Violent Revenge Movies

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

Gladiator is an epic action-adventure film set in Ancient Rome. It follows the story of a Roman General, Maximus Decimus Meridius, who is betrayed and condemned to death by the Emperor's son, Commodus. Maximus is forced into slavery and is trained as a gladiator. He fights for his freedom and for the memory of his murdered family. Along his journey, Maximus finds himself fighting against Commodus in the Colosseum and ultimately facing a battle for the fate of Rome. The film features stunning visuals, intense fight sequences, and is a thrilling ride that has captivated audiences around the world.

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

Django Unchained is a 2012 American revisionist Western film written and directed by Quentin Tarantino and starring Jamie Foxx as Django, a freed slave-turned-bounty hunter who teams up with German-born bounty hunter Dr. King Schultz (Christoph Waltz)to free Django's wife, Broomhilda (Kerry Washington), from the clutches of plantation owner Calvin Candie (Leonardo DiCaprio). Along the way, Django and Schultz encounter a variety of characters including Candie's loyal house slave Stephen (Samuel L. Jackson) and the infamous, manipulative bounty hunter, Ace Woody (Kurt Russell). With the help of a German bounty hunter, Django strives to free his wife from the cruel, oppressive reign of Calvin Candie. The film's themes include revenge, slavery, racism, and morality.

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

Oldboy is a Korean psychological thriller film directed by Park Chan-wook. The film follows Oh Dae-su, a man who is inexplicably kidnapped and imprisoned in a hotel-like room for 15 years. After his release, he embarks on a quest to discover why he was held captive and to seek revenge against his captor. As he investigates his mysterious captor, he discovers secrets that force him to confront his own past. Along the way, Dae-su discovers the shocking truth behind his imprisonment and the conspiracies that led to it. Oldboy is a dark, violent, and unpredictable story of vengeance, justice, and redemption.

From Quentin Tarantino, starring Brad Pitt, Diane Kruger, Eli Roth, Mélanie Laurent
Rated R

Inglourious Basterds is a 2009 black comedy war film written and directed by Quentin Tarantino and starring Brad Pitt, Christoph Waltz, Mélanie Laurent, Michael Fassbender, Eli Roth and Diane Kruger. In Nazi-occupied France during World War II, a group of Jewish-American soldiers known as "The Basterds" are chosen to spread fear throughout the Third Reich by scalping and brutally killing Nazis. The Basterds, led by Lt. Aldo Raine, join forces with a French-Jewish cinema proprietor, Shosanna Dreyfus, and a German-American undercover agent, Lt. Archie Hickox, to bring down the leaders of the Third Reich. The plot culminates in a dramatic cinematic face-off that takes place during the premiere of a Nazi propaganda film at Shosanna's cinema. The film received numerous accolades and is widely regarded as one of Tarantino's best works.

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

Kill Bill: Vol. 1 is a 2003 action thriller film written and directed by Quentin Tarantino. This film follows a former assassin, known as "The Bride" (Uma Thurman), on a mission of vengeance against a team of assassins that have betrayed her. The Bride must fight her way through four deadly adversaries, each with their own unique style of combat, in order to reach her ultimate goal of killing her former master, Bill. Along the way, she learns about her past, her present, and her future. This film is an homage to martial arts cinema, and features plenty of intense fight scenes, thrilling plot twists, and humorous moments.

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

Unforgiven is a western drama written and directed by Clint Eastwood. The film follows retired gunslinger William Munny, who is recruited to kill three cowboys who brutally attacked a prostitute. Along with his partner, Ned Logan, Munny reluctantly takes on the job and sets out on a mission of revenge. As the pair travel through the Wild West, they face various challenges and confrontations that test their strength and courage. Ultimately, Munny must confront the harsh realities of a violent world and make a difficult decision that will change his life forever.

From Denis Villeneuve, starring Hugh Jackman, Jake Gyllenhaal, Viola Davis, Melissa Leo
Rated R

Prisoners is a 2013 crime thriller directed by Denis Villeneuve. The story follows Keller Dover (Hugh Jackman), a desperate father who takes matters into his own hands when his daughter and her best friend go missing. With the help of Detective Loki (Jake Gyllenhaal), Dover embarks on a manhunt to find the missing girls. As Dover and Loki investigate, they uncover secrets that put everyone in danger and force them to confront the darkest depths of human nature. The film is an emotional journey that builds tension and suspense until its powerful conclusion.

