15 Alternative Superhero And Comic Book Movies You Must See

Who needs the MCU?

They Call Me Jeeg
Lucky Reed

It's undeniable that the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) has brought superheroes and comic book adaptations back to the forefront of popular culture with a colossal bang, but now that the main MCU story arc is over, where are you going to get your next superhero fix?

There are a tonne of well-known superhero movies already out there, from the original Batman films and the Batman reboots to the original Spiderman films, the Spiderman reboots and the reboots of those reboots... you get the idea...and of course there's also the next phase in Marvel's own universe, but aren't these huge bombastic Hollywood blockbusters becoming tiresome after an unrelenting decade?

But what real alternatives are available out there? Well, how about the lesser-known films, the underappreciated heroes, the forgotten gems, the cult classics and the foreign oddities that'll have you asking, "MCU who?".

15. Chronicle (2012)

Andrew has a tough family life, he's not cool, he's regularly bullied and he has no friends. Typical superhero set-up. When he and fellow high schoolers Matt and Steve are exposed to a strange alien artefact in the woods, their lives are changed forever as they begin to develop heightened abilities.

The story is told through the video clips that Andrew and his new friends film and we watch them test out their new powers, mostly by playing pranks and messing around in typical teenager fashion. Eventually, though, the film takes a dark turn as Andrew battles with his inner demons and his newfound abilities.

At times the found footage style of Chronicle can feel somewhat forced, especially towards the end, where the action takes on a much broader scale. Despite that there's a decent story being told here (one that gets pretty brutal indeed), the principal cast is great and the special effects get the job done.

Despite going off the rails a little towards the end, Chronicle is a unique and enjoyable ride.

Contributor
Contributor

Christopher is a freelance pop culture writer, podcaster and self-confessed nerd from Scotland. He's also the owner, founder and editor at "The Head Scratcher" and a host of "The Scratch Cast" podcast. Visit www.theheadscratcher.com to find out more.