5 Best Revenge Movies You Need to See

There’s nothing quite like a good ole revenge tale. Seeing a hero or heroine get their dues by exacting some sweet vengeance-filled justice is a story arc that has stood the test of time, and after some excellent entries into the genre over the years, we thought we’d round up some of the best revenge journeys that are worth witnessing:

John Wick

It’s basically impossible to talk about revenge movies without mentioning John Wick. The 2014 action thriller from Chad Stahelski and starring Keanu Reeves was an excellent (and somewhat unexpected) dive into the shadowy world of assassins, full of rules, colourful characters, and some breathtaking hand-to-hand combat sequences and gunfights. On top of all of that, Wick’s vengeful endeavour is sparked by Russian mobsters hurting his dog, giving the audience a revenge mission that anyone can get behind.

Man on Fire

Tony Scott’s stylish 2004 thriller Man on Fire is one of the more overlooked Denzel Washington films, but one which is arguably his best. Washington plays a former CIA agent turned bodyguard who is allocated to protecting a young girl from Mexican kidnappers. When things go south, Washington goes on a blood-soaked rampage to set things right which is both difficult to watch as well as impactful, giving a broken and burnt-out man something to fight for. It’s gritty, violent, and delivers a lot of twists and turns throughout its runtime.

Kate

Kate is a bit of an unsung gem on Netflix, starring Elizabeth Mary Winstead as an assassin who is poisoned by an unknown enemy. She has only the night to find the perpetrator and exact her revenge, all while protecting a young girl caught in the crossfire. It’s a slick, stylish, and enjoyable action flick that puts revenge front and centre as the story moves through a neon-lit Osaka, Japan, with Winstead delivering a suitably badass performance.

Without Remorse

Based on the Tom Clancy novel, Amazon Prime’s Without Remorse is a gut-wrenching but no-holds-barred revenge thriller starring Michael B. Jordan — a Navy SEAL soldier who sets out to hunt down those who killed his family following a high-risk mission, only to uncover a much larger conspiracy that threatens the whole country. It’s got a tragic story, but the military espionage and firefights keep the adrenaline pumping from start to finish, not to mention the screenplay was written by Taylor Sheridan (Wind River, Sicario).

Wrath of Man

Well, the title of this Guy Richie-directed action thriller says it all. Wrath of Man follows a man out for revenge after his son is killed during a sloppy cash-in-transit heist. Mason (played by Jason Statham) then joins the armoured car company under an alias in order to find and pounce on the criminal organisation targeting the trucks, and in turn, find his son’s killer. It’s a well-put-together thriller split into four parts, highlighting the extent one would go to seek vengeance.

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