IF YOU ENJOYED MARVEL’S CINEMATIC UNIVERSE OR EVEN DC’S EXTENDED UNIVERSE, THEN YOU MIGHT ENJOY THESE OTHER SUPERHERO MOVIES

I don’t know if you side yourself with Marvel or DC, but you more than likely have watched the movies that have more recently been released from either universe. Many people have voiced their opinions of these movies and, I believe, many have complained about them for no real reason.

I’m a comic fan from way back in the 80’s and have been collecting them for quite some time, so those of you superhero fans reading this who do not remember the movie scene back then, should understand that there was nothing much and what was there had limited special effects.

At that time, our visage of superheroes mainly came in the form of DC’s Superman and Batman; we loved watching Christopher Reeves’ take on Superman (1978), Superman II (1980), Superman III (1983); probably a little less enjoyment came from Superman: Quest for Peace (1987). Later, in 1989, Michael Keaton’s Batman made us watch in awe, as we saw this darker character that we had always known as the campy Adam West Batman in reruns from the 1960’s TV series. Some people might even remember Helen Slater’s take on Supergirl (1984), long before Wonder Woman 1984 (2020). Now Helen Slater appears as Eliza Danvers, Supergirl’s mother, in the Supergirl (2015 –) TV series, so she has not been forgotten.

Our Marvel heroes at the time consisted of Spiderman (1967) mainly on our televisions, along with two telemovies, spinning from the Incredible Hulk (1977 - 1982) TV series starring Bill Bixby as David Banner and Lou Ferrigno as the Hulk. Through these movies we met Thor (played by Eric Allan Kramer) in The Incredible Hulk Returns (1988) and Daredevil (played by Rex Smith) in The Trial of The Incredible Hulk (1989). Both of these interpretations of the characters were… well, let’s just say, I remember thinking – "what have they done? That’s not Thor or Daredevil!" Even the Kingpin (played by John Rhys-Davies) was some sort of robotic-acted version that was up with the latest technology at the time – Ben Affleck’s version of Daredevil (2003), which seems to have been spurned by critics and fans alike, was a much better reflection of the comic.

However, if you’ve seen all of these, along with all of the latest Marvel and DC movies released in the last twenty years, then you might be wondering – Are there any superhero movies out there that I haven’t seen? Are there any superhero movies out there that deserve my time?

Of course there are! I’ve compiled a list below that are worth watching…

1. KICK-ASS (2010)

Originally beginning as a comic written by Mark Millar and illustrated by John Romita Jr, Kick-Ass was published under the Marvel Comics Icon imprint, but has since moved to Image Comics.

Kick-Ass is a coming-of-age story about a teenager, Dave Lizewski (Aaron Taylor-Johnson), who decides that he will try his hand at becoming a vigilante, calling himself Kick Ass. To his surprise, he is not the only vigilante out there; with the costumed duo of Big Daddy (Nicolas Cage from Ghost Rider [2007] and Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance [2011]) and Hit Girl (Chloe Grace Moretz) trying to bring down New York crime boss, Frank D’Amico (Mark Strong from Green Lantern [2011] and Shazam! [2019]) and a brand new hero, Red Mist (Christopher Mintz-Plasse), also making things very interesting. As Kick-Ass is drawn further into this world of crime-fighting, he learns about who he is and what it means to be a hero.

Be warned though, it is NOT a movie for young children! The violence is graphic and the language is extremely colourful. When I went to see it – having already read the comic and knowing what I was getting myself into – I was surprised to see parents with young children sitting there ready to watch (obviously an MA15+ rating meant nothing to them); yet they complained at the end as to how gruesome and violent certain scenes were.

The comedy, interspersed with the action, works really well and is an excellent non-Marvel (now at least), non-DC superhero movie.

And if you watch this one, you can then watch Kick-Ass 2 (2013) – it’s the gift that keeps on giving!

2. HANCOCK (2008)

If you’re looking for a great non-comic based superhero, then you can’t go past Hancock. It is sensational!

