The Punisher

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The Punisher

R

1990

1h 32m

Action

Adventure

Fantasy

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

24%

Tomatometer

17 Reviews

33%

Popcornmeter

50,000+ Ratings

Based on the popular Marvel comic book, this film begins with Frank Castle (Dolph Lundgren) as a respected police officer dedicated to eradicating the Mafia's influence -- that is, until the mob responds with a lethal car bomb that decimates Castle's family. Now, filled with rage and presumed dead from the horrific explosion, Castle takes to the city's underground sewer tunnels to bring his own brutal brand of vigilante justice to the streets and wreak vengeance on those who killed his family.

Critics Consensus

Despite the seemingly indestructible Dolph Lundgren with a crossbow, The Punisher is a boring one-man battle with never-ending action scenes.

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Variety Staff

Variety

Mar 26, 2009

With origins in a Marvel Comics character, The Punisher is, as might be expected, two-dimensional.

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Suzi Feay

Time Out

Jun 24, 2006

Destructive, reprehensible, and marvellous fun.

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Mike Massie

Gone With The Twins

Jan 3, 2026

4/10

The script is just generic enough that it’s difficult to care too much about the characters and their outcomes.

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Dennis Schwartz

Dennis Schwartz Movie Reviews

Feb 15, 2015

B-

It maintained a tongue in cheek attitude toward all the violence and hokum, which made it comic book lite and easier to take.

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TV Guide

Apr 24, 2009

3/4

Carefully tended facial stubble trimmed to give him a skull-like appearance, Lundgren is truly impressive as a character defined by emotional emptiness.

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Chuck O'Leary

Fantastica Daily

Sep 29, 2005

1/5

A terrible one-man-army action flick. The 2004 version is far more effective.

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Robert P

@Superbad Sep 10, 2026

The Punisher fails to deliver...

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Noel L

@RT15930389 Aug 28, 2026

I mean yes the acting, action, special effects, and dialogue are dated, but overall it's a pretty decent old Marvel movie

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Landon J

@Minxsykitty Aug 2, 2026

A fine action entry, nothing crazy. Love Dolph in this one tho, real gritty. I FORGOT what happened in this movie! lol

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sheyla B.

@seylaley May 10, 2026

realmente le falta algo

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Jess S.

@JessWatchesCinema Mar 18, 2026

Obviously its not great or even really good, but its not as bad as its advertised, its a fun watch!

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Blake B.

@Marvelfan67 Mar 3, 2026

Not a good story and there just wasn’t any need to care for the characters they where all bad people in some way and you really couldn’t root for anyone except some of the kids which had little to do with the movie

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Mark Goldblatt

Director

Dolph Lundgren

Frank Castle

Louis Gossett Jr.

Jake Berkowitz

Jeroen Krabbé

Gianni Franco

Bryan Marshall

Dino Moretti

Nancy Everhard

Sam Leary

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Synopsis

Based on the popular Marvel comic book, this film begins with Frank Castle (Dolph Lundgren) as a respected police officer dedicated to eradicating the Mafia's influence -- that is, until the mob responds with a lethal car bomb that decimates Castle's family. Now, filled with rage and presumed dead from the horrific explosion, Castle takes to the city's underground sewer tunnels to bring his own brutal brand of vigilante justice to the streets and wreak vengeance on those who killed his family.

Director: Mark Goldblatt
Producer: Robert Mark Kamen, Su Armstrong
Screenwriter: Boaz Yakin
Production Co: New World Pictures, ABC Studios, New South Wales Film & Television Office
Rating: R
Genre: Action, Adventure, Fantasy
Original Language: English
Release Date (DVD): Apr 20, 1999
Runtime: 1h 32m
Sound Mix: Stereo, Surround

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