10 fun misfit superhero team-up movies to watch after Thunderbolts*

The latest Marvel Cinematic Universe offering, Thunderbolts*, takes a different path than the rest of the franchise, assembling a misfit team of villains and former villains from the MCU’s roster to fight against overwhelming odds to save the world. That may seem reminiscent of Suicide Squad (because it is), but superhero movies boast a long history of quirky antiheroes, rogues, and ne’er-do-wells joining forces for an unexpected team-up.

It’s an appealing concept because it leans into the chaos and charm of unlikely heroes, thriving on their underdog appeal, the clashing of personalities, back-and-forth banter, and the inevitable heart and humor that goes with them. The dysfunction is often relatable, as many families and friend groups in the real world usually have similar — albeit less extreme — characteristics and dynamics.

So, if you loved Thunderbolts*, there are countless other movies for you in which oddballs and outcasts come together for the greater good — and not just blockbusters like the aforementioned Suicide Squad, Guardians of the Galaxy, and Deadpool 2 (in which X-Force briefly forms in a humorously tragic fashion). Many lesser-known and far less-celebrated examples are every bit as enjoyable. Here are 10 of the best you can watch at home right now.

Defendor

Where to watch: Tubi

You know when you watch a little-known movie and wonder how the heck it wasn’t more popular? Defendor is a prime example of that. The misfit team-up comes when Woody Harrelson’s inept eponymous vigilante (real name Arthur Poppington) joins forces with Kat Dennings’ cynical sex worker (named Angel) to take down the former’s archnemesis, the evil Captain Industry.

Defendor’s incompetence is presented as both tragic and endearing, making for a simultaneously humorous and gripping viewing experience. His dedication to saving people despite his lack of skill in doing so gives him a level of heroic legitimacy missing in many blockbusters in the superhero genre. In addition to it being a genuinely good watch, this one is well worth seeing because of Harrelson’s raw, heartfelt vulnerability, which complements Dennings’ sharp edge and makes for flawless and funny synergy between the unorthodox duo.

The Return of Captain Invincible

Where to watch: Prime Video

Directed by Philippe Mora, who went on to helm other cinematic masterpieces like 1997’s Pterodactyl Woman from Beverly Hills, and written by future Die Hard writer and Street Fighter director Steven E. de Souza, the Australian movie The Return of Captain Invincible is a charming superhero musical comedy that defies its silly-sounding concept, starring the brilliant pairing of Alan Arkin and Christopher Lee.

Arkin plays Captain Invincible, a washed-up alcoholic World War II superhero plucked out of retirement by a gutsy Australian policewoman who works with him to help him redeem himself. They go up against Captain Invincible’s flamboyant nemesis, Lee’s Mr. Midnight, and his ragtag group of criminal minions. The delightful musical routines make this a unique entry in the superhero genre, and the camaraderie between the eccentric characters ensures it’s an absolute hoot.

Mystery Men

Where to watch: For free with ads on Tubi

The fabulous Mystery Men is the only movie from decorated commercial director Kinka Usher. Loosely based on Bob Burden’s absurd Flaming Carrot Comics, it features an impressive and talented ensemble cast led by Ben Stiller, Hank Azaria, William H. Macy, Kel Mitchell, Greg Kinnear, and Geoffrey Rush. One of the most unconventional and idiosyncratic movies of its kind, Mystery Men was a commercial failure, but has since become a cult hit thanks to its many quirks, like its colorful, retro aesthetic and memorable dialogue (“We’ve got a blind date with destiny, and it looks like she’s ordered the lobster!”).

Mystery Men is about a misfit group of bickering amateur superheroes — to give an idea of the movie’s wackiness, one of them, “Invisible Boy” (Mitchell), becomes invisible only when nobody is looking at him — in fictional Champion City. Constantly upstaged by the powerful Captain Amazing (Kinnear), the Mystery Men get their moment in the spotlight when the city’s flagship hero gets captured by the evil Casanova Frankenstein (Rush). This movie is far more intelligent than it has any right to be, with its focus on human flaws and aspirations, and sharp social commentary on topics like commercialism and corporate branding. Its effervescent (and numerous) stars bring it wonderfully to life with their tremendous chemistry.

The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen

Where to watch: Disney Plus

Directed by Blade auteur Stephen Norrington and based loosely on Alan Moore and Kevin O’Neill’s comic book of the same name, The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen is a steampunk superhero movie that brings together a motley crew of fictional characters from popular literature. The literary Avengers assembling in this one include King Solomon’s Mines’ Allan Quatermain (Sean Connery), Mr. Hyde (Jason Flemyng), Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea’s Captain Nemo (Naseeruddin Shah), Dorian Gray (Stuart Townsend), Tom Sawyer (Shane West) and Dracula’s Mina Harker (Peta Wilson), as they attempt to thwart Sherlock Holmes’ Professor Moriarty (Richard Roxburgh) in his bid for world domination.

It received terrible reviews due to its perceived subpar execution on that great idea, but critics were overly harsh on this one. The story is undeniably fun, the world-building is visually immersive, and these iconic literary characters joining forces is a cool concept. It makes for a nice change from typical overblown superhero offerings, and the cast’s performances — especially that of Connery — undoubtedly make at least one viewing worthwhile.

