5 Best Original SuperHero Movies

 

Last week was the 30th anniversary of Damon Wayans superhero comedy BlankMan. Acknowledging the film's anniversary, got me thinking about superhero movies not based on comic books. Depend on who you ask BlankMan is one of the best original superhero movies ever created, while good I wouldn't quite go there. Here's my 5 best original superhero movies.

5. Big Hero 6

For the life of me, I don't understand why Big Hero 6 is not more popular. Released in 2014, the film follows a young teenager Hiro who is essentially a child prodigy and his robot Baymax. Along with his friends they become a group of superheroes protecting the city of San Fransokyo. The story is more so about how they got to the point of being superheroes. Covering the friendship between Hiro and Baymax, as well as Hiro's relationship with his older brother Tadashi. The film also covers grief, betrayal, and self-doubt strong subject matter for Disney films. 

4. Incredibles

The older I get, the more relatable The Incredibles becomes. The basic premise of the film is former superhero Mr. Incredible (civilian name Bob Parr) is a middle-aged man supporting his wife and three kids. He's experiencing a bit of a middle life crisis in the mundane day to day life and yearns to get back in the thick of things. He get's his wish when a new supervillain wrecks havoc on the town, along with his old sidekick Fro-zone and his family they save the day. As 40 come's knocking I totally can relate to that. 

3. Darkman

Before Sam Raimi directed the Spider-Man trilogy of films starring Toby Maguire in the 2000's, he directed an off-beat original superhero movie called Darkman. Starring Liam Neeson in the original and Arnold Vosloo (Imhotep in The Mummy films) in the two direct to cable sequels. The main character is Peyton Westlake a scientist who is working on synthetic skin for burn victims, after he himself becomes a burn victim due to criminals attacking him. He uses his synthetic skin and new found strength to exact revenge.

The film is very grounded in reality, while also paying homage to the noir genre of film. It's very underrated, and was the catalyst for Raimi eventually directing Spider-Man.

2. Meteor Man

If you know me, you know I love Robert Townsend's 1993 film Meteor Man. The film follows Townsend's Jefferson Reed a Washington D.C. school teacher who is struck by a meteor fragment and gains new powers. He uses these newfound powers to save the neighborhood from the campy drug dealers The Golden Lords led by Simon, complete with all members sporting gold hair and gold accented throughout their attire. 

The movie featured a who's who of Black talent in Hollywood at the time, is funny and a tad bit inspiring. The movie never take's itself too serious and set's out to feel like a live comic book when comic book films weren't  necessarily popular. It's a shame the movie isn't more revered as it truly is special.

1. Hancock

Hancock for all intents and purposes should have been a franchise, with at least a trilogy of films. The 2008 film stars Will Smith as an alcoholic bum superhero, who causes massive damage whenever he feel's like saving the day. He has a love/hate relationship with the general public and officials of L.A. He saves Jason Bateman's advertising executive character Ray Embrey who help's him rehabilitate his image. Hancock soon learn's more about himself thanks to Ray's mysterious wife Mary, while saving the city from a criminal out for revenge.

Besides the interesting take of a disgruntled superhero that doesnt want to be one, the film has quality jokes, good special effects and decent fight scenes. The backstory between Hancock and Mary and their past deserved to be covered more in sequels. I was really intrigued by that backstory and it made the film have it's own mythology much like a comic book.