a movie.

Summing Up the 11 Best Animated Superhero Movies

So, there you have it. It's a DC-heavy list, so I think Marvel should take note and get on their game. It's also a Batman-heavy list, but I think that speaks to how many legendary comics they have to adapt in that series.

Did I miss any of your favorites? I'd love to hear about them.

Let me know what you think in the comments.