Law Abiding Citizen

Name: Law Abiding Citizen
Genre: Drama, Thriller, Crime
Released: October 16, 2009
Duration: 108 min
Rating: 34
Cast: Gerard Butler, Jamie Foxx, Leslie Bibb

2009

METASCORE

Generally unfavorable reviews based on 26 Critic Reviews

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USER SCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 322 Ratings

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6.9

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6.9	Your Score
6.9	User Score Generally favorable reviews based on 322 Ratings

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Law Abiding Citizen

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Movie Details & Credits

Overture Films | Release Date: October 16, 2009 | NC-17

Starring: Gerard Butler, Jamie Foxx, Leslie Bibb

Summary: Clyde Shelton is an upstanding family man whose wife and daughter are brutally murdered during a home invasion. When the killers are caught, Nick Rice, a hotshot young Philadelphia prosecutor, is assigned to the case. Over his objections, Nick is forced by his boss to offer one of the suspects a light sentence in exchange for testifyingClyde Shelton is an upstanding family man whose wife and daughter are brutally murdered during a home invasion. When the killers are caught, Nick Rice, a hotshot young Philadelphia prosecutor, is assigned to the case. Over his objections, Nick is forced by his boss to offer one of the suspects a light sentence in exchange for testifying against his accomplice. Fast forward ten years. The man who got away with murder is found dead and Clyde Shelton coolly admits his guilt. Then he issues a warning to Nick: Either fix the flawed justice system that failed his family, or key players in the trial will die. Soon Shelton follows through on his threats, orchestrating from his jail cell a string of spectacularly diabolical assassinations that can be neither predicted nor prevented. Philadelphia is gripped with fear as Shelton's high-profile targets are slain one after another and the authorities are powerless to halt his reign of terror. Only Nick can stop the killing, and to do so he must outwit this brilliant sociopath in a harrowing contest of wills in which even the smallest misstep means death. With his own family now in Shelton's crosshairs, Nick finds himself in a desperate race against time facing a deadly adversary who seems always to be one step ahead. (Overture Films)… Expand

Director: F. Gary Gray

Genre(s): Drama, Thriller, Crime

Rating: NC-17

Runtime: 108 min

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Metascore

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Critic Reviews

Roger Ebert

One of those movies you like more at the time than in retrospect. Read full review

Justin Chang

True torture-porn aficionados will be disappointed, as editor Tariq Anwar cuts away right before blade meets flesh -- a move that feels a tad, well, gutless under the circumstances. But elsewhere, "Citizen" proves startlingly graphic, even by R-rated standards. Read full review

James Berardinelli

The biggest problem with Law Abiding Citizen, however, is that the plot is just plain dumb. Read full review

Empire Angie Errigo

Relentlessly ugly, preposterous and hackneyed of dialogue: guilty on all counts. It will do well, then. Read full review

Dan Kois

A movie devoted to baroque revenge would be, on its own terms, acceptable; what makes Law Abiding Citizen so risible is its humorless conviction that it's got Big Ideas at its core. Read full review

Richard Corliss

Butler has the showier part, but his impersonation of the tragic hero is undercut by his weird resemblance to Soupy Sales. You start hoping that Shelton will kill somebody with a custard (or puffer-fish) pie to the face. Read full review

Kyle Smith

At last, the missing link be tween "Phantom of the Opera" and "Saw." Welcome to the gonzo revenge saga Law Abiding Citizen. Read full review

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User Reviews

JJHood

Dec 30, 2013

nice. and unexpected movie. Only the finish is expect-able and a bit disappointing.
But in total a very nice movie, that does not follow the convention of Hollywood

2 of 2 users found this helpful20

paul

Nov 27, 2009

No 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 No 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.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful

HilleryE

Mar 24, 2010

This 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.

0 of 0 users found this helpful

KylerC.

Feb 18, 2010

Although not the greatest film ever made, it has quite a startling beginning that keeps you enthralled for atleast 30 minutes. When Gerard Butler gets sent to jail is where things begin getting iffy, and the second half of the movie is not as well put together as the first. For example, you Although not the greatest film ever made, it has quite a startling beginning that keeps you enthralled for atleast 30 minutes. When Gerard Butler gets sent to jail is where things begin getting iffy, and the second half of the movie is not as well put together as the first. For example, you find out that Butler's character was some kind of operative agent, but this seems to be putty in a plot hole to explain why he is so good at what he is doing. The final twist is intriguing, but you won't be enthralled by it. Overall a decent movie, I would suggest renting it for some mild entertainment!… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful

ClaytonD

Oct 21, 2009

Violent, 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.).

0 of 0 users found this helpful

Halfwelshman

Jun 15, 2012

Law Abiding Citizen has decent performances from its two leads Jamie Foxx, playing a dedicated prosecution lawyer and Gerard Butler as a man cheated by flawed American justice system who takes the law into his own hands as a murderous vigilante. It's technically competent throughout and withLaw Abiding Citizen has decent performances from its two leads Jamie Foxx, playing a dedicated prosecution lawyer and Gerard Butler as a man cheated by flawed American justice system who takes the law into his own hands as a murderous vigilante. It's technically competent throughout and with the addition of a serviceable script the film should be an intelligent and memorable thriller providing an insightful critique on law and morality. Somehow though, Law Abiding CItizen never rises above mediocrity, and is a largely forgettable affair. After an exciting initial setup, the narrative plods and becomes utterly ridiculous towards the final act, which is so over-the-top it wouldn't look out of place in a 70s disaster movie. Characterisation is also inconsistent, with Foxx's heavily moralistic and by-the-book lawyer conveniently able to bypass his long-held convictions when it suits the story. In addition, though he makes a decent enough anti-hero throughout, Butler does occasionally slip back into his natural Scottish dialect during the more intense and demanding scenes. Law Abiding Citizen only just manages to stay afloat thanks to director F. Gary Gray's craftsmenship and the talent of the lead performers. It falls utterly flat in other areas, however, because of misjudgements of tone, uneven pacing and a critical lack of commitment to the big ideas behind the film. The film is passable, but nothing more.… Expand

1 of 2 users found this helpful11

RichardW.

Oct 16, 2009

Yuch. What were a fine group actors thinking? Paycheck, maybe?

1 of 1 users found this helpful

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36	#36 Most Discussed Movie of 2009
11	#11 Most Shared Movie of 2009