Revenge is a tasty and satisfying treat, especially if you’re just watching from a safe distance. Movies that have some epic revenge stories or moments are a lot of fun to watch. You root for the characters and hope that karma comes along to get the job done.
Although it can feel like almost all revenge movies are action films, this isn’t always the case. Sometimes, revenge films are hilarious and full of petty drama and silly revenge tactics. One particular film that comes to mind is “The Other Woman,” released in 2014. This hilarious film tells the story of three women, all scorned by the same man. When they find each other, they come up with a plan for revenge against Mark King. You can only imagine the things they do to get back at him.
Truly though, the best revenge movies are slow and steady, with a plan that destroys the other person. Many of these films are action or adventure, like “Taken” and the John Wick movies. The plot is similar in many of these movies. Someone important, or something, is taken from them, and they have to come out of hiding and get their loved one or item back. In the “John Wick” film it starts with a car and a precious dog, while in “Taken,” the stakes are higher as Bryan Mills’s daughter is kidnapped.
To determine the best revenge movies, 24/7 Tempo developed an index of movies using average ratings on IMDb, an online movie database owned by Amazon, and a combination of audience scores and Tomatometer scores on Rotten Tomatoes, an online movie and TV review aggregator, as of March 2024, weighting all ratings equally. We considered only movies with at least 2,500 audience votes on either IMDb or Rotten Tomatoes. Documentaries were not considered. Directorial credits are from IMDb. (Click here for the 40 best movies about the mafia.)
So, what are some of the best revenge movies of all time? Do you recognize any of the names on this list?
50. Eye for an Eye (2019)
Source: Courtesy of Netflix
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- IMDb user rating: 6.6/10 (6,795 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 62% (62 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 89% (9 reviews)
- Directed by: Paco Plaza
49. Hard Candy (2005)
Source: Courtesy of Lionsgate Films
- IMDb user rating: 7.1/10 (157,552 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 78% (78 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 67% (147 reviews)
- Directed by: David Slade
48. Fracture (2007)
Source: Courtesy of New Line Cinema
- IMDb user rating: 7.2/10 (194,710 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 73% (73 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 71% (174 reviews)
- Directed by: Gregory Hoblit
47. Desperado (1995)
Source: Courtesy of Columbia Pictures
- IMDb user rating: 7.2/10 (177,979 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 79% (79 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 66% (47 reviews)
- Directed by: Robert Rodriguez
46. Lucky Number Slevin (2006)
Source: Courtesy of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
- IMDb user rating: 7.7/10 (305,841 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 87% (87 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 52% (153 reviews)
- Directed by: Paul McGuigan
45. Die Hard with a Vengeance (1995)
Source: Courtesy of Twentieth Century Fox
- IMDb user rating: 7.6/10 (373,543 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 83% (83 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 60% (75 reviews)
- Directed by: John McTiernan
44. Sleepy Hollow (1999)
Source: Courtesy of Paramount Pictures
N/A
- IMDb user rating: 7.3/10 (343,401 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 80% (80 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 69% (122 reviews)
- Directed by: Tim Burton
43. The Italian Job (2003)
Source: Courtesy of Paramount Pictures
- IMDb user rating: 7.0/10 (353,195 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 80% (80 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 73% (183 reviews)
- Directed by: F. Gary Gray
42. Taken (2008)
Source: Courtesy of Twentieth Century Fox
- IMDb user rating: 7.8/10 (580,382 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 85% (85 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 59% (177 reviews)
- Directed by: Pierre Morel
41. A Time to Kill (1996)
Source: Courtesy of Warner Bros.
- IMDb user rating: 7.5/10 (140,500 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 85% (85 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 68% (56 reviews)
- Directed by: Joel Schumacher
40. The Illusionist (2006)
Source: Courtesy of Freestyle Releasing
N/A
- IMDb user rating: 7.6/10 (362,636 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 83% (83 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 73% (195 reviews)
- Directed by: Neil Burger
39. Rolling Thunder (1977)
Source: Courtesy of American International Pictures
- IMDb user rating: 7.0/10 (8,297 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 78% (78 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 86% (14 reviews)
- Directed by: John Flynn
38. I Don’t Feel at Home in This World Anymore. (2017)
Source: Courtesy of Netflix
N/A
- IMDb user rating: 6.9/10 (53,109 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 77% (77 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 89% (65 reviews)
- Directed by: Macon Blair
37. Hang ‘Em High (1968)
Source: Courtesy of United Artists
- IMDb user rating: 7.0/10 (37,200 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 73% (73 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 92% (13 reviews)
- Directed by: Ted Post
36. Sleepers (1996)
Source: Courtesy of Warner Bros.
