Superheroes have transfixed imaginations since their earliest appearance in now-antique comic books. The genre was even looked down upon for a time, often stereotypically associated with “nerd” culture. Times have changed, though, and to say that superheroes have hit the mainstream would be an understatement. 6 of the top 15 highest grossing films of all time areMarvel Cinematic Universe movies.. Additionally, the streaming era has proved to be massively beneficial for the genre in allowing for the creation ofmore superhero material than ever before. Movies, shows, miniseries – the genre is growing by the day. In the genesis and compilation of this massive library, what was once a small subcategory of the genre has taken off to become a popular favorite.
This is, of course, the adult superhero. Comics have often been dark, as early as the 1980s with the publication ofThe Killing JokeandThe Watchmen, but it’s taken longer for their film counterparts to catch up. The general audience superhero films have always been awesome and fun to watch — there’s no denying that — and yet, they often leave something to be desired. They have their merits, but the darker, grittier takes on the genre offer quite a distinct experience that fans are increasingly enjoying. As a result, here’s a look at why we love R-rated superhero movies.
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Adult Vs. General Audience Performance
The adult superhero film used to be rare. Even the earliest additions likeBladeorWatchmenwould develop a cult following, but ultimately earn little critical recognition or appeal to a large audience. Films of this genre have become far more popular in the past several years, however. If we look at the 2016 release ofDeadpoolalongside the general audienceDoctor StrangeandCaptain America:Civil Warof the same year;Deadpoolgarnered an 85% critic score and a 90% audience score with $363.1 million at the box office.Civil Wartook home a 90% and an 89% with $408.1 million.Doctor Strangetook an 89% and an 86% with $232 million made. It is demonstrated, here, that the adult superhero film has arrived at the main stage. In this instance, it is performing on par with popular general audience films in terms of box office numbers, critical reception, and audience approval.
This comparison can also be made in the DC Universe betweenSuicide Squad(2016) andThe Suicide Squad(2021). The 2016 installment saw a wave of hate unrivaled by most superhero films and earned itself a26% from critics and a 59% from audiences. Despite this, the film raked in a staggering $746 million. The revisit in 2021 saw a massive uptick in both critical and audience approval, with a 90% and 82%, respectively. Strangely, this film brought in only $58 million. Based on this, it appears that while the general audience film was seen by more people and made vastly more money, the adult version was enjoyed far more by its viewers — a very interesting comparison given the similarities in the films.
Both of these comparisons display the growing popularity and improving opinion of these films. Mature content has become so popular among comic fans, in fact, that earlier last year,fans even clamored for an R-rated cut ofThe Batman. Classic genre tropes, such as the chaotic origins, high-stress lives, immense powers, and their imagined effects on society, lend themselves perfectly for the production of more intense adult circumstances and themes. So what specific elements work differently to create the draw to this genre?
Deeply Conflicted Characters
Many of these films portray superheroes as deeply flawed, monstrous, or even silly as opposed to an unwavering force for good. Characters in any story must have flaws, and superheroes often make mistakes or are conflicted in general audience films, but rarely does this materialize as egregious acts against society, as is possible in these adult films. The crew fromWatchmen, for example, hosts war criminals, murderers, and rapists with little regard for the safety of humanity — truly some of the worst of the worst. Similarly, the heroes featured inThe Boyskill civilians en masse at the behest of their corporate overlords. Stories like this beg the question: what happens when the heroes themselves don’t know right from wrong? Editions of this nature make the audience rethink the concept of the superhero all together, and paint a bleaker, scarier portrait of these caped protectors. Things can go so wrong, and when the ones to assist are morally bankrupt and untrustworthy, the stakes feel far higher.
Unabashed Graphic Content
Violence is a cornerstone of any superhero film; it’s present in every one. These R-rated superhero movies, however, push the boundaries even further when it comes to the severity of violence on an individual and mass scale. General audience films undoubtedly go as far as they can, but often draw the line at intricately detailed death and injury. Gratuitous bloodshed is obviously inappropriate for some audience members, but for others, it is a source of horrifying exhilaration. Given the immense power that some of these heroes and villains are capable of unleashing, it seems only natural that serious consequences such as dismemberment or annihilation would be common. Would most heroes not cripple or destroy a human body beyond recognition if they were to release their powers on them? This allowance provides a stronger sense of “realism” as far as that term can go in this genre.Logan, for example, has become both the highest rated installment ofall theX-Menmoviesand the highest earning of that franchise. It seems reasonable to say that the film’s popularity and acclaim are in part due to its focus on character and impressive depiction of gore.
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Dark, Vulgar Comedy
A more unsung positive aspect of this subgenre is the humor that it creates space for. The key to any comedy is what is known as incongruity, which is more or less the element of the unexpected. The juxtaposition of extreme scenarios present in superhero stories with humor creates incongruity to a high degree and in a constant manner which allows a prime environment for jokes. The absurd circumstances, strong language, and mature topics push this dynamic even further to offer a distinct blend of material not found in comedies or superhero films alone.DeadpoolandDeadpool 2both display this type of content masterfully. Other worthy mentions areKick-Assand thePeacemakershow on HBO.
Purposeful and Pointed Commentary
This again can be available in some general audience films, but often the commentary will be a pronounced, main focus of the material of an adult film. People often use these movies as an escape and young people may not have a conception of what is being commented on, so if it does exist in a general audience feature, it’s usually less of a focal point. In the “real” world, societal issues such as corruption, greed, and racism would certainly have an impact on the day-to-day of a superhero, perhaps even from within their own organization. These films can be powerful tools in framing the problems we face in reality in a more approachable light. TheWatchmenseries deals directly with racism and police relations in America.V For Vendettautilizes its story and characters to take on totalitarianism in a hard hitting and borderline disturbing way. Lastly,The Boysdelves into corporate greed and the military industrial complex, given the superheroes in that world are owned and controlled by a corporation.
Most of the films mentioned here utilize several of these techniques to create tense and exciting content. It is the combination of these elements that makes them distinct from their general audience counterparts and make them such a blast to watch.
