History DarkerAndEdgier / LiveActionFilms

* As with their book counterparts, the ''Film/HarryPotter'' films became increasingly dark and serious starting with ''Prisoner of Azkaban'', but this is evidenced most in the last three sequels, both in terms of cinematography and subject matter. The first two films were full of warm golds and reds, while the later films favour cold blues and Deathly Hallows is almost black and white. To further hammer this fact in, "Hedwig's Theme", which introduces each film, sounds slightly shriller and more discordant in each consecutive film. But after Voldemort was defeated in the last film, the vivid colours of the first movies return.

* Although ''Film/BadBoysForLife'' still maintains its "buddy cop" humor just like the [[Film/BadBoys1995 previous]] [[Film/BadBoysII two]], it's tenser in plot and has a number of dramatic moments.

*** ''Film/NoTimeToDie'' is easily the bleakest of the series, culminating with [[spoiler: Bond [[TheHeroDies dying at the end]].]]

* The classic Singaporean dramedy, ''Film/INotStupid'', and it's (standalone) sequel, ''Film/INotStupidToo''. The first movie has its share of serious moments, but mostly revolves around three kids trying to excel in their studies with an optimistic ending where everything works out in the end (despite the odds). In the sequel two of the three protagonists are teenagers, and the film delves into more mature topics like ParentalNeglect, the main characters getting expelled and joining a gang, and a BittersweetEnding where [[spoiler:one of the fathers died after realizing his ignorance of his son is what drove his child into becoming a criminal]].

* ''Film/KingKong2005'' in comparison to the 1993 ''Film/KingKong'', with more gore, nighttime scenes, darker behaviour from the heroes, and more horrifying monsters.

* While Creator/AlfredHitchcock never shied from dark subject matter, ''Film/{{Frenzy}}'' goes further in terms of violence/sex/language and has a bleaker outlook than most. The title intentionally recalls ''Film/{{Psycho}}'', but while [[spoiler: Norman]] at least kills his victims quickly, [[spoiler: Rusk]] is a {{sadist}} who likes to take his time.

* ''Film/TheForeigner2017'' may just be one of the grimmest pictures of Creator/JackieChan's career. Bleak colors, brutal violence, and not a single joke or silly facial expression to be seen.

* For much of the TheSeventies and late [[TheSixties '60s]], mainstream horror cinema became incredibly dark, violent and macabre, with the monsters playing a much nastier role. ''Film/TheExorcist'', Creator/JohnCarpenter films, and ''[[Film/TheTexasChainSawMassacre1974 The Texas Chain Saw Massacre]]'' are straight examples.

* ''Film/NewMutants'': This is the darkest film of the ''X-Men'' film series, second only to ''Logan''. Hell, it's darker than the original Demon Bear Saga itself due to Cecilia Reyes replacing Professor X.
** Danny accidentally kills most of her people due to her powers [[PowerIncontinence being uncontrolled]], causing a nightmarish "demon bear" that attacks them.
** Illyana's backstory features her being used as a SexSlave by Russian mobsters, subject matter that previous films had never touched, with her seeing terrible nightmares from that time.
** Rahne suffered horrible abuse from a priest, which is also shown in her nightmares.
** Roberto is shown accidentally burning his girlfriend alive (again with his uncontrolled power).

* ''Film/OnceUponATimeInAmerica''. Compared to the ''Film/DollarsTrilogy'' and ''Film/OnceUponATimeInTheWest'', this film is much more bleak and somber. May seem hard to do, but this film was a definite shift away from the previous films, starting with the very fact that Noodles (the main character) is a straight up VillainProtagonist who commits rather reprehensible acts. [[EvilVersusEvil He's not better than his enemies whatsoever]].

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* While it could also be seen as DenserAndWackier due to it's cartoonish elements being cranked up (with the inclusion of '''3-D of all things''' to boot) and it's copious amounts of NarmCharm, and still has a lighthearted, silly and fairly optimistic tone, ''Film/SpyKids3DGameOver'' is actually much more serious, darker, deeper, grittier and emotional than the [[Film/SpyKids1 first]] [[Film/SpyKids2IslandOfLostDreams two]] films in the ''Film/SpyKids'' franchise. There is much less humor when compared to the first two films (which focused more on the comedy than the action elements), only really being limited to ComicRelief at best, and the film focuses [[ActionizedSequel more on the action]] and emotional circumstances that our protagonists go through this time round, complete with a rather darker storyline focusing on Juni having to save his sister Carmen from inside a video game created by the LargeHam BigBad portrayed by '''Creator/SylvesterStallone''' of all people, whilst enlisting the help of their grandfather, [[spoiler: who actually has a beef with the BigBad.]] What is also noticeable is that the protagonists here are put through more life-threatening situations than in the first two movies '''combined''', and also the fact that the color palette is much more subdued to fit the movie's more serious tone. Also, the action sequences themselves are more serious albeit still PG-level cartoonish-looking fight scenes when compared to the comedic martial arts slapstick of the first two films.

