James McAvoy, Morgan Freeman, Angelina Jolie

A frustrated office worker learns that he is the son of a professional assassin, and that he shares his father's superhuman killing abilities.

Flixster Users

72% liked it

1,494,827 ratings

Critics

72% liked it

193 critics

R, 1 hr. 48 min.

Directed by: Timur Bekmambetov

Release Date: June 12, 2008

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DVD Release Date: December 2, 2008

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Stats: 69,681 reviews

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Flixster Reviews (69,681)


  • November 22, 2009
    Wanted is a combination of the over-the-top action of Shoot 'Em Up, and the slow-mo special effects of The Matrix. It's not usual to be able to fully describe a movie in a single sentence, but that works pretty well in this case.

    It's pretty clear that the main things that Want...( read more)ed has going for it are it's cool action scenes and its A+ cast. You don't usually get this level of talent in an action movie, and it's unfortunate that the the likes of Morgan Freeman, James McAvoy and Angelina Jolie weren't given more to work with. As far as story and scripting goes, it's nothing that you haven't seen before. Wanted is a decent movie that wants to be stylish, but it takes more than lots of shooting and special effects to achieve that.
  • October 8, 2009
    One world can sum this up.... RUBBISH!
  • October 1, 2009
    73% of Flixter, 72% of critics liked this Ass of a movie. The title of this film should be Bullshit because that's what it was. Plot, terrible. Cast was fine. Gluttonous special effects Crank 2 style. I'm not the type that wants every aspect of a movie to be realistic, some...( read more)times filmmakers can make unrealistic shiz be cool like The Matrix. But in the case of this movie, as with most of the action films nowadays, the scenes are overblown and ridiculous. I must of said "That's bullshit" more than 20 times while watching this.
  • September 30, 2009
    The bar was set too high for this one...Lots of hype that never delivered for me.
  • September 27, 2009
    From the very beginning, its Fight Club envy shows - the self-loathing of the humdrum, meaningless, comfortable life; the narration that is remarkably similar both in content and tone; the sudden appearance of a stranger who can break you free of this mediocrity and let yo...( read more)u truly live through pain and violence... From there the story kicks into gear, and is quite enjoyable. It's just that first 10 minutes (and a snippet at the end) that are trying too hard to make the movie someting it is not and be a social commentary.



    The director has a flare for staging some crazy action, and creates some amazing visuals. Unfortunately, the movie, entertaining as it may be, is much emptier than than the film I suspect he thought it was. It's a case of style over substance, though not to the extent of, say, 300 - another movie that was great fun and had extraordinary visuals, but was light on substance.



    What it is, is exactly what the trailers sold it as: a great over-the-top suspend-your-disbelief actioner in the spirit of things like Transporter and Crank. Leave your brain at the door and just enjoy it.
  • November 22, 2009
    Wanted is the adaption of a comic book series, and with a lot of thse movies - it's usually not realistic. Curving bullets is actually a pretty cool idea and I always love to see slo-mo bullets in an action film. Everytime a bullet is fired out of a gun, it's always shown in slow...( read more) motion in this film.

    The plot isn't anything of substance. It's about Wesley (James McAvoy), and he works as an account manager. He occasionally has panic attacks which is why he buys pills to help him with these attacks. One night while at the grocery store, he is approached by a sexy woman (Angelina Jolie) who tells him that she knew his father and that he was shot on a rooftop a while ago. They are suddenly attacked by an assasin named Cross and Wesley escapes with the woman. He ends up with a clan of assasines who call themselves the Fraternity. The woman is called Fox and the head of this group is Sloan (Morgan Freeman). Wesley finds out that the panic attacks he suffers are not attacks, but are adrenaline rushes that allow him to react faster that most normal people. Only a few people can do it, and wesley is one of them. He joins the Fraternity soon after, hoping to kill Cross, the man that murdered his father. The plot starts to get really annoying as it keeps going. The twists are unexpected, but they're so irritating. It makes all the characters that you've grown to like into enemies. The characters are likeable, but they may end up being characters that you'll hate.

