The superhero genre continues to expand into TV and film, with 2022 featuring a lot of entries in both mediums. Rotten Tomatoes critics appear to favor release on the small screen more than theatrical releases, but there were a lot of good reviews to go around, whether it was stories from the MCU or part of DC's slate.
It's interesting to see which shows, specials, and movies made it to the top list from Rotten Tomatoes' aggregate scores, as these are the cream of the crop. Quite a lot are limited series while certain others are continuations as part of new seasons of a show. All of them have their own unique qualities, so it's worth taking a deeper look.
10 The Batman Is DC At Its Grittiest
Rotten Tomatoes – 85%
Robert Pattinson brought another version of Batman to the forefront, playing the Caped Crusader during the beginning of his vigilante career. The Batman was lauded for focusing on the dark aspects of the character, along with how Gotham is riddled with criminals.
The Riddler's serial killer antics brought a horror element to the film, which movies about Batman haven't done before. Some aspects like the slow pacing were seen as drawbacks, but The Batman was largely praised for showing a vulnerable Dark Knight who realizes that he needs to be heroic while carrying his inner darkness.
9 Moon Knight Brings A New Lore Of The MCU
Rotten Tomatoes – 86%
Moon Knight is different from other entries in the MCU since it's a self-contained story about the titular character who battles multiple identities. What makes it particularly unique is that it adds new lore to the franchise, centering around Egyptian mythology.
Reviewers found Oscar Isaac and Ethan Hawke’s performances to be worthy of praise, as the two largely dispense with the usual tropes that actors embrace in the MCU. Moon Knight can be enjoyed by those unaware of the series as well, making it an evergreen series carrying a thrilling premise.
8 The Sandman Takes The Genre To Fantasy Drama Territory
Rotten Tomatoes – 87%
The Sandman is a fantasy horror take on the superhero genre, centering around Lord Morpheus after he escapes his imprisonment. It's as scary as it is intriguing, with big-time reveals coming from every episode stretching all the way to Lucifer Morningstar.
The Sandman received praise for its dark atmosphere and for how it humanized characters who are supposed to be massively powerful. There are also two time periods that the show follows, bringing two sides of the same story to fully carve out Morpheus' arc.
7 Werewolf By Night Shows A Scary Side Of The MCU
Rotten Tomatoes – 90%
Werewolf by Night changed things up in the MCU formula by bringing forward horror tropes rather than the standard superhero template. The special is about a group of hunters vying for a relic, only to encounter a monster they need to combat.
The special was well received for introducing a new atmosphere to the series which had largely made comedy its main attribute. Werewolf by Night is a short and simple venture into new territory that has great potential to be expanded upon in the coming years.
6 The Umbrella Academy Continues Its Positive Run
Rotten Tomatoes – 91%
The Umbrella Academy shows the main characters dealing with the fact that their actions have caused a new timeline. As a result, they have to face different enemies while coming up with ways to fix things to avoid the universe from being destroyed by a paradox.
The third season received acclaim much as the earlier ones, with praise directed toward the cast's chemistry. The Umbrella Academy was additionally noted for tackling a confusing plot about timeline well, using the humor it's known for as a way to balance out all the other conflicts the characters face.
5 The Guardians Of The Galaxy Holiday Special Has A Delightfully Light Premise
Rotten Tomatoes – 93%
As expected, The Guardians Of The Galaxy Holiday Special had a lot of funny characters, with the story being a lighthearted one about Mantis and Drax's attempt to make Christmas special for Star-Lord. Even the premise of them kidnapping Kevin Bacon, all ends well with the latter spending the holiday with the group of misfits.
The Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special is the first MCU story to have no villains, as the point is to show the heroes during a time of year when they're seeking festive cheer. The low-stakes plot was liked by critics for delivering a feel-good story without compromising on the Guardians' eccentricity.
4 Peacemaker's Edgy Humor Is A Hit
Rotten Tomatoes – 94%
Peacemaker shows the redemption arc of the main character who has to learn to do good without resorting to brutal means. The story isn't as high stakes as other DCEU offerings, having to do with Peacemaker stopping butterfly-like creatures from infecting people in deadly ways.
The show's main appeal is its edgy humor, which sees Peacemaker and his group come up with wild antics not seen in the DCEU before. Peacemaker deliberately looks like B show with awkward production values in order to drive home the point of the main character being a bizarre "hero" who buys into his own hype.
3 Ms. Marvel Is Good Family-Friendly Entertainment
Rotten Tomatoes – 98%
Ms. Marvel follows the main character who develops powers through a magical bangle. The show additionally depicts her life as a teenager, along with her grappling with her Asian heritage and the impact of the decisions made by her ancestors.
Ms. Marvel is a lot more comedic than other entries in Phase Four of the MCU, with the series intending to appeal to a wider demographic. The family-friendly aspect of things garnered positive reviews for featuring a likable protagonist whose story can be relatable to young audiences.
2 The Boys Ups The Ante In Its Third Season
Rotten Tomatoes – 98%
The addition of Soldier Boy brought another dangerous character in The Boys, whose third season has wider implications for the world. The story has Homelander on the verge of losing his sanity, which the main heroes try to use for their advantage by employing the services of Soldier Boy, who has his own nefarious intentions.
With the mixture of edgy material, morally gray characters, and a larger scale to tackle, The Boys was unanimously lauded for taking things to bigger levels. The show is notable for introducing new characters with layered characterizations, with this season also featuring Soldier Boy as a worthy addition.
1 Harley Quinn Ticks All The Right Boxes In Its Third Season
Rotten Tomatoes – 100%
Harley Quinn has made numerous appearances in Batman media, but her animated series has made waves ever since its debut. The third season has continued the purple patch, receiving a perfect Rotten Tomatoes score, as reviewers highlighted it ticks all the boxes in terms of entertainment.
The season follows Harley and Poison Ivy's adventures as a couple, with most of the usual enemies popping up to cause trouble in their new romance. Harley Quinn still has the show's bizarre aspects, although many noted that Harley and Ivy's relationship has brought a definite sign of character development.