Only A True Superhero Fan Can Get 100% On These Lesser Known Super Movies
- by Rose Moore
- – on
- in Movies and TV
Superhero movies have come a long way over the past two decades... from a handful of super-films, to a massive sub genre of action and fantasy. The Marvel Cinematic Universe continues to expand with massive hit after massive hit (and the ultimate ensemble movie event starting this year with Avengers: Infinity War), the DCEU is raking in the dough (even if the critic response to its latest offerings has been less than perfect), and the long-running X-Men franchise seems to be cornering the market for the uber-adult superhero film, with movies like Logan and Deadpool refusing to shy away from the gore.
However, while these heavy-hitters might be the most recognizable of the superhero movie world (along with earlier hits like Christopher Nolan's Dark Knight Trilogy, or the original Superman films), there have been plenty of other comic book offerings over the years that you might not be quite as familiar with. Some of these were low-budget movies that deserve to be lost in cinematic history, while others you may not even realize were based on comics in the first place. Some are even part of the biggest franchises, but simply didn't do well enough to really stand out in the minds of all but the most dedicated superhero fans.
Test your knowledge of the lesser-known comic book movies with this quiz, and see if you know enough to earn the title of true superhero fan!
Name this dark comic book movie
For a long time, the majority of comic book movies didn't try to do anything too adult - they focused on straight up action and heroics. However, this 2009 graphic novel adaptation directed by Zack Snyder takes place in an alternate version of 1985 - where a group of retired superheroes come back together to try and discover who murdered one of their number... but end up discovering more than they thought they would, including a lot of their own secrets.
Name this comedy about an imaginary friend
It's not unusual for people to have an imaginary friend in childhood - or for that imaginary fried to be a superhero. However, this movie doesn't focus on the kid whose imaginary friend is named Captain Excellent... but on the grown man who is not quite ready to give him up. A struggling writer, he deals with his failure by relying on his childhood friend, but when he makes a new one in a teenager, he may start to finally grow up...
What was this Mark Millar adaptation?
Another Mark Millar adaptation, this movie became something of a cult classic, although it's not the usual superhero fodder, by any means. The film finds two nerds who both want to be real superheroes - and decide to take matters into their own hands, with homemade costumes and a cool car (thanks to a rich parent), but of course, they aren't actually any good at fighting, and don't have any real powers! Add a young girl assassin and some real crime, and you have a hit on your hands.
Which supermovie stars Ron Perlman?
This superhero movie might not have found the kind of success that the big franchises have, but it does have a devoted following - and with good reason. The Guillermo Del Toro directed film stars Ron Perlman as the lead character - a demon that was brought through a portal to Earth as a baby, and now works to secretly help the government deal with supernatural threats. Another film aimed more at an adult audience than the family market, the movie also had a sequel in 2008.
Which movie stars Dolph Lundgren?
There have been plenty of adaptations of this character over the years, including a new Marvel/Netflix TV series that is the latest take on one of Marvel's most brutal 'heroes'. Of course, the titular character is far from a pure hero - an ex-cop turned vigilante assassin, he lacks real superpowers, but his need for vengeance after the death of his family makes him utterly unafraid and determined to purge his city of crime, even if that means killing dozens of people.
Name this Dark Horse adaptation
This superhero spoof has a whole lot of fun with both the cliches of the superhero genre, and the incredible comedians of the cast, including Ben Stiller, Hank Azaria, Jeaneane Garofalo, and Greg Kinnear. The film follows a group of inept wannabe superheroes, out to try and save an actual superhero (Captain Amazing). The film is packed with great one liners and although the effects don't age well, that just adds to the campy, B-movie charm of the whole thing.
Name this goth cult classic
This gothic love story may not seem like a superhero movie to some - and it certainly lacks the kind of colored spandex that we often associate with the genre. However, it still has a story of superpowered revenge at the core, as a young man returns from the dead in order to seek vengeance on the men who raped and killed the love of his life. While this classic may be dark, it is also based on a comic of the same name.
