This year I’m engaging in a year-long countdown, looking at my Top 50 Superhero Films. This runs through the end of 2022, meaning there are some selections in here from last year. Over the course of the year, I’ll be sharing the list in this space, counting down 10 at a time. Today’s installment is No. 30 to No. 21.

No. 30 Spider-Man 2 (2004)
About: The second of the films starring Tobey Maguire, this one ups the stakes. I enjoy the way it’s told, the action and the performances from Maguire and Alfred Molina as Doc Ock.

No. 29 Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 (2017)
About: I know not everyone loves the sequel, but the Guardians are my favorite heroes in the MCU. This film worked for me. I liked the humor, the romance and the story. It’s all about the Trash Panda!

No. 28 X-Men (2000)
About: This film is sometimes overlooked now, but it was an early entry in the modern wave of superhero films. The action works and it’s the first film with Patrick Stewart as Professor X and Hugh Jackman as Wolverine.

No. 27 Thor: Love & Thunder (2022)
About: One of the newer films on the list, this is the second film featuring Chris Hemsworth as Thor directed by Taika Waititi. I love the style of the humor and the storytelling. The return of Natalie Portman is fun here, too.

No. 26 Shazam! (2019)
About: The DCEU has been uneven but when people say there have never been any lighter films, I point to Shazam! It’s fun and more family friendly. I enjoy the story and the back-and-forth between Zachary Levi and Jack Dylan Grazer.

No. 25 Spider-Man: Homecoming (2017)
About: Tom Holland is great as Spider-Man. Spoiler alert, all three of his standalone films are on my list. This was his first, and the back-and-forth with Robert Downey, Jr. is great here. It’s a really fun movie.

No. 24 Shang-Chi and the Legend of the 10 Rings (2021)
About: This was part of a year that saw Marvel release four new films. This one probably got the least hype pre-release, but it ended up being one of my favorites. I love Simi Liu in the lead and his rapport with Awkwafina is a lot of fun. This one has some spectacular visuals, too.

No. 23 Superman Returns (2006)
About: Sure, you might question this choice, but I love the film. It’s meant to be a direct sequel to Superman II, and it works as such. Brandon Routh is under-rated as Superman and I enjoy Kate Bosworth as Lois Lane, too.

No. 22 Iron Man (2008)
About: There’s no Marvel Cinematic Universe without Iron Man and this performance from Robert Downey, Jr. The film still holds up and is still one of my favorites from the MCU. I love the direction, the humor and the way the story unfolds.

No. 21 Batman Begins (2005)
About: Christopher Nolan’s first film in a Batman franchise. I like the way this origin story unfolds and the action here. It’s not the best of his batman films but it’s still one of the superhero films I enjoy most. Since Batman is my favorite superhero, expect more to come when we pick this up.

Matthew Fox is a graduate of the Radio, Television and Film program at Biola University, and a giant nerd. He spends his free time watching movies, TV, and obsessing about football. He is a member of the FSWA. You can find him @knighthawk7734 on Twitter and as co-host of the Fantasy Football Roundtable Podcast.