15 best superhero TV series to watch right now, ranked (according to rotten tomatoes)
Superhero TV has been very hot over the last few years. Thanks to a resurgence in things like The Arrowverse, Netflix’s Marvel shows, and now the Disney + Marvel series, comic book shows are as hot as anything on television. Currently, there are several shows on The CW and rotating shows on Disney +.
Add superhero shows on HBO Max in the DC Universe and at least one major show on Prime Video, and there’s plenty to choose from. With so many great shows, only the best of the best have received critical acclaim from Rotten Tomatoes.
Updated October 25, 2021 by Quinn Levandoski: The distinction between film and TV broadcast quality may have been significant in the past, but different networks are now releasing TV series with equal (or larger) budgets and quality than their contemporaries on the silver screen. These shows often allow storytellers to experiment with concepts and characters that can be seen as too risky for a film, and the longer playing time allows these shows to elaborate narratives and impressive character development.
Fortunately, the best superhero shows are all available to stream on different platforms. While companies like Marvel and DC are starting to increase their movie releases after a long hiatus, recent TV releases have proven that fans want more of this kind of storytelling.
15 Superman & Lois (2021–): 88%
This superhero show has only one season released so far, but fans are already debating which villain should appear Superman and Lois season 2. The show is a spin-off based on the Superman character introduced in Super girl and has a completely different view of superhero stories. Superman and Lois move to Smallville after a tragedy, and the show focuses on their lives there as parents of two teenage boys, one of whom has inherited his father’s superpowers.
14 DC’s Legends Of Tomorrow (2016–): 89%
DC’s Legends of Tomorrow has recently started its seventh season and the show continues to expand the number of Justice League members found in Arrowverse. The show relaxed both Arrow and Flash, took characters from both of these shows and set them off on time-traveling adventures. With favorites like Captain Cold and Sara Lance, the show took to another level when John Constantine from the NBC series joined the cast.
13 DC’s Stargirl (2020–): 89%
Stargirl was a show that started on one platform and then moved on to another but remained critically acclaimed. Based on the classic Justice Society character of the same name, Stargirl aired her first season on DC Universe and then played the episodes on The CW as part of Arrowverse. Brec Bassinger stars as Stargirl, a second-generation hero who inspires a new generation of heroes on her land, eventually becoming the Justice Society of America. The show has also been praised for its powerful villainous team, the Injustice Society.
12 Flash (2014–): 89%
That Flash has been renewed for an upcoming eighth season, which will connect it with the original Arrowverse show, Arrow. Grant Gustin stars as Barry Allen, the superhero who becomes Flash after an accident. Throughout the seasons, Flash has become the heart and soul of Arrowvers. Flash faced several of his most dangerous villains, from Reverse-Flash and Zoom to King Shark. He also reviewed a version of Flashpoint and has introduced many members of the Flash family, including Wally West.
11 The Falcon and the Winter Soldier (2021–): (89%)
The falcon and the winter soldier was the second Disney + Marvel series to hit the streaming service and receive critical acclaim. The show brought Sam Wilson and Bucky Barnes back and showed the fallout from Avengers: Endgame with Steve Rogers giving up his shield.
When Sam unscrewed the shield, John Walker picked it up and a new group that wanted to bring down the world governments, the show nurtured real problems that many cartoonists do not touch.
10 Supergirl (2015–): 90%
Super girl started at CBS and lasted for a season before moving on to The CW. It was a good move because it put her in the same world as Flash, and these crossovers led to the big one Crisis crossover in Arrowverse. This was one of the first superhero shows with a female lead in her own series. Critics pointed out how Melissa Benoit took on the role of Supergirl and carried it to great heights, even overshadowing her own famous cousin when he appeared in later seasons.
9 Boys (2019–): 90%
The boys is one of the only superhero shows airing right now with a Rotten Tomatoes ranking over 90 percent. The most impressive thing about the high critical acclaim is that this is basically an R-rated TV show in the superhero genre. The Boys are a black ops group that existed to deal with superpowers that got out of control. They lost their government clearance, but still returned when the greatest superhero team in the world, The Seven, began to cross the line between good and evil.
