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Avenger

Avenger

No peace without justice...

TV movie200692 minMidcredits score: 36th percentile of all films
Director
Robert Markowitz
Starring
Sam Elliott, Timothy Hutton, James Cromwell, William Hope

After his own daughter was killed in Panama in 1994, former CIA agent Calvin Dexter became a private 'specialist' in cases which wouldn't reach justice trough the regular legal channels. Two years later he accepts to find Richard 'Ricky' Edmunds for his pa, influential rich businessman Stephen Edmonds. Ricky for a private Canadian war victims charity in Bosnia and went missing. Dexter discovers Ricky was beaten to pulp and drowned for no other crime then helping street boys from the other side by Zoran Zilic and his Serbian paramilitary 'order'. He offers Steven to 'finish the job' as such war criminals don't go to trial. But deputy CIA director Paul Devereaux cares only for a nuclear arms project he wants to use Zilic for. So CIA troubleshooter Frank McBride is ordered to protect him and handle Dexter.

Where to watch

Where can I watch Avenger?

As of October 24, 2026, MovieCove does not list Avenger on any major US streaming service.

Your rating, lists and review

Highlights

What stands out about Avenger?

Avenger earns 2 badges, led by Preferred by US Viewers and Cathartic.

  • Reception
  • Craft and mood

Reception

Is Avenger worth watching?

Avenger's Midcredits score is the 36th percentile of all films, from 1.2K ratings across 3 sources. 34% liked it (rated it 7 or higher out of 10).

Midcredits score

How well it was received

36th percentile

Better received than 36% of films

72nd percentile among Thriller35th percentile among 2000s
Acclaim (how much people like it)44th
Approval (how many liked it)29th

60 /100

44th percentile of all films

79th percentile among Thriller44th percentile among 2000s

Rating distribution

A broad spread centered near 5.9 — solid but not unanimous.

Approval

How many liked it

34% liked it

29th percentile of all films

63rd percentile among Thriller26th percentile among 2000s
34% rated it 7–1066% rated it 1–6

Reach

How many have seen it

49th percentile

1.2K ratings across platforms

75th percentile among Thriller42nd percentile among 2000s
TMDB popularity, last 37 days to Oct 26Down 22% in 30 days

What reviewers say

Common ground

A formulaic revenge thriller that relies on a capable leading man, recycled tropes, and predictable story beats.

Fans praised

  • Sam Elliott's compelling screen presence and perfect casting
  • Taut action and solid pacing for a TV movie
  • Quality cinematography, music, and location shooting

Detractors panned

  • Generic, recycled plot full of stereotypes
  • Poor character development and motivation
  • Amateurish action sequences and illogical plot holes

What stands out

ActingDivisive65

Sam Elliott compelling but miscast according to detractors; Cromwell and Hutton solid

PacingDivisive60

First half engages, second half loses momentum

CinematographyDivisive55

Good location shooting but uninspired direction

AtmosphereDivisive55

Location work effective but immersion broken by plot holes

Plot and storyDivisive40

Coherent but formulaic; relies on coincidence and loose ends

CharactersDivisive35

Dexter has some complexity but most characters are flat stereotypes

EndingDivisive30

Dissatisfying resolution with loose ends and lucky escapes

Originality20

Recycled premise and political thriller clichés

Preferred by

US vs non-US

Preferred by US Viewers

US viewers scored it 23 points higher than non-US viewers.

Watch experience

What is Avenger like to watch?

Conclusions only — categories and positions, no plot detail.

Tense and gripping: browse every movie of this kind

Watch this when you are ready for heavy feelings, and you want something tense that holds you to the end.

It is intense, never lets up and leaves you wrung out and released. Skip it when you want an easy night.

ToneFeelDemandwhat the answer rests onexact position · filled zone: the category

What it asks of you

Room for heavy feelings.

What it feels like

Tense and gripping.

The answer rests on this: Moods
TenseThrilling
Heaviest: late
Register
Solemn: Grave and dignified; treats its subject with weight and respect.Brooding: Heavy, inward, weather-beaten.
Told as
Three-act: Setup, confrontation, resolution — the default Hollywood shape.
ToneThe film treats its violent vigilante premise with earnest seriousness, avoiding irony or self-awareness.
The rideThe film maintains a tense, suspenseful atmosphere throughout, with action set-pieces and a brooding sense of justice.
StructureThe story unfolds in a linear, chronological order following Dexter's investigation and pursuit.

