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Long before Liam Neeson became a household name for his intense action roles, he starred in the 1990 superhero horror film Darkman-a movie that has since earned a reputation as one of the most underrated gems in the superhero genre.
Recently, Collider ranked it No. 7 on their list of the greatest superhero movies that, despite their quality, have largely been forgotten by audiences. The publication praised the film’s inventive blend of horror and superhero elements, describing it as “a monster film meets superhero cinema.”
Critics also responded positively at the time, with Darkman holding an 80% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes. This early work from director Sam Raimi-before he became famous for the Spider-Man trilogy-features Neeson as Dr. Peyton Westlake, a scientist who develops synthetic skin to help burn victims.
The story takes a darker turn when Westlake is viciously attacked by a mobster’s henchmen, leaving him horribly disfigured and near death. This tragedy transforms him into the vengeful antihero Darkman, who adopts various personas to fight back.
On the commercial front, Darkman was a solid success, earning nearly $49 million worldwide against a modest $16 million budget, according to Box Office Mojo. Its popularity extended beyond the screen, inspiring a range of merchandise including action figures, video games, comic books, and even an unaired TV pilot, as reported by The Hollywood Reporter.
Marking the film’s 30th anniversary, producer Robert Tapert shared that Darkman was truly a “labor of love” for Raimi. Tapert explained that Raimi initially wanted to make a film based on the pulp character The Shadow but faced obstacles, so he created an original superhero by blending traits from various sources.
For Liam Neeson, the role tapped into the “little boy” inside him and offered a thrilling opportunity to lead a major motion picture-a challenge he embraced wholeheartedly.