Some movies over the past number of years are not only the worst rated comic book movies of all-time, but are also some of the worst overall movies.
Movies on our list include movies which have source material based in a comic book. Some movies didn’t fit our bill, but are still bad movies. Most of the films on this list are from the big-two Marvel and DC Comics.
We base the worst rated comic book movies of all-time list on Rotten Tomatoes critic scores and some rankings include multiple movies as they tied for critic scores at the time of this list.
#18 – Rotten Tomatoes Critic Score: 29%
Batman V Superman: Dawn of Justice
Released: March 25, 2016
It’s been nearly two years since Superman’s (Henry Cavill) colossal battle with Zod (Michael Shannon) devastated the city of Metropolis. The loss of life and collateral damage left many feeling angry and helpless, including crime-fighting billionaire Bruce Wayne (Ben Affleck). Convinced that Superman is now a threat to humanity, Batman embarks on a personal vendetta to end his reign on Earth, while the conniving Lex Luthor (Jesse Eisenberg) launches his own crusade against the Man of Steel.
You would think Batman and Superman in the same film would not let the flick end up on the worst rated comic book movies of all-time list. Guess not.
The Punisher
Released: April 16, 2014
This dark action film, based on the comic book series, follows FBI agent Frank Castle (Thomas Jane) as he transforms into the vengeful Punisher after criminals murder his family, including his wife and son. Castle is gravely injured in the attack and believed to be dead by Howard Saint (John Travolta), the crime lord who ordered the hit. Following his recovery, Castle becomes a heavily armed vigilante who will stop at nothing to exact revenge on Saint and dismantle his underworld empire.
Punisher: War Zone
Released: December 5, 2008
Frank Castle, aka The Punisher (Ray Stevenson), turns the streets of New York City red as he wages a one man war against the crime syndicate responsible for the death of his wife and two kids. Aided by his trusted sidekick, Microchip (Wayne Knight), he almost kills Billy Russoti (Dominic West) and leaves him horribly disfigured. Billy renames himself Jigsaw and with the help of his crazed brother Loony Bin Jim, recruits criminals from every corner of the city to do battle with Frank.
Both punisher films end up on the worst rated comic book movies of all-time list. Luckily the saved the character with the Netflix series.
#17 – Rotten Tomatoes Critic Score: 28%
Fantastic Four
Released: July 8, 2005
Scientist Reed Richards (Ioan Gruffudd) persuades his arrogant former classmate, Victor von Doom (Julian McMahon), to fund his experiments with cosmic energy. On von Doom’s space station, the crew — including astronaut Ben Grimm (Michael Chiklis), researcher Sue Storm (Jessica Alba) and pilot Johnny Storm (Chris Evans) — are exposed to a mysterious cosmic storm that bestows super powers upon them. As they cope with their transformations, von Doom vows his revenge.
Fantastic Four‘s initial theater release is wildly known as one of the worst rated comic book movies of all-time, but doesn’t even crack the top-10.
#16 – Rotten Tomatoes Critic Score: 27%
Ghost Rider
Released: February 16, 2007
Years ago, motorcycle stuntman Johnny Blaze (Nicolas Cage) sold his soul to save the life of a loved one. Now, he transforms into a fiery, avenging agent of justice at night wherever evil roams. As the only one who can walk in both worlds, Johnny is charged by Mephistopheles (Donal Logue) himself to destroy Blackheart (Wes Bentley), a demon that wants to overthrow Mephistopheles and create a worse hell than the one that currently exists.
#15 – Rotten Tomatoes Critic Score: 26%
Green Lantern
Released: June 17, 2011
Sworn to preserve intergalactic order, the Green Lantern Corps has existed for centuries. Its newest recruit, Hal Jordan (Ryan Reynolds), is the first human to join the ranks. The Green Lanterns have little regard for humans, who have thus far been unable to harness the powers of the ring each member wears. But Jordan, a gifted and cocky test pilot, may be the corps’ only hope when a new enemy called Parallax threatens the universal balance of power.
Green Lantern is one of the rare misses for Reynolds, who has played multiple amazing comic book characters. For this selection he ends up on the worst rated comic book movies of all-time.
