10 Obscure Superhero Films Hardly Anybody Remembers

May 1, 2025

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There have been many superhero motion pictures exterior of the MCU and the DCU which have handed into relative obscurity to turn into all however forgotten. Ever because the motion pictures of the MCU helped set up the superhero style as the largest and most profitable in trendy cinema, they’ve remained on the forefront of popular culture. Consequently, superhero motion pictures are sometimes among the many greatest publicized and best-known titles on the earth.

Nonetheless, this hasn’t at all times been the case. Earlier than the start of the film timelines of the DCEU or the MCU, superhero movies have been typically neglected – in addition to on some more moderen events. In lots of circumstances, regardless of huge budgets and well-known actors, superhero motion pictures can move into relative obscurity, and earlier than lengthy are virtually fully forgotten. With that in thoughts, listed here are 10 obscure superhero motion pictures that hardly anybody remembers.

10

The Inexperienced Hornet (2011)

Directed by Michel Gondry

Seth Rogen as the Green Hornet and Jay Chou as Kato in The Green Hornet

The vast majority of profitable superhero motion pictures are in a position to capitalize on present characters with the intention to greatest attraction to a large viewers. This was seemingly the case for 2011’s The Inexperienced Hornet, which was a contemporary reboot of the favored Sixties TV present of the identical title. With a forged that includes Seth Rogen, Jay Chou, Cameron Diaz, Christoph Waltz, Tom Wilkinson, and Edward James Olmos, The Inexperienced Hornet seemingly had all of the makings of a memorable superhero movie.

In the end, this wasn’t the case. In truth, essentially the most memorable side of The Inexperienced Hornet was its disappointing high quality, which is the one factor that has prevented it from being forgotten altogether. The Inexperienced Hornet’s story of an old-school vigilante wasn’t sufficient to encourage audiences, and it pale swiftly into obscurity, remembered unfavorably by solely a choose few – and remembered favorably by even fewer.

9

The Losers (2010)

Directed by Sylvain White

Shortly earlier than the motion pictures of the DCEU started bringing a shared DC universe to life on the massive display screen, there have been many disconnected variations of the comics. This included some that drew inspiration from lesser-known DC properties, similar to 2010’s The Losers. With a forged consisting of Jeffrey Dean Morgan, Chris Evans, Zoe Saldana, and Idris Elba, The Losers boasted a formidable roster of performing expertise.

Regardless of blended critiques, The Losers proved to be reasonably profitable, and stays an fulfilling comedian e book motion film. Nonetheless, one of many details of criticism leveled on the film was its lack of originality, which did nothing to assist it turn into a memorable entry into the style. Regardless of being an entertaining motion comedy, The Losers merely hasn’t been extensively remembered, and has turn into comparatively obscure regardless of its nice forged.

8

The Rocketeer (1991)

Directed by Joe Johnston

20 years earlier than he was introducing Captain America to the MCU’s film timeline, Joe Johnston was directing The Rocketeer. The 1991 film was based mostly on the comics that includes the character of the identical title, and imagines a superhero based mostly in Los Angeles within the Thirties. The Rocketeer’s forged options the likes of Billy Campbell, Alan Arkin, Jennifer Connelly, Paul Sorvino, and Timothy Dalton, and its distinctive visible type and premise make it appear particularly noteworthy.

Sadly, The Rocketeer has principally been forgotten within the years since its launch. Regardless of receiving optimistic critiques, its underperformance on the field workplace led to the deliberate franchise being scrapped, and the film handed into obscurity. Although it nonetheless has some cult followers, The Rocketeer is unfortunately a superhero film that many individuals merely don’t keep in mind, regardless of taking part in an vital position within the growth of the style.

7

Darkman (1990)

Directed by Sam Raimi

Lengthy earlier than Sam Raimi’s Spider-Man trilogy was establishing a profitable method for the trendy superhero style, the director made his first foray into superhero storytelling with 1990’s Darkman. The film stars Liam Neeson, with Frances McDormand and Bruce Campbell showing in supporting roles. It follows a scientist who’s severely burned, after which units about getting his revenge utilizing experimental talents, placing a horror spin on the extra conventional comedian e book tales of the style.

Darkman was a groundbreaking movie in lots of respects, and earned each optimistic critiques and field workplace success. Nonetheless, its obvious lack of attraction to the mainstream led to it being largely forgotten, although it does proceed to get pleasure from one thing of a cult standing amongst its followers. The dearth of well-known supply materials mixed with the period of its launch in the end led to Darkman changing into an obscure film, that means that few really keep in mind it exists.

6

Man-Factor (2005)

Directed by Brett Leonard

There have been many Marvel Comics film variations within the years previous the MCU, with a lot of them being dismissed as poor or disappointing in a method or one other. Nonetheless, for essentially the most half, they’re all comparatively memorable – besides, that’s, for Man-Factor. 2005 noticed the Marvel character tailored to the massive display screen in a film that has since been forgotten by virtually everybody, with few remembering its existence.

