A New York City architect becomes a one-man vigilante squad after his wife is murdered by street punks. In self-defense, the vengeful man kills muggers on the mean streets after dark.
Director:
Writers:
Awards:
- 1 win & 2 nominations.
- See more »
Reviews:
Photos and Videos
Cast verified as complete
| Charles Bronson | ... |
Paul Kersey
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| Hope Lange | ... |
Joanna Kersey
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| Vincent Gardenia | ... |
Frank Ochoa
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| Steven Keats | ... |
Jack Toby
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| William Redfield | ... |
Sam Kreutzer
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| Stuart Margolin | ... |
Aimes Jainchill
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| Stephen Elliott | ... |
Police Commissioner
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Kathleen Tolan | ... |
Carol Toby
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| Jack Wallace | ... |
Hank
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| Fred J. Scollay | ... |
District Attorney
(as Fred Scollay)
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| Chris Gampel | ... |
Ives
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| Robert Kya-Hill | ... |
Joe Charles
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| Edward Grover | ... |
Lt. Briggs
(as Ed Grover)
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| Jeff Goldblum | ... |
Freak 1
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Christopher Logan | ... |
Freak 2
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| Gregory Rozakis | ... |
Spraycan
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| Floyd Levine | ... |
Desk Sergeant
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| Helen Martin | ... |
Alma Lee Brown
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| Hank Garrett | ... |
Andrew McCabe
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| Christopher Guest | ... |
Patrolman Reilly
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| Rest of cast listed alphabetically: | |||
| Olympia Dukakis | ... |
Miss Gemetti
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| Marcia Jean Kurtz | ... |
Receptionist
(as Marcia Jean-Kurtz)
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Ken Ackles | ... |
Mugger in Park #1 (uncredited)
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Marshall Anker | ... |
Mourner at Funeral (uncredited)
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John G. Becher | ... |
Subway Station Mugger #1 (uncredited)
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| Robyn Blythe | ... |
Woman in Chicago (uncredited)
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| William Bogert | ... |
Fred Brown (uncredited)
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Bruce Brown | ... |
Newsman (uncredited)
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Robert Dahdah | ... |
Man on Street (uncredited)
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| Paul Dooley | ... |
Cop at Hospital (uncredited)
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| Starletta DuPois | ... |
Lady at Police Station (uncredited)
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| Art Evans | ... |
Police Officer at Precinct (uncredited)
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Hector Freeman | ... |
Mugger on Street (uncredited)
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Larry Gilman | ... |
Man in Park (uncredited)
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Beverly Goodman | ... |
Little Bo-Peep (uncredited)
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Trent Gough | ... |
Crime Scene Photojournalist (uncredited)
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| Carson Grant | ... |
Street Gang and Police Officer (uncredited)
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| John Herzfeld | ... |
Train Mugger #2 (uncredited)
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| Lawrence Hilton-Jacobs | ... |
Mugger in Park #2 (uncredited)
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| Eric Laneuville | ... |
Subway Station Mugger #2 (uncredited)
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| Damien Leake | ... |
Alley Mugger #2 (uncredited)
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| Al Lewis | ... |
Guard at Hotel Lobby (uncredited)
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| Sonia Manzano | ... |
Grocery Clerk (uncredited)
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| Robert Miano | ... |
