The need forrevengerepresents one of humanity’s most innate impulses and, in film, acts as a great opportunity to explore moral decay, the pursuit of justice, and the price of violence. While a ruthless quest for revenge may not always be the most moral or stoic response to being wronged in life, it is certainly an exciting character motivation to get audiences engrossed in the story of an angry-ridden protagonist. From trulydisturbing psychological thrillersto calculated satires addressing social and political woes, revenge-based cinema makes for riveting viewing.
As a timeless and universal theme, revenge has been a driving force behind some of thegreatest movies ever made. With an intensity and emotional power almost unmatched in human psychology, the unstoppable drive for revenge gives actors a lot to work with when it comes to deliveringcareer-best performancesthat linger in the audience’s memory well after the credits have rolled. While turning the other cheek may be the more logical answer in real-life situations, in cinema,tales of revenge make for truly nail-biting narratives.
Law Abiding Citizen
Cast
In the thriller Law Abiding Citizen, Gerard Butler stars as a man who seeks revenge against the justice system that failed him after his family is brutally murdered. Jamie Foxx co-stars as the prosecutor who failed to convict the killer and Viola Davis appears as the mayor.
The vigilante action thrillerLaw Abiding Citizenmay not have been a hit with critics, but looking back on this underrated release, it was a fascinating story of revenge and vengeance. WithGerard Butler as Clyde Shelton, a man whose wife and daughter were ruthlessly murdered in front of his eyes during a home robbery, he first put his faith in the Philadelphia justice system to make the men responsible pay for their crimes. However, the prosecutor, Nick Rice (Jamie Foxx) struck a deal with one of the murderers, and he received a shockingly light sentence.
While Nick tried to convince Clyde this was just how things were in the legal sphere, Clyde decided to take the law into his own hands and seek revenge. Butler gave an extraordinary performance, as Clyde not only sought justice against the men who murdered his family but also against the justice system that failed him, even orchestrating the deaths of legal practitioners.Law Abiding Citizenwas a fascinating story that forced viewers to reckon with their sense of right and wrong and ask if a man has a right to go above the law to pursue true justice.
Harry Brown
Harry Brown is a crime drama starring Michael Caine as a retired Royal Marine living in a crime-ridden neighborhood. The film explores themes of vigilantism and justice as Brown becomes disillusioned with the authorities' inability to address the violence surrounding him. Directed by Daniel Barber, this 2009 film portrays the lengths to which an ordinary man will go to protect his home and reclaim his sense of security.
While many viewers might know Michael Caine as Batman’s loyal butler, Alfred Pennyworth, in Christopher Nolan’sThe Dark Knighttrilogy, he showed off a much more intense side to his skills inHarry Brown. This vigilante thriller starred Caine as the title character, a widowed Royal Marines veteran who decides to do something about the London housing estate he has seen fall victim to increasingly violent criminal behavior from the area’s young residents. Rather than sit back and watch his community fall into ruin, this elderly pensioner sought revenge against the hoodlums who had been terrorizing the area.
Harry Brownpacked as much emotional weight as it was physical punches and Caine proved that, even at the age of 76, he had the energy to lead a violent and intense action-packed movie. While the moral and political subtext ofHarry Brownwas questionable, it was hard to deny how satisfying it was to watch Harry clean up his community and show young criminals the dangers of messing with an older man whose life experience far outmatched theirs.Harry Brownwas a fantastic British crime filmand an incredible late-career role for Caine.
Hard Candy
Hard Candy is a psychological thriller that follows the encounter between Hayley, a clever teenage girl, and Jeff, a fashion photographer. After meeting online and in a café, they return to Jeff’s house, where unexpected events unfold, challenging the notion of trust and intent in their interaction.
The psychological thrillerHard Candybegins with 14-year-old Hayley Stark (Elliot Page) engaged in a flirtatious, sexuality-charged online chat with 32-year-old photographer Jeff Kohlver (Patrick Wilson). This pedophilic encounter and serious misbalance of power was truly harrowing, and as the two then meet and Hayley goes to Jeff’s house, it’s hard not to be fearful for Hayley’s young life. Yet,Hard Candysubverts audience expectations as the story shifts into a riveting and shocking revenge story whenHayley takes the law into her own handsand seeks vigilante justice against this monstrous sexual predator.
