Skip to main content
Games Radar
  • Newsarama
  • Total Film
  • Edge
  • Retro Gamer
  • SFX
Total Film The smarter take on movies
Sign in
  • View Profile
  • Sign out
flag of UK
UK
flag of US
US
flag of Canada
Canada
flag of Australia
Australia
  • News
  • Reviews
  • Features
  • More
    • PS5
    • Xbox Series X
    • Nintendo Switch
    • Nintendo Switch 2
    • PC
    • Platforms
    • Tabletop Gaming
    • Comics
    • Toys & Collectibles
    • SFX
    • Newsarama
    • Retro Gamer
    • Newsletters
    • About us
    • Features
Gaming Magazines
Gaming Magazines
Why subscribe?
  • Subscribe from just £3
  • Takes you closer to the games, movies and TV you love
  • Try a single issue or save on a subscription
  • Issues delivered straight to your door or device
From$12
View
Trending
  • Best Netflix Movies
  • Best movies on Disney Plus
  • Movie Release Dates
  • Best Netflix Shows
Recommended reading
Jesse Plemons in Game Night
Movies The 32 most underrated movie comedies of all time
Best superhero movies: close-up images of Captain America, Batman, and Wonder Woman.
Superhero Movies The 25 best superhero movies of all time
Rachel Sennott in Shiva Baby
Movies The 32 greatest movies under 90 minutes
The 30 best sci-fi movies of all time: pictures of Alien, Arrival, Terminator, Brazil and 2001.
Sci-Fi Movies The 30 best sci-fi movies of all time
Superman
Movies Movie release dates 2025: every major film coming out in cinemas and on streaming services
Alicia Silverstone
Movies The 32 Greatest '90s Comedies Ever Made
Gene Kelly in Singin' in the Rain
Movies The 33 greatest movies about showbiz
  1. Entertainment
  2. Movies

20 Movies That Should Be Comic-Books

Features
By Joshua Winning published 22 April 2010

Flicks that deserve their own sketched-out franchises...

When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Here’s how it works.

Chinatown (1974)

Chinatown (1974)

The Film: Intense, twisty and deeply textured crime drama from Roman Polanski.

Private Detective J. J. Gittes (Jack Nicholson) is hired to investigate possible adultery, and discovers a conspiracy linked to Los Angeles’ water supply.

The Comic-Book Sequel: Gittes is asked to investigate when a professional fighter winds up dead. Could it be something to do with corruption in the betting industry?

Page 1 of 20
Page 1 of 20
Carrie (1976)

Carrie (1976)

The Film: Bloody teen horror from Brian De Palma, based on the novel by Stephen King.

Sissy Spacek plays the titular psychic high schooler, an outsider who’s shyer than a winter sun and strangulated by her mother’s religious roasting. It ends with a lot of dead people. And some pig’s blood.

The Comic-Book Sequel: Carrie in hell? Let’s see what happens when Carrie ends up dumped in the underworld for her bloody-mindedness, then attempts to find a way back into the real world.

We wonder who she’d cross paths with down there...

Page 2 of 20
Page 2 of 20
Gremlins (1984)

Gremlins (1984)

The Film: Christmas-set monster madness, with cute little Mogwai Gizmo (no, not the Glaswegian band) being given to young Billy as a Christmas present.

After a few accidents with water and overeating, Gizmo re-produces a hoard of evil brethren who wreak havoc on a small town.

The Comic-Book Sequel: Deliciously sinister comedy in which a scientist steals Gizmo from Chinatown and begins experimenting on him. Sadly for him, the result are decidedly messy...

Page 3 of 20
Page 3 of 20
Last Action Hero (1993)

Last Action Hero (1993)

The Film: Typically OTT Arnie vehicle. Film fan Danny gets transported into one of the Austrian Oak’s action movies, and becomes a part of the plot.

Things get even more outrageously self-referential when Arnie’s fictional hero Jack Slater enters the real world, and discovers it’s nothing like the movies.

