Highlights
- Superhero shows are evolving to cater to adult audiences without losing their core heroism appreciated by younger viewers.
- Mature themes in modern superhero shows and movies have redefined the genre, allowing fans to enjoy classic and new tales with a fresh outlook.
- Series like
Peacemaker, The Punisher, Daredevil,
and
The Boys
are redefining TV-MA superhero shows with captivating performances and dark storylines.
There was a time when most people couldn’t even imagine that superhero shows and movies could be geared toward an adult audience, given that the vast majority of kids and teenagers were invested in this product. However, this notion changed as fans of superheroes aged, making it important to make these power fantasies appeal to adults without losing the core heroism that made these products so palatable to younger audiences in the first place.
This makes it easy to see why so many modern shows and movies featuring superheroes also feature mature themes, the likes of which have rarely been seen before. Fans love seeing both classic and new superhero tales with a mature edge, letting them appreciate this genre with a fresh outlook. In fact, some of the best superhero shows are rated TV-MA, with their content being borderline disturbing at times.
5 Peacemaker
IMDb Rating: 8.3
No one expected The Suicide Squad to be a halfway-decent film, especially after the dumpster fire that was the first movie featuring this lovable band of anti-heroes. So, fans were glad to see how the sequel established a new group of characters who were far more engaging, with John Cena’s performance as Peacemaker being a major highlight. So much so, James Gunn decided to roll with this character and create a spin-off TV series focused on him that has slowly gained steam to become one of the best DC shows out right now.
Cena’s range of acting helps both the comedic and serious moments of Peacemaker stand out. It’s amazing how a villain that most people hadn’t heard of before the release of The Suicide Squad has become the best thing to made by DC in a long time. Peacemaker, also known as Christopher Smith, features a lot of depth as a character, and serves as the beating heart of this eponymous series.
4 The Punisher
IMDb Rating: 8.4
|
Release Date |
November 17, 2017 |
|---|---|
|
Based On |
Punisher by Gerry Conway, John Romita Sr., Ross Andru |
|
Creator |
Steve Lightfoot |
|
Streaming Service(s) |
Netflix |
There was a time when Netflix was a hub for mature Marvel series that pushed the boundaries of what fans could expect from a superhero show. Daredevil arguably started this trend, and the explosive debut of The Punisher in the second season was so well-received by fans that people clamored for a spin-off series starring this amazing character.
Jon Bernthal’s portrayal of Frank Castle was tantalizing, and The Punisher series further cemented this character as one of the most violent and brutal vigilantes of all time. The loss of his family drove him to use any means necessary to take out lowlife criminal scum who he felt had no business living. His brutal killings are hard to digest, but there’s something undoubtedly human about The Punisher’s character that makes him one of the best anti-heroes around, and one who deserved his time in the spotlight.
3 Daredevil
IMDb Rating: 8.6
|
Release Date |
April 10, 2015 |
|---|---|
|
Based On |
Daredevil by Stan Lee, Bill Everett |
|
Creator |
Drew Goddard |
|
Streaming Service(s) |
Netflix |
Fans are both excited and wary about Daredevil’s integration into the MCU, given how the recent additions to the MCU have been quite polarizing. Still, there’s no denying that his cameo in Spider-Man: No Way Home was a treat, even if this was eventually drowned out by the presence of the other Spider-Men later on. Given how universally beloved the original Netflix show starring this character is, fans can only hope that Daredevil: Born Again will reach these heights and then some.
A huge part of what made Daredevil such a great show to watch were the action scenes, which really hammered home the reason why this show received a TV-MA rating in the first place. The brutal choreography in these fights was the beating heart of the series, and is something that Born Again must nail to be accepted by fans.
2 Invincible
IMDb Rating: 8.7
Invincible is one of the most popular adult animated shows around right now, featuring a riveting premise revolving around the legacy of Omni-Man and his son, Mark. What seems like just another superhero story takes a turn that no one could’ve expected, with the impending threat of the Viltrumites being extremely harrowing. However, it’s Mark and his personal struggles that steal the show, with Omni-Man’s conscience playing a major role too, as the series progresses.
The only negative that people can hold against this series is its release schedule, with the gap between Season 1 and Season 2 being downright unbearable after a point, and the mid-season break at Season 2’s halfway point being equally frustrating. Hopefully, later seasons of this show won’t face such a major hurdle and will be released without too many problems standing in the way.
1 The Boys
IMDb Rating: 8.7
It would be impossible to talk about TV-MA superhero shows without mentioning The Boys, one of the most popular series out right now, superhero or otherwise. The story of Billy Butcher striving to end the dominant reign of supes like Homelander makes for a great time, with the show parodying what life would actually be like if superheroes existed in modern society. The scintillating writing and dark comedy of The Boys are two of the biggest reasons why it’s arguably one of the biggest pop culture phenomenons of the modern era.
While the titular Boys make for a great core group, most people would agree that Homelander steals the show as one of the most captivating villainous personalities on TV. Regardless of how messed up his past may be, that doesn’t excuse his atrocious actions. However, even after everything that this heinous “hero” has done, viewers can’t help but love how Antony Starr has made this character his own and captivated fans with his unhinged performance.
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