The 20 best superhero movie performances of all time

tony stark iron man

Superhero movies are known for their blockbuster, money-making appeal, but they can also produce some stellar performances.

Acting goes overlooked for most moviegoers when watching a superhero movie. And you generally don't see actors in superhero movies nominated for big awards like the Oscars (except for that one time).

But there are plenty of performances that are not only great on their own terms, but capture what makes their respective characters so great. The best superhero movie performances take what's on the comic book page and add another layer to it on the screen.

We looked at the best performances in superhero movies to determine the top 20. The only rule was that we picked a specific movie — for instance, Robert Downey Jr. has played Iron Man in multiple movies throughout the Marvel Cinematic Universe, but which one is he the best in?

Some movies will repeat because they have more than one memorable performance that warranted a spot on this list. Characters could repeat, as well. We all know how susceptible to reboots these movies are.

From villains to heroes and supporting characters, these are the 20 best superhero movie performances:

20. Letitia Wright as Shuri in "Black Panther"

Letitia Wright stole every scene in "Black Panther" as the title character's genius sister, and became a fan favorite in the process.

19. Aaron Eckhart as Harvey Dent/Two-Face in "The Dark Knight" (2008)

Eckhart's performance as Gotham City District Attorney Harvey Dent, who is tragically disfigured and driven mad, is overshadowed by Heath Ledger's performance as the Joker in "The Dark Knight." But we believe Dent's sudden transformation because of Eckhart's acting.

18. Danny DeVito as Oswald Cobblepot/The Penguin in "Batman Returns" (1992)

Danny DeVito's portrayal of The Penguin is over-the-top and disgusting, but he does it as only he can. The character hasn't been seen on screen since, and it would be hard for anyone else to top.

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