The Punisher (2004)
Average Rating: 4.5/10
Reviews Counted: 167
Fresh: 48 | Rotten: 119
A good cast fails to elevate this overly violent and by-the-numbers revenge flick.
Average Rating: 4.4/10
Critic Reviews: 40
Fresh: 11 | Rotten: 29
A good cast fails to elevate this overly violent and by-the-numbers revenge flick.
liked it
Average Rating: 3.3/5
User Ratings: 242,094
My Rating
Movie Info
An ordinary lawman goes outside the law to carry out his own brand of justice in this dark-themed thriller. Frank Castle (Thomas Jane) is an FBI agent who deeply loves his wife and son, but is also strongly devoted to his work. Castle's investigation of a powerful crime cartel leads to a gunfight which claims the life of a young boy, whose father is underworld kingpin Howard Saint (John Travolta). Furious and eager for revenge, Saint arranges for Castle and his family to be murdered in
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Cast
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Thomas Jane
Frank Castle/The Punish... -
John Travolta
Howard Saint -
Will Patton
Leonard Glass -
Roy Scheider
Mr. Castle -
Laura Harring
Livia Saint -
Ben Foster
Spacker Dave -
Samantha Mathis
Maria Castle -
James Carpinello
John Saint -
Russell Andrews
Jimmy Weeks -
Edward Jemison
Nicky Duka -
John Pinette
Mr. Bumpo -
Rebecca Romijn
Joan "The Mouse" -
Mark Collie
Harry "Heck" Thornton -
Eduardo Yanez
Mike Toro -
Omar Avila
Joe Toro -
Kevin Nash
The Russian -
Marcus Johns
Will Castle -
Tom Nowicki
Lincoln -
Jeff Chase
Enforcer -
Eddie Jemison
Nikki Duka -
Russell Durham Comegys
Tatooed Mike
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All Critics (169) | Top Critics (41) | Fresh (48) | Rotten (122) | DVD (27)
There's something to be said for letting a comic book adaptation operate at the level of a comic book, dispensing cheap laughs and ice-cold sadism.
Ultimately, Frank's victim -to-vigilante transformation is so morally unexplored it's emotionally alienating.
Top CriticThere isn't a moment in The Punisher that isn't borrowed or stolen from another movie.
Mismanages its greatest asset: an unusual embarrassment of camp riches.
... a lot of fun.
Gets us lost early in the first half-hour and never succeeds in completely luring us in.
Bad big screen adaptation of comic book.
Standard, styleless revenge fantasy.
Despite some admittedly strong moments it's certainly nothing special and barely above ordinary.
If you thought "Daredevil" was lousy, then you'll be thoroughly irritated by the asleep-at-the-wheel pacing of the story of the Punisher's origin.
Action-packed, great story, great script, and great performances by an excellent cast make this yet another trophy in Marvel's movie gallery...
A true study in the pathology of sadism that's also one of the best action films in years.
A comic-book-movie-that-pretends-it's-not that falls between stools.
For a guy called The Punisher, he sure does a lot of moping, drinking and avoiding the act of punishment.
We are treated to John Travolta in yet another gloriously unconvincing evil guy role as...a cross between Hugh Hefner and his own Tony Manero from Saturday Night Fever.
Listless, lifeless, uninterestingly bleak and quite often ridiculous.
The biggest guilty pleasure of 2004. An entertaining throwback to the kind of hardcore vigilante films Charles Bronson used to star in.
It could make you cry, laugh or just shout out for more bloody violence, but regardless of your reaction, you're going to love it.
The Punisher is Commando with an identity crisis.
Run of the mill revenge proped up with a couple of good fights and a singing assassin.
Audience Reviews for The Punisher
Super Reviewer
Super Reviewer
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- Frank Castle/The Punisher: Thanks for dinner.
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- Frank Castle/The Punisher: Upset? Is that the word? I used to get upset. When I got a flat tire, when a plane was delayed. I used to get *upset* when the Yankees won the series. So if that's what upset means, what am I feeling now? If you know the word, tell me because I don't.
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- Frank Castle/The Punisher: In certain extreme situations the law is inadequate. In order to shame its inadequacy it is necessary to act outside the law to pursue natural justice.
- Joan "The Mouse": Good memories can save your life.
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- Frank Castle/The Punisher: God is going to sit this one out.
Discussion Forum
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Latest News on The Punisher
July 16, 2012:
Thomas Jane Returns As the PunisherIt's only in a short film, but still.
June 16, 2011:
Marvel Movie Madness! Part 17: The Punisher (2004)Tim: Look, I know the Punisher is a vigilante driven to vengeance after the brutal slaying of his...
June 12, 2008:
Exclusive Trailer : Marvel's Punisher: War ZoneFeast your eyes on the exclusive trailer for Punisher: War Zone, this December's all-new reboot...
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And while I love a good dark revenge fantasy, it didn't really embrace its darkness. Nor did it embrace the light either. It was caught in a purgatory that awkwardly blended drama, violence, and comical gags. It can best be likened to a Jackson Pollock painting. There is a little bit of this, and a little bit of that. But when you step back and look at the entire canvas, you spend your whole time struggling to figure out what the hell you are looking at.