The Punisher
Not currently available on any streaming platform
When undercover FBI agent Frank Castle's wife and son are slaughtered, he becomes 'the Punisher' -- a ruthless vigilante willing to go to any length to avenge his family.
What critics thought
Critics largely dismissed the film as a joyless, formulaic revenge picture — but a minority pushed back, arguing it earns points precisely by refusing to be a slick modern superhero movie, aiming instead for the grimy register of 1970s urban vigilante films. The debate mostly came down to whether that throwback ambition redeems the grimness or just compounds it. Thomas Jane's physicality drew some approval even from skeptics, while John Travolta's villain was widely seen as a wasted opportunity.
“The Punisher is so grim and cheerless, you wonder if even its hero gets any satisfaction from his accomplishments.”
Roger Ebert·Chicago Sun-Times
“depressingly rote and sometimes laughably silly”
Joe Leydon·Variety
“The Punisher has more in common with the work of Don Siegel and John Frankenheimer than it does with the work of Michael Bay or Simon West. Which isn't to say that it's the equal of those classics, but at least Hensleigh's got the right idea. ... The Punisher is pulp, served up gritty and ugly and brutal. It's not jam-packed full of one-liners. What humor there is in the film is dark.”
Drew McWeeny·Ain't It Cool News
Parents guide
- Violence
- severe
- Sex
- mild
- Profanity
- moderate
- Substances
- mild
- Intensity
- moderate
Genres
Action, Crime, Drama
Cast & Crew
Jonathan HensleighDirector
Thomas JaneFrank Castle / The Punisher
John TravoltaHoward Saint
Will PattonQuentin Glass
Roy ScheiderFrank Castle, Sr.
Laura HarringLivia Saint
Ben FosterSpecker Dave
Samantha MathisMaria Castle
James CarpinelloBobby Saint / John Saint
A. Russell AndrewsJimmy Weeks
Eddie JemisonMickey Duka
John PinetteBumpo
Rebecca RomijnJoan
Carlo SiliottoComposer
Michael FranceWriter
Conrad W. HallCinematographyThe Punisher
When undercover FBI agent Frank Castle's wife and son are slaughtered, he becomes 'the Punisher' -- a ruthless vigilante willing to go to any length to avenge his family.
What critics thought
Critics largely dismissed the film as a joyless, formulaic revenge picture — but a minority pushed back, arguing it earns points precisely by refusing to be a slick modern superhero movie, aiming instead for the grimy register of 1970s urban vigilante films. The debate mostly came down to whether that throwback ambition redeems the grimness or just compounds it. Thomas Jane's physicality drew some approval even from skeptics, while John Travolta's villain was widely seen as a wasted opportunity.
“The Punisher is so grim and cheerless, you wonder if even its hero gets any satisfaction from his accomplishments.”
Roger Ebert·Chicago Sun-Times
“depressingly rote and sometimes laughably silly”
Joe Leydon·Variety
“The Punisher has more in common with the work of Don Siegel and John Frankenheimer than it does with the work of Michael Bay or Simon West. Which isn't to say that it's the equal of those classics, but at least Hensleigh's got the right idea. ... The Punisher is pulp, served up gritty and ugly and brutal. It's not jam-packed full of one-liners. What humor there is in the film is dark.”
Drew McWeeny·Ain't It Cool News
Parents guide
- Violence
- severe
- Sex
- mild
- Profanity
- moderate
- Substances
- mild
- Intensity
- moderate
Genres
Action, Crime, Drama
Cast & Crew
Jonathan HensleighDirectorThomas JaneFrank Castle / The PunisherJohn TravoltaHoward SaintWill PattonQuentin GlassRoy ScheiderFrank Castle, Sr.Laura HarringLivia SaintBen FosterSpecker DaveSamantha MathisMaria CastleJames CarpinelloBobby Saint / John SaintA. Russell AndrewsJimmy WeeksEddie JemisonMickey DukaJohn PinetteBumpoRebecca RomijnJoanCarlo SiliottoComposerMichael FranceWriterConrad W. HallCinematographyNot currently available on any streaming platform