The MCU has another win under its belt right now with the critical success of Thunderbolts*, suggesting Kevin Feige’s kingdom is back on track after a tough few years. It’s interesting, though, that the latest Marvel movie is thriving without a genuine, recognisable hero in sight. Instead, Thunderbolts* relies on a gang of villains, rogues, and outcasts to carry its story.
It says it all when Bucky Barnes is arguably the cleanest of the crew, but what this teaches us more than anything is that superhero movie fans don’t always need the good guys to have a good time. Sometimes it’s just as much fun (if not more so) to let the darker, more risky characters have their time in the spotlight. If you loved Thunderbolts* and you're looking for more comic book anti-hero movies, here are 10 recommendations for your watchlist. We'll also show you where to watch them all on streaming services in the United Kingdom.
Deadpool (2016)
Lets start with perhaps the most famous, most popular anti-hero movie of all time, Deadpool. The 'Merc with a Mouth' should have been dead and buried a long time ago after Fox’s first attempts to bring him to the big screen via X-Men Origins: Wolverine, but the thing is, Deadpool cannot be killed, and we’re so glad he was resurrected in 2016. The first Deadpool movie is riotously funny, wonderfully risky, and full of truly badass action. It’s a perfect cinematic cocktail of fun and thrills, and gives us the most ridiculous character to root for – and yet we’d do it again and again.
Dredd (2012)
From the most popular to potentially the very best comic book anti-hero movie ever made, Dredd is the kind of film that has you praying to the cinematic gods for a sequel. 13 years later, and those prayers have still not been answered, which is almost as criminal as the goings-on in Mega-City One.
From its slick, stylish action sequences to the incredible world-building and the whole circus of quirky characters, Dredd absolutely nails the grimy comic book aspect of the story and brings it all to life with brutality and bloodshed aplenty.
V for Vendetta (2006)
If you love your anti-hero movies with a healthy dose of rebellion and anarchy, then look no further than V for Vendetta. Based on a story by the legendary comic book writer Alan Moore, who we’ll talk about again momentarily, this tale of political resistance continues to be eerily prescient, perhaps more so than ever, actually.
Natalie Portman offers a thrilling lead performance, but it is Hugo Weaving as the titular V who truly shines in an intriguing and enigmatic role. The story is enthralling, the visuals are a fascinating combination of glossy and gritty, and the grand finale is explosive – to say the least.
Watchmen (2009)
Time for more from Alan Moore, but the credit for Watchmen, at least the movie, goes to Zack Snyder for filming the unfilmable. Moore’s extraordinary and ambitious graphic novel should never have made it to the big screen, and yet it did, and Snyder managed to do it with all his usual verve and bombastic spirit while ensuring the story never gets out of control.
The whole array of characters forming the titular super team come with their own quirks and feel so well fleshed out, which is astounding, considering we are thrown into their lives so abruptly. Most superhero team-up movies need years of worldbuilding to make them work. Watchmen came and went in a whirlwind, and it’s practically perfect.
Sin City (2005)
From one iconic comic book writer to another, Frank Miller takes centre stage with this one. Sin City is a gripping, gruesome revenge tale brought to life in stunning monochrome with just the odd splash of yellow and red to make the frame pop from time to time. As far as finding a genuine translation of the graphic novel style in a film, there is nothing that comes close to Sin City.
Robert Rodriguez co-directs this 2005 flick with all his usual panache and flair, while the likes of Jessica Alba, Mickey Rourke, Bruce Willis, and Rosario Dawson give us compelling and highly flawed characters to care about.
Venom (2018)
Is it a great film? Not really. But, is it fun? Absolutely. And the real bonus for anyone planning to watch Venom is, you get to see Tom Hardy completely throw himself into the most ridiculous role of his career, and he looks like he’s loving it, too.
The 2018 flick was a pleasant surprise when it hit the silver screen, bringing a wacky, manic energy to a character that has so often been the source of terror in the past. Indeed, this iteration of the classic Spider-Man villain gives him a chance to do the right thing for once, and though his moral compass may be slightly skewed, he certainly means well.
The Suicide Squad (2021)
Thankfully, James Gunn managed to wash away the bad taste of David Ayer’s attempts to bring this team to the screen, and 2021’s The Suicide Squad carries all the trademarks of the former Marvel director. It’s silly, it’s slick, and it’s stuffed with gratuitous violence, but we wouldn’t have it any other way.
Margot Robbie’s Harley Quinn leads the way, but she’s helped by the presence of Idris Elba, Peter Capaldi, David Dastmalchian, and of course, John Cena’s Peacemaker. The mission the titular anti-hero team are sent on is epic in scale and incredibly dangerous, producing some truly memorable action set-pieces along the way.
Blade (1998)
In many ways, while it’s a shame the MCU’s version of the vampire hunter isn’t coming to fruition, it’s also a blessing, because nothing would come close to the original Blade. From the very first scene–that iconic, blood-soaked nightclub entrance–through to the big showdown in Moscow, this 1998 flick is a timeless, action classic.
Wesley Snipes, quite simply, is the only man who can truly play the titular half-vampire, half-mortal. What’s more, the story itself is fascinating; is there anything more thrilling than seeing a vampire destroy his own kind to protect mankind? We think not.
Logan (2017)
If Deadpool makes the list, then you have to have Wolverine somewhere, and Hugh Jackman’s finest moment as the Adamantium-clawed, morally-flawed mutant most certainly comes in 2017’s Logan.
Playing an older, more grizzled version of the character, Jackman delivers his very best, most emotional portrayal of the hero he has made his own over the years. Indeed, Wolverine has never been a more reluctant saviour than when he is tasked with protecting young Lara. Still, that’s what makes him the perfect anti-hero; he doesn’t want to be relied upon, but he knows he is the only one up to the task.
Kick-Ass (2010)
While the major franchises have offered up plenty of brilliant anti-hero stories over the years, it’s refreshing when we see something fresh and original hitting the screen, and Kick-Ass is exactly that. Starring Aaron Taylor-Johnson as the ultimate rookie vigilante, things go awry for the newest hero on the block when he gets caught up in something far bigger than he anticipated. With the help of Hit-Girl (Chloë Grace Moretz) and Big Daddy (Nicolas Cage), Kick-Ass must bring down a whole criminal syndicate headed up by mob boss Frank D’Amico (Mark Strong).
Kick-Ass is full of blistering and brutal fight scenes, a splash of dark comedy, and a lot of heart, making it pretty much the ideal companion piece to Thunderbolts*.
Check out the list below for details on where to watch the various comic book anti-hero movies we recommended, by finding them on streaming services like Disney Plus, Netflix, Amazon Prime Video and more!
