What movie do you credit as kickstarting the superhero genre? (not necessarily a Marvel thread)
08-30-19, 07:32 PM
#1
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What movie do you credit as kickstarting the superhero genre? (not necessarily a Marvel thread)
So I just had this discussion with friend as which movie started the whole superhero genre.
He says first X-Men (Sony, then) but I think first Spider-Man (still Sony back then, and now oh, who knows wtf with them now) with Maguire.
Also, I know we had Blade’s, Spawn, Hellboy, what have you, but those certainly didn’t kick start.
I know Iron Man catapulted this MCU and EVERYTHING after (including indies, DC, etc.), but still don’t think would happen if not for Raimi’s Spider-Man.
So what one movie kicked started it all?
He says first X-Men (Sony, then) but I think first Spider-Man (still Sony back then, and now oh, who knows wtf with them now) with Maguire.
Also, I know we had Blade’s, Spawn, Hellboy, what have you, but those certainly didn’t kick start.
I know Iron Man catapulted this MCU and EVERYTHING after (including indies, DC, etc.), but still don’t think would happen if not for Raimi’s Spider-Man.
So what one movie kicked started it all?
Last edited by OldBoy; 08-30-19 at 07:51 PM.
08-30-19, 07:43 PM
#2
DVD Talk Hero
Re: What movie do you credit as starting superhero genre? (not necessarily a Marvel thread)
I'm not sure why you don't include stuff like the Superman or Batman films if you're going to talk about starting the genre. Otherwise, if you're talking interconnected universe then like you said it's Iron Man.
If you're going to say well there was a lull between the 80's and late 90s, then you have to credit Blade because it was the one that loosened the grip Marvel had tightly held onto preventing their stuff from being made into movies, followed by X-men. but I don't think X-men gets out of the development hell it was in without the success of Blade.
I would almost categorize Hellboy as non superhero, though, more of an independent, based on a comic book but not a superhero per se propertly like TMNT and the Mask.
If you're going to say well there was a lull between the 80's and late 90s, then you have to credit Blade because it was the one that loosened the grip Marvel had tightly held onto preventing their stuff from being made into movies, followed by X-men. but I don't think X-men gets out of the development hell it was in without the success of Blade.
I would almost categorize Hellboy as non superhero, though, more of an independent, based on a comic book but not a superhero per se propertly like TMNT and the Mask.
08-30-19, 07:50 PM
#3
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Re: What movie do you credit as starting superhero genre? (not necessarily a Marvel thread)
No, 78 and what 89? Those certainly didn’t kickstart anything. I mean starting the boom, not the intermittent. I guess I should rephrase title...
08-30-19, 07:53 PM
#4
DVD Talk Hero
Re: What movie do you credit as kickstarting the superhero genre? (not necessarily a Marvel thread)
Black Widow. I see those characters going places!
08-30-19, 07:55 PM
#5
DVD Talk Gold Edition
Re: What movie do you credit as kickstarting the superhero genre? (not necessarily a Marvel thread)
It is rather odd that Hollywood didn't seem to notice from Superman and Batman that comic book movies made money. They sure noticed from Star Wars that sci-fi made money. Spent a significant part of my life dreaming of a Hulk movie one day. And imagine my disappointment when I finally got it.
08-30-19, 07:56 PM
#6
DVD Talk Legend
Re: What movie do you credit as kickstarting the superhero genre? (not necessarily a Marvel thread)
I guess I'm going with Iron Man. Not only did it start the whole MCU thing, but it showed that something other than the most popular characters could be successful (I would include Batman, Superman, Spider-Man, and X-Men in that category).
But don't overlook The Dark Knight from the same year. That showed that they could be even bigger business than before, and even aspire to get taken more seriously.
But don't overlook The Dark Knight from the same year. That showed that they could be even bigger business than before, and even aspire to get taken more seriously.
08-30-19, 07:56 PM
#7
Senior Member
Re: What movie do you credit as kickstarting the superhero genre? (not necessarily a Marvel thread)
I agree with Spiderman ('02). While I didn't like the backbreaking CGI acrobatics, it was well received and showed that with new technology the fantasy worlds these films take place in can be put on screen.
08-30-19, 08:02 PM
#8
DVD Talk Hero
Re: What movie do you credit as kickstarting the superhero genre? (not necessarily a Marvel thread)
It is rather odd that Hollywood didn't seem to notice from Superman and Batman that comic book movies made money. They sure noticed from Star Wars that sci-fi made money. Spent a significant part of my life dreaming of a Hulk movie one day. And imagine my disappointment when I finally got it.
