Although they run the gamut of popularity, these movies based on Dark Horse Comics publications all hold up wonderfully today.
While the cinematic universes of Marvel and DC have been making waves at the box office, movies based on Dark Horse Comics publications have nonetheless been resonating with hardcore fans for decades. Several have been highly regarded by critics, as well, and a couple of the top entries were even nominated at the Academy Awards.
You’ll without a doubt recognize most of the films on this list, while others may appear unfamiliar. But they all have impressive name value among their respective casts and crews, and each entry holds up well today. All that said, these are the ten best movies based on Dark Horse Comics publications, ranked.
10 300: Rise of an Empire (2014)
Although it pales in comparison to its predecessor,300: Rise of an Empire (2014) is still a noteworthy piece of storytelling thanks primarily to the basis established by Frank Miller. One of the finest comic book writers to ever live, Miller wrote the original graphic novel on which the film is based, called Xerxes: The Fall of the House of Darius and the Rise of Alexander. The adaptation serves as a prequel to the more famous 300 (2007), which appears later on the list.
Why It’s in the Top 10
With engaging battle sequences, Rise of an Empire should satisfy fans of the original flick for the action element alone. It also boasts an impressive performance from lead actress Eva Green, and stunning visuals to boot. By no means among the top-tier of Dark Horse adaptations, 300: Rise of an Empire does deserve its flowers with a spot on the list.
9 Tank Girl (1995)
Though rather unknown in the grand scheme of comic book adaptations, Tank Girl (1995) has amassed a notable cult following since its release. With Lori Petty in the titular role, its supporting cast consists of well-known names such as Ice-T, Naomi Watts, and Malcolm McDowell. It’s a rather absurd plot about a corporation attempting to control the world’s water supply. But also noteworthy is that it’s set in 2033.
Why It’s in the Top 10
For a film of this nature, the aforementioned performers show up to valiant degrees. And while there’s not much going on behind the scenes in this entry – critics weren’t over the moon with its quality, by any means – it’s once again worth noting that fans hold Tank Girl in relatively high regard. Justifiably so. It’s a funny journey that will undoubtedly resonate for its originality alone, not to mention the charismatic efforts of its cast.
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8 Mystery Men (1999)
A spoof of superhero movies, Mystery Men (1998) was loosely based on Flaming Carrot Comics by writer Bob Burden. The series was published by multiple companies, including Image Comics. But when Mystery Men was released, the Flaming Carrot adventures were being handled by Dark Horse. The most famous publisher of the title, Dark Horse was in charge of the series from 1988 to 2002, with a specific publisher named Mike Richardson pitching the plot for Mystery Men.
Why It’s in the Top 10
With well-written dialogue, an absurd premise about a team of wanna-be superheroes is seen into hilarious fruition. The characters are portrayed by a star-studded cast – names like Ben Stiller, William H. Macy, Janeane Garofalo, and Hank Azaria – and they all share a tangible rapport as the eponymous group. Although it bombed at the box office upon release, Mystery Men boasts a cult following today. And justifiably so.
7 Sin City: A Dame to Kill For (2014)
Among the most underrated movie sequels ever made is Sin City: A Dame to Kill For (2014), directed by two creatives: Frank Miller and Robert Rodriguez. The former creative penned the comic book series on which the film is based, with both names also standing at the helm of the original movie from a decade prior. But as for A Dame to Kill For: there’s no telling why it came up so short in comparison.
Sin City 2
Release DateAugust 20, 2014DirectorFrank Miller, Robert RodriguezCastMickey Rourke, Jessica Alba, Josh Brolin, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Rosario Dawson, Bruce WillisRatingRGenresAction, Crime, Thriller
Why It’s in the Top 10
Don’t let this entry’s numbers of success fool you: With alluring visuals, engaging dialogue, and powerful performances, A Dame to Kill For is in many ways on par with its predecessor. Both are anthology films, and sure, a couple of segments in the entry at hand may pale in comparison to others. But Joseph Gordon-Levitt’s portion – called “The Long Bad Night” – for example, features a thrilling plot with engaging performances to boot. And considering the whole film boasts a unique visual style of neo-noir inspirations, it deserves far more love today.
6 300 (2007)
After his debut Dawn of the Dead (2004), film fans had their eyes on director Zack Snyder, who followed up in brilliant fashion thanks to 300 (2007). Based on the comic series of the same name by Frank Miller and Lynn Varley, the story gives a fictionalized account of the Battle of Thermopylae. And along the way, the famous figures are portrayed by a star-studded cast.
Why It’s in the Top 10
Gerard Butler as King Leonidas, Rodrigo Santoro as Xerxes, and Lena Headey as Queen Gorgo – everyone performs brilliantly in one of the most fan-favorite action films of the twenty-first century. Most of that appeal can be traced to the stylistic violence used as the film’s primary aesthetic, with truly engaging action sequences facilitating some of the most memorable one-liners for a film of its kind. And what’s more is that 300 holds up well today, easily warranting a spot on the list.
5 The Mask (1994)
With Jim Carrey in the lead role, The Mask (1994) is one of the funniest movies of the 1990s. That’s primarily by dint of the performance from the aforementioned actor, along with others from Peter Riegert, Peter Greene, and Amy Yasbeck. But this entry is also notable for featuring the on-screen debut of famous thespian Cameron Diaz, who went on to star in dozens of Hollywood productions following the one at hand.
