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Immerse yourself in the captivating emotions of the revenge genre, unfolding through various stages and plot twists in these remarkable films.
1. Taken (Kidnapped)
Taken has evolved into a cinematic franchise featuring the skilled actor Liam Neeson. The movie narrates the quest to locate and rescue the kidnapped daughter of former CIA operative Bryan Mills. Upon discovering that his daughter has been abducted in Paris by a human trafficking ring led by Albanians, Bryan, aware of the limited time, immediately embarks on a journey to Paris, utilizing all the skills acquired during his CIA days to reunite with his daughter.
2. The Revenant (Return from the Dead)
The Revenant depicts a grueling tale of survival in a treacherous, icy wilderness. John Fitzgerald, a member of Hugh Glass's group (the main character), believes Hugh is responsible for the group's setbacks and seeks to harm him. Hawk, Hugh's son, discovers John's sinister plan and tries to intervene but is murdered by John. However, Hugh survives and uses his last ounce of strength to endure the unforgiving icy land, employing methods like sleeping inside a horse carcass and hunting for sustenance.
3. John Wick (The Assassin John Wick)
The film revolves around retired assassin John Wick. After losing his wife, John is left with only one memento, a dog. Thinking John would retire and live a peaceful life, the story takes an unexpected turn. When John refuses to sell his Mustang, a gang led by Iosef Tarasov (son of the Russian mafia boss) plans to steal the car and kill John's small, sympathetic dog. Filled with resentment, John retrieves his assassin gear and sets out to make those who took everything from him pay the price.
4. The Dark Knight Rises (The Rise of the Dark Knight)
Bane, the leader of the League of Shadows, seizes control of the city, releasing all prisoners in Gotham after deceiving the entire police force and administrative staff into the tunnels. In the battle with Bane in his underground lair, Batman is severely injured and imprisoned in an underground desert jail. After healing his wounds, Batman escapes the prison and returns home for self-training. In a rematch with Bane, Batman defeats him, shattering his mask.
5. Iron Man 3
The story begins with past conflicts between Tony Stark and scientist Aldrich Killian at a scientific conference in Zurich. When challenging the terrorist known as the Mandarin on live television for injuring the Head of Security and longtime friend Happy, Tony's mansion is destroyed, forcing him into hiding in a remote area. There, he receives help from the intelligent and science-loving kid Harley and gradually rebuilds his Iron Man suit. Tony uncovers a sinister plot and seeks revenge, discovering that the Mandarin is just a pawn in the game.
6. Avengers: Endgame
Following the events in Avengers: Infinity War, Thanos executes a snap to turn half of Earth's population into dust, causing the remaining members of the superhero team to disband and live scattered lives. A glimmer of hope arises when the insect-sized hero Ant-Man returns from the quantum realm, suggesting that time travel is possible and there's a chance to undo everything before Thanos's snap. The remaining superheroes come together, plan to avenge Thanos, and travel back in time to seek the six infinity stones to restore the world to its previous normalcy. In that intense battle, the Avengers succeed, but at the cost of the lives of two members, Natasha Romanoff and Iron Man Tony Stark.
7. Thor: Ragnarok
After multiple confrontations with his adopted brother Loki, Thor realizes that Loki is not the primary threat he must face, but the true danger comes from his elder sister Hela, filled with dark ambitions. After the death of their father Odin and the release of Hela, she quickly seizes Asgard, bringing destruction to the realm. Thor and his 'deceptive' brother Loki join forces to defeat Hela, with the help of some Avengers from Earth. In moments of failure and despair, Thor discovers the hidden power within himself, powerful enough to overcome Hela.
8. Django Unchained
The film follows Django, a former slave with a harrowing past under an old master. During the slave transfer to a new owner, Django encounters King Schultz, a bounty hunter of German origin, who wishes to claim Django as his slave. Schultz is on a mission to hunt down the Brittle brothers, and only Django can help him capture them. In return, Schultz promises to grant Django his freedom after apprehending the Brittle brothers.
9. The Equalizer
The movie revolves around the character McCall, a middle-aged man trying to forget his criminal past and start a new life. His encounter with Teri, a girl under the control of a ruthless criminal gang, changes him. Witnessing Teri's brutal beating, McCall does everything to protect her. However, McCall soon clashes with the Russian mob and becomes a target for the crime bosses.
10. The Terminator
In the near future, amid the war between humans and machines, the Terminator - a humanoid assassin machine programmed by the machine faction - is sent back in time to eliminate Sarah Connor, the mother of John Connor, the leader of the human resistance in the future. To protect Sarah, Kyle Reese, another humanoid machine, is sent by the human resistance to ensure her safety and prevent any alterations to the future. Both Terminators, ruthless and relentless, engage in a deadly pursuit until their targets are eliminated.
