Top 10 Best Fights in Animated Superhero Movies
#10: Batman vs. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles
Top 20 Animated Batman Movies
“Batman vs. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles” (2019) The titular fight of this animated flick more than lives up to its wacky concept. The creators of this crossover film have a firm understanding of what makes these brands so iconic, and from the moment the Turtles are caught fawning over the Batmobile, we know we’re in for a good time. When they come to blows over a misunderstanding, we get a fight that’s hilarious, creative, and bursting with personality. The inherent silliness of the Turtles is on full display when pitted against Batman’s cool exterior, and seeing both sides size up the other’s abilities is everything we’d want from a faceoff between these two. Above all, it’s just a ton of fun to watch; our only complaint is we wanted more of it.
#9: The Incredibles & Frozone vs. The Omnidroid
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“The Incredibles” (2004) This classic superhero pic boasts an embarrassment of riches when it comes to its action sequences, and while we’ll never get enough of Violet and Dash combining their powers to make a supercharged hamster ball, there is a certain novelty of seeing the whole Parr family get in on the action in the climax. With an assist from Frozone, the fight sees the super family up against the impenetrable Omnidroid in glorious, world-ending fashion. Everyone’s powers are on full display here, but the best part is seeing how seamlessly they combine those abilities to make creative combos or last-minute assists. For the first time, the Parr family is truly a unit, making this exciting spectacle also a satisfying culmination to the journey of this super-powered household.
#8: Batman vs. Joker
Top 10 Batman Fights
“Batman: The Killing Joke” (2016) What makes this fight so memorable isn’t the blows exchanged, but its deep examination of the two legendary characters and their relationship with each other. The brutal beatdown serves as a vehicle to explore where the pair can go from here, or if they’re trapped in an endless game of cat-and-mouse. It’s a brilliant encapsulation of the warring ideals between the two, expertly brought to life by career-best performances from Kevin Conroy and Mark Hamill. By the time Joker’s joke ambiguously ends the scene with the two laughing, it’s clear there may never be another brawl as meaningful to the two’s dynamic ever again.
#7: Big Hero 6 vs. Professor Callaghan
Top 10 Animated Superhero Movies
“Big Hero 6” (2014) The real core of this fight centers on Hiro’s journey and how it parallels Callaghan’s. It’s not a big, flashy punch that decides this brawl, but rather Hiro’s leadership and trust in his friends, both of which Callaghan lacks. By pitting the young hero against a clear foil, the fight is elevated above standard superhero fare by establishing a clear emotional undercurrent to the proceedings. Both Hiro and Callaghan grapple with grief, but how they’ve dealt with it led them to very different places, and that idea is never more pronounced than in this final showdown. Hiro finally stepping up as leader of the team is a cathartic ending for his journey, but also for the film’s overall exploration of grief and acceptance.
#6: Superman & Trigon vs. Darkseid
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“Justice League Dark: Apokolips War” (2020) No other fight in DC’s animated catalog is as hopelessly grim yet nail-bitingly tense as this. The stakes have never been higher than when all but a handful of heroes are what stand between Darkseid and galaxy-wide domination. A Trigon-possessed Superman squares off against the planet-conqueror in a brutal, insane display of power from two of the heaviest-hitters in all the DC universe. The film made it clear early on that no hero is safe from the chopping block, and that grim tone elevates the tension of this scene to almost unbearable heights. The ferocious violence and galaxy-ending stakes make this an unforgettable brawl that’s unlike anything we’d seen before, and will likely ever see again.
#5: Hulk vs. Wolverine
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“Hulk vs.” (2009) No animated fight replicates the thrill of smashing action figures together as much as this drawn-out beatdown. While there aren’t too many heroes up to the task of neutralizing a rampaging Hulk, the adamantium-clawed bub is certainly one of the few. The result is as glorious as you’d expect - smack talk, underwater punches, and plenty of wince-worthy blows on either side. It’s undeniably epic to see these titans duke it out, and the only shame is that they’re interrupted before a true winner can be crowned. Fingers crossed they can finish their duel in the MCU one day.
#4: Batman vs. Jason Todd vs. Joker
Top 10 Best Animated Batman Movies
“Batman: Under the Red Hood” (2010) This isn’t as much a fight as an intense family quarrel, but that doesn’t diminish any of the nerve-shearing tension from this climactic moment. Adapting one of the most tragic stories in the Caped Crusader’s history, this flick sees Batman square off against former Robin, Jason Todd, as he seeks revenge by doing the one thing Bruce never would: kill the Joker. The final confrontation is a bone-chilling scene where the Dark Knight is forced to reckon with the guilt of Jason’s fate against his no-killing principle. The mounting conflict is bolstered by the inherent tragedy of a mentor facing a former pupil, which heightens this scene to become a benchmark of Batman storytelling at its most potent.
#3: Superman vs. Doomsday
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“The Death of Superman” (2018) The title kind of spoils the ending of this fight, doesn’t it? But that doesn’t keep the fated clash from achieving all-time-great status. With the Justice League out of commission, the Kryptonian is the last line of defense against the formidable monster. It’s a brawl for the ages; with the knowledge of what’s to come, each blow leaves you at the edge of your seat as you’re left wondering when and how the legendary hero will fall. In the end, there’s no way more fitting - or more inherently Superman - than going out protecting Lois Lane. While it’s an exciting, merciless exchange in its own right, it’s Clark’s heroic sacrifice that elevates it to greatness.
#2: Spider-People vs. Supervillains
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“Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse” (2018) No other superhero spectacle, animated or otherwise, feels like as much of a celebration of comic history as this extraordinary final fight. There’s more Spidey-action than anyone could ever ask for as the various Spider-people try to make it back to their own world in this amazing, dimension-spanning battle. Stunning animation, excellent choreography, and plenty of heart elevate this fight above its contemporaries, but what really propels it into greatness is its final act that sees Miles grow into the hero he’s always wanted to be. While the colorful action is a sight to behold, it’s Miles’s meaningful role in this climactic duel that cements it as an unforgettable moment in all of superhero history. Before we unveil our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions. Justice League vs. Darkseid, “Justice League: War” (2014) This Drawn-Out Fight Sees Each Hero Pushed to Their Absolute Limit Batman (Terry McGinnis) vs. Joker, “Batman Beyond: Return of the Joker” (2000) Poetic, Tense, & Creative, This Fight Serves as a Natural Culmination of Terry’s Journey Justice League vs. Crime Syndicate, “Justice League: Crisis on Two Earths” (2010) Severely Outnumbered, the League Makes Great Use of Their Powers in This Fun Brawl Sinestro vs. Green Lantern Corps, “Green Lantern: First Flight” (2009) The Iconic Villain Makes a Devastating Presentation of His Power Raphael vs. Leonardo, “TMNT” (2007) An Emotional Duel Between Brothers That Highlights the Bond Between Them
#1: Batman vs. Superman
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“Batman: The Dark Knight Returns, Part 2” (2013) Years before the two traded blows in live-action, this grim animated feature had the Caped Crusader square off against the Last Son of Krypton in an iconic fight that rivals even its big-screen cousins. When Batman’s vigilantism becomes too much for the government to ignore, Superman is sent in to subdue him. It’s brutal to the point it’s hard to watch - not just in their staggering displays of strength, but in how it’s clear neither wants to mortally wound the other. This fight expertly explores each side’s sympathetic ideology to the point where crowning a victor would feel wrong. Emotional, action-packed, and thematically complex, this is the highest bar that all DC fights will continue to try and live up to.
