Glass & 9 other non-comic book 2010s superhero movies
The previous decade saw a huge shift in Hollywood, which began to focus more on superhero movies following the hit blockbuster Marvel Cinematic Universe and DC’s Extended Universe. This led to a series of similar comic book movies that brought even more superheroes to the big screen.
Of course, the past decade has also seen a number of original superhero movies that didn’t use the comics as a source. These include M. Night Shyamalan Glass who continued his own take on the superhero genre.
ten Glass was the surprise finale of a ground superhero trilogy
Following the success of films like the 2000s Unbreakable and 2016 To divide who were linked by a shocking post-credit scene, Elijah Price / Mr. Glass returned to reunite each film’s hero and villain in a final showdown.
True to form, M. Night Shyamalan’s 2019 Glass continued to surprise viewers who expected a typical showdown between Bruce Willis’ David Dunn / Overseer and Kevin Wendell Crumb / The Horde as he further explored the unique connection between these characters and the comics.
9 Super introduced a Cook-Turned-Vigilante Diner named Crimson Bolt
After his wife left him and fell under the control of a local strip club owner, restaurant cook Frank Darbo (played by Rainn Wilson) is inspired by a dream encounter with a superhero of Christian TV to create his own vigilante identity, fight crime and free his wife in James Gunn’s Great.
Darbo enlists the help of an employee at a local comic book store who ends up becoming his troubled sidekick. Darbo creates the identity of Crimson Bolt to take down criminals, which makes him a local celebrity due to the extreme levels of violence used for mundane crimes, like going online.
8 Powers became criminals after forced registration in Code 8
2019 saw the release of Code 8 by writer / director Jeff Chan. Code 8 takes place in the near future following the discovery of people with abilities known as Powers. Powers are soon forced to register with the government as criminal factions exploit their blood for a new designer drug that is leading to a tense and heavily guarded society.
Powers are forced to work like unregistered workers or turn to crime. Electrokinetic Conner Reed is forced to start working with a group of thieves in order to cure his ailing mother while battling high-tech operatives known as the Guardians.
7 Griff the Invisible never lets his superhero dreams die
Real bloodby Ryan Kwanten appeared in Griff the invisible as a bullied office worker who embraces his imaginary superhero life. He dons a costume, walks the streets at night, and conducts experiments to become invisible.
Griff’s life as a superhero is further emboldened after meeting a woman named Melody who exists in her own fantasy world, though her reality is soon called into question. It further threatens their new relationship and his life as an invisible superhero.
6 Megamind saw the animated villain win and become the hero
While Metro Man is Metro City’s greatest superhero, he was actually the titular villain, Megamind, who finds himself becoming the hero of Dreamworks’ 2010 animated comedy. The film starred Will Ferrel, Tina Fey, Brad Pitt, Jonah Hill and David Cross.
Once Megamind is able to defeat his foe and take control of Metro City, he becomes bored and seeks to create a new hero to face in battle. His creation turned out to be an even greater threat that forced Megamind to seek out the hero in him to save the day.
5 Heroes were forced to survive death traps in All Superheroes Must Die
Jason Trost performed and directed in 2011 All superheroes must die, which follows an old team of superheroes who are kidnapped and reunited by an old enemy. This enemy robs them of their powers and forces them to survive a series of deadly traps in order to save other captured civilians.
While All superheroes must die was not well received by fans, it featured an interesting mix of horror and superhero that might appeal to fans of Seen-type movies and superheroes.
4 El Chicano was a cop who took on the role of a vigilante
Raúl Castillo played the role of LAPD officer Diego Hernandez who was inspired by his fallen twin brother to become a legendary vigilante in 2018 El Chicano by director Ben Hernandez Bray and co-written by director Joe Carnahan.
El Chicano saw Diego wearing a costume created by his fallen twin in order to lead the fight against the gangs he couldn’t stop as a police officer. This leads to a deadly rivalry with a childhood friend who became a gang leader as Hernandez attempted to keep his El Chicano identity a secret from the police.
3 Brightburn explored a dark take on an iconic origin story
2019 Sharp burn followed by the familiar superhero tropes, as a young boy began to discover his origins as an alien being when he began to develop powerful new abilities, however, the film soon revealed itself as a dark vision of the iconic origin story.
Young Brandon Breyer begins to demonstrate super strength, flight, and other powerful abilities after making contact with the hidden alien ship that first brought him to the planet. He is also mentally transformed into a world conqueror who soon uses his powers to become a sadistic killer with potentially dark plans for the planet.
2 Fast Color followed a woman with shattered powers on the run
Guge-Mbatha Raw performed in the 2018s Quick color by director Julia Hart. The film follows a woman with shattered powers, whose fits cause dangerous seismic earthquakes that send her back to her childhood home.
However, she soon finds out that she is being followed by scientists who seek to study her abilities, that she begins to learn more from her mother and daughter, who each also exhibit their own powerful abilities. Quick color is a beautifully shot, fast-paced, and original take on generational superheroes in a real-world setting that brings a new perspective to the genre.
1 Three teens were transformed by an alien object in Chronicle
Josh Trank directed the found-still superhero movie the Chronicle who followed a struggling teenager as he began filming his life, sometimes to the detriment of his unpopular social status as the camera began to make him an outcast.
Alongside two other teenagers, he discovers a crushed alien object that transforms them, granting them the ability to fly, increased strength and durability, as well as powerful telekinesis. the Chronicle was celebrated for its exploration of both high school trauma and the corruption of power that separates heroes from villains.
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