Top 20 Most Badass Movie Vigilantes

Is there a cooler word than "vigilante"? Welcome to WatchMojo, and today we’re counting down our picks for the most fearsome and cool characters who took the law into their own hands. Our countdown includes characters from movies “V for Vendetta”, “Inglourious Basterds”, “Law Abiding Citizen” and more! Did we forget another badass vigilante? Let us know in the comments below.
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#badass #vigilante #movies #robinhood #equalizer #taken #machete

[@WatchMojo]

Did we forget another badass vigilante? Let us know in the comments below. For more content like this, click here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/d3mynIacbN5-ms0 Don't forget to play our Live Trivia (www.watchmojo.com/play) games at 3pm EST for a chance to win cash! The faster you answer, the more points you get!

[@erzaender]

machete and john wick

[@marcusyates3044]

Batman VS Daredevil! Who's the Better Vigilante!

[@marcusyates3044]

Black Lighting VS Luke Cage

[@Deathstroke4200]

"Funnyman" made Boondock Saints hilarious, when they go into the legal brothel. Killing Ron Jeremy's character. Also I really wanted different ending for Law Abiding Citizen. Felt like a rushed ending kinda.

[@Present4]

The Punisher. Enough said.

[@trinaq]

Liam Neeson showed how he can play an absolute badass, just with one unforgettable threatening monologue.

[@jesseincognito.]

It’s all about the will to act

[@BooBop1987]

I feel bad for the Oh Great and Mighty Liam Neeson is because the Taken Saga is very up and down. I love Taken 1 and Taken 2 but Taken 3 is a very downhill film! Thanks to the stupid Screenwriters they gave up the wrong storyline at the wrong time.

[@Mattcruzedc]

And now that’s basically the only character he plays

[@kurtiskoch880]

To be fair he was acting parts like that before the taken trilogy.

[@Mattcruzedc]

@@kurtiskoch880 I’m not complaining. I like his movies.

[@joshuamohlman]

I’m glad people remember Nobody. That movie does not get talked about enough

[@cameronhermann9400]

Love this movie

[@JHPnut86]

It's unfortunate that Jean Reno from The Professional didn't make this list 😢

[@eduardodiaz9942]

Because he wasn't a vigilante, he was a mafia hitman

[@mp-cj2gt]

@@eduardodiaz9942 Looking at your logic - what John Wick is doing on that list, he's not an average Joe...

[@eduardodiaz9942]

@@mp-cj2gt John Wick retired before the events of the first movie

[@markbaumbargt3430]

Jean Reno was acting like a vigilante when he went on his rampage.

[@JHPnut86]

@@eduardodiaz9942 sure, but he turned into one after Mathilda begged for her life and witnessing the killers take out the family. Plus the cops were all corrupt and he decided to bring them to "justice" = vigilante. If anything, maybe an honorable mention.

[@shanitawilliams4783]

I'm surprise that the Bride from Kill Bill wasn't on the list

[@iamza.]

Yeah I thought she'd be high up on the list but not at all?? C'mon now. Plus it's one of my favorite movies.

[@theywouldnthavetocensormei9231]

Just like with John Wick, she wasn't a vigilante, she was an assassin seeking revenge.

[@cedgson91]

Same 😮

[@jackinthebox1993]

She's not a vigilante

[@marcusalrand7937]

Yeah you forgot the crow and others like the punisher.

[@paulcarpenter7844]

Wtf 😒

[@Negamare1]

Batman and Spawn

[@Zorkmiid]

They didn't include superheroes...they mentioned that in the beginning.

[@BTTG]

@@Zorkmiid Batman is not a superhero as he doesn't have superhuman powers.

[@SaberToothWhiteLion]

​@@BTTG With or without powers, there are heros that don't wear capes.

[@jamesespey249]

Danny Trejo played Machete in 5 films. He was Uncle Machete in the Spy Kids films.

[@dr_alto_clef]

V is at the right spot. I don't know any other movie that has such an inspiration to let an anarchist group adapt the mask as their now known logo for Anonymous

[@Glaaki13]

well sadly some right wingers cannot understand media: V for vendetta was written by a left anarchist and directed by a trans woman

[@Taka-Kevz]

Frank Castle as The Punisher?

