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Brutal , satisfying , or even shake up stories of revenge are a rough-cut thread among some of the most entertaining action and thriller moving picture ever made . The good among them are focus fib of vengeance , feature character fueled by a unique desire : to right the damage inflicted upon them . Driven by this all - consuming thirstiness for payback , they embark on grievous journeys and stop at nothing in their quest for retaliation .
From the over - the - topKill Billto the stylishJohn Wick , these great revenge picture show offer gripping narratives and cathartic gratification , often with a side of intense action . have a bun in the oven to satisfy protagonists drive by their pursuit of justice , even if their poetic retribution means more pain and violence for anyone in their way .
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10. The Revenant (2015)
The Revenantis a forward-looking Western directed by Alejandro González Iñárritu . The 2015 film necessitate place in the rugged wilderness of 1820s America . Here , Hugh Glass ( Killers of the Flower Moon‘s Leonardo DiCaprio ) is left for dead by a extremity of his own hunting team after a fearsome bear attack . The man who betrayed him , John Fitzgerald ( Tom Hardy ) , also kills his untried son , which only fuels Glass ’s rage and drive to survive the stern snow-white terrain to track down his enemy .
Leonardo DiCaprio magnificently won his first and only Oscar for his role inThe Revenant , which showcased his acting chops as he fully embraced Hugh Glass ’s grueling journey . The plastic film is extremely splanchnic and hard to watch at times , becoming more of a man - versus - nature narrative rather than a revenge flick , at least until the supporter ’s climactic encounter with the remorseless traitor .
9. Taken (2008)
Takenis anaction - thriller that feature Liam Neesonin his iconic role as Bryan Mills , a retired CIA operative forced to use his skillset after a human - trafficking ring abduct his daughter and her friend . With less than a calendar week before they ’re auctioned off , the protagonist uses everything he read in his age in smutty ops to get across them down and wreak havoc on those creditworthy for the kidnapping .
While the 2008 motion picture does rely on formulaic action tropes , it practice them exceedingly well to make an exciting and fast - step story incite by a wonderful public presentation from Neeson . The picture is undeniably among the quintessential revenge thrillers of the twenty-first century , and it would go on to instigate legion imitators that would seek to recapture its winner . Takenalso cemented Neeson as an action mechanism star and would go on to breed two more movies .
8. The Northman (2022)
“ I will avenge you , Father ! I will spare you , Mother ! I will kill you , Fjölnir ! ” These are the words the Viking prince Amleth ( Alexander Skarsgård ) repeats over and over inThe Northman . direct by Robert Eggers , the epic spans decennium and chronicles Amleth ’s warpath after he witnesses his father ’s murder at the hands of his treacherous uncle . Exile only angers Amleth , who spring up up dictated to avenge his father ’s demise and reclaim his rightful can .
Based onthe legend of Amleth , who was the direct inspiration for William Shakespeare’sHamlet , it ’s not surprising thatThe Northman‘s story is a well - written and complex one that underscores the unpredictable nature of retribution . Eggers ’s brilliant instruction , the breathless cinematography , and immersive worldbuilding heavily steep with Norse mythology make it easy to see how the 2022 film transcends the typical revenge motion-picture show .
7. Cape Fear (1991)
Cape Fearis an intense psychological thriller guide by Martin Scorsese and is a direct remake of the 1962 cinema of the same name . It rotate around convicted raper Max Cady ( Robert De Niro ) , who seeks vengeance against his former defense attorney , Sam Bowden ( Nick Nolte ) , after his 14 - year imprisonment . Max blame the lawyer ’s wrong defense for his fortune , so he begins stalking him and his kinsperson , terrorizing Sam and pressuring him to act .
One ofMartin Scorsese ’s in effect moviesand for sure among his most successful collaboration with De Niro , Cape Fearsoars thanks to an unbelievable performance from the star as the menacing and manipulative Cady . Scorsese is a master of building suspense and intensity , and he knows how to habituate the psychological aspects of his characters to create a shivery account . In this sheath , that soak up narrative is lace with anger and a motive for revenge .
6. Gladiator (2000)
An epic tale of vengeance set in ancient Rome , music director Ridley Scott’sGladiatorfollows Maximus Decimus Meridius ( Russell Crowe ) , a fast Roman general betrayed by the corrupt Emperor Commodus ( Joaquin Phoenix ) . Commodus murders Maximus ’s family and orders his carrying into action . Surviving the effort on his sprightliness , Maximus is sold into slavery and soon becomes a gladiator who rise promptly through the ranks , capture the hearts of the Roman people with his bravery and attainment .
Scott ’s heroic historic dramatic play is an excellent exemplar of a “ storm to crusade ” movie done the right way that sport a retaliation - push protagonist who ’s impossible not to settle for . Crowe is utterly roam as the formidable Maximus , imbuing the character reference with depth and an unshakable sense of righteous Eumenides that motivate him towards the human race responsible for his loss . With a extremely anticipated sequel , Gladiator 2 , set to premiere on in late 2024 , it ’s the perfect time to revisit Scott ’s laurels - deliver the goods classic .
