7 Comic Book Movies That Took Minutes To Prove They Were Masterpieces

The landscape of modern cinema has been largely defined by the rise and subsequent dominance of comic book movies. The 21st century began with a boom of big-screen comic book adaptations, many of which earned considerable amounts at the box office and secured popularity among audiences and critics alike. This, in turn, led to the founding of large shared movie continuities, such as the movies of the MCU, the DCEU, and the X-Men franchise, each of which adapted a wealth of comic book characters into live-action blockbusters. Though not all comic book movies have proven to be as successful as others, there are still some that are considered masterpieces within the genre.

In a rare handful of cases, comic book movies don’t even need their entire runtimes to convince audiences of their quality. Occasionally, comic book movies are able to establish their excellence in just mere minutes, opening with scenes that are so powerful, memorable, or well-executed that the movie’s success is all but a certainty. While they may not be infallible, the following comic book movies only needed minutes to prove they were masterpieces.

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7) Batman (1989)

Tim Burton’s 1989 movie Batman brought the titular vigilante to life in live-action for a whole new era, introducing a new generation of moviegoers to one of the most beloved iterations of the character. Michael Keaton’s Batman was introduced in the movie’s opening scene, which depicts him emerging from the mist on a rooftop to confront two hapless criminals. The exchange between them highlights the humor, style, and effortless cool of Keaton’s Batman, perfectly setting up one of the best-loved Batman movies in a matter of minutes.

6) Deadpool & Wolverine (2024)

When it comes to adapting Deadpool into live-action, there are a handful of non-negotiable aspects to ensure comic accuracy. Brutal violence and irreverent quipping top that list, and Deadpool & Wolverine delivered a healthy dose of both in its first few minutes. The movie begins with Deadpool digging up Logan’s corpse, then using his adamantium skeleton to viciously kill an army of TVA agents. It’s a scene that encapsulates the dark humor and violent nature of the movie, making it a perfect opening to Deadpool’s triumphant MCU debut.

5) Dredd (2012)

Despite being a comic book flop that later became a fan favorite, Dredd is perhaps the best live-action adaptation of the eponymous lawman fans will ever get. The movie’s opening scene briefly introduces its gritty, dystopian setting of Mega-City One, then goes on to introduce its much-anticipated, comic-accurate representation of the titular character. It’s nothing overly flashy or memorable, but it’s a quietly perfect opening scene that establishes Dredd as an incredible adaptation of the 2000 AD character.

4) X2 (2003)

Years before the MCU began, Marvel movies featuring the X-Men dominated the landscape of superhero cinema. The second X-Men movie, X2, opened by introducing a new mutant to the franchise. Its first few minutes depict Nightcrawler’s attack on the Oval Office, in which he is shown teleporting around and attacking Secret Service agents in a breathtaking action sequence that helps establish why the movie’s humans fear mutants. It’s a scene that is both visually striking and thematically crucial, making it a powerful start to one of the best X-Men movies to date.

3) Avengers: Infinity War (2018)

By the time Avengers: Infinity War was released, the MCU was already beginning to reach its potential as the dominant force in modern movies. This success was justified by the incredible opening scene of the movie, which saw Thanos finally confront an MCU hero, boarding the Asgardian refugee ship and swiftly decimating its people. The scene did more than establish Thanos as a terrifying villain within the franchise, as it also saw the shocking death of a beloved MCU character and brilliantly set up the epic and emotional journey that Infinity War delivered over the length of its runtime.

2) Blade (1998)

Years before the MCU, Wesley Snipes appeared in the original Blade trilogy, which brought the eponymous Marvel hero to life. The first movie in the trilogy, 1998’s Blade, opened with a singularly memorable scene in which a man is invited to an underground rave, only for blood to pour from the sprinkler system, revealing the partygoers as vampires. Blade arrives just in time to begin laying waste to the vampires, marking the Blood Rave as one of the most iconic and visually striking scenes in the history of comic book movies.

1) The Dark Knight (2008)

Commonly considered the crown jewel of Christopher Nolan’s Dark Knight trilogy, 2008’s The Dark Knight is often cited as one of the best comic book movies ever made. The film’s opening sequence sees a team of criminals clad in clown masks robbing a bank, discussing the unorthodox scheme of their boss, the unseen Joker. As each of the clowns begins to take one another out, the last man standing is revealed to be the Joker himself, perfectly demonstrating the chaotic genius of the movie’s villain by having him execute one of the most daring and well-written bank heists in the history of the genre. It’s a brilliantly conceived scene that opens The Dark Knight in the best possible way, firmly establishing Nolan’s talent for adapting its DC characters into live-action.