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Death Wish
Death Wish
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Death Wish

Death Wish

1974
Drama, Crime
1h 33m
A New York City architect becomes a one-man vigilante squad after his wife is murdered by street punks.

Directed by:

Michael Winner

Screenwriter:

Brian Garfield, Wendell Mayes

Starring:

Jeff Goldblum, Christopher Guest, Olympia Dukakis, Hope Lange, Vincent Gardenia, William Redfield, Charles Bronson, Steven Keats, Stuart Margolin, Helen Martin, Stephen Elliott, Fred J. Scollay

Franchise:

Death Wish

Genres:

Drama, Crime, Action

Country:

USA

Languages:

English, French, Italian, German
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Death Wish

1974
Drama, Crime
1h 33m
Your probable score
Ratings & Reviews Cast Collections Similar Stats Trailer
Avg Percentile 48.16% from 1042 total ratings
Ratings & Reviews Cast Collections Similar Stats Trailer

Ratings & Reviews

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thedenizenTheDenizen
Rated 18 Jan 2007
85
91st
In contrast to the sequels, which were popcorn action movies featuring Bronson as the cool-as-ice angel of vengeance, the first Death Wish is a serious urban crime/drama. It shows Paul Kersey struggling with the violence he sees around him and then begins to perpetrate himself. Highly recommended. Early bit roles for Jeff Goldblum (one of the junkie rapists) and Maria from Sesame Street (the cashier at the grocery store)!
Rated 18 Jan 2007
billyshearsBillyShears
Rated 04 Mar 2018
85
86th
Jeff Goldblum referring to his penis as a paint brush like he's some golden retriever.
Rated 04 Mar 2018
judge_holdenJudge Holden
Rated 08 Aug 2010
2
15th
"My raped daughter is sleeping too much. It's not normal."
Rated 08 Aug 2010
stainStain
Rated 05 Jun 2007
100
95th
Scary and exciting revenge/madness story, with Charles Bronson giving probably the greatest performance of his life as a scared little man who was pushed too far
Rated 05 Jun 2007
myfavchordsmyfavchords
Rated 25 Sep 2012
75
49th
Charles Bronson does an excellent job in the lead role. He has played this type of role before but it certainly works for him. The script has a basic premise but it is executed well. This is really Bronson's movie and he carries it with ease.
Rated 25 Sep 2012
gedengeden
Rated 27 May 2010
75
59th
I saw this while eating delicious baked potatoes with my brother at 4 AM.
Rated 27 May 2010
ofterdingenOfterdingen
Rated 22 Mar 2023
72
81st
Fine direction, Bronson is perfect and NYC feels like hell on Earth. Manhattan this ain’t. Also remade as The Batman.
Rated 22 Mar 2023
wetwillieswetwillies
Rated 31 Mar 2021
40
2nd
Viewed March 30, 2021. This is so blatantly a right-wing fantasy that Charles Bronson's character actually goes to Tuscon to learn the old cowboy values before going on his vigilante rampage. My issue is less with the film's politics, as abhorrent as they may be, and more with how boring and literal it is in imparting them.
Rated 31 Mar 2021
hellboy76hellboy76
Rated 10 Aug 2015
67
57th
Probably the go to movie for every revenge film after it, it's surprisingly more complex than I thought it would be. Jeff Goldblum as a hood is fucking priceless.
Rated 10 Aug 2015
indyatmnINDYATMN
Rated 26 May 2014
90
89th
More than a cathartic adult power fantasy for those who've had it up to here with the kind of liberalism that apparently would much rather see a community chronically traumatized & anxious than have a criminal's rights violated, the film's a classic b/c it also dares to kick up the kinds of polarizing ideas progressives dismiss out of hand. Sure Bronson has all the range of Seagal and a one-man vigilante is unlikely to halve a city's crime wave, but this offers up primal pleasures just the same.
Rated 26 May 2014
emeraldguardEmeraldGuard
Rated 16 Feb 2014
80
67th
Not very realistic but engaging and great in its own way. Liberals will hate this movie. It was distracting how much the inspector looked like George Soros. Especially loved the news coverage with the construction crew and old woman with the hat pin. It's easy to see why this is a cult classic.
