23 Comic Book Movies Everyone Forgot About (And For Good Reason)

23 Comic Book Movies Everyone Forgot About (And For Good Reason)

Not every superhero soars to greatness. For every Avengers: Endgame that dominates pop culture, there are plenty of comic book movies that stumble into theaters only to be forgotten almost immediately.

The following 23 films serve as reminders that not every adaptation needs a sequel—or even should have existed in the first place. Whether you’ve blocked them from memory or never even knew they existed, these movies prove that not every comic book hero gets to be iconic.

1. The Spirit (2008)

Frank Miller’s The Spirit promised to capture the same visual flair as Sin City but ended up being a jumbled mess. The stylized look was so overdone that it distracted from the story, leaving viewers more confused than entertained.

Despite a cast that included Samuel L. Jackson, Scarlett Johansson, and Eva Mendes, the film lacked cohesion. Dialogue came off as cartoonishly bad, and the pacing made it feel much longer than it was. Instead of honoring Will Eisner’s groundbreaking comic, the adaptation turned into a hollow imitation.

Today, few people even remember it was made, and those who do usually mention it as a cautionary tale of style over substance.

2. Tank Girl (1995)

Set in a bizarre post-apocalyptic future, Tank Girl had all the ingredients for a cult classic but failed to blend them into something coherent. Based on the British comic, the movie featured outrageous costumes, strange kangaroo mutants, and a rebellious heroine—but it lacked a clear direction.

Lori Petty did her best as the lead, and Naomi Watts played her sidekick before becoming a Hollywood A-lister. Still, the over-the-top visuals and chaotic energy weren’t enough to distract from a thin script and poor editing.

While it has a small cult following, mainstream audiences barely acknowledge its existence. For most, Tank Girl is remembered more as a bizarre curiosity than a memorable comic book movie.

3. Barb Wire (1996)

Pamela Anderson headlined Barb Wire, a film loosely based on the Dark Horse comic of the same name. The idea of a tough, leather-clad mercenary navigating a dystopian world sounded intriguing on paper. Unfortunately, the execution felt like a poorly disguised remake of Casablanca with biker aesthetics.

The movie leaned heavily on Anderson’s sex appeal but neglected to give her a compelling character or storyline. Critics tore it apart for being shallow, and audiences didn’t show up at the box office.

Over the years, Barb Wire has become more of a punchline than a piece of pop culture history. It’s a perfect example of how a film can be flashy yet completely forgettable.

4. Steel (1997)

Shaquille O’Neal as a superhero sounded like a fun idea in the ‘90s, but Steel proved that not every basketball star can carry a movie. Based on a DC Comics character, the film followed a weapons designer turned vigilante who builds his own armored suit.

The concept had potential, but clunky effects and weak dialogue dragged it down. Shaq’s charisma wasn’t enough to make up for the wooden acting and clumsy action sequences.

Audiences largely ignored it, and critics dismissed it as a failed attempt to cash in on the superhero craze. Today, Steel is mostly remembered as a trivia footnote—and as one of the earliest signs that DC’s live-action efforts were struggling.

5. Catwoman (2004)

Halle Berry may have won an Oscar, but not even her talent could save Catwoman. Instead of leaning into the iconic Selina Kyle character from DC Comics, the movie invented a new version that bore little resemblance to the source material.

Berry strutted around in a baffling leather outfit, chasing bad guys while spouting cringe-worthy dialogue. The plot, involving evil cosmetics that cause skin damage, felt laughable even in 2004.

The movie bombed at the box office and was roasted by critics, with Berry herself later poking fun at her Razzie win. Despite its star power, Catwoman became a textbook example of how not to adapt a beloved comic book character.

6. Elektra (2005)

Coming off Daredevil, Jennifer Garner’s Elektra was meant to give Marvel a strong female-led superhero film. Unfortunately, the spinoff lacked heart and quickly lost audiences’ interest.

The story followed Elektra as she battled a mystical group called The Hand, but the writing was paper-thin. Garner did her best with what she had, yet the movie failed to flesh out her character beyond surface-level brooding.

Special effects felt uninspired, and the action sequences were forgettable at best. While Elektra was technically one of Marvel’s early stabs at a cinematic universe, most people would rather pretend it never existed. It’s rarely discussed today—except as a cautionary tale about rushed spinoffs.

7. Jonah Hex (2010)

Western-themed comic book movies are rare, and Jonah Hex showed us why. Starring Josh Brolin as the scarred antihero and Megan Fox as the love interest, the film had the chance to stand out as something unique.

Instead, it was an incoherent mash-up of supernatural elements, weak dialogue, and a villainous John Malkovich who seemed just as bored as the audience. Clocking in at under 90 minutes, the film felt chopped up and incomplete.