Suicide Squad
Released: August 5, 2016
Figuring they’re all expendable, a U.S. intelligence officer decides to assemble a team of dangerous, incarcerated supervillains for a top-secret mission. Now armed with government weapons, Deadshot (Will Smith), Harley Quinn (Margot Robbie), Captain Boomerang, Killer Croc and other despicable inmates must learn to work together. Dubbed Task Force X, the criminals unite to battle a mysterious and powerful entity, while the diabolical Joker (Jared Leto) launches an evil agenda of his own.
#14 – Rotten Tomatoes Critic Score: 24%
Blade: Trinity
Released: December 8, 2004
The war between humans and vampires continues, but the humans’ best hope, human-vampire hybrid warrior Blade (Wesley Snipes), has been framed for countless murders, turning popular sentiment against him. The vampire leader responsible for Blade’s bad publicity is Danica Talos (Parker Posey), who’s determined to finally lead her bloodthirsty compatriots to victory. Now Blade must team up with a band of rogue vampire hunters (Ryan Reynolds, Jessica Biel) to save humanity.
Speaking of Reynolds, the well-known actor lands on the worst rated comic book movies of all-time twice, but of no-fault of his own…well at least for this film. Blade will return in phase five of the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
#13 – Rotten Tomatoes Critic Score: 23%
Bulletproof Monk
Released: April 16, 2003
For 60 years, a mysterious monk with no name (Chow Yun-Fat) has zigzagged the globe to protect an ancient scroll — a scroll that holds the key to unlimited power. Now the Monk must look for a new scroll keeper. Kar (Seann William Scott) is an unlikely candidate, a streetwise young man whose only interest is himself. But when he inadvertently saves the Bulletproof Monk from capture, the two become partners in a scheme to save the world from the scroll’s most avid pursuer.
#12 – Rotten Tomatoes Critic Score: 22%
Dark Phoenix
Released: June 7, 2019
The X-Men face their most formidable and powerful foe when one of their own, Jean Grey, starts to spiral out of control. During a rescue mission in outer space, Jean is nearly killed when she’s hit by a mysterious cosmic force. Once she returns home, this force not only makes her infinitely more powerful, but far more unstable. The X-Men must now band together to save her soul and battle aliens that want to use Grey’s new abilities to rule the galaxy.
X-Men kicked off peoples love for Marvel comic book movies, but this film does not live up to the first movies.
Judge Dredd
Released: June 30, 1995
In the crime-plagued future, the only thing standing between order and chaos is Judge Joseph Dredd (Sylvester Stallone). His duty: police the violent metropolitan sprawls that crowd the decaying earth, and kill criminals on the spot if necessary. The tables are turned, however, when maniacal ex-Judge Rico (Armand Assante) frames Dredd for murder. But, as his opponents soon discover, not even a prison sentence can stop Dredd from doling out his signature brand of justice.
#11 – Rotten Tomatoes Critic Score: 21%
Released: August 8, 2014
Spawned from a lab experiment gone awry, teenage terrapins Leonardo, Michelangelo, Donatello and Raphael live in the sewers beneath New York. Although their rodent sensei, Splinter, advises against showing themselves above ground, the justice-loving, pizza-eating brothers can’t stand idly by while evil Shredder and his minions terrorize the city. With help from intrepid reporter April O’Neil (Megan Fox) and her cameraman (Will Arnett), the Turtles set out to save New York.
Really no surprise this movie landed on the worst rated comic book movies of all-time. It definitely fell off compared to the original films from the 1990s.
#10 – Rotten Tomatoes Critic Score: 19%
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles III
Released: March 19, 1993
Reporter April O’Neil (Paige Turco) purchases an ancient Japanese scepter that can cause those simultaneously holding it in different centuries to switch places in time. When she is transported to 16th-century Japan, her crime-fighting pals, the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, pursue her. After landing in the past, the Turtles learn April has been captured by the villainous Lord Norinaga (Sab Shimono). To rescue her, they must team up with rebel leader Misu (Vivian Wu).
We all love the original Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles films, but we can agree the third film fell a little short. This leads to it ending up on our worst rated comic book movies of all-time list.
