10 Best Underrated Superhero Movies From the 2010s

Superhero movie fans remember the 2010s with pride. Thanks to Marvel, the genre became the most popular kind of big-screen offering, trumping everything else in quality and popularity. Also, thanks to Marvel Studios’ interconnected universe, audiences always looked forward to when the next movie would come out. Elsewhere, Fox continued its X-Men franchise, delivering hits like Logan and Deadpool, while Sony also blessed us with Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse. And even though DC struggled, we still got hits like The Dark Knight Rises and Wonder Woman.

Thus, anyone new to the genre has many quality films to check out from that era. Staunch superhero fans might also have been made to believe that they’ve consumed everything good that was released during the decade, but there are several other underrated films to check out. These gems mostly remained under the radar because they were eclipsed by the big-budget Marvel and DC offerings, but they’re definitely worth your time.

10

‘Fast Color’ (2018)

Ruth (Gugu Mbatha-Raw) from Fast Color is a homeless wanderer whose seizures can trigger earthquakes. She is constantly hunted down by people who want to take advantage of her powers. After years of moving from one place to another, she heads back home and reconnects with her estranged mother, who also has powers.

The World is Not the Same

This dark, detailed, and boldly inventive film, punctuated with intriguing dystopian elements, keeps its audience enthralled and guessing until the final frame. Fast Color has a cast of less than 10 people, so the viewer never gets lost in the extravaganza feel that big-budget superhero movies offer. It’s also preachy, in a good way. Apart from parenting, the superhero flick touches on themes of environmental conservation as it’s set in a world where it has rained for eight years.

9

‘Psychokinesis’ (2018)

Psychokinesis is about Seok-heon (Ryu Seung-ryong), a selfish, happy-go-lucky security guard who gains telekinetic powers after drinking water from a mountain spring hit by a meteor. He soon learns that his estranged daughter is being targeted by a construction company looking to evict her and destroy her business. He thus vows to protect her.

Doing Good, For Once

The first Korean superhero film needed to be in the right hands to lay a proper foundation. Thankfully, director Yeon Sang-ho, best known for the zombie movie Train to Busan, took over the responsibility. We thus got a perfect amalgamation of comedy, social commentary, and heroism. This kind of film would have been a global hit if it had been made in America by a big studio. But it’s never too late for rediscovery.

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8

‘Griff the Invisible’ (2010)

Griff the Invisible is about Griff (Ryan Kwanten), a socially awkward white-collar worker who often gets bullied by a colleague. Unknown to many, he is a Batman-style vigilante who takes on criminals after sunset. Things start to look up for him when he falls for his brother’s girlfriend, who has a lot in common with him regarding their perspectives.

Love is the Greatest Superpower

You’ll be awed by how Kwanten tackles a highly demanding role, playing a man rapidly approaching a total breakdown, only to have everything change for the better. Griff the Invisible also raises an important question about superhero life. Is it fun or a burden? Does Griff want to stay big and miss out on the joys of normal life — and if not, how can he juggle? Also, this expertly made indie superhero gem oozes philosophical dialogue and a dame with a smile you can feel in your groin area.

7

‘Code 8’ (2019)

Code 8

Release Date

December 6, 2019

Runtime

100 minutes

Director

Jeff Chan

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This astonishing feature centers on Connor Reed (Robbie Amell), a 26-year-old man with electrokinetic powers whose home life is fraught. His mother is ill, but there is no money. Connor thus resorts to working for a criminal syndicate, but his flirtation with crime will soon threaten his future in Code 8.

Amell at His Happy Place

It’s good to see both of the Amell cousins here, especially a suitably intense Stephen, who is very familiar with the superhero genre, having starred in Arrow. Overall, the sweeping film succeeds on all fronts, encapsulating, in just 100 minutes, the chaotic life of superheroes living in a world that oppresses them, rather than celebrates them. Discover Code 8.

6

‘SuperBob’ (2015)

SuperBob

Release Date

October 16, 2015

Runtime

82 minutes

Director

Jon Drever

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In the gentle, little-seen superhero yarn that is Superbob, socially awkward postman Robert ‘Bob’ Kenner (Brett Goldenstein) acquires powers after getting hit by a meteorite. Unable to handle his powers himself, he turns himself in to the authorities and is trained by the Department of Defence, becoming the world’s first superhero.