As a truly shocking movie from start to finish, Hayley is revealed to be far more capable than she first seemed as she tortured Jeff with the threat of castration. This was a grim but powerful movie that might be too much for some audience members to bear, but for those with a love for vigilante justice and seeing sinister criminals pay for their misdeeds,Hard Candywas highly engrossing. As a revenge thriller that pushed things further than any viewer could have expected,Hard Candywas Page’s chilling breakthrough performance that signaled the dawning of a new movie star.
Promising Young Woman
Starring Carey Mulligan, Promising Young Woman follows Cassie, a college dropout intent on getting revenge for the unprosecuted rape of her deceased best friend, Nina. As she becomes deeper involved in tormenting those she sees as complicit in Nina’s rape and subsequent suicide, Cassie begins to travel down a more dangerous path than she realizes. Bo Burnham, Alison Brie, Jennifer Coolidge, Laverne Cox, and Connie Britton also star.
The dark and subversive nature ofPromising Young Womanmade for a shocking feminist social commentary that pushed viewers out of their comfort zones and made them address the treatment of women in the modern world. With a chilling protagonist haunted by her traumatic past, Carey Mulligan gave an astounding performance as Cassie Thomas, a med school dropout who spends her evenings pretending to be drunk and getting picked up by guys at bars and clubs.
While this may sound like a setup for Cassie to be taken advantage of sexually by these predatorial young men, she instead uses their exploitative behavior to exact revenge on behalf of wronged women worldwide.Promising Young Womangave a fresh take on revenge storiesand felt incredibly relevant in the wake of MeToo and so many instances of men using their power to take advantage of women. With an incredible script, writer and director Emerald Fennell earned an Oscar for Best Original Screenplay forPromising Young Woman.
Gladiator
Gladiator follows Maximus, a Roman general betrayed by the new emperor Commodus. After escaping execution, he is enslaved and becomes a gladiator. Set in ancient Rome, the story portrays his struggle for survival and quest for vengeance as he battles for his freedom in the arena.
The Best Picture winnerGladiatorexplored timeless themes of betrayal, revenge, and redemption as Maximus Decimus Meridius (Russell Crowe) showcased his unwavering commitment to avenging the murder of his family. As a Hispano-Roman general forced into slavery, Maximus sought revenge against Emperor Commodus (Joaquin Phoenix), the amoral and power-hungry son of Marcus Aurelius. With epic fight sequences and truly astonishing grand visuals, it wasGladiator’srevenge narrative that grounded the film in real emotion and contributed to its place among the best movies ever made.
Russell Crowe earned the Oscar for Best Actor for his intense portrayal of Maximus as viewers felt the hardship he endured and the seething anger he felt toward those who had wronged him. As an old-fashioned epic that brought to mind the appeal of classics likeBen-HurorSpartacus, the theme of revenge elevated the already spectacular set pieces and incredible filmmaking on display throughout. As one of the all-time great revenge movies,Gladiatorrightfully received widespread accolades when it was released.
Inglourious Basterds
Inglourious Basterds is a film set during World War II in Nazi-occupied France. It follows a group of Jewish-American soldiers, known as “The Basterds,” led by Lt. Aldo Raine, who engage in ruthless anti-Nazi efforts. Their actions intersect with a French-Jewish theater owner in a plot against the regime.
Quentin Tarantino made one of the greatest alternate histories ever produced when he wrote and directedInglourious Basterds. This World War II story boasted one of cinema’s greatest movie villains, Hans Landa (Christoph Waltz), and was a thrilling story categorized by revenge that kept audiences guessing right until the end. With the dual revenge narratives of Shosanna Dreyfus’s (Mélanie Laurent) personal vendetta against Landa for the execution of her family and theBasterds' mission to make the Nazis pay for their crimes against humanity, revenge was seeped into every aspect ofInglourious Basterds.
The fact thatInglourious Basterdsconcluded with Hitler and Goebbels being gunned down and a theater explosion killing its Nazi audience showcased that a revenge fantasy didn’t have to stick to the historical record as Tarantino shifted the true story to his own liking. This bold reimagining of history had a disarming effect on audiences at the time, who thought they knew how Hitler’s story ended and that this type of revenge would not have been possible. As a testament to the power of filmmaking,Inglourious Basterdsproved that rules were meant to be broken.
John Wick
John Wick is a 2014 action thriller featuring Keanu Reeves as a retired hitman. The film follows John Wick as he emerges from retirement to avenge the loss inflicted by a group of gangsters, setting the stage for a relentless pursuit and exploration of a shadowy underworld.
