Every 2021 Superhero TV Show, Ranked According To IMDb

Comic book superhero fans have plenty of great TV shows to watch these days, maybe even too many. With both DC and Marvel putting out live-action and animated shows, there are a lot of shows to go through, and IMDb ratings are a great measure of each series.

If a show’s complete run is contained in 2021 as a limited series or a first season, the main IMDb score is used, providing a higher sample size for the score. If a show has been on for several years, the average of the individual episode scores from 2021 is used as some shows may have had better or worse 2021 episodes than the show’s average. These averaged 2021 scores could include episodes from one or two seasons, depending on the show. As per IMDb’s requirements for the Top 250 TV Shows of All Time, a show must have a minimum of 10,000 votes to be considered. Depending on the source of the score, percentage points or number of votes are tiebreakers.

10 Hawkeye – 7.8

Hawkeye premiered in November 2021, and the limited series lasted for six episodes. The team-up of Clint Barton and Kate Bishop won audiences over in time for Christmas. Its highest-rated episode, “Echoes,” received an IMDb score of 8.4

Fans responded well to Hawkeye having a solo story, Kate Bishop being introduced, and the rivalry between Kate and Yelena. Another highlight for fans was the MCU debut of Vincent D’Onofrio as Kingpin, reprising his role from the show Daredevil. Fans are excited to see where the hit characters of Kingpin and Kate Bishop might show up next.

9 Legends Of Tomorrow – 7.9

Legends of Tomorrow had the entirety of its sixth season and the first part of its seventh air in 2021. Between the two, the show had 22 episodes air during the year. The sixth season garnered a 100% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, just the second Arrowverse season to do so after Legends season 5, and Supergirl season 6 became the third shortly after.

The highest IMDb score for an episode was an impressive 9.1 for “Wvrdr_Error_100 Not Found.” The show has continued to keep its fans entertained with memorable characters, wild time adventures, and endlessly hilarious situations.

8 Superman & Lois – 7.9

Superman & Lois is the latest Arrowverse show. A spinoff of Supergirl, the show is filming its second season. Its family drama has been well-received, with Clark and Lois raising their two teenage sons while also living their usual, super lives.

Many episodes received high scores on IMDb, most notably “A Brief Reminiscence In-Between Cataclysmic Events” at a 9.2. The family dynamic combined with the super-heroics is behind the show’s strong reviews, with fans and critics enjoying that it’s a grounded story with exceptional action sequences.

7 Pennyworth – 8.0

Pennyworth follows the beloved character Alfred between his time as a soldier and the Wayne family butler. The show began on Epix but is moving to HBO Max for its third season. Only the latter half of the show’s second season aired in 2021, but it was incredibly well-received.

The highest-rated episode of 2021 was “Paradise Lost” with an 8.3. Reviews have applauded the show for its thrilling, spy-story adventures and well-done set-pieces. The show isn’t truly a Batman show, but it doesn’t need to be, and it doesn’t try to be.

6 Stargirl – 8.0

Stargirl stormed onto the TV superhero scene in 2020 with great reviews, good storytelling, and solid characters. That continued with the show’s second season in 2021. It takes place on Earth-2, with the Arrowverse being Earth-1. The second season was subtitled “Summer School,” with both “Chapter Six” and “Chapter Thirteen” receiving an impressive 8.8 on IMDb.

Reviews applaud the show’s smart writing, its accessibility for the whole family, and its hopeful feel. It’s also full of rich comic book backstories, featuring characters from the many decades of DC’s history. The cast has also received strong reviews, with the entire ensemble having their own standout moments. It’s a show that will hopefully allow more teen superheroes to get their own show.

5 WandaVision – 8.0

WandaVision kicked off the MCU’s Phase 4 television shows on Disney Plus in early 2021. The show kept viewers guessing every week, and the result was an extremely popular new entry for Marvel Studios. On paper, mashing up different decades of sitcoms with MCU action might sound odd, but it succeeded nonstop.

The episodes “On a Very Special Episode” and “Previously On” both earned a 9.0 on IMDb. The show had the excitement fans find in watching a new MCU movie, but it spread out the heated fan debates over nine weeks. Reviews highlighted the show’s unique creativity, its thrilling mystery, and its tributes to the history of television. Elizabeth Olsen, Paul Bettany, Teyonah Parris, Kat Dennings, Randall Park, and Kathryn Hahn all received strong reactions for their performances.

4 Doom Patrol – 8.1

HBO Max’s wacky team of misfits has continued to surprise fans and critics for three seasons of Doom Patrol. The third season’s 10 episodes all aired in 2021, with the first episode picking up where the COVID-shortened second season left off. The wonderful Michelle Gomez joined the cast in the season, adding to the show’s impressive cast.

The episode “Dead Patrol” received a season-high 8.6 on IMDb. The show’s reviews have often cited the show’s incredible combination of weirdness and heart, which works in a way that’s perfect for the characters. The third season also received a 100% rating on Rotten Tomatoes.

3 Loki – 8.3

Loki had come back from death twice before, so why not a third time? Sure, this was an alternate, time-traveling Loki, but he’s too mischievous to stay dead for long. The show soon introduced variants, great acting, and a mind-bending ending that will surely change the MCU.

All six episodes were well-received, with “The Nexus Event” receiving a 9.2 on IMDb. The show was lauded for its clever storytelling, its big twists, and its penchant for the unpredictable. It’s also one of the best superhero projects with a woman director. Unlike the other 2021 live-action MCU shows, Loki will return for a second season.

2 Invincible – 8.7

Invincible is based on the Image comic of the same name. The Amazon Prime show follows a 17-year-old whose father is the world’s most powerful superhero. The show is both a teen drama and a superhero story, and the result has proved extremely popular. It’s also considered very faithful to the original comics.

The season finale “Where I Really Come From” received an incredible 9.7 rating on IMDb. Critics and fans alike have talked about the show’s impressive animation, action sequences, and voice cast. It’s also known as one of the best modern animated superhero shows. The show has been renewed for both a second and third season.

1 Young Justice – 9.3

Young Justice debuted in 2010 and ran for two seasons before being canceled. After fans continually begged for more of the show, it finally returned for a third season in 2019. Now in the midst of its fourth season, the animated DC show has received the best scores on IMDb for a superhero show in 2021.

The episode “I Know Why the Caged Cat Sings” received a 9.7 on IMDb, and no 2021 episode received lower than a 9.1. Fans have celebrated the show’s adaptations of characters from DC teams like the Justice League, the Teen Titans, Young Justice, and the Outsiders. Reviews often cite the show’s maturity, storytelling, and emotions as the reasons it excels so well. The show also notably had the first appearance of Kaldur’ahm/Aqualad, who would go on to become Jackson Hyde in mainstream DC Comics.

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