5 best superhero movies not based on comic books, ranked

HOLLYWOOD, CA – MARCH 21: (L-R) Actor Nathan Fillion, director James Gunn, and actor Rainn Wilson arrive at the premiere of IFC Midnight’s ‘Super’ at the Egyptian Theatre on March 21, 2011 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images)

4. Super

Before he made movies about talking raccoons, Director James Gunn was a notorious auteur making B-movies that deserved more praise than usual. Within his library of work lies this under the radar action comedy (dark comedy). Starring Rainn Wilson who you know best from The Office, this movie is about a normal guy who loses everything and decides to turn himself into a superhero instead. Similar to the film Kick-Ass, but somehow even darker and more violent. Frank Drabo becomes the Crimson Bolt, who uses a red wrench to fight crime and shut it up.

Marvel fans will spot actors Michael Rooker and Sean Gunn in the supporting cast, who play Yondu and Kraglin in the Guardians of The Galaxy series. James Gunn has collaborated with these two for a long time and they provide some great performances. Ellen Page also kicks butt as the Crimson’s Bolt sidekick Boltie. This movie isn’t exactly for the faint of heart, but is a worthy inclusion for superhero fans to check it out. It’s funny, emotional, violent and downright insane. This is the movie that basically got Gunn the job of a lifetime directing one of the most successful Marvel movies of all time.