Movies and TV That Helped Shape the Modern Superhero Universe   

With the recent release of Marvel’s Luke Cage on Netflix, and its overwhelming popularity, it’s not hard to see the impact that superheroes have on our culture. The show is a great example of the clever, in-your-face, modern superhero entertainment Marvel has been providing us with for almost ten years now.

Of course, Marvel existed long before the first Iron Man movie came out, but with the emergence of the MCU, the superhero universe has drastically changed. We’re currently in the middle of a massive entertainment dynasty based on our favorite folks in tights. And it isn’t all Marvel, either. DC is trying their best to keep up, and while the attempts have been pretty rocky, this isn’t stopping the folks behind Suicide Squad and Batman v Superman from standing their ground.

With the culmination of DC and Marvel superheroes running amok on our TVs and movie screens, it’s important to recognize the films and shows that helped to spearhead the current modern superhero landscape.

X-Men

"You jump-start things with an event movie, follow up with a TV show for continuity and fashion a high quality video game. When the three are combined and introduced successfully, that creates a very powerful brand." These were the words of Avi Arad, former president-CEO of Marvel Studios. Arad couldn't be more right about his idea for a strong brand, and the return of the comic book superhero was very much due to the release of X-Men in 2000.

By the time of its release, there were already plans for movies such as Thor, Spiderman, and Daredevil and with the success of Professor X and his mutant students, it was a surefire sign that the world was ready for superheroes. The film garnered positive reviews and opened strong against a slew of other popular movies.

The franchise continues on to this day, with newer films still bringing a horde of fans. Not part of the MCU, though technically Marvel, these films stand on their own and will surely continue for some time to come.

Spider-man

Welcome to 2002, where a film about a guy who got bit by a spider and his dead uncle - who also happens to be the name of a popular instant rice brand - obliterated the box office. Spider-Man was the first film to gross over $100 million in the first three days, something that even Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone couldn't pull off. The film was pretty successful, with moviegoers calling out for more Spider-man (though we all collectively took that back by Spider-Man 3). The film also turned out to be an unexpectedly good video game rendition, furthering Mr. Arad's expectations of a strong brand.

Having gone through several versions since the 2002 inception, along with a new film Spider-man: Homecoming slated for a 2017 release, it’s clear that a radioactively bitten teenager has had a huge impact on the future of superheroes.

Batman Begins

Not to be outdone, DC Comics emerged from the shadows - and through the direction of Christopher Nolan and the talents of Christian Bale and Michael Caine to name a few - Batman, well, began. 2005 was just the start of the Dark Knight Trilogy, which took a much more intense angle in its films. It shifted the paradigm of the old "holy cliche pun, Batman!" to a new, broody with a side of brood Batman. With much success, the film proved that a man with a cape and pointy ears could handle the same dark, real themes that your normal Oscar-worthy movie could provide. It brought Nolan into the mainstream spotlight, and created one of the most impressive showings from DC to date.

Iron Man

With its release in 2008, Iron Man initiated the formation of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Along with its main storyline, the film ends with Nick Fury discussing the Avengers initiative with Tony Stark, and as they say, the rest is history.

The movie incorporated stunning CGI along with the endearingly cocky stage presence of Robert Downey Jr. to provide the kind of action-packed superhero movie we have now come to expect. It was a movie that could clearly stand on it’s own and it made one hell of an impression. It would be four years and two days until the culmination of The Avengers hit screens, only helping to solidify Marvel as the superhero mega house. By 2012, it was clear that Marvel was ready to launch their superhero franchise, whether we were ready or not.

The Avengers

10 years and a day after Spider-Man became the first movie to break $100 million in three days, The Avengers blew by that margin in only two, and became the highest grossing film after two days with about $150 million earned; currently, it only stands behind Jurassic World for the current record by $1 million. The Avengers had everything; hero vs. hero battles, reckless destruction of entire city blocks, hell, it even had memes. The Avengers succeeded critically where other super groups failed (I'm looking at you Fantastic Four), and gave confidence to studios that people were truly invested in the superhero brand. So they went into overdrive.

Arrow

Later in 2012, Arrow appeared on the CW. the TV series based on DC Comic Green Arrow hit the ground running, with season one being the highest rated new CW show in five years. Although Arrow has significantly dropped in ratings as well as in the eyes of many viewers, it helped to establish the so called Arrowverse on the CW, allowing for shows like The Flash and eventually Supergirl to land a fairly stable viewership on the network. It also allowed DC to truly compete against Marvel for the first time. Though this didn't last long, because in 2013, they made their own mark on our TV screens.

Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.

In 2013, ABC aired the first episode of the Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. The show occurs during the same timeline as the Marvel Cinematic Universe, which means anything that happens in the movies could affect what happens in the show, and vice versa. Ultimately, it's a way for Marvel to build up a following through regular viewings, and since its inception, reviews have been pretty positive.

Man of Steel

Man of Steel, released in 2013, was the beginning of the DC Extended Universe, the direct competitor to the Marvel Cinematic Universe. The film opened to mixed reviews, which has essentially been the cornerstone of each DCEU movie so far - so not that surprising. At the moment, it’s pretty evident that DC is having trouble mixing action with backstory, and thus, it's leaving some fans feeling disconnected. DC is trying to be different, with a grittier approach to their films than Marvel, and when that formula is eventually sorted out, we may actually start to see some really good movies.

Guardians of the Galaxy

Unlike any other movie on the list, Guardians of the Galaxy is a one of a kind. While a part of the MCU, this was the first film in the lineup to stand on its own, in many different ways. Connected to the rest of the films by several interconnected strings, the film takes place in its own universe of sorts and features all new Marvel film characters.

What Marvel truly achieved was taking a bunch of generally unlikeable and jerky characters, and make them loved by many. Something DC tried and failed to do with Suicide Squad. While obviously different in many ways, the foundation is the same, but Marvel actually got it right.

Moviegoer reactions have been overwhelmingly positive for the film, and will undoubtedly continue with upcoming standalones like Dr. Strange and the sequel to Guardians slated for next year.

Marvel's Daredevil

Through Netflix, the MCU has expanded into a new set of superheroes. By staying out of basic cable and the more family-friendly movies, shows like Daredevil have been able to grow darker and deeper, telling stories we wouldn’t be able to see on a traditional cable show. Highlighting heavier issues, and with more time to develop characters, Netflix has been a great place for Marvel’s superheroes to grow.

With Daredevil’s beautiful use of cinematography, this is not your average superhero show. It stands alone and is well deserving of its praise.

Marvel's Jessica Jones

While similar in respect to Daredevil, Jessica Jones stands out as being one of the few superhero TV shows or movies led by a female character. The show covers heavy issues like rape, depression, and alcoholism, and is a beautiful representation of what a good story, along with a kickass superhero, can truly look like. Characters like Jones making big impression on audiences, has helped shape the way for future films like Captain Marvel and DC’s Wonder Woman.