Superhero films and TV shows continue to dominate box office and streaming charts across the globe. Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness is the latest film in the genre that has already broken several box-office records. However, the film has courted controversy for its darker tone and horror elements, with claims that it might not be suitable for children. This notion was met with ridicule by others, pointing out the fact that several PG-13 films have depicted sequences featuring more violence and gore. So for today’s list hai toh hit hai we take a look at superhero films and TV shows that really pushed the envelope when it comes to on-screen violence.
List hai - The best superhero films and TV shows with the most brutal action sequences - Episode 66
Superhero films and TV shows continue to dominate box office and streaming charts across the globe. Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness is the latest film in the genre that has already broken several box-office records. However, the film has courted controversy for its darker tone and horror elements, with claims that it might not be suitable for children. This notion was met with ridicule by others, pointing out the fact that several PG-13 films have depicted sequences featuring more violence and gore. So for today’s list hai toh hit hai we take a look at superhero films and TV shows that really pushed the envelope when it comes to on-screen violence.
No list of violent TV shows would be complete without adding Amazon Prime’s hit TV series The Boys. Based on an equally violent graphic novel by Garth Ennis, the series follows a group of normal beings called The Boys, as they try to bring a team of superheroes to justice. Led by the sadistic Homelander, a superhero team called The Seven champions themselves as heroes, but are unfortunately vain and narcissistic individuals who would go to extreme lengths to preserve their status - even commit murder.
The creator of the TV series, Eric Kripke, has brought to life this covert war between The Boys and The Seven in all its glory with blood and violence. The series stars Jack Quaid, Karl Urban, Anthony Starr, and Erin Moriarty, among others in lead roles.
After countless online petitions, fan campaigns, and lead star Ryan Reynolds allegedly leaking test footage, 20 Century Fox greenlit a solo Deadpool film which was released in 2016. Directed by Tim Miller, the film tells the story of the ‘merc with a mouth’ Wade Wilson aka Deadpool. The film features one of the most brutal action sequences involving katana swords and guns. Deadpool’s ability to regenerate any part of his body is used for comedic effect in certain scenes where he is blown up to bits. The film was definitely the first of its kind, a mashup of black humor, bloody violence, gunfights, and superheroes.
If you haven't watched Deadpool yet, it's streaming on Disney + Hotstar
Jon Bernthal’s depiction of The Punisher was originally meant as a major character for the second season of the critically acclaimed series Daredevil. However, due to popular demand, the character received his stand-alone series delivering some best action sequences, on par with Daredevil, and equally violent. Set in the same universe as the larger Marvel Cinematic Universe, The Punisher is undoubtedly the most brutally violent Marvel Studios production.
Set in the 80s in an alternate timeline, Watchmen follows Rorschach’s investigation into the death of his former teammate The Comedian. Based on the DC graphic novel by Alan Moore, widely regarded as one of the greatest literary works of the 20th century, the story is a satire on American culture and politics. The 2009 film by Zack Snyder is an excellent adaptation of the source material, keeping all the elements of the graphic novel, including dark themes and gratuitous violence. A spiritual successor to the graphic novel was adapted into a TV series in 2019 by Damon Lindelof for HBO, which is also known for its mature themes. It also won a whopping 11 Emmy Awards.
The Suicide Squad, a soft-reboot of 2016’s Suicide Squad, follows a similar template to Deadpool. The DC film directed by James Gunn, the film stars Idris Elba, Margot Robbie, John Cena, Joel Kinnaman, and Viola Davis in the lead. Gunn has introduced his own trademark themes with, homages, and grotesque violence, in what could be described as something which is definitely not for the faint-hearted. Despite its relative failure at the box office, largely due to the pandemic, the film earned plaudits for its social commentary, visuals, and narrative structure.
The last one on the list is the animated film Justice League Dark Apokalips War. The film in the DC Animated Movie Universe is easily the most heartbreaking yet violent film among all of the 16 films on the roster. The timeline-resetting first film of this cinematic universe, Justice League The Flashpoint Paradox, pushed the limit to what a DC animated film can portray, with brutal depictions of a nuclear war between Wonder Woman and Amazon against Aquaman and the Atlanteans. It also involved Wonder Woman murdering Steve Trevor as well as an underage Billy Batson, the human form of Shazam. However, Justice League Dark Apokalips War, stepped it up a notch in its opening sequence alone, where more than half the members of the Justice League and other superhero teams are brutally murdered, torn limb from limb, by the evil Darkseid’s army of Doomsday Parademons, making it one of the most gut-wrenching and equally heartbreaking entry in this list.
Well, that's the theme-based episode of List hai to hit hai for today, until the next episode it's your host Nikhil signing out.
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Written by - Ryan Gomez