Comic book adaptations are hot stuff right now, with Marvel, DC, and others producing some of the best movies the genre has ever had to offer. And with more superhero movies in cinemas every year than ever before it's clear that people can't get enough of comic book adaptations.
But it's easy to forget that not all comics are about superheroes. With the medium lending itself to other kinds of stories too. Producing comics of all genres, from comedy to epic sci-fi stories to rival Star Wars and everything in between. With this in mind here are 10 great comic book adaptations, that aren't superheroes.
The quirky 2010 cult classic Scott Pilgrim was a failure at the box office, with not many people turning up to see it. But those that did see it loved it. It featured director Edgar Wright's trademark style cranked up to eleven. The film has gone on to find a wider audience due to steaming services and DVDs.
The film is based on a series of six graphic novels. Which like the movie, gained universal praise from both critics and audiences alike, for their unique sense of humor and excellent characters.
The 2013 Tom Cruise film Oblivion is surprisingly based on a comic of the same name. However, the intention had always been to produce the Oblivion film, with the comic acting as a dry run for ideas and concepts that would then appear in the film.
The devious thing is the comic was never released and instead all that remains are a series of images, that were then used to pitch the film. It's an unusual way to go about making a movie, a one we hope doesn't become common practice.
2008's Wanted is based on the Mark Millar comic of the same name. Famous for its iconic bullet bending action sequences the film features some of the most outrageous and over the top action the decade had to offer.
The adaptation swapped the comics supervillains for assassins and the film has no superhero connections, making the story all the stronger for it. Like Millar's other works the film subverts the tropes of the genre and is strictly only for adults.
Adapting the comic of the same name, 300 was directed by Zack Snyder who would go on to direct many comic book adaptions, with varying degrees of success. The film was praised for its unique visual aesthetic and style.
Featuring some of the most brutal and visceral fight scenes of any Sword and Sandals movie. The film was a smash at the box office and went on to become one of the highest-grossing films worldwide that year.
This Netflix produced supernatural horror series might surprise people when they learn that it is based on the IDW comic Locke & Key. The series has only had one season at the time time of writing but it has already been renewed for a second.
The series follows children that find mysterious keys that unlock yet more mysterious doors in magical ways. The trouble is there's also a demonic entity after the keys for his own sister reasons.
Sin City received recognition for its unique aesthetic, ripped straight from the comics it's based upon. The gritty and violent noir story takes the audience on a rollercoaster ride through the underbelly of Sin City with a cast of morally conflicted characters.
Filmed entirely against studio green-screens the film has a unique visual style like nothing else. A sequel was released in 2014, Sin City: A Dame to Kill For that failed to capture the magic of the original and was a flop at the box-office.
Based on the iconic Alan Moore comic V for Vendetta translated well onto the big screen, and although the film was dismissed by Moore, much like all other adaptations of his work, it stands on its own as a great film.
Starring Hugo Weaving as the masked vigilante V alongside Natalie Portman, the film was praised for its stunning action set pieces and powerful political themes, that have only become more relevant since the comics publication back in the 1980s.
Based on the relatively obscure Marvel comic book Men in Black was a breath of fresh air when it was released back in 1997. A time when visual effects had seemingly crept their way into every major film, often to the film's detriment.
But Men in Black used its groundbreaking special effects to enhance the story and transport audiences into the weird and wonderful world of the Men in Black. The franchise has spawned three sequels, all of which failed to capture the magic of the original.
Based upon the Kingsman comic book series, Kingsman: The Secret Service twists the spy genre on its head, with its unique visual style and elaborate action set pieces. Using the tropes of the Bond series and updating them for a real and modern world.
The film features an expectation-defying performance by Colin Firth, who plays against type to stunning success. The film too is packed with humor and great gags that adults will enjoy.
Unexpectedly 2013's Snowpiercer is based upon a French graphic novel, Le Transperceneige. The film features a group of survivors in a post-apocalyptic world where due to a failed climate experiment most of the world's population has been wiped out, leaving the world in ruin.
The film is gritty and heartbreaking, with a great ensemble cast that delivers some of the best performances of their careers. The film offers us a glimpse of a future that could become a reality if environmental warnings continue to be ignored.
