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Law Abiding Citizen
2009 109 min United Kingdom, United States of America R 18+
★6.5
Drama, Crime, Thriller
Director: F. Gary Gray
Trailers
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Description
A frustrated man decides to take justice into his own hands after a plea bargain sets one of his family's killers free. He targets not only the killer but also the district attorney and others involved in the deal.
Budget:
$53M
US Gross:
$73.36M
Worldwide:
$127.9M
Starring
Gerard Butler
Actor
Jamie Foxx
Actor
Leslie Bibb
Actor
Awards
Saturn Awards 2010
— Best Action, Adventure or Thriller
Key opinion
Law Abiding Citizen is a high-stakes thriller that succeeds as an engaging, adrenaline-fueled exploration of systemic corruption and personal vengeance. While audiences praise the film's tense pacing and Gerard Butler's commanding lead performance, critics are divided over the tonal shift from a grounded procedural to a violent, implausible conclusion.
| Acting | Gerard Butler delivers a nuanced and powerful performance that grounds the protagonist's transition from a grieving father to a ruthless anti-hero. | |
| Emotion | The film effectively generates high levels of tension and emotional engagement through its exploration of systemic legal failures. | |
| Pacing | The narrative structure and pacing are highly effective at keeping viewers invested, though some find the progression into a cat-and-mouse thriller to be over-the-top. | |
| Ending | Opinions on the finale are deeply divided, with some viewers finding it an intellectually empty or absurd conclusion that betrays the earlier, more grounded critique of the judiciary. | |
| Screenplay | The screenplay is criticized for relying on implausible plot mechanics and excessive violence that ultimately undermine its philosophical ambitions. |