10 Best Movies If You Like Kick Ass

It’s difficult for superhero movies to differentiate themselves from each other nowadays – there are so many of them after all. But one film that broke the mold long ago (even before superhero movies started being labeled formulaic) back in 2009 is Kick-Ass. With its plot about a bunch of normal people dressing up in ridiculous costumes and going around engaging in vigilantism, it was not only just ahead of its time, but a perfect parody of the superhero genre.

Kick-Ass’s success arguably paved the way for other R-rated comic book movies to come such as Deadpool. Witty, unafraid writing, fun characters, and a plethora of different factors combined make it the fantastic movie that it is. There aren’t many films that can match Kick-Ass in its charm, but the ones discussed below come pretty close.

10 Zombieland (2009) –  Available To Rent On Apple TV And Amazon

While both the movies are fundamentally different, they are also similar in the sense that both parody their respective genres in a fantastic way. Also similar to Kick-Ass, Zombieland has an ensemble cast of actors who have great chemistry together and make the viewing experience an immensely fun one.

Jesse Eisenberg plays a college student in this zombie-apocalypse movie, who meets up with some strangers (played by Woody Harrelson and Emma Stone) who set off on a cross-country trip together while trying their best to survive the undead.

9 Kingsman: The Secret Service (2014) – Available To Rent On Apple TV And Amazon

The behind the scenes connections between Kingsman and Kick-Ass are many. Both films were directed by Matthew Vaughn, written by Vaughn and Jane Goldman, and were based on comic books written by author Mark Miller. Both films boast some stylishly choreographed fight sequences and a cynical albeit funny type of humor.

While Kick-Ass is a parody of superhero movies, Kingsman is the perfect spy movie parody. Taking inspiration from the likes of James Bond, the Kingsman films revolve around a British spy organization and one of their recruits, Eggsy, and his escapades with his fellow agents.

8 Super (2010) – Available On AMC+

On the surface, the premises of Super and Kick-Ass are similar enough to raise questions about who copied from whom. Both films are extensively violent tales about characters with delusions of grandeur who adopt a superhero persona, and are meant to be entirely satirical in nature.

James Gunn first came into mainstream popularity thanks to MCU’s Guardians of the Galaxy, but 2010’s Super is where he first shows his creative colors that made him what he is today.

7 Scott Pilgrim Vs. The World (2010) – Available On Showtime

Scott Pilgrim vs. the World‘s plot is as ridiculous as they come, about a boy who must defeat the seven evil exes of the girl he likes in order to be able to date her. The film stars famous actors like Brie Larson and Chris Evans before they got their big break, in the type of roles in which they’re hard to imagine, which makes everything much more hilarious.

Scott Pilgrim is filled with memorable visuals and eccentric, quirky characters similar to what can be found in Kick-Ass, and also just like Kick-Ass, it’s a great comic book movie to watch if you don’t like the MCU or DCEU.

6 Watchmen (2009) – Available On HBO Max And Hulu

Zack Snyder’s cult hit Watchmen, based on the award-winning comic book series of the same name, tells the story of a dystopian world where superheroes are not celebrated seen in the same way as it is considered normal.

It is the furthest thing from the silly humor of Kick-Ass, but where the two intersect is being deconstructions of the superhero genre. Now that superhero movies are more common than ever, a genre-redefining film like Kick-Ass can provide a much-needed breath of fresh air, and Watchmen serves that same purpose.

5 Superbad (2007) – Available To Rent On Apple TV And Amazon

Taking out the superhero element from Kick-Ass makes it a great teen drama about a teenager and his dreams, and it’s impossible to talk about teen dramas without bringing up Superbad. Christopher Mintz-Plasse’s portrayal of the villain Red Mist is a highlight of both Kick-Ass films, and his character “McLovin” in Superbad is just as iconic and hilarious, joined by the comedic acting of Jonah Hill and Michael Cera.

The three of them play the part of three teenagers who are determined to have the experience of a lifetime as their school life draws to an end.

4 Shaun Of The Dead (2004) – Available To Rent On Apple TV And Amazon

A big part of the fun in Kick-Ass comes from the R-rated violence and gore, elements that shine bright in not just Shaun of the Dead, but the entirety of the Three Flavors Cornetto trilogy from director Edgar Wright.

Nick Frost and Simon Pegg play two best friends who are caught in the middle of a zombie apocalypse. This outstanding British horror-comedy was Edgar Wright’s first hit film, and in many ways, it established Wright’s style that would become more famous over the years.

3 The Green Hornet (2011) – Available On IMDb TV

Much like Kick-Ass, The Green Hornet is a superhero film that tends to not take itself too seriously, which works out for the best in both of their favors. In this poor parody of Bruce Wayne’s classic origin story, Seth Rogen plays the part of the playboy son of a media mogul. After the death of his father, he starts masquerading as a fighter of justice with the help of a genius mechanic.

It doesn’t have the most original concept, nor the greatest or funniest execution, but Seth Rogen’s typical charms make it worthy of a shot for comedy lovers.

2 Avengers: Age of Ultron (2015) – Available On Disney+

Aaron Taylor-Johnson’s character is the titular hero of Kick-Ass, and he finally gets to try his hands at being an actual superhero in the second Avengers film as the speedster Quicksilver. His tenure playing the character is criminally short, as he is killed in the span of a single movie, which is a rarity in a cinematic universe where all characters usually appear across many films.

Interestingly enough, Johnson’s co-star from Kick-Ass Evan Peters plays the same exact character in the X-Men films, although there are differences between Fox’s version and the MCU’s.

1 The Suicide Squad (2021) – Available To Rent on Apple TV

The Suicide Squad might be a more traditional superhero film when it is said all said and done, but it has quite a few things in common with Kick-Ass. The most apparent connection is the fact that they’re both R-rated superhero movies (something of a rarity).

This rating is used by their respective directors to turn the dial up to eleven in terms of violence, profanity, and some other offensive things between. An argument could be made about the abundant use of visually intensive imagery in TSS, but the DC movie uses its awesome editing decisions to its advantage.

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