When looking at comic book movies, most people discuss Marvel and DC, as those are the two biggest comic book companies in the world. These two companies also offer the biggest movies, with Warner Bros. owning DC while Disney owns Marvel. However, those are not the only two comic book companies, and they are not the only comic book movies.
Outside of the big two, there are several critically acclaimed movies that originated as indie comic book titles from companies like Dark Horse, Image, and more. These movies also became fan favorites, with voters on Letterboxd ranking them among their favorite comic book adaptations.
The Crow (1994) - 3.6
Released in 1994, The Crow has become a cult classic for several reasons. Tragically, it lives in infamy since Brandon Lee died while making the movie. There were also several sequels that fans and critics panned. However, the original movie remains a favorite, with a gothic atmosphere, a '90s-era grunge soundtrack, and an impressive performance by Lee.
Based on the comic by James O'Barr and published by Caliber Press, the story of a man who returns from the grave to avenge his death connected with viewers.
Sin City (2005) - 3.6
In 1991, Frank Miller brought Sin City to life in a comic book published by Dark Horse. It was an immediate hit, the story showing corruption and sin in a town where there were very few good guys and even the law favored the villains.
In 2005, Robert Rodriguez created one of the most faithful comic book movies ever. Rodriguez shot the movie in front of a blue screen and then had background images from the comics re-created in his movie's world. Fans loved it and it received positive reviews and several genre movie awards.
Ghost World (2001) - 3.7
Daniel Clowes created the story Ghost World from 1993 to 1997 in the comic book Eightball. He then released it as a full book in 1997 through Fantagraphics Books. The story followed two high school graduates who weren't ready to move on to the adult world yet. They wandered around their town, met various people, and finally realized what they were meant to do.
Terry Zwigoff adapted the book into a 2001 movie with Scarlett Johansson, Thora Birch, and Steve Buscemi all giving standout performances in the lead roles. It picked up an Oscar nomination for Best Adapted Screenplay and remains a cult favorite for its unique tone.
Snowpiercer (2013) - 3.7
Snowpiercer has developed into a successful television series on TNT, but before this, it was a minor hit with the 2013 movie directed by Bong Joon-ho, who won mad history at the Oscars years later with the fellow class satire movie Parasite. The movie and Snowpiercer TV show both follow the same story.
Climate change caused the Earth to freeze and the only survivors were those who made it aboard a self-sustaining train, divided by class ranking. The movie is based on the French comic book Le Transperceneige by Jacques Lob, published by Titan Comics, and perfectly mixes its weirder and darker ideas with relatable social commentary.
A History Of Violence (2005) - 3.7
There are several movies that fans might not know came from DC and Marvel. An example is Sam Mendes's Road to Perdition, which was published by DC Comics imprint, Paradox Press. Paradox Press is an imprint of DC Comics but remains a separate entity as it is not about superheroes. It also released the comic A History of Violence, and its movie adaptation ranks high with movie fans on Letterboxd.
David Cronenberg directed the film, which starred Viggo Mortensen as a man trying to start a new life until his past catches up with him. The movie's handling of both extreme violence and weighty drama places it instantly above any watered-down comic book adaptations designed for mass appeal, but they keep it wholly crowd-pleasing.
American Splendor (2003) - 3.7
American Splendor is a unique comic book movie based on a comic series that author Harvey Pekar created through his own imprint before moving over to Dark Horse Comics. The movie, though, was based on Pekar's life. American Splendor uses animation and live-action to both tell the story of Pekar's life as a comic book creator while also sprinkling in parts of his comics for effect.
The movie quickly became a cult favorite and picked up an Oscar nomination for the screenplay with Paul Giamatti delivering an inspiringly great comic book movie lead performance without any action or heroics.
We Are the Best! (2013) - 3.8
One of the most popular, yet least known movies based on a comic book, is the 2013 release, We Are the Best! Swedish director Lukas Moodyssoon directed the drama, based on the comic book Never Goodnight by his wife, Coco Moodysson.
The story focuses on two 13-year-old girls who are not popular because of their intense love for punk rock. The two end up starting a band to get back at some teenage boys in a hard rock band that mocked them and invite a talented guitar student into the band, and the three finally come into their own. The child performances really make it stand out, with both critics and fans praising its feel-good approach to the coming-of-age narrative.
Scott Pilgrim Vs. The World (2010) - 3.9
From 2004-2010, one of the most popular indie-published comics was Bryan Lee O'Malley's Scott Pilgrim Vs. The World. Released digitally and then through Oni Press as a black and white series, Scott Pilgrim Vs. The World told the story of a slacker named Scott Pilgrim who wants to date Romona Flowers but has to defeat all her evil exes in battle first.
Edgar Wright directed the movie adaptation in 2010 with Michael Cera in the lead role, and while it was a box office bomb, it remains highly rated by fans on Letterboxd. Wright's signature comedy shines through in the film and several famous superhero actors make appearances, making it a comic book movie experience in a league of its own.
Akira (1988) - 4.2
Akira is a Japanese cyberpunk manga that ran from 1982 to 1990. While Marvel Comics brought it to America, the original publisher was Kodansha Comics in North America. The story takes place in a post-apocalyptic future in a fictional town called Neo-Tokyo and features several people attempting to stop Tetsuo from using his telekinetic powers to destroy the city and awaken the mysterious Akira.
In 1988, Katsuhiro Otomo directed the animated movie Akira, standing the test of time as one of the best and most well-known anime movies ever released thanks to its impressive visual style and seminal designs.
Oldboy (2003) - 4.3
The manga Old Boy ran from 1996 to 1998 by Garon Tsuchiya and Nobuaki Minegishi. The story featured a man named Shinichi kidnapped and held captive for 10 years. One day, his captors release him into a world he no longer recognizes. He then realizes the man who held him captive is still playing a game with his life.
There have been two film adaptations of Oldboy, one in 2003 by Park Chan-wook and the second in 2013 by Spike Lee. The 2003 version of Oldboy remains one of the most beloved non-Marvel or DC comic book movies ever made for its uncompromising story and brilliantly unconventional action.