Death Wish
Performance & Direction: Death Wish Review
Last updated: January 26, 2026
Quick Verdict: Hit or Flop?
Is Death Wish (2018) worth watching? According to our cinematic analysis, the film stands as a ABOVE AVERAGE with a verified audience rating of 6.2/10. Whether you're looking for the box office collection, ending explained, or parents guide, our review covers everything you need to know about this Action.
Cast Performances: A Masterclass
The success of any Action is often anchored by its ensemble, and Death Wish features a noteworthy lineup led by Bruce Willis . Supported by the likes of Vincent D'Onofrio and Dean Norris , the performances bring a palpable realism to the scripted words.
Performance Analysis: While the cast delivers competent and professional performances, they are occasionally hampered by a script that leans into familiar archetypes.
Final Verdict: Is it Worth Watching?
In summary, our editorial assessment of Death Wish (2018) is mixed. With an audience rating of 6.2/10, it stands as a highly recommended experience for genre enthusiasts.
Story & Plot Summary: Death Wish
Quick Plot Summary: Death Wish is a Action, Crime, Thriller, Drama film that delivers highly intense sequences and pulse-pounding confrontations that keep viewers on the edge of their seats. This summary provides a scannable look at the movie's central conflict and narrative structure.
Story Breakdown
The narrative structure follows a classic action blueprint: establish the protagonist's world, introduce a formidable antagonist, and escalate the stakes through increasingly intense confrontations. A mild-mannered father is transformed into a killing machine after his family is torn apart by a violent act. The film balances spectacular set pieces with character moments, ensuring the action serves the story rather than overwhelming it. This approach calls everyone and everything into question as the plot unfolds.
Narrative Structure
- Opening Hook: The film opens with an explosive sequence that immediately establishes the stakes and introduces our protagonist in action.
- Character Arc: The main character shows growth throughout the story, though some supporting characters could have been more fully realized. The arc is present but occasionally predictable.
- Climax & Resolution: The final confrontation delivers on the buildup, with stakes at their highest and the protagonist using everything they've learned.
Ending Explained: Death Wish
Ending Breakdown: Death Wish concludes its story with a mix of closure and open interpretation. The finale presents its approach to action resolution.
The final reveal recontextualizes earlier scenes, offering viewers material for post-viewing discussion.
Ending Analysis:
- Narrative Resolution: The story concludes by addressing its primary narrative threads, providing closure while maintaining some ambiguity.
- Character Arcs: Character journeys reach their narrative endpoints, reflecting the film's thematic priorities.
- Thematic Payoff: The ending reinforces the action themes established throughout the runtime.
The final moments of Death Wish reflect the filmmakers' creative choices, offering an ending that aligns with the film's tone and style.
Death Wish Real vs. Reel: Is it Based on a True Story?
Death Wish incorporates elements from real criminal cases. As a action, crime, thriller, drama film, it navigates the space between factual accuracy and narrative engagement.
Historical Context
The film takes creative liberties to enhance dramatic impact. Core events maintain connection to source material while adapting for theatrical presentation.
Creative interpretation shapes the final narrative, focusing on emotional truth over strict chronology.
Accuracy Assessment: Death Wish adapts its source material for dramatic purposes. The film prioritizes thematic resonance over documentary precision.
Who Should Watch Death Wish?
Worth Watching If You:
- Enjoy Action films and don't mind familiar tropes
- Are a fan of the cast or director
- Want an adrenaline rush without demanding perfection
Box Office Collection: Death Wish
| Metric / Region | Collection (Approx) |
|---|---|
| Production Budget | $30.0M |
| Worldwide Gross | $34.0M |
| Trade Verdict | FINANCIAL DISAPPOINTMENT |
Death Wish Budget
The estimated production budget for Death Wish is $30.0M. This figure covers principal photography, talent acquisitions, and visual effects. When accounting for global marketing and distribution, the break-even point is typically 2x the base production cost.
Top Cast: Death Wish
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Where to Watch Death Wish Online?
