This article contains references to murder, violence, and organ procurement.
Andor shook the Star Wars formula by straying from the space opera adventures in favor of morally questionable freedom fighting. The cut-and-dry “Light and Dark” struggle common in most Star Wars stories is replaced by dark shades of grey, allowing for more complex stories to take hold in a universe that had been far too clingy to its own reputation.
Taking franchises in darker directions is a risky move for a whole host of reasons. If pulled off, however, they inject the franchise with some much-needed innovation and take it to new heights of storytelling.
Andor
Stream on Disney+
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Andor is a gritty spy thriller set years before the events of the original trilogy. After the Galactic Empire’s rise to power, the Rebellion slowly started to form against the oppressive regime. Unfortunately, their nigh-impossible circumstances force the Rebellion into committing acts that make them no more ruthless than the regime they are facing.
Andor has been universally praised for its darker tone and for expanding upon Cassian Andor's backstory (one of the protagonists of Rogue One). Despite focusing on a doomed protagonist, it ironically makes for a much more compelling drama, because while fans may know Andor is “safe,” his fellow rebels may not be so lucky.
Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan
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Star Trek: The Original Series was as campy as they come, and while it was incredibly influential on modern media, its low budget and general production quality haven’t aged that well (and can be seen across the other Star Trek franchises too). Not to mention, this being Rodenberry’s first try at the series, it has a lot of writing flaws that showcase it’s a product of its time.
That being said, The Wrath of Khan is the culmination of all the success and experience that the show had gathered by that point. Wrath of Khan deconstructs its two main characters, Spock and Kirk, by confronting them with Khan, their most dangerous and personal foe yet. It would go on to be the only Star Trek film to receive a 15 certificate in the UK (via BBFC).
Samurai Jack
Stream On Prime Video
Samurai Jack was a show that followed the eponymous Jack, the “foolish samurai warrior” who sought to end the evil that was Aku. It was critically praised for its "increasing intensity and maturity" as well as its "action-packed" and engaging stories (via Rotten Tomatoes).
Although it seemed that Cartoon Network canceled the show after season 4 finished ended on a cliffhanger, the show eventually found a new home on Adult Swim. By making this switch, Samurai Jack was able to tell a more mature story of a heavily jaded Jack who has spent the last 50 years aimlessly wandering and killing. No longer was he just killing robots to avoid the wary eye of parents everywhere, Jack finds himself covered in buckets of blood throughout the final season, all in his quest to finally defeat Aku.
Riverdale
Stream on Netflix
Riverdale is one of the silliest yet best examples of a “dark departure” ever. Inspired by the similarly campy Afterlife with Archie, Riverdale eventually turned into a CW teen drama/Twin Peaks mashup, with several wild plots thrown in between. However, despite the criticisms shown towards it, there is a small part of fans and haters alike who can’t help but admire just how edgy the series can get despite its very family-friendly source material.
The series starts with a mysterious murder as the characters attempt to find out the truth behind it all. After that, the series took an even darker turn when it introduced serial killers, warring gangs, as well as interactions with organ farms. With its final season set to air in 2023, it's likely that Riverdale's combination of morbid material, campy humor, and over-the-top storytelling will continue to show itself.
Dragonball Z: The History of Trunks
Stream on Apple TV
Although anime has different standards as to what is okay to show to children, Dragonball and Dragonball Z were still relatively targeted at children and young teens. While the main storyline has run the gamut from silly to epic, the darkest story in the Dragonball Z era by far was The History of Trunks movie AKA, the one where almost everybody dies (and doesn’t come back).
The History of Trunks has no heroes. There are no Dragonballs. All that’s left is Gohan, Trunks, and Bulma against two genocidal androids who are more powerful than any foe they have ever faced. It is oppressively bleak, with most of the screentime dedicated to Gohan’s jaded training of Trunks or the androids’ wanton murder, and it doesn’t let up.
Doom Patrol
Stream on HBO Max
Doom Patrol takes the relatively obscure but strong superhero team and treats the misfits in its ranks with the proper chaotic storytelling the comic was famous for. (particularly Grant Morrison’s run). All of Doom Patrol’s heroes suffered some sort of horrible accident that gave them the powers they now have. Only, the trauma from these accidents has also made them very unstable people.
Despite their suffering, they band together to prove to the world that even outcasts can save the world. Doom Patrol doesn’t shy away from black comedy, swearing, and body horror thanks to its dysfunctional cast. Through all the darkness, however, Doom Patrol is a surprisingly sweet and heartwarming show about these strange metahumans who bond over their shared trauma.
The Transformers: The Movie
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The Transformers: The Movie may well be one of the most ambitious kids’ movies of yesteryear, as instead of capitalizing on the younger market with a family-friendly adventure, it tells a harrowing war story against an impossibly powerful foe. Within the first few minutes, several Autobots die, right after Unicron had devoured an entire planet, and its entire population.
While the dark direction of the movie was certainly effective, it was also a shrewd way for the toy line to sell new designs to a wider market. Unfortunately, the movie’s darker tone and killing off Optimus Prime caused it to not do as well as expected in theaters (with it earning $5 million, according to Box Office Mojo). Thankfully, the movie has since been celebrated for its boldness, despite the cynical motives.
Casino Royale
Stream on Netflix
Casino Royale was the first James Bond movie after the CGI nightmare that was Die Another Day. This movie would act as a continuity reboot for the entire franchise, and with it came a much more realistic and grounded tone. Casino Royale follows Bond as he tracks down the terrorist financier Le Chiffre.
Far from being a superhero spy adventure, Casino Royale was more akin to a political action thriller. Daniel Craig was a roughshod secret agent, replacing suave with ruthless efficiency. While movies like GoldenEye and License to Kill had taken the series in a dark direction, Casino Royale took it to new heights with its brutal action and cynical perspective on the agent’s career.
Toy Story 3
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Toy Story 3 is the end of the Andy trilogy, as it focuses on the toys dealing with the fact that their owner was now going off to college. To escape being separated, they all decided to be part of Sunny Side, a daycare where they got to be played with by children forever. However, this paradise held dark secrets, and its head honcho, Lotso, is intent on keeping those secrets that way.
Toy Story 3 deals with deeply relatable topics such as someone leaving their childhood home, finding a purpose in life after loved ones disappear, and even the finality of death. Featuring one of the saddest goodbyes in movie history, Toy Story 3 was a heartwarming send-off to their now adult audience, as they continue their life journey alongside Andy.
Logan
Stream on Disney+
While the X-Men franchise wasn’t exactly kid-friendly thanks to the violence and mature themes, it was never really dark, either. In fact, Wolverine himself was about the only edge in the entire franchise until the First Class era. So. it only made sense for Logan to be the star of its darkest movie yet. Logan is set in a future where there are no more X-Men. This wasn’t because of mutant killing robots, either, but simply because mutants had mysteriously withered away.
Logan finally allowed Wolverine to use his claws for what they were always made for: bloody action. It’s not just blood and guts that make Logan darker, however. Logan had more in common with a '70s western than it did a superhero movie, down to its cynical portrayal of humanity. Logan was the true swan song of the Fox era of X-Men movies among fans. Fittingly, it focused on Logan, the heart of the franchise.