The comic book movies of theMCU, theDCU, and other franchises often offer fans exactly the developments that they’ve been clamoring for. In modern cinema, the superhero genre has become one of the most consistently successful, with themovies of the MCUin particular earning massive popularity. Adapting beloved characters and stories from the pages of comic books affords many opportunities for fan service, and comic book movies regularly capitalize on these chances.
Giving fans what they want is rarely simple, as subjectivity often comes into play. However, franchises sometimes opt to specifically deliver on speculated plot points, and even though in some cases – such as with some of themovies of the DCEU– these don’t pay off, they provide memorable moments of fan service. With that in mind, here are 10 comic book movies that gave fans exactly what they wanted.
10Joker Gave The Villain A Big-Screen Origin Story
Joker (2019)
Though manyactors have played the Joker in live-action, the one thing that had always been missing from the villain’s multiple iterations was a definitive origin. A story following the character’s time before becoming Batman’s iconic nemesis was something that many wished to see. Considering the villain’s importance within the Batman mythos, giving him a clear and detailed origin story was a long-awaited development among fans.
2019’sJokerdelivered exactly that, and in the most emphatic way imaginable. Joaquin Phoenix starred as Arthur Fleck, andthe movie put an interesting narrative spin on the typical depictions of the character.The origin story won critical acclaim and was wildly popular with fans, who appreciated the dark and imaginative perspective it added to the character’s story. In the case ofJoker, giving the fans what they wanted proved to be hugely successful.
9Guardians Of The Galaxy Vol. 2 Confirmed A Stan Lee Theory
Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 (2017)
Since the franchise’s very beginnings, theMCU’s post-credits sceneswere employed in a manner that helped tie separate releases together with connecting narrative threads or teases. Many characters have been introduced in these scenes, butGuardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2also made use of a post-credits stinger to confirm a long-held fan theory. After Stan Lee’s much-loved cameos in every Marvel movie, the scene confirmed that fans’ speculation about their meaning was correct.
The theory went that Stan Lee’s cameos were down to him being an in-universe informant or agent of the Watchers, powerful beings who oversee the events of the Marvel Universe.The post-credits scene inGuardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2indeed showed Lee reporting to the Watchers, making use of a comedic tone. The scene not only confirmed an excellent fan theory, but it also delivered exactly what fans wanted.
8Deadpool 2 Made Use Of The X-Men
Deadpool 2 (2018)
After the success of 2016’sDeadpool, the announcement of a sequel was met with general anticipation. However, the first movie’s X-Men references prompted many to voice their wishes for more X-Men characters to appear, particularly considering Deadpool’s connections with the team in the comics.Deadpool 2was able to oblige those fans, albeit in the most hilarious manner possible.
While visiting the X-Mansion, Deadpool launches into a rant about how none of the more famous X-Men movie heroes have appeared. During his monologue,many of the cast members of Fox’sX-Menfranchise can be seenin the background before quietly closing the door on Deadpool’s fourth wall-breaking tirade and disappearing from view. It’s a moment that delivered X-Men cameos in a Deadpool movie, with a sarcastic wink to the audience that was perfectly in keeping with the general tone of Deadpool’s movies.
7The Last Dance Gives Venom & The Sonyverse A Good Villain
Venom: The Last Dance (2024)
Despite having achieved some success, Sony’s Spider-Man Universe remains incredibly divisive, particularly as its movies typically seem to be of drastically varying quality. The first twoVenommovies stand out as two of the franchise’s best, although their approach to their respective villains left much to the imagination. This left fans calling out for a better villain in the third Venom movie, as well as in Sony’s movie universe as a whole.
The announcement that Knull would be the villain inVenom: The Last Dancedelivered exactly what those fans asked for. As the founder of Venom’s race and a dark deity within the Marvel Universe, Knull is an incredibly powerful being that should be more than a match for Eddie Brock and the Venom symbiote.The announcement of Knull immediately raised the stakes forVenom: The Last Dance, giving fans exactly what they wanted from Sony’s Spider-Man Universe.
6Black Adam Delivered Henry Cavill’s Long-Awaited Superman Return
Black Adam (2022)
Though the DCEU began with the introduction of Henry Cavill’s Superman, the character was sparingly used within the franchise. After the response to 2017’sJustice League, the character all but disappeared, with only passing references made to his existence. This prompted fans to lobby for Cavill’s return, largely in response to speculation that the role of the DCEU’s Superman might be recast.
It was shocking whenBlack Adam’s post-credits scenesaw the return of Henry Cavill as Superman, teasing a future clash between the two DC heavyweights. The moment was a triumphant one that delivered exactly what DCEU fans had been asking for, though that triumph was cruelly short-lived. Shortly afterBlack Adam’s release, the DCEU was announced to be ending, with the role of Superman subsequently recast for the DCU. ThoughBlack Adamgave fans Henry Cavill’s Superman one final time,it wasn’t exactly in the way they’d hoped it might be.
