Netflix’s top 10 is no stranger to Gerard Butler’s movies. Over the past few months, the biggest streaming service has temporarily added several of his projects, including “Plane,” “Kandahar,” and “Geostorm,” all of which quickly climbed into the trending list. Following in the same tradition, there’s yet another action-thriller gaining ground on the U.S. streaming charts.
“Law Abiding Citizen,” released in 2009 and directed by F. Gary Gray, sees Butler in a much darker role than some of his more recent action fare. He plays a man stricken with grief after his wife and daughter are killed. When one of the killers walks free thanks to a plea deal negotiated by a prosecutor, he decides to take matters into his own hands, setting off a tense and carefully planned chain of events.
Also starring Jamie Foxx and Leslie Bibb, the movie raked in $127 million worldwide at the box office, making it a commercial success. Critics, however, weren’t as impressed, giving it a pretty dismal 26% on Rotten Tomatoes. Audiences clearly disagreed, though, awarding it a 75% viewer score, and its resurgence on Netflix proves it still has the power to grab attention years after its initial release.
Now that “Law Abiding Citizen” has jumped into the No. 10 spot on Netflix’s trending list (and is likely to climb higher in the coming days), here’s everything to know about this action-thriller and whether it’s worth a spot on your watchlist.
What is ‘Law Abiding Citizen’ about?
“Law Abiding Citizen” follows Clyde Shelton (Gerard Butler), a man whose wife and daughter are brutally murdered during a home invasion. When one of the killers receives a light sentence after cutting a deal with ambitious prosecutor Nick Rice (Jamie Foxx), Clyde is left outraged.
Ten years later, as the killer is found dead in a meticulously planned execution, Clyde confesses and is imprisoned but the murders don’t stop. From behind bars, he continues to manipulate events, exposing the failures of the justice system through a series of elaborate, deadly traps.
Nick races to uncover how Clyde is orchestrating the chaos while trying to stop the escalating violence that threatens everyone involved in the case.
Should you stream ‘Law Abiding Citizen’ on Netflix?
Looking at the Rotten Tomatoes score for “Law Abiding Citizen,” you might feel put off, but a low score doesn’t always mean a movie isn’t worth watching. For action-thrillers in particular, I personally think they succeed if they deliver on two key things the genre promises: action and thrills.
In this case, “Law Abiding Citizen” delivers just that. The movie can be genuinely entertaining, as long as you’re willing to go along with a few convenient plot points. Like many revenge thrillers that jump straight into the action, this one leans on heavy exposition to explain Butler’s character: he was once trained for missions ordinary soldiers couldn’t handle. From there, he designs weapons, sets traps, and orchestrates a city-wide crime spree after his family is killed, spending the next decade plotting revenge.
It’s essentially a mix of familiar crime flicks like “The Silence of the Lambs” and “Seven,” combined with the deadly traps of “Saw.” Even though these movie comparisons are far superior, “Law Abiding Citizen” still manages to be a fast-paced, well-acted piece of entertainment.
“Law Abiding Citizen” works perfectly fine as a popcorn thriller, but if you’re looking for substance, there isn’t much to find. That’s part of why it wasn’t received as well when it first came out. Despite big stars and explosive set pieces, the movie doesn’t spend much time developing its characters or giving Butler’s role more than a quick setup before his revenge arc.
The movie is also seriously brutal, and the bloody carnage won’t be for everyone. If you don’t mind a fair share of fake blood, though, “Law Abiding Citizen” leans fully into its revenge-driven story — delivering tense action and shocking moments along the way.
As mentioned before, critics and audiences are divided on this action-thriller, with Rotten Tomatoes' critics consensus reading: “Unnecessarily violent and unflinchingly absurd, Law Abiding Citizen is plagued by subpar acting and a story that defies reason.”
Audiences clearly found more to enjoy than critics did. Many praised the movie as a thrilling ride: “Yes, some of the plot is unbelievable, but that’s exactly what movies are for, imagining what could happen in a world filled with injustice.” Fans also commented on the performances, with one noting, “I loved watching the constant tension between Jamie Foxx and Gerard Butler…they create a sense of urgency and suspicion throughout the entire film.”
Even those who acknowledged its flaws still found it entertaining: “It’s no masterpiece, but a thoroughly enjoyable revenge thriller…well-directed and edge-of-your-seat for two hours.”
If you’re in the mood for a fast-paced, revenge-fueled thriller with plenty of action and tension, “Law Abiding Citizen” is worth a watch. But just don’t expect anything special or particularly realistic here, as I have to side with critics — the lack of developed characters makes it hard to connect with anyone. Still, I’m confident this action-thriller will climb its way up Netflix’s ranks.
Stream "Law Abiding Citizen" on Netflix now.
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