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Thomas Jane, John Travolta, Will Patton, Roy Scheider, Laura Harring ... see more see more... , Ben Foster , Samantha Mathis , James Carpinello , Russell Andrews , Edward Jemison , John Pinette , Rebecca Romijn , Mark Collie , Eduardo Yanez , Omar Avila , Kevin Nash , Marcus Johns , Tom Nowicki , Jeff Chase , Eddie Jemison , Russell Durham Comegys

An ordinary lawman goes outside the law to carry out his own brand of justice in this dark-themed thriller. Frank Castle (Thomas Jane) is an FBI agent who deeply loves his wife and son, but is also st... read more read more...rongly devoted to his work. Castle's investigation of a powerful crime cartel leads to a gunfight which claims the life of a young boy, whose father is underworld kingpin Howard Saint (John Travolta). Furious and eager for revenge, Saint arranges for Castle and his family to be murdered in retaliation. However, while Castle's wife and son are killed, he somehow survives, even though he's believed to have perished. Bent on stopping Saint once and for all, Castle remakes himself as The Punisher, a ruthless and heavily armed killing machine who will not rest until Saint and his crew have been wiped clean from the Earth. Based on a Marvel Comics character first introduced in 1974, The Punisher also stars Rebecca Romijn-Stamos, Laura Elena Harring, Roy Scheider, and Kevin "Big Sexy" Nash. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi

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68% liked it

242,094 ratings

Critics

29% liked it

167 critics

R, 2 hr. 4 min.

Directed by: Jonathan Hensleigh

Release Date: April 16, 2004

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DVD Release Date: September 7, 2004

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Flixster Reviews (12,373)

  • solesoulsorrow
    July 14, 2011
    solesoulsorrow
    This is one of those films that was dismissed before it was even given a chance. I understand the sentiment; comic book style films are usually not worth the time to watch, especially one with such a derivative name. However The Punisher is actually a very passionate, powerful fi... read morelm.
    Two actors in particular really impressed me: Ben Foster and Will Patton. Pay attention to Patton's interrogation scene with Foster as well as Travolta's confrontation with his right hand man (Patton's character.) Both are quite provocative.
    The film itself is violent at times, but the periods of calm are actually quite engaging. The side characters are memorable. This is definately a worthwhile film thats worth a shot.
  • DreamExtractor
    June 11, 2011
    DreamExtractor
    I didn't enjoy this movie, it has a cliche premise and doesnt let loose with the action. He isn't as cool as they make him out to be, but he is tough. John Travolta is a good actor in this, as for the rest of the cast, they all have fake accents and dumb names. The plot is simp... read morele enough, hes pissed at people for killing his family, bad luck to The Punisher. I was bored to tears when watching thios movie because there were no exciring action scenes, they were all boring and cliche. So other than John Travolta and some interesting momenst in the movie, this was a very big dissappointment for me.
  • TheDudeLebowski65
    April 7, 2011
    TheDudeLebowski65
    First of two Punisher reboots, this film has Thomas Jane playing Frank Castle /The Punisher. Now I have yet to see the original with Dolph Lundgren, but I enjoyed this film. For me though this is fairly interesting and action packed film that delivers the thrills. But theres some... read morething missing too. John Travolta is a good choice to play the villain, and he redeems himself with his crap performance in the ultimate crap fest, Battlefield Earth. Jane is good in the role, but he doesn't seem at ease in the part. Ray Stevenson was more convincing in the part. The action is great, the story could have been better.at times, and some characters could have a bit more developed. One thing that could have been better was the fact that the characters could have been a bit more serious. I thought that some of the scenes were silly. Thats one of the reasons why the reboot, Punisher: Warzone is a step up above this film. Warzone though lacking in story, was serious enough compared to this film. Despite this, This film does provide good action and thrills. But there is massive room for improvement. Thomas Jane's portrayal of Frank Castle isn't the best there is, Stevenson in Warzone definitely delivered a better version of Frank Castle. Jane seemed too dramatic, depressed (I know a mob hit squad killed his family) But being a drunk a recluse was odd. Jane didn't bring his all to the table, and I don't like Thomas Jane. Despite this, like I've mentioned, the film delivers on action, and the villains are simply intense. Thats one thing the following film couldn't do as good, the intensity of some of the villains, the cold blooded quality of travolta and Patton was chilling. This is what made this film watchable. A good film that leaves a lot for improvement, luckily, they delivered a terrific reboot in Punisher: Warzone.
  • SirPant
    February 4, 2011
    SirPant
    The Punisher isn't all that bad but it isn't great. As an avid comic fan I have to say Punisher was one of my least favourite characters. The cast are pretty good here but ultimately wasted, it was a pleasure to see Roy Scheider as Daddy Punisher but I'm just not sure it was wort... read moreh the five seconds he was in it for. The story is based on the original story of how Frank Castle became the Punisher but it is full of holes, there are hints of great ideas (Harry Heck was ace but again, only in it for 5 seconds) but there are just too many awful ideas. Why was so much time spent with his stupid neighbours? Should have been a lot better but it could have been worse. I'm not to bothered though as I said, I was never a big fan in the first place and it was entertaining enough for a bit of silly action.
  • garyX
    January 21, 2011
    garyX
    Undercover agent Frank Castle's sting operation causes the death of a crime kingpin's son who promptly has his entire family murdered in retribution, causing him to become a heavily armed vigilante sworn to vengeance. I never read The Punisher comics, mainly because I didn't real... read morely find the idea of a character who was just another meat head with a gun who had no powers or mystical back story very interesting. And if that is in fact an accurate description of the character, then the film has done a very good job of adapting it. In fact I don't really understand who this film is supposed to be aimed at; the attempts at humour that mainly involve the wacky nerds who live next door are childish and peurile, but the 18 certificate and grim violence mean that children are (supposedly) not the audience. The characters are all two dimensional even by the standards of a comic strip, their relationships completely unconvincing and the performances non-descript and bland, which is not helped by unimaginative direction that completely lacks the kind of visual flair that makes a comic book movie work. It is clearly trying to ape the atmosphere and tone of Batman or The Crow but the writers and director obviously don't realise that "gratuitously violent" is not the same as "dark". Basically all you're doing is watching a muscleman in black shoot a load of blokes with fat necks and bad haircuts which means it's indistinguishable from every other Hollywood action film. In its defence it is not boring, but in the end The Punisher is less a superhero than a Jean Claude Van Damme wannabe in an emo T-shirt.
  • itsjustme2004
    October 14, 2010
    itsjustme2004
    Thomas Jane did a great job!! An extra plus for this movie was that it also had some humor, which often draws me in.
  • FiLmCrAzY
    April 12, 2010
    FiLmCrAzY
    I love this punisher, its brilliant, its a good adaptation of the game and succeeds into a good movie unlike some other movies from games!! Its got a good cast and is action packed, thats entertaining to watch!!
    if you like revenge, clever, action packed shoot em up movies and y... read moreou enjoyed the game then you wont be disappointed in the movie!
    Worth a watch!!
  • fb733768972
    January 13, 2010
    fb733768972
    great action! One of marvels best R-rated flicks!
  • ythelastman89
    December 7, 2009
    ythelastman89
    What I dislike about this movie so much is that it could have been amazing. It has, for the most part, Garth Ennis' Welcome back Frank storyline. It has a good Punisher and supporting cast, but John Travolta as a ruthless mobster was completely unbelievable and destroyed the movi... read moree. Add a Florida backdrop and it makes for a trainwreck of a movie.
  • ScoopOnline
    November 29, 2009
    ScoopOnline
    The Scene in bank was Awesome. Playing cowboys in the Banks. great. lol
    Thomas Jane was an Awesome choice for this Movie and understandable he dropped out for the "sequel"

