10 Best Comic Book Adaptations Ever

1. Spider-Man 2

2. Superman

3. American Splendor

4. Batman Begins

5. A History Of Violence

6. The Dark Knight

7. Constantine

8. Road To Perdition

9. The Crow

10. Watchmen: The Ultimate Cut

And the worst: V For Vendetta

Quote:

Originally Posted by Art Decade 

1. Spider-Man 2

2. Superman

3. American Splendor

4. Batman Begins

5. A History Of Violence

6. The Dark Knight

7. Constantine

8. Road To Perdition

9. The Crow

10. Watchmen: The Ultimate Cut

 

And the worst: V For Vendetta

V for Vendetta? V for Vendetta is the worst? In the history of comic book adaptations, V for Vendetta is the worst? 
 

Spider-Man 2

V For Vendetta

The Dark Knight

Superman

Watchmen

Batman Returns

Scott Pilgrim vs the World

Constantine

The Crow

Ghost World

Persepolis

I'm including a few manga adaptations, just because

1. Oldboy
2. Spider-Man 2
3. Lone Wolf and Cub: Baby Cart at the River Styx
4. Constantine
5. Punisher: War Zone
6. X2
7. Ghost in the Shell
8. Akira
9. Batman Returns
10. Scott Pilgrim

Gabe and Art Decade obviously haven't seen Catwoman.

Nice to see some Batman Returns love. I still prefer it over the Dark Knight, even though it's practically apples and oranges.

Spike, you have Constantine on your list twice. I'm assuming that was a flub.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nexus-7 

Gabe and Art Decade obviously haven't seen Catwoman.

 

Nice to see some Batman Returns love. I still prefer it over the Dark Knight, even though it's practically apples and oranges.

 

Spike, you have Constantine on your list twice. I'm assuming that was a flub.

I like it THAT much. 

Actually it was a flub. I was surprised at how hard I found this to be. There are a bunch of Superhero films I enjoy, The Incredible Hulk, Iron Man, Batman Begins, but not many I'd actually happily call 'good'. 

Captain America: The First Avenger (Joe Johnston, 2011)

The Dark Knight (Christopher Nolan, 2008)

Iron Man (Jon Favreau, 2008)

Kick-Ass (Matthew Vaughn, 2010)

Scott Pilgrim Vs. The World (Edgar Wright, 2010)

Sin City (Robert Rodriguez & Frank Miller, 2005)

Spider-Man 2 (Sam Raimi, 2004)

Superman (Richard Donner, 1978)

V For Vendetta (James McTeigue, 2005)

X-Men: First Class (Matthew Vaughn, 2011)

Unfortunately, there are way too many that I haven't seen yet.

1) Scott Pilgrim - The closest thing I've ever seen to the feel of a comic book being embodied on film. Love it unabashedly.

2) The Dark Knight - I know it has lots of problems. I know it's too long. I don't care. Such a great cast.

3) X2 - Seriously underrated. The opening with Nightcrawler is one of my favorite action scenes of recent memory.

4) Spider-Man 2 - Another film that just captured the feel of a comic book really well. Just got the character of Parker perfectly.

5) Iron Man - Basically instantly made you read every future Iron Man comic picturing Stark as RDJ. Such a perfect fit, and the movie just coasts on his charisma.

6) Hellboy 2 - Surprised this hasn't showed up on anyone's list yet, given the love for GDT around here. Just love how unique it feels in all the character design.

7) A History of Violence - It isn't my favorite just because it isn't really my cup of tea, but I won't deny it's really well done, and there are some great moments.

8) V for Vendetta - It isn't as good as the comic, but what is when it comes to Alan Moore? It's heavy-handed, but I enjoy it a lot anyway.

9) Batman Begins - I'm a Nolan fanboy, and I've got a soft spot for Ra's.

10) Batman (1966) - "Some days you just can't get rid of a bomb!"

Quote:

Originally Posted by JacknifeJohnny 

 

V for Vendetta? V for Vendetta is the worst? In the history of comic book adaptations, V for Vendetta is the worst? 
 