From Alejandro G. Iñárritu, starring Leonardo DiCaprio, Tom Hardy, Will Poulter, Domhnall Gleeson
Rated R

The Revenant is a 2015 survival drama film directed by Alejandro G. Iñárritu and starring Leonardo DiCaprio, Tom Hardy, and Domhnall Gleeson. The film follows the legendary frontiersman Hugh Glass (DiCaprio) as he embarks on a quest for revenge against those who betrayed him. After being mauled by a bear and left for dead in the harsh and unforgiving wilderness of the American West, Glass must battle the elements, hostile Native American tribes, and vicious fur trappers in his bid for revenge. Along the way, he is aided by a young Native American man named Hawk who helps him to survive and eventually seek justice for his suffering. The film was widely praised for its realistic depiction of life on the frontier, as well as its stunning cinematography, and won three Academy Awards.

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

Kill Bill: Vol. 2 is the sequel to Tarantino's 2003 action-packed revenge fantasy, Kill Bill: Vol. 1. The Bride (Uma Thurman) continues her quest for vengeance against the remaining members of the Deadly Viper Assassination Squad. After dispatching O-Ren Ishii (Lucy Liu) in the previous film, The Bride now sets her sights on Budd (Michael Madsen) and Elle Driver (Daryl Hannah), as well as her former master, Bill (David Carradine). The Bride's journey takes her across continents and reveals her mysterious past, as well as her ultimate destiny. In the end, The Bride must confront the one who has wronged her the most, in a climactic battle that will determine her fate.

From Jee-woon Kim, starring Lee Byung-hun, Choi Min-sik, Jeon Gook-hwan, Ho-jin Chun
Rated Not Rated

I Saw the Devil is a South Korean psychological thriller directed by Jee-woon Kim in 2010. The film follows an elite secret agent, Soo-hyeon (Byung-hun Lee), who loses his fiancée to a psychopathic serial killer, Kyung-chul (Min-sik Choi). In his quest for vengeance, Soo-hyeon sets out to track down the killer and make him pay for his crime. In a deadly game of cat and mouse, Soo-hyeon and Kyung-chul become locked in a violent struggle that tests the limits of Soo-hyeon’s morality. With each encounter, Soo-hyeon finds himself sinking deeper into a vicious cycle of vengeance, as he becomes more and more like the monster that he is hunting. Ultimately, I Saw the Devil is an intense and gripping thriller that challenges the viewer to consider the consequences of pursuing revenge.

From Pierre Morel, starring Liam Neeson, Maggie Grace, Famke Janssen, Leland Orser
Rated PG-13

Taken is an action-packed thriller starring Liam Neeson as Bryan Mills, an ex-CIA operative who is forced to bring his particular set of skills back into action after his teenage daughter, Kim (Maggie Grace) is kidnapped while traveling abroad. With the help of a former colleague, Bryan follows the kidnappers’ trail to Paris and must use his cunning and brute force to save his daughter and bring the kidnappers to justice. Along the way, he discovers that the kidnappers are part of a much larger criminal enterprise and must use all of his resources to take them down.

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

Road to Perdition (2002) is an American crime drama directed by Sam Mendes. The film stars Tom Hanks as Michael Sullivan, a gangster who is trying to protect his son from the criminal life he leads. Sullivan is betrayed by his boss, John Rooney (Paul Newman), and his son is killed as a result. In an effort to seek revenge, Sullivan embarks on a journey of redemption with his remaining son, Michael Jr (Tyler Hoechlin). As they travel from Chicago to the Midwest, Sullivan is pursued by his former associate, Harlen Maguire (Jude Law). Along the way, Sullivan must confront the past and make a moral choice between revenge and justice.

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

Man on Fire tells the story of John Creasy (Denzel Washington), a burned-out former CIA operative and Marine Corps sniper hired by a Mexican family to protect their daughter (Dakota Fanning) from kidnappers. Creasy takes on the job reluctantly, but quickly forms a close bond with the girl. When she is eventually kidnapped, Creasy is determined to get her back at any cost. With the help of a former colleague (Christopher Walken) and a young police detective (Marc Anthony), Creasy embarks on a violent and relentless quest for justice. In the end, Creasy overcomes his own inner demons to save the girl, but not without paying a heavy price.

