Good Revenge Movie

From Francis Ford Coppola, starring Marlon Brando, Al Pacino, James Caan, Diane Keaton
Rated R

The Godfather is a 1972 American crime film directed by Francis Ford Coppola and produced by Albert S. Ruddy, based on Mario Puzo's best-selling novel of the same name. It stars Marlon Brando and Al Pacino as the leaders of the fictional Corleone crime family. The story, spanning 1945 to 1955, chronicles the family under the patriarch Vito Corleone, focusing on the transformation of his son Michael Corleone from a reluctant outsider to a ruthless mafia boss. The Godfather is widely regarded as one of the greatest films in world cinema and one of the most influential, especially in the gangster genre. It was selected for preservation in the United Stated National Film Registry of the Library of Congress in 1990, being deemed "culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant". It received numerous awards, including three Academy Awards for Best Picture, Best Actor (Brando) and Best Adapted Screenplay (for Puzo and Coppola).

From Directors: Fernando Meirelles, Kátia Lund, starring Alexandre Rodrigues, Leandro Firmino, Matheus Nachtergaele, Phellipe Haagensen
Rated R

City of God (2002) is an Academy Award-nominated Brazilian crime drama directed by Fernando Meirelles and Kátia Lund. The film follows the story of two young boys, Rocket and Li'l Ze, who grow up in the slums of Rio de Janeiro. Li'l Ze becomes a violent gang leader, while Rocket attempts to escape the crime-ridden favelas and pursue his dream of becoming a photographer. The film highlights the harsh realities of poverty, violence, and drugs in Rio de Janeiro and shows how these forces impact the lives of the people living there. It is a powerful story about the struggle to survive in the face of overwhelming odds.

From Luc Besson, starring Jean Reno, Gary Oldman, Natalie Portman, Danny Aiello
Rated R

Léon: The Professional is a 1994 action-crime thriller directed by Luc Besson. The film follows the story of Léon (Jean Reno), a French hitman living in New York City. Léon is recruited by mob boss Tony (Gary Oldman) to assassinate a corrupt DEA agent. Léon meets Mathilda (Natalie Portman), a twelve-year-old girl whose family has been killed by the same DEA agent. Mathilda begs Léon to let her stay with him and he reluctantly agrees. Léon then takes it upon himself to teach Mathilda the techniques of his trade, and they bond in the process. However, their relationship is complicated when Mathilda falls in love with Léon and begins to hatch a plan to take revenge on the DEA agent who killed her family. The film is notable for its stylish action sequences and its exploration of Léon and Mathilda's complex relationship. In the end, Léon and Mathilda succeed in their mission, though at a great cost.

From Christopher Nolan, starring Christian Bale, Hugh Jackman, Scarlett Johansson, Michael Caine
Rated PG-13

The Prestige is a 2006 mystery thriller film directed by Christopher Nolan. The story follows two rival magicians, Alfred Borden (Christian Bale) and Robert Angier (Hugh Jackman), who become obsessed with creating the best illusion ever seen. As their rivalry escalates and the stakes become higher, their lives become intertwined in a dangerous game of deceit and obsession. It is a film of twists and turns, as the two magicians use their most powerful and mysterious tricks to outwit each other. In the end, their obsession leads to tragedy as they both discover the price of their ambition.

From Ridley Scott, starring Russell Crowe, Joaquin Phoenix, Connie Nielsen, Oliver Reed
Rated R

Gladiator is an epic historical drama set in the year 180 A.D. directed by Ridley Scott and starring Russell Crowe. The film follows the story of Maximus Decimus Meridius (Crowe), a brave Roman general who is betrayed by the emperor Commodus (Joaquin Phoenix). Maximus is forced into slavery and is eventually compelled to fight in the Colosseum as a gladiator. Through his courage and strength, Maximus gains the admiration of the Roman people and ultimately exacts his revenge. Along the way, he also learns to understand the importance of his own mortality and the power of love.