The Comic-Book Sequel: A Jack Slater remake is in the works, causing chaos in movieworld as Chris Evans is cast as a younger, more attractive version of the original hero.

Danny attempts to sort things out, but he’ll need the real Jack Slater’s help. Lucky he kept that ticket stub...

Page 4 of 20
Page 4 of 20
The Exorcist (1973)

The Exorcist (1973)

The Film: Caused outrage for its depiction of a possessed young girl (Linda Blair) by the devil himself. Famous for its head-spinning horror and pea soup vomit scene.

The Comic-Book Sequel: Chris MacNeil (Ellen Burstyn) is now famous thanks to her daughter’s much publicised possession, and is sought out by a family whose rugrat is displaying similar violent tendencies.

Can she help them all these years later, or are the memories too painful?

Page 5 of 20
Page 5 of 20
Independence Day (1996)

Independence Day (1996)

The Film: Apocalyptic alien invasion flick, one of the least preposterous and most entertaining things directed by German filmmaker Roland Emmerich.

Giant space ships hover above the world’s capital cities, and set about destroying the Earth. Can Marine Captain Steven Hiller (Will Smith) and computer nerd David Levinson (Jeff Goldblum) stop an all-out invasion?

The Comic-Book Sequel: The aliens tried it one way and failed; time for a new tactic. Still covetously seeking to nab Earth for themselves, they take a leaf out of terrorist books and infiltrate the human race using skin suits.

But the death of an ex-pat who has discovered their secret makes David believe the aliens are back. Can he convince the rest of the world?

Page 6 of 20
Page 6 of 20
Gladiator (2000)

Gladiator (2000)

The Film: Epic directed by Ridley Scott, starring Russell Crowe as the titular fighter.

As a wronged soldier roped into clashing with and killing other gladiators for entertainment, Maximus defies an Emperor and his empire, but dies in the process.

The Comic-Book Sequel: Let’s use Nick Cave’s unfilmed but deliriously fascinating movie sequel script.

In the afterlife, Maximus encounters ancient Roman Gods, then is reincarnated in time to defend early Christians. It spans many centuries, with Maximus steering tanks in the war and winding up in the Pentagon.

Page 7 of 20
Page 7 of 20
The Howling (1981)

The Howling (1981)

The Film: Tongue-in-cheek scarer starring Dee Wallace as a TV reporter traumatised by her experiences out in the field when a psycho attempts to kill her.

Booking a stay in a country retreat with her husband, she discovers that the inhabitants are all actually werewolves, and must fight for her life against an entire community of the ravenous beasts.

The Comic-Book Sequel: Lone surviving wolf Marsha moves to a small sleepy town and seduces a young student. When she bites him during a particularly rough tumble, he starts to go through some very interesting changes...

Page 8 of 20
Page 8 of 20
Silence Of The Lambs (1991)

Silence Of The Lambs (1991)

The Film: Multiple Oscar-winner featuring a never-better Jodie Foster as FBI trainee Clarice Starling and Anthony Hopkins as Dr Hannibal ‘The Cannibal’ Lecter.

When women start turning up dead – and skinned – Clarice is unwittingly sent to see if Lecter, banged up in an asylum for the criminally insane, knows anything about the man behind the murders.

The Comic-Book Sequel: Ignore the novels and follow-up flicks. Clarice finds herself involved in a new murder case in which men are found crucified. Could a religious nut be behind the deaths? And is Hannibal Lecter the one sending her roses – if so, where is he?

Page 9 of 20
Page 9 of 20
Edward Scissorhands (1990)

Edward Scissorhands (1990)

The Film: Quirky fairytale courtesy of Tim Burton and Johnny Depp.

The titular Edward is the creation of an inventor who wanted to create a man using his own hands, but died before he could finish the job. When an Avon saleswoman meets Edward, she takes him into her home

The Comic-Book Sequel: What happens to Edward after his time with the Boggs? Many years later, a construction business want to tear down his mansion to erect a shiny new apartment block.