Streaming Hub📺 Stream on
MGM Plus Amazon Channel🎟️ Rent on
Amazon VideoDeath Wish Parents Guide & Age Rating
2018 AdvisoryWondering about Death Wish age rating or if it's safe for kids? Here is our cinematic advisory:
⏱️ Runtime & Duration
The total runtime of Death Wish is 107 minutes (1h 47m). Ensuring you have enough time for the full cinematic experience.
Verdict Summary
Analyzing the overall audience sentiment, verified rating of 6.2/10, and global performance metrics, Death Wish is classified as a ABOVE AVERAGE. It remains an essential part of the 2018 cinematic calendar.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Death Wish worth watching?
Death Wish is definitely worth watching if you enjoy Action movies. It has a verified rating of 6.2/10 and stands as a ABOVE AVERAGE in our box office analysis.
Where can I find Death Wish parents guide and age rating?
The official parents guide for Death Wish identifies it as R. Our detailed advisory section above covers all content warnings for families.
What is the total runtime of Death Wish?
The total duration of Death Wish is 107 minutes, which is approximately 1h 47m long.
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How Death Wish Compares & Where it Ranks
Critic Reviews for Death Wish
"Willis and his director faced an uphill battle to make their lead character anything less than reprehensible; if that’s their only achievement, it’s a significant if questionable one..." Read the full review here: http://screen-space.squarespace.com/reviews/2018/3/6/death-wish.html
When Hollywood starts regurgitating old Charles Bronson Films that we’re ico in their day. Then cast the washed-up Bruce Willis , you gotta know that Hollywood is totally bereft of any original ideas. I mean what producer actually signed off on this piece of Shite? It is an insult to any moviegoer and should be liable for incurred costs on wasting a patrons valuable time and money. Simply Abysmal.
"It's not as good as the original" he said, shocking absolutely no one. It's alright though. I don't think that I'll watch this Bruce Willis version ever again, but I actually didn't hate my experience here. _Final rating:★★½ - Had a lot that appealed to me, didn’t quite work as a whole._
Robert “Bronzi” Kovacs Played in a Movie called Death Kiss, he looks like Charles Bronson not a bad actor, he'd been better that Bruce, or possibly the two could have been in the remake.
An entertaining (full of) action film. I enjoyed 'Death Wish', plain and simply. The action is satisfying, with it featuring some neat death scenes. The plot, meanwhile, is one that has heart to it. Bruce Willis is suitably fun in the titular role and is joined by the terrific Dean Norris. Camila Morrone is the pick of the rest of the cast. It's nothing deserving of any awards of course, but that's OK as this is a production well worth a watch - in my opinion at least. Not seen the original yet, will aim to check it (and its many sequels) out some time.
I have spent a LOT of time here rallying against remakes and my absolute hatred for them. And trust me, that hatred is nearly absolute. But, the fiance wanted to see this. And I read the reviews here, and I read the critic's reviews...and noticed that the critics all hated it on the basis of "NRA Propaganda" In other words they hated it because...politics. And I am really not a fan of that unless it's blatantly political. But, then I noticed that the audience reviews were largely the EXACT opposite of the critics reviews (with the odd absolute remake hater like me and the everything is political crowd). So, why was that...had to see it. And since ALL the Death Wist movies seemed to be exactly the same, might as well. Eli Roth...that name should say it all. It was graphic and gory and not in the boring Saw way, but in the fun ultra-violent entertainment way. And, really, I won't complain about that at all. It's one of the kind of movies I like for the sake of popcorn munching entertainment. And that is what you get here, pure entertainment with NO POLITICS, despite what the "everything is political crowd" says. It is JUST a super gory and graphic crime movie and nothing more, nothing propagandist about it. It's really just violence and gore for the sake of entertainment,. The bottom line is, this is a remake that actually entertains. And since that is the primary purpose to sit down and watch a movie, if it meats that purpose, I recommend it and give it 10 of 10 stars. So watch it...unless you have a weak stomach...because it will entertain you and it is a lot of fun.
movieMx Verified
This review has been verified for accuracy and editorial quality by our senior cinematic analysts.
This analysis is compiled by our editorial experts using multi-source verification and audience sentiment data for maximum accuracy.