[@Gmachine88]

How did Rambo or The Crow not make the list?

[@WilliamDoheny]

I guess The Crow doesn’t make the list since he could be considered a superhero.

[@victordrunkenstein3592]

And Rambo is a commando not a vigilante, well in the first movie he could be considered one but overall he doesn't count.

[@milescoburn1845]

@@victordrunkenstein3592 Probably not. What he did in the first film I would consider self-defense. Sheriff Teasle wasn't going to just let him go as Col. Troutman suggested.

[@charlescollier7217]

John Wick - Most skillful vigilante, best action scenes and stunts, most entertaining vigilante movie series ever. John Creasy - Most ruthless, brutal, morally just, and emotionally relatable vigilante. Also most terrifying, because he was already a dead man and had nothing to lose. Denzel Washington - Best Actor in a Vigilante Movie and/or Movie Franchise - Man on Fire + The Equalizer Franchise. Keanu Reaves - Most Physically Skillful Actor in a Vigilante Movie and/or Franchise. The dedication to learning the actual martial arts and weapons handling set a new bar. Honorable Mention - Tony Jaa for Physical Skill in Ong Bak and The Protector. Unquestionably more skilled martial artist than Keanu, but lacked the weapons handling.

[@williambilyeu9801]

"Point Blank" was remade as "Payback" with Mel Gibson.

[@Deathstroke4200]

I thought that plot was eerily similar. Thank you.

[@milescoburn1845]

Just coming here to say that! Good catch!

[@wardragonprime]

Don't forget ZORRO!!!😀😀😀

[@venomtron]

"Machete Dont Text"

[@BlenderStudy]

Thank you for the update, WatchMojo..!! Whenever I hear a word 'vigilante', Paul Kersey is the name that I remember first. 🤣

[@adamhopkinson6363]

Max Rockatansky is the best vigilante, Mad Max the ultimate revenge movie.

[@craigharvey-gurr337]

Peppermint should’ve been on this list.

[@michaelmonthey5974]

It’s a crime to not mention Josey Wales and Dirty Harry Callahan.

[@prussianpolydactyl836]

Harry's a cop, so he's hardly a vigilante

[@michaelmonthey5974]

@@prussianpolydactyl836 He’s a vigilante with a badge. He was ordered to steer clear of the Scorpio killer, but made an unauthorized kill anyway. As the franchise progressed, he developed a habit of killing his enemies instead of bringing them in.

[@jamicutsforth6731]

The Transporter? Jason Statham

[@blazebane9995]

Yes!

[@The_R_Vid]

I was thinking just Jason Statham in ... various.

[@samanthahughes7783]

What about Porter in Payback, played by Mel Gibson? He would be a good candidate.

[@TopCat2021]

Hollyweird doesn't like Mel Gibson anymore.

[@mp-cj2gt]

Same as Walker - same character, based on same novel.

[@fragout9575]

Great list, but since you only mentioned one woman in the role, I think a new list specifically for them needs to be done as well. Peppermint, Hanna, Colombiana, and Atomic Blonde are just a few to get ya started.... Carry On!!

[@Denis-89]

Vigilantes are always morally debatable and that is what makes them interesting to watch. You can always debate if it is right or wrong-

[@jackmackakaheavyguyhaiku545]

Decent list. One question though: WHERE IS PORTER from Payback?!?!?!

[@mp-cj2gt]

He would be at the same place Walker is, cause they're the same character from the same novel.

[@jackmackakaheavyguyhaiku545]

@@mp-cj2gt I didn't know that. Thanks. Then they should have shouted it out during this entry. 😎

[@Deathstroke4200]

I'm ready for the Nobody sequel! Glad they were able to start working on it.

[@lolahernandez6871]

Where is THE PUNISHER???????? 💀💀💀💀

[@bluerave23]

0:18

[@shyheamfrazier6482]

He's under the super hero bracket

[@Vandemic]

You forgot Marv! SinCity

[@KingCameron.]

