If you enjoyed Marvel’s Thunderbolts for its delightfully off-kilter band of villains-turned-reluctant heroes, you’re in for a treat. Thunderbolts takes a wildly different approach by assembling a crew of misfits to tackle world-saving action, much like you’d see in Suicide Squad—but with its own unique charm. And if that sounds like your cup of tea, then check out these 10 underrated, eccentric superhero team-up movies that have been flying under the radar. Grab your popcorn and prepare to meet heroes who are as flawed as they are endearing!
Defendor For starters, we have Defendor. Ever wondered how a movie as obscure as this didn’t find mainstream success? Woody Harrelson stars as Arthur Poppington, a hapless vigilante whose nickname says it all, while Kat Dennings plays a cynical sex worker named Angel who joins him on his not-so-heroic quest to topple the dastardly Captain Industry. Streaming on Tubi, Defendor’s blend of tragic incompetence and heartfelt determination is oddly uplifting—Harrelson’s raw vulnerability paired with Dennings’ razor-sharp wit makes this a quirky must-watch.
The Return of Captain Invincible Next up is the charmingly absurd The Return of Captain Invincible, available on Prime Video. Directed by Philippe Mora (yes, the same guy who did Pterodactyl Woman from Beverly Hills) and penned by future Die Hard writer Steven E. de Souza, this Australian superhero musical comedy stars Alan Arkin as a washed-up, booze-soaked WWII-era superhero. With a gutsy Australian cop by his side, Captain Invincible must face off against his flamboyant rival, Mr. Midnight, played by Christopher Lee. Expect toe-tapping musical numbers and a tongue-in-cheek narrative that makes this film one unforgettable, if oddball, ride.
Mystery Men For those who love their heroes with a generous dash of retro quirkiness, Mystery Men is a delightful option that you can watch for free with ads on Tubi. This film, directed by Kinka Usher and inspired by Bob Burden’s Flaming Carrot Comics, showcases a ragtag group of amateur superheroes including names like Ben Stiller, Hank Azaria, William H. Macy, Kel Mitchell, Greg Kinnear, and Geoffrey Rush. It’s a wild blend of unusual abilities (yes, Invisible Boy only vanishes when no one’s watching) and offbeat humor, and it uses its colorful, retro aesthetic and witty dialogue to charm you despite its initial commercial flop.
The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen Now, if you’re in the mood for a steampunk mashup of literary legends, check out The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen on Disney Plus. Directed by Stephen Norrington, this film cobbles together iconic characters like Allan Quatermain (Sean Connery), Mr. Hyde (Jason Flemyng), Captain Nemo (Naseeruddin Shah), Dorian Gray (Stuart Townsend), Tom Sawyer (Shane West) and Mina Harker (Peta Wilson) to battle off Sherlock Holmes’ Professor Moriarty. While harsh reviews might have clouded its fate, the film’s fun story and immersive world-building make it a unique departure from the typical bombastic superhero fare.
The Specials For a satirical slice of superhero life, The Specials is an absolute hoot—and you can catch it on YouTube. Written by none other than superhero movie icon James Gunn and helmed by Craig Mazin (The Last of Us), this film lampoons the everyday struggles of the “seventh most popular superhero team in the world.” With a star-studded cast featuring Thomas Haden Church, Rob Lowe, Judy Greer, and Jamie Kennedy, it’s as refreshing as it is hilarious. The Specials ditches overblown action in favor of low-key, deadpan humor that feels like a cross between The Boys and This is Spinal Tap.
Sky High If you’re looking for some good old-fashioned high school hijinks with a superhero twist, then Sky High on Disney Plus is a no-brainer. This movie centers on a high school exclusively for teenage superheroes, where misunderstood outcasts band together against a mysterious supervillain. With a clever script partly crafted by two-thirds Kim Possible’s writing team (Bob Schooley and Mark McCorkle), Sky High serves up heartfelt underdog moments, quirky superpowers (yes, even guinea pig transformations make the cut), and memorable performances from Michael Angarano and Kurt Russell—which have earned it a cult following over the years.
Super James Gunn pops up again with Super, a black comedy that might just be his underrated wild card. Available free with ads on Pluto TV via Philo, Super stars Rainn Wilson from The Office as Frank Darbo, a regular cook who transforms (in a very extreme and violent way) into the Crimson Bolt. With a fantastic supporting cast including Elliot Page, Liv Tyler, Kevin Bacon, Linda Cardellini, Nathan Fillion, Michael Rooker, and even Sean Rooker, this film dives headfirst into dark, subversive humor that’s very much an acquired taste but thoroughly entertaining for those into offbeat comic book narratives.
The Losers In The Losers, sometimes a movie garners all the A-list buzz but still flies under the radar—and that’s exactly what happened here. Streaming for free on Tubi, this film assembles stars like Chris Evans, Zoe Saldaña, and Idris Elba into a high-octane, action-packed team-up. Based on the Vertigo Comics series by Andy Diggle and Jock, The Losers follows a ragtag squad of ex-Special Forces operatives framed for a botched operation. With Chris Evans playing a surprisingly geeky character and Jeffrey Dean Morgan leading the charge with his signature witty grit, this movie is a perfect blend of fast-paced action and humorous banter—ideal popcorn fare.
3 Dev Adam Ever seen a movie so bizarre it’s almost impossible to believe? That’s 3 Dev Adam (also known as Three Giant Men), a 1973 cult Turkish flick you can watch on YouTube. This film is Turksploitation at its most delightfully deranged: imagine an unlicensed Captain America (without his shield but with unexpected telepathic powers) joining forces with the legendary Mexican wrestler El Santo. Together, they face off against a cretinous version of Spider-Man—who, bizarrely, lacks all your standard Spidey abilities. This movie’s outlandish depiction of violence and surreal deviations from its source material make it irresistibly “so bad, it’s good.”
We Can Be Heroes Last but not least, check out Robert Rodriguez’s We Can Be Heroes on Netflix. Branded as a family-friendly movie, it’s much more sophisticated than you might think. Reminiscent of Saturday morning cartoons with a twist of poignant themes, this film explores family, unity, empowerment, self-discovery, and responsibility—all wrapped up in the unique adventure of misfit children with superpowers. A standalone legacy sequel to 2005’s The Adventures of Sharkboy and Lavagirl in 3-D, We Can Be Heroes follows an underdog team of kids (including one whose super strength is hilariously burdensome) as they rescue their kidnapped superhero parents from alien invaders. And if that isn’t enough, keep an eye out for a young Pedro Pascal in his pre-Fantastic Four days as Marcus Moreno.
There you have it, folks! Whether you’re in the mood for witty banter, off-the-wall humor, or quirky takes on the superhero genre, these 10 films offer a treasure trove of misfit magic. Next time you need a break from the big Marvel blockbusters, kick back and enjoy some truly unconventional team-ups that remind us all that sometimes the underdogs really do save the day.
(Original article courtesy of Polygon)
Source: This article was inspired by content from Polygon . All images belong to their respective owners.