Best Superhero Movies 2023

Whether or not superhero fatigue is a real thing, overall it was not a particularly noteworthy year for the genre, but that doesn’t mean we didn’t get a few gems. Looking at the live-action superhero offerings of 2023, the consensus winner for critics (and audiences, as it were) was James Gunn’s final flourish in the MCU, Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3.

#1
Adjusted Score: 105434%
Critics Consensus: A galactic group hug that might squeeze a little too tight on the heartstrings, the final Guardians of the Galaxy is a loving last hurrah for the MCU's most ragtag family.
Synopsis: In Marvel Studios "Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3" our beloved band of misfits are looking a bit different these... [More]
Directed By: James Gunn

#2
#2
Adjusted Score: 98036%
Critics Consensus: Quentin Dupieux still isn't for everyone -- but if you're on his loopy wavelength, Smoking Causes Coughing causes laughter.
Synopsis: A wildly inventive new comedy from Quentin Dupieux (MANDIBLES, RUBBER), SMOKING CAUSES COUGHING follows the misadventures of a team of... [More]
Directed By: Quentin Dupieux

#3

Blue Beetle (2023)
Tomatometer icon 77%

#3
Adjusted Score: 92548%
Critics Consensus: Led by Xolo Maridueña's magnetic performance in the title role, Blue Beetle is a refreshingly family-focused superhero movie with plenty of humor and heart.
Synopsis: Recent college grad Jaime Reyes returns home full of aspirations for his future, only to find that home is not... [More]
Directed By: Angel Manuel Soto

#4

The Flash (2023)
Tomatometer icon 63%

#4
Adjusted Score: 85299%
Critics Consensus: The Flash is funny, fittingly fast-paced, and overall ranks as one of the best DC movies in recent years.
Synopsis: Worlds collide in "The Flash" when Barry uses his superpowers to travel back in time in order to change the... [More]
Directed By: Andy Muschietti

#5

The Marvels (2023)
Tomatometer icon 62%

#5
Adjusted Score: 83044%
Critics Consensus: Funny, refreshingly brief, and elevated by the chemistry of its three leads, The Marvels is easy to enjoy in the moment despite its cluttered story and jumbled tonal shifts.
Synopsis: Carol Danvers aka Captain Marvel has reclaimed her identity from the tyrannical Kree and taken revenge on the Supreme Intelligence.... [More]
Directed By: Nia DaCosta