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The 2000s in America

Superhero films

by Leland Spencer

Definition: A genre of films, generally based on preexisting comic book properties, that features the stories of superpowered or supernatural beings.

In the 2000s, superhero films shifted in tone from the light, campy features of the 1990s to ones that favored gritty realism and generally reflected the political and social climate of the decade.

In the summer of 2000, 20th Century Fox released the film X-Men. Directed by Bryan Singer, it set the tone for superhero films to come over the past decade. Unlike previous superhero films, which often favored popular actors and emphasized comedy and violence over drama, X-Men featured a diverse cast that included noted stage actors Ian McKellen and Patrick Stewart.

In 2002, Sony Pictures Entertainment released the film Spider-Man. Though its tone was relatively comedic, the film, set in New York City, unintentionally echoed the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, and their aftermath. The film’s depiction of New Yorkers banding together during a crisis particularly struck a chord with moviegoers.

Following the poor reception of the campy 1997 film Batman & Robin, Warner Brothers rebooted the franchise with a more serious tone. In 2005 the studio released Batman Begins, starring Christian Bale in the titular role and directed by Christopher Nolan. The film retold Batman’s origin story, loosely basing the plot on more modern Batman comics, such as Batman: The Long Halloween (1996), than the Batman films of the 1990s. The film was a success and led to the 2008 sequel The Dark Knight.

The Dark Knight is notable for its use of political allegory, touching on subjects such as extraordinary rendition, citizen surveillance, and other tactics that had been utilized by the US government following the passing of the Patriot Act in 2001. The film Iron Man (2008), starring Robert Downey Jr., takes a similar approach; in the film, the head of a weapons manufacturing company is forced to come to terms with the worldwide effects of the materials his company has produced.

While most superhero films released in the 2000s were based on preexisting comic books or graphic novels, there were a few films that featured original superheroes. Examples include the films Unbreakable (2000) and Hancock (2008), which explore unusual representations of the superhero more intimately.

Impact

Since the 2000s, superhero films have continued to increase in popularity. Films such as Iron Man 2 (2010) and The Avengers (2012) have been commercially successful, consistently challenging box office records. Films such as X-Men: First Class (2011) and The Dark Knight Rises (2012) have continued the strain of superhero films that examine the superhero from a political context. Finally, a number of filmmakers—inspired by their big budget counterparts—have made smaller-scale, more personal superhero films.

Further Reading

1 

Berninger, Mark, Jochen Ecke, and Gideon Haberkorn, eds. Comics as a Nexus of Cultures: Essays on the Interplay of Media, Disciplines and International Perspectives. Jefferson, NC: McFarland, 2010. Print.

2 

Di Paolo, Marc. War, Politics and Superheroes: Ethics and Propaganda in Comics and Film. Jefferson, NC: McFarland, 2011. Print.

Citation Types

Type
Format
MLA 9th
Spencer, Leland. "Superhero Films." The 2000s in America, edited by Craig Belanger, Salem Press, 2013. Salem Online, online.salempress.com/articleDetails.do?articleName=2000_0359.
APA 7th
Spencer, L. (2013). Superhero films. In C. Belanger (Ed.), The 2000s in America. Salem Press.
CMOS 17th
Spencer, Leland. "Superhero Films." Edited by Craig Belanger. The 2000s in America. Hackensack: Salem Press, 2013. Accessed September 18, 2025. online.salempress.com.