- IMDb user rating: 7.6/10 (207,596 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 85% (85 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 73% (56 reviews)
- Directed by: Barry Levinson
35. Munich (2005)
Source: Courtesy of Universal Pictures
- IMDb user rating: 7.5/10 (229,404 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 83% (83 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 78% (211 reviews)
- Directed by: Steven Spielberg
34. The Count of Monte Cristo (2002)
Source: Courtesy of Buena Vista Pictures
- IMDb user rating: 7.7/10 (133,085 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 88% (88 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 73% (143 reviews)
- Directed by: Kevin Reynolds
33. The Constant Gardener (2005)
Source: Courtesy of Focus Features
- IMDb user rating: 7.4/10 (136,612 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 82% (82 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 84% (194 reviews)
- Directed by: Fernando Meirelles
32. John Wick (2014)
Source: Courtesy of Lionsgate
- IMDb user rating: 7.4/10 (576,949 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 81% (81 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 86% (219 reviews)
- Directed by: Chad Stahelski
31. The Revenant (2015)
Source: Courtesy of Twentieth Century Fox
- IMDb user rating: 8.0/10 (809,924 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 84% (84 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 78% (401 reviews)
- Directed by: Alejandro G. Iñárritu
30. Carrie (1976)
Source: Courtesy of United Artists
- IMDb user rating: 7.4/10 (175,705 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 77% (77 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 93% (67 reviews)
- Directed by: Brian De Palma
29. V for Vendetta (2005)
Source: Courtesy of Warner Bros. Pictures
N/A
- IMDb user rating: 8.1/10 (1,066,529 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 90% (90 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 73% (256 reviews)
- Directed by: James McTeigue
28. In the Bedroom (2001)
Source: Courtesy of Miramax
- IMDb user rating: 7.4/10 (39,515 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 81% (81 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 93% (139 reviews)
- Directed by: Todd Field
27. Point Blank (1967)
Source: Courtesy of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
- IMDb user rating: 7.3/10 (19,866 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 84% (84 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 92% (38 reviews)
- Directed by: John Boorman
26. Kill Bill: Vol. 1 (2003)
Source: Courtesy of Miramax
- IMDb user rating: 8.1/10 (1,046,208 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 81% (81 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 85% (238 reviews)
- Directed by: Quentin Tarantino
25. The Crow (1994)
Source: Courtesy of Miramax
- IMDb user rating: 7.6/10 (173,146 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 90% (90 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 83% (59 reviews)
- Directed by: Alex Proyas
24. The Bourne Supremacy (2004)
Source: Courtesy of Universal Pictures
- IMDb user rating: 7.7/10 (446,431 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 90% (90 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 82% (197 reviews)
- Directed by: Paul Greengrass
23. Braveheart (1995)
Source: Courtesy of Paramount Pictures
- IMDb user rating: 8.4/10 (1,041,328 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 85% (85 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 79% (84 reviews)
- Directed by: Mel Gibson
22. RoboCop (1987)
Source: Courtesy of Orion Pictures
- IMDb user rating: 7.6/10 (235,958 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 84% (84 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 90% (68 reviews)
- Directed by: Paul Verhoeven
21. Star Trek Into Darkness (2013)
Source: Courtesy of Paramount Pictures
- IMDb user rating: 7.7/10 (472,231 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 89% (89 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 84% (293 reviews)
- Directed by: J.J. Abrams
20. Drive (2011)
Source: Courtesy of FilmDistrict
N/A
- IMDb user rating: 7.8/10 (595,195 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 79% (79 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 93% (268 reviews)
- Directed by: Nicolas Winding Refn
19. Gladiator (2000)
Source: Courtesy of DreamWorks Distribution
- IMDb user rating: 8.5/10 (1,399,053 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 87% (87 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 77% (201 reviews)
- Directed by: Ridley Scott
18. Promising Young Woman (2020)
Source: Courtesy of Focus Features
- IMDb user rating: 7.5/10 (127,151 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 88% (88 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 90% (399 reviews)
- Directed by: Emerald Fennell
17. Gran Torino (2008)
Source: Courtesy of Warner Bros.
