How A Superhero Sequel Dumped By Disney Became Hulu's Biggest Hit
Giant Freakin Robot • • entertainment
Key Points:
- Hellboy: The Crooked Man, the fourth film in the Hellboy series and the third to star Jack Kesy, debuted as the number one film on Hulu in 2025 despite being a low-budget production.
- The film is a direct adaptation of Mike Mignola’s comic, set in 1959 Appalachia, focusing on a smaller, more supernatural story rather than globe-trotting adventures seen in previous films.
- Despite limited visual effects and a washed-out look reminiscent of mid-2000s SyFy movies, the film is praised for its strong dialogue and faithful storytelling, capturing the spirit of the original comic.
- Directed by Brian Taylor, Hellboy: The Crooked Man feels like a fan film made with love for the source material, standing out as a successful scaled-back superhero movie on streaming platforms.
- The film’s success on Hulu could potentially revive the Hellboy franchise, offering a darker, gothic supernatural tone distinct from mainstream superhero movies.
