Top 10 Vengeful Anti-heroes in Movies

“The Northman” (2022)
William Shakespeare’s Hamlet is a pensive character, maybe even a little emo. Despite his mother and uncle conspiring to murder his father and steal his kingdom, Hamlet is indecisive. He racks his brain and conscience over every move. Prince Amleth, the character who inspired the tragic Prince of Denmark, however, has no such qualms. He is a warrior, devoting his life to wreaking bloody vengeance on those who killed his father. Trained from childhood to become a berserker, Amleth leans into savagery and brutality to reach his goal. Unlike his more refined Shakespearean counterpart, Amleth will do anything it takes - even going to the gates of Hel itself - to achieve his bloody ends.

“The Crow” (1994)
“The Crow” is a ghostly, neo-gothic revenge story tempered by sadness. It stars Brandon Lee in his final role as Eric Draven - a kind musician who is murdered along with his fiancée. One year later, Eric is resurrected by a mystical crow to exact revenge on the gang responsible for their deaths. Driven by love and sorrow, his quest is marked by poetic justice as he methodically hunts down his killers. The film's dark, stylistic visuals and haunting soundtrack amplify the sense of loss and retribution. Brandon Lee's poignant and nuanced performance highlights the film's theme that love can transcend anything - even death.

“Memento” (2000)
"Memento," directed by Christopher Nolan, stands as one of cinema's most innovative revenge stories. Trapped in a unique amnesiac loop, Leonard Shelby must go to great lengths to avenge his wife's murder. His condition forces him to rely on a combination of Polaroids, tattoos, and notes to track down the killer. The story is as fragmented as Leonard's life, using non-linear storytelling to mirror his disoriented perspective. As Leonard pieces together clues, the audience is drawn into a complex web of deception and uncertainty. "Memento's" unique approach to storytelling not only intensifies the suspense but also explores themes of memory, identity, and the subjective nature of truth. As such, Leonard's story is a compelling and thought-provoking examination of vengeance and the human psyche.

“Unforgiven” (1992)
At the start of “Unforgiven,” William Munny is many things: he’s a widower and father, a terrible pig farmer, and a reformed killer. In desperate need of money, he is lured back to his violent ways to avenge an injustice against a woman in a town where the law failed her. As Munny reluctantly resumes his gunslinger role, the story delves into the complexities of his character and the consequences of his actions. Its stark realism and moral ambiguity challenge traditional Western tropes, portraying revenge not as a righteous act but as a cycle of violence that leaves lasting scars. "Unforgiven" is a powerful meditation on the true cost of vengeance and the struggle for redemption.

“Carrie” (1976)
"Carrie," based on Stephen King's novel, is one of cinema's greatest revenge stories. The film follows Carrie White, a shy, socially awkward teenager with telekinetic powers. "Carrie" is an exploration of the humiliation of relentless peer tormenting, of which Carrie is a victim. Worse, she's oppressed by her fanatically religious mother. The story reaches its peak at the prom where a cruel prank pushes Carrie to her breaking point. Her suppressed rage and newfound powers unleash a devastating wave of fire and death against those who wronged her. Carrie's transformation from a timid girl into a vengeful force of nature is tremendous. It underscores the tragic consequences of cruelty and the destructive potential of unchecked power.

“Deadpool” franchise (2016-)
In "Deadpool," mercenary Wade Wilson embarks on a quest for revenge. Looking to cure his fatal illness, he was subjected to a torturous experiment that leaves him disfigured but with accelerated healing powers. He adopts the Deadpool persona to track down and exact vengeance on Ajax, the man responsible for his suffering. Despite his irreverent and comedic nature, Wade's mission is deeply personal. He's driven by a desire to reclaim his old life and reconnect with his love, Vanessa. In the sequel, Vanessa's tragic death leaves Wade devastated. Struggling with grief and a sense of purposelessness, he seeks to fill the void by doing one good thing: saving Russell, a troubled mutant boy.

“Oldboy” (2003)
If Korean director Park Chan-wook’s “Vengeance” trilogy has taught the world anything, it's this: never give a Korean cause for revenge. The most famous of these films is 2003’s “Oldboy.” In it, we follow Oh Dae-su, a boorish businessman who is kidnapped and imprisoned for years. Never knowing why, Dae-su ultimately devotes his days to becoming an instrument of destruction. After his unceremonious release, he goes about the task of seeking his captors. Eventually, he learns that both his imprisonment and release are themselves part of a convoluted revenge plot. The ultimate lesson of the film is that retribution is a raging fire that can consume anyone nearby. At the end of the day, it’s less valuable than peace.

“Mad Max” franchise (2015-)
The two-film arc of “Furiosa” and “Mad Max: Fury Road” tells the story of profound loss and pain. Initially, Furiosa suffers the trauma of being torn from her home, the Green Place. Her mother is slain before her eyes, after which she must endure being the slave of the man who did it. Eventually, she is traded into the oppressive reign of Immortan Joe. Her life as a warrior under Joe's command is fueled by a desire for revenge against her captors. After achieving her vengeance, she is left as barren inside as the wasteland. Her only path forward is redemption as she seeks to free Joe's wives and return to The Green Place.

“John Wick” franchise (2014-)
One of the key lessons of the “John Wick” movies is don’t mess with Keanu’s dogs. He stars as John Wick, a retired assassin drawn back into the underworld after his wife’s death. When his old boss’ son beats him, steals his car, and kills his dog, he goes on a four-film revenge tour. Wick is no normal killer: he is Baba Yaga, the boogeyman. Over the course of four movies, he takes the lives of 439 people as if he were the grim reaper itself. Wick is a force of nature. The most unbelievable thing about the franchise is that almost nobody learns to just leave the man alone.

Before we unveil our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions.

Gunslinger Takes Down the Gang of the Man Who Murdered His Brother

A Man with Special Skills Rescues His Daughter & Kills Those Who Took Her

A Fur Trapper Survives a Frozen Hell to Kill the Man Who Left Him for Dead

A Victim of a Fascist Britain Takes Revenge on Those Who Made Him a Monster

An Unstable Vigilante Is Willing to Sacrifice His Life to Bring Truth to the People

“Kill Bill” (2003-04)
As one of the world’s foremost movie nerds, Quentin Tarantino was inspired by 1973’s “Lady Snowblood.” In it, a woman was raised to be an assassin to take revenge on the monsters who assaulted her mother and killed her father and brother. Tarantino adopted the film’s out-of-sequence narrative style for his homage: “The Kill Bill” movies. Beatrix Kiddo - the Bride - was a member of an all-female assassin squad. She wakes up from a coma after her ex - Bill - sends the squad to annihilate her wedding, leaving her for dead. She systematically works her way through the Deadly Vipers, leaving dozens of corpses in her wake. The Black Mamba lived up to her name, slaughtering all who dared to wrong her.