Well...ok, Batman & Robin is actually the worst.

But V4V is my all-time favorite comic, I'd waited 20 years for an adaptation & they butchered it. They absolutely fucking butchered it.

It's great to see Constantine get some love. It ain't perfect but it's the gift that keeps on giving.

EDIT:

1. Spider-Man 2

2. Superman

3. American Splendor

4. Batman Begins/The Dark Knight

5. A History Of Violence/Road To Perdition (I'm cheating here but these 2 films are pretty much the same animal: same tone, same themes, same quality of execution)

6. Constantine

7. The Incredible Hulk

8. Scott Pilgrim Vs. The World

9. The Crow

10. Watchmen: The Ultimate Cut

Oldboy

Ghost World

Spider-Man 2

Scott Pilgrim Vs. The World

A History Of Violence

The Dark Knight

Battle Royale

Iron Man

Ghost In The Shell

Sin City

Honorable Mention:

All 6 Lone Wolf and Cub films

Of course, I keep fighting the urge to put The Incredibles on here.

1. A History of Violence

2. The Dark Knight

3. Men In Black

4. Kick Ass

5. X-Men 2

6. Iron Man

7. Batman Begins

8. Blade 2

9. Road to Perdition

10. 300 

1. Constantine

2. Oldboy

3. Batman Returns

4. X2

5. Spiderman 2

6. Kick Ass

7. The Crow

8. The Dark Knight

9. A History of Violence

10. Battle Royale

Honorable Mention: Wanted, for not sucking...

Quote:

Originally Posted by Evi 

1. Constantine

 

(blinks, rubs eyes)

In no particular order:

1) The Rocketeer
2) Spider-Man 2

3) Ghost World

4) Creepshow

5) Batman: Mask of the Phantasm

6) X2: X-Men United

7) A History of Violence

8) Oldboy

9) Superman the Movie

10) The Crow

Quote:

Originally Posted by Art Decade 

 

Well...ok, Batman & Robin is actually the worst.

 

But V4V is my all-time favorite comic, I'd waited 20 years for an adaptation & they butchered it. They absolutely fucking butchered it.

 

It's great to see Constantine get some love. It ain't perfect but it's the gift that keeps on giving.

 

I love the comic, and I don't really agree that they butchered it. It's got a heart and mind, it's sincere, and it actually makes an attempt to engage the material and make it relevant to today (something Watchmen categorically fails to do, but that's a whole other tired conversation) but it is ultimately a little too slick for its own good and it lacks a lot of the nuance of Moore's work. That said, I actually consider it to be the best Alan Moore adaptation, which is totally faint praise.

Sorry for the derail, carry on, nothing to see here.

No love for Blade? Or the superior Blade 2??

I wouldn't call Blade 2 superior. They both have problems, but Blade is a better vampire action flick and Blade 2 is a better vampire horror flick. Also it's weird how Blade starts out AMAZING and then whittles down, while Blade 2 starts out rather weak and just keeps getting better and better. If anyone puts Trinity on their list I'll kick them in the genitals.

I'll get a list on here soon. Still trying to figure out my order. I think I'll keep it to western comics to simplify things. (Oldboy and Akira would rank high otherwise)

1. Blade Trinity

2. Captain America (1990)

3. Tank Girl

4. Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer

5. League of Extraordinary Gentlemen

6. Nick Fury: Agent of Shield (1998)

7. Fantastic Four (1994) & (2005)

8. Spawn

9. Dennis the Menace (1993)

10. Ghost World

I won't kick you in the genitals, because your list is too damn good.

Reminds me I still need to see Ghost World though.

I'm probably the only person who hates Batman Forever more than Batman and Robin. B&R had a purity to its shittiness that I tend to admire. Forever was just a real kick in the balls after the Keaton/Burton movies, so Batman and Robin was like the aftershock of the Schumacher fuckery.

