The superhero genre represents the biggest and best that action films have to offer, and there are a few classic superhero movies streaming for free. Originating in the pages of popular comic books, superheroes showcase the best of what humanity has to offer and have provided classic escapism for generations. They eventually made it to the big screen.
Early superhero movies were primitive but fun, and as film technology improved, so too did the visual spectacle. Naturally, superhero movies are big business, and they have produced many of the largest blockbusters in history. Though most superhero films are hidden behind expensive paywalls, some of the best are free to view for the cost of a few ad breaks.
Blade (1998) – Pluto TV
Before the MCU, Marvel movies were noted for their darker tone and more realistic approach to storytelling. Blade is one of the publisher’s first hits on the big screen, and follows the titular character as he hunts down vampires. Wesley Snipes is perfectly cast as Blade, and the movie’s cyberpunk aesthetic predates The Matrix by a year.
Blade 2 and Blade: Trinity are also available to stream on Pluto TV.
Though Blade is hardly the best film ever made, it features fun fight choreography and a nice blend of action and horror. It’s especially stunning because of how different it is from later Marvel movies. With a modern Blade remake stuck in limbo for the foreseeable future, the late 1990s classic is available at no cost on Pluto TV.
Spider-Man: Homecoming (2017) – The Roku Channel
After two franchises from Columbia, Marvel Studios got the chance to work with Spider-Man for Spider-Man: Homecoming. Peter Parker tries to balance the trials and tribulations of being a teen with his newfound superpowers and a dangerous new villain. Spider-Man formally entered the MCU, and Homecoming was made with the cinematic universe’s signature style.
Playful and cartoonish, Spider-Man: Homecoming avoids the common origin story trap and delivers a thrill ride that assumes the audience is familiar with the character. Tom Holland’s turn as the wall-crawler brings a new energy to the part, and Homecoming has a distinct yet familiar tone. Spider-Man: Homecoming is a rare MCU movie that is streaming outside the Disney+ bubble.
The Dark Knight (2008) – Tubi
Batman is arguably the most successful big screen superhero, and Christopher Nolan’s The Dark Knight solidified the Caped Crusader’s place at the top. Following Batman Begins, The Dark Knight catches up with Batman as he battles a chaotic new foe, the Joker. Noted for its gritty style and subversion of superhero tropes, The Dark Knight is cinema first and foremost.
Batman Begins and The Dark Knight Rises are also available to stream on Tubi.
Though Nolan’s approach to Batman is a departure from most superhero films, The Dark Knight still has amazing action sequences that steal the show. The 2008 blockbuster shows that superhero films need not become formulaic, and that the artistic vision of a filmmaker can actually elevate a popular character.
