What is Revenge?
Revenge is the act of “getting even” with someone who we feel may have wronged us in some way. Rather than going the easy route and choosing a bunch of Batman or Rambo films to add to this list, we’ve chosen a mix of movies about revenge in the action, comedy, horror and thriller movie genres. This will give you a variety to choose from during your next movie viewing party.
1. Cold Pursuit (2019)
Directed by Hans Petter Moland, Cold Pursuit stars Liam Neeson, Tom Bateman, Tom Jackson, Emmy Rossum, Domenick Lombardozzi, Julia Jones, John Doman and Laura Dern. It was released in the year 2019.
When snowplow driver Nels Coxman’s son dies from a forced heroin overdose he soon learns that he was murdered by a Denver drug cartel. Exacting vigilante justice with his wits, brute force and a sawn-off rifle, Nels decides to take on the cartel as a one-man justice machine. This is a true revenge flick!
2. Gone Girl (2014)
Written by Gillian Flynn and directed by David Fincher, Gone Girl stars Ben Affleck, Rosamund Pike, Neil Patrick Harris, Tyler Perry, and Carrie Coon. It was released in the year 2014.
Gone Girl centres on a husband and wife in which the wife disappears without a trace and the whole community (including the media) suspect foul play at the hands of the wife. The film then pivots to reveal that the wife isn’t actually dead and that the husband is far from the “good guy” type we were introduced to at the start of the film. Thanks to the score from Nine Inch Nails frontman Trent Reznor and his writing partner Atticus Ross there’s an eeriness to Gone Girl which only an impressive score like this could deliver.
RELATED: Missing: 15 Movies like Gone Girl that you have to check out
3. I Am Wrath (2016)
Directed by Chuck Russell, I Am Wrath stars John Travolta, Christopher Meloni, Sam Trammell, Amanda Schull, Patrick St. Esprit, Rebecca De Mornay and Luis Da Silva. It was released in the year 2016.
I Am Wrath focuses on John Travolta’s character Stanley Hill whose wife is stabbed and when he identifies the killer in a lineup the corrupt cops let him go. This turns Stanley into a one-man wrecking crew as he plans to get justice for his wife. As far as movies about revenge go, this one doesn’t let up!
4. Peppermint (2018)
Directed by Pierre Morel, Peppermint is a vigilante action movie starring Jennifer Garner, John Ortiz, John Gallagher Jr., Juan Pablo Raba, and Tyson Ritter. It was released in the year 2018.
Peppermint is probably the closest a movie can get to being The Punisher without actually being The Punisher or remotely linked to Marvel Studios. The story focuses on Riley, a woman whose family is killed by a gang, which then sends her on a vigilante crusade to get justice for her dead husband and dead daughter.
5. The Equalizer (2014)
Directed by Antoine Fuqua, The Equalizer stars Denzel Washington, Marton Csokas, Chloë Grace Moretz, David Harbour, Bill Pullman, and Melissa Leo. It was released in the year 2014.
The Equalizer is one of the many great action movies. It focuses on a former U.S. Marine turned DIA intelligence officer who returns to action to protect a teenage prostitute from the Russian mob. When you’re looking for movies about revenge which also exact justice for the little guy, you can’t go further than Denzel Washington’s portrayal in The Equalizer.
6. The Man From Nowhere (2010)
Directed by Lee Jeong-beom, The Man From Nowhere stars Won Bin and Kim Sae-ron. It was released in the year 2010.
The Man from Nowhere is about a mysterious man embarks on a bloody murderous revenge-fueled rampage when the only person who seems to understand him is kidnapped.
7. John Tucker Must Die (2006)
Written by Jeff Lowell and directed by Betty Thomas, John Tucker Must Die stars Jesse Metcalfe, Brittany Snow, Ashanti, Sophia Bush, Arielle Kebbel, Penn Badgley and Jenny McCarthy. It was released in the year 2006.
John Tucker Must Die is a teen comedy in which three teenage girls discover basketball star, John Tucker, has secretly been dating all of them at once. The trio of girls plot to break his heart and ridiculous teenage girl drama ensues. Hell hath no fury like three teenager scorned!
8. John Wick (2014)
While we’re talking about John’s, let’s talk about the most infamous one of all! (Sorry, John the Baptist fans, you miss out!)
