Best Indie Superhero Movies

For the past several years, the market has been absolutely saturated with superhero films exploring the four superhero cinematic universes, and especially favoring the Marvel and DC Comics. With Marvel's ever-growing Cinematic Universe and DC's multiple attempts to make a Superman film that doesn't suck, it's easy for today's moviegoer to develop superhero fatigue. However, instead of giving up on superhero films entirely, I recommend you look into some indie superhero movies. While some of these films are actually from independent filmmakers, I think any film that avoids the over-produced Marvel/DC aesthetic counts as indie when it comes to superheroes.

Some of these films are quirky, some are deep and unsettling, some have lighthearted action, some are dark and brooding, but they all subvert the superhero genre in unique ways, and are certainly worth watching if you need a break from the endless barrage of high-budget superhero movies.

Guillermo del Toro's 2004 film Hellboy features Ron Perlman as the eponymous superhero: A demon from another dimension reluctantly aiding a US government agency dedicated to protecting the nation from paranormal forces. Hellboy contains a unique blend of altered history and mythical influences. For example, the primary baddie in this film is none other than Grigori Rasputin, who is depicted as aiding the Nazis in accessing demons from another dimension to aid in their fight against the allied forces in WWII. Another minor villain is an SS agent and expert swordsman named Karl Ruprecht Kroenen, who maintains longevity thanks to a clockwork heart that he built for himself. Based on a 1994 comic book by Dark Horse Comics and featuring a variety of interesting characters and compelling villains, Hellboy is captivating, exciting, and funny, one of my personal favorite indie superhero movies of all time, so it stands as one of the most amazing non-DC or Marvel superhero movies out there.

A Disney-Pixar film doesn't usually qualify as "indie," but The Incredibles is no ordinary superhero flick. Like most indie superhero movies, it subverts normal superhero and comic book tropes in a number of ways. This film takes place in a world where superheroes have been forced into retirement after public backlash against the collateral damage they cause. Two superheroes, Mr. Incredible and Elastigirl, get married and settle down permanently under their secret identities: Bob and Helen Parr. Their children have their own super powers, but the family works hard to live normal lives.

I love The Incredibles because it eschews standard superhero tropes to focus on the relationships between the superfamily members. It is just as compelling as the other indie superhero movies on this list while also staying family friendly, making this a great superhero film for any occasion.

2009's Watchmen is an endlessly compelling superhero film, based on a 1987 comic by writer Alan Moore, artist Dave Gibbons, and colorist John Higgins. Technically, the comic was published by DC Comics, but both the comic and the film couldn't be farther removed from the tone and tropes we normally associate with DC's movie world. I have no reservations including Watchmen among the best indie superhero movies around.

The film takes place in an alternate history, where superheroes fought alongside American soldiers in WWII and the Vietnam War, changing the course of history as we know it. For example, the Watergate scandal never comes to light, and Nixon remains president in the 1980s, when the film takes place. Rather than focus on crimefighting or large scale battles against supervillains, Watchmen is about the personal relationships and individual development of the characters. Rather than explicit good and evil, the film features a spectrum of beliefs, with each superhero offering his or her own opinion on the future of the world.

The comic book series delves even deeper into these characters than the movie does, so it would be well worth your time to explore it. However, if you are more of a movie person, you will not regret Watchmen for a second.

Megamind is another family friendly superhero film, this time from Dreamworks instead of Disney-Pixar. Just like with The Incredibles, I maintain that this film absolutely has a place among indie superhero movies because of the way it reimagines the genre. The titular character, voiced by Will Ferrell, is an alien supervillain who is constantly thwarted in his efforts to "conquer' Metro City by his arch nemesis, the generic superhero Metro Man. The story shifts when one day, Megamind's evil plan to kill Metro Man succeeds, surprising everyone (most of all Megamind).

The film follows Megamind's subsequent celebration, having conquered Metro City. It doesn't take long, however, until Megamind realizes that the only purpose in his life was the conflict he had with Metro Man. This leads him to create a new arch nemesis, training him in the most important aspects a superhero requires, like making witty banter. Megamind is another film that proves a PG rating doesn't stop a film from being creative and enjoyable.

Chronicle is a 2012 found footage film that subverts the superhero trope of being, well, a hero. A group of high school friends encounter an object that gives them telekinetic powers. Most superhero movies would then feature the friends going on to fight crime for 90 minutes. Chronicle, however, presents, perhaps, a much more realistic interpretation of what three teenage boys would do with super powers.

