Deadpool wreaked havoc in 2016, proving to viewers that R-rated comic book movies could be entertaining.
Blade II remains a landmark twenty years later, giving permission (not that anybody is asking) for genre adaptations to swear and go violent.
However, it also drew attention to the work of Guillermo del Toro, a brilliant artist the world is fortunate to have.
Blade II is still quite high on the R-rated comic book movies list. There are many more competitors now since numerous films have taken that R and run with it.
Blade II was not the first, but it is undoubtedly one of the most unforgettable. We’re going over 12 of our favorite R-rated comic book movies, so grab a drink and read through.
1. Blade (1998)
- Director: Stephen Norrington
- Star cast: Wesley Snipes, Kris Kristofferson, Sanaa Lathan, Stephen Dorff, N’Bushe Wright
- IMDb rating: 7.1/10
Without the original Blade, directed by Stephen Norrington and written by David S. Goyer in 1998, we wouldn’t have Blade II. Before one of the biggest R-rated comic book movies, X-Men hit the big screen and ushered in a new age.
Wesley Snipes played the titular character, slaying evil vampires, and while we don’t love it as much as the sequel, there are some highlights.
The crucial plot setting is done and done effectively, so Snipes has little hard lifting to perform in the sequel.
2. Sin City (2005)
- Directors: Frank Miller, Robert Rodriguez
- Star cast: Mickey Rourke, Bruce Willis, Jessica Alba, Rosario Dawson, Clive Owen, Alexis Bledel
- IMDb rating: 8.0/10
Frank Miller collaborated with Robert Rodriquez (and guest director Quentin Tarantino) to adapt his graphic novel series to one of the best R-rated comic book movies for the big screen.
The result is a (mainly) black-and-white bloodbath. What do you anticipate from a film with this title? “Sin” may be found everywhere. We like the one about Marv the best of the related stories recounted here (Mickey Rourke).
The upshot of Frank Miller’s collaboration with Robert Rodriquez (and guest director Quentin Tarantino) to adapt his graphic novel series for the big screen is a (mostly) black-and-white massacre.
What do you want to see in a film with this title? “Sin” may be found in many places. Pedophiles, corruption, cannibalism, sadism, and two pretty fine coats are all part of the story.
3. Logan (2017)
- Director: James Mangold
- Star cast: Hugh Jackman, Dafne Keen, Boyd Holbrook, Patrick Stewart, Stephen Merchant, Richard E. Grant
- IMDb rating: 8.1/10
This is the apex of the X-Men franchise. We are not alone in this regard. To help this modern-day Wolverine story, James Mangold veered significantly into “Old Man Logan” terrain, which is terrible in every way a film can be.
Logan’s genuine brutality is fully explored, and he is supported by the abilities of his successor, Laura Kinney (Dafne Keen). It’s a superhero film, but it’s more of a Western film. There are no longer any guns in the valley.
The action is among the top thrilling R-rated comic book movies, but the actual strength of this film has little to do with its grade.
Hugh Jackman has never been stronger in the titular character, Patrick Stewart has never been better as a past-his-prime Charles Xavier, and Keen is the reason to tune in.
4. Watchmen (2009)
- Director: Zack Snyder
- Star cast: Jackie Earle Haley, Malin Åkerman, Jeffrey Dean Morgan, Patrick Wilson, Carla Gugino
- IMDb rating: 7.6/10
It’s not flawless, but no adaptation of the iconic comic novel by Alan Moore and Dave Gibbons was ever going to be.
Before Regina King and the streaming series arrived in 2019, we didn’t believe anything based on the Watchmen legend could be great, but that’s a topic for another post.
Enjoy Zack Snyder’s work and style, which is notorious for causing controversy. You might be receptive to one of the best R-rated comic book movies offers.
Snyder doesn’t hold back since the original material is rife with violence and foul language. When this movie succeeds, it succeeds big time.
The scene when Dr. Manhattan is born (starring Billy Crudup) is always memorable. Still, Jackie Earle Haley as Rorschach is the swashbuckling hero who steals every scene he appears in.
5. V For Vendetta (2005)
- Director: James McTeigue
- Star cast: Hugo Weaving, Natalie Portman, Stephen Fry, John Hurt, Stephen Rea, Rupert Graves
- IMDb rating: 8.2/10
Another Alan Moore adaptation that he refused to endorse. His name is not mentioned anywhere concerning this or Watchmen.
