Live-action Superhero and comic book adaptations 1920-1999 that I have seen
A list of all the superhero and comic book live action films and TV series produced from 1920-1999, that I have seen
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- DirectorJohn EnglishWilliam WitneyStarsTom TylerFrank Coghlan Jr.William 'Billy' BenedictTo protect a magic talisman from being used for evil, a teenage boy named Billy Batson is given the power to become an adult superhero, Captain Marvel, with a single magic word: "Shazam!"Probably the best movie serial ever with terrific special effects (the flying sequences are jaw-dropping). It gets repetitive by the time you get to Chapter 5 but it is well resolved at the end. And who is the mysterious Scorpion?
- DirectorLambert HillyerStarsLewis WilsonDouglas CroftJ. Carrol NaishThe very first serial to adapt the comic book character of the Batman. In it, the Batman is a secret U.S. government agent, attempting to defeat the schemes of Japanese agent Dr. Daka operating in Los Angeles at the height of World War II.Low budget serial introduced the Dynamic Duo to movie audiences for the first time. Repetitive and racist to boot. Do yourself a favor and watch only a couple of chapters at a time.
- DirectorSpencer Gordon BennetStarsRobert LoweryJohnny DuncanJane AdamsSecond serial featuring the comic book character Batman. In it, Batman, together with his sidekick Robin, face off against the Wizard, a hooded villain with an electronic device that remotely controls vehicles.An improvement on the 1943 serial. This one has a new cast playing the Dynamic Duo. Vicki Vale is also in this one. Some good chapters, some terrible chapters. The Wizard's identity is easy to figure out. Or is it?
- CreatorLorenzo Semple Jr.William DozierStarsAdam WestBurt WardAlan NapierThe Caped Crusader and his young ward battle evildoers in Gotham City.Pow. Zingo. Boff. Great fun TV series with tongue planted firmly in cheek. Terrific guest stars. The first season is the best. The third is average at best.
- DirectorLeslie H. MartinsonStarsAdam WestBurt WardLee MeriwetherThe Dynamic Duo faces four supervillains who plan to hold the world for ransom with the help of a secret invention that instantly dehydrates people.Fun continuation of the TV series tries to cram in too much into 1 hour and 45 minutes. Lee Merriwether is terrific as catwoman and Adam West his usual stoic self. Fun but too long.
- DirectorTim BurtonStarsMichael KeatonJack NicholsonKim BasingerThe Dark Knight of Gotham City begins his war on crime with his first major enemy being Jack Napier, a criminal who becomes the clownishly homicidal Joker.Dark, intense film with a muted performance by Michael Keaton and an over-the-top one by Jack Nicholson.
- DirectorTim BurtonStarsMichael KeatonDanny DeVitoMichelle PfeifferWhile Batman deals with a deformed man calling himself the Penguin wreaking havoc across Gotham with the help of a cruel businessman, a female employee of the latter becomes the Catwoman with her own vendetta.Dark sequel to the first Michael Keaton Batman film. OK but needs a bit more humor.
- DirectorJoel SchumacherStarsVal KilmerTommy Lee JonesJim CarreyBatman must battle former district attorney Harvey Dent, who is now Two-Face and Edward Nygma, The Riddler with help from an amorous psychologist and a young circus acrobat who becomes his sidekick, Robin.I really enjoyed Val Kilmer's interpretation of Batman. The film is solid and quite enjoyable.
- DirectorJoel SchumacherStarsArnold SchwarzeneggerGeorge ClooneyChris O'DonnellBatman and Robin try to keep their relationship together even as they must stop Mr. Freeze and Poison Ivy from freezing Gotham City.Trying hard to be like the 1960s TV series, this film is just bad.
- DirectorMario BavaStarsJohn Phillip LawMarisa MellMichel PiccoliA master thief and his sensual lover pull off heist after heist, all while an envious coalition of cops and gangsters is gunning for them.Looks like the filmmakers did acid before making this. Seriously, what were they thinking.
- DirectorSpencer Gordon BennetThomas CarrStarsKirk AlynNoel NeillTommy BondSuperman comes to Earth as a child and grows up to be his home's first superhero with his first major challenge being to oppose The Spider Lady.A lot of fun but the flying sequences are a big cheat. Every time superman takes off, he turns into a cartoon version of himself. What a ripoff. Kirk Alyn as Superman is having fun.
- StarsGeorge ReevesNoel NeillJack LarsonThe Man of Steel fights crime with help from his friends at the "Daily Planet."Low, low, low budget TV series shot mostly in studio. We only get to see Superman fly once or twice in each episode. Cheaply made and it shows. Still, George Reeves seems to be enjoying himself.