Hancock (Will Smith from Suicide Squad [2016]) is a troubled hero, dealing with alcoholism and a disregard for a public that has turned on him, but still feels the call to help people who are in trouble. Enter Ray Embrey (Jason Bateman); or more to the point, Hancock enters in a scene where Ray is stuck in a car on train tracks with an oncoming train and saves him. Ray is a publicist who is trying to make the world a better place by getting big corporations to join his All Heart initiative and give some of their wares for free to the needy – it doesn’t go down well. Instead, Ray sets his sights on helping Hancock, in a bid to make up for the hero saving him.

Hancock grudgingly goes along with Ray’s plan and his life and reputation begin to mend; however what Hancock does not know is that his life is seemingly fated to follow the same pattern it has for years, as his former life unravels with the help of Ray and his wife, Mary (Charlize Theron from Aeon Flux [2005]).

A fantastically funny film that is one of the best standalone films in this superhero genre!

3. UNBREAKABLE (2000)

Unbreakable is not an all-out action superhero movie, in fact it is more a thinker’s suspense-filled thriller that unfolds gradually and tells a wonderful story. Written and directed M. Night Shayamalan, Unbreakable is the story of David Dunn (Bruce Willis from Sin City [2005] and Red [2010]) who is the totally unscathed, sole survivor of a train crash. Dealing with survivor’s guilt, Dunn is eventually drawn to Limited Edition, a gallery owned by Elijah Price (Samuel L. Jackson from Spirit [2008] and played Nick Fury in the Marvel Cinematic Universe [2008 – 2019]) and sets him on a journey of self-discovery that will forever change his life and entwine him with Price.

This is a gritty thriller that keeps you watching throughout.

And once you’ve finished watching Unbreakable, you can move onto the next two movies in this trilogy: Split (2016) and Glass (2019).

4. PUSH (2009)

Push is set in a world of super-powered individuals who are being hunted down by a clandestine government organisation. Their powers are named by their traits: Movers use telekinesis to move objects; Watchers can see the future or past; Screamers vocally create sonic booms; and Pushers can read or control minds.

Before Chris Evans (from Fantastic Four [2005] and played Captain America in the Marvel Cinematic Universe [2011 – 2019]) became Captain America, he was Nick Gant, a down on his luck Mover who is trying to find his place in the world. Nick is approached by a 13-year-old Watcher called Cassie Holmes (Dakota Fanning from The Twilight Saga [2009 – 2012]) to help steal a briefcase that holds a billion-dollar secret. This puts a target on their backs, with the secret organisation, Division, stopping at nothing to silence them. So they enlist the help of Kira Hudson (Camilla Belle), who is a Pusher that can either help them or destroy them.

Push is a fast-paced action packed film that takes you on a different journey than most superhuman movies. Well worth watching if you enjoy superhero movies!

5. MYSTERY MEN (1999)

Mystery Men assembles an all-star comedic cast to produce a hilarious superhero comedy for all the family to enjoy.

In fictional Champion City, there is only one legendary superhero – Captain Amazing (Greg Kinnear from Blankman [1994]). However, when he is captured by the recently released evil mad man Casanova Frankenstein (Geoffrey Rush) and his disco-dancing henchmen, the city finds itself in need of new heroes. Enter The Mystery Men – a motley crew of wannabe superheroes whose powers are questionable at best: Mr Furious (Ben Stiller from Mastermind [2010]), whose power comes from his supposed boundless rage; The Shoveler (William H. Macy), a family man who proudly believes he shovels “better than anyone”; The Blue Raja (Hank Azaria), who lives with his mum and throws forks at his enemies; The Bowler (Janeane Garofalo), who uses her bowling ball, enshrined with her father’s skull, to devastating effect; The Spleen (Paul Reubens, Gotham [2016 – 2017] and DC’s Legends of Tomorrow [2018 – 2019]), who uses his power of flatulence to render opponents unconscious; Invisible Boy (Kel Mitchell), who can only turn invisible when no one is watching; and The Sphinx (Wes Studi), who is an enigmatic mentor that philosophises in clichés. The Mystery Men venture out to save Captain Amazing and eventually come face-to-face in a showdown with Casanova Frankenstein and his minions.