Rated 16 Feb 2014
paxtonPaxton
Rated 26 Dec 2013
65
49th
On the one hand it's a fairly serious take on urban street justice, but on the other hand, he never uses a bazooka. So...
Rated 26 Dec 2013
moribunnyMoribunny
Rated 04 May 2010
60
54th
Really not that bad. There were vigilante movies before but this may just be the purest example of the form. That's why it became the blueprint for four derivative and far trashier sequels, plus many ripoffs. An interesting connection is made to westerns which works because Winner made some decent ones (even an excellent one, Chato's Land, also with Bronson). Jeff Goldblum debuts as a street thug. It's an intellectually lightweight film but doesn't insult the intelligence.
Rated 04 May 2010
redundant1Redundant1
Rated 03 May 2010
77
90th
Jeff Goldblum in the role of a lifetime
Rated 03 May 2010
kavuKavu
Rated 20 Sep 2009
45
20th
I understand what they were going for but it just didn't turn out that well. Nothing happens in the first half and the second half is just a failed mugging after another.
Rated 20 Sep 2009
pickpocketPickpocket
Rated 14 Feb 2009
5
44th
Jeff Goldblum gives a hilarious performance.
Rated 14 Feb 2009
chiliChili
Rated 14 Aug 2007
90
81st
Charles Bronson typifies badass in this intense cult classic.
Rated 14 Aug 2007
the1timmaythe1timmay
Rated 14 Aug 2007
87
77th
Death Wish 2 and Death Wish 3 are also tremendous
Rated 14 Aug 2007
nuotionuotio
Rated 01 Feb 2007
72
93rd
One of the definite vigilante films. Bronson is cool, but still believable as Paul Kersey, an architect whose family gets attacked by a group of punks, lead by a very young Jeff Goldblum. The film paints a very grim picture of NY in the 70's, and while some parts feel very outdated, others hit surprisingly close to today's headlines. Michael Winner's direction is not that fancy, but he gets things done and the result is a prime example of 70's action films. Spawned 4 mostly outrageous sequels.
Rated 01 Feb 2007
moncliviemonclivie
Rated 30 Nov 2023
80
71st
Self-defence vigilante.
Rated 30 Nov 2023
montycircusMontyCircus
Rated 04 Jul 2023
40
38th
Repetitive mugging and shooting scenes. There's no meat on the story's bones. Most fun was seeing a young Jeff Goldblum as a punk rapist.
Rated 04 Jul 2023
paula1980paula1980
Rated 08 Apr 2023
66
62nd
Kick ass film. Ending could have been better.
Rated 08 Apr 2023
decanusellisDecanusEllis
Rated 20 Jan 2021
79
64th
Filmed really well, some nice shots and the colours were poppin', the score is groovy but also horrifying, quite funny at times too, sometimes the writing was a bit awkward: Any interaction between Paul and Jack was just weird and uncomfortable, felt really fake. Of course this is over the top and borders on ridiculous but, it is actually surprisingly a very decent flick.
Rated 20 Jan 2021
fredericg54frederic_g54
Rated 19 Jul 2020
6
35th
Imagine a less subtle version of ‘Taxi Driver', featuring a scenery-chewing Goldblum, some blunt characterisation and an irritating Herbie Hancock soundtrack. Makes me hate Joker even more.
Rated 19 Jul 2020
matthagenmatthagen
Rated 12 Mar 2020
4
0th
A question for you. Is Charles Bronson the worst A-list (once upon a time) actor who ever lived? I can't think of another contender off the top of my head. Setting that aside, the fact is that no one could have saved this sorry excuse of a gritty 70s action thriller.
Rated 12 Mar 2020
spikycactusSpikyCactus
Rated 03 Nov 2019
75
65th
Top badass moment? To the foul-mouthed youth who verbally accosted me on the Victoria Line recently; you’re next. Death Wish is basically a Batman film without the cool car, cave, butler, house, costume, bats, utility belt or Joker. Paul Kersey is the poor man’s Judge Dredd, who behaves like a LibDem supporter who's suddenly discovered there's a Brexit Party; yes, it’s that brutal. And all those poor cacti on the building site, soon to be destroyed. :-( No cats, chainsaws or decapitations.
Rated 03 Nov 2019
jnydamjnydam
Rated 14 Apr 2019
49
35th
Not impressed, very slow
Rated 14 Apr 2019
neonmanNeonman
Rated 13 Jun 2018
83
74th
