Mark Kermode’s Secrets of Cinema: Superheroes

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Synopsis

In this documentary exploring the rich lineage of superhero films, renowned film critic Mark Kermode uses clips from formative titles to uncover the cinematic and storytelling conventions of the genre. Divided into seven sections – Origins; Powers; Secret Identity; Supervillains; Super Friends; Ordeal and Sacrifice; Ragnarok – Kermode draws on examples from throughout cinema history to explore key elements of the superhero film and demonstrate how they have evolved over time. Taking in iconic heroes such as Superman, Batman and Spider-Man, alongside the supervillains who challenge them, Kermode examines how superhero films blend other genres such as coming-of-age, crime and science fiction with universal themes of identity, friendship, grief and sacrifice. The documentary also considers how the genre has responded to the changing social and political climate, reflecting the real-world concerns and anxieties of its audiences.

Films featured within this documentary include:

Batman: The Movie (1966); Superman (1978); Batman (1989); The Mask (1994); The Matrix (1999); Unbreakable (2000); X-Men (2000); Spider-Man (2002); The Incredibles (2004); The Dark Knight (2008); Hancock (2008); Iron Man (2008); The Avengers (2012); X-Men: Days of Future Past (2014); Deadpool (2016); Captain America: Civil War (2016); Wonder Woman (2017); Justice League (2017); Thor: Ragnarok (2017); Black Panther (2018); Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse (2018); Spider-Man: Far From Home (2019); Captain Marvel (2019); Joker (2019); Shazam! (2019).