Judge Dredd

Judge Dredd

Year: 1995

Runtime: 96 mins

Language: English

Director: Danny Cannon

Budget: $90M

ActionCrime

In a bleak dystopian future, Judges act as law‑enforcement officers with instant field judiciary powers. Dredd, the most famous of them, is falsely convicted of a crime he did not commit. While he fights to clear his name, his murderous counterpart escapes, leaving chaos in his wake.

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Timeline & Setting – Judge Dredd (1995)

Explore the full timeline and setting of Judge Dredd (1995). Follow every major event in chronological order and see how the environment shapes the story, characters, and dramatic tension.

Time period

2139

The events take place in the year 2139 in a bleak, near-future world. Society is fractured, resources are scarce, and a flood of crime tests the Judges’ authority. High-tech surveillance and genetic experimentation drive the plot, underscoring a era where humanity and machinery intertwine in the pursuit of order.

Location

Mega-City One, Cursed Earth, Aspen Penal Colony, Statue of Liberty lab

Set in a sprawling, crime-ridden Mega-City One, the story unfolds against a backdrop of the Cursed Earth beyond its walls. The city is governed by Judges who combine police, jury, and executioner duties in a hard-edged system. Outposts and penal facilities like the Aspen Penal Colony and a hidden lab beneath the Statue of Liberty symbolize the far-reaching reach of a totalizing justice that touches every corner of the world.

🌆 Megacity 🗺️ Wasteland 🏛️ Dystopia

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 18:52

Main Characters – Judge Dredd (1995)

Meet the key characters of Judge Dredd (1995), with detailed profiles, motivations, and roles in the plot. Understand their emotional journeys and what they reveal about the film’s deeper themes.

Judge Dredd — Sylvester Stallone

A solitary, unflinching enforcer who distrusts leniency and relies on an uncompromising code. Dredd is highly skilled, emotionally reserved, and willing to bend the rules to uphold the law when necessary. He carries the weight of a past judgment that questioned loyalty and the price of absolute authority.

🗡️ Stoic 🛡️ Duty ⚖️ Authority

Judge Hershey — Diane Lane

A capable rookie judge who challenges Dredd's methods and seeks a balance between justice and due process. She is principled, perceptive, and capable of fearless critique under pressure. Her partnership with Dredd evolves the dynamic from rigid law to strategic collaboration.

💼 Reluctant Ally 🧭 Fair 🕊️ Pragmatic

Rico — Armand Assante

A former Judge who turns to crime after a setback, then uses charisma and cunning to orchestrate a city-wide threat. He reclaims his position by donning a Judge's uniform and summoning the ABC Warrior to enforce his own order. He believes the Janus clone project should birth a self-made family to rewrite the rules.

🧬 Rebellion 👪 Family 🗡️ Cunning

Chief Justice Fargo — Max von Sydow

A veteran mentor figure who advocates measured justice and ultimately sacrifices his career to reveal the truth. His retirement task, the Long Walk, and his warnings about Griffin expose the fragility and corruption within the system. His revelations about Janus provide the key to Dredd's struggle.

🏛️ Mentor 🗺️ Duty 🕯️ Sacrifice

Judge Griffin — Jürgen Prochnow

The antagonist who manipulates the system from within, pushing for a ruthless clone army to enforce order. He embodies ambition and deceit, exploiting fear to gain power. His schemes culminate in a confrontation that tests Dredd's loyalty and the integrity of Mega-City One's institutions.

🦹‍♂️ Manipulation 🎭 Power 🧭 Scheming

Fergie — Martin McDougall

A hacker with street-smart ingenuity who allies with Dredd to uncover the Janus Project. He is resourceful and brave under pressure, providing crucial counterpoints to the Judges' rigid code. His actions, though risky, help drive the escape and expose the truth.

🕵️ Hacker 🔓 Escape 💣 Dangerous

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 18:52

Major Themes – Judge Dredd (1995)

Explore the central themes of Judge Dredd (1995), from psychological, social, and emotional dimensions to philosophical messages. Understand what the film is really saying beneath the surface.

⚖️ Law & Order

The film centers on the absolute authority of Judges and the tension between rigid justice and personal morality. Hershey questions Dredd's unyielding methods, highlighting the cost of mercy or its absence. A city-wide crisis and a courtroom-style confrontation reveal how institutions can distort truth and justice.

🧬 Identity

The Janus Project and Rico's clones raise questions about free will, family, and what it means to be human. Clones are designed to embody the Council's best traits, yet their awakening challenges the system they were bred to uphold. Dredd's own sense of identity is tested as he confronts a manufactured lineage tied to his fate.

🏛️ Power & Corruption

Griffin's conspiracy exploits fear to push a harsh, centralized form of law enforcement. The Council's decision to unlock Janus reveals rot at the heart of Mega-City One's institutions. Fargo's sacrifice and the Janus revelation expose the price of unchecked power and the fragility of truth.

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 18:52

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Narrative Summary

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Judge Dredd Summary

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Judge Dredd Summary

Judge Dredd Timeline

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Judge Dredd Timeline

Judge Dredd Spoiler-Free Summary

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Judge Dredd Spoiler-Free Summary

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