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Punisher: War Zone

  • Is it age appropriate?

    About our ratings

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    Not age appropriate for kids under 17, age appropriate for kids over 18; suggested age 17.
  • Is it any good?

    3.0
  • Common Sense says

    Violent vigilante comic book story is gory, grim stuff.

Why We Rated This not for kids

What to watch out for

  • Messages:

    The film's "hero" is a vigilante who fights New York's organized crime figures after his family is executed for accidentally witnessing a mob execution. His murderous work is in many ways secretly approved of by legitimate law enforcement personnel. He shoots and kills an undercover FBI agent and is tormented by this. Discussion of terror plots and biological weapons (which are to be sold "to the ragheads in Queens"). Some discussion of God's mercy and forgiveness and plan; the main character rationalizes his work by explaining that "someone has to punish the corrupt." A criminally insane character is referred to as "Looney Bin Jim."
  • Violence:

    The movie's body count is in the dozens, with constant, extreme, and bloody/gory violence -- including shootings, fights, bare-handed neck-breakings, decapitations, several point-blank shotgun blasts (viewers see the victim's face obliterated), stabbings, death by explosion, and more. A man stabs another man through the neck with the stem of a broken wineglass. A man is killed by having a chair leg thrust through his face. A man is seen devouring another man's kidneys after murdering him. A man is hurled into an industrial glass crusher; viewers see his face, stripped bare of skin and pouring blood (later his face is a grotesque patchwork of scars, grafts, and transplants). Several extremely detailed special-effects deaths -- like when the "hero" punches someone so hard that he penetrates their skull. A man is hurled onto the sharp metal posts of a wrought-iron fence.
  • Sex:

    A brief refrence to "screwing hookers."
  • Language:

    Constant strong language, including "f--k," "motherf--ker," "s--t," "ass," "a--hole," "crap," "c--ksucker," and more. Some Italian vulgarities.
  • Consumerism:

    Some brands -- Range Rover, Krispy Kreme, Beretta -- are mentioned by name.
  • Drinking, drugs, & smoking:

    Characters smoke, drink hard liquor, and are seen snorting cocaine. References are made to crystal meth and anti-psychotic drugs.
 

What Parents Need to Know

About Punisher: War Zone

Parents need to know that this over-the-top action movie is unrepentantly violent, with a body count in the dozens and constant extreme, grisly depictions of hand-to-hand combat, gunshot wounds, explosions, industrial accidents, and much more. The movie's tone is also very moody and bleak -- it may be based on a popular Marvel comic book character, but it's not kids' stuff. It's more akin to the adventures of Dirty Harry than those of Spider-Man. Not only does the film tacitly endorse the vigilante "hero" and his violent methods, but so do law enforcement characters -- who either turn a blind eye to his activities or actively help him. Characters also use extremely strong language, drink, and use drugs (some are shown snorting cocaine).

Did this review help you decide?

Families Can Talk About

  • Families can talk about the appeal of extreme violence on screen. What draws viewers to this kind of movie? What are the effects of watching so much grisly violence, even if it's intended to be deliberately over-the-top and cartoonish? Families can also discuss the film's endorsement of "going outside the law" to punish criminals who've evaded the consequences of their actions. Do the ends ever justify the means? What other recourse do people have when the system doesn't work?

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Our Members Say

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Most Recent Reviews

  1. I rate this title off for age 16 and give it 2.0
    My concerns are:
    • Excessive violence

    I Went To See This Movie And It Was Brutal

    The Glass Crusher Death Was So Bloody. YUCK! Bloodist Punisher Movie Ever!

  2. I rate this title iffy for age 14 and give it 3.0
    My concerns are:
    • Excessive violence
    • Inappropriate language

    its cool but violent

    there is a lot of violence through the hole movie its fun to watch but some times go a little over the top

  3. I rate this title iffy for age 14 and give it 3.0
    My concerns are:
    • Excessive violence
    • Inappropriate language

    its cool but violent

    there is a lot of violence through the hole movie its fun to watch but some times go a little over the top

  4. Kid Reviewer Age 9
    I rate this title off for age 8 and give it 1.0
    My concerns are:
    • Excessive violence
    • Inappropriate sexual content
    • Inappropriate language
    • Excessive consumerism
    • Drinking, smoking, or drug use
    • Negative message
    • Negative role models

    BLAHH MAKES ME WANNA BARF!

    YUCK

  5. Adult Reviewer
    Lives in New York
    I rate this title iffy for age 15 and give it 4.0
    My concerns are:
    • Inappropriate language

    Awesome Movie, Too much Profanity...

    To start off I'd like to say this movie has an inordinate amount of profane language. They literally drop the "F-Bomb" every 5 minutes (Or "M-fer"), halfway through the movie it becomes almost comical because of its frequent unnecessary use. The Punisher: War Zone is also insanely violent, Heads are severed, limbs are blown off, a guy gets blown to pieces by a Grenade Launcher, blood splatters regularly, and a guy even gets killed by an axe (He dies in a pool of blood). I DO NOT recommend this movie for anyone under the age of 15.