The Mask
Release DateJuly 29, 1994DirectorChuck RussellCastJim Carrey, Peter Riegert, Peter Greene, Amy Yasbeck, Richard Jeni, Orestes MatacenaRatingPG-13Main GenreComedy
Why It’s in the Top 5
Everyone performs brilliantly in The Mask, which follows Carrey’s character Stanley Ipkiss. He discovers a green, wooden mask that turns him into the eponymous troublemaker who can reanimate himself and his surroundings at will. It’s an absurd plot that’s seen into hilarious fruition thanks to well-written dialogue and heartfelt performances, and overall, the movie holds up well today. It’s easily the funniest movie ever adapted from a Dark Horse comic, and it’s also among the best.
4 Hellboy (2004)
In many ways ahead of its time, Hellboy (2004) was directed by Guillermo Del Toro from his own adapted script. The comic book character Hellboy was originally created by Mike Mignola, with his magnum opus being perhaps the staple franchise throughout the history of Dark Horse Comics. As for the adaptation at hand, Del Toro proved to be the right man for the job thanks to his signature behind-the-scenes efforts regarding special effects and costume design.
Why It’s in the Top 5
To see the project come to life, the acclaimed Mexican filmmaker recruited some of his all-time greatest collaborators, like Ron Perlman as Hellboy. There’s also Doug Jones as Abe Sapien, with Marco Beltrami scoring the music to mark his third Del Toro movie in total. This also marked cinematographer Guillermo Navarro’s second of six collaborations with the acclaimed director. And overall, every name involved shows up to render Hellboy one of the greatest Dark Horse movies, period.
3 Hellboy II: The Golden Army (2008)
With Guillermo Del Toro once again in the director’s chair, all he needed to make Hellboy II: The Golden Army (2008) a success was a team of equal caliber as the one that worked on the original. And although Danny Elfman took over for Marco Beltrami as composer, all of Del Toro’s other collaborators returned to work on the sequel. Perlman as Hellboy, Jones as Sapien, and Navarro as the cinematographer who’s catching all the action.
Hellboy II: The Golden Army
Release DateJuly 11, 2008DirectorGuillermo del ToroCastRon Perlman, Selma Blair, Doug Jones, John Alexander, James Dodd, Seth MacFarlaneRatingPG-13Main GenreAction
Why It’s in the Top 5
The plot picks up a year after the events of the first film, with performers such as Selma Blair and Jeffrey Tambor also reprising their roles as Liz Sherman and Tom Manning, respectively. And no matter which entry in the Hellboy franchise fans may prefer, The Golden Army made greater waves across the board of success – not just with critics, but also at the worldwide box office. And, justifiably so. This is among the finest film sequels in all of comic book adaptations, and it deserves its flowers with a spot on the list.
2 American Splendor (2003)
American Splendor
Release DateAugust 15, 2003DirectorShari Springer Berman, Robert PulciniCastChris Ambrose, Joey Krajcar, Josh Hutcherson, Cameron Carter, Daniel Tay, Mary FaktorRatingRMain GenreBiography
Although American Splendor (2003) is less popular than most of its Dark Horse counterparts, it’s among the most critically acclaimed of the bunch. It chronicles the story of Harvey Peckar (portrayed wonderfully by Paul Giamatti), the author of the comic book series on which the film is based. But there’s more to this than the average autobiography, as American Splendor implements elements of documentaries along with animation.
Why It’s in the Top 5
The comics were widely influential for branching away from the typical fantasy-adventure tropes of superheroes past, as they in turn tell the story of Harvey’s life in autobiographical fashion. The film adaptation captured a similar essence of originality in its unorthodox structure. And overall, critics saw great light in its quality. American Splendor boasts a whopping 94% approval rating on critical consensus website Rotten Tomatoes, and it was nominated for Best Adapted Screenplay at the 76th Academy Awards. All with good reason.
1 Sin City (2005)
From its daring monochromatic cinematography to the unorthodox nature of its anthological structure, Sin City (2005) may just be the most ambitious comic book movie ever made. It’s a faithful adaptation, too. Co-directed by Robert Rodriguez and Frank Miller, it was adapted from the latter’s comic book series of the same name. And frankly, Sin City should be cited among the greatest comic book movies of all time, let alone the most original.
Sin City
Release DateApril 1, 2005DirectorFrank Miller, Robert Rodriguez, Quentin TarantinoCastJessica Alba, Devon Aoki, Alexis Bledel, Powers Boothe, Cara D. Briggs, Jude CiccolellaRatingRGenresCrime, Action, Thriller
Why It Takes the Top Spot
With a star-studded roster of famous Hollywood names like Bruce Willis, Jessica Alba, Clive Owen, Elijah Wood, and Rosario Dawson, each thrilling segment featured in Sin City is seen into idiosyncratic fruition by dint of high-quality tactics of screenwriting. The dialogue, the individual plot points, the well-developed dynamics of its unique cast of characters – most critics praised these elements across the board, while others saw faults in the movie’s violent aesthetic. But either way, there’s no denying the quality of Sin City.