#9 – Rotten Tomatoes Critic Score: 18%
Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance
Released: Feb 17, 2012
Now hiding out in Eastern Europe, Johnny Blaze (Nicolas Cage) is still struggling with the curse of the Ghost Rider — the devil’s bounty hunter. Johnny meets a priest named Moreau (Idris Elba), who asks Johnny to find a boy named Danny (Fergus Riordan) and bring him back. But there’s a catch — Satan (Ciarán Hinds) is looking for the boy too, and has a personal stake in the matter. But if Johnny can find Danny first and save the boy’s soul, there’s a chance Johnny can save his own soul as well.
Both Ghost Rider films land on our list of worst rated comic book movies of all-time.
#8 – Rotten Tomatoes Critic Score: 17%
The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen
Released: February 17, 2012
A team of extraordinary figures culled from great adventure literature (including Alan Quatermain, vampiress Mina Harker from Dracula, the Invisible Man, Dr. Jekyll & Mr. Hyde, an American secret service agent named Sawyer, Captain Nemo, and Dorian Gray), are called to stop a villain intent on turning the nations of the world against one another.
Spawn
Released: August 1, 1997
Covert government assassin Al Simmons (Michael Jai White) is killed after being double-crossed by his boss, Jason Wynn (Martin Sheen). Upon arriving in Hell, Simmons is offered an opportunity to return to Earth if he’s willing to lead an evil army. He accepts, and is reincarnated as a “Hellspawn” — a twisted, horribly disfigured version of his former self. However, Spawn serves as a force of good, much to the dismay of the Devil’s henchman, a wicked clown (John Leguizamo).
Spawn was one of the first tries at a comic book movie made from an independent film, but it definitely needs work. With the suspect story and graphics, Spawn is one of the worst rated comic book movies of all-time.
Man-Thing
Released: August 1, 1997
When a greedy oil baron (Jack Thompson) sets his sights on drilling in a Louisiana swamp, a monstrous creature is awakened. The baron and his associates are killed in the swamp thicket, spurring an investigation led by Sheriff Kyle Williams (Matthew Le Nevez). Although the Seminoles are initially suspected of the murders, the swamp creature, known as Man-Thing (Conan Stevens), is the killer. A gruesome creature made of plants and vines, Man-Thing possesses strange and dangerous powers.
Man-Thing will make his Marvel Cinematic Universe debut during the upcoming Werewolf By Night Halloween Special in October. This will hopefully redeem Man-Thing as one of the worst rated comic book movies of all-time.
#7 – Rotten Tomatoes Critic Score: 15%
Morbius
Released: April 1, 2022
One of the most compelling and conflicted characters in Sony Pictures Universe of Marvel Characters comes to the big screen as Oscar® winner Jared Leto transforms into the enigmatic antihero Michael Morbius. Dangerously ill with a rare blood disorder and determined to save others suffering his same fate, Dr. Morbius attempts a desperate gamble. While at first it seems to be a radical success, a darkness inside him is unleashed. Will good override evil — or will Morbius succumb to his mysterious new urges?
Morbius is the only movie to make the worst rated comic book movies of all-time list to have come out over the past two years.
#6 – Rotten Tomatoes Critic Score: 14%
Howard The Duck
Released: August 1, 1986
In this film based on the comic book character, Howard the Duck is suddenly beamed from Duckworld, a planet of intelligent ducks with arms and legs, to Earth, where he lands in Cleveland. There he saves rocker Beverly (Lea Thompson) from thugs and forms a friendship with her. She introduces him to Phil (Tim Robbins), who works at a lab with scientist Dr. Jenning (Jeffrey Jones). When the doctor attempts to return Howard to his world, Jenning instead transfers an evil spirit into his own body.
What did we watch? Wow. What we thought was going to be a killer representation of Howard The Duck turned into one of the worst rated comic book movies of all-time.
#5 – Rotten Tomatoes Critic Score: 12%
Joanh Hex
Released: June 18, 2010
Having cheated death, gunslinger and bounty hunter Jonah Hex (Josh Brolin) has one foot in the natural world and one in the supernatural. His unusual nature gives him the ability to track down anyone or anything, so the Army makes him an irresistible offer: It will erase the warrants on his head if he will find Quentin Turnbull (John Malkovich). Turnbull, his oldest enemy, is preparing to unleash hell on Earth and will stop at nothing to kill him.
