Throughout April, we’re counting down to the release of Marvel’s Iron Man 3 with our picks for the Greatest Comic Book Movies of All Time; here’s #15…
V for Vendetta, 2005.
Directed by James McTeigue.
Starring Hugo Weaving, Natalie Portman, Rupert Graves, Stephen Rea, Stephen Fry, John Hurt, Roger Allam, Ben Miles and Eddie Marsan.
Alan Moore’s chilling tale about a dystopian near-future England under fascist control comes to life courtesy of The Matrix creators Andy and Lana Wachowski, who adapted the opus for the screen alongside first-time director James McTeigue and Agent Smith himself Hugo Weaving in 2005.
The film sees future Thor star Natalie Portman as Evey, a young woman who gets caught up in a revolution after being saved from a gang by V (Weaving), a mysterious Guy Fawkes-masked vigilante and freedom fighter looking to spark a revolution against the brutal totalitarian government. A solid box office hit upon release, it has also gone on to influence activist groups such as Anonymous, having popularised the Guy Fawkes mask as a symbol of protest.
V for Vendetta marks the second appearance in our list of the Greatest Comic Book Movies for Alan Moore, although like the previous entry The League of Extraordinary Gentleman (#49), the legendary comic book writer was quick to distance himself from the adaptation, and even refused to view the completed film.
Keep up to date with our entire countdown here.
Holy Franchise, Batman! Bringing the Caped Crusader to the Screen – Available now via Amazon.co.uk
Originally published April 11, 2013. Updated November 30, 2022.
