Marvel has created an impressive, interconnected universe all over again in the last decade. There is always new content in a variety of genres, but sometimes, it can be fun to see what else is out there. When it’s time to branch out, it can be hard to know where to start.
There are a lot of movies that combine sci-fi and fun in the way that the MCU has built itself upon. Whether they’re superpowered or not, these films carry the same qualities that fans love about the MCU films. They can also push some of the themes from those favorite movies further than the MCU has dared.
10 Mystery Men: A Superhero Parody Released A Decade Too Early
Loosely based on Bob Burden’s work, in 1999, Mystery Men crashed awkwardly into the superhero genre. The team butting heads and generally being awful at being superheroes gives them their charm, even in the darker storyline. It is a classic example of seeking approval, and baring that, getting the attention you want.
While they are not overly successful, the Mystery Men do form a team eventually and sort of save the day. It turns out that the drama among the Avengers is not unique, but there are definitely different ways to fight amongst a team.
9 The Old Guard: Explores A World Inhabited By Centuries-Old Warriors
Based on the Image comics by Greg Rucka and Leandro Fernandez, The Old Guard came to Netflix in 2020 with Charlize Theron leading the rush. A team of immortals finds a new member of their blessed (or cursed?) numbers. The story shown in the movie focused on the influence that the Old Guard has on the people they interact with and the way they’ve influenced the world around them.
With Eternals coming out this year, the comparison of long-lived heroes considering their mark on the world is an easy one to make. Fans that are itching to see Eternals might be able to take the edge off with the Old Guard.
8 The Losers: A Team Of Anti-Heroes Portrayed By Multiple MCU Alumni
Government agents going off-book to save the world and clear their names— this could very easily apply to any of the MCU’s spies but it’s also the story of The Losers. There are several MCU cast members in this one, including Chris Evans, Idris Elba and Zoe Saldana. This movie has been repeatedly memed, and Chris Evans’ character singing Journey’s “Don’t Stop Believin’” is still a fan-favorite moment.
The movie stands up to multiple views and it has the same vibe that most of the MCU has cultivated, with equal parts wit, action, and heart.
7 Hellboy II – The Golden Army: One Of The Comic Book Movie Genre’s Most Underrated Gems
Magic, elves and demons face the end of the world in New York City. While it didn’t do as well as the first Hellboy movie, Hellboy II: The Golden Army dove deep into the magical lore of the world around the Bureau for Paranormal Research and Defense.
For the more magically minded Marvel fans, the Hellboy universe is a great mix of magic and more street level storytelling. The Golden Army also deals with the idea of supremacy in a more magical way.
6 Enola Holmes: The Younger Sister Of The Famous Detective Carves Her Own Path
This teenaged genius tracks clues and solves mysteries. The story focuses on the intelligence and cunning of its heroine. Intelligence as a superpower has been a major game changer in the MCU, with Shuri using her genius to save lives and solve problems. Enola would be right at home with the Marvel geniuses.
That genius connection, Enola Holmes is a great change of pace for MCU fans looking for more mystery and fewer explosions. A sequel to this Netflix Original movie is currently in the works.
5 Ocean’s 8: One Of The Most Successful Female Ensemble Action Films Ever
The most financially successful movie in the Ocean’s franchise, 2018’s female led team of thieves and their take on the Met Gala is a fun and stylized take on the original male dominated versions. Specialized skills and fashionable undercover work abound, and it’s easy for SHIELD-focused MCU fans looking for a more female driven story to get on board.
The MCU has been fixing its representation problems lately, but Ocean’s 8 all-star cast did it bigger and better, especially since the MCU has yet to commit to an all-female team to front an entire film.
4 Push: Deals With The Conflict Of Having Superpowers & What It Means To Use Them Responsibly
The government is hunting people with powers and experimenting on them. When one of the experiments gets out, the hunt is on, both for the government agents and the powered individuals that are avoiding her fate.
Push has a darker edge than the MCU, but it touches on a lot of the same ideas relating to power and responsibility and oversight. The government agents are definitely the bad guys in the Push universe, and the super powered heist in the last act set up a sequel that never came.
3 The Incredibles: The Closest There Has Been To A Great Fantastic Four Film (So Far)
The preeminent super family movie, this Pixar classic is a great introduction to the family dynamics within superhero stories. It is often referred to as the best Fantastic Four adaptation so far, due to that family dynamic and similar powers among a few of them members. It’s easy to see how this feels more like the comics than the more recent attempts to bring Marvel’s first family to film.
While it might not satisfy the fans of darker themes that the MCU has touched on, it carries a lot of the same fun and the same moral dilemma when it comes to the use of power for good or for evil.
2 Watchmen: Still Zack Snyder’s Best Comic Book Movie?
The ultimate commentary on the dark side of superheroing, and now a part of the DC canon universe, Watchmen is a go-to for those looking for an edgier and darker take. It’s a must watch as a comic book adaptation.
None of the heroes are particularly good people, though some of them do some good things, and the actions that would traditionally show who the bad guys are eventually make the world a better place, despite the “good” guys’ efforts. Watchmen is one of the most recommended comic book movies online, and it’s there for all the right reasons.
1 Brightburn: A Look At What Happens When A “Bad” Kid Discovers He Has Superpowers
What would happen if a super powered child had no real direction or moral compass? Brightburn tackles the possibility that not every super-person would have the chance or the want to be good.
This focus on this child’s dark intentions makes this movie more of a horror than a superhero movie, but for any fans that have considered what would happen if any of the good guys went bad, or had started out bad, it’s a great exploration of that.
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