The Top 10 Best Movie Vigilantes

5. Coffy- Coffy

Coffy is a bit unexpected when it comes to vigilantes. Like Driver, her name is never truly revealed in the film and she simply goes by Coffy. However, unlike any other vigilante on this list, Coffy uses her sexuality to lure a number of men to their deaths. Then again, when you’re Pam Grier you just can’t help but ooze sexuality. During a time when many blacksploitation films were focused on men getting justice for their community, Coffy showed that a woman was just as capable. As talented as the other on this list might be, they don’t have half the attitude and charisma of Coffy. She’s more than just a vigilante though, she’s a heroine. If you haven’t seen Coffy yet, you’re missing out on some real cinema history right there.

4. Coner and Murphy MacManus- The Boondock Saints

Nothing says high school like The Boondock Saints. I don’t know why teens are so obsessed with the movie, but Hot Topic sure has made a pretty penny off these vigilantes. However, they aren’t just on this list for their popularity though. This duo are two of the best when it comes to killing bad men that need killing. Unlike a lot of the others on this list, the MacManus brothers didn’t become vigilantes because of some terrible tragedy. They just kinda stumbled into it. After killing a mob enforcer, the two decided that this was their true calling and set out to become the vessels for God’s wrath upon those who deserve it. If nothing else, they’ve inspired a generation of copycat tattoos which just goes to speak to their popularity among the masses.

3. Travis Bickle- Taxi Driver

Hey, I’m not going to lie, not all movie vigilantes are of sound mind. In fact, most of them are pretty crazy. None of them have a thing on Travis Bickle, The infamous taxi driving veteran who found himself back in the States surround by crime and corruption at every turn. At first, Travis tries to keep a low profile, but it soon becomes impossible for a number of reasons. So what’s a former soldier supposed to do in the face of injustice? Apparently, he shaves his head and talks to himself in the mirror. Of course, Travis ends up being quite the hero which is just what we might expect from him. More importantly, though, it’s a character that cemented the relationships between Robert DeNiro and Martin Scorsese, and that’ makes him more than good enough for this list.

2. Jack Carter- Get Carter (1971)

Geeze, not even a criminal can trust the cops to do their jobs these days. Just like Paul Kersey, I’m going with the original portrayal of this character, which was by an actor we’ve seen before on this list of the best movie vigilantes. Michael Cain is Jack Carter a London gangster who comes back to his small hometown after his brother dies. Jack doesn’t believe the death was an accident though and sets off to get to the bottom of things. While the local bad guys might think they’re tough, they’re nothing more than big fish in a small pond, and Jack is coming back from a much bigger pond. Needless to say, Jack shows the local boys how it’s done in London and soon they regret ever messing with the Carters.

1. John W. Creasy- Man on Fire

John Creasy almost made it onto the Stars & Popcorn list of the Top 10 Movie Assassins. He didn’t quite fit there though. As a vigilante, he’s one of the best there’s ever been. Hired as a bodyguard for a family in Mexico, Creasy is a former covert operative with so much blood on his hands he can’t sleep at night. He’s a man looking for redemption, and his chance comes when the young girl in his charge is kidnapped. While the police might be helpless, Creasy is far from that. He sets off on a brutal rampage to avenge the young girl he was supposed to protect. The cartel responsible for her and so many other kidnappings is at his mercy as he systematically destroys them. As far as big-screen vigilantes go, John W. Creasy is the best of the best.

Honorable Mention: Harry Brown- Harry Brown

Old men make good vigilantes because they’ve got nothing left to lose. Harry Brown is just a quiet old man living out the last days of his life. He has few pleasures left, but one of them is playing chess with a good friend. When local chavs kill his friend and the police prove to be useless, Harry has no option but to take matters into his own hands. Unfortunately for the youths, Harry is a former Royal Marine who has more years of experience under his belt than these punks have years of breathing. Harry sets out to make the neighborhood safe once more while also getting revenge for his dear old friend. Of course, he’s not quite the man he used to be, which means the young roughens might actually stand a chance. Harry doesn’t make it easy though.

Vigilantes are always making appearances in movies one way or another, so this list is subject to updates in the future. In the meantime though, what did you think of the 10 on this list? Were there other vigilantes that you wanted to see on here? Comment below to let me know your thoughts and I’ll see you next week with a brand new top 10!