Production Company(ies)
Communicado Productions, New Zealand Film Commission Avalon, NFU
 
Distributor
Revolution Studios, Columbia Pictures, Sony Pictures Entertainment
 
Release Type
Theatrical, Theatrical (Wide)
 
Filming Location(s)
Barrandov Studios, Prague, Czech Republic
 
MPAA / Certificate
Rated PG-13 for sci-fi action violence and frightening images
 
Year of Release
2004
 

 
Genre(s)
Fantasy/Action
 
Keyword(s)
starring Ron Perlman, John Hurt, Selma Blair, Rupert Evans, Karel Roden, Jeffrey Tambor, Doug Jones, Mike Mignola, Guillermo del Toro, Lawrence Gordon, Lloyd Levin, Fantasy, Action, PG-13, box office, budget, reviewed by Namrata Joshi, Bruce Diones, Nell Minow, J.R Jones, David Germain, Nick Schager, Toussaint Egan, Mike Massie, Leigh Paatsch, Graeme Tuckett, Sean Axmaker, Kevin Carr, written by Mike Mignola, Guillermo del Toro, directed by Guillermo del Toro, produced by Lawrence Gordon, Lloyd Levin, Bureau of Paranormal Research and Defense, Hellboy, Abe Sapien, Liz Sherman, Grigori Rasputin, Professor Bruttenholm, Dr Tom Manning, pyrokinesis, merman, psychic powers, spawn of Satan, Nazis, Allies, paranormal dimension, Guillermo del Toro’s fantastic visuals, unique romp, emotionally impactful, visually stunning, captivating visual aesthetic, supernatural themes, thrilling ride, flawed, entertaining, fun, mindless entertainment, cheesy effects, disappointing, overhyped, lacking something, phenomenal, sequel, elaborate plot, top horror movies, MCU movies ranked by Tomatometer, renewed and cancelled TV shows 2022, best Netflix series and shows
 

Cast & Crew

Ron Perlman

John Hurt

Selma Blair

Rupert Evans

Karel Roden

Hellboy

Professor Bruttenholm

Liz Sherman

John Myers

Grigori Rasputin

Ron Perlman – Hellboy
John Hurt – Professor Bruttenholm
Selma Blair – Liz Sherman
Rupert Evans – John Myers
Karel Roden – Grigori Rasputin
Jeffrey Tambor – Dr. Tom Manning

 

Guillermo del Toro

Mike Mignola

Lawrence Gordon

Lloyd Levin

Director

Writer

Producer

Producer

Producer

Director(s)
Guillermo del Toro
 
Writer(s)
Mike Mignola, Guillermo del Toro
 
Producer(s)
Lawrence Gordon, Lloyd Levin

 

Film Festivals

 
Awards & Nominations
3 wins & 23 nominations
 
Academy Awards

Top Reviews

Namrata Joshi

Bruce Diones

Nell Minow

J. R. Jones

David Germain

Outlook

New Yorker

Common Sense Media

Chicago Reader

Associated Press

HELLBOY
 All Critics (203) | Top Critics (50) | Fresh (165) | Rotten (38)
 The film may not be thrill-a-minute entertainment like Superman, Spiderman or Batman. But this is precisely what makes it tick.
 
 January 7, 2019 | Rating: 2/4
 
 Namrata Joshi
 Outlook
 TOP CRITIC
 When the movie’s story line concentrates on the character of Hellboy and his relationships with those important to him, the film becomes a unique romp, with an exciting yet vulnerable superhero at the center who just happens to be the spawn of Satan.
 
 April 14, 2013
 
 Bruce Diones
 New Yorker
 TOP CRITIC
 Somewhat entertaining, but too scary for many.
 
 December 24, 2010 | Rating: 3/5
 
 Nell Minow
 Common Sense Media
 TOP CRITIC
 Played by Ron Perlman, he’s the most magnetic action hero I’ve come across in a long while, though I couldn’t make heads or tails of this story.
 
 April 18, 2007
 
 J. R. Jones
 Chicago Reader
 TOP CRITIC
 Unfortunately, after setting up this fresh blue-collar scenario in the movie’s first hour, Del Toro wallows in pyrotechnics.
 
 April 18, 2007
 
 David Germain
 Associated Press
 TOP CRITIC
 Del Toro’s energized adventure has humor, excitement, and soul to burn.
 
 May 4, 2005
 
 Nick Schager
 Lessons of Darkness
 TOP CRITIC
 Stands apart from other superhero action movies of its ilk as a film that’s as emotionally impactful as it is gorgeous to watch.
 
 July 7, 2021
 
 Toussaint Egan
 Polygon
 The film deserves recognition for its innovative approach to visuals in a comic book adaptation, but loses points for trite dialogue from many of the supporting characters.
 
 September 29, 2020 | Rating: 6/10
 
 Mike Massie
 Gone With The Twins
 A rare intelligent and shrewd adaptation of a comic book, taking risks without taking its audience for granted.
 
 May 12, 2020 | Rating: 4/5
 
 Leigh Paatsch
 Herald Sun (Australia)
 There’s a freshness and goofiness about Hellboy that defies the precision and exactitude of Guillermo del Toro’s direction.
 
 April 22, 2019
 
 Graeme Tuckett
 Stuff.co.nz
 Ron Perlman, performing under a massive ember-red suit… is perfect as the cigar-puffing, wisecracking, kitten-loving demon who covertly battles supernatural monsters.
 
 January 13, 2017
 
 Sean Axmaker
 Seanax.com
 Guillermo del Toro’s best film yet.
 
 January 17, 2016 | Rating: 4/5
 
 Kevin Carr
 Fat Guys at the Movies…

 

Plot
At the end of World War II, Nazi officers Karl Ruprecht Kroenen and Ilsa Haupstein start an experiment to raise the forces of Hell trough Russian dark mystic Rasputin on a Scottish island, but it’s interrupted by an allied commando guided by professor Trevor “Broom” Bruttenholm. He prevents killing the human-demonic half-blood, which was accidentally created and raises this “Hellboy”, while rising to head of a secret C.I.A.-linked U.S. agency Bureau of Paranormal Research, which secretly studies and uses the occult, including supernatural freaks. As “father” Broom is aging, he hand-picks brilliant, sensitive Agent John Myers as new minder-companion, as regular “warrior” Agent Clay can’t empathize and lacks flexibility mental. Hellboy is quite a handful, regularly spotted by worried civilians on unauthorized excursions, especially to pyro-telekinetic freak friend in a mental asylum. Johnny, Hellboy, and Clay team up on missions against paranormal threats with aquatic-bionic freak Abe Sapien. Their task proves to be daunting, as monster Sammael multiplies every time it “dies”, while Rasputin and the Nazis reemerge, armed for revenge.
 
Trivia

 
Goofs / Tidbits
Rupert Evans plays John Myers in Hellboy.
 

 
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