A nice little time-capsule of a film, that's able to present its story in an effective, yet minimal manner. Showing us the right things to see (such as the rather meta Western performance) in portraying a man who uses the tragedy in his life to explore a certain dark kind of human power. Admittedly, it gets a little boring and reiterative towards the end (everyone just wants to beat the shit out of Bronson as soon as he leaves his house).
Rated 13 Jun 2018
yiannosYiannos
Rated 14 Nov 2017
50
26th
Reactionary politics aside, D.W isn't that well made. The first half is promising: we witness the slow descent of a grief stricken man who succumbs to violence after being fed up with living in a crime filled world. Once Bronson goes around killing people, the film gets repetitive and loses whatever value it might have had as a commentary on the ethics of vigilantism and just becomes a cheap exploitation film. Bronson is very good, but the substandard material betrays him at every turn.
Rated 14 Nov 2017
moraesfelipemoraesfelipe
Rated 07 Oct 2017
65
61st
Its crooked politics have poorly aged -- it's interesting to notice how edgy and graphic the rape scene is (not to mention that iconic Goldblum quote) and vigilante gruesome, cold, violent actions are not (to the point of seeming cartoonish, yet raw), which tells a lot how Americans saw and still see the social dynamics between sex and violence -- but Winner manages to mantain a somber, dark, gritty and sometimes even melancholic tone to his NYC Dirty Harry-like liberal fantasy.
Rated 07 Oct 2017
hiromiyamotohiromiyamoto
Rated 21 Jan 2017
87
51st
Death Wish isn't a great movie, but it's a solid movie, and when it comes to 1970s exploitation films, what more do you want?
Rated 21 Jan 2017
peaceanarchyPeaceAnarchy
Rated 24 Jul 2016
63
14th
A film that doesn't know what it wants to be and flounders, but still hits some interesting moments along the way. Some key moments are really hamfistedly executed and the numerous attempts at political commentary come off as flailing non-sequiturs. What results is a film with good structure and compelling themes that delivers in unsatisfying spurts. Ultimately neither effective as food for thought nor visceral entertainment, though you can see the seeds for both.
Rated 24 Jul 2016
domahdomah
Rated 29 May 2015
60
35th
Lots of boring build up to a great ending shot.
Rated 29 May 2015
wwallce4prezWWallce4prez
Rated 05 Apr 2015
65
35th
Bronson, and his missing section of mustache, stir shit up once Goldblum and crew spray paint his daughter's butt. ok.
Rated 05 Apr 2015
redactedredacted
Rated 29 Nov 2013
47
20th
This film should have its entire score torn out like the smoke-stained shag carpet it is & replaced with a stream of consciousness from Bronson. Directly after the murder of his wife, I guarantee you he would be thinking about where he could buy quality discount moccasins followed by a debate on the colouring. Either that, or varying strategies Nixon should have adopted to avoid getting axed for Watergate. Having to live with the reality of impeachment, Bronson undertakes a gun-powered rampage.
Rated 29 Nov 2013
lookjabbaLookJabba...
Rated 22 Nov 2013
6
41st
Death Wish is the original vigilante thriller that features a memorable performance from Charles Bronson. This film has inspired and spawned so many similar films since. Including four disappointing sequels of its own. But few vigilante films since have to managed to capture the tension, grit and rawness that Michael Winner achieves here. The most integral part of Death Wish though is the charisma that Charles Bronson brings to the role and without him this film would have been long forgotten.
Rated 22 Nov 2013
thehynesthehynes
Rated 15 Jul 2013
51
35th
Someday a real rain will come and wash all the scum off the streets
Rated 15 Jul 2013
pursusPursus
Rated 30 Mar 2013
60
27th
It's an OK movie but it hasn't aged well, particularly due to the soundtrack and pacing.
Rated 30 Mar 2013
glm01glm01
Rated 06 Jan 2013
70
39th
69.500
Rated 06 Jan 2013
kramyessevKramYessev
Rated 17 May 2012
25
5th
Apparently Jeff Goldblum only puts effort into his performances when he's raping bitches. Boooooooringgggggggg.
Rated 17 May 2012
movieman21movieman21
Rated 19 Jan 2012
