Hellboy is a 2004 American superhero film directed by Guillermo del Toro, based on the Dark Horse Comics character created by Mike Mignola.
It stars Ron Perlman in the title role, alongside Selma Blair, Jeffrey Tambor, Karel Roden, and John Hurt. The film is notable for its unique blend of action, fantasy, and horror elements, and it serves as the first live-action adaptation of the Hellboy comics.
The story begins during World War II when a group of U.S. soldiers, led by Professor Trevor Bruttenholm (John Hurt), disrupt a Nazi occult experiment headed by Grigori Rasputin (Karel Roden). The Nazis attempt to summon a demon to aid them in their war efforts. However, the Allied forces intervene, and in the chaos, a young demon is brought through the portal. This demon is adopted by Professor Bruttenholm and named Hellboy.
Fast forward to the present day, Hellboy works for the Bureau for Paranormal Research and Defense (B.P.R.D.), combating supernatural threats while struggling with his identity as a demon. Despite his intimidating appearance, he possesses a good heart and a strong sense of justice. The film explores themes of acceptance, destiny, and what it means to be a hero.
As the plot unfolds, Rasputin is resurrected by his followers and seeks to use Hellboy to unleash chaos on Earth by reopening the portal to hell. Hellboy must confront not only external threats but also his own nature as he battles against Rasputin and his monstrous creations.
Hellboy premiered on March 30, 2004, at the Mann Village Theater in Los Angeles and was released in theaters on April 2, 2004. It received generally positive reviews from critics for its visual style, character development, and Perlman's performance. The film grossed approximately $99.8 million worldwide against a production budget of $60–66 million.
The film's success led to a sequel, Hellboy II: The Golden Army, released in 2008. Additionally, there was a reboot titled Hellboy released in 2019. Overall, Hellboy remains a significant entry in the superhero genre for its unique take on the character and its blend of humor and dark fantasy elements.