Hellboy (2004) is a superhero film adapted from Dark Horse Comics, directed by Guillermo del Toro and starring Ron Perlman and Selma Blair. The film is part of the Dark Horse and was released by Sony Pictures. Runtime: 2h 2m. Rated PG-13. Audience rating: 6.8/10.
What is Hellboy (2004) about?
A demon summoned from hell during WWII is raised by a government agency to become Hellboy, a rough-hewn paranormal investigator who battles the very supernatural forces he was created to serve.
Released in 2004, Hellboy was directed by Guillermo del Toro and produced under the Sony Pictures banner. The film occupies a significant place within the Dark Horse — contributing to the ongoing narrative and mythology of that cinematic universe.
The film features lead performances from Ron Perlman, Selma Blair, John Hurt, among others, anchoring a story that adapts characters first brought to life in Dark Horse Comics. Its source material gives the film a foundation rooted in decades of published storytelling, which Toro and the creative team interpret through a cinematic lens.
Its 6.8 rating reflects a film that divided audiences — appreciated for its ambition and spectacle by some, criticized for pacing and execution by others. Its place in the genre remains a frequent discussion point.
What happens in Hellboy (2004)? — Full Plot
We open in 1944 Scotland. The Nazi occult researcher Grigori Rasputin (Karel Roden) and his protégés Ilsa Haupstein and Kroenen are conducting a ritual to summon a cosmic-demon from the Ogdru-Jahad — a parallel dimension of cosmic horrors. The ritual is interrupted by Allied forces, but a baby demon emerges and is captured by the U.S. Army.
The baby demon — named Hellboy by the Bureau for Paranormal Research and Defense (B.P.R.D.) — grows up under the guidance of Dr. Trevor Bruttenholm (John Hurt), a paranormal investigator who saves Hellboy from being weaponized by the military.
Cut to: 2004. Hellboy (Ron Perlman) is now an adult B.P.R.D. operative — a hulking, red-skinned demon with stone-fist hands, sawed-off horns, and a fondness for cats. He has been hunting demonic entities for decades alongside other B.P.R.D. agents: Abe Sapien (an aquatic-humanoid with telepathic abilities) and Liz Sherman (a pyrokinetic woman with unstable fire-control).
Rasputin returns from the dead. He has been planning his own resurrection for sixty years, using Ilsa Haupstein (who became Hellboy's mother figure in captivity) to maintain his connection to the cosmic Ogdru-Jahad. Rasputin intends to release the cosmic horror entities permanently into Earth.
The B.P.R.D. agents investigate Rasputin's lair. They find Ilsa Haupstein, who has been alive in suspended animation. They engage Rasputin in a multi-front battle across his Eastern European cathedral headquarters.
The final battle is in the cosmic Ogdru-Jahad portal. Rasputin transforms into a massive cosmic-demon being. Hellboy, in a moment of moral commitment, sawed off his own horns rather than embrace his demonic destiny. He fights the cosmic horror with his bare hands. He kills Rasputin and seals the portal.
The film closes with Hellboy returning to the B.P.R.D. headquarters. Liz Sherman and Hellboy formalize their romantic relationship. The mid-credits scene shows their wedding-engagement preparations. Hellboy (2004) grossed $99 million globally on a $66 million budget — modest commercial success. Critics responded positively to Guillermo del Toro's direction. The character returned for Hellboy II (2008).
Who stars in Hellboy (2004)?
Find Hellboy (2004) on Amazon
Watch Hellboy on Prime Video, browse the original Dark Horse Comics source material, and discover Blu-rays, soundtracks, and related merchandise on Amazon.
As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. Link clicks do not affect editorial coverage — see our disclaimer.
What are some facts about Hellboy (2004)?
Hellboy released in 2004, placing it within the 2000s era of comic book cinema — a decade that marked the modern superhero cinema revolution.
Directed by Guillermo del Toro, the film was produced by Sony Pictures and adapts source material from Dark Horse Comics.
The principal cast features Ron Perlman and Selma Blair, with key supporting roles played by John Hurt, Rupert Evans, Doug Jones.
The film belongs to Dark Horse — a distinct corner of comic book cinema.
Hellboy carries an audience rating of 6.8 — a middling reception but one that hasn't prevented its cultural footprint.
The Dark Horse Comics source material for Hellboy has been in continuous publication for decades, giving filmmakers a rich well of storylines, character arcs, and iconography to draw upon.
Films from this era combined practical stunts with the rising CGI industry — many sequences would be impossible with either technology alone.
Hellboy is catalogued on Movies on Comics among our collection of 162 comic book films spanning 48 years of cinema — from Richard Donner's 1978 Superman to the present day.