8 WandaVision (2021–): 91%
WandaVision was the first Disney + series to hit Marvel, proving that MCU could bring its stories to the small screen and present something no one had seen before. In this case, the first two episodes were in the style of sitcoms from the 50s and 60s. This confused many fans, but critics praised how WandaVision added depth to Wanda and Vision as the series focused on Wanda’s loss and depression before leading to the revelation of the true height of her powers.
7 Legion (2017–2019): 91%
Legion is one of the few live-action TV series in the mutant corner of the Marvel cannon, and it gives viewers a much more surreal and dark experience than most other superhero shows. Legion follows the Marvel Comics character of the same alias as he fights to fight mental illness, secret government organizations and superpowers that he is not sure he can control.
Despite the show’s superpower presuppositions, several critics praised the nuanced portrayal of mental illness and the toll it can take on people. Although the second and third seasons adopted a more traditional narrative structure than the first, the series never lost its unique atmosphere and visual style.
6 Loki (2021–): 92%
Loki has been a fan favorite since his introduction to the first Thor movie, and his Disney + program has quickly become a smash hit. Although it contains a different version of Loki than the fans have seen evolve over several movies, the series managed to introduce new characters and concepts with the potential to change the entire Marvel Cinematic Universe. Whether it’s giving fans their first official tease with Kang the Conqueror or letting famous actors like Richard Grant chew some scenery, Loki has set the bar high for all future Marvel releases.
5 Black Lightning (2018–2021): 92%
Black lightning was the first DC show on The CW to exist outside of Arrowverse. That changed over time Crisis of infinite soils when his world joined it for the other DC shows. However, the series was a critical hit from the start and took an older retired superhero with teenage children who cared more about helping the young than being a superhero. When he was forced to return, his children joined him, and the series lasted for four seasons, ending in 2021.
4 What if…? (2021–): 93%
While most of the Disney + series fit the overall style and tone of the Marvel Cinematic Universe movies, What if…? raised many eyebrows when it was announced. The idea of alternative timelines with different versions of famous heroes and events contradicted the single narrative canon that Marvel had built. While some episodes were stronger than others, the series was ultimately able to create a compelling narrative that stands well alone and can impact future Marvel movies. Some grades were better in What if…? than their MCU versions, and fans are excited to see other dimensions the show explores in future seasons.
3 Watchmen (2019): 96%
The original Guards graphic novel by Alan Moore is one of the most critically acclaimed pieces of graphic literature ever. This reputation, along with the complex structure and themes of the source material, has made it a challenging story to build on. While DC Comics has tried to unfold the universe with multiple comics, the HBO show, which serves as a sequel, honors Moore’s characters and ideas. The show is not afraid to become political and struggle with big ideas, but it handles most of them well and delivers a tight, independent narrative. Guards is also unique in that it is a one-and-done experience. There are currently no plans for another season.
2 Doom Patrol (2019–): 97%
The second highest ranked superhero series currently airing is the HBO Max DC series Doom Patrol. While Titans ratings are low due to its more adult-oriented theme, which contrasts with what Teen Titans fans are used to, Doom Patrol was completely different. The story was an eclectic mix with strange characters and villains who were exaggerated and ridiculous in all the best ways. The strange thing is that this show is leading to great critical heights.
1 Invincible (2021–): 98%
• Available on Prime Video
Amazon found one of its biggest hits in The boys by combining bombastic action with memorable characters and excessive violence. Invincible marks several of the same boxes; it is based on a cartoon (by Robert Kirkman), it deals with philosophical themes around the effects of superpowers, and it becomes much more violent than newcomers to the study period probably expected. Despite its bright colors and Saturday morning look, this is strictly a show for adults. The suspenseful tale is elevated by a star-studded actor who brings Kirkman’s memorable characters to life in an excellent way.
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