From Sergio Leone, starring Henry Fonda, Charles Bronson, Claudia Cardinale, Jason Robards
Rated PG-13

Once Upon a Time in the West is an epic western drama directed by Sergio Leone, starring Henry Fonda, Charles Bronson, Claudia Cardinale, and Jason Robards. The film follows the story of a mysterious stranger with a harmonica, played by Bronson, who is attempting to avenge the death of his family. He teams up with a widow, played by Cardinale, who is attempting to protect her land from a ruthless railroad tycoon and his henchman, played by Fonda and Robards. As the two strangers become allies in a larger struggle, they must fight for justice and revenge against forces that threaten to take everything away from them. As their battle for justice unfolds, the stranger's true identity is slowly revealed. The film is a classic example of Leone's use of long, tense build-ups and extreme close-ups, as well as his iconic score by composer Ennio Morricone.

From Christopher Nolan, starring Guy Pearce, Carrie-Anne Moss, Joe Pantoliano, Mark Boone Junior
Rated R

Memento is a 2000 neo-noir psychological thriller directed by Christopher Nolan. The film follows Leonard Shelby (Guy Pearce), who is attempting to solve the mysterious murder of his wife. Leonard is an insurance investigator with a rare condition, anterograde amnesia, which prevents him from forming new memories. To cope, he relies on taking Polaroid photographs, writing notes, and tattooing himself with vital information as reminders. As he searches for his wife's murderer, Leonard finds himself gradually drawn into a web of confusion and lies. Ultimately, he must figure out if his search for justice is worth the personal cost.

From Park Chan-wook, starring Choi Min-sik, Yoo Ji-tae, Kang Hye-jeong, Kim Byeong-Ok
Rated R

Oldboy is a thrilling and disturbing South Korean neo-noir film directed by Park Chan-wook. The story follows the plight of Oh Dae-su (Choi Min-sik), a businessman who is kidnapped and held captive in a private prison for 15 years. After his unexpected release, Dae-su embarks on a quest for revenge against his captor and seeks to unravel the mystery of why he was imprisoned. Along his journey, Dae-su is forced to confront the dark secrets of his past and the true nature of his captor. Oldboy is a complex and captivating tale of revenge and redemption, filled with suspense, brutality and shocking revelations.

From Quentin Tarantino, starring Jamie Foxx, Christoph Waltz, Leonardo DiCaprio, Kerry Washington
Rated R

Django Unchained is a 2012 American Western film written and directed by Quentin Tarantino. The film tells the story of Django, a freed slave who teams up with a German bounty hunter, Dr. King Schultz, in order to rescue his wife from a brutal Mississippi plantation owner, Calvin Candie. With the help of their smart and cunning skills, Django and Dr. Schultz are able to survive the treacherous journey and outsmart the powerful Candie. Along the way, Django learns the art of bounty hunting and comes to understand the true power of his own freedom. In the end, Django gets his revenge on Candie and is reunited with his beloved wife, in a thrilling climax.

From Quentin Tarantino, starring Uma Thurman, David Carradine, Daryl Hannah, Michael Madsen
Rated R

Kill Bill: Vol. 1 is a 2003 martial arts film written and directed by Quentin Tarantino. It stars Uma Thurman as "The Bride," a former assassin who sets out on a mission of revenge against her former boss, Bill (David Carradine), and his gang of assassins. After being betrayed by Bill and left for dead on her wedding day, The Bride awakens from a four-year coma and sets out on a deadly mission of vengeance. Along the way, she encounters a variety of colorful characters, including a deadly squad of female assassins and a former lover of Bill’s. The Bride must fight her way through her enemies in order to exact her revenge, culminating in an epic battle between The Bride and Bill. The action-packed movie is filled with stylish fight sequences and an eclectic soundtrack, making it an instant cult classic.

