Law Abiding Citizen

A frustrated man decides to take justice into his own hands after a plea bargain sets one of his family's killers free. He targets not only the killer but also the district attorney and others involved in the deal.

Critics largely dismissed the film as illogical and morally muddled, even as audiences embraced it far more warmly — a gap that remains one of its defining features. The premise drew interest, but most reviewers felt the execution collapsed under the weight of its own absurdities. Gerard Butler's central performance was a partial exception, though not enough for most critics to recommend the film.