Movie · 2012 · Action, Science Fiction · 1h 36m · R · English
Curator score: 5.2/10 (558.7K ratings)
Judgement is coming.
Overview
In the future, America is a dystopian wasteland. The latest scourge is Ma-Ma, a prostitute-turned-drug pusher with a dangerous new drug and aims to take over the city. The only possibility of stopping her is an elite group of urban police called Judges, who combine the duties of judge, jury and executioner to deliver a brutal brand of swift justice. But even the top-ranking Judge, Dredd, discovers that taking down Ma-Ma isn’t as easy as it seems in this explosive adaptation of the hugely popular comic series.
Ratings
Curator score: 5.2/10
IMDb: 7.1/10
Letterboxd: 3.62/5
Rotten Tomatoes: 80%
Metacritic: 60
TMDB: 6.9/10
Director
Pete Travis
Production
Rena Film, DNA Films, Reliance Big Entertainment, IM Global, Peach Trees
Cast
Karl Urban, Olivia Thirlby, Lena Headey, Wood Harris, Langley Kirkwood, Tamer Burjaq, Joe Vaz, Rakie Ayola, Junior Singo, Luke Tyler, Jason Cope, Domhnall Gleeson, Warrick Grier, Rachel Wood, Andile Mngadi, Porteus Xandau, Emma Breschi, Shoki Mokgapa, Yohan Chun, Eden Knowles
Curator Review
Verdict
A lean, vicious sci-fi action movie that understands its comic-book roots and never wastes time. Its appeal is the locked-in premise, brutal set pieces, and striking production design rather than character depth or broad accessibility.
Best for
fans of hard-edged dystopian sci-fi
viewers who like contained siege thrillers
people who want stylish violence and dark comic-book energy
audiences who enjoyed The Raid-style escalation
Skip if
you want a warm or humorous superhero movie
you dislike graphic gore and oppressive violence
you need big emotional arcs or expansive worldbuilding
you are turned off by grim, punishing dystopias
Overview
Dredd is a blunt instrument in the best way: a stripped-down, high-pressure action film that turns one tower block into a miniature war zone. The setup is simple, but the execution is sharp, with relentless momentum, nasty practical violence, and a visual style that makes the whole thing feel grimy, neon, and alive.
Worth noting
What really sells it is the discipline. It knows exactly what kind of movie it is and commits without apology, from the deadpan lead performance to the ruthless escalation of the siege structure. The slow-motion drug imagery and sound design give it a warped, almost hallucinatory texture that helps it stand apart from more generic sci-fi action.
Bottom line
It is not especially interested in nuance or emotional warmth, and that is part of the appeal. If you want a compact, mean, comic-book dystopia with strong craft and a memorable villain, this delivers. If you want something broader or more character-driven, it may feel like all engine and no mercy.
Top Letterboxd reviews
robyn (5★) · 1377 likes
FUCK. PROPER REVIEW SOON.
*EDIT*
OKAY I HAVE FINISHED RUNNING AROUND THE HOUSE SCREAMING. DREDD IS FUCKING AWESOME, FORGET STALLONE FORGET EVERYTHING AND JUST GO SEE THIS IMMEDIATELY.
Where to even start? The 3D? I was kinda bummed that there was no 2D option for this but the 3D was bearable and in places LOOKED FUCKING COOL. The slo-mo, the soundtrack, JESUS CHRIST EVERYTHING. EVERYYTHING WAS SO BEAUTIFUL. How the fuck they managed to get a dingy film to look… more
Jay (3.5★) · 1363 likes
does karl urban call his costume department his urban outfitters
Sean Baker · 941 likes
Missed this in the theaters so watched it for the first time in 2D shorty after the film's release and loved it. Well, finally was able to watch it in 3D and I love it even more!
Tentin Quarantino ☭ (4.5★) · 732 likes
Most bad-ass action film I've seen since...well...The Raid. Similarities will be drawn between the two films for sure, but they remain their own entities in spite of the similar concepts. Where The Raid is more or less an excuse to have fight scene after fight scene (not complaining), Dredd feels like an actual story with its own characters and its own world. Alex Garland's script is tight, and full of great moments. The look of the movie is unique and… more Most bad-ass action film I've seen since...well...The Raid. Similarities will be drawn between the two films for sure, but they remain their own entities in spite of the similar concepts. Where The Raid is more or less an excuse to have fight scene after fight scene (not complaining), Dredd feels like an actual story with its own characters and its own world. Alex Garland's script is tight, and full of great moments. The look of the movie is unique and… more