Crime Films About Vigilantes: A Must-Watch List

Description: After his wife is murdered and his daughter assaulted, architect Paul Kersey turns vigilante to hunt down the criminals plaguing New York City. This film set the standard for vigilante justice in cinema.

Fact: The film was controversial for its portrayal of vigilantism, leading to debates about its impact on real-world violence. It spawned several sequels and a 2018 remake starring Bruce Willis.

Description: Travis Bickle, a Vietnam War veteran, becomes a taxi driver in New York City and descends into madness, planning to assassinate a presidential candidate and save a young prostitute from her pimp.

Fact: The film was inspired by a real-life incident where a taxi driver wrote to a newspaper about his thoughts on cleaning up the city. Robert De Niro improvised the famous "You talkin' to me?" scene.

Description: Robert McCall, a retired black ops operative, comes out of retirement to help a young prostitute, leading him to confront the Russian mafia as a vigilante.

Fact: The film is based on the 1980s TV series of the same name. Denzel Washington performed many of his own stunts, showcasing his physical prowess.

Description: Batman, the ultimate vigilante, faces his greatest challenge yet in the form of the chaotic Joker. This film delves into the moral complexities of vigilantism, making it a cornerstone in the vigilante crime genre.

Fact: Heath Ledger's portrayal of the Joker won him a posthumous Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor. The film was the first comic book movie to win an Oscar for Best Supporting Actor.

Description: After surviving a brutal attack that leaves her fiancé dead, radio host Erica Bain becomes a vigilante, hunting down criminals in New York City.

Fact: Jodie Foster, who plays Erica Bain, was nominated for a Golden Globe for her performance. The film explores themes of justice, revenge, and the moral ambiguity of vigilantism.

Description: Ex-Federale Machete is hired to assassinate a senator but becomes a vigilante when he's betrayed, taking on a drug cartel and corrupt politicians.

Fact: The character Machete first appeared in a fake trailer in Robert Rodriguez's "Grindhouse." The film features a cameo by Robert De Niro, playing a character reminiscent of his role in "Taxi Driver."

Description: Clyde Shelton, an engineer, takes justice into his own hands after the legal system fails to punish the men who killed his family, leading to a cat-and-mouse game with the DA.

Fact: The film was inspired by real-life cases where individuals took the law into their own hands due to perceived failures in the justice system. The movie's ending was changed from the original script to be more ambiguous.

Description: Henry, a cybernetically enhanced soldier, wakes up with no memory and must rescue his wife from a telekinetic warlord, becoming a vigilante in the process.

Fact: The entire film is shot from the first-person perspective, making it a unique entry in the action genre. It was one of the first feature films to be entirely shot in first-person POV.

Description: After her husband and daughter are killed by a drug cartel, Riley North trains herself to become a vigilante, seeking revenge on those responsible.

Fact: The film was inspired by the French film "Sleepless Night." Jennifer Garner underwent extensive physical training for her role as Riley North.

Description: After losing his family to mob violence, Frank Castle becomes The Punisher, a relentless vigilante who uses his military skills to wage a one-man war on crime.

Fact: The film's director, Jonathan Hensleigh, was also a writer for the Marvel Comics Punisher series. The movie features a cameo by Stan Lee, co-creator of The Punisher.