The primary cause for that is that Man-Factor is a horrible adaptation. It barely options the character it’s named for, and its important critiques define the various ways in which it’s one of many worst Marvel motion pictures of all time. Stylistically, creatively, and customarily, Man-Factor is a Marvel film that in all probability deserves to be forgotten, which fits a good distance towards explaining why so few folks keep in mind it.

5

Tremendous (2010)

Directed by James Gunn

Earlier than James Gunn was directing MCU trilogies or masterminding a complete shared DC Universe, he stepped into the superhero style with an authentic creation. 2010’s Tremendous stars Rainn Wilson as a vigilante referred to as the Crimson Bolt, who’s assisted by Elliot Web page as his sidekick, Boltie, as he takes revenge on the criminals who he believes took his spouse from him. Alongside Wilson and Web page, Liv Tyler, Kevin Bacon, and Nathan Fillion all characteristic.

Tremendous’s nice forged alone appears memorable, however the film’s brutal depictions of superhero violence and liberal use of darkish comedy solely provides to it. Even so, it obtained solely a small theatrical launch, and have become a reasonably obscure title virtually instantly. This, mixed with blended important reactions, led to Tremendous changing into extensively forgotten regardless of using the skills of a few of Hollywood’s greatest and brightest.

4

Sky Excessive (2005)

Directed by Mike Mitchell

For a few years, there was a notion that the superhero style ought to primarily be aimed toward a youthful viewers, inflicting a schism between potential audiences. 2005’s Sky Excessive took a family-friendly strategy, which was comparatively uncommon for a live-action film at the moment. The outcome was a Disney superhero film that has not been remembered in addition to it deserves, with many overlooking simply how glorious Sky Excessive is.

Sky Excessive options many well-known actors in supporting roles, with Kurt Russell, Kelly Preston, Bruce Campbell, Dave Foley, Jim Rash, and Mary Elizabeth Winstead all showing. Its imaginative and colourful authentic story is a fleshed-out superhero world of its personal, however regardless of good critiques and respectable field workplace efficiency, Sky Excessive didn’t get the eye it deserved. Consequently, it’s turn into an obscure superhero film that many have unfairly forgotten.

3

Thriller Males (1999)

Directed by Kinka Usher

1999 noticed the discharge of Thriller Males, which is a superhero film that needs to be much better identified than it really is. Starring Ben Stiller, Hank Azaria, Paul Reubens, Janeane Garofalo, Geoffrey Rush, and Greg Kinnear, amongst others, Thriller Males has a stacked forged of actors identified for each their comedic and dramatic performing capacity. A superhero satire loosely based mostly on little-known comedian e book characters of the identical title, Thriller Males has been unfairly forgotten.

In addition to that includes among the most unusual superpowers in comedian e book motion pictures, Thriller Males is a deeply humorous and brilliantly entertaining film. With distinctive comedic performances from its stars in addition to a tightly-written script, Thriller Males ought to have achieved a lot higher success. Although it does boast a small cult following, it stays one of the obscure superhero motion pictures within the style.

2

The Shadow (1994)

Directed by Russell Mulcahy

Alec Baldwin as The Shadow aiming two pistols surrounded by fog in The Shadow

There have been a number of motion pictures based mostly on pulp fiction characters, a few of which proved to be memorable. One which didn’t was 1994’s The Shadow, starring Alec Baldwin because the eponymous vigilante and likewise that includes the likes of Ian McKellen, Peter Boyle, Penelope Ann Miller, and Tim Curry. The Shadow’s forged, its early twentieth century setting, and pulp premise might have made for a captivating film, however the outcome was an altogether forgettable affair.

The Shadow was not a profitable movie, both with critics or on the field workplace. Nonetheless, it additionally wasn’t fully terrible, making it unremarkable in some ways. This really turned out to be even worse than being really horrible, as The Shadow was swiftly forgotten by the vast majority of superhero followers. As such, it has turn into an obscure title within the style’s historical past that many individuals simply don’t keep in mind.

1

Push (2009)

Directed by Paul McGuigan

Chris Evans and Dakota Fanning on the poster for Push (2009)

2009’s Push is likely one of the uncommon superhero motion pictures to have been launched amid the late ’00s increase of superhero cinema that didn’t appear to go away any lasting mark on popular culture. Starring Chris Evans, Dakota Fanning, and Djimon Hounsou, Push’s story takes place in a society during which particular superpowers have begun to manifest among the many inhabitants, creating communities of telekinetics, telepaths, precognitives, and extra. Its comparatively authentic premise and high-profile stars seemingly make Push a movie worthy of word.

Nonetheless, Push isn’t a well known or well-remembered superhero film. Typically poor critiques did nothing to assist its fame, and regardless of being a enjoyable and different strategy to the style, Push shortly turned obscure. Although there actually are some followers who keep in mind Push nicely, it has in any other case turn into misplaced among the many many releases of the MCU, the DCU, and different superhero franchises, and has been all however forgotten.