Superheromovies may have peaked with the MCU, but they have been around for a long time, with some movies fading from memory altogether. Superhero movies have always fallen into a weird cross-section offantasy,sci-fi, andaction. However, the rise of popular franchises like the MCU helped to further define the genre.
Butlong before the MCU, there were plenty of superhero movies. However, beyond the most notable movies, such as the Richard DonnerSupermanfilms, Tim Burton’sBatman, Sam Raimi’sSpider-Man, andChristopher Nolan’sDark Knighttrilogy, many of these movies faded into obscurity. But many deserve another look from fans of the genre overall.
Mystery Men
Cast
Mystery Men is a 1999 superhero comedy film that features an ensemble cast including Ben Stiller, Hank Azaria, and Janeane Garofalo. Directed by Kinka Usher, the plot follows a group of underdog superheroes with unimpressive powers who must save their city from a formidable villain after the town’s real champion is captured. The film blends humor and action as the quirky team learns to work together.
In the 1990s and early 2000s, parody movies were spiking in popularity. And whileMystery Menisn’t explicitly a parody movie, it’s clearly a goof on popular superhero team stories like The Justice League. Butthis film excels in comedy, and features an incredible star-studded cast.
Ben Stiller, Hank Azaria, William H. Macey, Greg Kinnear and more all came together in this satirical superhero story about a group of B-list heroes who are left to save the day. It’s laugh-out-loud hilarious, and there are some genuinely touching moments that make it extremely worthwhile to watch.
Darkman
Sam Raimi’s Darkman was released in 1990 and was based on a short story that Raimi created in tribute to Horror from the 1930s. The film sees Liam Neeson as a doctor using new technology to help cure himself of skin burns, only to develop superhuman abilities when the experiment fails.
Long before Sam Raimi got a chance to adapt Spider-Man for the big screen, Raimi was actually chasing a goal to adapt a different hero named The Shadow. Unfortunately, his advances were rebuffed and Raimi was unsuccessful, but it did motivate him to create an original superhero story instead.
This led to Raimi directing an incredible sleeper hit,Darkman, starring Liam Neeson. Neeson is, of course, known for his incredible work on films likeSchindler’s List,The Chronicles of Narnia, andBatman Begins. However, in 1990,Neeson played a dark and vengeful superhero called Darkman. After experiments led to him gaining superpowers, he also suffered from a severely altered mind, which led him to seek vengeance on the people who experimented on him.
Unbreakable
M. Night Shyamalan presents Unbreakable, a superhero thriller that sees Bruce Willis star as David Dunn, a man who survives a train derailment completely unscathed. Now discovering that he has superpowers, he is invited to meet a man who may know more about his unique condition working at a comic book shop. What begins as a discovery of who he is and why he has these powers turns into David assuming the role of a reluctant hero in an ordinary world.
Next up, a spectacular story from director M. Night Shyamalan. Unbreakable stars Bruce Willis and Samuel L. Jackson in a superhero story with a twist. David Dunn is an ordinary man, with an ordinary family, but after becoming the sole survivor of a major incident, his life takes a dramatic turn.
The movie approaches superhero stories in a different way, which is pretty on brand for Shyamalan, but the execution of this piece makes it one of his absolute best.
As it turns out,Dunn is special, and he has never been sick, or injured. The movie approaches superhero stories in a different way, which is pretty on brand for Shyamalan, but the execution of this piece makes it one of his absolute best. And casting Jackson as the villain proved an incredible choice as he brings gravity, tension, and intrigue to the piece with incredible efficacy. It all comes together in the end, and the movie stands out as an underrated gem in the genre.
Sky High
Sky High is a 2005 comedy that follows the son of two famous superheroes as he attends a high school for student heroes. Michael Angarano stars alongside Danielle Panabaker, Mary Elizabeth Winstead, Kurt Russell, and Kelly Preston, with appearances by Bruce Campbell and Lynda Carter.
While there are plenty of superhero stories for kids, and equally plenty for adults, only a few successfully manage to pull off the coming-of-age subgenre. However,Sky Highis one of the best in this category, and one that deserves a lot more recognition.
In a world where superheroes are plentiful, the world has established routines and institutions to help guide the new generation of heroes on their way. And whenthe son of two of the world’s most impressive heroes enters high school, everyone expects him to be just as impressive as his parents. Unfortunately, Will Stronghold is proving to be a late bloomer, and while his peers excel and embrace their powers, Will lags behind. It’s fun, vibrant, and a brilliant approach to the superhero genre.
Push
Push is a 2009 action thriller directed by Paul McGuigan. The film centers on a group of people called Movers who have superhuman powers. Chris Evans stars as Nick Grant, a mover who witnessed Agent Carver (Djimon Hounsou) murder his father when he was a child. Together Nick and Kira (Camilla Belle) go to save a young girl named Cassie (Dakota Fanning) and put an end to the government agency hunting their kind.
