10 Superhero Movies You've Probably Never Heard Of

1. Avenger

The Spirit

• USA, 2008.
• Action, thriller, comedy, adventure.
• Duration: 103 minutes.
• IMDb: 4.8.

Once upon a time, Danny Colt was an ordinary policeman, but he was killed in the line of duty. Now he has returned from the other world and took on the image of a hero in a mask in order to continue to fight crime and his main enemy - a madman. scientists nicknamed the Octopus.

Legendary comic book author Frank Miller (whose credits include Sin City and 300) decided to try his hand at directing, and it was the biggest mistake of his career. Instead of a coherent story, he got a set of meaningless scenes.

But if you do not think about what is happening on the screen, and just enjoy the crazy images - for example, Scarlett Johansson in SS uniform, then an evening spent watching this film can become quite interesting experience.

2. Phantom

The Phantom

• Australia, USA, 1996.
• Fantasy, Action, Comedy, Adventure.
• Duration: 100 minutes.
• IMDb: 5.0.

The mysterious villain Drex wants to take over the whole world. To do this, he is looking for three magic skulls of Tuganda. But on his way stand Kid Walker, aka Phantom, and his beloved Diana Palmer.

The story of the Phantom, a comic book character by Lee Falk, began back in the 1930s. During this time, films, TV shows, and even an animated series were released based on them, but the most famous and strange was the 1996 picture with Billy Zane in the title role.

This is probably the only superhero movie in which you can see how an actor in a purple tights and a mask rides a horse and fights with enemies on the deck of an old ship. Needless to say, already at the time of release, the tape was hopelessly outdated. But as a funny artifact of the past, the film works great and may well amuse the modern viewer.

3. mysterious people

Mystery Men

• USA, 1999.
• Fiction, fantasy, action, comedy.
• Duration: 121 minutes.
• IMDb: 6.1.

The ringleader of the underworld Casanova Frankenstein and his assistant Anabel Lik kidnap the main defender of Champion City - Captain Magnificent. Only amateur superheroes can save him - a shovel-wielding digger, Blue Raja, who uses spoons and forks stolen from his mother in battle, as well as Mister Furious, who draws strength in anger.

The cutest parody of superheroes with Ben Stiller in one of the main roles - it would seem that what could go wrong? But the tape failed miserably at the box office, critics scolded it, and the audience undeservedly quickly forgot. Perhaps if the film came out 10 years later, when superheroes became popular, a completely different fate would have awaited him.

At one time, there was a rumor on the Web that "Mystery Men" was actually directed by Tim Burton. This version was supported by the argument that this tape is the first and only work in the filmography of director Kinka Asher. The fan theory, of course, was not confirmed, but the movie does indeed look a bit like Burton's films in style.

4. teleport

Jumper

• USA, Canada, 2008.
• Fantasy, Action, Comedy, Adventure.
• Duration: 88 minutes.
• IMDb: 6.1.

An ordinary teenager, David Rice, once discovers a superpower in himself: from now on, he can teleport to almost any corner of the globe. However, it soon turns out that David, like other "teleporters", is being hunted by a secret society led by the merciless Roland.

The film adaptation of Stephen Gould's sci-fi novel of the same name was directed by Doug Liman, director of the blockbusters Mr. and Mrs. Smith and The Bourne Identity. And the main leitmotif of the film - the confrontation of a lonely strong personality and some powerful organization - will then manifest itself more than once in Lyman's later works.

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5. Fifth Dimension

Push

• USA, Canada, 2009.
• Fantasy, Action, Thriller.
• Duration: 111 minutes.
• IMDb: 6.1.

Telekinetic Nick Gant meets young Cassie Holmes, who can see fragments of the future. Now they need to find another girl with supernatural powers in Hong Kong. But on the heels of the heroes is a secret government organization that exploits miracle people for their own purposes.

The fantastic thriller from the director of Lucky Number Slevin came out very unusual in visual terms. Stylistically, it resembles Hong Kong action movies of the late 90s - in particular, the work of Wong Kar-wai.

At the same time, Chris Evans and Dakota Fanning, who were not yet very famous at that time, played the main roles.