How it leaves you

what you carry away

Wrung out and released.

Cathartic · 6% of filmsThought-provoking
Why it leaves you this wayThe film delivers a satisfying comeuppance for the villain while leaving the viewer to ponder the ethics of extrajudicial justice and government hypocrisy.
How it ends · evidence
Bittersweet ending

Story archetype

where it sits among all films
Monster — 21% of films. A threat menaces the hero's world and must be defeated.Rags — 3% of films. A rise from lowliness to fortune, status, or recognition.Quest — 10% of films. A journey toward a defined objective, with companions and obstacles.Voyage — 4% of films. Into a strange world and back again, changed.Comedy — 11% of films. Confusion and cross-purposes resolved into harmony.Tragedy — 9% of films. A flaw or fixation drives the protagonist to ruin.Rebirth — 13% of films. A stalled or darkened life reopened and renewed.Mystery — 7% of films. A question drives the story — who did it, what happened, what is real — until it is answered.No archetype — 22% of filmsPredator — 6% of films. A creature or killer hunts the protagonists (Jaws, Alien).Tyrant — 6% of films. A human villain holds power over the hero's world (Die Hard).Invasion — 2% of films. An external force attacks the home or world (Independence Day).Oppressive state — 2% of films. A government, its agencies or a secret faction inside them is the monster (V for Vendetta).Corporate villainy — 1% of films. A company or its bosses are the monster (Erin Brockovich).Institutional injustice — 1% of films. A court, prison, police force, school or church is itself the enemy (Spotlight).Class system — under 1% of films. The gap between rich and poor, or a rigid hierarchy, is the monster (Parasite).Technology turns — under 1% of films. Technology people rely on becomes the threat (The Terminator).Inner demon — 1% of films. The monster is within — addiction, illness, a dark double.Underdog triumph — 2% of films. Rise through competition or contest (Rocky).Social ascent — under 1% of films. A climb in class or status (Pretty Woman).Fame and fortune — under 1% of films. An artistic or showbiz rise (A Star Is Born).Rise and fall — under 1% of films. Wealth or power gained, self lost (Scarface).Hidden worth revealed — under 1% of films. The protagonist's true value finally recognized.Treasure hunt — 1% of films. Retrieve an object of value (Raiders of the Lost Ark).Rescue — 4% of films. Retrieve or save a person (Saving Private Ryan).Mission — 5% of films. Accomplish or destroy a defined objective (Mission: Impossible).Journey home — under 1% of films. The goal is getting back (Finding Nemo).Pilgrimage — 1% of films. The journey itself transforms; the destination is symbolic.Portal fantasy — under 1% of films. Transported into another world (The Wizard of Oz).Fish out of water — 2% of films. Displaced into an unfamiliar social world (Elf).Survival ordeal — 1% of films. Trapped in a hostile environment, fighting back (Cast Away).Time displacement — under 1% of films. Unstuck in time (Back to the Future).Descent — 1% of films. A night-journey into an underworld or subculture (After Hours).Romantic comedy — 4% of films. Lovers kept apart by confusion, united at last.Comedy of errors — 3% of films. Mistaken identity or misunderstanding drives the plot.Farce — 2% of films. Escalating absurd chaos and coincidence (The Hangover).Buddy comedy — 1% of films. A mismatched pair forced together (Rush Hour).Comedy of manners — 1% of films. Social codes and class satirized (Clueless).Hubris — 1% of films. Pride or ambition invites the fall (There Will Be Blood).Obsession — 2% of films. A fixation consumes the protagonist (Black Swan).Corruption arc — 2% of films. Step-by-step moral decay (The Godfather).Doomed love — 2% of films. Love destroyed by circumstance (Brokeback Mountain).Crushed by fate — 3% of films. Destroyed by forces beyond the protagonist's control.Redemption — 3% of films. Moral reawakening of a hardened soul (A Christmas Carol).Healing — 5% of films. Recovery from grief or trauma (Good Will Hunting).Liberation — 2% of films. Breaking free of a confining life (Room).Second chance — 2% of films. A stagnant life re-opened to love or purpose (Groundhog Day).Puzzle — 1% of films. A clue-by-clue puzzle you can try to solve before the reveal (Knives Out, Clue).Investigation — 5% of films. A long pursuit of the truth that may never be fully solved (Zodiac, Memories of Murder).Enigma — 2% of films. The mystery is what is real, or what is actually happening (Mulholland Drive).MonsterTyrant
Every story archetype, clockwise from the top
  • Monster 21% (this title): Predator 6% · Tyrant 6% (this title) · Invasion 2% · Oppressive state 2% · Corporate villainy 1% · Institutional injustice 1% · Class system under 1% · Technology turns under 1% · Inner demon 1%
  • Rags 3%: Underdog triumph 2% · Social ascent under 1% · Fame and fortune under 1% · Rise and fall under 1% · Hidden worth revealed under 1%
  • Quest 10%: Treasure hunt 1% · Rescue 4% · Mission 5% · Journey home under 1% · Pilgrimage 1%
  • Voyage 4%: Portal fantasy under 1% · Fish out of water 2% · Survival ordeal 1% · Time displacement under 1% · Descent 1%
  • Comedy 11%: Romantic comedy 4% · Comedy of errors 3% · Farce 2% · Buddy comedy 1% · Comedy of manners 1%
  • Tragedy 9%: Hubris 1% · Obsession 2% · Corruption arc 2% · Doomed love 2% · Crushed by fate 3%
  • Rebirth 13%: Redemption 3% · Healing 5% · Liberation 2% · Second chance 2%
  • Mystery 7%: Puzzle 1% · Investigation 5% · Enigma 2%
  • No archetype 22%

