The revenge genre is often one of the most engaging forms of storytelling in cinema. If the story is personal to the main character, it becomes personal to the viewer. Whatever choices are made, for better or worse, they are more easily understood. Most revenge films may be more of an action or thriller variety, starting with a person with a past and a mission, and will often end happily despite all the destruction and bodies left in the hero’s wake. Commando, starring Arnold Schwarzenegger, is a perfect example.
The best revenge films make the viewer feel and think. Whether the protagonist feels cheated, betrayed, or personally attacked, seeking revenge in some way changes them. Avenging a wife’s death or rescuing a kidnapped child may turn someone into an entirely different person who does things they never thought themselves capable of. Sometimes, their actions can cause more harm than good, leaving the audience asking themselves: Was it all worth it? Here are 25 of the best revenge films of all time, ranked.
‘The Northman’ (2022)
A Nordic Tale of Revenge
The Northman is the underrated gem of 2022. Directed by Robert Eggers adapts a Danish folk tale named “The Legend of Amleth.” It is also based on William Shakespeare’s Hamlet. Written by Eggers and the Icelandic poet Sjón, it tells the story of a boy who witnesses his father’s betrayal by his closest ally. He escapes into the world, becoming a warrior with a simple mission: to return home and kill the people who wronged his father. After finding his way back home, he wages a one-man war against the people who wronged him. But there’s more to the story than his narrow vision of justice.
The cast includes an imposing Alexander Skarsgård, along with Nicole Kidman, Anya Taylor-Joy, and Willem Dafoe, all playing prominent roles. Incredible cinematography, shockingly effective VFX, and a surprising appearance by Björk — whose last film role was in 2005’s Drawing Restraint 9 — make for a revenge thriller loaded with star power and impressive theming. It’s easily the most surprising of Robert Eggers’ movies so far, veering away from outright horror into something much more grandiose.
‘The Punisher’ (2004)
Thomas Jane’s Turn as Frank Castle
The second cinematic outing of The Punisher was written and directed by Jonathan Hensleigh, starring Thomas Jane as Frank Castle. The story explores revenge from multiple points of view to show that one wrong never undoes another. It also borrows from a pair of comic storylines, notably Welcome Back, Frank. In the film, Castle is an undercover FBI operative. In his last operation, he takes down a weapon shipment by the youngest son of mafia boss Howard Saint, played by John Travolta, who subsequently orders Castle’s family to be killed. Naturally, this sets Castle on the path of revenge.
While most today associate Jon Bernthal with Frank Castle, Thomas Jane does more than an amicable job in the titular lead role. Similar to how Logan felt more like a neo-Western than a typical MCU film, The Punisher eschews a colorful tone in favor of a character-driven revenge narrative. John Travolta is memorable as the antagonistic villain, and the film’s basis on an existing story gives it a hardened edge you won’t find in other prominent Marvel films. It even borrows certain scenes from prominent Punisher comics, making it an entertaining flick for comic fans and casual viewers alike.
‘Sisu: Road to Revenge’ (2025)
The Never-Ending Cycle of Revenge
Director Jalmari Helander has positioned himself as one of the best action directors working today. Of course, bone-crunching, explosive action sequences will only get you so far; you need a good story to complement the chaos. 2025’s Sisu Road to Revenge would bring that cathartic tale of revenge from the first film — a man avenging the deaths of his family during wartime — and deliver a more violent tale as Korpi (Jorma Tommila), looks to rebuild his home elsewhere, only to be hunted by a man contracted to kill him.
With a relentless pace and utter brutality, Sisu: Road to Revenge would build on the original and deliver one of the most sensational revenge/action movies of the decade. It’s non-stop violence, which won’t be to everyone’s taste, as the plot becomes secondary to spectacle, but this is one wild ride for those who like their tales of revenge as bloody as possible.
‘Darkman’ (1990)
Liam Neeson’s Most Underrated Performance
Darkman is an underrated gem that is directed by Sam Raimi, who co-wrote the story with Chuck Pfarrer. It follows the journey of Peyton Westlake (Liam Neeson), a scientist who becomes disfigured after thugs blow up his lab to steal his research. After being rescued, Peyton discovers he’s been subjected to an experimental procedure to cut his nerve receptors so he no longer feels pain. Using his scientific knowledge, he creates a synthetic skin mask to help him blend into society. However, Peyton’s psyche has been broken, and he gains incredible strength whenever he becomes agitated.
Darkman launched Liam Neeson into stardom, along with his co-star Frances McDormand, who plays his love interest, Julie. The film features many of Raimi’s classic techniques, blending horror elements with powerful action scenes. It’s a film whose influences are clearly felt throughout, at times feeling more like a Universal monster movie than a traditional superhero film. Its focus on Westlake’s psychological plights, along with his quest for revenge, makes for a thrilling experience.
‘The Revenant’ (2015)
The Role that Finally Won Best Actor for Leonardo DiCaprio
The Revenant was written and directed by Alejandro G. Iñárritu and stars Leonardo DiCaprio and Tom Hardy. The somber film retells the story of Hugh Glass, a fur trapper who led an expedition in 1823. After being mangled by a bear, fellow fur trapper John Fitzgerald suggests killing Glass in an act of mercy. The party disagrees and leaves Glass in Fitzgerald’s care, along with Glass’ half-Pawnee son, Hawk. Fearing an Arikara attack, Fitzgerald kills Glass’ son and buries him alive. Glass digs himself out of his shallow grave and begins his journey back to civilization.