When the company’s PA, Jenny, befriends Edward, her loyalties are torn...

Page 10 of 20
Page 10 of 20
Pans Labyrinth (2006)

Pans Labyrinth (2006)

The Film: Creepy ‘40s-set Spanish fantasy directed by Guillermo Del Toro.

Fairytale lover Ofelia gets caught up in the machinations of her evil step-father Captain Vidal, who is terrorising a small town. She escapes into a magical world where fairies, a giant fawn and an eyeless monster reside...

The Comic-Book Sequel: During World War II, a young boy discovers a book about an Underground Realm where a king and queen rule with their daughter Princess Moanna.

As Hitler’s terror rains down, the boy finds a doorway to a strange new realm and meets a towering faun...

Page 11 of 20
Page 11 of 20
Mad Max (1979)

Mad Max (1979)

The Film: Post-apocalyptic road movie, in which law enforcer Max (Mel Gibson) fights a motorcycle gang who are running rampant in the Australian countryside.

The Comic-Book Sequel: Max discovers a cult of devil worshippers who are attempting to seize control of the roads, and sets about disbanding them. But will he fall under the spell of their alluring leader?

Page 12 of 20
Page 12 of 20
Poltergeist (1982)

Poltergeist (1982)

The Film: Tobe Hooper spooker about a family whose home is terrorised by unseen entities. When youngest daughter Carol Anne is kidnapped, the family recruit psychic Tangina to help them get her back.

The Comic-Book Sequel: Carol Anne is now a grown woman and has a family of her own. But when her daughter starts talking to the TV, Carol Anne begins to worry.

Soon the furniture is on the ceiling. Has something returned for Carol Anne?

Page 13 of 20
Page 13 of 20
Willow (1988)

Willow (1988)

The Film: Fantasy adventure in which little pecks, sorry, folks known as Nelwyns are hampered by the cruel rule of evil Queen Bavmorda.

When pocket-sized Nelwyn Willow Ufgood (Warwick Davis) discovers a baby prophesised to bring about the end of Bavmorda’s reign, he attempts to bring the Queen down. With a little help from his friends.

The Comic-Book Sequel: Willow is pulled into a new fantastical adventure when evil, power-hungry warlord Mab recruits forces against the current peaceful rule.

Those Nelwyns who refuse to fight are kidnapped and killed, including Willow's wife. Distraught, Willow and his grown-up son seek out Fin Raziel and Madmartigan for help.

Page 14 of 20
Page 14 of 20
Rocky (1976)

Rocky (1976)

The Film: The tale of one man’s mammoth struggle for supremacy in the world of boxing.

Rocky Balboa is just a small time fighter, but when he gets the opportunity to take on Apollo Creed, he rises to the challenge.

The Comic-Book Sequel: He’s already appeared in a few comics (Cracked, MAD), but let’s give the fella his own comic book universe.

Rocky faces his toughest opponent yet when he’s challenged to fight British Champion Frank Hudson. Meanwhile, his girlfriend feels left by the wayside...

Page 15 of 20
Page 15 of 20
The Neverending Story (1984)

The Neverending Story (1984)

The Film: Based on the book by Michael Ende, directed by Wolfgang Peterson.

Young Bastian (Barret Oliver) is struggling after his mother’s departure, and escapes into a book entitled The Neverending Story .

But is it really a work of fiction, or could the events he’s reading about really be taking place in another world?

The Comic-Book Sequel: While packing for uni, Bastian discovers his old copy of The Neverending Story and begins to read it. But he discovers the story has changed, and soon finds himself whisked along on a new fantastical journey.

Page 16 of 20
Page 16 of 20
Top Gun (1986)

Top Gun (1986)

The Film: Tony Scott-helmed ‘80s actioner, starring Tom Cruise as Maverick, a Tomcat student pilot who competes with his other team members for supremacy. He also beds his teacher, Charlie.

