10 Best Comic Book Movies Based On Normal People

As a movie fan, when I hear ‘comic book movie,’ my mind immediately jumps to superheroes. But you know, there are actually some fantastic adaptations that ditch the capes and powers altogether! These films focus on everyday people, dealing with relatable situations – or sometimes, getting thrown into incredibly wild circumstances, but still remaining just… normal folks. It’s great to see stories told from that perspective.

Superhero movies are perfectly fine, but it often surprises people to discover a film is based on a comic book that doesn’t involve traditional superheroes. While many assume comic book adaptations always feature people with powers, there are actually fantastic films based on comics that focus on everyday characters—and some of them are even better than superhero movies.

10. Art School Confidential (2006)

Directed by Terry Zwigoff, the 2006 film Art School Confidential is the director’s second adaptation of a comic book. The story, created by Daniel Clowes, follows a young man’s experiences at art school and is loosely based on Clowes’ own time at the Pratt Institute. He intended it as a humorous critique of American art schools.

The film draws inspiration from the comics, following Jerome, played by Max Minghella, as he starts his studies at the Strathmore School of Art. The story takes a chaotic turn when a serial killer begins targeting the campus, and Jerome’s artistic ambitions become unexpectedly linked to the investigation.

Critics didn’t like the movie, and most viewers agreed, giving it a low rating. However, it ultimately surprised everyone by being completely unexpected, and that originality makes it worth revisiting.

9. The Diary Of A Teenage Girl (2015)

The Diary of a Teenage Girl is a funny and touching movie that surprisingly started as a comic book. Similar to Art School Confidential, it tells the story of a young person with artistic dreams – in this case, a teenage girl named Minnie who wants to become a cartoonist.

The film, adapted from Phoebe Gloeckner’s graphic novel, features Bea Powley as a teenage artist who begins a relationship with her mother’s boyfriend, making it a daring story. Kristen Wiig plays her free-spirited mother, and Alexander Skarsgård plays the boyfriend.

This movie tells the story of a young woman’s journey to find herself. It’s been very well-received by critics, earning a 95% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, who have described it as both unique and genuinely honest.

8. Persepolis (2007)

Persepolis is a highly regarded autobiographical comic book, and later a movie, based on the real life of Marjane Satrapi. It tells the story of her growing up in Iran and Austria during the Islamic Revolution. It’s also frequently challenged and appears on lists of banned books in American schools.

The books were adapted into a highly successful animated movie in 2007. It won a Jury Prize at the Cannes Film Festival and received an Academy Award nomination for Best Animated Feature – a historic moment as it was the first film in that category directed by a woman, Marjane Satrapi, who co-directed with Vincent Paronnaud.

The movie received overwhelmingly positive reviews, earning a 96% rating on Rotten Tomatoes. Critics particularly admired its impactful story and distinctive black-and-white animation. Roger Ebert highlighted the film’s realistic and compelling portrayal of a woman’s journey to adulthood.

7. Blue Is The Warmest Color (2013)

Blue Is The Warmest Color is a French graphic novel created by Jul Maroh in 2010, originally titled Blue Angel. It’s a love story between two young women in France, set in the 1990s and 2000s. In 2013, director Abdellatif Kechiche made a film adaptation using the current title.

The film centers on Adèle, a young high school student, and her unexpected connection with Emma, a woman with striking blue hair. As their friendship deepens, Adèle faces judgment and isolation from her peers, who assume she is gay. Through this experience, Adèle begins to understand and accept who she truly is.

This comic book movie stands out for its focus on everyday people and its heartwarming LGBTQ+ love story. Critics loved it – it earned an 89% rating on Rotten Tomatoes and even won the prestigious Palme d’Or at the Cannes Film Festival.

6. V For Vendetta (2005)

V for Vendetta is just one of many films based on the work of Alan Moore, though he doesn’t allow his name to appear in the movie’s credits. The original story, created by Moore and David Lloyd, depicts a future Britain under a cruel, controlling government, with a rebellion brewing.

This science fiction film focuses on realistic characters and avoids supernatural elements. Everyone is simply trying to restore freedom in their own way. Hugo Weaving plays V, a masked revolutionary, and Natalie Portman is Evey, a young woman unexpectedly caught up in his fight.

Despite Alan Moore’s disapproval, the film adaptation of his work is considered one of the stronger comic book movies based on his stories. Directed by James McTeigue with a screenplay by the Wachowskis, it received positive reviews, earning a 73% rating on Rotten Tomatoes and nominations for both Saturn and Satellite Awards.

