Guillermo del Toro Hellboy Netflix Release 2026 Confirmed

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Jordan Iacobucci has been an avid reader and movie fan since childhood. Jordan is known among his friends as the Marvel and Star Wars nerd, and even wrote a thirty-page college dissertation about Spider-Man! He has been a staff writer at both Screen Rant and CBR, where he enjoys sharing his love for pop culture with the world.

One of the most underrated and best-looking superhero movies of all time is getting a new streaming home early next year—and it doesn't come from Marvel or DC. Guillermo del Toro's cult classic Hellboy is officially coming to Netflix in January.

According to MovieWeb, the 2004 superhero movie is officially set to begin streaming on Netflix on Jan. 1, ushering in the new year with a bang. This comes after Hellboy spent the last several months on HBO Max, Hulu, and The Roku Channel, all of which will be losing access to the film at the end of the year. Fans who want to relive the iconic superhero film will have to do so with a Netflix subscription, as it becomes exclusive to the streaming platform in early 2026.

After making his superhero movie debut with Blade II two years earlier, del Toro took the opportunity to build a new franchise based on his own vision for a lesser-known comic book antihero, Hellboy. Based on the Dark Horse comic character created by Mike Mignola, Hellboy stars Ron Perlman as the titular paranormal investigator. The film earned mostly positive reviews, with critics praising its stunning visuals. More than twenty years later, Hellboy is still considered one of the most visually compelling superhero movies ever made, managing to outclass offerings from better-known comic companies like Marvel and DC.

Hellboy's surprise success spawned a sequel in 2008. del Toro, Perlman, and much of the original film's supporting cast all returned for Hellboy II: The Golden Army. Despite mostly positive reviews, the sequel was not a massive success at the box office. As a result, any planned sequels and spin-offs were canceled. The 2008 sequel is currently streaming on Starz and isn't believed to be joining its predecessor on Netflix next year.

What's Next for Hellboy Movies?

Despite the early ending for del Toro's franchise, Hellboy remains a perennial fan favorite of comic book fans. The 2004 film and its sequel are likewise regarded as some of the most underrated superhero movies of all time, attaining cult classic status over the last two decades. Even with a large cult following, Hellboy continues to struggle in film.

A 2019 reboot entitled Hellboy introduced Stranger Things and Thunderbolts* star David Harbour in the lead role. While there was some excitement for Hellboy to return to the big screen, fans pushed back against the recasting of Ron Perlman, campaigning for a continuation of the original franchise rather than a reboot. 2019's Hellboy was largely disavowed by the fandom, leading to a devastating box office performance that killed any chance of sequels.

Another reboot, Hellboy: The Crooked Man, was released in 2024 to better, albeit still negative, reviews. The film received only a limited theatrical release, apparently having been buried by the studio. As a result, few comic book movie fans have even seen the latest reboot, and there are no official plans for any sequels or spinoffs.

After two failed reboots, it seems unlikely that any movie studio would try to restart the franchise again. Nevertheless, there is still an extremely outside chance for the franchise to return to the big screen — and it would involve finally giving fans what they've been asking for. Almost twenty years after The Golden Army, the best way to continue the franchise is to bring Guillermo del Toro and Ron Perlman back for Hellboy 3.

Unfortunately, del Toro has confirmed that Hellboy 3 will never happen. Perlman has often stated that he will not return to the franchise if del Toro is not involved. This leaves the franchise at a stalemate, and fans are disappointed in Hellboy's bleak future. Unless one or both of these creatives change their stance, Hellboy 3 doesn't seem to be in the cards.

Hellboy remains one of the most beloved superhero movies of all time. Unfortunately, its legacy involves multiple failed attempts at recapturing the 2004 film's success. With an empty future ahead for the franchise, the best recourse for fans is to relive the action and thrills of the original Hellboy as it arrives at its new streaming home.

Hellboy begins streaming on Netflix starting on Jan. 1, 2026.