Superhero movies have essentially been a race between comic giants DC Comics and Marvel. It’s come to a point where the year’s biggest blockbuster will either be a Marvel film or DC film. Gone are the days where the two comic publishers simply battled it out in the pages of comics. Their legendary characters are now just as, if not more, popular onscreen than in their own books.

However, not all comic book adaptations are strictly from Marvel or DC. Every now and then an original superhero film is made or one is adapted from smaller creator-owned comic book publishers. These films are few and far between, but they do exist. Some even stand up there against the very best that Marvel and DC have had to offer. These are the best non-Marvel or DC superhero films.

MOVIEWEB VIDEO OF THE DAY

10 Super

     IFC Midnight

Before Guardians of The Galaxy, director James Gunn opted to create his very own superhero with Super. The original super hero film stars Rainn Wilson as a nerdy fry-cook who decides to turn himself into a costumed vigilante after his wife leaves him for a drug dealer. This dark comedy showcased Gunn’s ability to mix humor and drama that would serve him well when he finally did make the jump into adapting a Marvel property with Guardians of the Galaxy.

MOVIEWEB VIDEO OF THE DAY

MOVIEWEB VIDEO OF THE DAY

MOVIEWEB VIDEO OF THE DAY

9 Hancock

Hancock provided Will Smith with a superhero vehicle that was led solely by him as opposed to a corporate or brand name attached to it. While his charisma would later be used well for Suicide Squad as an anti-hero, Hancock had Smith portray a boozy, irresponsible superhero. The premise of the movie was unique at the time: the story of an amnesiac superhero who causes more damage than good. It was a funny entry at a time where most superhero movies were trying to be taken more seriously. Despite some tonal issues, Hancock was a solid original creation by director Peter Berg.

8 Darkman

Sam Raimi may be known as the original director of Spider-Man, but his first forray into the world of superheroes was his own original creation Darkman. After attempts to adapt The Shadow and Batman failed, Raimi created Darkman as an homage to pulp heroes. Liam Neeson played the titular hero, a badly burned man hellbent on revenge. The dark, horror-inspired story scared Universal executives into demanding a cut of the film, one that Raimi ended up changing at the last minute without Univesal’s knowledge.

7 Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles

The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles began as a parody of Marvel’s Daredevil character, but ultimately turned into something so much more. When the franchise released, there was hardly any merchandise around that didn’t have the famed Ninja Turtles on it in some form. The classic cartoon series proved so popular that a film adaptation followed. A live-action adaptation may have sounded impractical at the time, but Jim Henson’s Creature Shop actually made it work. The actors wearing the suits may have had a rough time, but it was all in the service of making a classic action comedy that gave fans the words of wisdom: “Forgiveness is divine, but never pay full price for a late pizza.”

6 The Rocketeer

     Buena Vista Pictures Distribution

Before Iron Man, Disney had created its own superhero film starring a highflying shellhead. The Rocketeer told the story of stunt pilot, Cliff Secord, who after finding a jetpack decides to become the hero, The Rocketeer. While The Rocketeer didn’t produce a franchise immediately after its release it was still well received by audiences and considered a cult classic.

5 Unbreakable

What if superheroes existed in the real world? This was question asked of the M. Night Shyamalan film, Unbreakable. Before Christopher Nolan gave his take on what Batman would be like in real life, Shyamalan gave audiences a quiet dramatic take on the superhero genre. Bruce Willis starred as David Dunn, a man whose unexplained superstrength allowed him to survive a train crash. Shunning action for drama, Shyamalan explored the struggles that a regular man would face should he have superpowers.

4 Dredd

     Entertainment FilmsUnited International

It may not seem that way, but not all superheroes come from America either. England’s very own Judge Dredd has proved to be a popular character throughout the years, expanding his presence on to film. While the Sylvester Stallone version of Judge Dredd ended up being downright terrible, Dredd starring Karl Urban proved to be a suprising, critical success. This faithful adaptation of the comic opted for a simple and gritty take on the character. Dredd is tasked with navigating a crime infested highrise as attempts to bring in drug lord, Ma-Ma played by Lena Headey. The small-scale yet action packed super hero flick was well received by audiences, garnering a cult following after its release.

3 The Crow

     Dimension Films

Brandon Lee’s final film The Crow was easily his best. This dark tale followed Eric Draven, a musician who’s murdered alongside his wife. After being ressurected on the anniversary of his death, Draven takes on his murderers as the vigilante, The Crow. Many of the film’s aspects proved to be ahead of its time, especially it’s darker take on the superhero genre. Unfortunately, Lee passed away from an accidental shooting on set. His portrayal of Eric Draven remained a haunting and impressive performance that led to The Crow being a well-regarded superhero film well before they became popular.

2 Hellboy

One of the more iconic super heroes outside of the mainstream DC and Marvel heroes is Hellboy. Originally created by indie comics publisher Darkhorse Comics, Hellboy is a demon raised by a secret paranormal fighting organization after being summoned by the Nazis. Guillermo Del Toro helmed the original Hellboy film and its sequel. His work with horror helped bring the comic character to life alonside his impressively costumed allies.

1 The Incredibles

Pixar’s The Incredibles is essentially the greatest Fantastic Four movie ever made, it just didn’t actually star the famed Marvel superfamily. At the time of its release, 21st Century Fox hadn’t quite figured out the first family of Marvel. Yet, director Brad Bird and Pixar teamed up to create what essentially was a Fantastic Four movie. It followed a family dealing with the banality of life after superheroes are outlawed for various hilarious and petty reasons. Once they’re called into action once more, their superpowered family dynamic shines on screen in what is the best non Marvel or DC superhero film ever made.