The box office numbers were dismal, and critics didn’t hold back. Even though Brolin eventually redeemed himself as Thanos, Jonah Hex has faded into comic book obscurity as one of DC’s most forgettable misfires.

8. Green Lantern (2011)

Before Ryan Reynolds became Deadpool, he starred in Green Lantern—a movie that tried to launch a franchise but instead fizzled out immediately.

The film introduced audiences to the intergalactic police force known as the Green Lantern Corps, but everything from the CGI suit to the clumsy villains felt off. The story dragged, and the tone wavered between goofy and overly serious.

Despite a massive budget, the film failed to impress audiences or critics. Reynolds himself has repeatedly mocked the movie, even making jokes about it in Deadpool. Green Lantern was meant to be DC’s answer to Marvel’s momentum, but instead it was quickly forgotten.

9. Superman IV: The Quest for Peace (1987)

Christopher Reeve’s earlier Superman films were iconic, but by the fourth installment, the magic was gone. Superman IV: The Quest for Peace suffered from a tiny budget, cheap effects, and a plot that felt like an after-school special.

The film’s central conflict revolved around Superman trying to rid the world of nuclear weapons, which sounds noble but played out with laughable execution. Villains like Nuclear Man only added to the camp factor.

Audiences were disappointed, and critics were merciless. While Reeve gave it his all, the movie marked the sad end of the original Superman franchise. Today, it’s often left out of conversations about the Man of Steel altogether.

10. Spawn (1997)

Todd McFarlane’s dark antihero Spawn was hugely popular in comics, but the 1997 film couldn’t capture that energy.

Michael Jai White played the lead, and while he brought intensity, the special effects were shockingly bad—even for the ‘90s. The CGI hellscapes looked like cutscenes from a budget video game, and the story barely made sense.

The film also tried to balance horror, action, and comedy, resulting in tonal whiplash. Critics panned it, and although it made some money at the box office, it left little cultural footprint. Fans are still waiting for a proper Spawn adaptation, while this one is mostly remembered for wasted potential.

11. X-Men Origins: Wolverine (2009)

Everyone loves Hugh Jackman as Wolverine, but even his charm couldn’t save X-Men Origins.

The film attempted to tell Logan’s backstory, but it ended up bogged down by weak writing and confusing continuity. The decision to sew Deadpool’s mouth shut is still one of the most baffling choices in superhero movie history.

Jackman did his best with the material, yet the supporting cast felt wasted, and the visual effects were rough. Fans quickly rejected it, and later films tried to erase its memory. For a character as beloved as Wolverine, this origin story ended up being one audiences preferred to forget.

12. Madame Web (2024)

Sony’s Spider-Man universe has had its ups and downs, and Madame Web landed firmly in the “down” category.

Despite a cast that included Dakota Johnson and Sydney Sweeney, the movie struggled with tone, pacing, and relevance. The story attempted to build a prequel for Spider-Man’s extended universe, but it lacked the heart or excitement that audiences crave in superhero films.

Released with big studio backing, it quickly earned a reputation as one of the worst modern comic book adaptations. Just months after its release, it’s already fading from conversation. If anything, Madame Web will likely be remembered only for how badly it flopped.

13. Morbius (2022)

“It’s Morbin’ time” may have become a meme, but that’s the only lasting impact Morbius made.

Starring Jared Leto as a scientist-turned-vampire, the movie tried to create another dark antihero in Sony’s Spider-Man spin-off universe. Instead, it delivered bland action, a boring script, and characters with little depth.

The marketing missteps didn’t help. After bombing at the box office, it was bizarrely re-released due to internet jokes, only to flop again. Despite the unintentional humor surrounding it, Morbius is destined to be remembered as an internet punchline rather than a serious comic book film.

14. Bloodshot (2020)

Vin Diesel took a shot at launching the Valiant Comics universe with Bloodshot, but the effort barely made a ripple.

The film followed a soldier resurrected with nanotechnology, giving him superhuman powers. While the premise had promise, the execution was generic and uninspired. The action sequences looked like they’d been copied from a dozen other sci-fi flicks.

Released just as the pandemic hit, the movie never found its footing in theaters, and its digital release didn’t generate buzz either. Bloodshot was supposed to kickstart a franchise, but instead it quietly disappeared into the crowded world of superhero cinema.

15. Eternals (2021)

Marvel’s Eternals had all the makings of an epic: a huge budget, an Oscar-winning director, and a diverse ensemble cast.

Instead of becoming groundbreaking, it ended up as one of Marvel’s most forgettable entries. The story introduced too many new characters at once, leaving little room for audiences to connect with them. The pacing was slow, and the stakes never felt urgent.

