Even if moviegoers hate superhero films, the genre is popular enough that it remains a mainstay (at least for the foreseeable future). Many existing and upcoming superhero films illustrate how, as long as such films garner a following, they'll also garner controversy.

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In some ways, controversy is par for the course in films that so openly grapple with good and evil, human nature, and power. It's for these reasons superhero films have staying power. However, certain superhero films have high volumes of backlash or contradictory feedback, sometimes for the usual thematic reasons and sometimes for other reasons.

10 Deadpool Inspired Some Pearl-Clutching

Marvel's Deadpool promotional movie banner

Deadpool's foul mouth wasn't cleaned up for his blockbuster 2016 film. As a result, Deadpool (2016) was the BBFC's most complained-about film of the year for its gratuitous violence, nudity, and explicit language.

The controversy hasn't been laid to rest, either. In July 2022, Disney+ announced plans to add R-rated films, including Deadpool, to the service (in non-child accounts). Once again, some users were up in arms, though Ryan Reynolds was quick to joke about Disney's long history of making "emotional[ly] trauma[tic]" movies.

9 Batman: The Killing Joke Somehow Made Batgirl's 'Fridging Worse

DCU's Batman: The Killing Joke promotional movie banner

When DC announced plans to adapt Alan Moore's gritty and iconic 1987 graphic novel, Batman: The Killing Joke, into a feature-length animated film, many fans looked forward to a new and dynamic interpretation of a beloved story. Unfortunately, Batman: The Killing Joke (2016) didn't live up to its source material and actually made it worse.

The film received backlash for failing to meaningfully confront Batgirl's 'fridging and for also including a highly problematic sexual relationship between Batgirl and Batman. Fans were also upset about the movie's dilution of an engaging story about the nature of good and evil.

8 Spider-Man Press Had To Run Interference Due To World Events

Marvel's Spider-Man (2001) promotional movie banner

The promotional campaign for Sam Raimi's Spider-Man (2002) was already underway when the World Trade Center was attacked on September 11, 2001. Unfortunately, the campaign's imagery portrayed the New York City skyline, including the World Trade Center.

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New York-heavy promotional content was pulled or edited, including a trailer in which Spider-Man webs the Twin Towers together, and an image where the skyline (including the Towers) is reflected in Spidey's mask. The film was a commercial and critical success, but it still needed to course-correct (through no fault of its own) before it even hit theaters.

7 Justice League Got A Whole Campaign Going

DC's Justice League 2017 promotional movie banner

Fans were disappointed when Zack Snyder voluntarily stepped away from directing Justice League (2017) following his daughter's death. The disappointment grew when critics, and later, audiences, panned the theatrical cut.

Allegations about post-production director Joss Whedon's workplace misconduct only added insult to injury. The controversy around Whedon's behavior paired with the film's reception fueled a social media campaign for Warner Bros. to "#releasetheSynderCut." The hashtag worked, and in 2021, Zack Snyder's Justice League (2021) was released to HBO Max. Critics and fans agreed it was a much stronger film than the original.

6 Captain America: Civil War's Framing Has Since Become Controversial

Marvel's Captain America: Civil War promotional movie banner

While it remains popular among MCU fans, Captain America: Civil War (2016) has its critics. In the years since its release, the film garnered criticism for what some consider fascist messaging. The film frames Iron Man's position that the Avengers should have some government oversight as short-sighted and motivated by personal guilt; however, his response is reasonable as the Avengers often inflict extreme collateral damage in battle.

Conversely, some viewers pointed out that Captain America's beliefs border on fascism. He wants the Avengers to continue operating autonomously, which is a position that, arguably, overvalues militarism and insists a small group of individuals should make decisions about the fate of the world without public input.

5 Fans Didn't Like Batman V Superman's Take On The Caped Crusader

DCEU's Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice promotional movie banner.

Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice (2016) is among the most controversial superhero films to date. It's generally unpopular for its incoherent tone; however, tonal incongruity wasn't necessarily the catalyst for its controversy.

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Instead, B v S was the first in a line of DCEU films that poorly adapted DC properties. Fans expressed anger after watching the film because they found it mischaracterized its characters, making it a jarring experience for fans of Batman and Superman's comic counterparts. For example, Batman taking lives undermined decades of The Dark Knight's character development, including dozens of writers' work exploring this facet of his vigilante identity.

4 Some MCU Fans Weren't On Board With Captain Marvel

Marvel's Captain Marvel promotional movie banner.

Captain Marvel (2019) should have been another one of Marvel Studio's roster of charming backstories, featuring one of their most popular characters in a lead role. Instead, it received flak early on over the perceived miscasting of Brie Larson in the titular role.

The controversy only spiraled out of control from there. The film saw even more backlash when a deleted scene portrayed Captain Marvel channeling a beam of light at a biker harassing her to "smile," after which she took his motorcycle. Some viewers believed the hero's response was too extreme for the circumstance, even though the scene didn't appear in the theatrical cut.

3 Suicide Squad Sparked A Few Controversies

DCEU's Suicide Squad 2016 promotional movie banner.

Though it was a financial success, Suicide Squad (2016) is one of the DCEU's misfires. It's not well-regarded and remains controversial for a few reasons. Trailers promised viewers the Joker would have significant screen time, so when the actual film didn't deliver, the studio heard all about it.

Simultaneously, while Margot Robbie received praise for her portrayal of Harley Quinn, her costume sparked strong negative reactions. Fans felt it didn't capture the spirit of Quinn's various comic book looks, and others pointed out how blatantly it reflected the Male Gaze.

2 Captain America: New World Order Is Already Controversial

Marvel's Captain America: New World Order promotional movie banner

Some movies aren't even released before they incite discourse. For example, Captain America: New World Order (2024) has already sparked controversy for its title and casting of various Jewish characters.

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The movie's title has also been called into question for sharing its name with an antisemitic conspiracy. Simultaneously, the film's villain will be portrayed by Jewish actor Tim Blake Nelson, while the inclusion of Sabra – an Israel-themed superhero – complicates matters further as the Israeli-Palestinian conflict continues to devastate the Middle East. In response to these fears, Marvel released a statement clarifying that Sabra will be re-imagined for film, as have many other MCU characters.

1 The Flash's Lead Actor Has Been Charged With Felonies

The Flash Movie 2023 promotional artwork

During the summer of 2022, Ezra Miller, who portrays Barry Allen's Flash, was charged with burglary and assault. Chase Iron Eyes and Sara Jumping Eagle also accused the actor of grooming their child. Miller announced they were entering a rehabilitation facility in August 2022 to seek treatment for a combination of mental health issues.

Understandably, many have criticized Miller and called for their removal from the franchise. With less than a year until The Flash (2023) is scheduled to premiere, Warner Bros. must decide how they will proceed.

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