The Punisher

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The Punisher

R

Released Apr 16, 2004

2h 4m

Action

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29%

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172 Reviews

63%

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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.

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Critics Consensus

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

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Nell Minow

Common Sense Media

Bad big screen adaptation of comic book.

Rated: 2/5

Dec 28, 2010

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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

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Time Out

Ultimately, Frank's victim -to-vigilante transformation is so morally unexplored it's emotionally alienating.

Feb 9, 2006

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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

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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

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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

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Wendel L

Direção: Bom Atuação: Bom Roteiro: Bom Caracterização: Ok Soundtrack: Ok

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

11/09/24

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Andre L

A very good adaptation of the comics book series. It's odd to see critics, complain about the violence in a movie based on one of the most violent characters in the Marvel Universe. It's almost as if they have no idea or never read or understand the character or the comics. This was a very well done movie and actually a bit timid compared to what it should have been. Story was pretty true to the comics, but could have been fleshed out a little more. Overall one of the better Marvel movies compared to anything in the past 5 years.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

10/28/24

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Audience Member

While parts of this movie were undoubtedly entertaining and somewhat tense to watch, I spotted flaws in it from the very first act. During this time period, most comic book movies didn't have a lot of depth to them (aside from Sam Raimi's Spider-Man movies which undoubtedly changed how they were done) and something made it feel like a corny feel-good movie for the first part of the film. I felt like the finale could've gone on longer and it was strange how the main antagonist Howard Saint didn't catch on earlier and think right away that he was being sabotaged by the Punisher with his business partner and significant other's fake affair. There were some decent moments throughout it but overall, didn't work as a memorable Marvel movie.

Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars

08/18/24

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Brett C

John Travolta is stupid but we all know that.... and creep liar fake 😡

Rated 1 out of 5 stars

07/31/24

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Vitoria F

Ótimo filme. Cheio de cenas fortes. O elenco trabalhou muito bem e o filme foi muito bem feito. Tem uma seriedade que os filmes inspirados em personagens da Marvel não têm mais.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

07/18/24

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Leng W

Simple and camp a 90s film in 2004 There's just something easy and compelling You expect a throwaway but in the end it's a polished gem dirty but gem all the same.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

07/15/24

Full Review

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Jonathan Hensleigh

Director

Thomas Jane

Frank Castle

John Travolta

Howard Saint

Will Patton

Quentin Glass

Roy Scheider

Frank Castle Sr.

Laura Harring

Livia Saint

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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: Partnership Films, Artisan Entertainment, Marvel Enterprises, Punisher Productions
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)

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