Nevertheless, it was transformed by Lilly and Lana Wachowski from the original Moore and David Lloyd comic novel. The director was James McTeigue.
Once more, the film frequently deviates greatly from the original work. Nevertheless, we’re not upset since the crucial issues the first book addressed are still present. The masked renegade known as “V” intends to topple the horrible authoritarian Britain of the future.
There are several terrorist and fascist themes. Along with the gunpowder treason and conspiracy, there is a lot of blood and carnage.
McTeigue makes knife fighting more beautiful than we ever imagined. We are interested in V’s (Hugo Weaving) crusade because of what humankind is capable of, which is the real horror.
Even though we never see his face, this movie makes us think of Hugo Weaving. He brings to mind dominoes falling. Natalie Portman coming back to life in the rain comes to mind.
However, the persona and performance that comes to mind first and foremost are never discussed and has nothing to do with the grade.
6. Snowpiercer (2013)
- Director: James McTeigue
- Star cast: Chris Evans, Tilda Swinton, Song Kang-Ho, Ed Harris, Jamie Bell, Octavia Spencer
- IMDb rating: 8.2/10
Come on, bong hive! Following this fascinating and horrific account of the affluent and poor attempting to live on a train, Bong Joon-ho received much more notice, like Blade II propelled Oscar-winning Guillermo del Toro to more public exposure.
Before this film, Bong had produced several excellent works, but Chris Evans and a few thrown axes increased American interest. So be it if doing that is what it takes to persuade people to watch Mother (2009).
Adapted by Bong and Kelly Masterson from the graphic novel “Le Transperceneige” by Jacques Lob, Benjamin Legrand, and Jean-Marc Rochette, this deadly trek over the snow is an R-rated microcosm of the world.
As Curtis (Evans) moves to the front of the titular train, the action occurs in spurts, but the tension never abates. Song Kang-ho and Tilda Swinton dominate the show, even though Evans does a wonderful job on his part.
We particularly enjoy a specific fish shot that Bong made so that he could preserve it from a cut-happy Harvey Weinstein. It was made in honor of Bong’s father, a fisherman. But unfortunately, the father of Bong Joon-ho was not a fisherman.
7. Deadpool (2016)
- Director: Tim Miller
- Star cast: Ryan Reynolds, Morena Baccarin, Gina Carano, Brianna Hildebrand, T.J. Miller
- IMDb rating: 8.0/10
For sure, this film has arrived. Unfortunately, the outlandish Wade “Deadpool” Wilson can truly only work with an R rating. Attempting to modify the character too many results in what we saw in X-Men Origins: Wolverine.
Tim Miller directed a more authentic version of the Merc with a Mouth, and what a mouth it was. Wilson swears when he isn’t murdering. Sometimes he does both, and sometimes he does both while breaching the fourth wall.
It’s nonstop entertainment with a pounding heart, and its popularity demonstrated that Hollywood is still a market for R-rated comic book movies with this classification. It was a risk, but only because the corporate executives were bereft of vision.
So we can applaud Miller and Ryan Reynolds for breaking through the usual Hollywood nonsense and getting this produced.
8. Dredd (2012)
- Director: Pete Travis
- Star cast: Karl Urban, Olivia Thirlby, Lena Headey, Rachel Wood, Mark Eckersley, Domhnall Gleeson
- IMDb rating: 7.1/10
Although we see one Judge Dredd movie, it isn’t the only one. Sylvester Stallone, the inspiration for the character developed by John Wagner and Carlos Ezquerra, is not mentioned. Thankfully, Rob Schneider isn’t either.
In this remake, Karl Urban dons the helmet, which he never takes off. Although it is on a lesser scale than Stallone’s predecessor from 1995, it is tighter. The cruelty is well-earned, the action is greater, and the stakes are bigger.
The cyberpunk future environment is exaggerated yet still seems realistic. It is quite conceivable for a police officer to roam the streets with authority to serve as judge, juror, and executioner—especially if there are no amusing winks.
Although you never see Urban’s face, he shines. Lena Headey is the evil Ma-Ma. The argument ends if you intend to watch one of the films based on this character. If you are searching for R-rated comic book movies, Choose this wonderful adaptation.