1. "X2: X-Men United"

2. "The Rocketeer"

3. "Men in Black" - Loved it as a kid. Was pleasantly surprised by how well it holds up after watching it again recently.

4. "Superman II" - Kind of falls apart at the end due to shoddy special effects, but Terence Stamp carries it and elevates it to greatness.

5. "American Splendor" - Possibly the most honest movie I've ever seen. Not a trace of pretension or contrivance.

7. "The Dark Knight"

8. "Watchmen"

I still think it's better than either of them. More streamlined, less bloated, and emotionally resonant without ever going overboard with the angst or sorrow (except in that unfortunate scene with Cyclops and Wolverine going all weepy ). As I was making this list, I thought of "Crumb", which I just saw for the first time recently. I don't know if it would count, but I wondered if it might, since it's similar to "American Splendor". While it is technically a documentary, certain parts are literally right out of a comic book.

1.  Superman

2.  X2: X-Men United

3.  Scott Pilgrim vs The World

4.  Ghost World

5.  Oldboy

6.  Blade 2

7.  Batman Begins

8.  V For Vendetta

9.  American Splendor

10.  The Phantom  (yeah, I went there.)

I see some have listed "Battle Royale" but is it eligible? I thought it was an adaptation of the novel and not the manga which was only released a month before the film.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ratty 

10.  The Phantom  (yeah, I went there.)

Hey, evil ain't gonna slam itself.

"The Shadow" isn't in the list? I thought there were some nice ideas and Penelope Ann Miller has never looked more gorgeous here.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sherman Davies 

In no particular order:

 

1) The Rocketeer
2) Spider-Man 2

3) Ghost World

4) Creepshow   <----------

5) Batman: Mask of the Phantasm

6) X2: X-Men United

7) A History of Violence

8) Oldboy

9) Superman the Movie

10) The Crow

Are you referring to the Bernie Wrightson adaptation of the screenplay?

1. Batman Returns

2. Spider-Man 2

3. The Dark Knight

4. A History of Violence

5. X2

6. Watchmen

7. The Crow

8. Scott Pilgrim vs. the World

9. Iron Man

10. Road to Perdition

This was way more difficult than I was expecting.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Agent Z 

Are you referring to the Bernie Wrightson adaptation of the screenplay?

No, but Creepshow is essentially EC Comics: The Movie. Many movies people are listing here (Spider-Man 2, The Dark Knight, etc...) aren't direct adaptations of a single work like Watchmen or Ghost World.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Andrew Merriweather 

(blinks, rubs eyes)

It's in random order. But even so, Constantine would be up there. It's just totally up my alley.

Peter Stormare is so batshit insane/perfect as the Devil that I wish the rest of the film had matched up to him.

In alphabetical order...

Batman

Batman Begins

Ghost World

The Punisher (1989)

The Rocketeer

Scott Pilgrim Vs. The World

Sin City

Spider-Man

Superman

Watchmen

Honorable mention goes to Batman Returns. It is actually a superior artistic achievement to Batman... But it's not really a very faithful adaptation. Though it plays very much like a live-action graphic novel. Tim Burton's Batman, if you will. In some ways, it's similar to what Frank Miller tried to do with The Spirit but more successful.

Also, I think The Dark Knight is a great film. But, ultimately, Begins feels more like a comic book to me. That's why it's on the list instead.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gabe T 

I had no idea people liked Constantine so much. I remember seeing it with a full house, and actual BOOING erupted when he pops that piece of gum at the end.

And they were right to boo that singular mis-characterization. But momentary flaws like that are well over-shadowed by the wealth of stuff they did get right.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sherman Davies 

No, but Creepshow is essentially EC Comics: The Movie. Many movies people are listing here (Spider-Man 2, The Dark Knight, etc...) aren't direct adaptations of a single work like Watchmen or Ghost World.

 

Yes, but Creepshow is a pastiche, not an adaptation, which is what the title of the thread specifies. Tales from the Crypt (1972) and Vault of Horror (1973) qualify more than Creepshow. Actually, I think an argument can be made that The Dark Knight very nearly qualifies as a loose adaptation of specific stories, rather than simply being "based on characters published in DC Comics".