Mugger (uncredited)
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Jay Rasumny | ... |
Architect in Office (uncredited)
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S. Pearl Sharp | ... |
Reporter (uncredited)
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Lee Steele | ... |
Office Security Guard (uncredited)
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| B.T. Taylor | ... |
Mugger (uncredited)
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Directed by
| Michael Winner | ||
Written by
| Brian Garfield | ... | (from the novel by) |
| Wendell Mayes | ... | (screenplay by) |
| Gerald Wilson | ... | () (uncredited) |
| Michael Winner | ... | () (uncredited) |
Produced by
| Dino De Laurentiis | ... | producer (uncredited) |
| Hal Landers | ... | producer (produced by) |
| Bobby Roberts | ... | producer (produced by) |
| Michael Winner | ... | co-producer |
Music by
| Herbie Hancock | ... | (music composed by) |
Cinematography by
| Arthur J. Ornitz | ... | director of photography |
Editing by
| Bernard Gribble | ||
Editorial Department
| William Lustig | ... | apprentice editor (uncredited) |
| Jim Rivera | ... | assistant editor (uncredited) |
Casting By
| Cis Corman | ||
Production Design by
| Robert Gundlach | ||
Set Decoration by
| George DeTitta Sr. | ... | (as George DeTitta) |
Costume Design by
| Joseph G. Aulisi | ||
Makeup Department
| Phil Rhodes | ... | makeup artist (as Phillip Rhodes) |
| Verne Caruso | ... | hairdresser (uncredited) |
Production Management
| Stanley Neufeld | ... | production manager |
Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
| Larry Y. Albucher | ... | assistant director (as Larry Albucher) |
| Charles Okun | ... | assistant director |
| Ralph S. Singleton | ... | assistant director (as Ralph Singleton) |
| Howard Himmelstein | ... | dga trainee (uncredited) |
Art Department
| Connie Brink | ... | property master (as Conrad Brink) |
| Sante Fiore | ... | scenic artist |
| Richard Adee | ... | assistant property master (uncredited) |
| Frank L. Brown | ... | set dressing lead man, tucson (uncredited) |
| Joe Gerson | ... | assistant production designer (uncredited) |
| Robert H. Klatt | ... | set dresser (uncredited) |
| Carlos Quiles | ... | carpenter (uncredited) |
Sound Department
| Alfred Cox | ... | dubbing editor |
| James Sabat | ... | sound recordist |
| Jim Shields | ... | dubbing editor (as James Shields) |
| Hugh Strain | ... | re-recordist |
| Arthur Bloom | ... | sound recordist (uncredited) |
| Robert Rogow | ... | boom operator (uncredited) |
Stunts
| Harry Daley | ... | stunts (uncredited) |
| Alan Gibbs | ... | stunts (uncredited) |
Camera and Electrical Department
| Lou Barlia | ... | camera operator (as Louis Barlia) |
| Charles Kolb | ... | head grip |
| Willie Meyerhoff | ... | gaffer (as Willy Meyerhoff) |
| Don Biller | ... | camera assistant (uncredited) |
| Louis Cappeta | ... | grip (uncredited) |
| Joseph Di Pasquale | ... | first assistant camera (uncredited) |
| Jack Gereghty | ... | still photographer (uncredited) |
| Cornelius Hannan | ... | electrician (uncredited) |
| John Khorigan | ... | grip (uncredited) |
| Owen Marsh | ... | camera operator (uncredited) |
| Sal Martorano | ... | best boy (uncredited) |
| Richard Meyerhoff | ... | electrician (uncredited) |
| Jack Stager | ... | still photographer (uncredited) |
| Ken Thompson Sr. | ... | grip (uncredited) |
Casting Department
| Frank Kennedy | ... | extras casting: locations (uncredited) |
Costume and Wardrobe Department
| Joseph W. Dehn | ... | wardrobe (as Joseph Dehn) |
Location Management
| Sam Goldrich | ... | location auditor (uncredited) |
Music Department
| Herbie Hancock | ... | music performer / orchestrator |
Script and Continuity Department
| Barbara Robinson | ... | script supervisor |
Transportation Department
| Louis Freerks | ... | transportation (uncredited) |
| James Lake | ... | driver (uncredited) |
| Harold 'Whitey' McEvoy | ... | transportation captain (uncredited) |
Additional Crew
| Stephen Cory | ... | assistant to director (as Steven Cory) |
| Dino De Laurentiis | ... | presenter |
| Ernest Anderson | ... | press agent (uncredited) |
| Steve 'Bunker' de France | ... | stand in: Charles Bronson (uncredited) |
| Michael Kennedy | ... | production assistant (uncredited) |
| Adeline Leonard Seakwood | ... | production office coordinator (uncredited) |
Production Companies
Distributors
- Paramount Pictures (1974) (United States) (theatrical)
- Cinema International Corporation (CIC) (1974) (United Kingdom) (theatrical)
