With a recent release secret headquarters, streaming service Paramount+ is finally throwing its hat into the ring and joining the superhero movie trend. Although superheroes are all the rage right now, secret headquarters stands out as a family comedy that emphasizes the themes of love and family ties.
From live action epics such as sky high to beloved animated classics such as Incredible, secret headquarters is in good company when it comes to fun family superhero movies. Although many have tried, only the best films have successfully blended genres and captured the same humorous spirit as the new Paramount film.
We Can Be Heroes (2020)
Stream to Netflix
Director Robert Rodriguez took an unexpected turn in his career in the early 2000s and directed some of the biggest children’s blockbusters of the era. We can be heroes was an attempt to regain that glory two decades later. After aliens kidnap all of Earth’s Mightiest Heroes, their children must band together to stop the threat.
Made in Rodriguez’ signature style, the film harks back to the simpler era of superhero films and has everything that made films like Spy Kids so great. Although aimed at a younger audience, the film features an all-star cast including Pedro Pascal. fans secret headquarters will enjoy the movie because it is also about children who become incredible heroes.
Sky High (2005)
Broadcast on Disney Plus
Years before the current wave of superhero dominance at the box office, sky high got ahead of the trend and deftly forged the genre. The film is about a teenager who is the child of two famous superheroes and follows his struggle to be accepted while attending superhero high school.
With many wonderful and charismatic characters, sky high was a surprise from Disney and really had a lot to say about superheroes in general. Like secret headquarters, the film explores superhero family relationships and also has a strong influence on growing up. More importantly, the film also teaches a lesson about superhero clichés, showing that people with unconventional powers or “helpers” can be heroes just like anyone else.
Teen Titans Go! At the movies (2018)
Stream on HBO Max
Clever twists on the superhero formula are hard to pull off, but Teen Titans Go! To the cinema did it in an amazing way. After noticing that many superheroes are becoming Hollywood celebrities, the Teen Titans head to Tinseltown in hopes of becoming stars themselves.
While the show is known for its tongue-in-cheek humor, the movie does a great job of stretching those concepts into a feature-length movie. Although it may seem that this is very different from secret headquarters on the face of it, both deal with young people trying to find their place and a series of wacky events that always seem to ruin things.
Shazam! (2019)
Stream on HBO Max
Classic DC hero Shazam wasn’t an easy character to squeeze into their somewhat harsh DCEU franchise, so the eponymous movie decided to go silly. After settling in with his new foster family, Billy Batson finds himself surrounded by strange forces that allow him to transform into a superhero.
This film is considered one of the best superhero comedies ever made. brought his classic premise to life with a fair amount of winking and nodding to the audience. Though it’s much more obscene than secret headquartershowever, it’s a great way for younger viewers to feel involved in the story, as Billy Batson is an important part of the superhero antics and highlights aspects of growing up and maturity.
Megamind (2010)
Broadcast on Amazon Prime
Animated film Megamind stand out by telling your story from the point of view of a supervillain, not a hero. The film is about a master villain who finally defeats his worst enemy, only to find that his life has no meaning without an enemy to fight.
While the film was hilarious, it also had quite a bit of existential analysis of the characters that audiences so often see in superhero stories. While not as child-friendly as secret headquartersit’s still a family tale of heroes and villains, and it has enough humor to please audiences of all ages.
Lego Batman Movie (2017)
Stream on HBO Max
Batman is arguably the most famous superhero of all time, and there have been many great films made featuring the Caped Crusader. Lego Batman Movie continues this great tradition and sees how Bruce Wayne tries to protect Gotham, and also deals with a young orphan whom he accidentally adopted as his friend.
The character of Robin is used as the audience’s entry point into the story, and he shares this similarity with Secret headquarters. Batman and Jack are having trouble in their father roles, and given their superhero lifestyle, they learn to become more open to their younger peers. The movie is brilliantly funny, and the Lego style doesn’t detract from the awesome spectacle of a superhero movie.
Big Hero 6 (2014)
Broadcast on Disney Plus
Children’s films often tell stories about young people who find a way to achieve something on their own, but Big hero 6 reversed this trend by showing the importance of the community. After a tragic loss turns his life upside down, Hiro befriends a robot named Baymax, and together they join a group of young superheroes to fight evil.
secret headquarters bears some resemblance to Big hero 6especially touching on family ties and the importance of community in overcoming challenges. A typical practice for any Disney project, the film knows exactly how to touch the viewer to the core, but it also doesn’t come without spectacular superhero action.
Incredibles (2004)
Broadcast on Disney Plus
Pixar was on a roll when they released Incredible, and it’s still one of the best films the studio has ever made. The film centers on the Parr family, a group of superheroes who decide to come out of hiding to take on a new villainous threat.
Superhero families are a common trend between Incredible as well as secret headquarters, and both focus on the themes of overcoming misconceptions about people. Each member of the Parr family has their own strengths and weaknesses, and only by working together can they save the world – a similar dilemma Jack and Charlie face in secret headquarters.
Iron Giant (1999)
Stream on HBO Max
Unlike secret headquarters obviously about superheroes, iron giant has comic book themes, but not necessarily about crime fighters. The story centers around a lonely boy who befriends a friendly giant robot from outer space and follows his quest to protect the robot from government agents who want to destroy it.
Childhood can be a lonely time for many, and iron giant managed to bring this theme to life in its exciting story. The art style is top-notch and the combination of drama and comedy will delight young viewers who want the same light-hearted tone as secret headquarters.
Spider-Man in the Spider-Verse (2018)
Stream to Fubo TV and FX now
From a cinematic standpoint, Spider-Man has gotten a pretty good reputation, and wall-crawler movies can usually count on success. Spider-Man in the Spider-Verse follows a young Miles Morales as he becomes his universe’s Spider-Man, and he goes on a quest with various web-catchers from other universes.
Lyrical in its execution, the film truly understands Miles’ youthful experience and doesn’t condescend to his younger members. Looks like secret headquarters, the real power is in the hands of the youth, and the bulk of the story is about overcoming the idea that children are incapable of being heroes. On top of all that, the movie is just plain fun and one of the smartest uses of animation in the superhero subgenre.