- Studio: Overture Films
- Release Date: Oct 16, 2009
User Score
6.4
out of 10
Generally favorable reviews- based on 172 Ratings
User score distribution:
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Positive: 115 out of 172
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Mixed: 21 out of 172
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Negative: 36 out of 172
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Dec 19, 20112Its so generic, straight forward, and predictable that it ruins the movie. Jamie Foxx is a terrible lead as well, The rest of the cast was ok. Gerald Butler is good though and the only reason to watch the film. The action was ok as well but the entire script was just terrible. A lot of ruined potential here.
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Sep 25, 20117The movie ends with a pretty cliche on top, but its the first 30 minutes of "Law Abiding Citizen" with the tension between Butler and Foxx that will entertain you.
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DanielS.May 6, 20100Awesome movie...but the ending RUINS IT.
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PriscillaG.Oct 19, 20091Just finished watching it. This is the kind of testosterone festival that makes troglodytes cry "YEAH!" Synopsis: Stock characters follow predictable plot devices and present the fantasy of limitless financial resources as "cunning intellect".
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DougG.Oct 23, 20095Some shocking moments, but the movie is very flawed and the ending is horrible.
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DylanB.Feb 20, 20100This would be one of the greatest movies in the world if only they didnt fuck up the ending the way they did. I almost threw my pc out the door when i saw it end. if you must watch the movie turn if off when there is only 20 minutes left. truly truly disappointing
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Sep 12, 20102This movie is what I imagine getting a colonoscopy is like. The acting was what you would expect from a middle school play, not a multi million dollar feature film. I would not recommend this to anyone.
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Nov 24, 20103A poor man's "Seven." Gerard Butler is so unappealing on screen, but combined with the personality-less Jamie Foxx, it doesn't matter how on-edge some of the scenes are. It still comes across like a B movie.
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Oct 3, 20104
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Nov 24, 20115What started off so interesting ends so poorly. The acting is fine (I didnt really like Jamie Fox as the lead, Thought he was a poor fit) and the action was good. The story is so generic though that it just takes away from the overall value.
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Nov 2, 20112I had to check to make sure it was the same movie by the end, because it wasn't nothing like the first half hour.
What a complete disaster for a movie that started so strong, could have easily been an 8. -
Jan 6, 20124
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Oct 14, 20123Meeeeeeeh... It started very, very good, at first revenge was justified, but then it just became into a non-sense murdering. At the end of the film, all I wanted was the "bad" guy to win at least, not the moron lawyer, but neither that happened. It was totally anticlimactic... Seriously, if you want a good version for this movie, watch "V for Vendetta" and stay away from this.
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JohnGMar 1, 20105
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ChadS.Oct 20, 20094
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BenBOct 20, 20093
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DQSMar 11, 20101Horrible, horrible, horrible. Crap piece of hack work made for the money. The message of this film is that in the end Law is worthless. Do you believe that? Do the people who made this crap believe it? No, it's simply a cool way to show off special effects. Sad.
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TimHMar 1, 20100A Horible Movie that shys away at the good parts, and during its "revelations" in the plot was found to be HILARIOUS. Not what they were going for I think. I wasted 2 hours of my life watching this crap and I hope there aren't many others as unfortunate as me.
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WangD.Apr 11, 20105the ideas are appealing sort of a "dark night" destination but the deliverance is very flawed
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TBoneOct 17, 20094Great movie, terrible ending.
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Aug 16, 201010This review contains spoilers, click expand to view.
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Jul 15, 20123Clyde (Gerard Butler) had a reason to kill the people who killed his family: REVENGE but why was he killing Police and FBI agents just to make Nick Rice (Jamie Foxx) mad? They didn't do much to Clyde and already got his revenge which was enough. And you know what would of been a better ending? Clyde could of committed suicide and admitted his reason.
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WasabiMar 5, 20108This movie give you A perspective of what happen when a man lost his family and the lawmen trying to balance order. Forget what people say about this movie, watch it and have your own perspective. I enjoy it. Another way to show you how America justice system work.
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audreygFeb 16, 20107James H. is wrong if your wife and daughter were beaten to death you're saying you would only be mad for 1 to 2 years at the most. Your wrong
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chynadollMar 2, 201010I don't listen to movie critics because most of the time the movies they think are good actually suck and vice-versa. Yhis movie was phenomenal. Although parts of the plot may seem implausible, there is such a powerful message being conveyed. Bravo...I. love it!