The friends mostly use the powers for personal gain and general mischief, but their pranks slowly get out of hand. Eventually, one of the friends, who already suffered from depression and being bullied, begins to lash out, using his powers to cause harm, leaving it to his friends to stop him. Chronicle is one of my favorite indie superhero movies because it mostly ignores the "hero" aspect of the genre, instead giving the audience a grim look at characters who don't know what to do with their super powers.

2010's Super is certainly one of the more unique indie superhero movies on this list, featuring Rainn Wilson and Ellen Page. This dark comedy features Wilson as The Crimson Bolt, an untrained and unskilled fast food cook who decides to fight crime after a biblical vision. He wreaks havoc across the city, beating people with a pipe wrench for infractions as minor as cutting in line at the movies. Ellen Page plays an enthusiastic comic book store clerk who, upon learning the Crimson Bolt's identity, coerces him into letting her be his sidekick, Boltie. This is an interesting and quirky take on the superhero genre, but well worth the watch if you like dark comedies (read: verydark).

Unbreakable is one of the most underrated films from M. Night Shyamalan's "good period." Released in 2000, just a year after The Sixth Sense, this film is unique even among other indie superhero movies for its subversions of superhero norms. Bruce Willis plays a security guard who develops superhuman abilities after surviving a train crash, and the film follows his life as he confronts these abilities with the help of a disabled comic book store owner played by Samuel L. Jackson.

Instead of donning an uncannily well-sewn costume and fighting crime in the streets, Willis's character rejects the notion that he's anything more than an ordinary man. All along the way, Jackson's character points out the parallels between typical comic book tropes and Willis's life. Featuring compelling characters and a signature Shyamalan twist, Unbreakable is one of the best superhero films of all time, indie or otherwise. And if you like this film, you'll be pleased to know that it is just the first in a trilogy, with a thematic sequel released in 2016, titled Split and starring James McAvoy. The upcoming final act, Glass, is scheduled for release in 2019, and will combine the characters from both previous films.

Sky High is often overlooked, which is a shame because I think it's one of the better indie superhero movies out there. Released around the same time as The Incredibles, it offers a live action take on the dynamic of a superfamily. The film follows Will Stronghold, the son of two of Earth's greatest superheroes, as he enters his first year at a high school for superheroes: the titular Sky High. The only problem is that he doesn't have any super powers of his own.

This film embraces being a comedy, but its likable characters are made compelling by surprisingly strong casting choices. The linchpin for me, however, is the concept itself. I love the idea of high school for superheroes, featuring classes taught by mad scientists and a sidekick class that essentially teaches the less-talented students how to make the heroes look better. Sky High's unique story was enough for me to enjoy it, but it's also a surprisingly wholesome and enjoyable indie superhero movie.

The Crow is legendary among indie superhero movies for a number of reasons. Besides being among the first in the genre of the dark age of superhero movies, the film is known for the extremely unfortunate death of its start. Brandon Lee, son of famed martial artist Bruce Lee, was killed in an on-set accident involving a prop gun mere days before The Crow was set to finish filming. The movie was posthumously released and dedicated to Lee.

Like the underground comic book it is based on, The Crow has amassed a cult following: the highest honor for an indie film of any genre. The film follows Lee as a rock musician named Eric Draven who is murdered along with his fiancée. A year later, Draven returns from the grave as The Crow to avenge his death.

Another story told from the point of view of the villain, this musical comedy-drama is actually a mini-series, but it truly belongs in the pantheon of indie superhero movies. Produced by a team led by writer/directer Joss Whedon, Dr. Horrible's Sing-Along Blog is a super low budget project released online during the 2008 Writer's Guild Strike.

The three-act musical features a cast led by indie favorites Neil Patrick Harris, Nathan Fillion, and Felicia Day. Harris plays the titular Dr. Horrible, an aspiring supervillain in love with a girl from his laundromat—Penny, played by Day. Fillion plays Captain Hammer, the self-centered hero of the city and Dr. Horrible's nemesis.

Dr. Horrible's Sing-Along Blog is a true masterpiece thanks to its compelling writing, phenomenal cast, and the adventurous decision to make it a musical. Even if you're not a fan of musicals, you owe it to yourself to seek out this miniseries and give it a shot.