Pio Marmaï
Gary Moreau
Overview
Paris 2020. While superheroes have assimilated into the Parisian society, they discover a new drug that gives themselves personal superpowers to mere mortals. Lieutenants Moreau and Schaltzmann are investigating the case with the support of two ex-superheroes, Monte Carlo and Callista. They'll do whatever it takes to dismantle the traffic. But Moreau's past resurfaces, and the investigation becomes more complicated.
Cast
12 people
Reviews
5 min readSuperheroes in the City of Light—But Whose Light?
I’ve always been suspicious of superheroes who live in cities. Not the ones who soar above them, cape billowing like a flag of justice, but the ones who belong there—who pay rent, ride the métro, and maybe even vote. There’s something unsettling about the idea of a person with godlike abilities queuing up at a boulangerie for a baguette, as if their powers are just another part of the daily grind. How I Became a Superhero, Douglas Attal’s 2020 film, leans into that unease, setting its story in a Paris where superheroes aren’t just accepted but assimilated, their capes swapped for leather jackets and their secret identities for Instagram handles.
The result is a film that’s equal parts procedural thriller, dark comedy, and a meditation on what happens when the extraordinary becomes mundane—and then, suddenly, dangerous.
The premise is simple, almost deceptively so: in this version of Paris, superheroes have been around long enough to become part of the furniture. They’re not just tolerated; they’re celebrities, with all the vanity and corruption that implies. Some, like the aging Monte Carlo (Benoît Poelvoorde), have retired to a life of bitterness and bad decisions, while others, like the radiant Callista (Leïla Bekhti), still bask in the glow of public adoration.
But when a new drug hits the streets—one that grants superpowers to ordinary people—the fragile equilibrium of this world begins to crack. Enter Lieutenants Moreau (Pio Marmaï) and Schaltzmann (Vimala Pons), two cops tasked with unraveling the mystery before the city tears itself apart.
What’s fascinating about How I Became a Superhero is how it refuses to play by the rules of either the superhero genre or the police procedural. The film’s Paris isn’t the postcard-perfect city of Amélie or the noir-soaked underworld of Le Samouraï; it’s a place where the fantastical and the banal collide, where a superhero might save a life one minute and get into a screaming match with a taxi driver the next.
Audience Opinions
Audience 6.5/10
"A visually engaging but uneven superhero noir with flashes of originality that struggle against a convoluted plot and underdeveloped characters."
The film’s stylish aesthetic and intriguing premise draw viewers in, offering a fresh take on the superhero genre with a noir twist. latestnetflix.com's read is that however, the story’s complexity often feels messy, leaving key plot points unresolved or rushed, and some characters lack depth, making it hard to stay fully invested.
What viewers praise
- Striking visual style The movie’s noir-inspired cinematography and color palette create a distinctive, immersive atmosphere that stands out in the superhero genre.
- Unique premise The blend of superhero lore with a police procedural and noir elements offers a refreshing departure from typical comic book adaptations.
- Strong lead performance Pio Marmaï delivers a compelling performance as the protagonist, bringing depth and charisma to the role.
- Engaging mystery The central mystery keeps viewers curious, even if the execution falters at times.
Common complaints
- Overly complex plot The story’s twists and turns become convoluted, making it difficult to follow and leaving some threads unresolved.
- Underdeveloped characters Many supporting characters feel shallow or underutilized, weakening emotional engagement with the story.
- Pacing issues The film struggles with uneven pacing, with some scenes dragging while others rush through important developments.
- Weak ending The conclusion feels abrupt and unsatisfying, failing to deliver on the promise of the film’s earlier moments.
Recommended for
Superhero genre fans seeking something different Noir and crime thriller enthusiasts Fans of stylish, atmospheric films Viewers who enjoy mystery-driven plots Pio Marmaï admirers
Buzz & Rumors
Public reportsBehind the Scenes of How I Became a Superhero: Netflix’s French Superhero Gamble
Douglas Attal’s How I Became a Superhero (2020) arrived as a rare French twist on the superhero genre, blending crime thriller pacing with a speculative edge. latestnetflix.com's view is that while the film didn’t break box-office records, its Netflix debut and ensemble cast sparked curiosity about its production—from its literary roots to its on-set dynamics.
From Page to Screen: A Literary Detour
The movie’s title isn’t coincidental. It shares DNA with Gérald Bronner’s 2007 novel Comment je suis devenu super-héros, a police procedural set in a world where superheroes exist 
. However, the film diverges sharply from the book’s plot, instead crafting an original story about a cop (Pio Marmaï) investigating a conspiracy in a Paris where 5% of the population has superpowers . Attal’s adaptation strips away the novel’s sociological depth, opting for a faster, more commercial tone—likely to appeal to international audiences.
Casting the Unlikely Heroes
The ensemble cast reads like a who’s-who of French cinema’s rising and established stars. Pio Marmaï, known for his roles in The First Day of the Rest of Your Life and The Big Picture, anchors the film as the everyman detective. Vimala Pons and Leïla Bekhti bring charisma to their roles as fellow officers, while Benoît Poelvoorde—France’s answer to a grizzled character actor—plays a morally ambiguous figure with his usual dark humor .
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dyplMAVR8e0
Rumors swirled about on-set chemistry, particularly between Marmaï and Pons, who’d previously worked together in The Summer of All My Parents (2019). While neither has confirmed off-screen sparks, their playful banter in Netflix’s behind-the-scenes featurette Le Netflix de Douglas Attal hints at a relaxed, collaborative vibe . Poelvoorde, meanwhile, was reportedly the set’s wildcard, improvising lines to keep the crew laughing between takes—though no specific anecdotes have surfaced.
Netflix’s Superhero Experiment
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CI6MV7ZTCbg
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kyrCvP5rBmw
How I Became a Superhero marked a rare foray into the genre for French cinema, and Netflix’s involvement was key. The streamer acquired global rights, positioning the film as a mid-budget gamble to compete with Hollywood’s superhero saturation. Trailers leaned into the film’s noir-meets-comic-book aesthetic, with moody Parisian backdrops and a synth-heavy score . Yet, despite the hype, the movie’s 5.4/10 rating on SensCritique suggests it didn’t fully land with audiences or critics .
Production details remain scarce, but the film’s 97-minute runtime and reported budget (rumored to be under €10 million) point to a tight shoot. Attal, best known for his work in French TV (Braquo), brought a gritty, procedural lens to the superhero genre, avoiding the CGI spectacle of Marvel or DC in favor of practical effects and character-driven tension.
The Verdict: A Cult Curio?
With no sequel confirmed and mixed reviews, How I Became a Superhero risks fading into obscurity. Yet, its Netflix availability and cult-adjacent premise—think The Boys meets Amélie—could earn it a second life among fans of offbeat genre films. For now, it stands as a curious footnote in France’s cinematic landscape, a rare attempt to prove superheroes don’t need capes or spandex to work.
Entertainment rumors and trivia aggregated from public reporting. Treat speculation as unverified unless a cited source confirms it.