Law Abiding Citizen (2009)
A relentless revenge thriller pitting a grieving engineer against the justice system itself, starring Gerard Butler and Jamie Foxx.
Law Abiding Citizen - Movie Information
- Original Title: Law Abiding Citizen
- Release Year: 2009
- Directed by: F. Gary Gray
- Type: Movie
- Genres: Drama, Crime, Thriller
- Age Rating (US): R
- Runtime: 1h 49m
- Original Language: English
- Spoken Languages: English
- Release Date (Theatrical): October 15, 2009 (United States - R), November 27, 2009 (United Kingdom - 18), November 19, 2009 (Germany - 16), December 22, 2010 (France - 12), January 28, 2010 (Australia - MA 15+), November 6, 2009 (Brazil - 16), August 25, 2010 (Italy), May 7, 2010 (Spain - 16), December 10, 2009 (South Korea - 15)
- Alternative Titles: Código de Conduta (BR), Смъртоносен противник (BG), 奉公守法 (CN), Un ciudadano ejemplar (ES), Gesetz der Rache - Law Abiding Citizen (DE), Un ciudadano ejemplar (MX), 重案對決 (TW), Un honnête citoyen (CA)
- Production Companies: The Film Department, Evil Twins, Warp Films, Overture Films, G-BASE
- Production Countries: United Kingdom, United States of America
Law Abiding Citizen - Plot
A frustrated man decides to take justice into his own hands after a plea bargain sets one of his family's killers free. He targets not only the killer but also the district attorney and others involved in the deal.
Law Abiding Citizen - Trailer
Watch the official trailer and see the deadly game of cat and mouse unfold:
Justice at any cost.
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Law Abiding Citizen - Cast & Crew
Director(s)
- F. Gary Gray
Main Cast
- Jamie Foxx
- Gerard Butler
- Colm Meaney
- Bruce McGill
- Leslie Bibb
- Michael Irby
- Gregory Itzin
- Regina Hall
- Emerald-Angel Young
- Brooke Stacy Mills
Writers
- Kurt Wimmer
Producers
- Mark Gill
- Alan Siegel
- Gerard Butler
- Kurt Wimmer
- Lucas Foster
Law Abiding Citizen - FAQs
Where can you stream Law Abiding Citizen?
Law Abiding Citizen is available to stream on AMC+ (via Amazon Channel) and Philo. It can also be rented or purchased on Amazon Video, Apple TV, Google Play Movies, YouTube, and Fandango At Home. Check JustWatch for current availability in your region.
What is the ending of Law Abiding Citizen explained?
In the film's climax, DA Nick Rice discovers Clyde Shelton's hidden underground cell and redirects a bomb Clyde planted back into the cell, killing Clyde with his own device. The ending underscores the film's central irony: the system's defender ultimately uses Clyde's own ruthless methods to stop him.
Who are the main actors in Law Abiding Citizen?
The film stars Jamie Foxx as ambitious DA Nick Rice and Gerard Butler as Clyde Shelton, the grieving engineer turned mastermind. Supporting cast includes Colm Meaney, Bruce McGill, Leslie Bibb, Regina Hall, Viola Davis, Michael Kelly, and Gregory Itzin.
Is Law Abiding Citizen based on a true story?
No, Law Abiding Citizen is not based on a true story. It is an original screenplay written by Kurt Wimmer. While the film's themes of systemic injustice and plea-bargain frustration resonate with real-world concerns, the characters and plot are entirely fictional.
What is Law Abiding Citizen about?
After his wife and daughter are murdered, engineer Clyde Shelton watches a plea deal set one killer free. Furious at the broken justice system, he orchestrates an elaborate, deadly campaign targeting not only the killers but also the DA and officials who enabled the deal, all from inside a prison cell.
What is the age rating for Law Abiding Citizen?
Law Abiding Citizen is rated R in the United States for strong bloody brutal violence and torture, a scene of rape, and pervasive language. It carries an 18 certificate in the United Kingdom and a 16 rating in Germany, Brazil, and Spain.
Who directed Law Abiding Citizen?
Law Abiding Citizen was directed by F. Gary Gray, known for his stylish, tension-driven filmmaking. Gray previously helmed The Italian Job (2003) and Friday (1995), and later directed Straight Outta Compton (2015) and The Fate of the Furious (2017).
How long is Law Abiding Citizen?
Law Abiding Citizen has a runtime of 1 hour and 49 minutes (109 minutes). The film moves at a brisk pace, balancing courtroom tension, prison sequences, and escalating action set pieces across its running time.
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