Super

Frank Darbo is an ordinary guy whose home life cracks when his wife Libby falls under the influence of a ruthless drug dealer. Frustration and a longing for purpose push him to invent a costume and call himself the Crimson Bolt, a vigilante who aims to do good but has no real training. With a ramshackle outfit and a stubborn sense of justice, he drags Libby into this messy crusade, treating crime as moral theater. The film blends dry wit with brutal street reality as Frank stumbles through petty confrontations and the consequences of a fantasy world pressed into the hard everyday. It asks how far a desire to help others can go.

Directed by James Gunn, Super arrived in 2010 as an offbeat indie take on the vigilante mythos. Gunn wrote the screenplay and built a tight ensemble around a budget just over 2.5 million, delivering a rough edged satire beside mainstream superhero fare. It stands out for its gritty tone amid lighter indie comedies.

Awards: The film did not receive major nominations; it did not win any widely recognized awards.

Over the years the film developed a devoted if small cult following among fans of dark and satirical superhero cinema. Its stark violence sits beside unexpected tenderness and humor, prompting discussions about vigilante morality in genre films. Rainn Wilson's deadpan Cobra of a lead is a memorable anchor, while Elliot Page gives Libby a grounded spark that keeps the tone from tipping fully into chaos.

Critics were divided on Super's balance of comedy and brutality. Some praised its fearless tonal shifts and its blunt critique of pop culture hero worship, while others found the blend off putting. The film explores themes of power and accountability, the lure of grand gestures, and the gap between fantasy heroism and real life consequences. It invites audiences to question what makes a hero and how far a single act can reshape a life.