Name this little-known X-Men movie
After the better part of two decades, only the die-hard X-Men fans can remember the plot of every single one of the ten movies that make it up - especially considering soft reboots, alternate timelines, and all the other fun stuff that Fox has thrown at this franchise! This film was part of the original handful of films (before the soft reboot), one that dealt with both a 'cure' for the Mutant X gene and with the arrival of the Phoenix Force.
Which super-movie combines animation and live action?
There are quite a few films that like to blend live action and animation, but none do it quite like this graphic novel adaptation about a gawky musician and his search for love. Michael Cera stars as the slacker who finds that he has to prove his love for his new girlfriend Ramona Flowers by battling her 'seven evil exes', in a series of stylized fights and guitar battles that come with a helping of classic video game references and imagery.
Name this movie starring James McAvoy
These days, James McAvoy is well known in the world of superhero movies for playing the role of the young Charles Xavier from X-Men: First Class onward. However, the X-Men movies are not the only comic adaptations that McAvoy has starred in, although many didn't realize that this action movie was an adaptation of a Mark Millar comic. In it, McAvoy stars as Wesley, a hapless office worker who is turned into the perfect assassin by a group of killers - including Angelina Jolie.
Name this black and white graphic novel adaptation.
This film is known for its incredible visuals - shot almost entirely in black and white, with only splashes of bright color (usually blood, although not always!) to match the style of the graphic novels that it is based on. The movie takes place in a crime-ridden city, where violence is the norm, and each of the characters deals with their own tales of love, lust and death. Definitely one for the adult fans of comics, this is far from your typical superhero movie.
Name this M Night Shyamalan super-movie
This movie by M Night Shyamalan wasn't based on any specific comic book, but that doesn't mean that it isn't a superhero film - just one with the usual Shyamalan twist. Bruce Willis stars as a security guard named David Dunn, who is the only survivor of a horrifying train crash. After meeting a man obsessed with comics, he starts to look at his life, realizing that he has never been sick, never been injured - that he is, in fact, a man with a superpower.
Name this comedy about superhero days off
This surprisingly funny story about a dysfunctional group of low-level superheroes was directed by none other than James Gunn - before his days of Marvel fame, thanks to the Guardians of the Galaxy franchise! This film is very different to the classic superhero fodder, too, with no big bad to battle, no girl to save... in fact, it's not really about superheroics at all. Instead, it is about a group of 'heroes' on their day off, and the relationship dynamics of the group.
Name this Jim Carrey classic
Jim Carrey might not be the first name that springs to mind when it comes to superhero movies, but back in the '90s, he starred in this hit comedy about a man who discovers an old tribal mask that gives him superpowers. It turns the mild-mannered Stanley Ipkiss into everything he isn't - an over the top, rubberfaced wild man who takes whatever he wants in the world... and ends up taking on a gang of criminals as a result.
Which super-movie stars David Hasslehoff?
It's little wonder that this is one of the oft-forgotten superhero movies in the Marvel vault, as even star David Hasslehoff couldn't save this made for TV flop. He stars as a retired super spy, called back into action in order to take down the evil organization HYDRA and save the world (obviously). While the character itself is hugely popular, the current MCU version (played by Samuel L Jackson) is a much bigger hit... and stars in much better movies than this one!
Name this James Gunn directed movie
Another offering from James Gunn before he moved up to the big leagues with the Marvel Cinematic Universe, this black comedy is definitely one for fans of hyper violent superhero action... It stars Rainn Wilson as Frank Darbo, a man with a boring life and a wife who has left him for a drug dealer. Convinced that he needs to make things more exciting, he sews up a suit and becomes a 'superhero' called the Crimson Bolt... but is immediately wanted by the police for his violent vigilantism.
