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Kick-Ass

Kick-Ass is a 2010 superhero black comedy film directed by Matthew Vaughn and co-written by Vaughn and Jane Goldman.

By Ethan Anderson| Reviewed by Olivia Bennett, Standards & Fact-Checking Lead| Updated July 27, 2026|2 min read| Fact-checked

Kick-Ass is a 2010 superhero black comedy film directed by Matthew Vaughn and co-written by Vaughn and Jane Goldman. It follows Dave Lizewski, a teenager who decides to become a real-life vigilante superhero despite having no powers. The film is based on the comic book series created by Mark Millar and John Romita Jr.

Plot

The film follows Dave Lizewski, a comic-book fan and ordinary high school student, as he attempts to become a real-life superhero. His actions draw him into violent conflicts involving Big Daddy, Hit-Girl, and the crime boss Frank D'Amico.

Cast

The principal cast includes Aaron Taylor-Johnson as Dave Lizewski/Kick-Ass, Nicolas Cage as Damon Macready/Big Daddy, Chloë Grace Moretz as Mindy Macready/Hit-Girl, Mark Strong as Frank D'Amico, and Christopher Mintz-Plasse as Chris D'Amico/Red Mist.

Sequels and franchise

Kick-Ass was followed by Kick-Ass 2 in 2013. The film is part of a broader Kick-Ass franchise based on the original comic series.

Source material

The film adapts the comic book series Kick-Ass, created by writer Mark Millar and artist John Romita Jr. The comic series provided the characters, premise, and much of the tone for the film.

Key facts

  • Kick-Ass is a 2010 film about an ordinary teenager who becomes a vigilante superhero.
  • Aaron Taylor-Johnson plays Dave Lizewski, who adopts the name Kick-Ass.
  • The film also stars Nicolas Cage as Big Daddy and Chloë Grace Moretz as Hit-Girl.
  • It is based on the comic book series Kick-Ass by Mark Millar and John Romita Jr.
  • Kick-Ass 2, a sequel, was released in 2013.
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Canadian context

Kick-Ass was distributed internationally and is part of the mainstream superhero-film canon familiar to Canadian audiences; its comic-book origin and film adaptation also reflect a broader North American pop-culture trend.

Frequently asked questions

Who is Kick-Ass?
Kick-Ass is the superhero identity adopted by Dave Lizewski, an ordinary teenager who decides to fight crime without having superpowers.
Who is in the Kick-Ass cast?
The main cast includes Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Nicolas Cage, Chloë Grace Moretz, Mark Strong, and Christopher Mintz-Plasse.
What is Kick-Ass 2?
Kick-Ass 2 is the 2013 sequel to Kick-Ass. It continues the story of Kick-Ass and Hit-Girl and was written and directed by Jeff Wadlow.
When was the Kick-Ass movie released?
Kick-Ass was released in 2010. In some markets, it opened in April 2010.
Is Kick-Ass based on a true story?
No. Kick-Ass is a fictional film based on a comic book series, not a true story.
What is the Kick-Ass comic?
The Kick-Ass comic is the source material for the film. It was created by Mark Millar and John Romita Jr. and centers on the same vigilante premise.

References

  1. IMDb — https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1250777/
    Supports: Director, writers, cast, and plot synopsis for Kick-Ass (2010).
  2. Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kick-Ass_(film)
    Supports: Film overview, based-on credit, and sequel information.
  3. AlloCiné — https://www.allocine.fr/film/fichefilm-138730.html
    Supports: Release information, cast list, genre, and synopsis.
  4. Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kick-Ass_(franchise)
    Supports: Franchise context and release of Kick-Ass 2.
  5. The Movie Database — https://www.themoviedb.org/movie/23483-kick-ass/cast
    Supports: Expanded cast list and character names.