I still don't get what the boom represents. The boom where comic book movies started becoming prevalent happened post Iron Man when they decided on a connected universe and had multiple interconnected films in the air at once, creating a seemingly endless barrage of content from a single source. Otherwise, comic book movies have, since the initial Superman movies, long been viable and seen as blockbusters. There just had never been sustained success (past two movies, let's say) before the MCU.
08-30-19, 08:02 PM
#9
DVD Talk Special Edition
Re: What movie do you credit as kickstarting the superhero genre? (not necessarily a Marvel thread)
If we're going by those rules, The original Avengers movie caused the boom. It's the first time major properties crossed over and it became a cohesive universe. People went and saw the individual movies, but it wasn't until they all appeared together that Marvel really started to kick it into high gear. I love Raimi's Spider-Man movies as much as anyone, but I don't think they're responsible for what is happening today.
08-30-19, 08:05 PM
#10
Re: What movie do you credit as kickstarting the superhero genre? (not necessarily a Marvel thread)
X-Men
08-30-19, 08:07 PM
#11
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Re: What movie do you credit as kickstarting the superhero genre? (not necessarily a Marvel thread)
Not all Raimi, just first and perhaps second. But only got second bc of first. And that would be more in line with Dark Knight and predates, while certainly not the deep darkness, SM2, was the more serious and showed could be successful as well. Perhaps those first two are the catalysts...
08-30-19, 08:15 PM
#12
DVD Talk Hero
Re: What movie do you credit as kickstarting the superhero genre? (not necessarily a Marvel thread)
I don't really think of Blade as being a superhero movie. More of action-horror. I think that most of the people who saw it didn't even realize it was based on a Marvel comic book character.
I think that the success of the first X-Men movie really opened up the floodgates, and everyone started taking notice that superheroes could be box office gold, and studios were willing to invest a lot of money to bring them to the screen.
And it was also hit at the right time. Prior to the late 90s, I don't think the special effects technology was at the point it needed to be really make superhero movies that reflected the comic books. A Spider-Man movie made the late 80s or early 90s would have looked really bad.
I think that the success of the first X-Men movie really opened up the floodgates, and everyone started taking notice that superheroes could be box office gold, and studios were willing to invest a lot of money to bring them to the screen.
And it was also hit at the right time. Prior to the late 90s, I don't think the special effects technology was at the point it needed to be really make superhero movies that reflected the comic books. A Spider-Man movie made the late 80s or early 90s would have looked really bad.
08-30-19, 08:19 PM
#13
DVD Talk Hero
Re: What movie do you credit as kickstarting the superhero genre? (not necessarily a Marvel thread)
I don't really think of Blade as being a superhero movie. More of action-horror. I think that most of the people who saw it didn't even realize it was based on a Marvel comic book character.
I think that the success of the first X-Men movie really opened up the floodgates, and everyone started taking notice that superheroes could be box office gold, and studios were willing to invest a lot of money to bring them to the screen.
And it was also hit at the right time. Prior to the late 90s, I don't think the special effects technology was at the point it needed to be really make superhero movies that reflected the comic books. A Spider-Man movie made the late 80s or early 90s would have looked really bad.
I think that the success of the first X-Men movie really opened up the floodgates, and everyone started taking notice that superheroes could be box office gold, and studios were willing to invest a lot of money to bring them to the screen.
And it was also hit at the right time. Prior to the late 90s, I don't think the special effects technology was at the point it needed to be really make superhero movies that reflected the comic books. A Spider-Man movie made the late 80s or early 90s would have looked really bad.
But I agree X-men is probably the starting point for a lot of what we consider comic book movies: costumes (modified, but otherwise pretty) faithful to the comics, villains the same, and without the camp of even the Burton movies. A plot that could've been taken out of a comic book. Special effects that made powers seem if not exactly realistic, at least enough to suspend my disbelief.
08-30-19, 08:31 PM
#14
DVD Talk Ultimate Edition
08-30-19, 09:21 PM
#15
Re: What movie do you credit as kickstarting the superhero genre? (not necessarily a Marvel thread)
In the 90s Hollywood thought saw dollar signs with comic book properties and everything seemed to be coming out: The Shadow, The Mask, The Phantom, Tank Girl, Spawn, etc. Then that shit went bust until X-Men and Spider-man, Iron Man, and Dark Knight, and finally Avengers blew the gates wide open.
08-31-19, 04:18 AM
#17
Re: What movie do you credit as kickstarting the superhero genre? (not necessarily a Marvel thread)
Without question:
08-31-19, 02:16 PM
#18
DVD Talk Hero
Re: What movie do you credit as kickstarting the superhero genre? (not necessarily a Marvel thread)
The first Superman was fun and poignant.