There's no better pick for number one than John Wick

[@mp-cj2gt]

Frank Castle.

[@milescoburn1845]

@@mp-cj2gt He's classed as a Superhero. The narrator specifically said superheroes weren't included.

[@marcel_max]

Machete.... the kissing scene in the pool was totally hilarious

[@tvblue3010]

Great video.

[@ismailmayet6181]

Nick Hume Death Sentence a very underrated film

[@slashbash1347]

So glad Nobody got mentioned!

[@Jeremiah_Rivers76]

Never mess with the likes of John Wick.

[@Musicfan88.]

I’m very surprised “I spit on your grave” wasn’t on this list.

[@Cuckoorex]

Came here to say the same thing.

[@daevydjae]

I was surprised Hugo Weaving was eventually cast as V after James Purefoy left, but man he did a great job. Very entertaining film.

[@tammylynnbeatricedoyle4500]

Travis Bickell 🎉🎉🎉 Taxi Driver is a CLASSIC 🎉🎉🎉

[@fullhousefrek]

Taken has always been my favorite movie

[@BooBop1987]

Yeah, that is my favorite film too! And truly a very underrated one at Best!

[@tonygibson5171]

I can’t believe Harry Brown (Michael Cain ) didn’t make the list.

[@johnp8131]

Get Carter, the original not the Stallone abomination.

[@user-em6ie2be7x]

John Wick & Bryan Mills are The Greatest Vigilantes in movies. These guys always manage to pull off the impossible.

[@theywouldnthavetocensormei9231]

John Wick isn't really a vigilante though, he's an assassin.

[@thebalderthor4884]

I was going to post the same two dudes!

[@thebalderthor4884]

@@theywouldnthavetocensormei9231 He WAS an assassin. After his dog was killed he absolutely took the law into his own hands. No one hired him to kill those guys, which would make him a vigilante.

[@theywouldnthavetocensormei9231]

@@thebalderthor4884 that's not vigilantism, it's revenge.

[@TBullets85]

Bob McCall is up there too

[@johncmitchell4941]

THANK YOU for a list of movies I haven't seen, but simply must. lol At least a dozen of these would be a first watch. btw, Michael Jai White, Scott Adkins, Javier Bardem, and Tim Roth in various roles would make my list of a top 25.

[@eivorwolf-kissed6790]

John Wick isn’t a vigilante. He’s a former assassin who’s on the run across the globe for survival. But John Wick and Bryan Mills are OG killers.

[@mp-cj2gt]

You're missing Kevin Bacon from the "Death Sentence" for example (someone already mentioned "Harry Brown" and "Kill Bill"). I would add Frank Castle to the list, he's not a superhero, although I bet you would incline him in the MCU list of some sort for better clicks. He's the embodiment of revenge though.

[@tylergoodman3560]

John Wick is a modern-day Batman. 🎉

[@Animeguy300]

John Wick is the most badass vigilante ever

[@theywouldnthavetocensormei9231]

A vigilante is a person or people that take it upon themselves to fight crime. John Wick is an assassin. Even after it's flipped and the assassins are coming after him, he isn't trying to fight crime, he's just trying to survive.

[@BooBop1987]

John Wick has one of the best movie sagas of all time!

[@onestopviewfiles]

13:48 one of the best film soundtracks

[@BTTG]

Yeah, you forgot John Rambo, especially in Rambo 4 and 5.

[@danielhudson5186]

Alejandro Gillick from the Sicario movies and Red from Mandy.

[@duncancurtis5108]

Josey Wales, The Punisher, Machete.

[@onestopviewfiles]

7:40 what the heck is miles o'brien doing? He's contaminating the timeline!

[@brianwise5850]

Buck Matthews (Played by Gary Busey) in Eye of the Tiger.

