Superheroes are hot. Actors and actresses donning masks and costumes are becoming increasingly more commonplace in movies. But why are superhero movies so popular?

“Superhero movies help people project their problems into something that is greater than reality,” junior Josiah Swim said. “They use these movies to escape; they create a fantasy where problems can be solved with super powers.”

People like superhero movies because they can provide uplifting support to self-esteem and make people feel as though they, like a superhero, are capable of anything.

Superhero movies that concern the hero’s origin story are particularly uplifting. In the world of comic books, an origin story is a back-story revealing how a character or team gained their superpowers and/or the circumstances under which they became superheroes or supervillains. Take Captain America for example: He is an everyday American who is too frail to be drafted into the army, but he doesn’t give up trying to join the army to fight for the country he loves. Then he takes the Super Soldier Serum and is given the tools necessary (i.e. his superhuman abilities) to save the world from the Red Skull.

Origin stories like Steve Roger’s (Captain America) and Tony Stark’s (Iron Man), give hope to many viewers that perhaps they too can someday surpass their limitations and become heroes.

“An origin story is important because it shows that there has to be a beginning to the superhero,” senior Max Oellien said. “You want them to seem as human as possible.”

If it isn’t obvious already, superhero movies are very popular with children. Otherwise they wouldn’t be dressing up as Batman, Iron Man and Wonder Woman every Halloween. When they’re not idolizing their parents they’re looking up to superheroes.

“I believe we need superhero movies just because they influence kids and give them role-models to look up to,” junior Antonio Phan said.

The main reason superhero movies are such a box office success at this time is because when people are hit with hard times like recession and high unemployment and it seems inhospitable, superhero movies give people the courage to go on and face the issues affecting the nation.

“Superhero movies show superheros solving massive problems, which can be scaled down and give us inspiration to solve our own problems within our lives,” Swim said.

Marvel is the most popular superhero universe at the moment because across the board they have the most characters with relatable flaws such as the rashness of Thor or the uncooperative Iron Man.
“The reason why [their flaws] relate to us is because we all have strengths and weaknesses,” Phan said. “It’s just a question of how do we deal with it, how do we use our strengths to lessen our weaknesses.”

Thor is rash, Captain American sometimes too good natured, and Black Widow has a troubled past she will do anything to cover up. Anyone can be rash, anyone can be too good natured, and many people have secrets that they would do anything to hide. The point is, flaws are what make a superhero relatable. Being relatable makes people like them.

Superhero movies also provide people with morals for their everyday lives such as: saying no to prejudice (X-Men) and understanding the perils of scientific research (Iron Man). The most important thing someone can learn from the movies is that not just superheroes, but anyone can overcome their problems and help others.