7 Action Movies Featuring Black Leather That Shaped a Generation

      A recent discussion about the initial X-Men film reminded us of the bygone period of action movies characterized by black leather.

      During an episode of the Tales From the ’90s podcast, film journalist Drew McWeeny expressed disappointment that when Bryan Singer's X-Men debuted in 2000, studio executives hesitated at the thought of beloved mutant superheroes donning the bright, distinctive costumes from the Marvel comics: “They lost their nerve and required them to switch to Matrix-style black leather because they were apprehensive about how they would look.”

      Today, we inhabit a completely different cinematic landscape. Deadpool & Wolverine, featuring Hugh Jackman in the yellow costume first seen in the 1970s comics, became the second-highest grossing film of 2024. With a barrage of superhero blockbusters, contemporary audiences are well-versed in comic-book lore and enjoy seeing it authentically represented on screen, including the costumes. Studios no longer feel compelled to outfit everyone in sleek, simplistic black leather costumes.

      However, the black leather phase of the ’90s and early 2000s served as a vital link to the comic-book megahits of the late 2000s and beyond. The costumes were a compromise: studios agreed to explore comic book films—but no tights.

      Hollywood executives were likely influenced by the success of Tim Burton’s Batman, where Michael Keaton’s Caped Crusader played it safe with dark colors and a cape, moving away from the brighter tones of the 1960s Batman TV series as well as 1978’s Superman.

      The black leather costume era represented an intersection between risk-taking and doubt about the extent to which audiences would tolerate comic book elements. And while it wasn’t the worst cinematic trade-off—black leather costumes undeniably exude a cool factor, whether heroes and antiheroes are navigating a neon-lit club or soaring above skyscrapers. For years, the black leather look was the default for vampires, vampire hunters, and anyone caught in a dystopian world. In a space devoid of hope, color coordination is a luxury.

      Of course, the black leather aesthetic wasn’t pioneered in the ’90s or 2000s: its roots trace back to at least Mel Gibson in George Miller’s 1979 Mad Max, and arguably even earlier, to 1950s motorcycle films. However, black leather action films reflect a time when studios were cautious yet exploratory in their genre ventures, relying on known quantities of style and sex appeal.

      Here are seven films from the era of black leather action:

      **Batman Returns (1992)**

      Warner Bros.

      Michelle Pfeiffer’s Catwoman may have represented the first bold comic-book film entry into the black leather catsuit.

      In Tim Burton’s sequel to 1989’s Batman, Pfeiffer portrays the civilian Selina Kyle as intelligent yet anxious and unkempt. However, after surviving a near-fatal incident and crafting a cat costume from a raincoat, she transforms into the self-assured, captivating Catwoman.

      As noted by Premiere: “Michelle Pfeiffer’s deadly kitten with a whip injected sex appeal into the typically bland franchise. Her stitched-together, black patent leather ensemble, inspired by a sketch from Burton, remains the character’s most recognizable appearance.”

      This look paved the way for numerous other characters in leather cat suits.

      **The Crow (1994)**

      Miramax

      In The Crow, Brandon Lee wasn’t dressed in black leather as a compromise; rather, the outfit was true to the gothic aesthetic of the comic character created by James O’Barr. The Crow was an ideal choice for cinematic adaptation at the time — blending crime thriller and supernatural horror, it didn’t have to rely solely on comic fans.

      Lee made the character iconic. His costume—which sold for $25,000 at auction in 2020—featured “a long black leather coat, black top, and black leather trousers,” which were “significantly distressed for the film with rips and bullet holes,” according to GWS Auctions.

      Tragically, Lee's involvement ended in an accident with a prop gun during filming, resulting in his untimely death at age 28.

      **Blade (1998)**

      New Line Cinema – Credit: C/O

      The box office triumph of Blade arguably paved the way for the MCU, as the film and its sequels demonstrated that audiences would embrace even lesser-known Marvel heroes if portrayed well.

      Though Blade was less popular with comic readers compared to Spider-Man, the X-Men, or most of the Avengers, his character could be adapted to film more smoothly in the ’90s, as he didn’t require complex special effects like shooting webs or flying.

      Like The Crow, Blade fused the superhero and horror genres. Even those unfamiliar with the Marvel character could rally behind a vampire hunter portrayed by the composed Wesley Snipes. The actor, along with director Stephen Norrington and writer David S. Goyer, ensured Blade was taken seriously as a