The response was overwhelmingly positive upon the release of The Passion of the Christ in February 2004. With over $600 million in total worldwide box office receipts, the film that writer-director Mel Gibson referred to as a “career-killer” actually became the fifth-highest-grossing release of 2004.
The movie was also flawlessly executed, which led to results Gibson could not have foreseen and even outperformed Guillermo del Toro’s superhero film, Hellboy.
The action-packed antics of the demonic detective Hellboy and the gripping account of Jesus Christ attracted different audiences for both movies. But despite all the odds, it was the religious epic that was able to capture the hearts and minds of moviegoers around the world.
But Hellboy was not del Toro’s first superhero movie; Blade II came out in 2002, and Mimic came out before (1997) as an English-language release.
Related: “We lost close to 25% of our budget”: 9/11 Forced Mel Gibson to Abandon Iconic $526M Franchise
When Hellboy Fell Short of Mel Gibson’s The Passion of the Christ
Mel Gibson‘s The Passion of the Christ was no stranger to controversy and debate. Upon its initial release in 2004, a fervent discussion was sparked by its portrayal of Jesus’ crucifixion. Also, given the evolving nature of cinema and the rise of franchises centered around superheroes, critics have questioned its appeal to a contemporary audience.
But it was this steadfast faith and devotion that helped The Passion of the Christ retake the top spot at the box office, mirroring the story of the resurrection itself.
The Passion of the Christ, starring Jim Caviezel, earned over $612 million worldwide and rose to the fifth-highest international box office position of 2004.
Contrarily, Hellboy, directed by Guillermo del Toro, and starring David Harbour in the recognizable red horns, promised to be a visually stunning spectacle that would enthrall followers of the comic book series. The Mexican filmmaker set the bar higher for this superhero movie based on the Dark Horse Comics with his skillful blending of fantasy and grit. Even with its visually stunning sequences, the movie was unable to match the intense religious resonance of The Passion of the Christ.
Hellboy received largely favorable reviews from critics and made over $99 million while operating on a $60–66 million production budget.
Expect No More Superhero Films From Guillermo del Toro
Superhero movies have long dominated the cinema, but there are so many of them that have unjustly lost their voice. Although these two films of Guillermo del Toro are not a part of the MCU or the DCEU, they do have a charming world of their own that is well worth visiting again.
Blade 2 was del Toro’s first superhero movie, and Hellboy was his second endeavor in 2004.
It was impossible to look away from his Hellboy, who continued to stand out among the heroes and villains. But he has since stopped directing superhero movies.
When asked if he would ever return to the murky world of superhero movies in an interview with Entertainment Tonight, Blade II and Hellboy director categorically responded:
“I do not think so.”
In the interview, he further mentioned:
“When I was doing the Hellboy movies or Blade, you know, they were counter to [how] everything was being done. And so it was fun to break the rules there, you know, and I try not to do them the way they would’ve been done by anyone else. I think that Justice League Dark was attractive …because they’re all monsters … But I was never a superhero guy. I like monsters.”
Also read: Real Reason Mel Gibson Feared Becoming James Bond, Forced $14.8B Franchise to Choose Timothy Dalton
It is well known that del Toro has a complicated history with superhero films. He was added to the Blade film series because the producers thought his dark sensibilities would make a fantastic addition to the series.
At the time, del Toro remarked:
“Wesley knows Blade better than David Goyer, better than me, better than anyone else involved in the franchise. He instinctively knows what the character would and wouldn’t do, and every time he twists something around, something better would come out.”
For the unversed, a sequel to the movie, Hellboy II: The Golden Army, was released in 2008, and a reboot of the same name came in 2019.
Hellboy is streaming on Max and The Passion of the Christ is available on Amazon Prime Video.
Source- Indiewire; Entertainment Tonight