    They cast some really good actors here, but I don't think they were the right ones for the role. Morgan Freeman wouldn't be my choice of Sloan, but Morgan Freeman is awesome and he can make any role badass - and that's what he did. He was awesome! Angelina Jolie was pretty good, mostly coz she was hot. Her acting wasn't anything special though. James McAvoy was okay but I still don't think he was the right choice for the role as Wesley.

    The action is probably the best part. Like I said, I love slo-mo bullets. Everythime a bullet is curved, we see it in slo-mo. It looks really cool. This is actually really fun with what they do in this. Some of the action scenes were bad though. They were filmed terribly. The camera would move way to fast and you can't tell who's doing what.

    To me, this is a typical, soul-less action film but it's still a good action film. It's fun, the special effects are awesome and Angelina Jolie makes it even more enjoyable.
  • November 20, 2009
    julia robert is so great in every movie she is in
  • November 19, 2009
    My favorite actress is Anjelina Jolie.
    She is very beautiful and cool.
    The movie is excited me.
    I love this movie.
  • November 18, 2009
    this was some kool unbelieveable shit.
  • November 18, 2009
    ????????????????????

Critic Reviews


June 27, 2008
Stephanie Zacharek, Salon.com

Wanted is fast-moving and bloody, enjoyable even within its unapologetically generic limits. But McAvoy is its real secret weapon. full review

June 27, 2008
Amy Biancolli, Houston Chronicle

It's a chance to watch a bullet explode from the forehead of a killer -- and an invitation to laugh at the spectacle. See what you do, then tell me who's sicker: Bekmambetov or us. full review

June 27, 2008
Pete Hammond, Hollywood.com

Set off the fireworks BIG TIME. This is the heart-stopping,,extreme summer action movie of your dreams. full review

June 27, 2008
Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times

Slams the pedal to the metal and never slows down. full review

June 26, 2008
Edward Havens, FilmJerk.com

"Wanted" is exactly what it is supposed to be: a slick, well-produced piece of popcorn fluff with a hot chick, hot cars and enough action to fill a half-dozen Marvel adaptations. full review

June 26, 2008
Claudia Puig, USA Today

The thrilling stunts and hyperkinetic action scenes are the undisputed stars of this surprisingly entertaining film. full review

June 25, 2008
Peter Travers, Rolling Stone

It's trash, but I love it anyway. full review

June 23, 2008
Anthony Lane, The New Yorker

What looks set to be a boyish, pop-eyed fantasy warps into a welter of bloodletting. full review

June 23, 2008
David Edelstein, New York Magazine

Wanted has the kind of irresistible summer-movie allure that makes studio executives drool in anticipation. Even its title must swim before their eyes and transform into 'Want-to-See'. full review

View more Wanted reviews at RottenTomatoes.com

Comments


  • twahaug2
    September 22, 2009
    its good watch
  • oerigjerogjoierjg
    April 6, 2009
    I don't like it how, a lot of time was wasted on filming the protagonist, Wesley, getting bashed up by the members of Fraternity organization. But nevertheless this is an awesome action movie !
  • thedoctor2k7
    February 3, 2009
    i really entertainig film
  • d7ood7
    January 12, 2009
    nice movie & i like it ;)
  • maybe912
    December 11, 2008
    great movie .. i saw it last night..
    it was an amazing action movie..
  • perfectgentlemn
    November 7, 2008
    Very Good Action. Brilliantly far fetched & really cool. Loved it, worth a look. ;-) Enjoy.
  • ajararkan
    September 20, 2008
    I saw it,, you rock Angi loooooooool
  • abdotop00
    August 23, 2008
    Wanted is my best Film im See it from along time
  • browning15
    August 14, 2008
    really great movie
  • fatimaa
    July 27, 2008
    crazy movie for sure! I liked it

Critic ratings and reviews powered by RottenTomatoes.com

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Wanted Trivia


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