Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Brisk
- Intensity
- Strong
- Complexity
- Easy to follow
- Violence
- Graphic
- grim
- aggressive
- heightened
- action movie night
- revenge thriller marathon
What critics said
Critics broadly regarded the film as slick but hollow, with its violent action failing to compensate for thin dramatic substance.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
Liam Case deliberately hunts and murders the thief responsible for leaving him and a bank teller for dead.
The keyworded nonlinear timeline and flashback structure connect the robbery, Liam's retaliation, and the reprisals that follow.
Critical reception specifically characterizes the film as violent and over-the-top, while the plot includes murder, stabbing, and bludgeoning.
After Liam kills the thief, the slain man's associates pursue him in retaliation.
Films like Hero Wanted, and why
Death Sentence
violent revenge thriller centered on a wounded protagonist pursuing criminals, with a grimy crime atmosphere
Payback
crime-action story driven by retaliation, escalating violence, and morally compromised protagonists
The Brave One
hard-edged revenge narrative combining vigilante justice, criminal retaliation, and bleak action
Law Abiding Citizen
stylized crime thriller about personal vengeance and violent consequences after a robbery
Movie Details
- Director
- Brian Smrz
- Release Date
- 2008-03-28
- Runtime
- 95 min
- Rating
- 5.3 / 10 (169)
Cast
- Cuba Gooding Jr.
- Ray Liotta
- Norman Reedus
- Kim Coates
- Tommy Flanagan
- Jean Smart
- Christa Campbell
- Gary Cairns
- Sammi Hanratty
- Ben Cross
Where to watch in United States
- Rent
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
- Buy
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is Hero Wanted about?
- A wounded survivor turns avenger after a robbery, igniting a brutal cycle of criminal retaliation.
- What is Hero Wanted like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Hero Wanted as brisk, its intensity as strong and its storytelling as easy to follow.
- Is Hero Wanted violent?
- Yes. Ember rates the violence in Hero Wanted as graphic.
- What did critics think of Hero Wanted?
- Critics broadly regarded the film as slick but hollow, with its violent action failing to compensate for thin dramatic substance.
- Which films are like Hero Wanted?
- Films with a similar feel include Death Sentence, Payback, The Brave One, and Law Abiding Citizen.
- How long is Hero Wanted?
- Hero Wanted runs 95 minutes.
- Where can I watch Hero Wanted?
- In United States, Hero Wanted is available to rent or buy from Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home.