The Comic-Book Sequel: Now they’ve qualified, what next for Maverick and his team mates? A few years after marrying Charlie, Maverick is called to serve for his country.

When a new student of Charlie’s makes advances on her, will she give into temptation?

Page 17 of 20
Page 17 of 20
Stand By Me (1986)

Stand By Me (1986)

The Film: Coming-of-ager from the pen of Stephen King, directed by Rob Reiner. Four boys set out to find the body of a missing teenager in what turns out to be a journey of self-discovery more than anything else.

The Comic-Book Sequel: When news hits that an escaped convict is loose on the outskirts of town, Chris, Geordie, Vern and Teddy make it their mission to capture him...

Page 18 of 20
Page 18 of 20
Romancing The Stone (1984)

Romancing The Stone (1984)

The Film: Hybrid rom-com action adventure, in which writer Joan Wilder (Kathleen Turner) gets swept up into her own exotic adventure when her sister is kidnapped and held hostage in Colombia.

There, she meets jungle-lover Jack T Colton (Michael Douglas), who helps and hinders her in her quest.

The Comic-Book Sequel: A woman turns up at Joan’s door claiming to be Colton’s wife. The woman says that she needs Colton to help her rescue her son, who has been kidnapped by pirates off the coast of Spain.

Refusing to let Jack and his supposed wife go alone, Joan travels with them. Cue more exotic swashbuckling adventure...

Page 19 of 20
Page 19 of 20
Avatar (2009

Avatar (2009

The Film: Biggest grossing movie ever, directed by James Cameron, almost single-handedly revived interest in 3D... Sound familiar?

Jake Sully (Sam Worthington) is sent off to the alien moon known as Pandora, where he uses his dead twin’s Avatar – an alien body that his consciousness can be projected into – to get close to the native Na’Vi race. Soon, he wants to be one of them.

The Comic-Book Sequel: Now a fully-fledged Na’Vi, Jake adjusts to life on Pandora. But when another savage alien breed is discovered deep in the moon’s underground caves, the timing couldn’t be any worse – humans have sent another raft of soldiers to seize control of Pandora.

Meanwhile, Jake begins to hear Dr Grace’s voice whenever he’s near the Tree of Souls.

Page 20 of 20
Page 20 of 20
Joshua Winning
Social Links Navigation

Josh Winning has worn a lot of hats over the years. Contributing Editor at Total Film, writer for SFX, and senior film writer at the Radio Times. Josh has also penned a novel about mysteries and monsters, is the co-host of a movie podcast, and has a library of pretty phenomenal stories from visiting some of the biggest TV and film sets in the world. He would also like you to know that he "lives for cat videos..." Don't we all, Josh. Don't we all.  

