The Punisher (1989 film)

The Punisher
Theatrical release poster
Directed byMark Goldblatt
Written byBoaz Yakin
Based on
Punisher
by
Produced byRobert Mark Kamen
Starring
CinematographyIan Baker
Edited by
  • Tim Wellburn
Music byDennis Dreith
Production
company
Distributed byLive Entertainment (North America)
New World International (International)
Release dates
  • October 5, 1989 (1989-10-05) (West Germany)
  • April 25, 1991 (1991-04-25) (United States)
Running time
89 minutes[1]
Countries
  • United States
  • Australia
LanguageEnglish
Budget$9 million[2]
Box office$30 million[2]

The Punisher is a 1989 American vigilante action-thriller film directed by Mark Goldblatt, written by Boaz Yakin, and starring Dolph Lundgren, based on the Punisher character from Marvel Comics. It was shot in Sydney, co-starring Louis Gossett Jr, Jeroen Krabbé, Kim Miyori, Nancy Everhard, and Barry Otto.

Former undercover police detective Frank Castle (Lundgren), presumed dead after his family's murder, becomes the elusive vigilante "The Punisher," targeting mobsters with his skull-etched throwing knives. As the mob groups weaken under his relentless attacks, the yakuza, led by Lady Tanaka (Miyori), seize the opportunity to invade their territories, threatening the Mafia by kidnapping their children. Punisher retaliates, freeing most captives, except the son of mobster Gianni Franco (Krabbé), and gets arrested. Freed by Franco, Punisher aids him in rescuing Franco's son from the yakuza.

The film had a troubled release as New World Pictures had financial issues. While it received a theatrical run internationally, it was released on Home Video in the United States, grossing $30 million.

  1. ^ "THE PUNISHER (18) (CUT)". British Board of Film Classification. April 4, 1990. Retrieved September 5, 2014.
  2. ^ a b Marvel Comics into Film: Essays on Adaptations Since the 1940s. McFarland & Company. 2016. pp. 234–6. ISBN 978-0786443048.