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ElPupMar 24, 20108A great revenge flick... Though I kinda wish it ended differently though. Gerard Butler gives a really good performance (which was a supprise to me), the kills are clever, however it does start to become improbable towards the end... But a lack of complete realism never killed a move for me.
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AllanJMar 29, 201010This movie was awesome!!! Based on true revenge, what happens when you pick the wrong person's life to ruin. I can't believe critics booed this movie it's one of the best this year!!!! Trust me, watch this movie if you like action.
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joeb.Apr 3, 20109Gripping. A movie all law students should watch before becoming lawyers, even if it is unrealistic. This is what I would do to someone if they murdered my family.
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J.Oct 16, 20098
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BenSOct 16, 200910Please do not listen to the critics! Law Abiding Citizen is a good movie with great actors and a powerful message. Just because critics are too dense to see it, doesn't mean this movie does not make a powerful comment on the injustices that occur in our "justice system", while also making a comment on personal motivations. A must see!
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LorenzoL.Oct 16, 200910
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TDKinDallasNov 7, 20095
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N1Acord03Oct 19, 200910This movie by all accounts is the movie of the year. I am flabbergasted at the critique's take on this film. What movie did they see?
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ClaytonDOct 21, 20096Violent, crazy movie that made its point over and over again... Jamei Foxx looked almost bored through it and his daughter was a terrible cello player (no bow control, bad fingerings, etc.).
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kgm.Oct 26, 20092The first 10-15 minutes are interesting and engaging but unlike
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gfisherJan 26, 20105N1Acord03, if the critics don't like the movie then it is NOT "by all accounts" movie of the year. "By all accounts" means everyone who gave an account of the movie. It's definitely not movie of the year but, unfortunately, I've seen worse.
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LindaC.Jan 4, 20107
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KylerC.Feb 18, 20107
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ChrisFeb 24, 201010One of the best movies I've seen in a while. Intense, brutal, violent...yet at the same time, an intelligent look at the shortcomings of our criminal justice system here in the US.
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BillFeb 25, 20109
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HilleryEMar 24, 20109This movie was a mixter of Death Sentence and Saw. Definitely not what I'm used to seeing from Gerard Butler, but he was amazing as usual.
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SaniquaSApr 10, 201010this movie was extremely great! I think critics dont like it because it proves a point on our so called justice system!
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ChrisKApr 6, 201010Excellent movie showing government corruption. The ending isn't perfect but still I give this a 10/10.
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AlanO.Jun 17, 20104The film was good in the first half, but towards the end the film started getting really mediocre. The ending was the opposite of the the beginning of the film. This film wasn't awful, it was just the opposite of a decent film.
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ChadC.Jun 17, 20101This movie had potential. It kept me interested up until they revealed the how he managed to rig and terrorize people. It immediately dropped from possibly being a 7 or an 8 to a firm 1.
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markg.Jun 9, 20108Because it's better than Seven! heh heh. Slightly weak 3rd act though.
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NervC.Oct 16, 20098I had no idea what I was walking into. The beginning was entirely predictable and I thought, "Gee, if he's exacted his revenge this quickly, this is gonna be a really short film." Of course, the beginning is only the tip of the iceberg. It makes Philadelphia as scary a place to live as Gotham under the Joker. I enjoyed it a lot despite being a little over the top.
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S.CWOct 16, 20099
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NeikoA.Oct 18, 200910Great story with good plot and a theme that can be correlated to real life. Phenomenal performance by Gerard Butler.
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SekuG.Oct 18, 20098Gerard Butler plays an insanely intelligent assassin focused on biblical scale of retribution. Teaching his deadly lessons, bringing the city of Philadelphia face to face with its past deeds and dealings.
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ChrisVDDec 10, 20091Totally unengaging and ridiculous flic. Manages to be repulsive AND boring at the same time. Quite unique actually, if you put it like that. Still, don't go and see, believe me. It's for your own good.
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IsaacB.Oct 23, 200910
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JoJ.Oct 26, 20090Can you say "ridiculously impossible" ? So unrealistic as to be cartoonish! Please! I love the critic who said "Saw with a conscience"!! How stupid do we moviegoers seem??! I'm insulted by this movie. The premise was realistic. They could have done great things with it. Too bad.
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StephenNewJan 19, 201010Totally awesome movie, no doubt one of the best thrillers ive seen in a while. Thumbs up for me.
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cesarpFeb 21, 20108Great movie and I liked Butler's acting. Really violent the only problem for me was the ending.
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RyanM.Feb 24, 20107Not as bad as I thought it wold be. Entertaining at least. And I think the best part is that we all want to enact vengeance from time to time. I found myself actually rooting for Owen.