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6. Shadow

The Shadow

• USA, 1994.
• Fantasy, Action, Thriller, Crime, Detective, Adventure.
• Duration: 108 minutes.
• IMDb: 6.1.

Former drug dealer Lamont Cranston, after studying in Tibet, completely changes his outlook on life and returns to his homeland in the United States to fight crime. He takes on the pseudonym Shadow and for the time being does not know his equal. But one day in New York, an enemy with the same abilities as his is not declared - the last descendant of Genghis Khan, Shivan Khan.

The superhero in question appeared in the early 1930s, first as stories on the radio, and then in books. The image of the Shadow was somewhat reminiscent of noir Zorro, who at the same time possessed mystical abilities: disappear from sight, cloud the minds of others, and even make entire buildings invisible.

The most famous film about the Shadow in 1994 was directed by the director of the cult "Highlander" Russell Mulcay, and Alec Baldwin played the main role in it. Now the picture is difficult to take seriously, but it is also difficult to break away from it. It's also hard to resist comparisons while watching. playboy billionairewho leads a double life and fights crime.

7. Rocketeer

The Rocketeer

• USA, 1991.
• Fantasy, Action, Adventure, Family.
• Duration: 108 minutes.
• IMDb: 6.5.

Young pilot Cliff Sacord accidentally falls into the hands of a jetpack that allows a person to fly. Soon the newspapers report about a mysterious hero floating in the sky, and the journalists give him the nickname Rocketeer. Soon, Nazi spy Neville Sinclair begins hunting for Cliff - he needs a satchel to create a whole squad of flying super soldiers.

The film based on the comic book of the same name by writer Dave Stevens was one of the first in the work of director Joe Johnston. He later directed Jumanji, Jurassic Park 3, and The First Avenger.

Initially, the Disney producers had big plans for the picture, they even wanted to make it part of a big franchise. But low fees put an end to this venture, which is very disappointing, because the film turned out to be quite nice.

8. Zebraman

Zebraman

• Japan, 2004
• Fantasy, comedy.
• Duration: 115 minutes.
• IMDb: 6.5.

Simple teacher Shinichi Ichikawa escapes the routine by dressing up as the superhero Zebraman. But soon Ichikawa is surprised to discover in himself real superhero abilities that will help him fight the aliens who have taken over the school.

Do not rush to laugh because of the strange title: this film was directed by the legendary Japanese director Takashi Miike, known for his incredible performance and one of the bloodiest tapes in the history of cinema - Screen Test (1999). The Zebraman movie was so successful that it was followed by a sequel, Zebra-Man: Attack on Zebra City (2010).

9. Super

Super

• USA, 2010
• Action, drama, comedy.
• Duration: 96 minutes.
• IMDb: 6.7.

After his wife is seduced by a drug dealer, chef Frank decides to fight crime by becoming a superhero. The lack of abilities does not interfere with the guy at all - and why should they, if you can beat people with a wrench.

Prior to taking on major projects like Guardians of the Galaxy and Suicide Squad, James Gunn was involved in modest auteur projects. And in one of them - the satirical film comic "Super" - his signature style is already recognizable.

In Gunn's hands, the classic story about a man who decides to take justice into his own hands has turned into a drama about a ridiculous loser. And this image was ideally embodied on the screen by the star of The Office and the hero of memes - Rainn Wilson.

10. Chronicle

Chronicle

• USA, 2012.
• Fantasy, Action, Thriller, Drama.
• Duration: 83 minutes.
• IMDb: 7.0.

Three schoolchildren find a meteorite that gives them supernatural powers: invulnerability, telekinesis, and even the ability to fly. But gradually one of the guys, against the backdrop of problems in the family, begins to go crazy and ceases to control his strength.

Director Josh Trank and screenwriter Mark Landis created a non-trivial mix mockumentary and superhero movies. The Chronicle is a perfect combination of teen comedy, drama about the difficult life of teenagers and mind-blowing action.

The film gives the most honest answer to the question of what will happen if an ordinary person has superpowers. Instead of fighting crime and restoring world justice, the heroes act like any teenagers in their place - they fool around and try to impress their peers.

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