Bob to the Rescue

Here, director Jon Drever paints on a large immersive cinematic canvas with help from gifted cinematographer Mattias Nyberg, convincingly portraying a highly consequential, bizarre life. This was a delightful outing for Goldstein, who would go on to achieve greater success via the sports comedy-drama, Ted Lasso. Additionally, the spiritual-style soundtrack is first-rate, with catchy tunes contributed by Marcus Mumford and Tom Howe.

5

‘Chronicle’ (2010)

Chronicle

Release Date

February 1, 2012

Runtime

84 minutes

Presented in found-footage style, Chronicle follows three high school buddies who acquire telekinetic powers after discovering a mysterious crystal in an underground cave. Unfortunately, one of them irrationally begins to use his abilities for darker agendas, forcing the rest to step up and stop him.

Going Down a Dangerous Route

This harrowing, penetrating flick should have brought numerous accolades for first-time director Josh Trank. Casting Michael B. Jordan as one of the friends pays off as well here: he essays the role of an excited teen with unnerving precision. Richard Kelly also tackles the thankless role of an alcoholic father with much vim. It’s likely the movie would have been less obscure if it had been released in a less competitive year that included The Avengers, The Dark Knight Rises, and The Amazing Spider-Man.

4

‘Brightburn’ (2019)

Brightburn

Release Date

May 24, 2019

Runtime

90 Minutes

Director

David Yarovesky

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Brightburn is basically an evil Superman story. In it, a spaceship crashes into a forest in Brightburn, Kansas. A couple finds a baby from another planet inside and decides to raise him as their own. Unfortunately, when the baby grows up, he uses his superpowers malevolently rather than benevolently.

If Clark Kent Wasn’t Nice

A multilayered, nightmarish affair, Brightburn is an allegory for how people often abuse power. All the events make the main character’s mental disarray palpable, while his guardians personify the ideal of parental responsibility — compassionate, caring, and concerned. The horror elements are also neatly executed, which isn’t surprising, considering that James Gunn produced the movie.

3

‘Super Modo’ (2018)

The poignant Supa Modo concerns the life of Jo (Stycie Waweru), an optimistic nine-year-old girl with a terminal illness who desires to become a superhero. After she is released from the hospital, her villagemates work hard to make her dream a reality.

Illness as the Villain

Supa Modo is a visually pleasing film that benefits from cinematographer Enos Olik’s magical touch. Director Likarion Wainaina also makes sure most of the key boxes are ticked regarding genre basics. Most importantly, this is a refreshing story of hope, showing how the biggest obstacles can always be overcome when everyone develops a sense of humanity and togetherness.

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2

‘Turbo Kid’ (2015)

Turbo Kid

Release Date

August 15, 2015

Runtime

93 Minutes

Director

François Simard, Anouk Whissell, Yoann-Karl Whissell

The Kid (Munro Chambers) from Turbo Kid is a youngster surviving the post-apocalyptic version of 1997 by scavenging waste and trading junk. He also happens to be a huge comic book fan and, after chancing upon his favorite hero’s costume, his normal life begins to stretch out endlessly before him. The Kid’s new quest? To stop a tyrannical warlord who is capitalizing on the rare water supply.

A Fight for Water

Munro Chambers’ performance is reason enough to see this daringly activist-leaning superhero film that reminds us to protect our environment. The flick is at once playful, smart, and witty, while also ensuring the characters make time for comical asides. Engaging the brain as well as the eye, Turbo Kid is truly worth any viewer’s time.

1

‘Super’ (2010)

Super

Release Date

November 26, 2010

Runtime

96 minutes

Director

James Gunn

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James Gunn’s Super follows a short-order cook, Frank Darbo (Rainn Wilson), who believes God has chosen him to save the world. With the help of a comic book store manager, he creates a costume and starts operating under the superhero name, The Crimson Bolt. Apart from helping people, he seeks to rescue his lover from a drug baron.

Super Gunn

Super is a typical James Gunn movie. It’s not surprising that Kevin Feige signed up the director a while later. Like Gunn’s many other characters, Darbo is weird. His idea of punishing miscreants involves caning them with a pipe wrench. Many genre tropes are also subverted. For example, the hero doesn’t end up with the girl. Stay glued for that heartbreaking ending.