Wanted (2008)
76%RT Audience Score: 69%
Awards & Nominations: NA
Wanted is stylish, energetic popcorn fare with witty performances from Angelina Jolie (playing an expert assassin), James McAvoy, and Morgan Freeman that help to distract from its absurdly over-the-top plot
Wanted is like a rollercoaster ride that you’re not sure you want to go on, but once you’re on it, you can’t help but scream and laugh. It’s over-the-top, ridiculous, and violent, but it’s also undeniably entertaining. Angelina Jolie is a badass, James McAvoy is a relatable hero, and the action sequences are insane. It’s not a movie that will change your life, but it’s definitely a fun way to spend a couple of hours. Just don’t take it too seriously, or you might end up questioning your own sanity.
Production Company(ies)
Distributor
Universal Pictures
Release Type
Filming Location(s)
MPAA / Certificate
TV-14
Year of Release
2008
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Color:Color
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Sound mix:Stereo
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Aspect ratio:16:9 HD
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Runtime:1h 50m
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Language(s):
-
Country of origin:United States
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Release date:Release Date (Theaters): Jun 27, 2008 Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Dec 2, 2008
Genre(s)
Action
Keyword(s)
starring James McAvoy, Angelina Jolie, Morgan Freeman, Terence Stamp, Thomas Kretschmann, Common, directed by Timur Bekmambetov, written by Michael Brandt, Derek Haas, Chris Morgan, action, R-rated, box office gross $134.3M, produced by Marc Platt, Jim Lemley, Jason Netter, Iain Smith, reviewed by Jim Ridley, Laremy Legel, Paul Byrnes, Richard Roeper, Kyle Smith, Christopher Orr, Niall Browne, Mike Massie, Jason Best, Richard Propes, Debbie Lynn Elias, Wesley Gibson, Fox, Sloan, Pekwarsky, Cross, The Gunsmith, office worker, assassin, secret society, Fraternity, Fate, dormant powers, revenge, redemption, absurdly over-the-top plot, stylish, energetic, witty performances, distracting, humor, excitement, twists, vivid violent nature, ensemble
Worldwide gross: $342,463,063
Worldwide gross (inflation-adjusted): NA
Worldwide gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): NA
Worldwide tickets sold (est.): NA
US/Canada gross: $134,508,551
US/Canada gross (inflation-adjusted): NA
US/Canada gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): NA
US/Canada opening weekend:
US/Canada opening weekend (inflation-adjusted): NA
US/Canada opening weekend ranking (inflation-adjusted): NA
Budget and Earnings Details
Production budget (est.): NA
Production budget (inflation-adjusted): NA
Production budget ranking: NA
Marketing and distribution budget (inflation-adjusted est.): NA
Box office net earnings to date (inflation-adjusted est.): NA
ROI to date (est.): NA
ROI ranking: NA
Morgan Freeman – Sloan
Angelina Jolie – Fox
Terence Stamp – Pekwarsky
Thomas Kretschmann – Cross
Common – The Gunsmith
Director(s)
Timur Bekmambetov
Writer(s)
Michael Brandt, Derek Haas, Chris Morgan
Producer(s)
Marc Platt, Jim Lemley, Jason Netter, Iain Smith
Film Festivals
Awards & Nominations
NA
Academy Awards
All Critics (209) | Top Critics (52) | Fresh (149) | Rotten (60)
Bekmambetov’s movie evaporates pretty quickly after it’s consumed.
July 6, 2010
Jim Ridley
Village Voice
TOP CRITIC
Wanted is too bloody, too over the top, too silly, and too special effects driven. It’s also excessively entertaining and fun.
July 6, 2010 | Rating: A-
Laremy Legel
Film.com
TOP CRITIC
Bekmambetov made better films in Russia with far less money and more ideas.
August 1, 2008 | Rating: 2.5/5
Paul Byrnes
Sydney Morning Herald
TOP CRITIC
It’s made for fans of films that really just want to see some great visuals, some amazing sequences and some terrific performances.
June 30, 2008
Richard Roeper
Ebert & Roeper
TOP CRITIC
A 12-armed heavy-metal drummer of a movie, kicking and flailing through two hours of impossible. The car chase of the year.
June 28, 2008 | Rating: 3/4
Kyle Smith
New York Post
TOP CRITIC
I’ve watched a movie that, while fiercely entertaining, made me fear for the emotional health of my gender. You have a problem with that?
June 27, 2008
Christopher Orr
The New Republic
TOP CRITIC
Wanted is a 14 year-old boy’s fantasy – being given $3 million, a gun and Angelina Jolie as company. Your viewpoint of the film will depend on how well you can suspend disbelief and your opinions on casual violence.
March 17, 2021 | Rating: 2.5/5
Niall Browne
Movies in Focus
Stylistic, violent, innovative, startling, unexpected, and outrageous.
November 28, 2020 | Rating: 8/10
Mike Massie
Gone With The Twins
Bekmambetov delivers audacious action and jaw-dropping stunts that will have fan boys of all ages hyperventilating with excitement.
November 14, 2020
Jason Best
What’s On TV
A modest, guilty pleasure.
September 26, 2020 | Rating: 2.5/4.0
Richard Propes
TheIndependentCritic.com
Trust me on this. You want to see WANTED.
November 6, 2019
Debbie Lynn Elias
Behind The Lens
It comes blazing out of the gate flashing the middle finger on both hands, almost daring anyone to hate it.
July 6, 2019 | Rating: 3/4
Mattie Lucas
From the Front Row…
Plot
After his father is murdered, office worker Wesley Gibson is recruited into a secret society of assassins called the Fraternity, where he learns to tap into dormant powers and begins to suspect that there is more to the Fraternity than meets the eye in Wanted.
Trivia
Goofs / Tidbits
Angelina Jolie plays an expert assassin in Wanted.
Timur-Bekmambetov.jpg