- DirectorRichard DonnerStarsChristopher ReeveMargot KidderGene HackmanAn alien orphan is sent from his dying planet to Earth, where he grows up to become his adoptive home's first and greatest superhero.Terrific entry in the Superman series with a standout performance by Christopher Reeve.
- DirectorRichard LesterStarsGene HackmanChristopher ReeveMargot KidderSuperman agrees to sacrifice his powers to start a relationship with Lois Lane, unaware that three Kryptonian criminals he inadvertently released are conquering Earth.A sequel that is better than the original. Great love story between Superman and Lois Lane. Once again, Christopher Reeve delivers.
- DirectorRichard LesterStarsChristopher ReeveRichard PryorMargot KidderSynthetic kryptonite laced with tar splits Superman in two: good Clark Kent and bad Man of Steel.The quality dropped off a lot by this point in the series. What in the world is Richard Pryor doing in this film?
- DirectorSidney J. FurieStarsChristopher ReeveGene HackmanMargot KidderThe Man of Steel crusades for nuclear disarmament and meets Lex Luthor's latest creation, Nuclear Man.Cheap, dull, poorly-made film. I am sure Christopher Reeve did this one just for the money.
- DirectorElmer CliftonJohn EnglishStarsDick PurcellLorna GrayLionel AtwillSuperhero Captain America battles the evil forces of the archvillain called The Scarab, who poisons his enemies and steals a secret device capable of destroying buildings by sound vibrations.Everything about Captain America's identity has been changed for this serial. Every single chapter has him fight several goons at a time in the exact same way. The actor who plays Cap was in terrible shape and it shows. Poor guy died immediately after finishing this movie. Cap rides a very cool motorcycle for about 30 seconds in one chapter. The rest is repetitive and dull as hell.
- DirectorRod HolcombStarsReb BrownLen BirmanHeather Menzies-UrichA recipient of an experimental body enhancement chemical retaliates against his would be killers as a star spangled superhero.Poor Made-for-TV film. It takes one hour and fourteen minutes before we see Steve Rodgers in costume as Captain America and the costume looks nothing like it should. The script is dull, the action minimal and the special effects are terrible. Skip this one.
- DirectorIvan NagyStarsReb BrownConnie SelleccaLen BirmanThe star spangled hero must battle a villain's plan to poison America with a chemical that horrifically accelerates the aging process.A definite improvement over the first TV movie. This one has music that is just as cheesy and stiff acting but the story is ok and Reb Brown as the good Captain tries hard. The motorcycle stunts are well done and the action sequences squeak by. Not bad overall.
- DirectorAlbert PyunStarsMatt SalingerRonny CoxNed BeattyFrozen in the ice for decades, Captain America is freed to battle against archcriminal The Red Skull.Low, low budget version of the good Captain is terrible except for...actually, it is all terrible.
- DirectorNick NostroStarsGiovanni CianfrigliaGérard TichyLoredana NusciakA superhero battles a madman who is plotting to steal uranium in order to take over the world.Great Italian superhero film. Over the top and silly but Superargo is one of the coolest superheroes you will ever see.
- CreatorEiji TsuburayaStarsSusumu KurobeSandayû DokumamushiMasaya NiheiA human member of a defense force is given the life and ability to change into a giant super-hero to battle the monsters that wreaks havoc on Earth.I loved this series in my childhood. Upon seeing the episodes recently, I realize that we only get to see Ultraman in action for the last 5 minutes of each episode. Still, some amazing monsters appear throughout.
- DirectorShinya NakajimaStarsMasaharu SekiguchiTakaaki IshibashiNoritake KinashiInept hero Ultraman Zearth must overcome his fear of germs and grime, if he wishes to save Earth from the evil Alien Benzene and his Kaiju pet Cotton-PoppeSilly Ultraman spoof.
- StarsHiroshi NaganoTakami YoshimotoAkitoshi OhtakiA high-tech squadron protects Earth from evil monsters and aliens with the help of a giant super-being named Ultraman Tiga.A good series. This isn't as good as the original Ultraman series but is still a lot of fun.
- DirectorKazuya KonakaStarsTakeshi YoshiokaGaku HamadaMai SaitoIn a change from previous Ultraman movies, this one takes place in our own universe, in which Ultraman is just a popular kids' TV show. A young boy (and Ultraman addict) named Tsutomu finds a mysterious glowing ball that tells him it can make wishes come true. The one thing Tsutomu wants more than anything else is to meet Gamu, Ultraman's human counterpart, so he can give the boy some pointers on standing up to the school bully. Unfortunately, the bully finds the wishing ball and wishes for a giant monster to appear and start stomping around their suburban Tokyo neighborhood. Gamu and the Science Patrol team must then find a way to open a gateway between the two universes to stop the monster and try to help Tsutomu with his personal problems.Ok overall.