Name this super-sequel
This neo-noir super-sequel is based on a Frank Miller comic, and is a follow up to the hugely popular Sin City that was released in 2005. The film carries on a few of the characters from the original in their own stories, as well as adding multiple new storylines - partially because so many of the original characters were brutally murdered in the first film! Despite a star-studded cast (including newcomers Eva Green and Lady Gaga), the film failed to live up to the original.
Name this '90s B-movie
This movie tries to capitalize on the popularity of athlete Shaquille O'Neal by putting him as the lead in a superhero movie... and unsurprisingly, it flopped! O'Neal stars as John Henry Irons, an engineer who builds weaponry for the military. However, when he starts seeing his designs used by street gangs in his home city, he decides to take matters into his own hands... by building a weaponized suit and tackling gang crime himself. It's a little like Iron Man, if Iron Man were a terrible movie.
Name this best-forgotten sequel
Of all the teams and franchises that have found their way onto the big screen in the last twenty years, there is one that seems to find it consistently difficult to actually reach smash-hit status... and that is the Fantastic Four. Marvel's first family of superheroes, this should be a slam dunk, but films like this critically panned sequel show just what keeps going wrong... as the Fantastic Four return to battle the Silver Surfer in a distinctly lackluster superhero offering.
Name this super-movie starring Frankie Muniz
This slightly ridiculous family action film plays on all the standards of the superhero genre - a weakling turned into a hero, an evil corporation out to get him, and a girl that he loves (and has to save, of course). In this instance, the weakling is a pizza boy, who eats a genetically engineers tomato that acts as a super serum... but an evil corporation wants to steal his powers, and he must use them to save the world.
Which movie is about a comic strip detective?
This 1990 action comedy flick is based on, not a comic book, but a comic strip about an incredible detective. The film itself was visually stunning, restricting the color palette to match that of the original strip, and having a whole lot of fun with the cliches that are a big part of the original. The cast list was impressive, too, with Warren Beatty starring alongside Madonna, Al Pacino, and Dustin Hoffman... but sadly, it failed to become a true hit.
Name this early attempt at a famous Marvel hero
The late '70s offering has definitely faded into the mists of history - and with good reason. The film attempted to adapt Marvel's famous Captain America for the big screen, but did it with little (if any) respect for the subject material. Instead of a WW2 solider, this version of Steve Rogers is the son of the original Cap, who inherits the shield and a super-serum, but seems to rely much more on his super-cool motorbike when it comes to his superheroics.
Name this '70s super-movie
This character, like several of the others covered here, has now found his way to the modern Marvel Cinematic Universe, where he's got a big budget film and all kinds of impressive special effects. That's not the case, however, in this '70s offering about one of the most magical characters in the Marvel universe. Thanks to a low budget, this film spends most of it's time dealing with Dr Stephen Strange without his powers, and with an impressive moustache, although there are some hilarious 'superpower' scenes toward the end.
Which Marvel Cinematic Universe offering is this?
It's not too surprising that with eighteen films under their belt, and more being released every few months, fans will have forgotten a few of the less popular movies in the Marvel Cinematic Universe... like this one. In this film, one of the biggest heroes of the Marvel Cinematic Universe is presumed dead, after he crash lands in the middle of nowhere. But with the help of a young boy, he'll find his way home and take on a terrorist known as the Mandarin.
What's the name of this cult classic?
This 1984 cult classic is the ultimate in campy, superhero B movies, about a 'weakling' bullied by the guys at the gym... until he is tossed out a window into a vat of green goo! He emerges as a hideous (but super strong) monster/hero - and in a twist on the usual monster movie script, he becomes a superhero, and his heroics see him embraced by people, rather than shunned for his now-hideous looks. A perfect parody of the Captain America story.
Which super-movie stars a humanoid duck?
This character has made a brief cameo appearance in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, but he's yet to become a focus of attention... except in this 1986 adult superhero movie. The star of the show is a humanoid duck, transported to our world by accident, and desperate to find his way home. When he meets a beautiful woman, he thinks that she can help him get home again, but first, he has to uncover and stop an evil plot in this action comedy.
