James Brown famously said, “This is a man’s world,” and that certainly holds true for the superhero genre? at least for now. Boys will be boys, and these days being on the A-list is almost contingent on having at least one comic book role as a passport to more substantial roles. When they’re not draped in spandex, all these screen heroes have the chops to pull off both serious and comedic roles, and these are our picks for the best work they’ve done outside the genre.
Don’t miss the Best Non-Comic Book Roles from Female Superhero Actors as well!
Roles From Male Superhero Actors
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Hugh Jackman
SUPERHERO ROLE: X-Men films
BEST NON-SUPERHERO ROLE: The Fountain (2006)
The versatile Jackman has played Wolverine in seven films, though he occasionally ventures out to a role he can sink his claws into. Director Darren Aronofsky gave him such a role in "The Fountain," a sci-fi passion project wherein Jackman plays three different iterations of the same character in three different eras: a 1500s conquistador, a modern-day doctor, and a space traveler in 2500. Whether the characters are literal or allegorical is up to the viewer, but the actor is dazzling in all parts. -
Christian Bale
SUPERHERO ROLES: Dark Knight films
BEST NON-SUPERHERO ROLE: American Psycho (2000)
Bale caricatured the darkest aspects of an all-American sociopath in the filmic adaptation of Bret Easton Ellis's novel "American Psycho," channeling all the shallow rage we would expect from a Reagan-era investment banker. The role was a true all-or-nothing transformation for the actor, and it set the tone for his most famous role. You can see Bale channeling Wall Street scuzbag Patrick Bateman in the arrogant public persona of Bruce Wayne in the "Dark Knight" trilogy. -
Chris Evans
SUPERHERO ROLES: Fantastic Four, Marvel films
BEST NON-SUPERHERO ROLE: Sunshine (2007)
Evans was cocky as Johnny Storm in two "Fantastic Four" entries, then earnest as hell playing Captain Steve Rogers in the Marvel movies. An early stab at that direct, military persona came in sci-fi pic "Sunshine" where he played Mace, an engineer in a crew sending a bomb to the sun. -
Christopher Reeve
SUPERHERO ROLES: Superman films
BEST NON-SUPERHERO ROLE: Street Smart (1987)
The Superman star was a Juilliard-trained actor of significant range, and for years he lobbied to display it with "Street Smart." The tawdry tale of a tabloid reporter's run-in with a charming-but-ruthless pimp (Morgan Freeman) was such a passion project for Reeve that he agreed to the abysmal "Superman IV" in exchange for the money to make it. Even though Morgan Freeman (deservedly) got the lion's share of kudos for the movie, Reeve could easily go toe-to-toe with him during many intense scenes. -
Michael Keaton
SUPERHERO ROLES: Tim Burton's Batman films
BEST NON-SUPERHERO ROLE: Beetlejuice (1988)
Keaton is making a splash with awards season favorite "Birdman" as a crazed actor who was famous for playing a superhero. The consensus isn't out yet for "Birdman," but one thing almost everyone can agree on is his part as the title "ghost with the most" in Tim Burton's "Beetlejuice" is still unforgettable. Keaton's manic energy explodes in a character that's equal parts gross and queasily charming, and it was mostly improvised to boot. -
Tobey Maguire
SUPERHERO ROLES: Spider-Man films
BEST NON-SUPERHERO ROLE: Wonder Boys (2000)
From his impressive debut in "The Ice Storm," Tobey Maguire proved his ability to portray soulful introverts with an easy (if wimpy) charm. His most complex nerd came in the form of aspiring writer James Leer, a closeted eccentric/budding literary genius who looks up to his perpetually stoned professor (Michael Douglas). The almost-webslinger starred opposite future Marvel stars Douglas ("Ant-Man") and Robert Downey Jr. ("Iron Man")... and DC star Katie Holmes ("Batman Begins"). -
Robert Downey Jr.
SUPERHERO ROLES: Iron Man films
BEST NON-SUPERHERO ROLE: Chaplin (1992)
For many "Kiss Kiss Bang Bang" was the film that kicked off the Robert Downey Jr. renaissance as we know it, yet it was his Oscar-nominated turn in Richard Attenborough's biopic "Chaplin" that truly cemented Downey as a world class actor. His impression of Charlie Chaplin's Little Tramp character was spot-on, with both the dexterity and acting chops to pull off a truly remarkable screen transformation. -
Chris Hemsworth
SUPERHERO ROLES: Thor films
BEST NON-SUPERHERO ROLE: Rush (2013)
The Mighty Thor wrangled a mighty Aussie actor to play him in three (soon-to-be five) big screen outings, and Chris Hemsworth is still fighting to avoid typecasting. A huge step in the right direction was taking on the role of real-life Formula One racer James Hunt in Ron Howard's moving biopic "Rush." The pairing of actor and director proved so fruitful they'll be reteaming again for next year's ocean epic "Heart of the Sea." -
Nicolas Cage
SUPERHERO ROLES: Ghost Rider and Kick-Ass films
BEST NON-SUPERHERO ROLE: Raising Arizona (1987)
Besides his extensive collection, Cage proved he was a true blue comic book fan by naming his own son Kal-El after Superman (whom he almost played). Before his loony turn as Ghost Rider and the Adam West-inspired Big Daddy in "Kick-Ass," he was the lead in the zany Coen Brothers romp "Raising Arizona," where he and Holly Hunter kidnap a baby. It gave Cage one of his all-time weird hairdos (and that's saying something). -
Ryan Reynolds
SUPERHERO ROLES: Blade: Trinity, X-Men Origins: Wolverine and Green Lantern
BEST NON-SUPERHERO ROLE: Adventureland (2009)
Here's an unfortunate case of a very talented actor who just happens to be the kiss of death when it comes to playing superheroes. His "Green Lantern" was a box office bust, but he'll hopefully get a chance at redemption when the solo "Deadpool" movie coming in 2016. Reynolds excels at comedy, as seen in Greg Mottola's "Adventureland," in which the actor played an amusement park technician/musician with a thing for younger girls. -
Andrew Garfield
SUPERHERO ROLES: The Amazing Spider-Man films
BEST NON-SUPERHERO ROLE: The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus (2009)
Garfield made waves with his emotional role in "The Social Network," but he really shined in Terry Gilliam's phantasmagorical parable "Doctor Parnassus." In it he played a member of a traveling theater troupe that literally blows people's minds via the good Doctor played by Christopher Plummer. Garfield's charisma had him stealing scenes from the likes of Heath Ledger, so it's no wonder he blew up only a few years later. -
Henry Cavill
SUPERHERO ROLES: Man of Steel films
BEST NON-SUPERHERO ROLE: Immortals (2011)
An early contender for the role of Superman as far back as Bryan Singer's "Superman Returns," Cavill finally won the role for last year's franchise re-starter "Man of Steel." The Englishman proved he had what it took to pull off a superhero's physical prowess as a God-like Theseus in the mythologically-oriented action pic "Immortals," which was a far more rewarding take on Greek mythos than its counterpart "Clash of the Titans" thanks to Tarsem Singh's stunning vistas. -
Ben Affleck
SUPERHERO ROLES: Daredevil, Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice
BEST NON-SUPERHERO ROLE: Hollywoodland (2006)
Ironically, the man who would eventually face off with Superman (in the guise of Batman) began his current career resurgence portraying the star of the original "Adventures of Superman" TV show, George Reeves, in the compelling drama "Hollywoodland." The mysterious events of the actor's real-life suicide/possible murder are unraveled by a private detective (Adrien Brody) intent on making a name for himself.
