Martin Scorsese believes superhero movies are 'not cinema'. What do the experts think?
An upcoming film will explore the origins of the Joker, last seen in the Batman franchise. But prequels are often poorly received – perhaps with good reason.
DC Comics/IMDB
From the Joker to a Game of Thrones prequel, origin stories are increasingly common in film and TV – perhaps at the expense of originality in popular culture.
Captain Marvel has fun taking us back to the 1990s.
Marvel Studios
Clifford Johnson, USC Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences
The film wowed critics and fans. But its hidden power may be black lead characters who are accomplished scientists – just the thing to help inspire future generations to follow in their footsteps.
To some, superhero films are the equivalent of fracking. But they offer audiences transcendence, mystery, a moral compass, and even the hope of salvation.
The biggest collection of Marvel heroes ever to hit the cinema screen (so far).
Marvel
The third in the Thor series, directed by New Zealand wunderkind Taika Waititi, is thoughtful, hilarious and looks magnificent.
Gil Birmingham (Cory) and Jeremy Renner (Martin) in Wind River: grieving fathers who come together in the realm of the dead.
Production Co: Acacia Filmed Entertainment, Film 44, Ingenious Media
American cinema mines Greek myth most strongly at times of profound social anxiety. In the age of Trump, we are already seeing key political battlegrounds framed as underworld quests in film.
A Panel from the Marvel Comics series ‘The 'Nam.’
Marvel Comics
Peter Parker knows the formula for angular acceleration of a pendulum, and applies his science knowledge with gusto in the latest Spider-Man movie.
A scene from The Mummy: the first in a Dark Universe multi-film franchise that will include characters such as Frankenstein’s monster, and Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde.
Universal Pictures