5. American Splendor (2003)

The film American Splendor is a unique comic book movie because it’s adapted from the graphic novel Our Cancer Year by Harvey Pekar and Joyce Brabner. This novel was originally part of Pekar’s ongoing American Splendor comic series. Pekar’s comics, and the movie itself, are based on his actual life story, making it a biographical film about the cartoonist.

Paul Giamatti plays Harvey Pekar, and Hope Davis portrays Joyce Brabner in this unique movie. The film cleverly includes actual footage of Pekar and Brabner talking about their lives, their comic books, and their reactions to being depicted on screen by the actors. It’s a very self-aware and layered comic book movie.

The movie is critically acclaimed, earning a 94% rating on Rotten Tomatoes. Reviewers particularly liked its unique style and relatable story about someone pursuing their passion. The script by Robert Pulcini and Springer Berman was nominated for an Oscar, and Hope Davis received a Golden Globe nomination for her performance as a supporting actress.

4. Road To Perdition (2002)

Road to Perdition is a gripping crime drama featuring two legendary actors, and it’s a film surprisingly adapted from a comic book. Unlike typical comic book movies, it’s a dark and realistic neo-noir directed by Sam Mendes, telling the story of a mafia boss who orders a hit on the son he brought up.

This isn’t a story about extraordinary individuals, but rather ordinary people – much like characters you’d find in a Martin Scorsese crime film, which makes this comic book adaptation stand out. It’s based on a graphic novel by Max Allan Collins and Richard Piers Rayner and centers around a mob enforcer who goes into hiding with his son.

The movie boasts an incredible cast, led by Tom Hanks as a hitman in hiding and Paul Newman as the mob boss who orders the hit. Jude Law plays the assassin pursuing him, with standout supporting performances from Daniel Craig and Stanley Tucci. Paul Newman received his last Oscar nomination for this role.

3. Oldboy (2003)

Oldboy is a highly acclaimed South Korean action thriller, considered one of the country’s most famous films. Directed by Park Chan-wook, the movie is a shocking and violent story of revenge, and it’s still considered one of the most disturbing thrillers of the 2000s. It’s based on a Japanese comic by Garon Tsuchiya and Nobuaki Minegishi.

The manga, titled Old Boy, shares the same story as the famous film: a man is kidnapped and imprisoned for a decade. After his release, he embarks on a quest for revenge, determined to uncover who wronged him – and the truth he discovers is deeply disturbing. The film closely follows this plot, showing the man relentlessly eliminating anyone who stands in his way.

While Spike Lee also directed a version of this film, it doesn’t compare to Park Chan-wook’s original. This movie is still incredibly impactful and is often considered one of the greatest revenge thrillers of all time.

2. A History Of Violence (2005)

The film A History of Violence feels like a modern take on the classic film noir style of the 1940s. It shares a similar story with the 1947 movie Out of the Past, where a former detective tries to escape his past by living a quiet life running a gas station. But his peaceful existence is shattered when someone from his old life finds him.

Viggo Mortensen plays a man with a hidden past in A History of Violence. He’s actually a former mafia hitman who tries to escape his violent life by opening a diner and starting a family in a quiet town. But when someone from his past recognizes him, his new life is threatened and everything he’s built is put at risk.

Despite seeming like a classic film noir, A History of Violence is actually based on a graphic novel by John Wagner and Vince Locke, originally published by DC Comics. Directed by David Cronenberg, the film develops its own unique identity and has become a modern classic.

1. Ghost World (2001)

Terry Zwigoff’s Ghost World is a film based on a comic book, and it was much more successful than his earlier adaptation, Art School Confidential. The movie was a critical and popular hit, becoming a cult favorite, and even earned Zwigoff and Daniel Clowes an Academy Award nomination for their screenplay.

The film follows two high school best friends, Scarlett Johansson and Thora Birch, after graduation. They’re unsure about their future and feel like outsiders, and things get even more complicated when they become friends with a man named Seymour, played by Steve Buscemi.

The movie, like the original comic book by Daniel Clowes (also known for Art School Confidential), explores themes of death and what happens afterward. Ghost World is highly rated, with a 93% score on Rotten Tomatoes, and continues to be a popular and critically acclaimed film – often considered one of the best comic book adaptations focusing on everyday characters.

2026-01-04 21:24