Right from the genesis of motion pictures, revenge movies have been the darlings of so many people for reasons that are not far-fetched. The genre steals much from the human desire to get even, relating such tales about having one’s revenge that is soothing and difficult to not appreciate.
You are not a big fan of this kind of movies if you haven’t seen the ones listed here because, apparently, they are the best revenge movies of recent generations.
Best Revenge Movies of Recent Generations
1. V for Vendetta
Release Date: March 17, 2006
V for Vendetta is one of those movies that are truly one of a kind – the dialogue, visual style, and narrative are intricately crafted. It is thought of as one of the best revenge movies ever. The movie is set in a dystopian future where Britain is being ruled by fascists willing to commit all kinds of atrocities to seize and maintain power.
However, a man in a Guy Fawkes mask called V is determined to overthrow the government and avenge the personal wrongs committed against him. He meets a young woman, Evey and their lives become entangled. As far as revenge movies go, it doesn’t get much better than this.
2. Inglorious Bastards
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vCxqydj1FBo
Release Date: August 21, 2009
Considering Inglorious Bastards was directed by the legendary Quentin Tarantino, it is no surprise it turned out to be a cinematic marvel and one the best vengeance plots we have ever seen. The film immediately connected with audiences around the world the moment it was released because of the weight of the story it tells and fans think it is one of the best revenge movies ever.
Who doesn’t want to see a bunch of Nazis get the terrible endings they deserve. The film follows a coterie of Jewish U.S soldiers who have one shared goal: assassinating Nazi leaders. They are helped by a young woman who is also seeking revenge against the Nazis for the murder of her family. Inglorious Bastards is fierce, brutal, and unforgettable.
3. Kill Bill Volumes 1 and 2
Release Date: 10 October 2003
It would be impossible to make a list of the best revenge movies without giving Kill Bill a rightfully earned spot. It is a cross between martial arts and spaghetti westerns. Scene after scene is filled with violence, flesh being slashed open, eyeballs being gouged out, karate chops powerful enough to stop the heart, and people being buried alive. However, there’s a method to this particular bloody madness.
The story follows Bea, played by Uma Thurman who is left for dead after her boss shoots her for becoming pregnant for him. Bea survives and goes on a terror-filled quest for revenge. The second volume sees Bea, now retired from her life as an assassin lose everything she holds dear in one night, and the lengths she’s willing to go to exact payback. This Quentin Tarantino classics are some of the most vicious revenge films ever made.
4. Memento
Release Date: 5 September 2000
What do you get when you combine mental health issues with a quest for vengeance? Memento. This searing psychological thriller directed by Christopher Nolan tells the story of Shelby, a man afflicted with a kind of amnesia that makes him incapable of making new memories. The last thing he remembers is being assaulted by two men who murdered his wife in the process, so he wakes up every day reliving the memory and writing notes with information that could help him hunt down the people responsible for her death.
Nolan proves his genius in this cinematic masterpiece by telling the story backward, from end to beginning, creating a puzzle-like structure that keeps you on the edge of your seat. The suspense and action make Memento, without doubt, one of the best revenge movies of all time.
5. OldBoy
Release Date: 21 November 2003
This South Korean movie which was directed by Park Chan-wook is a revenge classic, featuring some of the best fight scenes ever filmed. The film follows a drunk businessman who is kidnapped and imprisoned for 15 years with no reason. Then, suddenly, he wakes up a free man and decides to chase down the people who kept him captive and murdered his family.
The movie is stylishly shot, but ultimately disturbing and guaranteed to stay with you long after the closing credits. If Tarantino couldn’t stop heaping praises on the film when it was first released, you don’t stand a chance with OldBoy. It will break you and remake you. This is why it is one of the best revenge movies out there.
6. The Crow
Release Date: 11 May 1994
The Crow tells the story of a man who returns to life on the day he and his family was murdered to try and avenge their deaths. The gothic themes really bring out the dark aspects of the movie. The main character, played by Brandon Lee has one singular purpose: to destroy.
It is brilliantly shot, written, and adventurous in the way it took numerous risks that were unheard of in cinema at the time. The Crow’s plot becomes more heart wrenching and gratifying when you recall that Brandon Lee was accidentally shot to death on set while filming the movie.
7. The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo
Release Date: 12 December 2011
Even if you’ve read the book the movie is based on, Girl With the Dragon Tattoo promises to be one of the most emotional and fear-inducing films you will ever watch. The story follows an inquisitive journalist investigating the curious case of a young woman who went missing 40 years earlier.
He is helped by Lisbeth Salander, a badass computer hacker, and together they uncover widespread corruption and details about Lisbeth’s rapist. She swiftly begins dispensing justice to her abuser, unleashing unspeakable torture in him and recording the whole thing. Her rage is heavy and palpable, ready to eviscerate every object if its attention. Revenge movies can be a tough pill to swallow, and Girl With the Dragon Tattoo is a certified rollercoaster.
8. Unforgiven
Release Date: 3 August 1992
Everyone thought the era of bullet-fueled western movies was coming to an end until Unforgiven happened. The classic, featuring Clint Eastwood at his best as lead actor follows a retired and reformed gunfighter who accepts one last gig to collect a bounty on behalf of his partner.
His character is trying to save his family and the people he holds dear, and that means seeking to avenge them against all who have done them wrong. It became an instant classic in the revenge genre and even went on to take in numerous honors, including three academy awards.
9. Mad Max: Fury Road
Release Date: 13 May 2015
This golden-colored and action-packed thriller is a work of cinematic genius. Thanks to George Miller’s impeccable talent, every scene is a perfectly staged photograph. It is visceral, poignant, and not beyond the regular revenge movie. Watching Mad Max: Fury Road is like vibing to your favorite rock tunes; all your nerve endings are on high alert.
The movie, which is technically one giant chase scene across the thirsty desert, features Charlize Theron [Furiosa] and Tom Hardy, who join forces with five escaped brides of the despotic ruler. Revenge in this movie is not focused on one subject, but an entire society and the rules that govern it. The small band of rebels slaughter, bomb, and fight their way to freedom, and their eventual triumph is as satisfying as a cold drink of water.
10. Blue Ruin
Release Date: 27 February 2014
The way most revenge movies go, the protagonist is badass with some kind of professional training that makes them accustomed to ruthlessness, and the story ends when the crimes they seek justice for are avenged. Blue Ruin is a refreshing break from this norm. The movie forces the viewer to consider the natural cycle of revenge in a typical setting – the act of vengeance itself invites a vengeful response against the avenger.
The story essentially says that no act of violence will go unanswered, and to give in to that primal urge for vigilante justice is to invite trouble. The main character, Dwight is an ordinary young man whose life became somewhat hellish after his parents were murdered.
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He spends a lot of time dreaming about making the killer pay, so when the man is paroled, he buys a gun and does just that. Unfortunately for Dwight, the killer’s family come after him, and he has to run and fight for his life when he has no idea how. Blue Ruin is not just one of the best revenge movies, it is a cautionary tale.
11. John Wick
Release Date: 16 May 2019
It wouldn’t be far-fetched to say John Wick is the best revenge movie made in the last decade. The film tells the tale of a retired assassin – the eponymous John Wick, played by Keanu Reaves – who dusts off his gun to hunt down the men that stole his car and killed the dog his dead wife left him. Yes!
John leaves senseless terror and bloodbaths to avenge the death of his dog. The violence in the film is brutal and poetic. There are no happy endings, just the assurance of death. John Wick is a superior revenge movie and one of the greatest action thrillers released in recent times.
