Hellboy

During the final days of World War II, a doomed Nazi experiment goes awry as occult powers summon a supernatural infant. Allied troops intervene, rescue the newborn demon, and name him Hellboy. Decades later, the towering red demon has grown into a gregarious but stubborn ally to humanity, drafted into the Bureau of Paranormal Research and Defense. He works alongside Abe Sapien, a sinewy amphibious investigator with psychic gifts, and Liz Sherman, a woman who can conjure flames with her hands. Together they stand against dark forces that threaten American shores, while Hellboy wrestles with his own dangerous heritage and the uneasy expectations of the world around him. Yet his stubborn humor and fierce loyalty sometimes complicate missions for everyone.

Directed by Guillermo del Toro with writing input from Peter Briggs and Mike Mignola, this film adapts the Dark Horse comics that introduced Hellboy. It blends gothic fantasy with action driven by practical effects and makeup, and it's widely influential.

Made on a 66 million budget, Hellboy earned about 99.3 million worldwide. The numbers reflect a modest yet solid response for a comic book adaptation that emphasizes atmosphere and creature design over splashy spectacle, for fans of bold creature design.

Ron Perlman as Hellboy became an image of a reluctant hero torn between his monstrous looks and human warmth. The movie helped establish del Toro's distinctive visual language, influencing later monster fare and spawning a loyal fandom that keeps returning to the world of these suits and sculptures in cinema.

Critics praised the film for its ambitious design and performances, while some felt the tone wobbled between comic relief and darker themes. Core ideas include identity, belonging, and choosing to fight for others even when monsters reside inside us, a debate represented by Hellboy's choices and inviting generations to revisit.