Superman 1978

It's still got the longest credit sequence in history, and it's still the best movie about a man in tights. Unlike the others on this list, this movie's success didn't have nearly as much to do with its director as with its star, Christopher Reeve, who became the quint essential icon in the eyes of the world. While it looks quite dated today, the ideals of the movie, and Reeve's performance still make it worth watching.

Think about this: every time a comic is adapted, you hear squabbling about who the lead should be -- it seems that you can't please even half the crowd with whomever is cast... but with Reeve, there was nary a naysayer to be found. Having a good script (written by legends Mario Puzo, Robert Benton, and Tom Mankiewicz) certainly helped, and adding Gene Hackman and Marlon Brando (in the most expensive cameo ever), really made Superman a can't-miss.