Written by Derek Kolstad and directed by Chad Stahelski, John Wick stars Keanu Reeves, Michael Nyqvist, Alfie Allen, Adrianne Palicki, Bridget Moynahan, Dean Winters, Ian McShane, John Leguizamo and Willem Dafoe. It was released in the year 2014.
John Wick is about a legendary hitman (portrayed by Keanu Reeves) who is forced out of retirement when the son of a mob boss and his men invade his home and kill his puppy. A puppy who was the last present to him from his now deceased wife. What starts next is a one-man vendetta against the entire mob and its action scenes are second to no film in recent memory.
9. Revenge of the Nerds (1984)
Written by Steve Zacharias and Jeff Buhai and directed by Jeff Kanew, Revenge of the Nerds stars Robert Carradine, Anthony Edwards, Ted McGinley and Bernie Casey. It was released in the year 1984.
Revenge of the Nerds is about exactly what the title says. It follows a group of nerds who plot to get revenge on the ongoing harassment they suffer at Adams College from the jock fraternity, the Alpha Betas, and its sister sorority, Pi Delta Pi. If you were bullied for being different then this is the perfect type of revenge story!
10. Payback (1999)
Written and Directed by Brian Helgeland, Payback stars Mel Gibson, Gregg Henry, Maria Bello and David Paymer. It was released in the year 1999.
Payback is about Porter, a former U.S. marine and thief, who gets shot and screwed over for $70,000. The movie starts with Porter getting operated on, presumably after he’s been shot, who then decides to track down all those who are responsible for betraying him. Friends and foe alike.
11. Darkman (1990)
Directed by Sam Raimi, Darkman is a superhero horror action movie starring Liam Neeson, Frances McDormand, Colin Friels and Larry Drake. It was released in the year 1990.
Darkman focuses on scientist Peyton Westlake who is attacked and left disfigured by the mob and, after a treatment to cure him of his burns goes horribly wrong, it leaves him with super-human like abilities. Donning the moniker, Darkman, Westlake is determined to get revenge against mob boss, Robert Durant, and rid the city of crime in the process.
12. The Other Woman (2014)
Directed by Nick Cassavetes, The Other Woman is a romantic comedy starring Cameron Diaz, Leslie Mann, Kate Upton, Nikolaj Coster-Waldau, Nicki Minaj, Taylor Kinney and Don Johnson. It was released in the year 2014.
The Other Woman is about three women who realise they’re dating the same man and who decide to get revenge by putting him through situational comedy gold!
13. The Northman (2022)
Directed by Robert Eggers, The Northman is a historical action film based on Viking mythology. It stars Alexander Skarsgård, Nicole Kidman, Claes Bang, Anya Taylor-Joy, Gustav Lindh, Ethan Hawke, Björk and
Willem Dafoe. It was released in the year 2022.
The Northman is about a Viking prince whose father is killed and who vows to get revenge on those who betrayed him and his family.
14. Kate (2021)
Directed by Cedric Nicolas-Troyan, Kate is an action-thriller movie starring Mary Elizabeth Winstead, Miku Martineau, Woody Harrelson and Jun Kunimura. It was released in the year 2021.
Kate is about an assassin who takes on a high-ranking yakuza boss but is poisoned during this mission and has less than a day to live to exact revenge and find out who poisoned her.
15. Unhinged (2020)
Directed by Derrick Borte, Unhinged is an action thriller starring Russell Crowe, Caren Pistorius, Gabriel Bateman, Jimmi Simpson and Austin P. McKenzie. It was released in the year 2020.
Unhinged is about a young woman who is terrorised by a mentally unwell man (played by Crowe) after a road rage incident.
Other Movies about Revenge
1. 57 Seconds
2. Equalizer 2
3. American Assassin
4. Mandy
5. Death Wish
6. War
7. The Revenant
8. Carrie
9. Valentine
10. Carrie
11. Face Off
12. Django Unchained
13. Friday the 13th
14. The Fog
15. Sleepy Hollow
16. Bad Reputation
17. Kill Bill
18. The Punisher
19. The Toxic Avenger
20. Fantasy Island
21. Inglorious Basterds
22. V For Vendetta
23. Dead Man Down
24. Revenge
What did you think of these Revenge Movies?
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