The Punisher

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The Punisher

R

2004

2h 4m

Action

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

30%

Tomatometer

169 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.

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

12/28/2010

2/5

Bad big screen adaptation of comic book.

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J. R. Jones

Chicago Reader

04/25/2007

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.

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Time Out

02/09/2006

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

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Brian Eggert

Deep Focus Review

03/07/2024

2/4

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.

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Leigh Paatsch

Herald Sun (Australia)

11/17/2020

1.5/5

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.

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Mike Massie

Gone With The Twins

11/09/2020

3/10

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.

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Brandon T

@Brandonklye Dec 26

Kind of think about it. It wasn’t so bad if they kept the story of frank Castle Tragic story life.

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Jens B

@honestGuy Dec 6

To be honest this isn't the type of movie I usually like so don't take my review too seriously. The story seems very rushed especially the start of the movie, for example where did he get the idea to make an armoured car? The story also seems very bland and unoriginal, the movie's like "Blade" if there wasn't any vampires and such.

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Stephen C

@bob25009 Nov 23

Success in 02 hours, 03 minutes, and 29 seconds!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Rated R for Language, Brief Nudity and Pervasive Brutal Violence!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! The USA grossed over $33,700,000.00!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Co-starring John Travolta as mob boss Howard Saint!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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marvin n

Sep 9

same o' same o'..................

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The R

Aug 28

The Best punisher and I dont Will to change my mind

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Hailin P

Aug 23

Enjoyable and fun to watch with great casting. Hidden gem marvel movie underrated.

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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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20%

49%

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0%

21%

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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: 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)