- IMDb user rating: 8.1/10 (742,002 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 90% (90 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 81% (238 reviews)
- Directed by: Clint Eastwood
16. Kill Bill: Vol. 2 (2004)
Source: Courtesy of Miramax
- IMDb user rating: 8.0/10 (713,748 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 89% (89 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 84% (244 reviews)
- Directed by: Quentin Tarantino
15. The Prestige (2006)
Source: Courtesy of Buena Vista Pictures
- IMDb user rating: 8.5/10 (1,245,319 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 92% (92 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 76% (203 reviews)
- Directed by: Christopher Nolan
14. True Grit (2010)
Source: Courtesy of Paramount Pictures
- IMDb user rating: 7.6/10 (323,355 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 85% (85 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 95% (275 reviews)
- Directed by: Joel & Ethan Coen
13. Léon: The Professional (1994)
Source: Courtesy of Sony Pictures Home Entertainment
- IMDb user rating: 8.5/10 (1,081,769 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 95% (95 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 74% (65 reviews)
- Directed by: Luc Besson
12. The Outlaw Josey Wales (1976)
Source: Courtesy of Warner Bros.
- IMDb user rating: 7.8/10 (69,738 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 91% (91 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 90% (41 reviews)
- Directed by: Clint Eastwood
11. Inglourious Basterds (2009)
Source: Courtesy of The Weinstein Company
- IMDb user rating: 8.3/10 (1,333,240 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 88% (88 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 89% (332 reviews)
- Directed by: Quentin Tarantino
10. Enter the Dragon (1973)
Source: Courtesy of Warner Bros.
- IMDb user rating: 7.7/10 (100,869 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 91% (91 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 95% (55 reviews)
- Directed by: Robert Clouse
9. Django Unchained (2012)
Source: Courtesy of The Weinstein Company
- IMDb user rating: 8.4/10 (1,427,183 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 91% (91 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 87% (291 reviews)
- Directed by: Quentin Tarantino
8. The Bourne Ultimatum (2007)
Source: Courtesy of Universal Pictures
- IMDb user rating: 8.0/10 (616,488 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 91% (91 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 92% (269 reviews)
- Directed by: Paul Greengrass
7. The Big Heat (1953)
Source: Courtesy of Columbia Pictures
- IMDb user rating: 8.0/10 (25,267 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 90% (90 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 100% (32 reviews)
- Directed by: Fritz Lang
6. Die Hard (1988)
Source: Courtesy of Twentieth Century Fox
- IMDb user rating: 8.2/10 (820,820 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 94% (94 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 94% (79 reviews)
- Directed by: John McTiernan
5. Unforgiven (1992)
Source: Courtesy of Warner Bros.
- IMDb user rating: 8.2/10 (391,927 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 93% (93 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 96% (106 reviews)
- Directed by: Clint Eastwood
4. Memento (2000)
Source: Courtesy of Newmarket Films
- IMDb user rating: 8.4/10 (1,169,429 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 94% (94 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 93% (181 reviews)
- Directed by: Christopher Nolan
3. The Lion King (1994)
Source: Courtesy of Buena Vista Pictures
- IMDb user rating: 8.5/10 (983,962 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 93% (93 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 93% (130 reviews)
- Directed by: Rob Minkoff & Roger Allers
2. Kind Hearts and Coronets (1949)
Source: Courtesy of Eagle-Lion Films
- IMDb user rating: 8.0/10 (38,182 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 94% (94 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 100% (49 reviews)
- Directed by: Robert Hamer
1. Once Upon a Time in the West (1968)
Source: Courtesy of American Broadcasting Company (ABC)
- IMDb user rating: 8.5/10 (314,446 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 95% (95 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 95% (65 reviews)
- Directed by: Sergio Leone