The Specials

Where to watch: YouTube

Written by superhero movie icon James Gunn and directed by Craig Mazin (The Last of Us), The Specials is a satire that follows the everyday lives of the “seventh most popular superhero team in the world.” The star-studded cast includes Thomas Haden Church, Rob Lowe, Judy Greer, and Jamie Kennedy — and the comedic spark between them all is undeniable. It’s criminally underrated, and bags of fun.

The Specials features barely any action or fancy special effects, differentiating it from almost every other superhero production ever made. Instead, its quirky, grounded, relatable spin on the genre is refreshing with its focus on the heroes’ everyday lives, and its game cast executes the low-key, deadpan humor flawlessly. The biggest compliment anyone could give The Specials is that it feels like The Boys meets This is Spinal Tap.

Sky High

Where to watch: Disney Plus

Set in a high school for teenage superheroes, the comedic Sky High follows a group of mocked, overlooked, and underestimated students as they band together to defeat a mysterious supervillain. It’s a classic underdog story with a brilliant superpowered twist (even if those superpowers do include questionably useful abilities like transforming into a guinea pig). Two-thirds of Sky High’s writing team were Bob Schooley and Mark McCorkle (Kim Possible), so it should surprise nobody that it’s well-written and a thoroughly entertaining movie — especially for younger viewers. 

After a moderately successful theatrical run, Sky High has developed a cult following — and understandably so. Michael Angarano gives a star-making performance as Will Stronghold, grounding the movie emotionally as he struggles to live up to his parents’ legacy, and Kurt Russell, who is tremendous in his charmingly over-the-top role as Will’s father Steve, gives it some real star power. Sky High’s true brilliance is that it holds up independently despite blatantly (but respectfully) borrowing from countless other sources. 

Super

Where to watch: Philo, free with ads on Pluto TV

Another James Gunn superhero offering, the black comedy Super, isn’t considered his finest hour. Some critics focused on the excessive violence — which is undoubtedly prevalent — but there’s far more to this overlooked whimsical little number than that.

Super stars The Office’s Rainn Wilson as Frank Darbo, a cook who becomes the heroic but brutal Crimson Bolt despite having no superpowers or meaningful skills. He’s excellent in the role, exhibiting flawless deadpan humor, and ably supported by a talented ensemble that includes Elliot Page (as the unstable comic book store worker who teams with Darbo as his unlikely and even more unhinged sidekick), Liv Tyler, Kevin Bacon, Linda Cardellini, and regular Gunn collaborators like Nathan Fillion, Michael Rooker, and his brother Sean. It’s well written, subversive, and, perhaps most importantly, given its intent, its humor is very dark.

The Losers

Where to watch: For free with ads on Tubi

The Losers is teeming with A-listers like Chris Evans, Zoe Saldaña, and Idris Elba — yet it barely made a splash when it came out 15 years ago. The bewilderment of its failure increases when you realize it’s not even a bad movie. It’s precisely what you’d want it to be: fast-paced, action-packed, humorous, and well-acted. It’s ideal popcorn viewing.

Based on Andy Diggle and Jock’s Vertigo Comics series of the same name, The Losers  follows a ragtag team of ex-Special Forces operatives — each with their own skills, quirks, and baggage — who get framed for a botched operation and end up working outside the system to clear their names. There’s some notable casting against type here — Evans plays a computer geek, for instance — which helps the movie stand out, as does the more predictable casting of Jeffrey Dean Morgan as the team’s gritty leader Franklin Clay, whose wry humor anchors it and elevates its pulpy vibe.

3 Dev Adam

Where to watch: YouTube

To say that this strange cult Turkish movie from 1973 is utterly ludicrous would be a massive understatement — it’s completely unhinged. However, that’s all part of its charm. It’s Turksploitation at its weird best.

3 Dev Adam — Three Giant Men in English — features zany unlicensed versions of popular characters. It sees Captain America (sans shield, wearing a bulletproof costume, and boasting the unexpected power of telepathy) and his sidekick girlfriend forming a bizarre team with the iconic Mexican wrestler El Santo to take down a malevolent version of Spider-Man (with no typical Spidey abilities other than being able to climb walls) and his criminal empire in Istanbul. The crazy tone gets set early, as evil Spidey and his crew kill a woman by burying her up to her shoulders in some sand and taking her face off with a boat’s propeller. It’s one of those “so bad it’s good” movies you can’t take your eyes off, thanks primarily to its monumental deviation from its source material.

We Can Be Heroes

Where to watch: Netflix

Robert Rodriguez’s We Can Be Heroes boasts more sophisticated themes than its labeling as a children’s movie suggests. Despite feeling like a Saturday morning cartoon, it poignantly touches on the importance of family and unity, the value of teamwork and cooperation, and themes like empowerment, self-discovery, sacrifice, legacy, and responsibility. It’s a genuinely impressively original and imaginative movie. 

A standalone legacy sequel to 2005’s The Adventures of Sharkboy and Lavagirl in 3-D, it follows a group of superpowered misfit underdog children — including Wheels, whose superstrength makes his muscles too heavy for his skeleton — who unite to rescue their superhero parents from alien invaders. Their togetherness is enormously heartwarming. In this one, you’ll see a preview of Pedro Pascal as the head of a superhero team before his starring role in The Fantastic Four: First Steps. He plays Marcus Moreno, one of the kidnapped heroes and the leading man of “The Heroics.”