Superhero movies often come with high-stakes battles between the forces of good and evil. While many conclude with a clear win for the hero, some of the most compelling narratives are those where the villain, though defeated, manages to survive. Here’s a look at 10 best superhero movies that feature such outcomes:

1.The Dark Knight (2008) –In Christopher Nolan’s critically acclaimed film, Batman faces off against his arch-nemesis, the Joker. The Joker’s anarchic plans are ultimately foiled, but he survives to challenge the concepts of order and chaos.

2.Black Panther (2018) –Erik Killmonger is defeated in his bid to take over Wakanda and change global politics, but not before leaving an indelible mark on T’Challa and leading to important changes in Wakanda’s policies.

3.Doctor Strange (2016) –Doctor Strange triumphs over Dormammu by trapping him in an endless time loop. The victory comes through wit rather than violence, and Dormammu survives the ordeal but is forced to agree to leave Earth alone.

4.Spider-Man: Homecoming (2017) –Spider-Man thwarts Vulture’s arms-dealing plans and saves his classmates’ lives. Though Vulture is captured and imprisoned, he keeps Peter Parker’s identity secret in a final act of respect.

5.Captain America: Civil War (2016) –Helmut Zemo’s plan to divide the Avengers succeeds to a degree but doesn’t result in their total annihilation as he hoped. Zemo survives to potentially plot another day.

6.X-Men: Days of Future Past (2014) –The X-Men succeed in altering history to prevent their own extinction by robots called Sentinels, while Magneto’s plan fails but he escapes, remaining a potential threat.

7.Avengers: Infinity War (2018) –Although Thanos successfully wipes out half of all life in the universe with a snap of his fingers, he suffers deep personal loss and eventually sees his work undone in the sequel “Endgame.”

8.Thor: Ragnarok (2017) –Hela, the Goddess of Death, brings about Ragnarok upon Asgard as Thor realizes that it is the only way to stop her reign of terror. Despite her defeat, she is not shown definitively perishing in the cataclysm she invoked.

9.The Incredible Hulk (2008) –Abomination is defeated by Hulk during their battle in Harlem but is spared when Hulk recognizes the humanity still left within him, allowing authorities to take Abomination into custody.

10.Aquaman (2018) –King Orm is defeated by Arthur Curry in combat for the throne of Atlantis, proving his worth as the true king. Orm survives but loses his claim and authority over Atlantis.

These films each present a nuanced take on heroics and villainy by allowing their antagonists a chance at redemption or further menace, setting up intriguing possibilities for sequels and shared cinematic universes.