11. Inglourious Basterds
Set in France in 1941, during the German occupation. Nazi officer Hans Landa is tasked with hunting down and exterminating surviving Jews hiding in France. Shosanna Dreyfus is the only survivor of a Jewish massacre, and four years later, destiny finds her as she hosts a film premiere attended by the tyrant Hitler in her cinema.
12. Mean Girls
The story revolves around Cady Heron, a newcomer to the United States, navigating high school life with bewilderment. Feeling alienated in a school where everyone is divided into distinct groups based on status, interests, and personalities.
Cady Heron, a 16-year-old girl, ventures into the strange and wild world of public school after a childhood of homeschooling and travel. She discovers the 'Plastics,' a group of beautiful yet mean teenage girls led by the queen bee Regina George. Determined, Cady teams up with two outcasts, Janis Ian and Damian Leigh, to devise a plan to win Regina's favor and infiltrate the Plastic group for revenge against their bullying. However, as she befriends the popular girls and joins the Plastics, Cady undergoes a transformation, succumbing to a series of bad habits, gradually becoming a true 'mean girl.'
13. Revenge
Phim tells the story of Emily Thorne, a social media sensation in Grayson Global run by Conrad Grayson and his wife Victoria. Formerly known as Amanda Clarke, she experienced a fractured childhood when her father, David Clarke - the hedge fund director of Grayson Global, was falsely accused of transferring funds to a terrorist organization responsible for downing a commercial plane. Now living under an assumed identity, she is determined to exact revenge on those who destroyed her father's life - the masterminds being Conrad and Victoria Grayson - by orchestrating their downfall.
14. Oldboy
Adapted from the famous Japanese manga of the same name by Minegishi Nobuaki and Tsuchiya Garon, the film tells the story of Oh Dae-Su, who is kidnapped and confined in a hotel room for 15 years with no clear understanding of the kidnapper's motives. Upon release, he embarks on a quest to find the one who caused his suffering, only to be entangled in a web of conspiracy and crime, facing challenges ahead as the 15 years of imprisonment have transformed him into a vengeful man.
15. Unforgiven
After a near-death experience, Delilah Fitzgerald and her colleagues muster the courage to seek revenge. With a hefty bounty approved by Sheriff 'Little Bill' Daggett for the heads of the perpetrators, outlaw farmer William Munny takes on one final killing mission to uncover the masterminds behind the heinous crime. Alongside his old comrades Ned Logan and the courageous yet inexperienced young gunslinger known as the 'Schofield Kid,' Munny steps into a dangerous world he abandoned years ago, aware that he is walking into a deadly trap. However, he must find a way to provide for his motherless children.
16. True Grit
The film recounts the journey of young Mattie Ross as she seeks vengeance for her father's brutal murder over two gold coins and a horse. To capture the ruthless killer Tom Chaney, Mattie enlists the help of the seasoned lawman Rooster Cogburn and Texas Ranger LaBoeuf. Along this arduous path, events unfold that bind three individuals from different places, with different ages and personalities, united by a common purpose.
17. Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen
After the Decepticons' triumph and Earth's assistance, the Autobots find themselves stranded on Earth, as the cube— a device enabling Autobots to return to Cybertron— is destroyed. Humans, however, blame the Autobots for attracting extraterrestrial forces. National security adviser Theodore Galloway attempts to remove the Autobots from Earth with a failed space launch. Uninvolved in the attempt, the Autobots remain hidden on Earth, awaiting the right moment to counterattack as the Decepticon group regathers and plots the planet's destruction.
18. G.I. Joe: Retaliation
The G.I. Joe team disbands, its heroes lost in an ambush, and G.I. Joe is officially disbanded by U.S. leaders. General Joe Colton, the last commander of G.I. Joe, rallies surviving team members to uncover Cobra's intricate trap and infiltration, exposing a plot to turn the United States into humanity's enemy.
19. The Fate of the Furious
In this installment, Dom betrays his family to aid Cipher, a tyrannical hacker seeking control of advanced weapons capable of threatening global security, such as EMP bombs and the God's Eye surveillance system. Dom's betrayal, seemingly endangering his family, is actually a plan to save his son with Elena (Dom's past love interest from Fast and Furious 5). Executing a carefully orchestrated plan, Dom collaborates with the 'unholy ally' Deckard Shaw against Cipher.
20. Cold Pursuit
Renowned actor from the Taken series, Liam Neeson, plays a father on a quest for truth after his son's death. Nels Coxman's simple and happy life as a snowplow driver in the Kehoe resort takes a dark turn when his son dies from a drug overdose, leading to his wife leaving. Convinced his son was not an addict, Nels sets out to uncover the truth, discovering it all traces back to crime lord Trevor Calcote. Driven by the grief and rage of a father who lost a son, Nels plans revenge, making each gang member, including the boss, meet a gruesome end.
With these compelling films on the list, you are in for an excellent selection. Best of luck with your viewing!