This movie is an outrageous adventure that promises many laughs, no matter how many times you watch it.

6. CHRONICLE (2012)

Like Push (2009), Chronicle is not an all-out superhero adventure, but more a story about gaining and using superpowers. This found footage film centres on the world of Andrew Detmer (Dane DeHann from The Amazing Spiderman 2 [2014]), who decides to chronicle his life via a video camera for no particular reason, other than he feels it might be important. Andrew lives with his dying mother and violent, drunken father. He has little to no friends and has found life difficult to manage. His closest friend is his cousin, Matt Garetty (Alex Russell), who invites him to a party, which Andrew reluctantly goes to. While there we see that his chronicle of his life brings about a lot of negative attention, until one of the most popular students in the school, Steve Montgomery (Michael B. Jordan from Black Panther [2018] and Fantastic Four [2015]) finds him sobbing under a tree outside the party and asks him to come and see what he and Matt had found. They want to film their findings, which leads them to a mysterious hole in the ground that houses an alien artefact.

Upon coming into contact with the artefact, the boys gain the power of telekinesis, which allows them to move things with their minds. In the beginning they practise using their newfound powers by messing around with harmless pranks, however as their power grows, they start to move into much more dangerous territory that affects the lives of all of them.

A dark and very different superhero movie that is sure to entertain and thrill you, as the teenagers’ lives spin out of control towards an explosive climax.

7. DARKMAN (1990)

Darkman was director Sam Raimi’s (Spiderman Trilogy [2002/2004/2007]) first dip into the superhero genre, with shades of DC’s Unknown Soldier comic. With Liam Neeson (Batman Begins [2005]) as lead character, scientist Dr. Peyton Westlake, and Larry Drake (voiced Colonel Vox in Justice League Animated Series [2001 – 2004]) playing a truly evil Robert G. Durant, the movie sets up its good vs evil plot very early in the film.

Dr. Peyton Westlake is working in his laboratory on a synthetic skin, presumably to assist burn victims; however it only seems to last for 99 minutes before disintegrating. After his attorney girlfriend, Julie Hastings (Frances McDormand from Aeon Flux [2005]) finds incriminating evidence against corrupt businessman, Louis Strack (Colin Friels), she finds herself being targeted by Durant and his henchmen in a bid to recover the evidence. This leads them to Westlake, where they burn him amidst his experimental chemicals, along with the rest of the laboratory.

Escaping the hospital where he was classed as a John Doe, a burned beyond repair Westlake attempts to rebuild his laboratory and seeks vengeance against Durant and his cronies. Using his synthetic skin technology, Westlake sets out as The Darkman, assuming various identities in a bid to bring down Durant and Strack and in the hope of rekindling his relationship with Julie.

A fast-paced action thriller that won’t have you in awe of the special effects, as it would have in 1990, but will still draw you into a cult superhero classic.

8. DEFENDOR (2009)

Reading various reviews for Defendor, I’d have to say that it seems many people just don’t get it. This is a marvellous movie with an outstanding cast to help it along.

Arthur Poppington (Woody Harrelson from Venom 2 [2021]) is a man who has been struggling to live in a world that simply doesn’t make sense to him. Abandoned by his parents and left to be raised by his grandfather, Arthur’s lower than average IQ has him attempting to make the world a better place for everyone by taking down “Captain Industry” – who his child-self brought about as a means to understand his grandfather’s words when he was told “the captains of industry” had killed his mother. Now on a quest for vengeance, Arthur creates an alter-ego called Defendor, because, in his words:

“Mmm 'cause superheroes aren't stupid. They're not afraid. And when I'm Defendor I'm not Arthur anymore. I'm a million times better than Arthur.”

