Death Wish | Rotten Tomatoes (2024)

66% Tomatometer 32 Reviews 69% Popcornmeter 10,000+ Ratings

Once a mild-mannered liberal, New York City architect Paul Kersey (Charles Bronson) snaps when intruders break into his home, murdering his wife (Hope Lange) and violently raping his daughter. A business trip to Tucson, Ariz., lands him a gift from a client, a revolver he uses to patrol the streets when he returns home. Frustrated that the police cannot find the intruders, he become a vigilante, gunning down any criminal that crosses his path. The public finds this vigilantism heroic.

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Death Wish

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Critics Consensus

Death Wish is undeniably exploitation fare -- and also undeniably effective.

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Critics Reviews

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Death Wish | Rotten Tomatoes (1) Maureen Orth Newsweek Director Michael Winner, an Englishman, has created a simplistic urban Western of good guys and bad guys that will conform to every paranoid's crime fantasies. Nov 2, 2021 Full Review Death Wish | Rotten Tomatoes (2) Variety Poisonous incitement to do-it-yourself law enforcement is the vulgar exploitation hook on which Death Wish is awkwardly hung. Mar 1, 2007 Full Review Death Wish | Rotten Tomatoes (3) Geoff Andrew Time Out Winner's recourse to caricature when dealing with police and thugs, and his virtually overt sympathies with the confused, violent Bronson, make for uncritical, simplistic viewing. Jan 26, 2006 Full Review Death Wish | Rotten Tomatoes (4) Keith Garlington Keith & the Movies It’s both fascinating and uncomfortable, as a story like this should be. Not everything clicks, especially in the final act. But it’s still a well-made thriller that’s worth more than a mere surface level reading. Rated: 4/5 Mar 15, 2023 Full Review Death Wish | Rotten Tomatoes (5) Matt Brunson Film Frenzy Although it’s about as complex as any random episode of My Mother the Car, it’s nevertheless effective agitprop. Rated: 3/4 Feb 5, 2023 Full Review Death Wish | Rotten Tomatoes (6) Gregory Mims New Pittsburgh Courier Although we may find the views expressed in Death Wish unacceptable on any level, still, the basic story line, despite its idiotic perspective, might have made an interesting film, had it been handled properly. Dec 13, 2021 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Liam D The beginning of an increasingly ludicrous franchise and clones. This actually takes its time with the story and the characters plus the theme of vigilanteism Rated 3/5 Stars • Rated 3 out of 5 stars 10/07/24 Full Review Dana N Another great classic. Very well-done film but I can't say the same for the sequels which are pretty pathetic. Rated 4/5 Stars • Rated 4 out of 5 stars 07/25/24 Full Review Audience Member Death Wish is like a spaghetti western set in New York city during the tumultuous ‘70’s. Charles Bronson plays a man whose wife and daughter have been brutally assaulted by a group of depraved thugs, upending his life entirely. With a lack of any real recourse, Bronson decides to turn to vigilantism and becomes a cult hero of sorts to the victimized citizens of the city. Death Wish is obviously controversial. It is a reflection of the overall sense of helplessness that New Yorkers felt during the ‘70’s in the face of out of control crime. That issue aside, Death Wish is at times effective due to Charles Bronson’s steely performance, but it's not entirely successful as a complete film. Rated 2.5/5 Stars • Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars 07/25/24 Full Review Leaburn O The hit film of summer 74. Brendon is excellent in this mildly silly social/political plot but it was fast paced, frenetic and darkly fun. Bought and watched on DVD. Rated 4/5 Stars • Rated 4 out of 5 stars 04/03/24 Full Review Rami A Despite being frightening, the film's darkness and message are potent, unsettling, and optimistic. The movie is thrilling, dark, terrifying, and entertaining. Charles Bronson gives a performance that will be remembered. Rated 4/5 Stars • Rated 4 out of 5 stars 03/29/24 Full Review matthias s "Death Wish" had the potential for an intense revenge thriller, but it falls short of its mark, earning a lukewarm 3-star rating from me. Charles Bronson's performance was decent, yet he struggled to convince in the emotional moments, leaving a gap in the film's impact. The story suffers from unnecessary subplots, diluting the main narrative, and the pacing is as erratic as a rollercoaster ride. While I anticipated a violent and gritty experience, the film veered more towards a psychological drama, taking an unexpected turn. It's a mixed bag that leaves you wanting more action and intensity. Despite its flaws, "Death Wish" manages to hold your attention, thanks to Bronson's presence, but it fails to deliver the adrenaline-pumping revenge flick it promised to be.P.s. i love you Jeff Goldblum!! Rated 3/5 Stars • Rated 3 out of 5 stars 11/15/23 Full Review Read all reviews

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Cast & Crew

Michael Winner Director Charles Bronson Paul Kersey Hope Lange Joanna Kersey Vincent Gardenia Frank Ochoa Steven Keats Jack Toby William Redfield Sam Kreutzer
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Death Wish: Official Clip - Shot and Bleeding Death Wish: Official Clip - Shot and Bleeding 1:30 Death Wish: Official Clip - Followed Home Death Wish: Official Clip - Followed Home 2:11 Death Wish: Official Clip - The Vigilante's Still Out There Death Wish: Official Clip - The Vigilante's Still Out There 1:19 Death Wish: Official Clip - Stalked in the Park Death Wish: Official Clip - Stalked in the Park 1:45 Death Wish: Official Clip - Draw! Death Wish: Official Clip - Draw! 1:38 Death Wish: Official Clip - Cowboy Stunt Show Death Wish: Official Clip - Cowboy Stunt Show 2:10 Death Wish: Official Clip - Subway Shooting Death Wish: Official Clip - Subway Shooting 1:37 Death Wish: Official Clip - Get a Transfer Death Wish: Official Clip - Get a Transfer 2:10 Death Wish: Official Clip - What Else You Got? Death Wish: Official Clip - What Else You Got? 2:07 Death Wish: Official Clip - Wrong Alley, Right Time Death Wish: Official Clip - Wrong Alley, Right Time 1:07 View more videos

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Synopsis Once a mild-mannered liberal, New York City architect Paul Kersey (Charles Bronson) snaps when intruders break into his home, murdering his wife (Hope Lange) and violently raping his daughter. A business trip to Tucson, Ariz., lands him a gift from a client, a revolver he uses to patrol the streets when he returns home. Frustrated that the police cannot find the intruders, he become a vigilante, gunning down any criminal that crosses his path. The public finds this vigilantism heroic.

Director
Michael Winner

Producer
Hal Landers, Bobby Roberts, Michael Winner

Screenwriter
Wendell Mayes

Distributor
Paramount Pictures

Production Co
Dino De Laurentiis Company

Rating
R

Genre
Crime, Drama

Original Language
English

Release Date (Theaters)
Jul 24, 1974, Original

Release Date (Streaming)
Aug 10, 2016

Runtime
1h 33m
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