Revenge plots often entail a lot of emotional drive, fighting, and eventual victorious triumph. However, the popular trope is overused with many additions to the subgenre being similar to those before them. The best of these revenge storylines, whether they’re in a tense thriller or fast-paced action movie, offered something exceptional in comparison to others.
Films like John Wick and Gladiator are icons of the revenge plot, featuring skilled fighters as an unstoppable force seeking justice. Other, such as Carrie and Django Unchained, are multi-layered plots that have a large focus on vengeance while perfectly fitting into their respective genres. Among the many revenge movies, these plotlines are the most memorable.
10 The Punisher (2004)
In The Punisher, Frank Castle (Thomas Jane) survives a brutal attack by criminals but loses his wife and child. Thought to be dead, Castle trains and prepares to take down the crime boss that murdered his family by becoming a deadly vigilante.
This rendition of The Punisher isn’t the most popular but is excellent at capturing the pain that drives Castle’s desire for revenge. The iconic anti-hero comes to life in this 2004 adaptation of the comic books, featuring an action-packed sequence that solely relies on the vengeance of a scorned FBI agent.
9 Django Unchained (2012)
In Django Unchained, Django (Jamie Foxx) is a slave that is taken on by a German bounty hunter that needs his help tracking down the Brittle Brothers. Django embraces this role, hunting down the men that had previously beaten him and his love interest on a southern plantation.
Django Unchained is one of Jamie Foxx’s most underrated roles, receiving positive reviews while largely falling under the radar in terms of great action movies. The quick wit and resilience of the main characters are exceptional, leading up to the satisfying conclusion when Django’s need for vengeance is satiated, and he gets his happy ending.
8 Gladiator (2000)
When Roman general, Maximus (Russell Crowe), refuses to comply with the new corrupt emperor, he escapes capture and rides home to find his wife and son crucified. Sold as a slave to be a gladiator, Maximus quickly gains the favor of the public as he plots to take down the emperor that killed his family and stripped him of his station.
Gladiator was one of the best 2000s pictures, wowing critics and audiences alike with an amazing historical epic. Crowe’s performance as Maximus is impactful, captivating viewers with a man’s harrowing journey to avenge his loved ones.
7 The Northman (2022)
The Northman is an underrated 2022 movie about a man that spends most of his life plotting revenge. The story begins with Amleth (Alexander Skarsgård) as a young boy, witnessing his uncle murder his father and kidnap his mother. As a man, he is a brutal Viking raider that finally decides to seek out his uncle and get revenge.
Those unfamiliar with the Norse legend Amleth, which the film captures, are likely familiar with Shakespeare’s Hamlet, which is said to be based on the epic Viking story. This ancient revenge narrative was exceptionally captured on screen with chilling violence and a couple of shocking twists.
6 The Revenant (2015)
Set in the 1800s frontier, The Revenant follows Hugh Glass (Leonardo DiCaprio) who is injured and left to die after his companion kills his son. Glass fights to survive the dangerous landscape and seek out the man that betrayed him and murdered his child.
The Revenant may seem like just another storyline about a father seeking revenge for his lost child. However, the movie is atmospheric and intense, taking place in a treacherous landscape while following a man that is kept alive by his constant drive for retribution.
5 The Equalizer (2014)
The Equalizer follows the mysterious Robert McCall (Denzel Washington) who is trying to live a quiet life when he comes upon a troubled teen being mistreated by mobsters. McCall uses his deadly skill set to defend her and other helpless victims.
The Equalizer keeps the mystery of the main character while portraying him as a vengeful, unforgiving crime fighter. This movie is unlike many other revenge plots, with a character seeking retribution for others without an obvious sentimental attachment.
4 Carrie (1976)
Carrie is a terrifying coming-of-age story created by horror icon Stephen King. The plot follows high schooler Carrie White who is raised by her religious mother who believes her daughter’s psychic abilities are evil. When Carrie is on stage at her prom, a group of bullies drops pig blood on her, triggering the traumatized girl to unleash her powers on the dance.
The prom night massacre in this ’70s classic is an iconic moment in cinematic history, but Carrie’s story about a struggling youth that finally reaches her breaking point is emotionally gripping. While this movie does have a brutal revenge scene, the emotional state of this gifted young woman is more compelling than the violence.
3 John Wick (2014)
John Wick is such an iconic revenge story that the original film kickstarted a major action franchise. In this first plot, John (Keanu Reeves) is a retired assassin that has his life turned upside when his wife dies. After a mobster kills his puppy, the last gift from his wife, he goes on a bloody revenge mission.
Dogs are a beloved addition to any movie, but John Wick took the family dog trope to a new level by having the hero avenge his puppy. Though the loss of the pet was symbolic of John’s grief over the loss of his spouse, the plotline was unique enough to make a lasting impression on the trope.
2 Oldboy (2003)
Oldboy is a major Korean thriller with one of the most action-packed and unsettling revenge plots in the genre. When Dae-su (Choi Min-sik) is pulled off the streets, he spends 15 years imprisoned in solitude. Upon his release, he’s given a short time to track down the man that led to his imprisonment.
Oldboy is an exceptionally dark and twisted revenge plot, focusing on a disturbed protagonist that has spent years building up his rage. The ending offers a couple of unsettling surprises, making Oldboy one of the darkest movie endings.
1 Unforgiven (1992)
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Clint Eastwood stars in another exceptional Western movie in Unforgiven. When a prostitute is disfigured by cowboys, she puts out a reward for the murder of her assailants. Two groups compete for the promised reward, including one led by aging gunslinger William Munny (Eastwood).
Unforgiven is unique in the genre because revenge is the catalyst, but the people partaking in the action and fighting are largely disconnected from the victim. The film has a plethora of excellent performances and a multi-layered plot that succeeded in being a fresh take on the typical Western scenario.