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 adventure drama film directed by the Coen Brothers and written and produced by Ethan Coen and Joel Coen. It is the second adaptation of Charles Portis' 1968 novel of the same name, following the 1969 film. The film follows a stubborn teenage girl, Mattie Ross (Hailee Steinfeld), who enlists the help of an aging US Marshal, Rooster Cogburn (Jeff Bridges), to help her find and bring to justice the man who murdered her father. Along the way, they are joined by a Texas Ranger, LaBoeuf (Matt Damon), who is on the hunt for the same criminal, and together they face the dangers of the Wild West. The film was met with critical acclaim, earning 10 Academy Award nominations, including Best Picture and Best Director. Bridges earned the Academy Award for Best Actor for his portrayal of Cogburn, and Steinfeld earned a nomination for Best Supporting Actress. The film was also a box office success, grossing over $250 million worldwide.

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

The Crow is a 1994 supernatural action film directed by Alex Proyas. It stars Brandon Lee in his final film appearance. Lee plays Eric Draven, a rock musician who is brutally murdered and then resurrected from the dead by a crow to exact revenge on his murderers. With the help of a mysterious woman named Shelly, Eric embarks on a mission to take revenge on the thugs responsible for his death and his fiancée's murder, who are led by a kingpin named Top Dollar. Along the way, Eric must confront his inner demons and the supernatural forces at work in the dark city. The Crow was met with positive reviews and became a cult classic.

From Martin Scorsese, starring Leonardo DiCaprio, Cameron Diaz, Daniel Day-Lewis, Jim Broadbent
Rated R

Gangs of New York is a 2002 epic historical drama film directed by renowned filmmaker Martin Scorsese. The film follows Amsterdam Vallon in his quest to avenge the death of his father at the hands of the notorious gang leader, Bill the Butcher. Set in the mid-1800s in the Five Points district of New York City, the film follows a power struggle between the Irish and Native-American gangs of the area as they battle for control. Amsterdam, who was taken away from the district as a young boy, returns as a grown man to avenge his father's death and take back the area from the Butcher. Along the way, he falls in love with a pickpocket, discovers the truth of his father's past, and finds himself in the middle of a bloody battle between the gangs of the Five Points.

From Steven Spielberg, starring Eric Bana, Daniel Craig, Marie-Josée Croze, Ciarán Hinds
Rated R

Munich is a 2005 historical drama film directed by Steven Spielberg and written by Tony Kushner and Eric Roth. The film tells the story of the events leading up to and following the 1972 Munich massacre of 11 Israeli athletes at the Olympic Games. It follows a team of five Israeli agents who attempt to track down and assassinate the 11 Palestinians who were believed to have planned and participated in the massacre. Through their mission, they grapple with their own personal identities as they become increasingly aware of the ethical implications of their actions. The film stars Eric Bana, Daniel Craig, Ciarán Hinds, and Geoffrey Rush, among others.

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

Lady Vengeance is a 2005 South Korean revenge thriller directed by Park Chan-wook. After serving a thirteen-year sentence for the abduction and murder of an elementary school student, Lee Geum-Ja (Yeong-ae Lee) is released from prison. She is determined to get revenge against the true killer, Mr. Baek (Min-sik Choi), who framed her for the crime. Through a series of calculated acts of vengeance, Lee Geum-Ja slowly begins to exact her revenge on Mr. Baek and those who wronged her. Along the way, she is helped by a group of former inmates as well as a young girl, who may be the daughter she gave up for adoption. In the explosive climax, the truth is revealed and Lee Geum-Ja finds redemption and peace.

From Directors: Chad Stahelski, David Leitch, starring Keanu Reeves, Michael Nyqvist, Alfie Allen, Willem Dafoe
Rated R

From Roman Polanski, starring Sigourney Weaver, Ben Kingsley, Stuart Wilson, Krystia Mova
Rated R

From Mike Hodges, starring Michael Caine, Ian Hendry, Britt Ekland, John Osborne
Rated R

From Antoine Fuqua, starring Denzel Washington, Marton Csokas, Chloë Grace Moretz, David Harbour
Rated R

From Robert Rodriguez, starring Antonio Banderas, Salma Hayek, Joaquim de Almeida, Cheech Marin
Rated R

From Brian Helgeland, starring Mel Gibson, Gregg Henry, Maria Bello, David Paymer
Rated R

From Martin Campbell, starring Katie Leung, Jackie Chan, Rufus Jones, Mark Tandy
Rated R