10 Superhero Movies That Broke All The Rules

Zack Snyder’s 2009 adaptation of Alan Moore and Dave Gibbons’ beloved series was met with mixed reviews at the time, but it should be given credit for, in the main, carrying across the anarchic spirit of the classic property. Like the comic, it flies so aggressively in the face of what we expect from a colourful superhero movie as to be genuinely shocking in parts.

Watchmen takes a primarily realistic approach to the notion of super-heroics (give or take a giant squid, the omission of which is one of Snyder’s most notable errors). From a certain perspective, the costumed vigilantes are heroes. They fought for America, protected its people, gave us something to believe in.

From another perspective, though, they were tools of fascism. We see the “heroes” running amok in Vietnam, carrying out assassinations, suppressing evidence of scandals. This dichotomy is best exemplified in Ozymandias, whose genuine effort to save the world necessitates the death of millions of people.

The “dark” superhero trend was underway when Watchmen came out, but for most movies that just meant a grimy colour palette and a bit more violence. While the film doesn’t succeed entirely, as a serious look at the “reality” of superheroes, it’s a winner.