See more Movies Features
Read more
Jesse Plemons in Game Night
The 32 most underrated movie comedies of all time
Best superhero movies: close-up images of Captain America, Batman, and Wonder Woman.
The 25 best superhero movies of all time
Rachel Sennott in Shiva Baby
The 32 greatest movies under 90 minutes
The 30 best sci-fi movies of all time: pictures of Alien, Arrival, Terminator, Brazil and 2001.
The 30 best sci-fi movies of all time
Superman
Movie release dates 2025: every major film coming out in cinemas and on streaming services
Alicia Silverstone
The 32 Greatest '90s Comedies Ever Made
Latest in Movies
Dune
You'll never guess what they're officially calling Dune 3
David Corenswet as Superman inside the Fortress of Solitude in James Gunn's Superman.
Superman review: "A triumphant reinvention and a promising start for the DCU"
Julia Garner as Silver Surfer in The Fantastic Four: First Steps
New Fantastic Four clip reveals the Silver Surfer's chilling introduction of Galactus: "Your planet is now marked for death"
David Corenswet and Rachel Brosnahan in Superman
Superman star Rachel Brosnahan would love to see the "storied history" between Lois Lane and Wonder Woman in the DCU
Hannah John-Kamen as Ghost in Thunderbolts*
7 years after its release, Marvel fans are discussing how they feel about Ant-Man and the Wasp after Thunderbolts* reimagined Ghost for the better
David Corenswet as Superman kneels by a broken robot in the new Superman movie.
When is Superman on streaming? Speculation on the potential HBO Max release date
Latest in Features
Star Wars Battlefront 2 (2017) screenshot showing Darth Vader walking through a hangar flanked by two stormtroopers
I've spent 11 hours fighting AI in EA's Star Wars Battlefront 2, and it's taking me back to the glory days of PS2 skirmish modes
Dollman is lost in thought in Death Stranding 2: On the Beach
This is now a Dollman fan account: Death Stranding 2's puppet pal makes for my favorite PlayStation duo since Ratchet & Clank
Agent 47 on a mission in Hitman: World of Assassination
I'm loving Hitman: World of Assassination on Switch 2, but the game's always-online requirement is worse than ever
Kaizen: A Factory Story key art featuring a production line making a toy electronic
"Make games and die. That's my plan": Coincidence's Zach Barth on making games about making things, a year of teaching, and being in it for the long haul
Cyberpunk Edgerunners
Cyberpunk Edgerunners season 2: Everything we know about CD Projekt Red's anime
Ghost, Bob, Yelena, and John Walker peeking around a corner in Thunderbolts
Marvel Phase 5 closes a weird, ramshackle chapter in MCU history – and shows what Marvel needs to get right in Phase 6
  1. A Gundam style mech in Mecha Break
    1
    Mecha Break review: "This mech battler makes up for lacking customization with a varied roster that lets me live out my Evangelion fantasy"
  2. 2
    Death Stranding 2: On the Beach review: "This tarpunk delivery epic is more Metal Gear Solid than ever, for better and worse"
  3. 3
    Rematch review: "As with Rocket League, the just-one-more-game pull is magnetic"
  4. 4
    Tron: Catalyst review: "Disc slinging is a thrill in this gorgeous rendition of the series, but I'm let down by a time-loop story that falls flat"
  5. 5
    FBC: Firebreak review: "A disappointingly bland multiplayer FPS that's missing far too much of what made Control special"
  1. David Corenswet as Superman inside the Fortress of Solitude in James Gunn's Superman.
    1
    Superman review: "A triumphant reinvention and a promising start for the DCU"
  2. 2
    Jurassic World Rebirth Review: "An unscary sequel that needed a little more time in amber"
  3. 3
    M3GAN 2.0 review: "A bold sequel with a slightly underwhelming conclusion"
  4. 4
    28 Years Later Review: "Enough terror, splatter and suspense to satisfy”
  5. 5
    Predator: Killer of Killers review: "Great characters, thrilling action, and gorgeous Arcane-esque animation"
  1. Lee Jung-jae as Gi-hun in Squid Game season 3
    1
    Squid Game season 3 review: "A staggeringly excellent final season wraps up one of the greatest Netflix shows ever"
  2. 2
    Ironheart review: "A relic of Marvel's content-at-all-costs era"
  3. 3
    Star Trek: Strange New Worlds season 3 review: "The show's most assured run of episodes to date"
  4. 4
    Doctor Who season 2, episode 8 spoiler review: 'The Reality War' is "a mix of the good, the bad, and the truly baffling"
  5. 5
    Doctor Who season 2, episode 7 spoiler review: 'Wish World' is "an exciting and ambitious" start to the season finale, with hints of WandaVision

GamesRadar+ is part of Future US Inc, an international media group and leading digital publisher. Visit our corporate site.

  • About Us
  • Contact Future's experts
  • Terms and conditions
  • Privacy policy
  • Cookies policy
  • Advertise with us
  • Review guidelines
  • Write for us
  • Accessibility Statement
  • Careers

© Future US, Inc. Full 7th Floor, 130 West 42nd Street, New York, NY 10036.

Please login or signup to comment

Please wait...