In 2025, the world of superhero cinema is bigger than ever. With the Fantastic Four: First Steps reboot fresh in theaters and Gladiator 2 reminding us of the glory of cinematic epics, it’s easy to forget just how far we’ve come.
But before Iron Man took flight in 2008, before Thanos snapped his fingers, and before cinematic universes were a thing, it was the blockbuster movies of the 1990s that laid the foundation for everything we love, and criticize, about today’s superhero films.
Let’s rewind to a time of VHS tapes, dial-up internet, and movie trailers that actually played before the film. The 90s weren’t just about grunge and Tamagotchis.
They were a pivotal era for Hollywood’s evolving relationship with larger-than-life heroes, big-budget spectacle, and world-building ambition.
If you enjoy today’s Marvel and DC franchises, thank the bold, weird, and often wild experiments of 90s blockbusters.
The Pre-MCU Blueprint: What the 90s Got Right
Before the polished, interconnected narratives of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, 90s films like Batman Forever, The Mask, and Men in Black were already experimenting with comic book storytelling, sometimes successfully, sometimes not. But they all contributed to something bigger: testing the limits of what a superhero or sci-fi film could be.
Tone was king. One thing 90s blockbusters nailed was tone. Unlike today’s formula-driven output, many ’90s hits were quirky and unique.
Take The Mask (1994), which blended slapstick humor, visual effects, and Jim Carrey’s manic energy. Or Blade (1998), a hard-R-rated vampire action flick with a stoic anti-hero that quietly paved the way for darker, more mature superhero stories like The Dark Knight and Logan.
Big stars meant big draws. Long before ensemble casts ruled the box office, studios relied on A-list stars to sell the concept.
Think Arnold Schwarzenegger in Batman & Robin (as icy Mr. Freeze) or Will Smith in Independence Day and Men in Black. These films helped normalize the idea that even the wildest sci-fi or superhero premise could be made accessible, so long as a charismatic lead anchored it.
The Rise of CGI and Spectacle
Modern superhero films wouldn’t be possible without the leaps in visual effects that the 90s ushered in. Terminator 2: Judgment Day (1991) and Jurassic Park (1993) weren’t comic book movies per se, but they showed what CGI could do. Audiences were awestruck. Studios took note.
Suddenly, anything seemed possible. Spider-Man could swing through New York, The Hulk could grow enormous, and aliens could destroy the White House in Independence Day (1996).
This era marked the beginning of Hollywood’s obsession with destruction on a global scale, a staple in today’s superhero showdowns.
But while these effects dazzled, they were still grounded. Directors like James Cameron and Steven Spielberg balanced digital with practical, making things feel tactile and real. That blend has been sorely missed in some of today’s green-screen-heavy productions.
Superheroes Were Still Finding Their Identity
Let’s be honest: the superhero genre was still a bit awkward in the ’90s.
For every innovative success (Blade, The Rocketeer, The Crow), there was a misfire (Steel, Spawn, Batman & Robin). Studios didn’t yet know how to handle source material with consistency.
Was a comic book adaptation supposed to be campy fun or dark and brooding?
That tension is still present in modern superhero storytelling; just look at the tonal swings between Thor: Ragnarok and The Batman.
But it was the 90s that forced Hollywood to ask these questions. It’s also where audiences became savvy enough to demand better. When Batman & Robin flopped in 1997, it signaled that fans were no longer satisfied with toy-driven, surface-level blockbusters. They wanted more depth.
Building Franchises Before It Was Cool
Franchise filmmaking didn’t start with Marvel. Studios in the ’90s were already chasing sequels and spin-offs.
Batman got four films between 1989 and 1997. Men in Black became a trilogy. Even The Mask was supposed to launch a series (though Son of the Mask… well, let’s not go there).
This drive to create repeatable IP was the early form of what we now call the cinematic universe. What’s different now is the meticulous planning.
The 1990s were more improvisational: studios greenlit sequels based on box office success, rather than a pre-built roadmap.
Still, this trial-and-error approach helped shape what studios eventually realized they needed: consistency, long-term vision, and fan loyalty.
It’s no surprise that Kevin Feige, the architect of the MCU, cut his teeth as a producer on X-Men (2000) and Spider-Man (2002), both direct evolutions of 90s blockbuster DNA.
The Soundtrack Effect
Here’s something you don’t get enough of today: iconic, chart-topping movie soundtracks. The ’90s were full of them. Batman Forever gave us Seal’s “Kiss from a Rose.” Space Jam had “I Believe I Can Fly.” And who can forget Will Smith rapping over the end credits of Men in Black?
These songs weren’t just background noise; they helped define the movies’ cultural presence.
Today’s superhero films often rely on orchestral scores or recycled pop hits, but ’90s blockbusters understood the power of a catchy original song. The right track could make a movie unforgettable.
The Legacy Lives On
Look at any major superhero or sci-fi release today, and you’ll see fingerprints from the 90s. Deadpool owes a debt to The Mask’s fourth-wall-breaking chaos. The Boys and Invincible wouldn’t exist without Spawn and Blade pushing the boundaries of mature content. Even Spider-Man: No Way Home thrives on the nostalgia of pre-MCU versions of the character, versions born in the ’90s.
We’re also seeing a return to the practical-plus-digital effects style that defined the ’90s. Audiences have grown tired of CGI overload, and filmmakers are finally listening. In many ways, the future of superhero films might look a lot like their past.
Final Thoughts
The 1990s were a wild, transitional decade for Hollywood.
Blockbusters weren’t yet bound by universe-building mandates or rigid genre formulas. Directors could experiment. Studios took risks. And audiences got to witness the birth of what would become the most dominant force in modern entertainment.
Today’s superhero films stand on the shoulders of those ’90s giants. Without their missteps and milestones, we wouldn’t have the cinematic universes we enjoy, or critique, today.
So next time you sit down for the latest Marvel or DC film, remember: it all started with a VHS tape, a catchy theme song, and a whole lot of ambition.
| View the Web Story: 90s Blockbuster Movies That Defined a Generation |