* ''Film/Gamera'' : The Showa series started out kinda dark before going LighterAndSofter, but the Heisei Trilogy goes headlong into being dark as ''hell.''

* DarkerAndEdgier/{{Batman}}
* DarkerAndEdgier/MarvelCinematicUniverse
* DarkerAndEdgier/StarTrek
* DarkerAndEdgier/StarWars
* DarkerAndEdgier/XMenFilmSeries

* ''Film/GhostRiderSpiritOfVengeance'' :This movie features a lot more violence and dark humor than the first. It also features darker aspects in general, such as the Rider's AxCrazy being amped up. Even the look of the film is edgier than the first one. Whereas the original Ghost Rider movie had several vibrant colors (particularly the colors blue and orange) in most of the shots, this film mostly has ash grey filters all over the place. The design of the Ghost Rider is also more rugged and creepier than it used to be. It is also the only two films to use the Marvel Knights banner (the other being ''Film/PunisherWarZone'')

** ''Film/PunisherWarZone'' is this compared to the already dark 2004 film. The film is '''easily the darkest''' Marvel film ever created, possibly even darker than ''Film/AvengersInfinityWar'' and ''Film/AvengersEndgame'' from the MCU. So much so that Marvel created an entire new film subsidiary, Marvel Knights, to place its future dark films under to establish them as something a little more edgier than the usual Marvel fare (the only other film to date to use this banner is ''[[Film/GhostRider Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance]]'').

* The second ''Film/HomeAlone'' film is much less lighthearted than the first, taking place in New York rather than a Chicago suburb, and with Kevin using traps that would easily be deadly in real life. Also, the Bandits have a gun this time and when they catch Kevin, Harry [[WouldHurtAChild fully intends to use it on him.]] Ultimately, it ends up arguably being an EvenBetterSequel.
** The third film takes it even further...but is generally considered a flop.

* The second ''Film/HomeAlone'' film is much less lighthearted than the first, taking place in New York rather than a Chicago suburb, and with Kevin using much more dangerous traps against the Bandits. Also, when they catch him, Harry [[WouldHurtAChild fully intends to murder Kevin.]] Ultimately, it ends up arguably being an EvenBetterSequel.

* ''Film/PokemonDetectivePikachu'' stands out from other ''Franchise/{{Pokemon}}''-related media by how dark in tone it is. Besides the Noir-style backdrop, you have a raunchy title character that can [[PrecisionFStrike unexpectedly swear at some points]] (which may not be that surprising as Creator/RyanReynolds voices him), Pokémon that outright attempt to ''kill'' the protagonists, underground fighting that is much more violent than is the norm in ''Pokémon'', Pokémon designs that border on UncannyValley at times, and {{visual pun}}s that can be interpreted in a family-unfriendly way, among other things. It's rated [[AvoidTheDreadedGRating PG]] for a reason.

* A common trend in films about Myth/KingArthur, which is a pretty downbeat legend to begin with.

* ''Film/BillAndTedsExcellentAdventure'' was a relatively tame (by today's standards, at least) family-friendly comedy involving two {{Idiot Hero}}es being granted a TimeTravel device to research historical figures (including {{Bowdlerise}}d versions of UsefulNotes/{{Napoleon|Bonaparte}} and UsefulNotes/BillyTheKid) in a RaceAgainstTheClock to pass a history test. Contrast this with ''Film/BillAndTedsBogusJourney'', which would quite likely [[WhatDoYouMeanItsForKids scare the original film's target audience shitless]]. Unlike in the previous film where their biggest threat was Ted's dad sending him to military school, ''Bogus Journey'' has a legitimate, politically-driven BigBad who builds [[RobotMe robot versions]] of the protagonists who hunt down and '''actually kill them'''. This leads the film into a BackFromTheDead storyline where the two meet [[TheGrimReaper Death himself]], wander around Sand Dimas as ghosts, get sucked into Hell via occult magic where they encounter a rather convincing {{Satan}} and crawl through a fire-and-brimstone lit [[AirVentPassageway air duct maze]] where they encounter [[UpToEleven exaggerated]] versions of their childhood traumas. There's also numerous homages to R-rated sci-fi and horror films amongst other added horrors, a subplot involving plenty of {{Squick}}y incest jokes, drastically harsher and more frequent profanity (including a PrecisionFStrike at one point), and some HoYay dialogue. All this in a film that came out a mere 2 years after the original; hardly the most ample time for its audience to prepare for it.

