People love superheroes. They’re fun to watch, and it’s entertaining to live vicariously through them and their adventures and wonder just what we would do if we had super powers. Marvel and DC have been taking the cinematic world by storm, releasing a flurry of films, movies, and shows. But, there are a lot of good films out there that don’t have to do with characters based on Marvel or DC comics. If you’re craving some different superhero movies, check these out.
What if Superman wasn’t raised to be a good person? What if instead of being the ultimate good guy he turned into a psychopath instead? Brightburn is a film that explores just that. Though the movie isn’t about Superman, you’ll see similarities. A young humanoid alien crashes to earth and gets raised by a nice family in the Midwestern US. Slowly, his powers manifest, and it turns out he’s crazy powerful. But, as this is a thriller/horror/sci-fi flick, you can imagine what direction he goes with them. While it may not be the very best movie you’ve ever seen, it’s an interesting take on the usual fodder in the superhero genre.
This one is an absolute cult classic and a banger at that. The Crow is based on the comics by the same name, written by James O’Barr. O’Barr drew on his own personal experiences and tragedies while writing the comics. The film follows the story of Eric Draven, a musician who meets an untimely death. It’s very much revenge tale, and the visuals have a gothy Burton-esque feel. This movie was understandably a huge hit with 90’s goth and alternative kids at the time. Just make sure you watch the original from 1994, the remakes and the sequels never captured the magic of the original. Sadly the actor who played the crow, Brandon Lee (son of legendary Bruce Lee), would lose his life while making the film.
Alright, alright, you’ve got us. There are technically no actual superheroes in this movie. They’re all just regular people turned vigilantes. But, they do seriously kick-ass. And yes, it definitely has a superhero flavor to it so we included it here. This movie is just all sorts of fun, with some really amazing action sequences in it. It’s funny, engaging, and at times incredibly poignant. Plus, Nick Cage, ’nuff said. If you haven’t seen it yet, you gotta.
If you’re looking for an all out silly jaunt into the world of superheroes, look no further. Mystery Men was waaaay ahead of its time, poking fun of superhero movies before the genre was as popular as it is today. The movie is just a bunch of quirky fun, with the most awkward heroes you’ll ever find, with similarly absurd super powers.
