Death Wish

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2:18

Death Wish

R

Released Jul 24, 1974

1h 33m

Crime

Drama

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

66%

Tomatometer

32 Reviews

69%

Popcornmeter

10,000+ Ratings

Once a mild-mannered liberal, New York City architect Paul Kersey (Charles Bronson) snaps when intruders break into his home, murdering his wife (Hope Lange) and violently raping his daughter. A business trip to Tucson, Ariz., lands him a gift from a client, a revolver he uses to patrol the streets when he returns home. Frustrated that the police cannot find the intruders, he become a vigilante, gunning down any criminal that crosses his path. The public finds this vigilantism heroic.

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Critics Consensus

Death Wish is undeniably exploitation fare -- and also undeniably effective.

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Maureen Orth

Newsweek

Director Michael Winner, an Englishman, has created a simplistic urban Western of good guys and bad guys that will conform to every paranoid's crime fantasies.

Nov 2, 2021

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Variety

Poisonous incitement to do-it-yourself law enforcement is the vulgar exploitation hook on which Death Wish is awkwardly hung.

Mar 1, 2007

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Geoff Andrew

Time Out

Winner's recourse to caricature when dealing with police and thugs, and his virtually overt sympathies with the confused, violent Bronson, make for uncritical, simplistic viewing.

Jan 26, 2006

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Keith Garlington

Keith & the Movies

It’s both fascinating and uncomfortable, as a story like this should be. Not everything clicks, especially in the final act. But it’s still a well-made thriller that’s worth more than a mere surface level reading.

Rated: 4/5

Mar 15, 2023

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Matt Brunson

Film Frenzy

Although it’s about as complex as any random episode of My Mother the Car, it’s nevertheless effective agitprop.

Rated: 3/4

Feb 5, 2023

Full Review

Gregory Mims

New Pittsburgh Courier

Although we may find the views expressed in Death Wish unacceptable on any level, still, the basic story line, despite its idiotic perspective, might have made an interesting film, had it been handled properly.

Dec 13, 2021

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ChrisCSH H

While death wish is at times violent and archaic it doesn’t delay on getting to the action and cuts right to the point. Charles Bronson is great as Revengeaholic Paul Kersey and you feel the rage and emotion that he is feeling from the violent way His wife and daughter are assaulted by their attackers.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

06/29/25

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thiago s

Filme bacaninha para bacana, o roteiro é bacaninha, as cenas são bacanas, a história é bacaninha, o elenco é bacaninha, e alguns do elenco junto com o Charles Bronson ajudam a melhorar o filme, os personagens são bacanas, e o filme deveria ter cenas bem melhores e relevantes, e o filme deveria ter matado os 3 caras que assassinaram a mulher do Paul Kersey, com tudo isso, eu recomendo esse filme.

Rated 1.5 out of 5 stars

06/22/25

Full Review

Olivia J

Original NY style police drama in the 70s when streets were mean and dangerous and men took justice into their own hands without remorse. A raw, violent, in your face film and Charles Bronson in his prime, avenging his family in the dark alleys of the sin city.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

05/31/25

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Christian K

Its all pretty understated in its presentation, Bronson isn't bringing much to the table besides his hardy demeanor. Great last shot.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

05/12/25

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Farah R

Bronson is a brilliant actor and the story is interesting but not executed well enough to its full potential. The movie’s abrupt ending is anticlimactic.

Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars

04/25/25

Full Review

Kristian B

Love the movie it has an interesting story and very entertaining.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

04/09/25

Full Review

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Michael Winner

Director

Charles Bronson

Paul Kersey

Hope Lange

Joanna Kersey

Vincent Gardenia

Frank Ochoa

Steven Keats

Jack Toby

William Redfield

Sam Kreutzer

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Death Wish: Trailer 1

2:18

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Synopsis

Once a mild-mannered liberal, New York City architect Paul Kersey (Charles Bronson) snaps when intruders break into his home, murdering his wife (Hope Lange) and violently raping his daughter. A business trip to Tucson, Ariz., lands him a gift from a client, a revolver he uses to patrol the streets when he returns home. Frustrated that the police cannot find the intruders, he become a vigilante, gunning down any criminal that crosses his path. The public finds this vigilantism heroic.

Director: Michael Winner
Producer: Hal Landers, Bobby Roberts, Michael Winner
Screenwriter: Wendell Mayes
Distributor: Paramount Pictures
Production Co: Dino De Laurentiis Company
Rating: R
Genre: Crime, Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Jul 24, 1974, Original
Release Date (Streaming): Aug 10, 2016
Runtime: 1h 33m

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