6 Best Secret Identity Superhero Movies

By Vlad Zakh · March 8, 2026

The tension between an ordinary alter ego and a hidden extraordinary life is at the heart of the best superhero films. Spider-Man has a shy high schooler balancing a double life, The Incredibles has retired heroes forced back into action, and Shazam! has a foster kid learning to be a hero. Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse, Batman and Superman round out the six.

Shazam! (2019)

TMDB ★ 7.0

A foster kid turns into an adult superhero and treats the whole thing like a kid would.

Directed by David F. Sandberg · 2h 12m · Rated PG-13

Where to watch

Stream: HBO Max Amazon Channel, Cinemax Amazon Channel, TNT, TBS, tru TV, HBO Max · Rent: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home, Plex · Buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse (2018)

IMDb ★ 8.4 RT 97% Metacritic 87

A teenager from an alternate dimension teams up with several other Spider-People to stop a threat to the multiverse.

Directed by Bob Persichetti & Peter Ramsey · 1h 57m · Rated PG

Won 1 Oscar85 wins & 60 nominations

Where to watch

Stream: Netflix, Netflix Standard with Ads · Rent: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home, FlixFling · Buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

The Incredibles (2004)

IMDb ★ 8.0 Metacritic 90

A family of retired superheroes is forced back into action against a vengeful new villain.

Directed by Brad Bird · 1h 55m · Rated PG

Won 2 Oscars70 wins & 56 nominations

Where to watch

Stream: Disney Plus · Rent or buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

Spider-Man (2002)

TMDB ★ 7.4

The Green Goblin, still one of the more genuinely unhinged superhero-movie villains.

Directed by Sam Raimi · 2h 01m · Rated PG-13

Where to watch

Stream: Disney Plus, Hulu, fuboTV, YouTube TV, FXNow · Rent: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home, Plex · Buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

Batman (1989)

TMDB ★ 7.5

Tim Burton's gothic take on Gotham, still the template for the character's darker tone.

Directed by Tim Burton · 2h 06m · Rated PG-13

Where to watch

Stream: HBO Max Amazon Channel, HBO Max · Rent: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home, Spectrum On Demand · Buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

Superman (1978)

TMDB ★ 7.4

The original big-screen Superman, still the template for a hopeful, earnest take on the character.

Directed by Richard Donner · 2h 24m · Rated PG

Where to watch

Stream: HBO Max Amazon Channel, YouTube TV, HBO Max · Rent: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home, Spectrum On Demand · Buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

Streaming availability data from JustWatch, via TMDB. Availability changes often, so check the service before you plan a movie night.

Vlad Zakh

Founder, Movieix

Founder of Movieix. He started the site because most recommendation pages felt like noise. Here, lists are sorted by who's in the film, where it's from and what mood you're in tonight.

6 Best Secret Identity Superhero Movies

Shazam! (2019)

Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse (2018)

The Incredibles (2004)

Spider-Man (2002)

Batman (1989)

Superman (1978)

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