98
75th
a great movie, one to check out
Rated 19 Jan 2012
vandelay1Vandelay1
Rated 30 Dec 2011
60
63rd
Okay
Rated 30 Dec 2011
mrcarmadyMrCarmady
Rated 29 May 2011
70
17th
The 3rd one is probably much more fun, but this isn't awful by any measure.
Rated 29 May 2011
nobletNoblet
Rated 27 Sep 2010
42
16th
Even worse than Dirty Harry in it's message, and not nearly as entertaining either.
Rated 27 Sep 2010
fenixdownfenixdown
Rated 26 Jul 2009
64
22nd
Well done story. The only problem I had is that it doesn't really establish Kersey as a likeable character, so you can't (shouldn't anyway) cheer him on in his fight.
Rated 26 Jul 2009
pepsi_manPepsi-Man
Rated 21 Jul 2009
2
39th
The classic vigilante flick. Bronson's intimidating presence manages to offset some of the more questionable aspects of the movie.
Rated 21 Jul 2009
pompousasspompousass
Rated 26 May 2009
40
71st
A nightmare of New York City streets swarmed over by hopped-up hooligans who flit and slither like rejects from a West Side Story audition. In effect, this Winner exercise picks up from the baleful curtain line of his previous movie, Stone Killer: "You've got five more minutes, Christians!"
Rated 26 May 2009
seryxaSeryxa
Rated 10 Apr 2009
25
43rd
After a highly unpleasant and sensational opening, this curious and controversial film settles down into what amounts to black comedy, with the audience well on the vigilante's side. It's not very good, but it keeps the audience watching.
Rated 10 Apr 2009
joseywalesjoseywales
Rated 15 Mar 2009
75
73rd
Very tense!
Rated 15 Mar 2009
deastmandeastman
Rated 11 Mar 2009
80
62nd
Badass. Rape Scene Rating: 4
Rated 11 Mar 2009
luna6ixLuna6ix
Rated 09 Mar 2009
74
48th
Generally, any movie with more than two sequels is watchable, and I guess this one is watchable, but only that. It is--in fact, just a very average movie, nothing special, and Bronson isn't as ballsy as I had hoped.
Rated 09 Mar 2009
anomalyAnomaly
Rated 31 Dec 2008
55
23rd
Don't expect much, it's pretty much the same as Dirty Harry. A lot better made though, and Jeff Goldblum is hilarious in his small part.
Rated 31 Dec 2008
enthusiastEnthusiast
Rated 23 Dec 2008
70
50th
"Dirty Harry" wasn't exactly steeped in dense symbolism or anything, but there were a few hand-tipping scenes that created a palpable unease with its own morally ambiguous world. This is almost comically blunt in comparison and makes zero apologies for its formulaic, spoon-fed message. Shut off your brain, do what the man says, and enjoy the ride.
Rated 23 Dec 2008
castrophCastroph
Rated 12 Oct 2008
6
55th
The death of the wife was a bit too rushed and the action kind of died down near the end.
Rated 12 Oct 2008
teeceeteecee
Rated 29 Sep 2008
52
76th
Klassiker . den eneste kvalitet
Rated 29 Sep 2008
thedo666thedo666
Rated 18 Aug 2008
60
8th
Aged badly, but clearly ahead of its time in terms of grittiness and bleakness. Apparently Stalone wants to remake it?
Rated 18 Aug 2008
stflyst_fly
Rated 26 Aug 2007
68
64th
Good
Rated 26 Aug 2007
vashekvashek
Rated 14 Aug 2007
70
46th
Interesting view on crime in the city.
Rated 14 Aug 2007
chimpCHIMP
Rated 14 Aug 2007
27
3rd
MOTHER'S FREAKING OUT!
Rated 14 Aug 2007
yilbyilb
Rated 14 Aug 2007
20
7th
Bronson is a poster child for "can't act" along with other greats like Chuck Norris & Kevin Costner. only Kevin can make a movie worth sitting thtough & that's because he does romances & baseball movies.
Rated 14 Aug 2007
saucyjacksaucyjack
Rated 02 Jun 2007
70
49th
Really brings up questions of vigilante justice, unlike the horrible sequels, which turned into hilarious/sleazy exploitation pieces.
Rated 02 Jun 2007
vince_leoVince Leo
Rated 10 Apr 2007
55
28th
Death Wish, for all of its interesting points, is just too uneven an experience to fully recommend to anyone who isn't either a die-hard Bronson fan or a lover of average-joe vigilante films in general. As a testament of pro-gun and anti-criminal rights, it does hit its marks, but as a movie, the flaws are too substantial to ignore.
Rated 10 Apr 2007
thedicemanTheDiceman
Rated 13 Feb 2007
40
19th
Poor.
Rated 13 Feb 2007

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