Revenge is a common theme in action movies, and it drives some of the most exciting action movies ever made. Many of thebest revenge moviesare action thrillers, since there’s a deep catharsis to seeing extreme versions of justice and characters getting even.
Revenge movies speak to a deep-seated human desire for justice. There are some slights which can’t be rectified within the bounds of the law, and this is where revenge thrillers come in. They represent a vision of existence in which acts of brutality, oppression and cruelty are punished, even if real life is often more complicated and less satisfying.
Max Rockatansky can be very stoic and mysterious, so it’s worth going back to the first movie that he appears in to get some insight into his character. The first movie of George Miller’sMad Maxfranchiseshows that Max’s decisions are ruled by vengeance and grief, which gives him a kind of aggressive nihilism.
Max’s decisions are ruled by vengeance and grief, which gives him a kind of aggressive nihilism.
Mad Maxcuts to the heart of criminal justice and law enforcement, asking how useful these tools are in a society that has fallen apart. Max’s vengeful crusade against Toecutter and his gang won’t bring back his family, but his act of vigilante justice is closely linked to his role as a police officer.
Get Carteris one ofMichael Caine’s best movies, making good use of his rough charms. There are few film characters as cool as Carter, a stone-faced hitman who travels from London to his hometown in North East England to seek revenge for the murder of his brother. Part detective movie and part violent rampage,Get Carteris nothing if not entertaining.
Get Carterembodies the appeal of British gangster movies, as it mixes suave style with brutal, unflinching violence. It’s been criticized for a perceived lack of humanity, and its assured callousness perplexed some contemporary critics, but these elements merely contribute to its darkly cathartic appeal.Get Carteris as overly violent and emotionless as its harshest detractors say, but this speaks to the most base impulses of revenge that many people can identify with.
Denzel Washington has achieved immense critical acclaim and public adulation throughout his career, but these don’t always arrive simultaneously. While some of his more patient dramas are critical darlings without necessarily connecting with millions of people,Man on Firesits at the other end of the spectrum.It’s one of Washington’s most popular action movies, but it received mixed reviews.
10 Best Revenge Horror Movies Ever Made
Revenge narratives are quite popular in the horror genre, as hurt individuals set out on violent paths to take down those who’ve wronged them.
Man on Firesees Washington playing one of his authority figure characters, this time a former CIA agent turned bodyguard charged with protecting a young girl in Mexico City. Dakota Fanning delivers a compelling performance as the child in question, and Washington is just as captivating as his character embarks on a vengeful quest, partly to rescue his charge and partly to dish out his own brand of harsh justice.
Takensolidified Liam Neeson’s transformation into an action star, carrying on the process from his roles inThe Phantom MenaceandBatman Begins.He plays an ex-CIA officer who uses his skills to track down his daughter and her friend after they are kidnapped on vacation in Paris.
Takenmay trade in cheap thrills, but it’s certainly difficult to resist its straightforward charms.The premise is so simple and effective, and the action so clean-cut and powerful, thatTakendoesn’t need the most complex story. Its simplicity allows it to connect with the ideas of love, protection and revenge. Unfortunately, theTakenfranchise peaked with this first entry, and the sequels seemed superfluous.
Christopher Nolan’s moviesoften play with different structures as a way of examining our perceptions of time.TenetandInterstellarare two obvious examples, but evenOppenheimer,which would be a straightforward biopic in the hands of most other directors, uses a non-linear narrative to blur the lines between cause and effect.Mementowas Nolan’s first experimentation with these ideas, and it’s still just as intriguing.
Mementofollows a man seeking revenge for the murder of his wife, but his rare condition makes it impossible for him to create and store new short-term memories. This means that he lives his life in a blur of confrontations and chases, often without knowing exactly what his goals are.Nolan tells half of the story backwards to give the audience a similar experience of constant discovery.Somehow,Mementoworks brilliantly, with Nolan pulling off the impossible.
Natalie Portman delivers a precocious performance inLéon: The Professional,which aligns with the fact that her character is also wise beyond her years. After her family is murdered for running afoul of a criminal syndicate, Mathilde teams up with a professional hitman to exact her revenge against the men who orphaned her.
10 Fantastic Revenge Movies That Aren’t Action Films
Revenge movies aren’t all action thrillers like John Wick and Kill Bill. There are also teen comedies, crime movies, detective mysteries and more.
Léon: The Professionalhas been the subject of much debate and much controversy over its representation of the strange relationship between Léon and the young girl he takes under his wing. Their uncomfortable bond, forged in the harshest of circumstances, is never quite what it appears.
In some ways,John Wickis a typical revenge thriller, as a former assassin drags himself out of retirement after a group of thugs kill his dog and steal his car. What really sets it apart is the unique style of action, which has set the standard for the genre for over a decade now.
Keanu Reeves' cold, calculated assassin is the ultimate big-screen badass, improvising with whatever weapons he has at his disposal and taking on a seemingly never-ending procession of criminals out to kill him. The franchise has evolved a lot over the years, with the firstJohn Wickspinoff movie,Ballerina,coming soon, but the original still packs a punch.
Ridley Scott has been pretty outspoken about his apathy towards historical accuracy, andGladiatorcertainly shouldn’t be treated as a historical document. However, there’s no denying the entertainment value, the glorious spectacle and the thematic richness of the Roman epic.
Gladiatorfollows Maximus Decimus Meridius on his quest to take revenge against the brutal emperor Commodus, after his family is killed and he is forced into a life of gladiatorial slavery.It’s rare to see an action movie win Best Picture, butGladiatordeserved this honor for its superb craftmanship and compelling story.
Quentin Tarantino has always had a proclivity for subverting genre expectations, andKill Billis just as unpredictable as any of his movies. While the story and the aesthetics clearly borrow from wuxia and martial arts movies, there are also allusions to westerns and a whole host of action thrillers.
10 Great Film Noir Movies About Revenge
Revenge has been a consistent theme across the history of cinema, with film noirs being the perfect vehicles for stories of retribution and vengeance.
Tarantino countsKill Billas one film split into two volumes. When it’s seen this way, it’s hard to argue against it being one of the most satisfying and entertaining revenge movies ever made. The Bride’s crusade is punctuated by plenty of unforgettable fights, andTarantino’s usual flair for dialogue is also in full flow.
Oldboyis one of three films that make up Park Chan-wook’s Vengeance Trilogy, along withSympathy for Mr. VengeanceandLady Vengeance.While all three movies are well worth watching,Oldboyis the one that stands above the others. It has gained an international reputation, resulting in an American remake that fails to recapture the brilliance of the original.
Oldboyis one of three films that make up Park Chan-wook’s Vengeance Trilogy.
AlthoughOldboyhas some traditional elements of a revenge thriller,the strange nature of Oh Dae-su’s capture and the film’s unforgettable twist ending give it the appeal of a crime mysterytoo. Even for those without much knowledge or interest in Korean cinema,Oldboydeserves attention from action fans everywhere.
