3) Hellboy & Hellboy II: The Golden Army
2004’s Hellboy and its 2008 sequel, Hellboy II: The Golden Army aren’t just two of the best efforts in director Guillermo del Toro’s filmography. They’re arguably two of the best comic book films ever made, and definitely belong near the top of this list.
Based on the Mike Mignola graphic novels, the Hellboy films tell the tale of a demonic beast who comes through a dimensional portal in his youth and is raised by Trevor Bruttenholm (John Hurt), who later founds the Bureau of Paranormal Research and Defense (BPRD). Hellboy (played excellently by Ron Perlman) grows up to become one of BPRD’s best, and most reckless, agents, and is joined by other super-human teammates, including an amphibious humanoid named Abe Sapien (David Hyde Pierce) and the volatile and pyrokinetic Liz (Selma Blair).
The Hellboy films serve as an entertaining foray into the more supernatural corner of the comic book world, which we’re rarely treated to. It only takes one viewing to see why del Toro is the perfect choice to make the long-rumored Justice League Dark adaptation for Warner Brothers, as his unique visual style and dark quirks serve the supernatural elements nicely.