* ''Film/{{Casino}}''. It is far more violent, darker, edgier and downbeat than ''Film/{{Goodfellas}}''. And its killings are far more stomach churning. So yea, this is UpToEleven compared with the earlier sequel.

* Rob Zombie's remake of ''Film/{{Halloween 2007}}'' and [[Film/HalloweenII2009 its sequel]] fits this trope. While the originals were fairly dark in their own right, Zombie amps it UpToEleven by creating a darker, gritter world filled with {{rap|eIsASpecialKindOfEvil}}ist {{orderlies|AreCreeps}}, [[ILoveTheDead necrophiliacs]], AbusiveParents (namely Michael Myers'), and a barrage of characters who [[ArsonMurderAndJaywalking swear like sailors]]. Even Michael himself kills in a more violent, brutal manner. Not everybody was fond of these changes.

* While it could also be seen as DenserAndWackier due to it's cartoonish elements being cranked UpToEleven (with the inclusion of '''3-D of all things''' to boot) and it's copious amounts of NarmCharm, and still has a lighthearted, silly and fairly optimistic tone, ''Film/SpyKids3DGameOver'' is actually much more serious, darker, deeper, grittier and emotional than the [[Film/SpyKids1 first]] [[Film/SpyKids2IslandOfLostDreams two]] films in the ''Film/SpyKids'' franchise. There is much less humor when compared to the first two films (which focused more on the comedy than the action elements), only really being limited to ComicRelief at best, and the film focuses [[ActionizedSequel more on the action]] and emotional circumstances that our protagonists go through this time round, complete with a rather darker storyline focusing on Juni having to save his sister Carmen from inside a video game created by the LargeHam BigBad portrayed by '''Creator/SylvesterStallone''' of all people, whilst enlisting the help of their grandfather, [[spoiler: who actually has a beef with the BigBad.]] What is also noticeable is that the protagonists here are put through more life-threatening situations than in the first two movies '''combined''', and also the fact that the color palette is much more subdued to fit the movie's more serious tone. Also, the action sequences themselves are more serious albeit still PG-level cartoonish-looking fight scenes when compared to the comedic martial arts slapstick of the first two films.

* The ''Film/TransformersFilmSeries'' in general. Robots are getting ripped apart, blown up, or their faces bifurcated. The added sex appeal (and not much else) is supplied by Megan Fox. Although amputation, decapitation, and on at least one occasion, crucifixion, were all features of the 80s transformers comics. And ''Film/TransformersDarkOfTheMoon'' cranks it UpToEleven, with [[spoiler: humans being assassinated]], as well as having [[spoiler: Sentinel Prime launch a full-scale Decepticon assault on Earth, complete with scenes of carnage.]]

** ''Film/NightOfTheLivingDead1968'' was this compared to prior horror films with its bleak tone, graphic violence (for its time) and its ''KillEmAll'' ending. Compared to the scary but harmless funhouse-like horror films at the time, it terrified many children.

* ''Film/TheGreyZone'' is Darker and Edgier... ''[[ExaggeratedTrope for a Holocaust film]]''. While films about the topic all depict the unimaginable human suffering of that period, most (such as ''Film/SchindlersList'', ''Film/ThePianist'', or ''Film/EscapeFromSobibor'') also try to portray a narrative of courage and hope amidst all that horror, with at least some characters managing to survive against all odds. This film takes place entirely in Auschwitz, focusing on the prisoners who were forced to assist the Nazis by disposing of the bodies, making the protagonists much more morally ambiguous than is typical. It ends with [[KillEmAll almost every character of note dying]], and most of their efforts throughout the film either resulting in a rather minor victory (half the crematoria remain after the uprising, and the death industry continues) or simply [[ShootTheShaggyDog rendered pointless]] (the little girl they tried to save, who's killed by the Nazi captain after a HopeSpot).

* ''Film/Mulan2020'' is this to [[WesternAnimation/{{Mulan}} the animated version]], with barely any comedy and much more focus on the war, with all the on-screen deaths that this emplies. Says something it earned higher content ratings than the other Film/DisneyLiveActionRemakes (the film is their first live-action reversion to receive a PG-13 rating).