With so many blockbuster superhero movies and comic book adaptations taking over Hollywood, fans have quite a few different options with more every year as new comic books are brought to life on the big screen. However, there was an earlier boom of superhero movies in the 90s that is less talked about these days.
While comic book adaptations were only just beginning to take off following successful hits starring Superman and Batman, there were a number of original superhero movies that hit theaters in the '90s, which included a brand new anti-hero from Sam Raimi that kicked off a decade of original characters fronting superhero adventures on the big screen.
10 Sam Raimi Launched The Fan-Favorite Darkman Franchise
Liam Neeson starred in Sam Raimi's cult-favorite Darkman as Dr. Peyton Westlake, a scientist working on an artificial skin substitute whose lawyer girlfriend's case against a corrupt developer led to his brutal disfigurement that left his face horribly scarred by acid. Westlake survived and was able to construct a lab to remake his skin substitute to create a replica of his face.
Unfortunately, it only lasted for 99 minutes before degrading and he wasn't able to return to his life permanently. Fearing for his girlfriend's safety, he wrapped his face and burned hands in bandages and donned a trench coat and hat to become Darkman and protect his loved ones. Darkman led to two direct-to-video sequels, as well as comics and an unaired TV pilot.
9 Doctor Mordrid Was Based On An Abandoned Doctor Strange Script
After plans for a Doctor Strange movie adaptation fell through, directors Charles and Albert Band decided to tweak the script and move forward with a new film called Doctor Mordrid which starred Jeffrey Combs as the Master of the Unknown.
Doctor Mordrid followed the mission of a wizard who was sent to protect Earth from an evil wizard named Kabal. Mordrid took on the identity of a criminal psychologist as Kabal searched for mystical artifacts that would allow him to open the gates of Hell in this forgotten superhero movie from 1992.
8 A Bullied Comic Fan Wore An Alien Cybersuit In 1997's Star Kid
Jurassic Park's Joseph Mazzello starred in 1997's Star Kid as a bullied teen named Spencer who witnesses a meteorite crash in a junkyard only to discover a rocket that contains a powerful alien suit with artificial intelligence that was revealed to be a "Phase One Close Assault Cybersuit" called Cy who bonds with Spencer who uses it to take revenge on his bully.
However, he soon finds himself hunted by an alien species known as Broodwarriors who are at war with his new suit's alien creators. Star Kid is definitely a product of the '90s and has the effects to match, though it will appeal to fans of similar films like Flight of the Navigator.
7 Trey Parker Was A Mormon Turned Adult Film Star Superhero In Orgazmo
South Park creators Trey Parker and Matt Stone have worked on a few films together outside of their hit animated series, including 1997's Orgazmo, which isn't to be confused with the 1969 giallo movie of the same name (yes, there's more than one). Orgazmo followed Mormon missionary Joe Young as he was manipulated into starring in adult films due to his martial arts skills.
While he starred as Orgazmo in the film series of the same name, Young also became a real-life superhero thanks to an invention known as the Orgasmorator in order to help protect the community. It's a ridiculous take on superhero movies but one that might appeal to fans of Parker and Stone's brand of comedy.
6 Sgt. Kabukiman N.Y.P.D. Was A Forgotten Troma Film Hero
When fans think of superheroes from shock master Troma Films, they are more than likely to think about The Toxic Avenger, though a new hero of sorts who specialized in slapstick humor appeared in the 1991 comedy Sgt. Kabukiman, N.Y.P.D.
After a New York detective was possessed by a dying Kabuki actor he was given powerful new abilities and unique new weapons that made Sgt. Kabukiman, N.Y.P.D. a cult classic, especially among fans of director Lloyd Kaufman.
5 The Meteor Man Used His Powers To Help His Community
Comedian Robert Townsend wrote, directed and starred in 1993's The Meteor Man, which followed school teacher Jefferson Reed who was struck and nearly killed by a meteorite, though it ultimately healed and empowered him.
Reed gained powerful abilities like flight, super-strength, telekinesis, healing and even the ability to communicate with dogs. He creates a costumed identity to help fight a new drug-pushing gang in his neighborhood while also dealing with other meteorite-powered characters.
4 Black Scorpion Was A Costumed Vigilante With A High-Tech Car
Roger Corman produced 1995's Black Scorpion which introduced police detective Darcy Walker who decides to use her martial arts skills and high-tech gadgets along with a transforming car to fight crime as a costumed vigilante.
Black Scorpion aired on the Showtime network and even received a sequel before it was turned into a TV series on Sci-Fi Channel that ran for one season and featured similar over-the-top characters and campy themes.
3 Blankman Wore Bulletproof Clothing As A Costumed Vigilante
Damon Wayans and David Alan Grier starred in 1994's Blankman, which introduced the brilliant but naïve Darryl Walker and his brother Kevin whose grandmother was killed in a mob-related hit in a corrupt city without police.
Darryl was inspired by his love for Batman and decided to use his inventions to become a costumed vigilante named Blankman, who wore an odd selection of clothing that was specially treated to make it bulletproof as he took the fight to the mob. Blankman has its fans, though it wasn't well-received and flopped at the box office.
2 A Powerful Iron Giant Was Inspired To Become A Superhero
1999's The Iron Giant from director Brad Bird was based on the book The Iron Man by Ted Hughes and followed a young boy as he discovered a 50-ft tall alien robot with no memory of its origins and an appetite for metal that he quickly befriended and began to teach using comic books.
The titular Iron Giant soon modeled itself after Superman, complete with his own "S" shield, and begins to save those in danger while it is hunted down by the Army in the heartwarming animated movie that celebrates the superhero and sci-fi genres in a fun and family-friendly adventure.
1 Neo Unlocked His Powerful Prophesied Abilities In The Matrix
While it might not initially seem like a superhero movie, 1999's The Matrix from The Wachowskis featured a number of superhero elements that helped reignite the genre and kick off today's hugely successful market. The Matrix introduced Keanu Reeves as Neo, a computer hacker who discovers that he is a prisoner in a virtual world.
He escapes into a post-apocalyptic future world where humans are locked in an age-old war with the machines they created. Neo is prophesied as The One and discovers his powers and abilities that open up with his realization of the real world which launched the successful trilogy that is set to continue with The Matrix 4.