- Cinema International Corporation (CIC) (1974) (Sweden) (theatrical)
- Columbia Pictures (1974) (Australia) (theatrical)
- Columbia-Kamera (1974) (Norway) (theatrical)
- Panasia Films (1974) (Hong Kong) (theatrical)
- Parafrance Films (1974) (France) (theatrical)
- TOBIS Film (1974) (West Germany) (theatrical)
- Warner-Columbia Films (1974) (Argentina) (theatrical)
- Warner-Columbia Films (1974) (Finland) (theatrical)
- Morava Film (1975) (Yugoslavia) (theatrical)
- Sociedade Importadora de Filmes (SIF) (1976) (Portugal) (theatrical)
- Paramount Home Entertainment (1980) (United States) (VHS)
- Paramount Home Entertainment (1981) (United States) (video) (LaserDisc)
- R-Video (1981) (Finland) (VHS)
- RCA Selectavision Videodiscs (1981) (United States) (video) (CED VideoDisc)
- VPS Film-Entertainment GmbH (1981) (West Germany) (VHS)
- LK-TEL Vídeo (1983) (Brazil) (VHS)
- RCA/Columbia Pictures International Video (1983) (Netherlands) (VHS)
- VCM (1983) (Norway) (VHS)
- VideoVisa (1983) (Mexico) (VHS)
- RCA/Columbia Pictures Video (1984) (Japan) (VHS)
- RCA/Columbia-Hoyts Home Video (1985) (Australia) (VHS)
- VTC-Video (1985) (Finland) (VHS)
- Videosonic (1985) (Greece) (VHS)
- WWOR (1987) (United States) (tv)
- Columbia TriStar Home Video (1993) (Australia) (VHS)
- Mainostelevisio (MTV3) (1993) (Finland) (tv) (cable television)
- Columbia TriStar Home Entertainment (1998) (Brazil) (DVD)
- Paramount Home Entertainment (2001) (United States) (DVD)
- Kinowelt Home Entertainment (2002) (Germany) (DVD)
- Universal Pictures Finland (2003) (Finland) (DVD)
- Universal Pictures UK (2006) (United Kingdom) (DVD)
- StudioCanal (2014) (Germany) (Blu-ray)
- Warner Home Video (2014) (United States) (Blu-ray)
- 7Mate (2023) (Australia) (tv)
- Seven Network (2023) (Australia) (tv)
- WOR-TV (United States) (tv)
Special Effects
Other Companies
- International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees (IATSE) (this picture made under jurisdiction of: affiliated with A.F.L.-C.I.O.)
- Tom Ward Enterprises (casting)
Storyline
| Plot Summary |
Open-minded architect Paul Kersey returns to New York City from vacationing with his wife, feeling on top of the world. At the office, his cynical coworker gives him a welcome-back with a warning on the rising crime rate, but Paul, a bleeding-heart liberal, thinks of crime as being caused by poverty. His coworker's ranting proves to be more than true when Paul's wife is killed and his daughter is raped in his own apartment. The police have no reliable leads and his overly sensitive son-in-law only exacerbates Paul's feeling of hopelessness. He is now facing the reality: the police can't be everywhere at once. Out of sympathy, his boss gives him an assignment in sunny Arizona where Paul gets a taste of Old West ideals. He returns to New York with a compromised view on muggers. Written by Don Hoffman |
| Plot Keywords | |
| Taglines | Judge. Jury. Executioner. See more » |
| Genres | |
| Parents Guide | View content advisory » |
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Box Office
| Budget | $3,000,000 (estimated) |
Did You Know?
| Trivia | After finishing The Stone Killer (1973), Charles Bronson and Michael Winner wanted to make another film together, and were discussing further projects. "What do we do next?" asked Bronson. "The best script I've got is 'Death Wish'. It's about a man whose wife and daughter are mugged and he goes out and shoots muggers," said Winner. "I'd like to do that," Bronson said. "The film?" asked Winner. Bronson replied, "No . . . shoot muggers." See more » |
| Goofs | Kersey's first shooting victim is hit in the abdomen, but a police investigator at the crime scene the next morning refers to a bullet hole in his chest. See more » |
| Movie Connections | Featured in Precious Images (1986). See more » |
| Soundtracks | Death Wish (Main Title) See more » |
| Crazy Credits | Actresses Olympia Dukakis ('Cop at the Precinct') and Marcia Jean Kurtz as Marcia Jean-Kurtz ('Woman at Airport') get credited in opening credits only. There's no mention of them in the closing credits. See more » |
| Quotes |
Paul Kersey:
Nothing to do but cut and run, huh? What else? What about the old American social custom of self-defense? If the police don't defend us, maybe we ought to do it ourselves. Jack Toby: We're not pioneers anymore, Dad. Paul Kersey: What are we, Jack? Jack Toby: What do you mean? Paul Kersey: I mean, if we're not pioneers, what have we become? What do you call people who, when they're faced with a condition or fear, do nothing about it. They just run and hide? Jack Toby: Civilized? Paul Kersey: No. See more » |