The film is a difficult watch, considering we must see Glass survive in the wild with no means to help himself other than his wits and drive for revenge. However, it’s this kind of feral brutality that makes The Revenant such a fulfilling watch. The cinematography of Emmanuel Lubezki melds harsh survival scenes with breathtaking scenic shots, creating an effective contrast between the two that sustains the film’s lengthy runtime. Famously, The Revenant also won Leonardo DiCaprio his first-ever Best Actor Academy Award after several prior nominations.
‘In the Bedroom’ (2001)
Nominated for Five Oscars
In the Bedroom tells the story of how an average man and his wife, Matt and Ruth Fowler, devise a plan to rid the world of a monster as they grapple with the moral dilemma of taking justice into their own hands and acting as vigilantes. Of course, morals aren’t exactly their family’s thing. Their son, Frank (Nick Stahl), has been sleeping with a single mother, which doesn’t connect with the Fowlers’ values. The ensuing summer will throw all three Fowlers headfirst into a tragedy none of them could’ve prepared for.
In the Bedroom features a tense plot, which is wonderfully played by Tom Wilkinson and Sissy Spacek as the leading couple. Their onscreen performances are nothing short of realistic and believable, as if they were actually the frazzled Fowlers themselves. Director and writer Todd Field also absolutely shines in his feature-length debut, later directing Little Children and Tár in 2006 and 2022, respectively. In the Bedroom was nominated for five Academy Awards, including Best Picture, but sadly won none.
‘Unforgiven’ (1992)
The Western That Won Clint Eastwood Best Picture
In the critically acclaimed revisionist Western Unforgiven, legendary silver screen star Clint Eastwood portrays an aging gunslinger and retired outlaw who is brought back into the fold to help a young man seek revenge. After being approached by the Schofield Kid, an aspiring gunman, repentant widower William Munny (a now iconic Clint Eastwood character) reluctantly agrees to take a final job with the help of longtime partner Ned Logan (Morgan Freeman) to claim a $1,000 bounty. They square off against a corrupt sheriff, Little Bill Daggett (Gene Hackman), to avenge a brutal attack on a sex worker.
The Oscar-winning picture features superb performances by its A-list cast and delves into the complexities of retribution and violence from differing perspectives. Revenge takes center stage alongside a deconstruction of the typical character archetypes found in the Western genre. It’s a self-reflective film as well, capping off Eastwood’s lengthy history in the Western genre as both a lead actor and director. As of writing, it is also one of three Westerns that have ever won Best Picture at the Academy Awards, joining the likes of Cimarron and Dances with Wolves.
‘The Equalizer’ (2014)
The Start of an Incredible Trilogy
Denzel Washington brilliantly captures the role of a lethal vigilante seeking cold, hard justice in the gripping action film The Equalizer. Robert McCall (Washington) finds his quiet, reclusive life disrupted when a girl he befriends is brutally beaten by a violent criminal, reigniting a powerful yet dangerous fire within him that leads him to take matters into his own hands; a simple revenge plot digs him deep into a criminal conspiracy—Marton Csokas, Chloë Grace Moretz, and David Harbour co-star in this thrilling revenge film.
Washington delivers a tour de force performance as a former intelligence agent, combining a warm smile with cold gazes as he mercilessly takes down those who oppose him. While he comes off as superhuman at points, the tension comes from how his lovable inner circle gets pulled into the violence, leaving you on the edge of your seat throughout. While it didn’t receive many major accolades, it recouped nearly four times its original budget at the box office. The overwhelming popularity of The Equalizer led to a successful sequel in 2018 and a third follow-up film released in 2023, with Washington’s Man on Fire co-star Dakota Fanning also appearing.
‘Carrie’ (1976)
A Classic Stephen King Story
The classic horror film based on Stephen King’s first novel, Carrie, tells the story of a bullied teenage girl who finds out she has telekinesis. On a night that was supposed to be a turnaround in her tumultuous life, she is humiliated in front of the entire school by her tormentors and snaps, deciding enough is enough. Sissy Spacek, Amy Irving, Betty Buckley, and a young John Travolta co-star in the first of many Stephen King adaptations to come.
This film shows a vulnerable girl with a unique ability who reaches her breaking point in a brutal, climactic ending that’s still referenced in pop culture today. Brian de Palma gave Carrie an incredibly innovative film style, especially in the final act, and both Sissy Spacek and Piper Laurie got Oscar nominations for their respective portrayals of Carrie and Margaret White. Considering how many times the original story has been adapted for the big screen, as well as how iconic scenes from this film are mimicked and parodied elsewhere, it’s easily one of the most iconic revenge stories in film history.
‘V For Vendetta’ (2005)
Alan Moore’s Revenge Thriller
In the action-revenge film V for Vendetta, Hugo Weaving plays a freedom fighter known as “V” in a dystopian United Kingdom. Being an anarchist, he crafts a series of devious and elaborate acts not only to ignite a wider rebellion but also to take revenge on the tyrannical government that wronged him many years prior. Natalie Portman co-stars as Evey Hammond, a witness to his acts, with Stephen Rea playing the stern Chief Inspector Eric Finch.
Based on a graphic novel by Alan Moore and adapted by the Wachowskis, V for Vendetta crafts a slick, entertaining tale of revenge, with James McTeigue behind the camera. Weaving and Portman give fantastic performances, capturing their characters’ personalities flawlessly and providing ample chemistry between them. The Guy Fawkes mask that V wears throughout the film is now synonymous with the hacker group Anonymous, signifying the film’s and accompanying comic’s continued relevance in pop culture to this day.
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