tmdb76622195
2/10Almost works more as a goofball comedy mocking all those action films of the 1980's. Almost. Gossett comes off so much better than the material handed to him.
Reviewed on December 22, 2023
The Punisher(1989)
If society won't punish the guilty, he will.
5.8(712)1h 29m1989-10-05
ActionCrimeDrama
The Punisher Synopsis
The avenging angel of Marvel Comics fame comes brilliantly to life in this searing action-adventure thriller! Dolph Lundgren stars as Frank Castle, a veteran cop who loses his entire family to a mafia car bomb. His ex-partner believes Castle survived the blast and became the Punisher, living in the sewers and exacting vigilante violence against mob bosses throughout the city. When the populace is caught in the midst of a gang war that he caused, Castle must again emerge from the shadows and save the innocent.
The Punisher (1989) is a action, crime and drama film directed by Mark Goldblatt, released on October 5, 1989 with a runtime of 1h 29m. It stars Dolph Lundgren, Louis Gossett Jr., Jeroen Krabbé and Kim Miyori. Viewers rate it 5.8 out of 10 across 712 ratings.
- Director:
- Mark Goldblatt
- Writers:
- Boaz Yakin, Gerry Conway, John Romita Sr.
- Producers:
- Robert Mark Kamen
- Cinematographer:
- Ian Baker
- Composer:
- Dennis Dreith
- Production:
- New World Pictures, Robert Mark Kamen Productions
- Budget:
- $9,000,000
- Status:
- Released
The Punisher (1989) Trailer
Watch the official trailer for The Punisher before you stream it.
The Punisher Cast & Crew
Main cast
Dolph Lundgren
as Frank Castle
Louis Gossett Jr.
as Jake Berkowitz
Jeroen Krabbé
as Gianni Franco
Kim Miyori
as Lady Tanaka
Bryan Marshall
as Dino Moretti
Nancy Everhard
as Sam Leary
Barry Otto
as Shake
Brian Rooney
as Tommy Franco
Zoshka Mizak
as Tanaka's Daughter
Kenji Yamaki
as Sato
- Hirofumi Kanayama
Hirofumi Kanayama
as Tomio
Larry McCormick
as TV Newsreader
Key crew
Directed by Mark Goldblatt, written by Boaz Yakin, Gerry Conway and John Romita Sr., produced by Robert Mark Kamen.
Explore more Action titles
The Punisher Reviews & Ratings
Average viewer score of 5.8/10 from 712 ratings.
Dr Nostromo
2/1021/100 Dolph Lungren as the Punisher and it's exactly what you would expect it to be ...and it didn't age well. 'nuff said. -- DrNostromo.com
Reviewed on April 7, 2026
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The Punisher – Frequently Asked Questions
Where can I watch The Punisher online?
+
The Punisher (1989) is available to stream on Disney Plus. Streaming availability is checked against JustWatch data and can change by region.
Who stars in The Punisher?
+
The main cast of The Punisher (1989) includes Dolph Lundgren, Louis Gossett Jr., Jeroen Krabbé, Kim Miyori and Bryan Marshall. The film was directed by Mark Goldblatt. You can see the full cast and crew list, with character names, further up this page.
When was The Punisher released?
+
The Punisher was released on October 5, 1989 and runs for 1h 29m.
Is The Punisher worth watching?
+
The Punisher (1989) holds an average rating of 5.8 out of 10 from 712 viewer votes, and is a good pick if you enjoy action, crime and drama films. Read the viewer reviews on this page to decide for yourself.
Is there a trailer for The Punisher?
+
Yes. The official The Punisher trailer is embedded in the trailer section of this page and plays instantly, no download or sign-up required.