Before Chris Evans became Captain America in the MCU, he starred in Push alongside a young Dakota Fanning. This incredible superhero thriller exploresa world where some humans have evolved to possess one of a few special gifts.
With Movers, Watchers, and Pushers, a new breed of humans is capable of doing things that most people could only imagine. However, the government is keen to crack down on rogue-powered people that exist outside their control. The film follows a complex narrative where amateur-powered people tag together to avoid capture, and complete a mysterious mission.
The Losers
The Losers is a 2010 action comedy starring Idris Elba, Zoë Saldana, Jeffrey Dean Morgan, Chris Evans, Columbus Short, and Oscar Jaenada. The film centers on a betrayed special forces group who go against orders to kill a drug lord while rescuing a group of children. The film is an adaptation of the Vertigo Comic series created by Andy Diggle and Jock.
Chris Evans also starred in another comic book adaptation in 2010, alongside future MCU co-star, Zoe Saldaña, andThe Boysstar, Jeffrey Dean Morgan. WhileThe Losersdoesn’t actually follow superheroes, it is based on a comic book series by Vertigo.
This ragtag group of elite and highly skilled operatives go deep undercover, faking their own deaths when they learn that their organization has betrayed them. The film pulls togethera stunning cast, and delivers thrilling action throughout.
Super
Super is a 2010 film directed by James Gunn, featuring Rainn Wilson as Frank Darbo. After his wife, played by Liv Tyler, succumbs to the influence of a drug dealer, Frank transforms into the Crimson Bolt, a well-intentioned but unskilled superhero, seeking to rescue her and fight crime.
Before James Gunn tackled theGuardians of the Galaxyfor the MCU, he wrote and directed Super, a dark comedy superhero movie starringThe Office’sRainn Wilson.The film has a lot in common withKick-Ass, in regards to having a non-powered person become a crime fighter.
However, the film is a lot more focused on the comedy of this idea, rather than having the character becoming an overly successful hero. The film also features a star-studded cast, and while it leans heavily into the wackiness of the plot, there are a lot of iconic moments that make this movie stand out from the crowd.
The Green Hornet
The Green Hornet is a superhero film directed by Michel Gondry, featuring Seth Rogen as Britt Reid, the wealthy heir who transforms into the vigilante known as the Green Hornet. With the help of his innovative sidekick Kato, played by Jay Chou, they embark on a mission to combat crime in Los Angeles. Christoph Waltz stars as the film’s antagonist, adding a blend of action and comedy to the narrative.
The Green Hornetgot some negative press in 2011 with themovie starring Seth Rogenand Jay Chou, but despite this, it’s got a lot of heart.The film is inspired by a much earlier TV show, and it follows on from an earlier adaptation released in 1994.
However, where this version of the film stands out is its ability to connect with modern audiences. The 1994 movie has a lot to offer, and the action and espionage is top-notch, but Seth Rogen’s comedic touch, and the dynamics between his character and his assistant make this one not to miss.
The Rocketeer
Based on the 1982 comic book series, The Rocketeer, created by Dave Stevens, this 1991 superhero film was directed by Joe Johnston. Starring Billy Campbell, the movie seems a stunt pilot becoming a superhero by using a hidden rocket pack to fly around.
But that is not to say that some of the more classic superhero hits can’t resonate today. TakeThe Rocketeerfor example, a movie that originally came out way back in 1991.The film is also a period piece, set back in 1938. When a stunt pilot discovers a highly advanced, experimental rocket pack, he manages to get a handle on how to use the thing with incredible skill and prowess. And as a result, he begins to use the rocket to perform acts of heroism.
However, the government is desperate to get the pack back, after having lost track of it earlier on.This film is tense, dramatic, and full of spectaclesthat make the ordinary extraordinary. The Rocketeer should definitely be included on any watchlist for underrated and obscure superhero movies.
Spawn
Based on the dark comic by Todd McFarlanee,Spawnwas adapted for film in 1997, starring Michael Jai White in the lead role. Killed on a job after he’s betrayed by his boss, Al Simmons makes a deal with the devil and returns to earth as Spawn to face his new nemesis The Clown.
Spawn achieved the height of its popularity in the 1990s. With the comic, an animated series, an animated film, and the live-action film all coming out in short succession. However, since then, Todd McFarlane’s most notorious creation has faded into obscurity. The film has asimilar plot toThe Crow, though the actual superheroics are taken to another level.When a US Marine is viciously murdered, he is reluctantly resurrected as a leaderof Hell’s army.
There are a lot of highlight moments in this movie that defy its status as a forgotten superhero movie in an increasingly cluttered genre.
This evidently leads to some chaos in the realm of the living, with a stunning superhero at the helm. While this movie has had more than its fair share of criticisms, it’s well worth checking out even just for the performance of Michael Jai White in his leading role. However, there are a lot of highlight moments in this movie that defy its status as a forgottensuperheromovie in an increasingly cluttered genre.