Steel
Released: Aug 15, 1997
Former Army scientists (Shaquille O’Neal, Annabeth Gish), one in a steel suit, team up in Los Angeles against another (Judd Nelson) who turned bad.
Batman & Robin
Released: Jun 20, 1997
This superhero adventure finds Batman (George Clooney) and his partner, Robin (Chris O’Donnell), attempting to the foil the sinister schemes of a deranged set of new villains, most notably the melancholy Mr. Freeze (Arnold Schwarzenegger), who wants to make Gotham into an arctic region, and the sultry Poison Ivy (Uma Thurman), a plant-loving femme fatale. As the Dynamic Duo contends with these bad guys, a third hero, Batgirl (Alicia Silverstone), joins the ranks of the city’s crime-fighters.
#4 – Rotten Tomatoes Critic Score: 11%
Elektra
Released: January 14, 2005
Assassin-for-hire Elektra (Jennifer Garner) works for a mysterious international organization known as the Hand, for which she kills her targets without question, and in a conspicuous red bustier, no less. When the Hand asks her to kill Mark Miller (Goran Visnjic) and his daughter, Abby (Kirsten Prout), while they’re on holiday, Elektra’s conscience kicks in and she decides to protect her targets rather than eliminate them. Of course, the Hand isn’t so willing to let them off the hook.
The Crow: City of Angels
Released: August 30, 1996
After mechanic Ashe (Vincent Perez) and his son (Eric Acosta) witness a murder, they are captured and killed by drug lord Judah (Richard Brooks). Soon, a young artist named Sarah (Mia Kirshner) meets Ashe, who has just returned from the dead. Sarah, who had known a man resurrected into the vengeful warrior the Crow years ago, explains to Ashe that he is now the Crow. Ashe sets out to get revenge by slaying Judah and his minions, but Judah discovers the Crow’s power and craves it for himself.
#3 – Rotten Tomatoes Critic Score: 10%
Superman IV: The Quest for Peace
Released: July 24, 1987
Seeing the United States and the Soviet Union engaged in a nuclear arms race that could lead to Earth’s destruction, Superman (Christopher Reeve) decides that he must take action. He collects all the nuclear warheads from the world and throws them into space. Meanwhile, Superman’s nemesis, Lex Luthor (Gene Hackman), has broken out of prison with a new scheme. He clones Superman with radioactive material to create Nuclear Man (Mark Pillow), a being just as powerful as the man of steel.
Superman lands on the list of worst rated comic book movies of all-time twice with Superman IV.
#2 – Rotten Tomatoes Critic Score: 9%
Fantastic Four
Released: August 7, 2015
Transported to an alternate universe, four young outsiders gain superhuman powers as they alter their physical form in shocking ways. Reed Richards becomes Mr. Fantastic, able to stretch and twist his body at will, while pal Ben Grimm gains immense strength as the Thing. Johnny Storm becomes the Human Torch, able to control and project fire, while his sister Sue becomes the Invisible Woman. Together, the team must harness their new abilities to prevent Doctor Doom from destroying the Earth.
Yet another Fantastic Four film on the worst rated movies of all-time list. No surprise here. Hopefully they can do better with the next attempt.
#1 – Rotten Tomatoes Critic Score: 8%
Supergirl
Released: July 19, 1984
Kara (Helen Slater) of Argo City poses as Clark Kent’s cousin, Linda Lee, to recover the Omegahedron from a witch (Faye Dunaway).
Tied for first on the worst rated comic book movies of all-time. It’s difficult to make a superhero movie in the early 1980s.
Catwoman
Released: July 19, 2004
“Catwoman” is the story of shy, sensitive artist Patience Philips (Halle Berry), a woman who can’t seem to stop apologizing for her own existence. She works as a graphic designer for Hedare Beauty, a mammoth cosmetics company on the verge of releasing a revolutionary anti-aging product. When Patience inadvertently happens upon a dark secret her employer is hiding, she finds herself in the middle of a corporate conspiracy. What happens next changes Patience forever.
There it is, the list of worst rated comic book movies of all-time. Only time will tell if more movies join the fray.