From Clint Eastwood, starring Clint Eastwood, Gene Hackman, Morgan Freeman, Richard Harris
Rated R

Unforgiven is a 1992 western film directed and produced by Clint Eastwood. It follows aging outlaw, William Munny (Eastwood), who is coaxed out of retirement to hunt down a group of cowboys responsible for brutally cutting up a prostitute. He is joined on his mission by a fellow outlaw, Ned Logan (Morgan Freeman), and a brash young gunslinger, The Schofield Kid (Jaimz Woolvett). Along the way, they face a series of dangerous obstacles, including a formidable sheriff (Gene Hackman) and a ruthless cowboy, English Bob (Richard Harris). They ultimately succeed in their mission, but only after learning harsh lessons about the nature of violence and their own mortality. Unforgiven is widely regarded as one of the greatest Westerns ever made and won four Academy Awards, including Best Picture.

From James McTeigue, starring Hugo Weaving, Natalie Portman, Rupert Graves, Stephen Rea
Rated R

V for Vendetta is a 2005 dystopian political thriller film directed by James McTeigue and written by the Wachowskis, based on the 1988 DC/Vertigo Comics limited series of the same name by Alan Moore and David Lloyd. The film takes place in a totalitarian future Britain, in which a mysterious figure known as "V" (Hugo Weaving) exacts revenge on those he believes are responsible for the oppression of his people. Along the way, he rallies a young woman (Natalie Portman) to his cause, finding a kindred spirit in her as they take on the oppressive government together. V for Vendetta is a powerful and thought-provoking story of freedom and justice that champions the power of the individual to bring about change.

From Clint Eastwood, starring Clint Eastwood, Bee Vang, Christopher Carley, Ahney Her
Rated R

Gran Torino is a 2008 American drama film directed by and starring Clint Eastwood. The film follows Walt Kowalski, an elderly Korean War veteran who forms an unlikely friendship with his Hmong neighbors after trying to protect them from local gang members. As Walt and the Hmong community come to understand and respect each other, he ultimately finds redemption, confidence, and a sense of purpose he had been missing since the death of his wife. Through this friendship, Walt is ultimately able to come to terms with his own mortality and let go of his prejudices. The film received critical acclaim and was a box office success, grossing $270 million.

From Ingmar Bergman, starring Max von Sydow, Birgitta Valberg, Gunnel Lindblom, Birgitta Pettersson
Rated Not Rated

The Virgin Spring tells the story of a devout Swedish Christian family living in the 14th-century. After their daughter, Karin, sets off to church one morning, she is brutally raped and murdered in a forest by a group of men. When her father, Töre, finds out what has happened, he swears revenge, despite his wife's pleas for mercy. In a twist of fate, Töre later finds out that the men who killed his daughter are the same ones who have come to his door to ask for shelter for the night. In a moment of divine justice, Töre is able to take revenge on the killers and restore his faith in God.

From Quentin Tarantino, starring Uma Thurman, David Carradine, Michael Madsen, Daryl Hannah
Rated R

Kill Bill: Vol. 2 follows The Bride (Uma Thurman) as she continues her quest for revenge against the Deadly Viper Assassination Squad, a team of assassins that betrayed her and attempted to kill her. After dispatching the first two members of the squad, Bill (David Carradine) and O-Ren Ishii (Lucy Liu), The Bride now sets her sights on Budd (Michael Madsen) and Elle Driver (Daryl Hannah). With the help of her old sword master, Pai Mei (Gordon Liu), The Bride must fight her way through to confront Bill in a brutal, bloody, and unforgettable final confrontation. Along the way, The Bride discovers the truth behind her attack and the darker side of her former allies. Kill Bill: Vol. 2 is an action-packed revenge thriller from writer-director Quentin Tarantino that highlights his trademark blend of dark humor and intense violence.