[@cedgson91]

The bride in kill bill definitely needs to be on this list

[@DS-ph7zy]

Ok so I love jack reacher but him over Clyde Sheldon is crazy. Him in Law Abising Citizen is easily top 5

[@kinGsaL1515]

V for Vigilante

[@hollywoodmovies4056]

Okay, Law abiding Citizen is getting recognised

[@LDixon007]

* Harmonica * The Bride * Arthur Fleck * Evelyn Salt * James Cole

[@dennisanderson3895]

One thing I appreciated in the first Taken is that, as good as he iS, he would not have been able to achieve the precision narrowing and tracking that he did w/o some lent talents of friends/colleagues. He was not a superhuman action hero - but he was a laser-focused father who was utterly committed to his daughter (and her friend) and vengeful justice against those responsible - so, yeah, he needed some assistance and was clearly a fine enough associate that those who could assisted. It was refreshing b/c he didn't simply step through an endless series lucky breaks: they were earned.

[@jaredquinney204]

Interesting

[@Present4]

Does John Wick really qualify as a vigilante?

[@dennisanderson3895]

Was glad to see Errol Flynn's Robin Hood (the BEST one, sorry not sorry!) made the list!

[@victoniomonteleone4105]

awwww ransom is a good one w mel gibson

[@Bookid2k2]

I don't know if mojo watched payback with Mel Gibson but that is a top three movie for me and not to mention Clint Eastwood and dirty Harry but I get it it's probably because he was a cop but he definitely did s*** his own way and I'm actually surprised that they at least add deathwish in there a lot of people don't remember death wish

[@milescoburn1845]

"Payback" was a remake of "Point Break"

[@Bookid2k2]

Thank you for letting me know I would definitely have to go back and watch that one but I don't think that was in their video either that's crazy because once you said point blank it made me remember point break with Patrick swayze luckily I did find that point blank is a 1967 movie that look like I definitely should check it out thank you

[@Brian-uy2tj]

Another Bronson movie. A western named "Chatto's Land" Somebody done Bronson wrong and that was a mistake. Great cast and he kills most of them off and no two dying in the same way.

[@frayhua9716]

Oh don't forget his best cult-classic that started it the original Deathwish.

[@Brian-uy2tj]

@@frayhua9716

[@rosgill6]

Charles Rane, hell yeah!!!

[@ryukomatoi592]

Vigilantes are always badass

[@jamesfriesen191]

Any list of vigilantes without D-Fens from Falling Down, The Crow or the Punisher isn't worth much IMHO.

[@thec.e.oofbasedindustries8013]

Damn the Russian mafia must've had to face half this list 💀

[@ismailmayet6181]

I absolutely loved Nobody and Nobody 2 is in the works

[@redfoe77]

I think the actor had a heart attack, i.r.l . After finishing the first, Nobody movie. Why would he risk making a second movie? Wow.

[@theywouldnthavetocensormei9231]

​@@redfoe77he had a heart attack filming Better Call Saul.

[@mohamedfaroukelewa5905]

Lucky Number Sleven

[@mr.decencykeepinitreal6348]

JOHN WICK. Played for the famous Keanu Reeves. From highly trained but retired assassin to vengeful vigilante. 😁👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼

[@TheSoldier1984]

You should put Fassbender’s the killer

[@KHAOE1]

The Exterminator

[@Zireael_1251]

Eric Draven better be on the list... Edit: I am disappointed. Only showed him at the end of the video 😐

[@Michael-dy2lb]

He's mentioned after the #1 John Wick at the very end. However, he wasn't a vigilante. He was a best depiction of a revenant I've ever seen.

[@thomasbalka9882]

"Peppermint" 😎

[@VJAllison1974]

Where's Eric Draven from The Crow????

[@prussianpolydactyl836]

I'm guessing they're counting him as a superhero, since he's got supernatural powers.

[@onestopviewfiles]

16:18 correction, takes on a tory government

[@kasperchristensen8416]

3:37 Before changing his name and becoming the president of France ... 😁

[@johnp8131]

Get Carter, the original with Michael Caine, not the Stallone abomination.

[@christianromero6604]

What about JOHN DOE VIGILANTE?(Aussie film)......That movie was wicked good too....

