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You may be looking for Superhero Movie. A superhero film, superhero movie, or superhero motion picture is an action, fantasy or science fiction film that is focused on the actions of one or more superheroes, individuals who usually possess superhuman abilities relative to a normal person. These films are almost always action-oriented, and the first film of a particular character often includes a focus on the origin of the special powers including the first fight against the character's most famous archenemy or supervillain. The plot typically revolves around the efforts of the superheroes to thwart some dire peril of significant consequence. Most superhero movies are adapted from comic books, where they are most prominent. Several such as Darkman, The Meteor Man, Up, Up, and Away, The Incredibles and Hancock, are original.
[edit] History[edit] Early yearsAlmost immediately after superheroes rose to prominence in comic books, they were adapted into Saturday movie serials aimed at children, starting with Adventures of Captain Marvel (1941). Serials such as Batman (1943), The Phantom (1943), Captain America (1944), and Superman (1948) followed. In the coming decades, the decline of Saturday serials and turmoil in the comic book industry put an end to superhero motion pictures, with the exception of episodes of the television series Adventures of Superman, starring George Reeves, which had been compiled for theatrical release, and Batman (1966) a big-screen extension of the Batman television series starring Adam West.[1] Other superhero films released at this time include Mario Bava's Danger: Diabolik (1968) based on the Italian supervillain character Diabolik.[2] Original superhero characters emerged in other more comedy oriented films such as the French political satire film Mr. Freedom (1969) and the American b-movies Rat Pfink a Boo Boo (1966) and The Wild World of Batwoman (1966).[3][4] [edit] Later yearsRichard Donner's Superman (1978), the first major superhero feature film, proved a critical success and a commercial hit. The success of Superman wore into the 1980s, as more successful entries emerged throughout the decade, beginning with Richard Lester's Superman II (1980) and ending with Tim Burton's Batman (1989).[5] Other films were released during the 1980s and 1990s including Swamp Thing (1982), Superman III (1983), Supergirl (1984), The Toxic Avenger (1985), Superman IV: The Quest for Peace (1987), The Punisher (1989), Dick Tracy (1990), The Rocketeer (1991), Batman Returns (1992), The Shadow (1994), Batman Forever (1995), and The Phantom (1996).[6][7][8] Marvel Comics' Captain America (1991) didn't have a theatrical release and Roger Corman's The Fantastic Four (1994) was released neither theatrically nor on home video.[6] Alex Proyas' The Crow (1994) became the first Image Comics superhero film that established a franchise.[6] As Joel Schumacher's Batman & Robin (1997) was critically panned for being too jokey and tongue-in-cheek,[9] The Crow brought in a new realm of violence absent in previous popular superhero films targeted at younger audiences and bridging a gap to the more modern action film.[10] The success of The Crow catalyzed the release of a film version of Spawn (1997), Image Comics' leading character. The success of the "darker" Image Comics characters shifted the direction of comic book movies. Marvel soon released the first film to become a franchise, Blade (1998). Blade was also a mix of a more traditional action film as well as darker superhero film with the title character having superpowers as well as carrying an assault of weaponry.[10] [edit] The 2000sThe 2000s brought forward some of the most profitable superhero franchises in history. It began with the surprise hit of Bryan Singer's X-Men (2000) which also became a film franchise but with less violence than the Blade series.[11] Later, one of the largest blockbusters of all time was released with Sam Raimi's Spider-Man (2002).[citation needed] With high ticket and DVD sales, several new superhero films were released every year in the 2000s, including Daredevil (2003), The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen (2003), Hulk (2003), Catwoman (2004), Hellboy (2004), Fantastic Four (2005), Ghost Rider (2007), Iron Man (2008), and Watchmen (2009). Many sequels and spin-offs were also released throughout the decade, including Blade II (2002), X2: X-Men United (2003), Spider-Man 2 (2004), Blade Trinity (2004), Elektra (2005), X-Men: The Last Stand (2006), Spider-Man 3 (2007), and Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer (2007). Non-Hollywood superhero films also were released including the American/Spanish production Faust: Love of the Damned (2001), Japan's Ultraman (2004), Bollywood's Krrish (2006) and Thailand's Mercury Man (2006). Several non-action film oriented superhero films were released in the 2000s with varying ranges of success.[citation needed] M. Night Shyamalan's Unbreakable (2000) is a thriller about a man who learns from a mysterious comic book dealer that he is destined to become a modern day superhero. Brad Bird's The Incredibles (2004) for Pixar was a critically acclaimed digitally-animated family oriented superhero film.[12] Other hybrids include Sky High (2005) which was a fusion of the superhero and teen film genres, My Super Ex-Girlfriend (2006) a combination of superhero film and a romantic comedy.[13][14] Some series from the current and previous decades were also re-released, such as Superman II: The Richard Donner Cut (2006).[15] Other series discarded the continuities of previously released films and began a reboot, most notably Christopher Nolan's Batman Begins (2005) as well as Louis Leterrier's The Incredible Hulk (2008). Bryan Singer's Superman Returns (2006) is unique due to the fact that it is a sequel to the first two Superman films, yet also a reboot to the third and fourth films.[15][16] Currently, the Batman Begins sequel The Dark Knight (2008) is not only the highest grossing comic book film of all time, it is also the most nominated superhero film in Academy Award history with 8 nominations including best supporting actor for Heath Ledger and also the highest grossing film domestically of the first decade of the twenty-first century.[17] [edit] Upcoming projects as of April 2009A Superman Returns sequel was planned for 2009 but delayed and later scrapped in favor of a reboot.[citation needed] Following the mentions of an "Avenger initiative" in Iron Man and The Incredible Hulk, Marvel plans to release Thor on May 20, 2011 and The First Avenger: Captain America on July 22, 2011, leading up to the May 2012 release of Avengers. A remake of The Green Hornet television show is set for a 2010 release starring Seth Rogen.[citation needed] DC Comics plans to release Green Arrow: Escape from Super Max.[citation needed] Spider-Man 4 and Spider-Man 5 are in the works for a 2011 and 2012 release,[citation needed] as well as a film about the character Venom[citation needed] for an unknown date. Other intended releases include several X-Men spin-offs, Silver Surfer, Ant-Man, and movies regarding many DC superheroes such as Wonder Woman and the Flash.[citation needed] Warner Bros. has announced that a Green Lantern film will be released on June 17, 2011, to be directed by Martin Campbell and starring Ryan Reynolds as Hal Jordan, with a budget of $150 million.[18] [edit] ParodyKevin Smith's 2001 film Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back, parodies film companies' seemingly compulsive purchase of comic book film rights with "Bluntman and Chronic". In the film, the character Brodie Bruce describes the process: "After X-Men hit at the box office, the movie companies started buying out every comic property they could get their dirty little hands on". Mark Hamill's 2004 parody Comic Book: The Movie, about a comic book fan and a film adaptation of his favorite character, was released direct-to-video and achieved mild success,[citation needed] garnering a cult following among comic book readers. Craig Mazin directed the more direct parody Superhero Movie, released in 2008. [edit] See also
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