Steel vs. Spawn: Which Is The Worst ’90s Superhero Movie

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Superhero movies have been around for many years, but they’ve just grown big in the last two decades. The majority of the time, fans can’t wait for their favorite superhero films to be released, and it’s easy to see why given the incredible stuff they offer. There are, however, certain superhero films that are so bad… they’re just bad! In this article, we’ll compare and contrast two of the lowest-ranking superhero films to see which one is the worst: Spawn and Steel. Poor screenwriting, uninspired acting, and muddled directing plagued these films. Let’s take a closer look at the worst superhero movie, shall we?

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1. Spawn – For Having An Extremely Outdated Special FX

The worst superhero movie of all time: Spawn.
1997 American superhero film based on the Image Comics character of the same name: Spawn

Spawn’s visual effects may have been passable at the time of its debut, but they wouldn’t even pass muster as mobile game graphics now. This isn’t meant to be a criticism of the visual effects artists’ of this superhero movie. However, it’s interesting to note that filmmaker Mark A.Z. Dippé made his debut working in VFX on films like The Abyss, Jurassic Park, and Back to the Future Part II. His work on Spawn was remarkable, and several of the realistic digital effects from the movie are still in use today. Unfortunately, Spawn lacked anything in the CGI aspect to make the experience feel eternal.

2. Steel – For Having One Of The Most Unoriginal Protagonists Ever

The worst superhero movie ever: Steel.
1997 American superhero film loosely based on the DC Comics character of the same name.

In this superhero movie, Steel was basically a brilliant engineer who specialized in making weapons and created an armored suit that gave him greater strength and skills, including the ability to fly. Is this something you’ve heard before? Yeah, he’s basically DC’s Iron Man in terms of abilities and the costume he wears, minus the arrogance and the alcoholism. Cherished, heroic, clever, and all-around decent person, Steel later goes on to become one of DC‘s best B-list characters.

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3. Spawn – For Making A Movie That Ages So Poorly

The worst superhero movie of all time: Spawn.
One of the most prominent superhero failure movies of the nineties: Spawn.

Aside from the CGI being outdated, the movie included far more than was necessary. As a result, it appears as if they fixated on some topics while ignoring others. Furthermore, many fans claim that the film now feels cheesy as heck and a touch nonsensical, bordering on cringe material. The concluding scene is also deemed to be hilariously terrible, even when compared to other films released in the same period.

4. Steel – For An Extremely Weak Acting With A Subpar Cast

The worst superhero movie ever: Steel.
The protagonist of Steel, Shaquille O’Neal, and the villain Judd Nelson.

Shaq’s performance in this film is very artificial. However, there are a few small inside jokes about how bad he’s always been at free throws. The adversary he fights is played by Judd Nelson, who can be deemed harsher in The Breakfast Club than in this movie. The narrative is flimsy, the conversation is generally poor, and the action sequences are devoid of action.

The award for worst film of all time goes to…

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5. Spawn – For Being As Far As It Can Be From The Source Material

The worst superhero movie of all time: Spawn.
1992 monthly comic book series created by Todd McFarlane and published by Image Comics.

The original Spawn comics version created by Todd McFarlane covers the narrative of Al Simmons, a former government agent who was cruelly slain by his own teammates and condemned straight to hell. Despite the fact that the Spawn comics are extremely brutally violent, the film’s makers sought to make it PG-13. They failed miserably because they were unable to effectively highlight key plot themes. This didn’t sit well with the audiences as they felt like the makers didn’t do justice to the original material.

 

 

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Written by Alfeeya Pathan

Articles Published: 342

Alfeeya Pathan is an entertainment news writer at FandomWire. With over 4 years of experience in writing and a Bachelor's in Journalism and Mass Communication, Alfeeya has honed her skills in writing compelling news for reader's.