Law Abiding Citizen

Law Abiding Citizen (2009)

  • 25% of critics liked it
    (155 reviews)

  • 77% of users liked it
    (235,983 ratings)

Jamie Foxx stars as an assistant DA who finds himself at the mercy of a spiteful vigilante (Gerard Butler) hell-bent on avenging the death of his wife and daughter, whose murderers are set free due to legal loopholes. F. Gary Gray (The Italian Job) directs from a script by Frank Darabont and Kurt… More

Play Trailer

R,
Directed By
Written By
Kurt Wimmer
Genres
Mystery & Suspense, Drama
In Theaters
Oct 16, 2009 Wide
On DVD
Feb 16, 2010
Overture Films

Critic Reviews

  • Nigel Floyd, Time Out

    Sadly, there's nothing here but bloody off-cuts from 'Death Wish', 'Saw' and 'The Silence of the Lambs', in roughly that order.

  • Bill Goodykoontz, Arizona Republic

    As a social statement, Law Abiding Citizen is a flawed attempt at holding the legal system accountable for its shortcomings. As a movie, it's a ridiculous execution of a misguided concept.

  • Dan Kois, Washington Post

    A preposterous exercise in high-minded brutality, "Law Abiding Citizen" tries to pass itself off as a dialectic on justice betrayed, but instead plays like a snuff film with our nation's legal system as the victim.

  • Laremy Legel, Film.com

    Sure, it's outta place for October, but there's no reason you can't enjoy a mindless piece of candy against the backdrop of fall foliage.

  • Joe Neumaier, New York Daily News

    Law Abiding Citizen is such a lazy action-drama underachiever, it seems unfair to target stars Jamie Foxx and Gerard Butler for bringing their C game.

Read all 26 critic reviews

See more critic ratings and reviews on Rotten Tomatoes

Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)

Rotten (59% or fewer critics rated the movie positively)

Featured Audience Ratings

  • John M


    An excellent thriller that takes you to the edge of your seat. Excellent acting across the board makes this movie much better than the average revenge flick. Butler's bow as the "bad guy" truly makes the film as you tend to understand his want for revenge and makes him… More

  • Stuart B


    No offence but if you liked this movie, I am probably a lot smarter than you.

  • Raymond W


    Law Abiding Citizen is entertaining, but not much else. The plot is so implausible and unbelievable that it's almost laughable. Gerard Butler and Jamie Foxx as well as the rest of the cast deliver sup-par performances as well making Law Abiding Citizen an entertaining,… More

  • Jack H


    This film is silly, and not in a good way. Any film you have criticised in the past for farfetchedness or implausibility will be put into perspective by this truly ludicrous film. Firstly, all characters are wholly flat and featureless; there is no depth or anything of interest in… More

  • Anthony L


    *Review contains spoilers* The first two thirds of Law Abiding Citizen are awesome and slap in the face refreshing. The last third of this film is beyond crap. This could have been a great film, instead, it flushed itself down the toilet. Was this the original ending or did the… More

Read all 20 featured audience ratings

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Cast

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