I credit X-Men. It brought class with the actors willing to be part of it. The pacing was a bit quick ... at the end I was wondering if there is another act.
Then bringing in Ang Lee and Christopher Nolan turbocharged the genre by blending Hollywood prestige with comics.
Spiderman always felt felt like a natural progression of the older era of bad superhero movies. It felt more fun and silly than the MCU.
I think anime adaptations are the next stage. We’ve gotten bad ones for a long time. Alita and Ghost in the Shell are getting better. Sometime soon we are gonna get some prestigious Oscar caliber anime adaptation.
I credit X-Men. It brought class with the actors willing to be part of it. The pacing was a bit quick ... at the end I was wondering if there is another act.
Then bringing in Ang Lee and Christopher Nolan turbocharged the genre by blending Hollywood prestige with comics.
Spiderman always felt felt like a natural progression of the older era of bad superhero movies. It felt more fun and silly than the MCU.
I think anime adaptations are the next stage. We’ve gotten bad ones for a long time. Alita and Ghost in the Shell are getting better. Sometime soon we are gonna get some prestigious Oscar caliber anime adaptation.
08-31-19, 03:02 PM
#19
DVD Talk Legend
Re: What movie do you credit as kickstarting the superhero genre? (not necessarily a Marvel thread)
Probably X-Men, but really I would say Spider-Man brought superhero films to a whole new level as far as getting more casual fans interested. From there comic films coasted along to varying degrees of success. Nolan brought prestige to the genre and the MCU/Iron Man changed the game forever.
09-01-19, 09:09 AM
#20
DVD Talk Hero
Re: What movie do you credit as kickstarting the superhero genre? (not necessarily a Marvel thread)
I also want to say the Wachowski's got it right with Speed Racer (maybe not as an adaptation but certainly as a live action anime) and that was a big bomb.
09-01-19, 10:27 AM
#21
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Re: What movie do you credit as kickstarting the superhero genre? (not necessarily a Marvel thread)
I’ll go the opposite direction and credit Batman and Robin. I think it’s failure was the hard slap in the face Hollywood needed to realize the quality of these films is important. I’d say the tone, groundedness and even color choices of X-Men were a direct reaction to the campy, technicolor yawn fever dream style of BAR.
09-01-19, 10:37 AM
#22
DVD Talk Legend
Re: What movie do you credit as kickstarting the superhero genre? (not necessarily a Marvel thread)
Probably X-Men, but really I would say Spider-Man brought superhero films to a whole new level as far as getting more casual fans interested. From there comic films coasted along to varying degrees of success. Nolan brought prestige to the genre and the MCU/Iron Man changed the game forever.
09-01-19, 01:20 PM
#23
Re: What movie do you credit as kickstarting the superhero genre? (not necessarily a Marvel thread)
The Green Hornet starring Seth Rogen and Jay Chou all the way.
The superhero genre floodgate just exploded after that one.
The superhero genre floodgate just exploded after that one.
Last edited by davidlynchfan; 09-01-19 at 01:57 PM.
09-01-19, 03:19 PM
#24
Re: What movie do you credit as kickstarting the superhero genre? (not necessarily a Marvel thread)
I would say Superman: The Movie started the idea of big budget super hero movies, but super hero movie were still rare events during that period and through the 1990's. I think the modern proliferation of superhero movies start with The X-Men in 2000 and grew from there. Due to the success of the X-Men which was somewhat of an obscure group and not a household name at the time,
Marvel and/or DC had a big budget movie coming out at least once a year ever since. Had the X-Men been a flop the boom may not have happened and a lot of these movies may not have been released because of it.
Marvel and/or DC had a big budget movie coming out at least once a year ever since. Had the X-Men been a flop the boom may not have happened and a lot of these movies may not have been released because of it.
09-01-19, 03:57 PM
#25
DVD Talk Legend
Re: What movie do you credit as kickstarting the superhero genre? (not necessarily a Marvel thread)
I think Sony would have still tried with Spider-Man whether a film like X-Men did well or not. Spider-Man in my opinion has probably always had more of a mainstream appeal than the X-Men. X-Men as a film franchise was probably a bit more of a gamble in the sense that it may have been harder to get a casual audience member at that time to care about the social/political aspects that lie within the storytelling of those films, and as mentioned aside from Wolverine they were somewhat more obscure. Although they probably gained more fans from the nineties animated series which only stopped airing a few years prior to the film. Luckily they were able to strike a balance between the films being too heavy handed with their messages (mostly), and also had interesting characters which helped make the films successful.
Last edited by Mike86; 09-01-19 at 04:02 PM.