Hellboy (2019) Review: Yes, if you can meet this R-rated reboot on its own terms

Is Hellboy (2019) worth watching? Yes, if you can meet this R-rated reboot on its own terms. Stan Steamer and GrobeStreet make their case on Slept-On Cinema episode 52.

Hear their full argument on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or Overcast.

Rotten Tomatoes vs our verdict

The Qualification List recorded 17% critics and 47% audience in its September 12, 2026 snapshot. Scores can change. The hosts' verdict: the reboot has a different energy from the del Toro films, and that difference is worth examining rather than treating as an automatic failure.

What is Hellboy about?

Hellboy faces a resurrected sorceress, Nimue, amid a clash of folklore, monsters, and an impending end-of-the-world threat. This 2019 version turns up the violence and pushes into a more adult register.

The Slept-On Cinema case

Stan understands why fans loyal to Guillermo del Toro's films and Ron Perlman's performance might resist a new version. Grobe adds that the R rating also changes who can come along for the ride: this is not a direct substitute for a family watch of the earlier films. That is their honest caveat and their opening argument. If the film had arrived first, Stan suspects the conversation around it would have been different. The hosts look at the giant fights, the folklore, and the pace of a movie that tries to fit a great deal into one outing. The crowdedness can be a flaw; the ambition is also part of its appeal.

BOLOs before you watch

• The early scene that immediately establishes the R rating.
• King Arthur and Merlin in the film's mythic machinery.
• The sheer number of creatures and fantasy ideas packed into the story.

Who should watch it?

Try it if you want a gory fantasy-action film and are open to a Hellboy with a distinct tone. If your only desired sequel is another del Toro/Perlman entry, the hosts' episode explains the adjustment. The episode opens spoiler-free, so listen for the setup and BOLOs, watch the film, then return for the Draft and the rest of the defense.

Keep the movie night going

Try our Batman Forever review, browse the complete episode list, or hear this episode on Acast.