From Nicholas Meyer, starring William Shatner, Leonard Nimoy, DeForest Kelley, James Doohan
Rated PG

Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan is a 1982 American science fiction film directed by Nicholas Meyer and based on the television series of the same name created by Gene Roddenberry. It is the second installment in the Star Trek film series and stars William Shatner, Leonard Nimoy, DeForest Kelley, James Doohan, Walter Koenig, Nichelle Nichols, George Takei, and Ricardo Montalban. The film follows the crew of the starship USS Enterprise, led by Admiral James T. Kirk (Shatner), as they confront the vengeful Khan Noonien Singh (Montalban), a genetically-engineered human tyrant from the late 20th century. Khan, who had been exiled to a distant planet, attempts to exact revenge upon Kirk for leaving him stranded. Along the way, the crew find a mysterious device created by an advanced race known as the Genesis Project and must now race against time to save their ship when Khan hijacks it in order to use the device to terraform a barren world into his own personal paradise. In the end, the crew is able to defeat Khan and his fleet of ships and the Genesis Device is destroyed, preventing its misuse.

From Sam Mendes, starring Tom Hanks, Tyler Hoechlin, Rob Maxey, Liam Aiken
Rated R

Road to Perdition is a 2002 American crime drama film directed by Sam Mendes. The film follows the story of a mob enforcer and his young son as they seek revenge against a mobster who murdered the rest of their family. The film stars Tom Hanks, Paul Newman, Jude Law, and Daniel Craig. The story takes place in 1931 during the Great Depression. Michael Sullivan (Hanks) is a mob enforcer for legendary crime boss John Rooney (Newman). When Sullivan's son, Michael Jr. (Tyler Hoechlin), accidentally witnesses one of his father's killings, Rooney orders Sullivan and his son to be killed. Sullivan and his son go on the run with the help of a mysterious hitman, Harlen Maguire (Law). As they journey, Sullivan and his son learn more about each other and how to survive in a dangerous world. As they dodge Rooney's men, Sullivan and his son face several obstacles and find themselves in a desperate battle for survival. In the end, Sullivan is forced to make a difficult decision and take matters into his own hands. Along the way, Sullivan and his son learn more about themselves and the people they love.

From Kevin Reynolds, starring Jim Caviezel, Guy Pearce, Christopher Adamson, JB Blanc
Rated PG-13

The Count of Monte Cristo is an adventure drama film released in 2002 and directed by Kevin Reynolds. It stars James Caviezel as Edmond Dantés, a young sailor falsely imprisoned for treason by his jealous rivals. After a daring escape from prison, he discovers a hidden fortune and uses it to exact revenge on the men who betrayed him. Along the way, he encounters a variety of characters, including the beautiful Mercedes (Dagmara Dominczyk), and the enigmatic Abbé Faria (Richard Harris), who teaches him the ways of the world and helps him plan his revenge. The film follows Dantés as he transforms from a naive sailor to a cunning and vengeful count. By the end of his journey, he has exacted his revenge but ultimately discovers that true happiness comes from forgiveness, not vengeance.

From Tony Scott, starring Denzel Washington, Christopher Walken, Dakota Fanning, Radha Mitchell
Rated R

Man on Fire is a 2004 action thriller directed by Tony Scott and starring Denzel Washington. The film follows John Creasy, an ex-CIA operative who has retired to Mexico City and is struggling with his own inner demons. When he is hired to protect Pita Ramos (Dakota Fanning), the daughter of a wealthy industrialist, Creasy finds a new sense of purpose and resolves to keep her safe at all costs. However, when Pita is kidnapped, Creasy takes it upon himself to seek revenge and rescue her from the criminal underworld. Along the way, Creasy discovers the depths of his own strength and determination as he battles a ruthless criminal cartel and a corrupt government. The film is a gripping and intense revenge tale, showcasing Washington's stunning performance as the troubled but determined Creasy.

From Paul Verhoeven, starring Peter Weller, Nancy Allen, Dan O'Herlihy, Ronny Cox
Rated R

RoboCop is a sci-fi action film directed by Paul Verhoeven and released in 1987. Set in a dystopian future, the film tells the story of Alex Murphy, a Detroit cop who is viciously killed in the line of duty. OCP, the powerful corporation behind the city, uses Murphy's body to create RoboCop, a powerful cyborg law enforcer. As RoboCop, Murphy fights to take down the criminal elements that have taken over Detroit, while struggling with his memories of his former life as a human. The film is both a classic action flick and a critique of corporate greed and the modern world.