Quote:

Originally Posted by felix 

"The Shadow" isn't in the list? I thought there were some nice ideas and Penelope Ann Miller has never looked more gorgeous here.

Based on a series of magazine stories and a radio show. It was a comic strip (briefly) and, much later, a comic book, but comics are not its originating medium. I wouldn't count THE SHADOW (Well, I wouldn't count it anyway, I can't stand the movie).

1. THE CASTLE OF CAGLIOSTRO

2. SUPERMAN

3. CITY HUNTER

4. IRON MAN

5. DANGER DIABOLIK

6. LADY SNOWBLOOD

7. FEMALE PRISONER # 701: BEAST STABLE

8. BABY CART AT THE RIVER STYX

9. TALES FROM THE CRYPT (1972)

10. FLASH GORDON

Honorable mention: FANTASTIC FOUR (2005), THE PHANTOM, DICK TRACY

Quote:

Originally Posted by Malmordo 

Based on a series of magazine stories and a radio show. It was a comic book (briefly) but that's not its originating medium. I wouldn't count THE SHADOW (Well, I wouldn't count it anyway, I can't stand the movie).

 

1. THE CASTLE OF CAGLIOSTRO

2. SUPERMAN

3. CITY HUNTER

4. IRON MAN

5. DANGER DIABOLIK

6. LADY SNOWBLOOD

7. FEMALE PRISONER # 701: BEAST STABLE

8. BABY CART AT THE RIVER STYX

9. TALES FROM THE CRYPT (1972)

10. FLASH GORDON

 

Honorable mention: FANTASTIC FOUR (2005), THE PHANTOM, DICK TRACY

 

 

 

Now that's a list. Nice one, Mal.

Thanks, El.

And yours?

I was wrong to leave Flash Gordon off of mine. I revisited it recently and it really is delightful.

No Ninja Turtles love?

I didn't realize this could be considered a comic book adaptation. I would have included it if I'd known. I'm not a big fan or expert when it comes to anime, but this is my favourite of all the anime I've seen. I liked it more than any of the Miyazaki movies I've watched (of which I only enjoyed some of the earlier ones).

I love Ang Lee's Hulk. The Shadow is the tops too. Fucking underrated.

I'm with a few of the cool kids on Danger Diabolik's awesomeness. The entire movie is one of my favorite pieces of pop art from front to back, and that's not even including Marisa "Oh god INSTANT LOVE" Mel being involved.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Naisu Baddi 

I didn't realize this could be considered a comic book adaptation. I would have included it if I'd known. I'm not a big fan or expert when it comes to anime, but this is my favourite of all the anime I've seen. I liked it more than any of the Miyazaki movies I've watched (of which I only enjoyed some of the earlier ones).

Half of the titles on my list are from manga.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ali 

The Shadow is the tops too. Fucking underrated.

David Koepp ruins just about everything he touches, and to cast Ian McKellan and Jonathan Winters in nothing roles is beyond foolish. The set design is the best thing about the movie.

Yeah, The Shadow is a great looking picture with a very good cast. It astounded me then, as now, how completely they dropped the ball.

I always thought The Shadow started out as a radio serial, not a comic book.

<edit>

Wikipedia to the rescue, The shadow started out as a radio serial made by a pulp detective magazine. In the beginning, 1930, it was just a radio serial, but then as it's popularity increased  The Shadow ran as a radio serial and a pulp detective magazine a year later, the comics didn't enter the picture until 1940's

I'm sure the comics have their own take on the character and therefore The Shadow does belong in the list and I'm just nitpicking.

1. V for Vedetta

2. Hulk

3. Spider-man 2

4. American Splendor

5. The Dark Knight

6. X2

6. Ghostworld

7. Watchmen

8. Thor

9. Iron Man

10. The Crow

Best Comic Book Movie Not Based On A Comic Book - Creepshow