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IMDbPro

Punisher

Original title: The Punisher
  • 1989
  • 12
  • 1h 29m
IMDb RATING
5.6/10
25K
YOUR RATING
Dolph Lundgren in Punisher (1989)
When Frank Castle's family is murdered by criminals, he wages war on crime as a vigilante assassin known only as The Punisher.
Play trailer1:44
3 Videos
53 Photos
ActionCrimeThriller

When Frank Castle's family is murdered by criminals, he wages war on crime as a vigilante assassin known only as The Punisher.When Frank Castle's family is murdered by criminals, he wages war on crime as a vigilante assassin known only as The Punisher.When Frank Castle's family is murdered by criminals, he wages war on crime as a vigilante assassin known only as The Punisher.

  • Director
    • Mark Goldblatt
  • Writer
    • Boaz Yakin
  • Stars
    • Dolph Lundgren
    • Louis Gossett Jr.
    • Jeroen Krabbé
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    5.6/10
    25K
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • Mark Goldblatt
    • Writer
      • Boaz Yakin
    • Stars
      • Dolph Lundgren
      • Louis Gossett Jr.
      • Jeroen Krabbé
    • 208User reviews
    • 113Critic reviews
    • 63Metascore
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • Videos3

    Official Trailer
    Trailer 1:44
    Watch Official Trailer
    The Punisher: Carnival Shoot-Out
    Clip 1:06
    Watch The Punisher: Carnival Shoot-Out
    The Punisher: Moretti Released
    Clip 3:18
    Watch The Punisher: Moretti Released

    Photos53

    Dolph Lundgren, Isao Hirata, and Barry Otto in Punisher (1989)
    Dolph Lundgren in Punisher (1989)
    Dolph Lundgren and Kim Miyori in Punisher (1989)
    Dolph Lundgren and Kim Miyori in Punisher (1989)
    Dolph Lundgren and Kim Miyori in Punisher (1989)
    Punisher (1989)
    Punisher (1989)
    Punisher (1989)
    Punisher (1989)
    Kim Miyori in Punisher (1989)
    Punisher (1989)
    Dolph Lundgren in Punisher (1989)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Dolph Lundgren
    Dolph Lundgren
    • Frank Castle
    Louis Gossett Jr.
    Louis Gossett Jr.
    • Jake Berkowitz
    Jeroen Krabbé
    Jeroen Krabbé
    • Gianni Franco
    • (as Jeroen Krabbe)
    Kim Miyori
    Kim Miyori
    • Lady Tanaka
    Bryan Marshall
    Bryan Marshall
    • Dino Moretti
    Nancy Everhard
    Nancy Everhard
    • Sam Leary
    Barry Otto
    Barry Otto
    • Shake
    Brian Rooney
    Brian Rooney
    • Tommy Franco
    Zoska Aleece
    • Tanaka's Daughter
    • (as Zoshka Mizak)
    Kenji Yamaki
    • Sato
    Hirofumi Kanayama
    • Tomio
    Larry McCormick
    Larry McCormick
    • TV Newsreader
    Todd Boyce
    Todd Boyce
    • Tarrone
    Lani John Tupu
    Lani John Tupu
    • Laccone
    • (as Larney Tupu)
    Gianfranco Negroponte
    • Musso
    • (as John Negroponte)
    Noga Bernstein
    • Ginny
    Emma Soloman
    • Ginny's Girlfriend
    Courtney Keiler
    • Sophia
    • Director
      • Mark Goldblatt
    • Writer
      • Boaz Yakin
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      (at around 1h 1 min) During a flashback Frank Castle (Dolph Lundgren) has about his family, his daughters are both wearing Spider-Man pajamas. Director Mark Goldblatt did this to pay homage to Spider-Man. The Punisher first appeared in The Amazing Spider-Man #129, dated February 1974.
    • Goofs
      (at around 1h 10 mins) After the lights go off, some goons shoot at where two characters are standing, only to find them gone when the emergency lights come on. Not a single bullet hole is visible in the Japanese paper screen they were standing before, however.
    • Quotes

      The Punisher: Come on god, answer me. for years I'm asking why, why are the innocent dead and the guilty alive? Where is justice? Where is punishment? Or have you already answered, have you already said to the world here is justice, here is punishment, here, in me.

    • Crazy credits
      Wayne Fitzgerald created the titles from numerous movies and TV shows Buck Rogers in the 25th Century the same animated sequence is used.
    • Alternate versions
      German VHS release omits some of the bloody bullet-impacts. The killing of the Samurai army in the Yakuza tower was completely removed. We only see them lying on the ground.
    • Connections
      Edited into The Punisher: Gag Reel (2013)
    • Soundtracks
      Planet of Love
      Performed by Simon Stokes

      Written by Simon Stokes & Harry Garfield

    User reviews208

    Review
    Review
    Featured review
    Not nearly as bad as the IMDB rating leads you to believe
    In fact, I have a suspicion that I will still like this one better even after the release of the new Punisher (2004).

    That's because of a couple of reasons. Firstly, the acting. Dolph Lundgren acts very well in this film, portraying a grim, depressed, out of the ordinary action hero whose sole reason for living is revenge. Louis Gossett, jr. also does his best as Lundgren's former best friend. Jeroen Krabbe, in my opinion, is miscast as the big crime boss although he does his best.

    Secondly, the action sequences are simply good. Lots of guns blazing, some decent camera angles and of course the whole 'red light' sequence near the end of the film, which I liked. The whole atmosphere of this movie is grim, gritty, depressed. Something I think the remake this year will not accomplish.

    6/10
    helpful•21
    3
    • watcherDH
    • May 7, 2004

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    Reboots & Remakes

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    Production art
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    FAQ20

    • How long is The Punisher?Powered by Alexa
    • Is the US R-rated version completely uncensored? How about the British BBFC 18 VHS?
    • Does a Workprint exist?
    • is the us r-rated version uncensored?

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • October 25, 1989 (France)
    • Countries of origin
      • Australia
      • United States
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • The Punisher
    • Filming locations
      • Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
    • Production companies
      • New World Pictures (Australia)
      • Marvel Entertainment
      • New World Pictures
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • $9,000,000 (estimated)
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 29 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.85 : 1

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