Though it wasn’t a complete disaster, it failed to make a cultural splash like Marvel’s other blockbusters. Within months, it faded into the background of the MCU. For many fans, Eternals is the one Marvel movie they never feel the need to rewatch.

16. Ghost Rider (2007)

Nicolas Cage has plenty of cult hits, but Ghost Rider isn’t one of them.

The movie adapted Marvel’s fiery antihero, but instead of gritty action, viewers got a campy mess with questionable effects. Cage gave his usual over-the-top performance, but even that wasn’t enough to carry the film.

The flaming skull visuals should have been jaw-dropping but ended up looking cartoonish. Critics panned it, and while it did well enough to earn a sequel, few people remember either movie fondly. Ghost Rider had potential to be one of Marvel’s darker, more unique adaptations, but it’s mostly remembered as a missed opportunity.

17. The Phantom (1996)

Billy Zane starred in The Phantom, a pulpy adventure based on the long-running comic strip.

The movie tried to capture old-school serial energy, but it felt dated even at the time of release. Dressed in a purple spandex suit, Zane’s Phantom never quite looked intimidating, and the plot leaned too heavily on clichés.

Despite exotic locations and some swashbuckling charm, audiences didn’t connect with it. Released just before the superhero boom really took off, The Phantom was quickly forgotten. Today, it only surfaces in conversations about obscure superhero movies that time left behind.

18. Batman & Robin (1997)

Few comic book movies are as infamous as Batman & Robin.

Joel Schumacher’s colorful, campy take on the Dark Knight gave us George Clooney in the batsuit, complete with bat-nipples, and Arnold Schwarzenegger delivering endless ice puns as Mr. Freeze.

While it was technically memorable, it’s remembered for all the wrong reasons. Critics slammed it for being cheesy and over-the-top, and fans consider it a low point for the Batman franchise. Despite its unintentional comedy, Batman & Robin ultimately became one of the most ridiculed superhero movies ever made.

19. Spider-Man 3 (2007)

Sam Raimi’s Spider-Man trilogy started strong, but the third entry left fans disappointed.

The inclusion of multiple villains—Sandman, Venom, and New Goblin—made the story overstuffed and unfocused. Then there was the infamous “emo Peter Parker” dance sequence, which turned into a meme for all the wrong reasons.

Though it was a financial success, fans were let down after the brilliance of Spider-Man 2. It remains one of the most divisive superhero films, and many wish the trilogy had ended on a higher note. Spider-Man 3 wasn’t unwatchable, but it was forgettable compared to its predecessors.

20. Brenda Starr (1989)

Based on the classic comic strip reporter, Brenda Starr failed to make much of an impression.

Starring Brooke Shields, the film combined adventure, romance, and fantasy but never found its footing. The production was troubled, and the movie ended up sitting on the shelf for years before finally being released.

By the time it hit theaters, audiences had little interest. The blend of camp and melodrama didn’t resonate, and critics largely ignored it. Today, Brenda Starr is rarely mentioned, except as an odd relic of late-’80s comic strip adaptations that went nowhere.

21. X-Men: Apocalypse (2016)

After the success of Days of Future Past, expectations were high for X-Men: Apocalypse. Sadly, the film fell far short.

Oscar Isaac, hidden under heavy makeup, played the titular villain, but his performance couldn’t overcome a bland script. The movie relied too much on CGI destruction and didn’t give its characters meaningful arcs.

Although it wasn’t a total disaster, it felt like a step backward for the franchise. Fans quickly moved on, especially once Logan and Deadpool raised the bar again. For many, Apocalypse sits in the middle of the X-Men pack—forgettable and overshadowed.

22. Shazam! Fury of the Gods (2023)

The first Shazam! charmed audiences with its humor and heart, but the sequel lost much of that magic.

Despite bringing back Zachary Levi and adding Helen Mirren to the cast, Fury of the Gods failed to capture the same spark. The humor felt forced, and the story was less engaging than the original.

Released at a time when DC’s cinematic universe was already in flux, the movie had little chance of standing out. It came and went quickly, leaving few fans clamoring for more. For a franchise that started with promise, the sequel was shockingly easy to forget.

23. Suicide Squad (2016)

Hyped as DC’s edgy answer to Marvel, Suicide Squad turned out to be a messy disappointment.

The trailers promised grit and chaos, but the final product felt like a jumbled mash of reshoots and half-baked ideas. Jared Leto’s Joker made headlines for all the wrong reasons, and the team dynamic never really clicked.

Though it did well financially, audiences and critics largely agreed it wasn’t worth the hype. Ironically, James Gunn’s later The Suicide Squad reboot only highlighted how forgettable the original was. This version has already faded from memory—overshadowed by its superior follow-up.