While revenge-based action movies with major stars likeTakenandThe Equalizerhave long captured viewers' attention,John Wicktruly stood in a league of its own. With Keanu Reeves as a retired hitman grieving the death of his wife, his quiet life was interrupted by a gang of Russian gangsters who not only broke into his house and robbed his home but also killed the one thing he had to remember his wife by, the beagle puppy she had gifted him to cope with his loss.
These shocking events set upthe fast-paced, neo-noir revenge story ofJohn Wick, as Reeves sought revenge on New York City’s Russian mafia and kickstarted a series of events that led to the entireJohn Wickfranchise. As an intriguing criminal underworld of skilled assassins and legendary hitmen, John was one of the most skilled of them all and ruthlessly killed anyone who got in the way of his pursuit of justice. This epic revenge story featured one of the best anti-heroes in all of film and had a major influence on the action genre as a whole.
Unforgiven
Unforgiven follows retired gunslinger Will Munny as he is drawn back into his former life for a final mission, seeking justice with his old partner and a young outlaw called The Schofield Kid.
Clint Eastwood has never shied away from revenge stories, as seen in classics likeThe Outlaw Josey Walesor the no-nonsense practices ofDirty Harry. While Eastwood made a name for himself in the Western genre with Sergio Leone during the 1960s, it was with his Best Picture winner,Unforgiven, in 1992 that he provided his definitive take on this genre. As a thrilling revenge story that unpacked the myth of the Wild West, Eastwood played the former gunslinger William Munny, who comes out of retirement for one last job.
Unforgivenwas aWestern masterpiecethat explored the Old West’s relationship with revenge with a level of depth and realism rarely seen in films. As an exploration of the true price of vengeance and the dire effect it can have on those who pursue it,Unforgivenshowcased that those who seek revenge will forever be marked by its consequencesand have to live with the violence they enacted. Gone was the heroic romance of traditional Western movies, and here it was replaced by the genuine brutality and soulless nature of true vengeance.
Directed by Quentin Tarantino
Kill Bill
TheKill Billseries, directed by Quentin Tarantino, is a two-part martial arts action saga that follows the journey of Beatrix “The Bride” Kiddo as she seeks vengeance against her former assassination squad and their leader, Bill, after they attempt to murder her and her unborn child.
The revenge premise ofKill Billwas built into its very title, and the former member of the Deadly Viper assassination squad, The Bride, sought revenge on its leader, Bill, who had tried to kill her and their unborn child. As Quentin Tarantino’s powerful homage to kung fu cinema,Kill Billwas an expertly choreographed journey through intense samurai battles and incredibly violent showcases against fearsome foes like the Yakuza. Released in two parts in 2003 and 2004,Kill Billwas a revenge-driven story that oozed the director’s signature style.
Kill Billwas a revenge tale in its purest form, as every action the Bride enacted was done to fuel her quest for vengeance. This was the story of a woman wronged and her ruthless determination to set things right in the pursuit of justice. While Tarantino has told plenty of revenge stories throughout his acclaimed career, includingInglourious BasterdsandDjango Unchained, the stylish martial arts appeal and strong female protagonist inKill Billmake it one of his most interesting and engaging films.
Oldboy
Oldboy follows the story of a man mysteriously imprisoned for 15 years without explanation. Upon his release, he embarks on a quest to uncover the identity of his captors and understand the motivations behind their actions. This gripping tale navigates through themes of vengeance and discovery.
The South Korean classicOldboywas truly one of the most disturbing psychological thrillers ever made, whose shocking twist had to be seen to be believed. As a complex, dark, and intricate story of revenge,Oldboyfollowed Oh Dae-su, a man imprisoned in a room for 15 years with no idea about the identity of his captor or their motive. As the years passed in this unknowable prison,Dae-su had nothing but time to concoct his plans for revengeif he was ever given the opportunity.
Oldboywas far more than a simple revenge story; its labyrinthine mystery kept audiences guessing throughout, and it addressed themes of loss, betrayal, and shocking emotional devastation. With a twist that revealed Dae-su had fallen in love and had a sexual relationship with his own daughter, the vengeance-fueled transformation of his character was all the more compelling as it was grounded in unimaginable horror. With a message that those who seekrevengewill never truly find peace,Oldboymade for compelling, shocking, and thought-provoking viewing.
