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10 Amazing Non-DC or Marvel Superhero Movies

We all love a good superhero movie, but there are some seriously amazing non-DC or Marvel superhero movies out there that you should give a chance.

By Katie MarchbankPublished 6 years ago 7 min read
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While DC and Marvel are currently the kings of the superhero genre, they aren't the only ones to take a crack at the crime-fighting heroes we know and love from their various comic iterations. None of these did as well at the box office as something like Guardians of the Galaxy or Wonder Woman, possibly the highest grossing origin film of all time, but they all have their place in our hearts, and some of them have even become cult classics. A lot of these films are going to be from the 90s and early 2000s era, since that's a bit before Marvel and DC really started to overtake the genre. That makes them all the more charming, and if you haven't seen any of these non-DC or Marvel superhero movies yet, grab your popcorn and give yourself a night.

The Rocketeer is a film released in 1991 that's technically a Disney movie. Spoilers, it's not the only one on this list. It's based on the comic book hero by the same name, whose real name is Cliff Secord. He finds a rocket-powered jetpack and figures out he can use it to fly without a plane. He uses this new "power" to rescue people in need and he becomes a media sensation. This, of course, attracts the attention of the FBI, the original maker of the jetpack, and the Nazis who also want to get their hands on it. It really captures the 1930s vibe that it's going for, and the whole thing is super charming. The creator of the comics praised the film's adaption of his work, especially the casting choices.

We're going full-blown Disney now with the Disney Channel Original Movie (DCOM), Sky High. I loved this movie as a kid, and I think it still holds up pretty well today, especially if you've got the nostalgia for it. Sky High is about a high school for kids with superpowers, starring Michael Angarano as our protagonist, Will. Will's parents are two of the most famous superheroes in the world, but Will doesn't actually have any superpowers! He's forced into the "sidekick" classes at school, and we follow him as he bonds with the other sidekicks and slowly develops powers after all. I think the plot in this is pretty unique, and you shouldn't turn your nose up at it just because it's a DCOM. It really is one of the more unique non-DC or Marvel superhero movies out there. It's also the origin of Bowling for Soup's cover of "I Melt with You," which honestly is the best version out there. Fight me about it.

Probably the oldest movie on our list, the original RoboCop was a seriously amazing sci-fi superhero movie before we even knew what amazing superhero movies were. RoboCop follows police officer Alex Murphy who is murdered by criminals and then revived by the megacorporation Omni Consumer Products (OCP) as a cyborg. This movie was so cool that it spawned an entire franchise, spanning every piece of media including TV shows, video games, a remake, and comic book adaptations. It explores themes of gentrification, corruption, capitalism, and human nature, making it truly ahead of its time.

Even though it looks like Hellboy 3 is not happening, we can still enjoy the original as one of the best non-DC or Marvel superhero movies ever made. In this movie, a demon-beast turned superhero called Hellboy works with his team, the Bureau of Paranormal Research and Defense, to keep the world safe from paranormal threats. It was a moderate box office success, earning a worldwide total of just over $99 million on a budget of $66 million. Critics praised the film for its humor and visuals, making for an overall very engaging film. Fans of this movie tend to be of the die-hard category, so if you find yourself with a Hellboy fan, be sure not to criticize it too much!

I really do think that the superhero genre works best when blended with comedy. That's probably why I tend to gravitate towards Marvel movies over DC ones (with the exception being Wonder Woman, of course). But of all the comedy-focused non-DC or Marvel superhero movies, The Mask is a great choice. Jim Carrey plays Stanley Ipkiss, an unlucky bank clerk who suddenly becomes lucky when he finds a mask that gives him cartoon-like superpowers. This movie is really what cemented Jim Carrey as a dominant actor of the 1990s, and it's easy to see why. He's just so much fun to watch on the screen, and Carrey, well, carries the movie with his humor and spot-on acting. Definitely give this one a watch instead of trying not to kill me for that terrible pun.

But if superhero comedy isn't your thing, definitely go with Darkman. Nowadays, it's a bit of a cult film, but back when it premiered it did extremely well, grossing $49 million at the box office, well surpassing its relatively small budget of $16 million. Some of the most praised aspects of this film were its makeup, actors, and special effects. Liam Neeson, who plays Darkman, specifically went to visit burn survivors to help him get into character. That's dedication to your role for sure. It was once called "the most perfect superhero film of all time," but this was based on features other than general quality.

You know them, you love them, and you wish you could eat pizza with them. That's right, it's the live action Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles! The original is way better and less creepy than the 2014 remake, so we're just going to ignore that one. The movie tells the origin story of the Turtles (and Splinter, of course) as they meet April and Casey. There's so much charm in the way the Turtles look in this film, versus the grittier and creepier versions in the remake. This film is much more faithful to what the series aims for, in my opinion. It's a bit more light-hearted and fun, while still having the Turtles take on some serious baddies.

Another now-cult classic, The Crow has an amazing story and heartbreaking background. The movie has Eric Draven coming back from the dead to avenge his death and the rape of his fiancée. While the movie itself is really good, some of the fame came from the unfortunate death of the lead actor, Brandon Lee, who was mortally wounded on set by a defective blank only 8 days before the film was set to finish production. The film ended up being a great tribute to the deceased actor, not to mention its unique premise and emotional depth. While not usually branded as a being in the superhero genre, I still consider this one of the most important non-DC or Marvel superhero movies.

This film kicks ass. No, seriously, it does! Kick-Ass is a British black-comedy superhero film that might fly under your radar, but I promise you it's worth the watch. Dave Lizewski, an ordinary teenager, sets out to become a real-life superhero. Things get complicated though, when he meets Hit-Girl, who is way better at crime-fighting than him. It's a really violent and profanity-laden film, which you might not be prepared for. However, if you like some teenager named Kick-Ass literally kicking ass and swearing while doing it, this is the movie for you.

In my opinion, The Incredibles is one of the best non-DC or Marvel superhero movies ever created. It kind of fell into the background for a long time after its initial release, despite receiving a ton of awards and doing well at the box office. Pixar truly captured a family dynamic while also blending them into the superhero genre perfectly. The characters were amusing and likable, but we thought their story was over. All of a sudden, we got an... incredible sneak peak at the soon-to-be-released sequel, The Incredibles 2. The internet is super hype for this movie and I am no exception. If this movie had come out before this article, I'm sure it would be in this spot instead, because it's shaping up to be an amazing film.

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About the Creator

Katie Marchbank

Just trying to take down the patriarchy while playing video games and eating too much pasta.

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