The Top 10 Best Revenge Movies

5. Lady Snowblood

I was torn when I started this list of revenge movies, because how could you not include Kill Bill? Well, I have a strong disdain for the director, so I decided to look to the movie that inspired his revenge epic. Lady Snowblood is a Japanese classic that tells the tale of multi-generational vengeance. A woman is raped and her family murdered. In prison, she conceives and gives birth to a daughter who is to become the incarnation of her wrath. After years of training in swordsmanship, Lady Snowblood sets out to murder criminals for an act that happened before she was even born. If you love katanas and blood then you’ll want to check out Lady Snowblood. Not just because it’s awesome, but because it features a strong kick-ass woman who don’t need no  man to get revenge.

4. Carrie (1976)

Speaking of women getting revenge, Carrie is definitely a dark tale of vengeance. The film recently appeared on Stars & Popcorn’s 10 Worst Movie Moms list, and it just so happens it’s a perfect fit for this revenge movies list as well. Carrie suffers tremendously at the hands of her peers because high scholars are just the worst. They’re nothing though compared to her mother who hates Carrie for what she represents and constantly locks her in a closet to pray away her sins. She’s a sheepish girl who could beat up a kitten, but that doesn’t matter when you’re packing telekinetic heat. Pushed to the breaking point, Carrie unleashes her fury on everyone whether they deserve it or not. Trust me when I say Carrie is no hero, but her vengeance is justified.

3. Oldboy (2003)

No one does revenge movies like the Koreans and Oldboy is one of the most twisted tales I’ve seen from them. Part of Park Chan-wook’s revenge trilogy, Oldboy eclipses Sympathy for Mr. Vengeance and Sympathy for Lady Vengeance. Why? Because there is no sympathy for any of the vengeance in this dark movie. Locked in a room for 15 years a man is suddenly released with no explanation. Of course, he’s not willing to let bygones be bygones and carves a bloody path across Korea hunting down those who are responsible for holding him against his will. Originally a doughboy, his years of solitary confinement have turned him into a chiseled beast of a man with more than a few mental issues.  What makes Oldboy so exceptional is that its double-edged revenge, but you’ll just have to see it to find out what I mean. Oh, and make sure you don’t watch that crappy Spike Lee remake.

2. I Saw the Devil

One of my favorite movies of 2010 features the star of Oldboy (Choi Min-sik), but this time he’s a villain. The premise is basically a serial killer versus the Korean version of Jason Bourne. After his fiance is murdered by said killer, special agent Kim Soo-hyeon takes a little time off work to grieve. Part of his process though is hunting down the man responsible. The thing is that a one time encounter would be all too easy for Soo-hyeon. So, he devotes himself to tormenting the serial killer that took the love of his life. Despite being a fearsome psychopath, the killer is at his mercy. That is until he starts to fight back. So who wins when an unstoppable force meets an immovable object? You’re going to have to watch I Saw the Devil to see. Don’t worry though, you won’t regret it.

1. John  Wick

For years I’ve said that Korean’s make the best revenge movies. That was until Keanu Reeves burst back onto the scene as John Wick. Sure we’ve seen people get revenge for rape, murder, torture, and everything else. John takes apart an entire Russian crime syndicate because of a puppy. Of course, said the puppy is probably one of the cutest doggos to appear on the silver screen. So why is John Wick number one on this list? Well, as one of his future victims once said, “John is a man of focus, commitment, sheer will…” He’s the kind of man who never leaves a job unfinished no matter how much punishment his body has taken. It doesn’t hurt that he’s also one of the most incredible assassins in the history of cinema, but even then he’s desperately outnumbered and outgunned. The odds are so stacked against him that it’s almost a challenge.

Narrowing down the top 10 revenge movies was one of the most difficult lists I’ve ever had to put together. There are so many amazing ones out there, but I feel like the ones that managed to survive the cut are more than qualified. I want to hear about your favorites though. So make sure you leave a comment with your favorite revenge movies of all time!