When you think of comic books coming to the big screen, you probably think of superheroes. But the world of comic book movies runs much deeper than Thor, Captain America, and Wolverine.
Here are some notable movies that might surprise you... because they were all based on comic books! It just goes to show that comic book movies can be pretty darn good—even if they don't involve the usual superheroes.
13. The Addams Family (1991)
Comic Released: 1938
The Addams Family is a weird one since it didn't originate from a comic book, but rather from a single-panel comic in The New Yorker. Also, its first adaptation wasn't a movie, but rather a TV show.
Still, one way or the other, the comic eventually found its way to the big screen. While most people think the characters came from the TV show, the comic long predated it.
12. A History of Violence (2005)
Comic Released: 1997
This is one of those comic-to-film adaptations that completely catches you off guard. It's a crime drama, which is not exactly one for which comic books are known.
The beginning of the film is very faithful to the source material, but it does veer off track in the back half. Still, it's a great film from a great bit of source material.
11. Alien Vs. Predator (2004)
Comic Released: 1989
The idea of having the creatures from Alien fight it out against Predator first came about in 1989.
It took Hollywood a long time to realize that the crossover made perfect sense, and while it wasn't exactly beloved by critics, it made a lot of money at the box office, further reminding us that comic books are silver screen gold.
10. Timecop (1994)
Comic Released: 1992
The Timecop comic didn't have a very long run, but it most definitely was the inspiration for the Jean-Claude Van Damme action classic.
The comic's full name is Time Cop: A Man Out of Time, and the plot is different from the movie, but the roots are definitely there.
9. Constantine (2005)
Comic Released: 1988
The comic book that Constantine is based on ended up being called Hellblazer, but the plot between the two is very similar.
The name was changed due to possible confusion with the horror franchise Hellraiser. Still, the film is a fairly faithful adaptation and it's quite entertaining.
8. Wanted (2008)
Comic Released: 2003
If there's one thing you probably remember about Wanted, it's the ability to curve bullets.
Seeing that might have triggered your comic senses, and you'd be correct, because five years before the movie, a series of graphic novels with the same name came out. Shockingly, curving bullets isn't even part of the comic, though.
7. Road to Perdition (2002)
Comic Released: 1998
It didn't take too long from the release of the comic for writer David Self to start working on the screenplay.
You don't watch a movie about a mobster in the great depression and think about comics, but it just goes to show how many different types of comic books are out there.
6. From Hell (2001)
Comic Released: 1989
From Hell is loosely based on the comics of the same name. Technically, the film is an adaptation of the books, but it's so incredibly different from the source material.
Still, we bet you had no idea while watching Johnny Depp that the film you were viewing was inspired by a comic book!
5. The Mask (1994)
Comic Released: 1987
I've seen The Mask at least a dozen times as a child, and I had no idea it was based on a comic book until I started researching films for this article.
The comic is much darker than the movie, but it definitely has a similar look and feel to the film. The premise of the supernatural mask that gives its wearer superpowers remains unchanged, which is key.
4. The Crow (1994)
Comic Released: 1989
The Crow is remembered as a badass action movie that ultimately ended up being the final role of Brandon Lee, as he was tragically killed during the filming of the movie.
Five years before the movie released, a comic featuring the same name was made available, and it was great.
3. Sin City (2005)
Comic Released: 1991
Sin City is one of the few on the list that actually has the comic book movie feel, but unlike your more traditional superhero movie, the plot of this is much darker and grittier, making it easier to forget where it comes from.
The movie remains relatively faithful to the graphic novel, which is quite the change from most of the films on the list.
2. V For Vendetta (2005)
Comic Released: 1982
In the case of V For Vendetta, it's really easy to forget that the comic came first because there were so many years between the two.
The movie differs substantially from its source material, which makes sense as the world was a very different place in 1982 than it was in 2005.
1. Men in Black (1997)
Comic Released: 1990
While Will Smith and Tommy Lee Jones did a fantastic job of bringing the alien hunting franchise to the big screen, there was a comic book series long before.
The movies and other adaptations veer off heavily from the comics, but the inspiration is clearly there.