From Directors: Ethan Coen, Joel Coen, starring Jeff Bridges, Matt Damon, Hailee Steinfeld, Josh Brolin
Rated PG-13

True Grit is a 2010 American western film directed by the Coen brothers, Ethan and Joel Coen. The film stars Jeff Bridges, Matt Damon, and Hailee Steinfeld, and is a remake of the 1969 film of the same name. The story follows fourteen-year-old Mattie Ross (Steinfeld), a young girl who is determined to avenge the death of her father, a local U.S. Marshal, at the hands of Tom Chaney (Josh Brolin). She enlists the help of an aging U.S. Marshal, Reuben J. "Rooster" Cogburn (Bridges), to help her hunt down Chaney. The two are accompanied by a Texas Ranger LaBoeuf (Damon) on the journey to capture Chaney. Throughout the journey, Mattie displays her fierce determination and courage as she puts her own life at risk to bring justice to her father’s killer. In the end, Mattie gets her revenge and sets an example for what true grit truly means.

From Alex Proyas, starring Brandon Lee, Michael Wincott, Rochelle Davis, Ernie Hudson
Rated R

The Crow is a dark fantasy film directed by Alex Proyas in 1994. It stars Brandon Lee in his final film appearance before his tragic death. Based on the comic book series of the same name by James O'Barr, the film tells the story of Eric Draven (Lee), a musician who is murdered along with his fiancée Shelly Webster (Sofia Shinas). One year later, Eric is brought back from the dead by a mystical crow, to avenge his and Shelly's deaths. He is aided in his quest by a mysterious girl named Sarah (Rochelle Davis), and battles the criminals responsible for his and Shelly's deaths, including Top Dollar (Michael Wincott) and T-Bird (David Patrick Kelly). Along the way, Eric must confront his own inner demons and ultimately face his killer in a final confrontation.

From Park Chan-wook, starring Nam-mi Kang, Jeong-nam Choi, Hye-Sook Go, Bok-hwa Baek
Rated R

Lady Vengeance is a South Korean crime thriller directed by Park Chan-wook. The film follows Lee Geum-ja, a woman wrongfully convicted of abducting and murdering a young child. After thirteen years in prison, Geum-ja is released and sets out to take revenge on the true perpetrator of the crime. She assembles a team of allies to help her in her quest to get justice. Along the way, she discovers that the person who truly deserves her revenge is much closer than she ever imagined. In the end, Geum-ja is forced to make a difficult decision that will shape the rest of her life.

From Park Chan-wook, starring Song Kang-ho, Shin Ha-kyun, Bae Doona, Ji-Eun Lim
Rated R

Sympathy for Mr. Vengeance is a 2002 South Korean psychological thriller film written and directed by Park Chan-wook. The film follows Ryu, a young factory worker who is desperate to raise money for a kidney transplant to save his ailing sister. When his plan to kidnap a wealthy businessman’s daughter in exchange for money goes wrong, he turns to a black market organ dealer out of desperation. This leads to a violent and tragic chain of events, as Ryu’s actions spiral out of control and affect the lives of those around him. The film is a sobering look at the consequences of vengeance and the price of one’s actions.

From Barry Levinson, starring Robert De Niro, Kevin Bacon, Brad Pitt, Jason Patric
Rated R

Sleepers is a 1996 drama-thriller directed by Barry Levinson, starring Robert De Niro, Kevin Bacon and Brad Pitt. The story follows four teenage boys who, after a prank gone wrong, are sent to a detention center where they are severely abused. Years later, the boys have grown up and have become successful men. When two of the boys seek out revenge against their abusers, they enlist the help of their two friends, who were also at the detention center. Together, the four friends use their connections in the legal system to bring their abusers to justice. The film touches on themes of justice, friendship and loyalty, and explores how past experiences can shape a person's future.