Complex's The 25 Best Graphic Novel Adaptations of All Time

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BY KHAL, AUBREY PAGE, JOHN FLYNN, MIKE SHEFFIELD, KERENSA CADENAS, HELEN OWOLABI, MADISON HARTMAN
Aug 23, 2017

If you’re a fan of today’s movies, you can throw a rock and hit like 40 different comic book-related projects. And while it’s weird that a number of these series are produced with their comic book counterparts continuing to grow on a monthly basis, there’s a history of movies that were derived from graphic novels, which at their base are more serialized comic book works.

With the money Netflix is funneling into their original programming, there’s no surprised that the long-awaited Hollywood adaptation of Death Note, the wildly-popular manga series-turned-anime dealing with a magical book that grants its owner the ability to kill anyone who’s name is written in it, is premiering on the service this Friday. In a year that’s already featured (shaky) film adaptations of Valerian AND Ghost In the Shell, it’s high time we take a look at the absolute best movies that got their start as graphic novels. And who knows, maybe you might find out that your favorite film is also just as dope when you read it.

Note: There are 27 films because Kick-Ass 1 & 2 Hellboy 1 & 2 are counted as single entries in the source.

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  1. 1 new

    Scott Pilgrim vs. the World

    2010, in 6 top lists Check
  2. 2 new

    Akira

    1988, in 22 top lists Check
  3. 3 new

    Ghost World

    2001, in 8 top lists Check
  4. 4 new

    Kôkaku Kidôtai

    1995 — a.k.a. Ghost in the Shell, in 12 top lists Check
  5. 5 new

    Oldeuboi

    2003 — a.k.a. Oldboy, in 34 top lists Check
  6. 6 new

    Edge of Tomorrow

    2014, in 3 top lists Check
  7. 7 new

    The Diary of a Teenage Girl

    2015, in 1 top list Check
  8. 8 new

    Road to Perdition

    2002, in 6 top lists Check
  9. 9 new

    Kick-Ass

    2010, in 1 top list Check
  10. 10 new

    Kick-Ass 2

    2013, in 0 top lists Check
  11. 11 new

    A History of Violence

    2005, in 11 top lists Check
  12. 12 new

    Snowpiercer

    2013, in 2 top lists Check
  13. 13 new

    Persepolis

    2007, in 9 top lists Check
  14. 14 new

    Hellboy

    2004, in 1 top list Check
  15. 15 new

    Hellboy II: The Golden Army

    2008, in 1 top list Check
  16. 16 new

    Sin City

    2005, in 10 top lists Check
  17. 17 new

    American Splendor

    2003, in 3 top lists Check
  18. 18 new

    RED

    2010, in 1 top list Check
  19. 19 new

    La vie d'Adèle

    2013 — a.k.a. Blue Is the Warmest Colour, in 13 top lists Check
  20. 20 new

    Tank Girl

    1995, in 2 top lists Check
  21. 21 new

    Wanted

    2008, in 2 top lists Check
  22. 22 new

    The Crow

    1994, in 4 top lists Check
  23. 23 new

    Atomic Blonde

    2017, in 0 top lists Check
  24. 24 new

    Watchmen

    2009, in 2 top lists Check
  25. 25 new

    The Mask

    1994, in 5 top lists Check
  26. 26 new

    V for Vendetta

    2005, in 10 top lists Check
  27. 27 new

    300

    2006, in 6 top lists Check
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Last updated on May 16, 2021; source