When his family is brutally attacked, a grieving surgeon, Paul Kersey, is driven to take the law into his own hands in a crime-ridden city. Seeking justice outside the failing legal system, he embarks on a violent vendetta against those who prey on the innocent. His actions quickly gain media attention, transforming him into a vigilante figure. As he wages his one-man war, Paul struggles to maintain control and confronts the moral implications of his actions, blurring the lines between hero and criminal.
Get a spoiler-free look at Death Wish (2018) with a clear plot overview that covers the setting, main characters, and story premise—without revealing key twists or the ending. Perfect for deciding if this film is your next watch.
In a city where shadows linger on every street and the weight of desperation hangs heavy in the air, a respected trauma surgeon finds his world upended. Paul Kersey lives a seemingly ordinary life with his wife, Lucy, and their bright‑future‑looking daughter, Jordan, navigating the relentless pace of a bustling metropolis that refuses to sleep. Their home, a rare sanctuary amid the urban chaos, is the quiet heart of a life built on care and routine.
When that sanctuary is shattered, grief and fury drive Paul toward a path he never imagined. The failure of the legal system to protect those he loves pushes him to become something else entirely—a lone avenger willing to operate outside the confines of law. As his actions ripple through the city, the media latches onto the emergence of a mysterious figure, casting him simultaneously as a symbol of hope and a harbinger of danger. The line between justice and vengeance begins to blur, and Paul wrestles with the unsettling realization that his own moral compass is being tested with every step he takes.
The atmosphere of the film is thick with tension, a gritty urban noir that mirrors Paul’s internal battle. The city itself feels like a character, its restless streets echoing his restless mind. Alongside the relentless pursuit of a seasoned investigator, Detective Kevin Raines, the story asks unsettling questions about what it means to protect the innocent when the systems designed to do so have failed. In this tense dance between order and chaos, the audience is left to wonder whether the man who once healed can now become the one who harms—if the price of vengeance is too steep, or if it is the only weapon left in a world gone dark.
Last Updated: August 10, 2025 at 02:46
Discover curated groups of movies connected by mood, themes, and story style. Browse collections built around emotion, atmosphere, and narrative focus to easily find films that match what you feel like watching right now.
Ordinary citizens take the law into their own hands in crime-ridden urban landscapes.If you liked Death Wish, explore more movies about vigilantes taking the law into their own hands. These films feature stories of ordinary people pushed to extremes in crime-ridden cities, often with heavy moral questions and intense, fast-paced action.
The narrative typically begins with a personal tragedy that exposes the failure of the justice system. This catalyzes the protagonist's transformation from victim to avenger, leading to a series of violent confrontations that escalate in intensity, all while wrestling with the moral implications of their actions.
Movies are grouped here for their shared focus on the vigilante archetype, the theme of failed institutions, and the gritty, urban setting. They deliver a cathartic but morally complex experience centered on righteous anger and personal vengeance.
A devastating personal loss triggers a violent and morally ambiguous quest for retribution.Find movies similar to Death Wish where a character's quest for vengeance is fueled by deep personal trauma. These emotionally heavy dramas and thrillers explore the dark path from victim to aggressor, often with ambiguous endings.
The core journey is an emotional arc, not just a plot. It starts with a traumatic event that shatters the protagonist's world. Their grief then manifests as a single-minded, often self-destructive, pursuit of revenge, forcing them to confront how much of their humanity they are willing to sacrifice.
These films are connected by their heavy emotional weight centered on loss, and the subsequent transformation of sadness into rage. They prioritize the psychological drama of the protagonist's fall over pure action, creating a tense and pessimistic atmosphere.
Don't stop at just watching — explore Death Wish in full detail. From the complete plot summary and scene-by-scene timeline to character breakdowns, thematic analysis, and a deep dive into the ending — every page helps you truly understand what Death Wish is all about. Plus, discover what's next after the movie.
Read a complete plot summary of Death Wish, including all key story points, character arcs, and turning points. This in-depth recap is ideal for understanding the narrative structure or reviewing what happened in the movie.
Track the full timeline of Death Wish with every major event arranged chronologically. Perfect for decoding non-linear storytelling, flashbacks, or parallel narratives with a clear scene-by-scene breakdown.
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Death Wish (2018) Scene-by-Scene Movie Timeline
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