Bruce Willis’ Divisive Action Movie Remake Becomes a Global Netflix Hit, 7 Years Later

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Although the Death Wish series eventually became over-the-top and silly, the original 1974 film is a dark and realistic action movie, and many consider it one of Charles Bronson’s finest performances. That’s a fair assessment, but the film hasn’t held up well considering the current level of gun violence in the U.S. Its core idea – taking the law into your own hands and killing criminals – feels outdated and problematic now. The 2018 remake, directed by Eli Roth and one of Bruce Willis’s last leading roles, attempts to address some of the issues present in the original film.

The Eli Roth remake is finally gaining popularity, though it didn’t do well in theaters when it first came out. It was released at a time when the lead actor’s films weren’t receiving great reviews, and 2018 was just a strange year for that type of movie. Now, thanks to Netflix, it’s finding an audience seven years later.

The following contains a brief description of a scene involving sexual assault.

How Does Death Proof Avoid Some of the Original Film’s Troubling Elements & How Is It Doing on Netflix?

What’s interesting about the film Death Wish is that the original Brian Garfield novel doesn’t portray Paul Kersey’s violent acts as admirable. Instead, it emphasizes how taking the law into his own hands destroys him internally. The movie, however, presents a much more straightforward, action-packed approach – quickly moving from one confrontation to the next. Charles Bronson’s portrayal of Kersey rarely shows any deep feeling or regret.

This new version avoids the original film’s controversial issues by making the main character, Kersey, a doctor instead of an architect. The film shows he’s troubled by his violent choices, as he’s abandoning his former dedication to healing. Unlike the original, this Kersey focuses solely on finding and punishing the men who attacked his family – he doesn’t randomly kill criminals, a practice that was criticized in the first film for promoting dangerous self-justice.

The love for his wife and daughter drives Kersey’s transformation in the new version of the film. However, a key change separates it from the original 1974 movie, and it’s a significant one. The remake omits a disturbing act committed against Kersey’s daughter that heavily contributed to the original film’s exploitation-movie feel. Instead of being sexually assaulted, the daughter in the 2018 film fights back, though ultimately fails. This makes her a fully developed character, rather than simply a plot device used for shock value and exploitation.

How well is Death Wish doing on Netflix? During the week of December 8th to 14th, 2025, it was ranked number six globally. This means it was more popular than titles like A Merry Little Ex-Mas, The Lorax, The Croods: A New Age, and The Hustle, but less popular than Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery, My Secret Santa, Jay Kelly, KPop Demon Hunters, and The Super Mario Bros. Movie. That’s a really good ranking!

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2025-12-20 20:14