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The Punisher

Play trailer Poster for The Punisher R Released Apr 16, 2004 2h 4m Action Play Trailer Watchlist
Watchlist Tomatometer Popcornmeter
29% Tomatometer 171 Reviews 63% Popcornmeter 250,000+ Ratings
This dark action film, based on the comic book series, follows FBI agent Frank Castle (Thomas Jane) as he transforms into the vengeful Punisher after criminals murder his family, including his wife and son. Castle is gravely injured in the attack and believed to be dead by Howard Saint (John Travolta), the crime lord who ordered the hit. Following his recovery, Castle becomes a heavily armed vigilante who will stop at nothing to exact revenge on Saint and dismantle his underworld empire.
The Punisher

What to Know

Critics Consensus

A good cast fails to elevate this overly violent and by-the-numbers revenge flick.

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Critics Reviews

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Nell Minow Common Sense Media Bad big screen adaptation of comic book. Rated: 2/5 Dec 28, 2010 Full Review J. R. Jones Chicago Reader There's something to be said for letting a comic book adaptation operate at the level of a comic book, dispensing cheap laughs and ice-cold sadism. Apr 25, 2007 Full Review Time Out Ultimately, Frank's victim -to-vigilante transformation is so morally unexplored it's emotionally alienating. Feb 9, 2006 Full Review Brian Eggert Deep Focus Review The Punisher’s anti-hero status is ignored altogether in this unchallenging movie; he’s reduced to being a homemade Good Guy without special powers, just a munitions store and a souped-up car. Rated: 2/4 Mar 7, 2024 Full Review Leigh Paatsch Herald Sun (Australia) For anyone ignorant of its pulpy pedigree... The Punisher presents itself as little more than a rather cheap and nasty actioner lifted wholesale from the they-killed-his-wife-and-child-and-now-they're-gonna-pay files. Rated: 1.5/5 Nov 17, 2020 Full Review Mike Massie Gone With The Twins For a movie about brutal eye-for-an-eye reprisal, there really isn't much savagery (or ferocity) taking place during the majority of the film. Rated: 3/10 Nov 9, 2020 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Mitch B If the violence had been toned down a tad, like the scene where Frank stabs the guy through the jaw, had been cut out, I'd give this movie five stars. I like the sweet moments with the neighbors and some of the action works for me. Also, I love Thomas Jane as The Punisher. His performance is the highlight of the film. I felt Frank's pain and I liked his interaction with Maria and Will before the massacre started. Very intense. Though the scene where he stabs the man in arms and jaw doesn't work for me, the overall film does. At least it's not a glorified slasher film the way "Punisher War Zone" was. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 07/01/25 Full Review Tik t One of the underrated, heartwarming films Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 05/05/25 Full Review thiago s Filme bacaninha, o roteiro é mais ou menos, as cenas de ação são mais ou menos, o elenco é mais ou menos, e quase ninguém ajudou a melhorar o filme, a história é fraca, os personagens sao mais ou menos e o personagemdo punisher é bacaninha, e o filme deveria ter cenas bem melhores. Rated 1.5 out of 5 stars 04/26/25 Full Review Nerd W Nothing more than expectations, if you like action movies, it’s good, don’t over think it. Rated 3 out of 5 stars 04/21/25 Full Review Will G I enjoyed it. Makes a change someone keeping the underwear on the inside. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 03/26/25 Full Review Jonathan O The writing is so cartoonish to make characters sounds like they're in the late 80's and 90's and you have the revenge part right but not fully punishment. Rated 2 out of 5 stars 02/23/25 Full Review Read all reviews
The Punisher

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Movie Info

Synopsis This dark action film, based on the comic book series, follows FBI agent Frank Castle (Thomas Jane) as he transforms into the vengeful Punisher after criminals murder his family, including his wife and son. Castle is gravely injured in the attack and believed to be dead by Howard Saint (John Travolta), the crime lord who ordered the hit. Following his recovery, Castle becomes a heavily armed vigilante who will stop at nothing to exact revenge on Saint and dismantle his underworld empire.
Director
Jonathan Hensleigh
Producer
Avi Arad, Gale Anne Hurd
Screenwriter
Gerry Conway, Jonathan Hensleigh, Michael France
Distributor
Lionsgate Films, Summit Entertainment
Production Co
Punisher Productions, Artisan Entertainment, Marvel Enterprises, Partnership Films
Rating
R (Language|Brief Nudity|Pervasive Brutal Violence)
Genre
Action
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Apr 16, 2004, Wide
Release Date (Streaming)
Dec 19, 2015
Box Office (Gross USA)
$33.7M
Runtime
2h 4m
Sound Mix
Surround, Dolby SRD, DTS, SDDS
Aspect Ratio
Scope (2.35:1)