9. Kingsman: The Secret Service (2014)
- Director: Matthew Vaughn
- Star cast: Colin Firth, Taron Egerton, Samuel L. Jackson, Mark Strong, Sofia Boutella, Michael Caine
- IMDb rating: 7.7/10
Directed by Matthew Vaughn, this adaptation of The Secret Service by Mark Millar and Dave Gibbons takes a lot of liberty with its source material. We don’t mind because this is the result.
The violence is hilarious, but it manages to stay visceral simultaneously. Colin Firth leads the parade of blood for a lot of the movie, and wow, did we not know he was capable of this?
Nothing beats the Galahad church rampage for action or violence. But, then, there is Galahad’s “happy supper” with Valentine for the “how is this scenario real” lunacy (Samuel L. Jackson).
The final scene has nothing deserving of an R-rated comic book movies classification, but we’re still glad it exists. By the time the jaw-dropping conclusion arrives, we genuinely don’t believe what we have just seen.
The latest prequel (The King’s Man) and the sequel (Kingsman: The Golden Circle) are excellent. However, there ought to be more interest in this franchise.
10. Zack Snyder’s Justice League (2021)
- Director: Matthew Vaughn
- Star cast: Ezra Miller, Henry Cavill, Amber Heard, Jared Leto, Gal Gadot, Ben Affleck, Ray Porter
- IMDb rating: 8.0/10
The opening title card, which discusses the aspect ratio and how it represents Zack Snyder’s aesthetic vision, sums up the entire film.
That sums up this 4-hour fan-dream experience. You’ll probably accept anything that follows if you accept that title card. And so much of what follows is amazing.
If you’re a fan of R-rated comic book movies, you’re in excellent hands because this is Snyder on overdrive. Why not, why not? Four hours of agony are coming. The key is Snyder’s lack of restraint.
He is not required to be restrained in his use of profanity, violence, runtime, or aspect ratio. He carried out his own will.
Even if you don’t like it all, this film version is unquestionably preferable to the “here you go, geeks” cut-up version originally shown in theaters.
Ray Fisher’s portrayal of Vic Stone, barely in the first edit, makes it all worthwhile. We don’t just say it for “reasons,” though.
This whole endeavor is made worthwhile by the longer Cyborg passages and the “why the heck did they cut this” conclusion starring the Flash.
11. Road to Perdition (2002)
- Director: Sam Mendes
- Star cast: Tom Hanks, Paul Newman, Tyler Hoechlin, Daniel Craig, Jude Law, Jennifer Jason Leigh
- IMDb rating: 7.7/10
When this film was released, a lot of fuss was created, almost entirely around Tom Hanks’ role as a villain. Michael Sullivan is a vicious mafia enforcer who will not enter paradise, yet he is not a bad guy.
This underappreciated gangster noir, which Sam Mendes directed and was based on the Max Allan Collins and Richard Piers Rayner graphic novel, deserves its grade.
Still, that’s different from where the film’s strength resides for the millionth time. A hideous-looking Yes, there is a lot of mob violence, and Jude Law does some horrifying things.
But ultimately, this is a tale about Sullivan’s relationship with his kid, portrayed by Tyler Hoechlin, a future Arrowverse Superman.
Additionally, it concerns Sullivan and his mythical father figure, Paul Newman. The most iconic sequence in the film involves Hanks, Newman, a Tommy gun, rain, and a mixture of drama and action.
It’s one of the classic R-rated comic book movies that many people are unaware was adapted from a graphic novel.
12. The Crow (1994)
- Director: Alex Proyas
- Star cast: Brandon Lee, Rochelle Davis, Michael Wincott, Sofia Shinas, Bai Ling, Michael Massee
- IMDb rating: 4.6/10
The Crow, which starred the late great Brandon Lee in the title character, tells the tale of Eric Draven, a former singer.
After being raised from the dead by a legendary power, the latter attempts to exact revenge on those responsible for the rape and death of his fiancée, Shelley Webster.
This is one of the R-rated comic book movies, based on the same-named James O’Barr graphic novel, which was well-received by audiences and critics alike when it was released.
The Crow manages to reconcile the unfathomable depravity prevalent in human nature with a victorious message of love, hope, and light in a frequently gloomy world while maintaining its R-rating due to language, violence, and extensive drug use.
The Crow gained a well-deserved cult following after the terrible loss of its primary performer and is still praised today.