As Defendor, Arthur patrols the streets on the hunt for Captain Industry’s allies, which eventually has him finding trouble in the form of a corrupt police officer, who he believes is harassing a local prostitute, Katerina ‘Kat’ Debrofkowitz (Kat Dennings from Thor [2011] and WandaVision [2021]). Saving Kat, Defendor takes her in and they strike an unlikely friendship that has them going up against the city’s most fearsome crime boss.

There is a lot to love about this movie, with a strong and brilliant performance from Woody Harrelson and all the cast involved, you should disregard what many critics have said and make up your own mind.

9. SUPER (2010)

Super is a gritty, graphically violent superhero film by James Gunn (producer of Brightburn [2019]), but it also stirs the emotions as its constantly humiliated and disappointed main character, Frank D’Arbo (Rainn Wilson from My Super Ex-Girlfriend [2006]) tries to come to terms with his reforming addict wife, Sarah (Liv Tyler from The Incredible Hulk [2008]) leaving him for a psychopathic drug dealer, Jacques (Kevin Bacon from X-Men: First Class [2011]).

In a bid to try and figure out a way to ‘save’ Sarah, Frank is taken in by a Christian fictional superhero called The Holy Avenger (Nathan Fillion from Guardians of the Galaxy [2014 and 2017] and Suicide Squad [2021]), whose segments on TV try and teach people about how God can save you. In his depression, Frank listens as though The Holy Avenger is talking to him and then has a vision that leads him to believe that he has been chosen to rid the world of crime. Donning a home-made red costume, Frank becomes the Crimson Bolt and sets out to violently punish those that do wrong. He is helped by a feisty comic shop attendant, Libby (Elliott Page [credited as Ellen Page] from X-Men: The Last Stand [2006], X-Men: Days of Future Past [2014] and Umbrella Academy [2019 - 2021]), who firstly assist Frank in gaining a better understanding of non-powered superheroes and then becomes his irrepressible sidekick, Boltie. Together they try to make the streets safer and take on the might of Jacques and his thugs in order to save Sarah.

If you can deal with the violence that gives it its R18+ rating, then you’ll more than likely enjoy the comedy, action and drama that go into the telling of Super.

10. THE COBBLER (2014)

Alright, so this is not your average superhero movie and many may not see it as a superhero movie at all; however if you could put on another person’s shoes and become them, then use the various identities to fight against injustice – I’d say that makes you a bit of a superhero. For some reason, like Defendor, The Cobbler got quite poor reviews; mainly, it seems, because it’s an Adam Sandler movie (which to me, being Australian, I’m not sure what the problem people have with him is – he makes movies – some are good and some are bad). So I ask you not to dismiss this movie without watching it first.

Max Simkin (Adam Sandler) is a reclusive, kind cobbler in New York City; however he is finding his job increasingly frustrating, having to live the life of a cobbler and look after his mother, since his father had walked out on them. That is, until a man called Ludlow (Method Man) brings in a pair of shoes to be re-soled. As Max is working on them, his stitching machine blows out and he is forced to use an old relic stitcher from his basement store room. Upon awaiting Ludlow’s return, Max gets bored and tries on the resoled shoes, only to find that he has become Ludlow in appearance and voice. From here Max goes out on a few escapades trying out different shoes that have been left by various customers and he finds that he is enjoying life once more.

However, as with all superhero movies, there comes a time to save the day and Max is unwittingly drawn into the criminal world of Elaine Greenawalt (Ellen Barkin), a corrupt business woman trying to buy out properties from under people’s feet and doing it in the most ruthless of ways. Together, with the help of his friend Jimmy (Steve Buscemi) and neighbourhood activist, Carmen Herrara (Melonie Diaz from Charmed 2018 - present), Max sets out to help the people of the city and in turn finds out his true calling.

This is a fun movie with some hilarious scenes that stay true to Sandler’s comedic roots, but it also shows a lot of heart.

There you have it – a list of ten movies that you should see if you’re a fan of the superhero genre! Hopefully, you’ve also noticed that I added links to other superhero movies that star the various actors found within the movies above – so you shouldn’t be short of a superhero movie for some time.

All that’s left to do now is get the popcorn popping and sit back and enjoy the films!