With so many movies crowding the superscape these days, it can be difficult for a new cape and cowl release to stand out, but one surefire way is to contribute to a part of the genre that isn't overcrowded; superhero comedies. Thunder Force, Netflix's outrageous superhero comedy finds its niche as a winning amalgamation of hilarity and heart. At a time when superhero movies are reinforcing grit and realism, it's refreshing to enjoy a movie that lampoons many of the most pervasive superhero tropes without being part of either the MCU or DCEU.
There hasn't been a large swathe of superhero comedies in recent years, rather superhero movies that happen to have comedic elements, like Ant-Man or Guardians of the Galaxy. There hasn't been a well-established standard of excellence, because, for every spunky cult classic like Mystery Men, there's an incredibly overwrought Superhero Movie. Finding ways to incorporate a fun plot and memorable characters with an insightful perspective on the superhero genre isn't easy, but these movies prove that it can be done and done well.
Thunder Force - Available on Netflix
When two childhood friends Lydia and Emily(Melissa McCarthy and Octavia Spencer, respectively) reunite as adults, they don't just rekindle their friendship - they become a dynamic duo fighting the supervillains (Miscreants) that have been terrorizing the world since a mysterious event granted them strange powers in the '80s.
Through the use of Emily's secret serum, they're the only ones who can take on The King (Bobby Cannavale) and his goons, but life as a superhero takes some major adjustments. Underestimated and ridiculed, they set out to prove that women of any size–and any age–can save the world.
Mystery Men - Available on Netflix
When Champion City's superhero Captain Amazing (Greg Kinnear) gets kidnapped by the evil Casanova Frankenstein (Geoffrey Rush), it's up to seven amateur heroes to come to his rescue and make a name for themselves in the process. Their superpowers, which involve the ability to hurl silverware with lightning speed and shovel competently, are put to the ultimate test while they try to work together as a team.
Ahead of its time when it was released in 1999, Mystery Men has since gained a cult following for fans of its unique blend of dry humor and slapstick comedy. It's "terribly mysterious" why The Shoveler (William H. Macy), The Blue Raja (Hank Azaria), The Bowler (Janeane Garofalo), Mr. Furious (Ben Stiller), Spleen (Paul Reubens), the Invisible Boy (Kel Mitchell), and Sphinx (Wes Studi) weren't turned into franchise leads!
Supervized - Available on Hulu
Despite it being "A Super Place To Retire", the residents of the Danmanor senior home would give anything to get back to the crime-fighting days of their youth, but even superheroes age out of the butt-kicking business. One particular former super named Ray (Tom Berenger), who lives with his former side-kick, former rival (Louis Gossett Jr.), and former flame (Fionnula Flanagan) finds a way to swing back into action by solving the mysterious death of one of his peers.
The movie uses humor to tackle the topic of aging, and how all seniors, whether they have incredible superpowers or not, at some point age out of relevance. Their universal superpower becomes invisibility as they must find new ways to retain interest in them and their endeavors.
Thor: Ragnarok - Available on Disney+
The third outing in the Thor franchise is a hilarious romp that finds the God of Thunder (Chris Hemsworth) imprisoned at the other side of the universe and at the mercy of Grandmaster (Jeff Goldblum) and his gladiatorial games. The bulk of the movie focuses on the friends -and foes- he acquires along the way as he works to end his sentence, and stop Hela (Cate Blanchett) from destroying Asgard.
Director Taika Waititi decided to take the franchise down a different path, introducing a comedic perspective to the action that had never been so openly embraced before, particularly when focusing on the Avenger's most serious member. Downright silly at times, it's also a breath of fresh air after the very dour Thor 2.
The Incredibles - Available on Disney+
At a time when using their superpowers to fight evil doers could get them thrown in jail, Mr. Incredible and his family fight back against a terrible new villain and the banality of society in one of the most beloved comedic superhero movies of all time.
Appearing a few years before the MCU kicked off with movies like Iron Man, The Incredibles was one of the early superhero movies to slyly incorporate meta messages and themes about the superhero genre in general echoed by the fandom.
Sky High - Available on Disney+
When your dad is The Commander (Kurt Russell), one of the world's greatest superheroes, it can be hard to live up to the family standard. Will Stronghold (Michael Angarano) attempts to develop his own superpowers by attending Sky High, the floating high school specifically for students with special abilities.
As Will tries to become a superhero (rather than a sidekick), his greater challenge will ultimately be trying to stop a fellow classmate (and the daughter of a supervillain) from seeking revenge against his father. This oft-neglected Disney gem is not only a heartwarming family movie, it challenges a lot of superhero stereotypes with sharp and snappy dialogue, and deserves a sequel.
Shazam! - Available to buy on Amazon Prime Video
Most DCEU movies are known for their gritty realism and dark storylines, Shazam! breaks the mold and follows the pattern of plucky Marvel movies while maintaining its own unique tone. It focuses on young teen Billy Batson who, after acquiring mystical abilities from a mysterious wizard, is able to transform into a fully adult superhero when he shouts the magic word, "Shazam!"
Like a superhero version of the '80s classic Big, Billy is still a kid at heart no matter how strapping he is as Shazam, with heartwarming moments of self-discovery and hilarious confusion ensues as he tries to juggle his responsibilities as a growing boy and saving the world from Dr. Thaddeus Sivana (Mark Strong).
Deadpool - Available on Hulu and Cinemax
After a decade of development with star Ryan Reynolds as its champion, a stand alone Deadpool movie finally arrived to give the Merc with a Mouth his own platform for mayhem. He portrays a mercenary who becomes an unlikely superhero after government experiments leave him with incredible regenerative abilities (but incredibly scarred).
Known for his colorful wisecracking personality (which includes plenty of adult humor), the Deadpool character has had a large devoted following for some time outside of the MCU, and this movie finally allows him to be presented as he appears in the comics (which explains its R-rating).
Kick-Ass - Available on Peacock
Dave Lizewski (Aaron Johnson) has always wanted to become a superhero, but without any superpowers or unlimited funds, he's had to settle for making his own costume and prowling his city at night looking for crimes to stop. He eventually teams up with Big Daddy (Nicolas Cage) and his snarky eleven-year-old daughter Hit-Girl (Chloë Grace Moretz) to take down the notorious crime lord Frank D'Amico (Mark Strong),
With its awkward humor, unapologetically brutal violence, and winning cast, Kick-Ass is the Napoleon Dynamite of superhero movies and offers a particular perspective on the genre that's completely its own.
The Meteor Man
Written, directed, and starring Robert Townsend, The Meteor Man follows a kindly teacher (Townsend) who tries his best to work with the kids in a tough neighborhood plagued by gang violence. After a random meteor strikes him he starts developing incredible abilities and decides to awkwardly begin life as a superhero, even though his new superpowers don't always function the way he'd like.
Featuring an almost entirely Black cast including James Earl Jones, Eddie Griffin, Marla Gibbs, Robert Guillaume, Don Cheadle, and Sinbad, this inspirational comedy is still impacting the genre over 25 years later, paving the way for Steel, Spawn, and Black Panther.