5The Avengers Saw The Team Finally Assemble
The Avengers (2012)
2008’sIron Mandid more than just begin the MCU - it also teased the existence of the shared Marvel universe. As soon as the franchise began connecting its release via post-credits teases and small references to other movies, fans began to hope that the heroes of the MCU would team-up in a single crossover movie. Thankfully, they didn’t have to wait all that long for that payoff, as four short years later,The Avengerswas released.
Seeing six major Marvel heroes all appear in a single movie was, at the time, utterly groundbreaking. 2012’sThe Avengerscemented the MCU as the most promising movie universe in existence, as it capitalized on the popularity and crossover potential of the stories told in Marvel Comics. Simply put, bringing multiple movie superheroes together in one movie was such a massive development that fulfilled the wishes of countless fans.
4The Flash Delivered The Return Of Michael Keaton’s Older Batman
The Flash (2023)
The success of Tim Burton’s Batman movies was overshadowed by Joel Schumacher’s two follow-ups, the poor reception to which put the Caped Crusader on a cinematic hiatus for almost a decade. However, many fans looked back fondly over Michael Keaton’s time in the cape and cowl, and considered him a perfect fit for a shared universe. In fact, that desire dated back to the ‘90s, when there were at one time plans to have Keaton’s Batman appear alongside Nicolas Cage as Superman.
The announcement that Michael Keaton would reprise the role of Batman in the DCEU was met with a great deal of excitement. Seeing the actor once more assume the mantle as a much older iteration of the Dark Knight inThe Flashgave many fans something they’d been hoping for since the early ‘90s, especially considering his place in a shared DC movie universe. Though Keaton’s return proved to be a one-off, it still paid off years of anticipation.
3Endgame Saw Captain America Lift Mjolnir
Avengers: Endgame (2019)
Ever since Thor’s MCU debut in 2011, Mjolnir only being lifted by worthy beings had been referenced many times. A scene in 2015’sAvengers: Age of Ultronraised the question of which Avengers might be worthy to wield Thor’s hammer, with Steve Rogers being the most obvious answer due to having done so in the comics. This led many fans to openly wish that Rogers would lift Mjolnir within the MCU, proving himself worthy of the power of Thor on the big screen.
Avengers: Endgamesaw just such a moment come to pass, with Rogers wielding Mjolnir during the Battle of Earth. In fact, the scene paid off two long-standing fan desires, as, while wielding Mjolnir, Captain America finally said the iconic phrase: “Avengers assemble.”The moment was a huge moment of payoff for those fans who had patiently waited for it, making it especially poignant as a result.
2No Way Home Delivered On Multiversal Promise
Spider-Man: No Way Home (2021)
The announcement thatSpider-Man: No Way Home’s story would begin to explore the MCU’s Multiverse was met with huge excitement, naturally leading to widespread speculation about what that could entail. The subsequent announcement of the return of prominent villains from Sam Raimi’sSpider-Mantrilogy andThe Amazing Spider-Manfranchise only added fuel to that fire, with fans hoping to see their favorite characters reappear. Many hoped to see Tobey Maguire or Andrew Garfield reprise their roles, though their involvement was vehemently denied.
In actuality,No Way Homeobliged fans by having Maguire and Garfield join Tom Holland’s Spider-Man to battle their enemies together.Seeing the three live-action iterations of Spider-Man fighting alongside one another was a massively emotional experience for a lot of viewers, as fans had hoped to see just such an event. In its handling of the Multiverse,No Way Homedelivered exactly what fans had hoped it might.
1Doctor Strange 2 Capitalized On A Popular MCU Fancast
Doctor Strange In The Multiverse Of Madness (2022)
Throughout the Infinity Saga, the Fantastic Four were among the most conspicuously absent Marvel heroes in the MCU. That didn’t stop fans from speculating about which actors would best fit the roles, however, with John Krasinski being the most popular choice to play the MCU’s Reed Richards alongside his real-life spouse Emily Blunt as Sue Storm. 2022’sDoctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madnesssaw the eponymous sorcerer explore the Multiverse, facilitating many variant cameos.
One such cameo saw Krasinski play Reed Richards of Earth-838, albeit only briefly before he was murdered by the Scarlet Witch. The movie ultimately gave the fans what they wanted in the form of Krasinski playing Reed Richards, though it was in an incredibly underwhelming capacity. Even so, the way it addressed a specific fancasting and made it a reality means that of the comic book movies of theMCU, theDCU, and beyond, it’s perhaps one of the biggest examples of fans getting exactly what they asked for.
