Mystery Men
A band of spectacularly unqualified heroes must defend Champion City after a publicity-hungry superhero unleashes the villain he cannot defeat.
Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Brisk
- Intensity
- Moderate
- Complexity
- Easy to follow
- Violence
- Mild
- witty
- absurd
- irreverent
- comic book movie night
- cult film night
What critics said
Critics generally found the talented ensemble and quirky superhero spoofing funny and visually inventive, though the uneven gags and extended runtime weakened the overall effect.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
The central team consists of superhero wannabes whose powers and personalities are comic variations on conventional heroism.
Captain Amazing, Casanova Frankenstein, and the improvised powers of the Mystery Men turn superhero conventions into recurring jokes.
Champion City functions as a stylized urban superhero setting with larger-than-life villains, heroes, and action sequences.
Mr. Furious, Blue Rajah, Shoveler, Spleen, Invisible Boy, and their allies generate humor through mismatched abilities and interpersonal conflict.
Films like Mystery Men, and why
The Incredibles
quirky superhero parody, ensemble banter, and irreverent comic-book worldbuilding
Galaxy Quest
absurd action comedy, eccentric characters, and affectionate genre spoofing
Scott Pilgrim vs. the World
surreal comic-book aesthetics, offbeat heroes, and flamboyant visual design
Kick-Ass
self-conscious superhero humor, dysfunctional team dynamics, and comic-book parody
Movie Details
- Director
- Kinka Usher
- Release Date
- 1999-08-06
- Runtime
- 121 min
- Rating
- 5.9 / 10 (954)
Cast
- Ben Stiller
- Hank Azaria
- William H. Macy
- Greg Kinnear
- Kel Mitchell
- Paul Reubens
- Janeane Garofalo
- Wes Studi
- Claire Forlani
- Geoffrey Rush
Where to watch in United States
- Rent
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
- Buy
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is Mystery Men about?
- A band of spectacularly unqualified heroes must defend Champion City after a publicity-hungry superhero unleashes the villain he cannot defeat.
- What is Mystery Men like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Mystery Men as brisk, its intensity as moderate and its storytelling as easy to follow.
- Is Mystery Men violent?
- Only mildly. Ember rates the violence in Mystery Men as mild.
- What did critics think of Mystery Men?
- Critics generally found the talented ensemble and quirky superhero spoofing funny and visually inventive, though the uneven gags and extended runtime weakened the overall effect.
- Which films are like Mystery Men?
- Films with a similar feel include The Incredibles, Galaxy Quest, Scott Pilgrim vs. the World, and Kick-Ass.
- How long is Mystery Men?
- Mystery Men runs 121 minutes.
- Where can I watch Mystery Men?
- In United States, Mystery Men is available to rent or buy from Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home.
