Sports fans everywhere would agree there’s really no better name for an event than “Super Bowl.” It’s just so simple. So perfect. College football has a million bowl games, and some of them have really cool names: Sugar Bowl, Rose Bowl, Orange Bowl, etc. But there has to be one bowl to rule them all, and what better word for it than “super”?
As the Seattle Seahawks and New England Patriots get ready to clash in the 60th Super Bowl on Sunday, we decided to look at that word itself. What else is “super” in pop culture? And not just in general. What is literally called “super”? Below are our 15 favorite movies with “super” in the title.
15. Super Pumped (2022)
We’re putting this at 15 only because it’s not a movie. It’s a TV show. But it’s a really good TV show with Joseph Gordon-Levitt as the founder of Uber alongside Kyle Chandler, Uma Thurman, and more, so we think it’s certainly super.
14. Super Buddies (2013)
By definition, the Air Bud franchise has no basis in reality. So the fact that Bud and his buddies got to become superheroes in this sequel makes all the sense in the world.
13. Supervixens (1975)
Director Russ Meyer always knew exactly what he was doing with his movies, and one of the best examples is Supervixens, a very of-its-time exploitation film featuring all manner of buxom beautiful women with the word “super” in their name. Why? More like “Why not?”
12. The Super (1991)
Not all “super” movies are about “super” people. Case in point, 1991’s The Super, which stars Joe Pesci as a landlord who is forced to live in one of his own buildings. It’s pretty bad in terms of 1990s Joe Pesci movies, but it’s still a 1990s Joe Pesci movie.
11. DC League of Super Pets (2022)
Clearly, there’s going to be some DC representation on this list, right? But slightly lower than those other Super movies we’ll get to soon is this surprisingly cute animated film.
10. The Super Mario Bros. Movie (2023)
I don’t love this movie, but most people do, and I will still admit that it’s pretty special to see a franchise as beloved by so many become such a big, beautiful, wildly successful movie.
9. My Super Ex-Girlfriend (2006)
Uma Thurman stars as a superhero dumped by a normal guy (Luke Wilson); she then terrorizes him for revenge. It’s not great, but it was directed by the legendary Ivan Reitman, who has a lot of fun blending the superhero and romantic comedy genres.
8. Super 8 (2011)
J.J. Abrams’ love letter to Amblin and the films of Steven Spielberg doesn’t quite live up to those standards, but, when compared to some of the other movies on this list, certainly is better than the others. Also, how can you not put Super 8 at eighth?
7. Supercop (1992)
One of the earliest Jackie Chan movies to get a wide release in the U.S., Supercop (which is actually Police Story 3) is classic Jackie, with all the action, stunts, and laughs you’d expect. It’s not one of his best, but it’s highly entertaining.
6. Super Fly (1972)
One of the marquee films of the blaxploitation genre, Super Fly is a super cool crime thriller with one of the best soundtracks of all time. A stone-cold classic.
5. Super Size Me (2004)
One of the best ideas for a documentary ever, filmmaker Morgan Spurlock decided to find out what would happen if he ate McDonald’s every day for a month. Spoiler alert, it’s not good. For him. The movie is very good.
4. Super (2010)
Before he got his hands on that other Super character (don’t worry, we’re getting there), James Gunn wrote and directed this very underrated action comedy starring Rainn Wilson, Elliot Page, and many others. It’s pretty messed up, but that makes it great.
3. Super Troopers (2001)
For many, this would clearly be the top choice of “super” movies. And don’t get us wrong, we love this hilarious police comedy made by and starring the Broken Lizard gang. It’s timeless. But another super character is just a little more timeless.
2. Superman: The Movie (1978)
This list could’ve easily just been Superman movies, but where’s the Joe Pesci/Air Bud/McDonald’s fun in that? Instead, we’re going to choose the Richard Donner original to just cover them all. James Gunn’s 2025 version, the Donner sequel, Dawn of Justice, and all of them. Consider this every Superman movie rolled up into one. Well, except for…
1. Super/Man: The Christopher Reeve Story (2024)
Yes, we’re ending this “super” list on a serious note. This documentary about the actor who portrayed Superman and the incredible yet tragic life he led is truly everything the word “super” is about. A can’t-miss guaranteed to make you love not just Reeves but Superman and even life itself.
Want more io9 news? Check out when to expect the latest Marvel, Star Wars, and Star Trek releases, what’s next for the DC Universe on film and TV, and everything you need to know about the future of Doctor Who.