5. Carrie (1976)
place by Brian De Palma and free-base on Stephen King ’s 1974 novel , Carrieis a horror movie that follows the titulary character ’s transformation after being tormented by her cruel classmates and her religious fanatic mother , Margaret White ( Piper Laurie ) . When the withdrawn and sensible Carrie White ( Sissy Spacek ) is invited to the prom by Tommy Ross ( William Katt ) , a dark turn proves to be her breaking point , and all inferno breaks loose as the protagonist embraces her supernatural abilities .
Carriefeatures some of thebest carrying out in any Stephen King movie adaptation . Spacek is unforgettable as the powerful principal character , and Laurie ’s nefarious turn as her fanatical and scurrilous female parent is just as applaudable . Carriehas since barrack legion imitator and remake , but none have manage to outdo the original , which continue the quintessential adolescent horror motion picture .
4. Memento (2000)
For those looking for a revenge movie with an unconventional taradiddle , directorChristopher Nolan‘sMementois the perfect pick . The nous - bending neo - noir thriller stick with Leonard Shelby ( Guy Pearce ) , a human with brusque - term memory loss following a traumatic incident that resulted in the death of his married woman . Determined to find her killer , Leonard engage an untypical method acting of keeping track of clues by tattoo them on his trunk , taking Polaroid photos , and keep handwritten notes .
Nolan is known for his complex narrative structures , andMementois no elision . Its nonlinear account is showcased in two part , one shown chronologically and the other in inverse gild . Only at the end of the film do the two combine to make a complete picture — with a shocking twist , of course . It ’s one of those film that ’s both hard to watch and worth get a line more than once to fully revalue .
3. John Wick (2014)
Keanu Reeves whiz as the legendary assassin John Wick in the 2014 natural process - thriller picture lead by Chad Stahelski . He ’s ab initio shew as a grieve world mourning the exit of his wife , who sweetly left him a puppy as a final natural endowment . When Russian mobster Iosef Tarasov ( Alfie Allen ) and his goon incidentally direct him by stealing his preferent elevator car and killing his puppy , it pressure John back into the underworld , where he apply his connections to track the gangster down .
John Wickbrought back the no - frills retaliation flick by using familiar figure of speech in a stylish and straight way — and audiences get laid it . The 2014 flick spawn a thrivingJohn Wick dealership with telling box office numbersthat has successfully sustaining interest in its vengeful narratives over the days . The pic soar thanks to Reeves ’s telling performance as the relentless titular type , which has serve the actor further cement his bequest as a bona fide action star .
2. Lady Snowblood (1973)
BeforeQuentin Tarantino‘sKill Bill , there wasLady Snowblood , which the manager has cited as verbatim breathing in for his protagonist . Directed by Toshiya Fujita , the 1973 jidaigeki film stars Meiko Kaji as Yuki Kashima , a unseasoned woman born with a funny use : to revenge her sept ’s murder . Trained from childhood by a revengeful priest , Yuki becomes an expert swordswoman and eagerly waiting until she ’s ready to take a parentage - soaked journey to fulfil her sole mission .
Lady Snowbloodwas a groundbreaking film , with its strange narrative body structure and combining of authoritative stop play ingredient and surreal violence quickly setting it asunder from other ’ seventy movie . It ’s light to see how Yuki would later on shapeKill Bill‘s Bride , with Kaji ’s carrying out capture the character ’s steely determination and intense inner turmoil . While it certainly is n’t as popular as its modern counterpart , Lady Snowblooddeserves more credit and attention for its influence on the retaliation genre in special .
1. Kill Bill Vol. 1 and 2 (2003, 2004)
Kill Billis an iconic retaliation saga separated intotwo red action filmsboth centered on The Bride ( Uma Thurman ) , a former assassin seek payback against her x - co-worker in the Deadly Viper Assassination Squad , who betray her on her wedding day . Vol . 1follows The Bride after she wake up from a comatoseness and goes on a bloody rampage to track down and kill her enemies , including atomic number 8 - Ren Ishii ( Lucy Liu ) and Vernita Green ( Vivica A. Fox).Vol . 2gives deeper insight into The Bride ’s backstory , research her preparation under master Pai Mei ( Gordon Liu ) . It also work shift focus to her confrontations with Bill ( David Carradine ) and Elle Driver ( Daryl Hannah ) before climax in a climactic showdown .
Any rooter of natural process , thriller , or revenge movies is in all likelihood already familiar with the duology . It showcases the filmmaker ’s hallmark at their best and wildest , with both films characterize by stylized ferocity , over - the - top stage dancing , and nonlinear storytelling . The modern classic also sees Uma Thurman delivering a tour de force performance as The Bride , whose unstoppable and exhilarating quest for vengeance encapsulates everything that makes the subgenre great .
