The 25 Worst Comic Book Movies
By Jason Serafino | Jun 22, 2011 | 11:01 am | Permalink
Go to your local movie theater at any point this summer and you’ll see advertisements for at least three or four different movies based on popular comic books. The genre has grown from the occasional summer blockbuster to having a stranglehold on the movie business for the past decade. Flicks like Blade, X-Men, and Spider-Man kicked the trend into high gear nearly a decade ago; since then, high-profile box office hits such as Spider-Man 2, Batman Begins, and Iron Man have kept the genre alive.
Yet, there's a catch. It seems that for every comic book movie that comes out and blows audiences away, there are two or three that simply blow. Whether they ignore the source material, miscast the lead characters, or just tell an awful story, the genre isn’t as bulletproof as some people think.
The latest victim seems to be DC Comics' storied character Green Lantern, the subject of a messy, underwhelming disappointment starring Ryan Reynolds. The reviews from both critics (including our own) and fans haven’t been so kind, and the movie seems to be the first legitimate bomb of the summer. So in honor of this big green failure, we’re taking a look back at the 25 Worst Comic Book Movies, just to show Reynolds and company that, yes, it could have been worse. Much, much worse.
RoShine June 22nd, 2011 at 12:40 PM
I think Spawn should be a little higher on the list, and Wolverine should be in the top 5.
Bob June 22nd, 2011 at 01:03 PM
Well, I didn't see most of the movies on your list, but your top five match mine, though not in the same order. I would've put Superman Returns and Supergirl somewhere on the list, and would drop the released Fantastic Four and the Phantom. Speaking of which, the Phantom was not a pulp hero; he came straight from the newspaper comic strips, and was never in the pulps. I'm not nearly as disappointed with Green Lantern as some critics seem to be, though. I've been a GL fan longer than most fans have been alive, and I found very little to criticize. It's in my personal top five comic-book-to-film adaptations.
The Mechanic June 22nd, 2011 at 02:24 PM
Way too much Halle Berry? Balderdash! You can NEVER have too much Halle Berry! X-Men 3 and Catwoman weren't her fault, other than her signing on.
Frank Forrester June 22nd, 2011 at 03:07 PM
I'm shocked that the worst movie that is based off of a pulp magazine and comic is not even on this list. You most of figured that the movie you left off was so bad that it deserved it's own article. The movie was of course Doc Savage back in 1975.
tommyla June 23rd, 2011 at 03:11 AM
I will co-sign on Batman & Robin #1 with Forever a close second and for that please someone revoke Schumacher's SAG card. Some of these (Howard the Duck, Judge Dredd, The Shadow) have HUGE cult followings, not so lame. Maybe need to reduce this list down to the "20 worst comic book movies".
K S June 26th, 2011 at 08:44 PM
A Better meaner looking Venom would have been a redeeming quality, Seriously Topher Grace
K S June 26th, 2011 at 08:59 PM
Even dressed as Steel and he still can't hit a freethrow
SJM July 6th, 2011 at 01:49 AM
It's Christopher Reeve, not ReeveS. And, yes, Superman 4 sucked.
Ace July 20th, 2011 at 05:12 PM
yall forgot Superman returns. That shit was HORRIBLE!
heybuddymovies August 1st, 2011 at 03:49 PM
Top ten worst comic book movies: 10. Punisher: War Zone 9. The Spirit 8. Heavy Metal 7. Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Sufer 6. Daredevil (theatrical release) 5. Hulk 4. Spawn 3. V for Vendetta 2. Alien Vs. Predator 1. Batmand and Robin