Wonder Woman 1984 + more superhero movies to stream

Looking for a superhero fix? Here’s our pick of the best to stream on Showmax now.

Wonder Woman 1984

With director Patty Jenkins back at the helm and Gal Gadot returning in the title role, Wonder Woman 1984 fast forwards to the 1980s as the DC superhero faces two all-new foes: Max Lord (Critics Choice nominee Pedro Pascal from The Mandalorian) and The Cheetah (Oscar nominee Kristen Wiig from Bridesmaids).

The Dark Knight franchise

Batman has been around for decades but there’s never been a proper origin story. We’ve always just picked up with billionaire Bruce Wayne well established in his role as the Caped Crusader. And that makes Christopher Nolan’s Dark Knight trilogy that much better – we get to see Bruce transform into his alter ego, the effects that being Batman has on him, and his eventual need to hand over all his crime-fighting goodies to a worthy successor. Here’s a quick breakdown of what you’re getting with the Dark Knight movies…

Batman Begins: troubled youngster Bruce (Christian Bale) is taken in by the League Of Shadows and taught the art of ninjitsu (and more). Returning to his beloved Gotham, Bruce forges a bond with police detective Jim Gordon (Gary Oldman) and develops his alter ego with the help of his butler Alfred Pennyworth (Michael Caine) and Wayne Enterprises tech genius Lucious Fox (Morgan Freeman) as he fights both Scarecrow (Cillian Murphy) and his League Of Shadows mentor Ra’s al Ghul (Liam Neeson).

The Dark Knight: Years later, Batman is still fighting crime – including the mob. He thinks that he’s got help with the shiny new DA, Harvey Dent (Aaron Eckhart), but even that isn’t enough to save the woman he and Harvey both love, Rachel Dawes (Maggie Gyllenhaal), from Gotham’s newest villain – the Joker (played by Heath Ledger, who tragically passed away before the movie was released and won the Oscar for Best Supporting Actor), a psychopathic mastermind who wants to see Gotham burn (literally and figuratively). Throw in Harvey’s new alter ego – Two Face – and Batman has a challenge on his hands.

The Dark Knight Rises: Batman is retired as there’s no need for his services – he’s arrested all the super baddies in town. And it’s a good thing, because Bruce’s body can no longer keep up with the demands of the job. But what’s that? A new super mega villain who isn’t just a genius, he’s physically imposing too? The masked man known as Bane (Tom Hardy) seizes control of Gotham and builds an atomic bomb using Wayne Enterprises’ revolutionary water purification plant. Bruce gets a couple of new toys from Mr Fox, but even that might not be enough to save the day when it’s revealed who is guiding Bane: the vengeful daughter of Ra’s al Ghul.

Joker

Joaquin Phoenix gives a brilliant performance, earning him an Oscar. Shunned by society, a socially inept clown finds solace in being Gotham City’s most wanted man.

Birds of Prey

The 10th-biggest box office hit of 2020 globally, Birds of Prey (And the Fantabulous Emancipation of One Harley Quinn) is a twisted tale told by Harley herself, as only she can tell it. After splitting with the Joker, Harley Quinn joins superheroes Black Canary, Huntress and Renee Montoya to save a young girl from an evil crime lord.

In their four-star review, The Observer hailed Birds of Prey as “the movie equivalent of a fairground ride with all the bolts loosened and the safety booklet blazed long ago when someone ran out of Rizlas.”

Man of Steel

From the visionary mind that brought you The Dark Knight. A young Superman discovers his true origins. Expect action-fuelled clashes between the caped hero and the forces of evil.

The 13^th biggest box office hit of 2020, Wonder Woman 1984 also stars Emmy nominees Natasha Rothwell (The White Lotus, Insecure), Robin Wright (House of Cards) and Chris Pine (Star Trek).

Green Lantern

Ryan Reynolds stars as Hal Jordan, the world’s cockiest but best test pilot who works for the US government. His cockiness is his flaw (all heroes need some form of self-issue) but it’s also what makes Hal perfect for his new job: as wearer and protector of the Green Ring Of Power. It’s an alien heirloom that grants its wearer impossibly wonderful superpowers (including being able to fly, which Hal loves), but with great power comes great responsibility.

Hal now becomes part of the Green Lantern Corps, a squad of intergalactic space policemen who’re tasked with patrolling 3,600 sectors and keeping baddies like Parallax (a whole mysterious malevolent being that takes on the shape of a cloud) at bay.