15 Best Animated Superhero Movies, Ranked According to IMDb

Live-action superhero films have reigned supreme both critically and at the box office for the last two decades, but many non-hardcore fans may not know that superheroes have boomed in the animation industry for quite some time, delivering fans stories they at one point thought they'd never be able to see on the big screen.

Whether it be the box office-dominating theatrical release of Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse or the sleeper-hit home video release of Batman: Under the Red Hood, fans have been treated to some amazing animated films over the last few decades. Which are the best of the best, though? Time to find out.

15 'Megamind' (2010)

IMDb Score: 7.3/10

When it comes to underrated animated films in general — but certainly in the superhero niche, too — Megamind is always a movie that comes to, well, mind. Following a notorious supervillain of the same name after the supposed "death" of his arch-nemesis, Metro Man (Brad Pitt), this flick finds itself continuously subverting expectations (in the best ways). This brings not only great humor, but a genuinely compelling plot, as well.

Megamind (Will Ferrell) is finally given the chance to live a life he never got to as a kid, and soon falls for the likes of Roxanne Ritchi (Tina Fey). It's a wonderful movie that superhero fans can find a lot of joy in, as it takes an approach to the genre that hasn't typically been done before, with the creative teams behind the one and only Dreamworks bringing it to life.

14 'The Lego Batman Movie' (2017)

IMDb Score: 7.3/10

It's hilarious to think that one of the best Batman movies ever made is one that takes place in the Lego universe. But the truth is that The Lego Batman Movie is an excellent film and actually a great character study of the character and his inner conflicts regarding having a family. It not only brings humor, but is genuinely compelling, as well.

Will Arnett brings such a good performance as the Lego Caped Crusader, managing not only to be funny but vulnerable when he needs to be (no matter how much it pains this version of the character to do so). The Lego Batman Movie is a comedic look into what the trauma inside of Batman truly looks like, while still being a great movie for all ages.

13 'Ben 10: Secret of the Omnitrix' (2007)

IMDb Score: 7.4/10

There's no denying that Benjamin Tennyson (Tara Strong) is one of the most popular childhood superheroes of the early 2000s. With the ability to turn into numerous superpowered aliens via his supernatural watch, the Omnitrix, Ben has an ability that can't really be found anywhere else. This caused the first series in the franchise, Ben 10, to be extremely popular amongst both children and adults, thanks to its humor and good storytelling. When the series came to an end, though, it had an unofficial finale in the form of a movie titled Ben 10: Secret of the Omnitrix.

This 2007 movie tested Ben in ways he had never been before. Bringing him to space and experiencing the societies that exist up there, a new ally in Tetrax(Dave Fennoy), to find the creator of the watch before it blows up, having triggered a self-destruction sequence early on in the film. Bringing Ben into new environments and conflicts allows Ben 10: Secret of the Omnitrix to thrive in its feeling of uniqueness compared to the original series.

12 'Incredibles 2' (2018)

IMDb Score: 7.5/10

If there's anything that Pixar is notorious for, it's producing sequels to movies that most people think don't really need sequels — making the very accurate assumption that it's simply to make more money. Sometimes, though, they produce a sequel that's not terrible or feels unnecessary, and that is the case with none other than 2018's Incredibles 2.

While it gets some flak for feeling like a retread of the first movie, it still enhances and builds upon what made the first one great, but from Elastigirl's (Holly Hunter) perspective this time. This allows Bob Parr (Craig T. Nelson), Mr. Incredible, to stay at home with the kids, swapping their roles from the first flick, and developing all the characters more that way. It's a really cool premise that keeps people entertained, despite the story being a tad predictable.

11 'Justice League Dark: Apokolips War' (2020)

IMDb Score: 7.7/10

Serving as the finale to the DC animated film universe that began in 2013 with Justice League: The Flashpoint Paradox, Justice League Dark: Apokolips War sees the DC heroes face the threat of Darkseid in one of the most brutal and harrowing battles they'd come to face yet.

The film was praised for its ability to wrap up 15 movies' worth of stories in its runtime. The chances the storytellers took with the universally beloved characters were also of note, having killed off most and reducing the rest to a shell of their former selves, all while forcing them to save the universe from a seemingly unstoppable threat.

10 'Batman Beyond: Return of the Joker' (2000)

IMDb Score: 7.7/10

Fans all over the world seem to agree on the fact that 1999's Batman Beyond series was one for the ages. Featuring a new Batman, Terry McGinnis, being trained by a veteran Bruce Wayne as the Batman of the future. In December 2000, the series received a direct-to-home video film that saw Terry facing off against Batman's most deadly foe in all of his years of crime fighting, The Joker.

But he soon learns that the Joker's resurgence isn't as simple as he believed. The film garnered wildly positive reviews upon release, with many praising its casting of the voice acting legend Mark Hamill, who would make his own return to the Joker after years of portraying him in Batman: The Animated Series.

9 'My Hero Academia: Heroes Rising' (2019)

IMDb Score: 7.8/10

Of all the modern-day anime, one of the most popular is, without a doubt, My Hero Academia. Alongside being an anime series, it has also produced four major motion pictures, with the best of the best being My Hero Academia: Heroes Rising. While the franchise has good movies, none of them have come even close to topping this second release.

The animation from Studio Bones is exquisite, the action is fast-paced with high stakes, and a story that works perfectly alongside the seemingly non-stop action at hand. The vocal performances from both the sub and dub casts are excellent, as well, which is always a huge plus for anime productions. The third act of My Hero Academia: Heroes Rising is one of the coolest final acts in the entire franchise and recent animated superhero movies.

8 'Batman: Mask of the Phantasm' (1993)

IMDb Score: 7.8/10

Batman: Mask of the Phantasm is known across the internet as a fan favorite by many. The plot follows Batman as he is accused of killing a string of mob bosses and must stop the man truly behind it all, a new assassin named the Phantasm.

The film finds admiration from fans in its melancholy themes, playing on the everlasting tragedy that is wearing the mantle of Batman. Many critics also found enjoyment in the film, taking place in the same world as Batman: The Animated Series, because it meant the return of the legendary Batman and Joker duo, Kevin Conroy and Mark Hamill.

7 'Batman: The Dark Knight Returns, Part 1' (2012)

IMDb Score: 7.9/10

Based on the comic book of the same name, Batman: The Dark Knight Returns, Part 1 finds a much older and colder Batman returning to the fold once more after retiring many years prior due to the death of Robin, Jason Todd.

The film sticks very close to the source material it's based on, being an exact page-to-screen transition for some scenes. Some critics claimed the film translated the story of the comic book better than the comic book itself did. The film and its sequel would see a new voice for the Batman character, Peter Weller. Peter was complimented for his performance, selling the gruff sound of an older Batman.

6 'Batman: Under the Red Hood' (2010)

IMDb Score: 8.0/10

The tragedy film, Batman: Under the Red Hood follows Batman as he struggles against a deadly new vigilante emerging in Gotham City known only as the Red Hood. His life begins to twist and turn as the past comes to light and Batman realizes that this new Red Hood may just be the once thought to be dead Robin, Jason Todd.

The film was released and quickly became one of the highest-grossing DC animated home videos at the time, with $12 million in sales. The film also cemented a new fan-favorite voice actor in the series, Supernatural's Jensen Ackles, as the one and only Red Hood. His wonderful performance in this film would lead him to become Batman himself years later in Batman: The Long Halloween.