Paramount+ Just Added One of the Best Comic Book Movies of All Time (Not Made By Marvel Or DC)

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Paramount+ recently strengthened its selection of comic book adaptations, which was particularly important after losing several popular Marvel titles. The *Blade* movies left the service in October, creating a gap in its action comic offerings. However, that loss was quickly offset by the addition of a critically acclaimed comic book series that isn’t connected to Marvel or DC.

I was excited to see Paramount+ add Guillermo del Toro’s *Hellboy* from 2004 this month! It’s a bit funny, actually, that it showed up just as the *Blade* movies disappeared – del Toro directed *Blade II*, so it feels like a passing of the torch. It’s a shame, though, that we didn’t get *Hellboy II: The Golden Army* alongside the first film. Hopefully, that one will make its way to the service soon!

GDT’s Hellboy Movies Are All-Timers

Guillermo del Toro’s *Hellboy* is widely considered one of the greatest comic book movies ever made. It masterfully combines action, science fiction, and fantasy into a consistently captivating story, and features a fantastic cast including Ron Perlman, Doug Jones, and Selma Blair.

Many people love the *Hellboy* movie, but it’s also a source of frustration for longtime comic book fans. While the film is fantastic on its own, it differs significantly from the original *Hellboy* comics created by Mike Mignola.

The *Hellboy* comic book is quite different from the big, action-packed sci-fi movie. The comic leans more towards folk horror and mystery, and the two versions really don’t feel alike. This bothers some fans, but it also means there are two ways to enjoy the *Hellboy* story, each appealing to a different audience. Many people actually enjoy both the comics and the movie!

The Hellboy Franchise Is a Roller Coaster

Following the success of *Hellboy*, Guillermo del Toro directed *Hellboy II: The Golden Army*, which many consider to be even better than the first film. Unfortunately, neither movie was a massive commercial success, preventing del Toro and Ron Perlman from completing their planned trilogy. The *Hellboy* movies made since then haven’t lived up to the quality of the originals.

In 2019, horror director Neil Marshall directed a new version of Hellboy, starring David Harbour in the lead role. While the director and actor seemed like a perfect fit for the project, problems during production and disagreements between Marshall and the studio, Lionsgate, resulted in a poorly received film that disappointed most fans – though Harbour’s performance was widely praised. Because of the film’s failure, a sequel never happened, opening the door for a different team to attempt a fresh, smaller-scale adaptation of the original story.

Brian Taylor’s 2024 *Hellboy: The Crooked Man* was a new attempt to bring the comic book’s folk horror elements to the big screen. However, the film received mixed reviews and didn’t perform well financially, partly due to being released on video-on-demand the same day as its theatrical release.

Even if you weren’t completely satisfied with Guillermo del Toro’s *Hellboy* movies compared to the comics, they’re still the best adaptations we’ve gotten so far. Fans are still hoping someone will eventually create another truly great *Hellboy* film or series.

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2025-10-06 20:25