Defendor

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Defendor

R

2009

1h 35m

Comedy

Drama

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Popcornmeter

72%

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25 Reviews

58%

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10,000+ Ratings

An everyday guy (Woody Harrelson) believes he is a superhero and befriends a teenager while seeing a psychiatrist.

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Critics Consensus

Defendor's reach occasionally exceeds its grasp, but this unique take on the superhero genre is held together by Woody Harrelson's solid performance.

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Michael Rechtshaffen

The Hollywood Reporter

Saving the day is Harrelson's low-key, rooted performance, adding an unexpected layer of poignancy when things take a decidedly darker turn.

Mar 10, 2010

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Amy Nicholson

I.E. Weekly

The conviction in Harrelson's performance sells the movie -- he and his character are both unsung heroes who give their roles everything they've got.

Rated: C+

Feb 26, 2010

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Glenn Whipp

Los Angeles Times

Stebbings is more interested in deconstructing heroism than creating a concrete world, sapping the movie of the immediacy it needs to come alive. For all its aspirations, the film never meshes into something cohesive or substantial.

Rated: 2.5/5

Feb 26, 2010

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Brian Eggert

Deep Focus Review

A pitch-black comedy that falls flat regardless of its potential

Rated: 2/4

Aug 22, 2023

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Robert Bell

Exclaim!

[It] challenged the psychology behind what makes someone retreat into the delusion of unique greatness to begin with...

Jan 30, 2023

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Debbie Lynn Elias

Behind The Lens

Smartly written, extremely well acted, you'll be in your own happy place on seeing DEFENDOR.

Nov 7, 2019

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Sarah F.

16 years later I decided to revisit this movie since I found it on Tubi. I still love this movie because it's not your usual flashy, worn out superhero movie. It took risks and won. I have seen a lot of people comparing this movie to Kick-A..., but Defendor came out a year before and it's dark, dramatic home-made look really sells the movie for me. Woody is obviously the star here and he's just a phenomenal Arthur Poppington. Kat Dennings (love her still) does a great job playing a call girl. She's believable and I think it was Peter Stebbings that said Dennings can flip the character and make it hers and that is wonderfully shown here. So, my point is, after all this time, Defendor stands its ground and maybe we need a vigilante hero nowadays.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

10/25/25

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john b

Woody Harrelson plays a mentally challenged man who thinks he is a super hero at night. What sells this is Woody and Kat Dennings is great too. A kooky, quirky story. Woody's charactor is so innocent and funny. If you like off beat, you'll love this.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

03/31/25

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Madam D

The idea of an intellectually challenged super hero is off-putting. The fact that he wins the day but ends up being murdered makes it worse.

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

03/31/25

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Emilliano Jr S

Like a low budget superhero movie with a heart

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

07/25/23

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Kyle M

The compelling trope of dramatically grounded action mimicking the superhero genre may seem dated, and comparably insignificant within its own genes, immediately preceding the genre's full rejuvenation burst but at its rational center is the psychology angle that unfolds nicely with decent performances in an uninteresting storyline. (B-)

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

04/13/23

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Audience Member

Between 2.5 and 3 stars. Although with some quite evident incoherences, the main actors get us worried about the destiny of this pathetic as well as committed heroe.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

01/25/23

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Peter Stebbings

Director

Woody Harrelson

Arthur Poppington

Kat Dennings

Kat

Sandra Oh

Dr. Park

Elias Koteas

Chuck Dooney

Lisa Ray

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Synopsis

An everyday guy (Woody Harrelson) believes he is a superhero and befriends a teenager while seeing a psychiatrist.

Director: Peter Stebbings
Producer: Nicholas Tabarrok
Screenwriter: Peter Stebbings
Production Co: Darius Films, Insight Film Studios, Alliance
Rating: R (Language Throughout|Drug Use|Sexual Content|Violence)
Genre: Comedy, Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Streaming): May 28, 2010
Box Office (Gross USA): $37.6K
Runtime: 1h 35m

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