[@Will18694]

Oh wow can't believe Kevin bacon didn't make this list with death sentence based on the proper book sequel to death wish he goes all out nuts by the end just like de niro in taxi driver

[@mdpeterson27]

A good amount of these are out for Revenge. Vigilantes do what they do for other people.

[@theywouldnthavetocensormei9231]

Cain Burgess from Avengement.

[@jamesmendonca2900]

Hugh Jackman should have got an oscar nomination for Prisoners.

[@shanesawhutchison9255]

I would have put the movie “Falling Down”, in there. 🇨🇦

[@Th3Pr0tag0n1st]

What about Josey Wales

[@Zyuemperoryoutubecreators.]

Liam always so epic

[@BlackHatCinephile]

🥉

[@Reaperguy67]

​@@BlackHatCinephile It's honestly sad that you give pointless medals that mean nothing

[@BooBop1987]

The best part about Liam Neeson as Bryan Mills from the Taken Saga is that he is one Hot Sexy Beast. He did bring a whole lot of sex appear in his character. Something that truly turned me on Big Time.

[@BlackHatCinephile]

@@Reaperguy67 Find something better to do with your "life", keyboard warrior. Your mom is so disappointed.

[@shavanzar]

The Crow franchise. Punisher series. For two. Hello from the West Coast of Canada.

[@dennisanderson3895]

Washington was INCREDIBLE in Man on Fire! I loved Walken's description to the federale' of Creasy's goal, ending with "...he is going to create a masterpiece!" Intent delivered! "Oh. You're the PRESIDENT of Los Hermanodad?*...I've got all the time in the world. You don't." And the end: KNOWING what awaits, he sacrifices himself to keep his word and bond. ! WHAT a hero! What a MAN! *Spelling?

[@Yoshi0493]

You missed out peppermint from 2018 with Jennifer Garner an underrated revenge action film with a female lead

[@scottsandmeyer]

What about The Bride from Kill Bill? She's a fit in the top 3 for sure!

[@chrisandre1315]

The top 10 best action movies where the protagonists are being framed

[@matthewguerra5410]

John WIck, Bryan Mills, Robert McCall, Rambo Over everyone else

[@BooBop1987]

Bryan Mills and John Wick are the only 2 Bad A-Words Dudes that I can enjoy in Action Films!

[@pdnick]

Where is the dude from "Falling Down"?

[@chanthy_lim]

Just watched Nobody because of this video. 10/10

[@michaelbullock8011]

🔥🔥🔥🔥

[@Djordje_Jovanovic]

This is not a bad list WM, but there are a lot of cinematic vigilantes missing. Here are some honorable mentions (comic book characters will not be included): Harold Francis "Dirty Harry" Callahan - Dirty Harry series (1971-1988) The Stranger/The Preacher - High Plains Drifter (1973) & Pale Rider (1985)* Josey Wales - The Outlaw Josey Wales (1976) "Mad" Max Rockatansky - Mad Max series (1979-present)** John "The Exterminator" Eastland - The Exterminator series (1980-1984) Thana - Ms .45 (1981) El Mariachi - El Mariachi series (1992-2003) "Tequilla" Yuen Ho-yan - Hard Boiled (1992) William "D-FENS" Foster - Falling Down (1993) Beatrix "The Bride" Kiddo - Kill Bill series (2003-2004) *Yes, I'm considering them a same character. Same people do, others don't. It up to viewer to decide. ** Max is only a vigilante in the 1st movie from 1979. I've included the whole series, because it's the continuation of character's arc.

[@mr.logicpants2835]

You forgot Arnold Schwarzenegger in Commando.

[@miggysmallzzzz]

William Douglas in “Falling Down”. That character should be top 5.

[@Vickosonne]

Honorable mention in Revenge section: Julie Kohler (Jeanne Moureau) in The bride wore black

[@archwodrichemond-fils6187]

My boy John Wick has reached icon status

[@danroberts9050]

You missed the best revenge franchise of all: I Spit On Your Grave.

[@Klaital1]

Punisher should have been on this list, as well as Michael Douglas' character from Falling Down.

[@donaldkennedy9573]

Douglas was truly a bad-ass in that film.