Metascore

Generally unfavorable reviews - based on 36 Critics What's this?

User Score

Generally favorable reviews- based on 97 Ratings

  • Starring: Laura Harring, Thomas Jane
  • Summary: Marvel's unstoppable vigilante hits the big screen. After losing his family in to mob violence, undercover FBI agent and former Marine Frank Castle (Jane) decides to dedicate himself fully to the eradication of crime from America.
Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 5 out of 36
  2. Negative: 16 out of 36
  1. 75
    Among the recent spate of comic-book movies, from "Spider-Man" to the "X-Men," The Punisher is unique.
  2. That rare comic book movie that actually feels like a comic book. Which turns out to be mostly, but not entirely, a good thing.
  3. 38
    The Punisher isn't Frank Castle; it's Jonathan Hensleigh. And the punishee is anyone sitting in the audience.
  4. It features an insane amount of violence and a number of visual references to the comic, but it lacks the original's humor and spirit.

See all 36 Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 43 out of 61
  2. Negative: 12 out of 61
  1. cn
    10
    I really enjoyed this film. It wasn't made to impress critics with high expectations who've never read the comic and give harsh reviews. Behind the violence, justified by the actions the mob took against Castle, there is a story. This movie was based on a comic and stays loyal to it. If you're not a fan of the comic or action films, instead of trying to figure out reasons to hate it try and commend what the director and actors have brought forward. This film stays a lot more loyal to the comic than the 1989 film. The atmosphere of the comic is well recreated and and isn't just typical Hollywood bullsh*t. Expand
  2. Well executed revenge flick, well acted, with great action. But it's not really about revenge, it's punishment! Love that line. Tom Jane is great as the Punisher and I love the music. Expand
  3. I actually thoroughly enjoyed this sensibly written film with its complex lead character.
  4. A boring movie with no positives. I remember seeing this in the cinema and hating it. Years later after reading the Garth Ennis comics I tried watching it again, on the advice of the friend that leant me the comics. Less then half way through I had to turn it off. If anything it's worse after reading the books. Hammy dialogue, a pointless sequence wherein an armoured car is built then destroyed, and an overly elaborate plan that gets thrown away in favour of just shooting everyone. Awful not worth watching at all. Expand

See all 61 User Reviews

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