Death Wish

R

Released Jul 24, 1974

1 hr. 33 min.

Crime

Drama

TRAILER

for Death Wish: Trailer 1

List

66%

32 Reviews

Tomatometer

69%

10,000+ Ratings

Audience Score

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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Leaburn O

The hit film of summer 74. Brendon is excellent in this mildly silly social/political plot but it was fast paced, frenetic and darkly fun. Bought and watched on DVD.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

04/03/24

Full Review

Rami A

Despite being frightening, the film's darkness and message are potent, unsettling, and optimistic. The movie is thrilling, dark, terrifying, and entertaining. Charles Bronson gives a performance that will be remembered.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

03/29/24

Full Review

matthias s

"Death Wish" had the potential for an intense revenge thriller, but it falls short of its mark, earning a lukewarm 3-star rating from me. Charles Bronson's performance was decent, yet he struggled to convince in the emotional moments, leaving a gap in the film's impact. The story suffers from unnecessary subplots, diluting the main narrative, and the pacing is as erratic as a rollercoaster ride. While I anticipated a violent and gritty experience, the film veered more towards a psychological drama, taking an unexpected turn. It's a mixed bag that leaves you wanting more action and intensity. Despite its flaws, "Death Wish" manages to hold your attention, thanks to Bronson's presence, but it fails to deliver the adrenaline-pumping revenge flick it promised to be. P.s. i love you Jeff Goldblum!!

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

11/15/23

Full Review

Rob A

Boy they made a lot of sequels, but as usual the original is the best. I just rewatched this and enjoyed it; it holds up pretty well some 50 years later. (It's also interesting to see how the police cracked cases pre-DNA and ubiquitous security cameras; spoiler alert - they had to work harder!)

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

10/27/23

Full Review

Blu B

It's a Solid Flick and a Bronsan Classic. The music is really good and the best part with a funky soundtrack that I wish was used just a bit more. Besides that everything about it is good. Well acted with little dialouge, though there could be more supporting cast and the villians really are cannon fodder more than anything. Bronsan is likeable and has great prescene while never seeming like a psychopath and you understand why he's doing this. The action is well done and while this defintely is exploitation it has a lot of substance to it and plenty of underlying commentary about crime and vigilantism good and bad. It's well shot and the gritty NYC setting is distinct and fits the tone perfectly. The only other issue is it can feel like in the second half there isn't much of a climax and kills sort of just happen though there is a flow enough to the events and it does work. It defintely could've used more supporting cast and a bit more tension/buildup payoff. Otherwise its a smart crime/action movie and anyone who is a fan of any actors in this, the director, or crime action should check out.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

10/05/23

Full Review

Jonathan O

Death Wish is a gritty violent revenge action thriller movie and Charles Bronson is really great action star vigilante the story was good but it didn't focus on getting revenge of murdering he's wife and he's daughter who got rape and there's no justice but at least I had fun watching this grindhouse 42nd street vibe.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

09/27/23

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: Official Clip - Shot and Bleeding

1:30

Death Wish: Official Clip - Followed Home

2:11

Death Wish: Official Clip - The Vigilante's Still Out There

1:19

Death Wish: Official Clip - Stalked in the Park

1:45

Death Wish: Official Clip - Draw!

1:38

Death Wish: Official Clip - Cowboy Stunt Show

2:10

Death Wish: Official Clip - Subway Shooting

1:37

Death Wish: Official Clip - Get a Transfer

2:10

Death Wish: Official Clip - What Else You Got?

2:07

Death Wish: Official Clip - Wrong Alley, Right Time

1:07

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Death Wish: Trailer 1

2:18

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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

Full Review

Variety

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

Mar 1, 2007

Full Review

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

Full Review

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

Full Review

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

Full Review

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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
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

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