How to watch

Death Wish is the franchise that helped launch the modern vigilante genre. Charles Bronson stars as Paul Kersey, a mild-mannered architect who becomes a one-man war on crime after his family is attacked. The original series ran across five films, and a 2018 remake starring Bruce Willis brought the premise into the 21st century.

The franchise grew steadily more violent and pulpy as it went, reflecting the changing tastes of 1980s action cinema, while the 2018 remake sparked fresh debate about vigilante justice in the modern age. Whether you view them as gritty thrillers or over-the-top exploitation, the Death Wish films remain a fascinating cultural touchstone and a blueprint for countless revenge stories that followed.

🕐 Release Order

Release order follows Paul Kersey's escalating crusade across the Bronson era and then the standalone modern remake.

1. Death Wish (1974)
2. Death Wish II (1982)
3. Death Wish 3 (1985)
4. Death Wish 4: The Crackdown (1987)
5. Death Wish V: The Face of Death (1994)
6. Death Wish (2018)

The five Bronson films form one continuous story, while the 2018 film is a separate remake with a brand-new version of Paul Kersey.

📖 Story Chronology

Story chronology follows the original five films in order, with the 2018 remake sitting outside that timeline as its own reimagining.

1. Death Wish (1974)
2. Death Wish II (1982)
3. Death Wish 3 (1985)
4. Death Wish 4: The Crackdown (1987)
5. Death Wish V: The Face of Death (1994)
6. Death Wish (2018) — a standalone remake

Which Order Should You Choose?

Watch the five Bronson films in release order to follow Paul Kersey's full arc from grieving victim to hardened vigilante. The 2018 remake can be watched anytime as a modern, self-contained take on the same idea.

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