  6. Adult Reviewer
    Lives in New York
    I rate this title on for age 17 and give it 3.0
    My concerns are:
    • Excessive violence
    • Inappropriate language
    • Drinking, smoking, or drug use
    • Negative role models

    Well...this movies almost as gory as it gets, decapitations, heads exploding and even a wine stem getting stabbed through a guys throat, the language was ridiculous..it almost seems as if they threw "F bombs" in to fill up the dialogue, and one character loves to snort cocaine...the story is..somewhat engaging..especially if you like..senseless violence?..and liam, seriously 8 your olds cant see this..parents should definately be concerned about the violence and profantiy, the violence is brutal and graphic, the "F bomb" appears regularly in the dialogue as well as various other colorful words.

  7. Kid Reviewer Age 10
    Lives in Ohio
    I rate this title on for age 8 and give it 5.0
    My concerns are:
    • Excessive violence
    • Inappropriate language
    • Drinking, smoking, or drug use

    Awesome

    This is a good movie and I think an 8 year old can watch it.

  8. Teen Reviewer Age 17
    Lives in Arkansas
    I rate this title off for age 16 and give it 3.0
    My concerns are:
    • Excessive violence
    • Inappropriate language
    • Drinking, smoking, or drug use
    • Negative message

    Uber cool. Uber violent, but uber cool.

    It's a good movie, it's just unbelievably gory & has way too much language. The drug & alcohol consumption is also crazy & the main character is definitely morally questionable.

  9. Teen Reviewer Age 16
    Lives in Florida
    I rate this title on for age 16 and give it 4.0
    My concerns are:
    • Excessive violence
    • Inappropriate language
    • Drinking, smoking, or drug use

    I'm a Punisher fan...

    Although heavy on action, I feel that this movie (although it was a good one) does not do justice to the franchise (especially the 2004 film), and I miss Thomas Jane!

  10. I rate this title off for age 17 and give it 3.0
    My concerns are:
    • Excessive violence
    • Inappropriate language
    • Drinking, smoking, or drug use
    • Negative message

    The Punsiher Is Back (ADULTS ONLY!)

    If you think your just seeing another Punisher movie like the orginal, THINK AGAIN!!! This sequal is way more violent than the orginal with loads and loads of blood and gore. It even made me feel sick a few times. The movie on the other hand is not as good as the orginal but still a fun violent comic book movie for adults. The film also feels more like a Punisher movie which helps a bit. I highly dont reccomend watching it if you have a weak stomach though. ADULTS ONLY!!!

  11. Adult Reviewer
    Lives in Massachusetts
    I rate this title off for age 17 and give it 3.0
    My concerns are:
    • Excessive violence
    • Inappropriate language
    • Drinking, smoking, or drug use
    • Negative message

    Yuck!

    This is a decent movie that is just a drop of blood away from being NC-17. This movie knows its limits but does not use those limits. TONS of violence and swears. 18 and up.

  12. Kid Reviewer Age 12
    Lives in Texas
    I rate this title off for age 17 and give it 3.0
    My concerns are:
    • Excessive violence
    • Inappropriate language
    • Drinking, smoking, or drug use
    • Negative message

    VERY BAD MOVIE!!!!!!!!

    it was pretty dif then the old punisher and it was more violent and there was more vulgar langauge but i think it was a fine movie.

  13. Kid Reviewer Age 12
    Lives in Virginia
    I rate this title iffy for age 14 and give it 3.0

    PUNISHER WARZONE IS LESS OF A MOVIE THEN THE FIRST

    IT'S SAD WITH THIS PUNIDHER IT'S STILL GOOD JUST NOT MUCH OF A MOVIE IT'S MORE OF 2 HOURS OF NOTHING BUT BRUTAL KILLINGS. DON'T GET ME WTRONG THIS FILM IS STILL AWSEOME. RAY STEVENSON IS A MUCH BETTER THAN TOMAS JANE I CAN'T SAY THE SAME FOR THE VILLIAN DOMINIC WEST WHO SEEMS NOT EVEN SUITABLE FOR AN SNL B ECAUSE HE'S SO STUPID. THE VIOLENCE IS BLOODY BRUTAL GRIM. IN SHORT IT'S NOT SO MUCH OF A MOVIE AS IT IS 2 HOURS OF GORY BEAT UM UP ACTION

  14. Teen Reviewer Age 16
    Lives in Texas
    I rate this title off for age 17 and give it 4.0

    holy crap

    this was INSANELY violent. but awesome. much better than the first

  15. Adult Reviewer
    Lives in Kansas
    I rate this title on for age 15 and give it 3.0

    Not Bad

    I wasn't looking forward to this comic-book adaptation given the original movie. It wasn't the best, but it wasn't that bad either; as far as accuarcy and scene detail it was very well done.

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