Name this technicolor Batman movie
Before Christopher Nolan's Dark Knight Trilogy, or the DCEU's latest version of Batman, there were multiple Batman movies released in the '80s and '90s - some of which quickly became hits, like Tim Burton's dark and creepy take on Gotham. This one, however, has been roundly ridiculed since it was first released. Everything about it, from the costumes that included nipples on the breastplates, to the over the top campy plot and eye-popping color palette, failed to work in a film about DC's darkest hero.
Name this installment of the early Superman franchise
Many of the Superman movies from the '70s and '80s starring Christopher Reeve are absolute classics... while others are famous more for being truly awful examples of the superhero genre. This film is definitely one in the latter category - and it doesn't even include Superman himself! This film is about Superman's cousin, Kara, who comes to Earth and quickly becomes embroiled in a ridiculous love triangle with an evil witch, where the two women must duke it out... not to save the world, but to get the guy.
Name this early attempt at a Fantastic Four film
The Fantastic Four may be Marvel's first family, but they really seem to be impossible to do justice to on the big screen! In the mid-90s, an attempt was made by low budget horror filmmaker Roger Corman - on a budget of only $1 million. Unsurprisingly, the final result is less than brilliant... but given that the decision to film this was made largely to prevent the rights to the characters reverting back to Marvel, it was successful in what it set out to do.
Which superhero was created by director Sam Raimi?
When you think of superheroes and Sam Raimi, most people immediately think of the Spider-Man franchise that the director is well known for. However, before Raimi took on the Marvel wall crawler, he worked on a different superhero film; one starring a superhero that he created himself. This film from 1990 pays homage to both the superhero genre and the classic monster movies of the 30s, with a hero who has super strength but a horrifically burned face, after a murder attempt gone wrong.
Which TV movie starred Cathy Lee Crosby?
This made for TV movie also acted as a pilot for a series - that unsurprisingly, never came to fruition... given how poorly received this original offering was. Cathy Lee Crosby stars as one of the best known heroes in the DC universe - or at least, as a version of her. She has a different costume, no lasso, no bracelets, blonde hair, and is the assistant to her comic book love interest... but thankfully, her most recent portrayal does the character justice in a way this absolutely didn't.
Name this superhero parody
This silly parody by the Wayans Brothers has a whole lot of fun with the superhero cliches - and if it isn't taken seriously, it can be absolutely hilarious to watch. It stars Damon Wayans as Darryl Walker, a ridiculously naive and geeky inventor living in a terrible inner city neighborhood. As he starts to realize just how bad things have become, he decides to take things into his own hands, building himself some gadgets and trying to chastise criminals into becoming better people.
Which 90s supermovie stars Billy Zane?
Most fans, even long time comic book fans, won't recognize this purple suited superhero although he has a long standing history in publication and made it onto the big screen in this '90s offering. Thought to be an immortal crimefighter, this hero is actually a long line of crimefighters, all wearing the same costume and working under the same name - and in this generation, the current hero must fight to save the world from an evil villain who wants to use three magical skulls to complete his plan...
Name this movie starring Pamela Anderson.
Pamela Anderson stars as the titular character in the post-apocalyptic superhero flick based on the Dark Horse graphic novel. Intended as both campy and quasi-feminist, the hero is an ass-kicking sexpot with an immunity to a virus that an evil government has threatened to unleash across America. Only this bustier-wearing blonde can save the day, riding around on her motorcycle and wearing bullets across her chest. Definitely a movie that fits the so bad it's good category, this is still a lot of fun for Anderson fans.
Name this film about a classic pulp character?
This character was first made popular in the '30s, thanks to pulp novels, but made his way onto the big screen in 1994, played by none other than Alec Baldwin. A reformed opium dealer taught by a Tibetan mystic, he is a playboy in the big city by day, and a masked vigilante hero by night (and no, he's not Batman!). Add in a new nemesis and a bombshell with psychic powers, and it's something of a surprise that this film wasn't a bigger hit.