Gerard Butler’s “Action-Packed” Revenge Movie Lands New Streaming Home

Gerard Butler is known for starring in some violent and intense action thrillers, but one of his movies from the 2000s proved too much for some viewers. The movie was maligned by critics when it was released in 2009. However, it has since become a fan favorite, as many viewers have rediscovered the movie during the age of streaming. Prepare yourself for a gory and thrilling movie night, because Law Abiding Citizen is about to land on streaming.

Law Abiding Citizen blasts its way onto Peacock next month. The hyper-violent revenge thriller will stream on Peacock on Feb. 1. F. Gary Gray directed the movie from a script penned by Kurt Wimmer. Alongside Gerard Butler, the film featured a great supporting cast, including Jamie Foxx, Leslie Bibb, Colm Meaney, Bruce McGill, Regina Hall, and Michael Irby.

Butler stars as Clyde Shelton, a family man and law-abiding citizen… until he isn’t. A decade after his family is murdered during a home invasion, the killer, who was released early on a plea deal, is found brutally killed, with Shelton being the main suspect. Foxx plays Nick Rice, a detective tasked with interrogating Shelton to determine if he’s innocent or a wronged man out for revenge.

‘Law Abiding Citizen’ Is a Cult Classic Revenge Thriller

We previously mentioned that critics detested Law Abiding Citizen when it opened in 2009. Even contemporary critics have qualms with the movie, as it holds a 26% rating on Rotten Tomatoes from 162 reviews. However, Law Abiding Citizen is one of those movies that highlights the disparity between critics and regular audiences. The film was a modest box office success in 2009, grossing over $120 million at the worldwide box office.

The user reviews are far kinder to Law Abiding Citizen, giving it a 75% RT rating. “A very good one, worth watching (without the kids),” wrote one RT user. Many others agreed, like this user, who wrote:

“In the genre that is solo man seeking justice, this is one of the greats. Rather than being an action movie, this one is all about mind games.”

‘Law Abiding Citizen’ Was Too Violent for Some Viewers

Overture Films

Across his career, Gerard Butler has certainly starred in some violent movies. 300 comes to mind as one of his most brutal, thanks to Zack Snyder’s penchant for blood-soaked action. But, while 300 is probably his most action-packed film, Law Abiding Citizen is certainly his most brutal.

Clyde Shelton holds nothing back when avenging his family. While the movie can only show so much before it descends into Saw-esque torture territory, Law Abiding Citizen teases just enough carnage for you to imagine the horrific things Clyde did to his family’s killers. Although it left many RT users calling the film “too violent” in their reviews.