2016 Matters More Than Any Other Year In Superhero Movie History

Superhero movies wouldn’t be what they currently are if Marvel and DC had released different films in 2016. By 2026, Marvel Studios has released some of the most ambitious and star-studded blockbusters in film history, with even bigger cinematic events on the way. Meanwhile, DC Studios is building an expansive multimedia franchise composed of live-action and animated movies and shows, plus alternate-universe Elseworlds projects.

To get to this point, numerous studios, directors, actors, writers, producers, and crews pushed the boundaries of the genre. Films like 1989’s Batman, 2002’s Spider-Man, and 2008’s The Dark Knight were essential for making superhero movies a pop culture fixture, and crossover events like 2012’s The Avengers and 2019’s Avengers: Endgame delineated a distinct approach to blockbuster filmmaking. However, one particular year stands out as the most influential.

2016 Is A Monumental Year For The MCU

Two 2016 Marvel Movies Changed The Game For Marvel Studios

Several years have become highlights of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. For example, 2008 marked the birth of the MCU, 2012 confirmed that crossovers were possible, and 2021 launched a new era of Marvel projects with the release of the first Disney+ shows. But it was 2016 that defined the MCU’s future for good, thanks to the release of Captain America: Civil War and Doctor Strange.

It may seem comparatively unimpressive now, but Captain America: Civil War took some of the boldest risks in the whole franchise. Civil War proved the MCU could do much more than simply assembling the Avengers, and it bet on an antagonist who defeats the heroes with nothing but manipulation. The Russos successfully convinced both Robert Downey Jr. and Marvel to feature Iron Man as co-antagonist, and to top it off, Civil War introduced Black Panther and achieved the previously unthinkable feat of introducing Spider-Man.

Parallel to the most personal and grounded MCU crossover event to date, Doctor Strange opened the doors for unapologetically fantastical storytelling. While 2011’s Thor and 2015’s Avengers: Age of Ultron played with magic, Doctor Strange focused entirely on a sorcerer protagonist, without needing to equate magic to advanced science. Following Doctor Strange‘s success, Marvel had free rein to venture into the source material’s most outlandish corners in Avengers: Infinity War and beyond.

2016 Marked A Historical Divide For DC Movies

2016 Revealed The DCEU’s Weaknesses

Zack Snyder’s Man of Steel launched the DCEU on a divisive note, but Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice started the beginning of the end for the franchise. Despite its inspired casting choices, top-notch costume design, and ambitious action pieces, Batman v Superman‘s plot failed to win fans over, becoming the most controversial movie to date. Its rushed approach to world-building and overly dark tone started a snowball effect that eventually led to the DCU reboot.

The same year, Suicide Squad promised a groundbreaking anti-hero thriller that would revolutionize the genre, only to miss the mark as much as Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice. Suicide Squad‘s blemishes showed exactly what the DCEU lacked: a cohesive tone, execution that lives up to its concept, and enough creative freedom for the director. Five years later, James Gunn’s The Suicide Squad covered these bases and perfected the formula.

In many ways, the DCU is deliberately undoing the mistakes the DCEU made in 2016, when Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice and Suicide Squad tried to rush a cinematic universe into existence. In 2025, Superman and Peacemaker season 2 focused on character-driven storytelling with a distinct confidence in the characters’ lighthearted nature. So far, this approach seems to be much more effective at connecting with audiences, casual and otherwise.

2016 Illustrated The Future Of X-Men Movies

Deadpool Overshadowed The X-Men In 2016

Over at Fox, X-Men: Apocalypse opened a new chapter of X-Men movies following up the timeline reboot presented by X-Men: Days of Future Past. Unfortunately, X-Men: Apocalypse didn’t do its titular villain justice, and it missed the chance to properly establish a new generation of mutant heroes. X-Men: Apocalypse‘s flaws only became more evident in Dark Phoenix, which ended the franchise on a bittersweet note.

Meanwhile, Deadpool completely changed the game for Marvel. Deadpool materialized from sheer fan support after a concept leak, leading to a box office hit and the arrival of one of the most beloved superhero portrayals. Since Deadpool‘s success, R-rated sci-fi comedy has become prominent, and Ryan Reynolds became the first X-Men hero to lead his own MCU movie, helping Hugh Jackman’s Wolverine transfer over alongside him.

Starting with Deadpool & Wolverine and Avengers: Doomsday, the MCU is taking a more faithful approach to the X-Men’s live-action adaptation. Characters like Gambit, Cyclops, and Wolverine himself finally wear their comic-accurate costumes on the big screen, and all mutants receive their fair share of screentime and focus. Once Marvel Studios’ X-Men reboot arrives, the MCU is expected to continue applying the lessons that movies like Deadpool laid out.