Overview
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.
Principal Cast
Trivia & Facts
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 163 comic book films spanning 48 years of cinema — from Richard Donner's 1978 Superman to the present day.