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JamesHMar 12, 2010442/100. Preposterous plot that has so many holes it resembles Swiss cheese. Over acted by the leads with unmemorable supporting performances. The score is too intense and interferes with the story. After thirty minutes you just don
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NikoGMar 22, 20108
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LHarrisApr 11, 201010I liked this movie. I think it was awesome and I'm a 50 yr old woman. It doesn't matter if it may seem somewhat unrealistic; it's just a movie for pete's sake.
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ArvinM.Oct 16, 200910Yeah!
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RichardW.Oct 16, 20090Yuch. What were a fine group actors thinking? Paycheck, maybe?
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JamesH.Oct 17, 20094
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ColinB.Oct 17, 20098Sweet movie. Great plot. I was in to it.
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VeronicaMOct 19, 20099Gets a 9 because it's a little too long.
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BAOct 27, 20097It's emotionally intriguing and it's definitely entertaining- in retrospect a little ridiculous, but so what. The critics that ranked it in the lower 40% took this movie as a mid-level studio film to stomp on and get their elite intellectual film critic snob on, cuz it just ain't that bad.
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TracyH.Nov 17, 200910This movie stirred me and made me wonder how I would feel not only in Clyde's shoes, but Nick's as well?
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paulNov 27, 200910No one listens to critics anyway at the end of the day, what the hell do they no? i just watched the movie and its awesome, great story, very smart, gerard butler bravo on some more great acting, great action. you cant go wrong with this film, as for the bad comments well people who obviously just like to be the negatives of life.
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JDaviesDec 17, 200910Not sure why critics disapprove so much, I thought it was awesome. User reviews for the win.
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LynneM.Dec 23, 200910An amazing performance by Butler. I was on the edge of my seat from beginning to end. Foxx and Butler had great chemistry.
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Aug 11, 20107
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Oct 19, 20107
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Nov 25, 20109
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Apr 29, 20133This is what happens when the dig through John Grisham's garbage. it has a lot of inaccuracies with the federal law of the state of Philadelphia. Both Jamie Foxx and Gerard Butler are miscast and don't provide energy in their roles. Their characters are poorly developed and the other characters don't have much focus. From beginning to end is a cure for insomnia.
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Dec 17, 20109
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Apr 10, 20118
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Jan 26, 20120bad writing, bad acting, bad everything. Gerard Butler should never try to pull off another American accent again...awful, just awful. Ridiculos premise, but lots of stuff blows up so it likely kept American audiences happy. When foreigners put down Americans for their cinematic stupidity, this movie is Exhibit A.
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Jun 15, 20124
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Jun 12, 20116This movie was actually kind of fun. Is it a cliche oh heck yeah. But it does have some pretty inventive ways of killing off some people and some of the ways the villain is able to do the things that he does. The acting is also very solid with the exception of a certain mayor. Overall this is worth a watch.
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Jun 18, 20119CRITICS ARE STUPID!!! This movie was great! It shows how ridiculous our justice system is. Jamie Foxx and Gerard Butler do a great job, I thought Colm Meaney could have done a better job with his role but other then that it was an intense movie that was well made.
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Feb 24, 20138
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Feb 2, 20134The potential was there and the movie definently had it's moment but overall, It not only failed to draw you in but the poor dialogue and acting by the cast (aside from Butler who was the only good one imo) sort of ruined it imo.
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Feb 19, 20122This movie disgusts me, if I am being honest. The violence was without meaning, and it seemed spliced in for the sake of satisfying a bloodthirsty crowd. It has its enjoyable moments, and for that I give it a 2, but it is recycled garbage.
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Jan 20, 20136After years of intending to watch this film finally did I get a chance to. After all the hype given to me by friends and family this film was a bit disappointing. I guess if you're a logical thinker, or an analyzer of movies you can see through the plot fairly easily. The ending was also rather troublesome, even though it had the potential to be great.
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Jun 4, 20127
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Nov 28, 20129the people who have left these low reviews need to relax. this movie is very strong. first off gerard butler plays an awesome psycho. the whole plot and twist at the end is really awesome. I loved the way it was written and built up. this movie is a must see. everyone I have told to watch this movie has loved it. the acting is good and the twist is even better
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Jan 30, 20133
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If the filmmakers meant a word of it, they'd quit making films and do something more useful. "Saw" with a conscience is not what the world needs.
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42Clyde is meant to be nuts, but too often it's Law Abiding Citizen that checks rationality at the door.
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25A vigilante/torture-porn potpourri, is particularly toxic because it's scented with phony importance.