Outline:
Cinema lovers hold a unique affection for Hellboy. Adapted from the 1990s comic books created by Mike Mignola, there have been four Hellboy films spread across three distinct storylines. Certain movies are widely cherished. Others, however, have not fared as well. Let’s review the four Hellboy films and analyze their financial success at the box office.
Hellboy (2004)
Long ago, Guillermo Del Toro was a director searching for themes that aligned with his distinctive style. He had conflicts with the Weinsteins while working on Mimic, and The Devil’s Backbone was too obscure to make a significant impact. However, following the success of Blade II in 2002, Guillermo Del Toro gained greater creative freedom and control for his next project, which was an adaptation of Hellboy. The movie could be seen as a mix of Men in Black and Batman with a hint of Spider-Man 2002, but that would be an overly simplistic way to describe it. Regardless, the film received praise from critics but only achieved moderate box office success. With a budget of $66 million, the film earned $99 million globally, including $59 million within the United States.
Hellboy II: The Golden Army (2008)
Although Hellboy didn’t revolutionize the world, it had a lasting impact and did well on home video (remember DVDs? Those were the days). Alongside a surge in Del Toro’s fame after the success of Pan’s Labyrinth, Hellboy II was developed with a larger budget and higher expectations. Hellboy II: The Golden Army had an $85 million budget and earned $168 million worldwide, with $75 million in the United States. It debuted strongly with $34.5 million, but releasing just one week before the massive hit The Dark Knight didn’t help its long-term performance. Ultimately, Hellboy II might have barely broken even at the box office, but it’s uncertain. Nevertheless, this was still the DVD era, which allowed the film to generate some revenue overall.
Hellboy (2019)
After the release of Hellboy II, Del Toro and actor Ron Perlman were excited to start work on a third movie, but fate had different ideas. Eventually, Del Toro and Perlman turned their attention to other projects, and Hellboy ended up in the place where many underperforming franchises go: Reboot City. In 2019, a new version of Hellboy, simply called Hellboy, came out, but it failed to capture the interest of fans who loved the Del Toro films. With a budget of $50 million, the film only made $55 million globally, including $21 million in the United States. Although none of the Hellboy movies were huge hits, this one was the first to be considered a complete failure. David Harbour put in his best performance as the title character, but the film’s new R-rating didn’t help, featuring violent scenes that felt more like Hellraiser than Hellboy and clashed with the lighthearted and adventurous spirit the series was known for. In the end, Hellboy 2019 has a small group of fans and is somewhat of a cult favorite, but most people would prefer to forget it ever existed.
Hellboy: The Misshapen Man (2024)
Actually, Reboot City isn’t the end of a misfit franchise: the real conclusion is Straight-to-Video Reboot City. That’s where we encounter Hellboy: The Crooked Man. Honestly, it’s understandable if you weren’t aware this film even exists. Filmed in Bulgaria, Hellboy: The Crooked Man reportedly had a budget of $20 million. Watching the movie, I don’t see $20 million worth of production quality, but I’m not a filmmaker, so what do I know? Theatrically, the film only had a limited release globally and was released directly to video in the United States. VOD sales are hard to come by, but the film only earned $2 million at the international box office. I think it’s safe to say there won’t be a sequel to The Crooked Man anytime soon.
So, is Hellboy permanently gone? Perhaps. However, I believe the only way it would succeed is if Guillermo Del Toro had some involvement. I would love to see Ron Perlman reprise his role as Hellboy, but at 76 years old, I’m unsure if he’s interested in appearing in an action film while wearing extensive makeup and prosthetics. Maybe he could do it through CGI and motion capture, but that might upset some traditional fans. Should Hellboy remain in the past? Likely, but considering Hollywood’s tendencies, a classic franchise, even one that never really took off, always seems to warrant another reboot.
Related: Budget and Box Office History: Resident Evil