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Critic Reviews

J. R. Jones
April 25, 2007
J. R. Jones, Chicago Reader

There's something to be said for letting a comic book adaptation operate at the level of a comic book, dispensing cheap laughs and ice-cold sadism. Full Review

Rex Reed
April 22, 2004
Rex Reed, New York Observer

There isn't a moment in The Punisher that isn't borrowed or stolen from another movie. Full Review

Benjamin Strong
April 21, 2004
Benjamin Strong, Village Voice

Mismanages its greatest asset: an unusual embarrassment of camp riches. Full Review

Richard Roeper
April 19, 2004
Richard Roeper, Ebert & Roeper

... a lot of fun. Full Review

Stephanie Zacharek
April 17, 2004
Stephanie Zacharek, Salon.com

Gets us lost early in the first half-hour and never succeeds in completely luring us in. Full Review

Michael O'Sullivan
April 16, 2004
Michael O'Sullivan, Washington Post

The pleasure we take in [the Punisher's] inability to resist his basest instincts is like taking a bite of deliciously dark chocolate: probably bad for us, definitely bitter, but still sweet and stimu...

Peter Howell
April 16, 2004
Peter Howell, Toronto Star

The graphic nature of the violence that makes The Punisher hard to recommend without serious caveats. Full Review

Carla Meyer
April 16, 2004
Carla Meyer, San Francisco Chronicle

An entertaining, if silly, film adaptation of the Marvel comic. Full Review

Joe Baltake
April 16, 2004
Joe Baltake, Sacramento Bee

While Hensleigh's film is faithful to its source, quoting it freely, it feels more like a flesh-and-blood Peckinpah movie than another filmed comic. Full Review

Jay Boyar
April 16, 2004
Jay Boyar, Orlando Sentinel

It may be pulp, but at least it's good solid pulp. Full Review

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    • Frank Castle/The Punisher: In certain extreme situations the law is inadequate. In order to shame its inadequacy it is necessary to act outside the law to pursue natural justice.
    • Joan "The Mouse": Good memories can save your life.
    • Frank Castle/The Punisher: God is going to sit this one out.
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  • Stan Lee has made a cameo apperance in all these Marvel Comics films EXCEPT...  Answer »
  • In what movie would you hear the phrase "God's gonna sit this one out"?  Answer »
  • How does Frank Castle dispatch the russian in The Punisher?  Answer »
  • Which wrestlers have appeared in the following movies: (In order from first to last) Spider-Man The Punisher Be Cool See No Evil Mr. Nanny  Answer »
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