Overcoming the monster: A threat menaces the hero's world and must be defeated. · Tyrant: A human villain holds power over the hero's world (Die Hard).

21% of films fit this archetype

Why this archetypeThe film follows a former CIA agent who becomes a vigilante to hunt down a war criminal protected by his own government.

What it's about

7 groups · 53 themes
Bonds — 27% of filmsSelf — 22% of filmsPower — 7% of filmsMorality — 16% of filmsSurvival — 15% of filmsSociety — 9% of filmsIdeas — 5% of filmsRomantic love — 15% of filmsMarriage — 2% of filmsFamily bonds — 21% of filmsParenthood — 2% of filmsFriendship — 9% of filmsLoyalty — 4% of filmsIdentity — 14% of filmsComing of age — 5% of filmsAging — under 1% of filmsSelf-worth — 7% of filmsAmbition — 7% of filmsPurpose — 9% of filmsMemory — 3% of filmsObsession — 3% of films. A fixation consumes the protagonist (Black Swan).Power — 2% of filmsCorruption — 3% of filmsGreed — 3% of filmsClass — 3% of filmsOppression — 4% of filmsFreedom — 5% of filmsJustice — 13% of filmsDuty — 2% of filmsRevenge — 4% of filmsGuilt — 3% of filmsRedemption — 6% of films. Moral reawakening of a hardened soul (A Christmas Carol).Forgiveness — 1% of filmsSacrifice — 4% of filmsBetrayal — 5% of filmsDeception — 9% of filmsSurvival — 17% of filmsWar — 1% of filmsViolence — 4% of filmsMortality — 2% of filmsGrief — 6% of filmsTrauma — 7% of filmsMental illness — 1% of filmsAddiction — 1% of filmsIllness and disability — under 1% of filmsCommunity — 14% of films. Consequences reach a town, institution or group.Isolation — 5% of filmsPrejudice — 3% of filmsDisplacement — 1% of filmsFaith — 3% of filmsTradition vs change — 2% of filmsFame — 3% of filmsLegacy — 4% of filmsFate — 1% of filmsFree will — under 1% of filmsTruth — 4% of filmsHope — 5% of filmsNature — 2% of filmsArt — 4% of filmsTechnology — 1% of filmsSelfRevengeMorality
Every theme, clockwise from the top
  • Bonds 27%: Romantic love 15% · Marriage 2% · Family bonds 21% · Parenthood 2% · Friendship 9% · Loyalty 4%
  • Self 22%: Identity 14% · Coming of age 5% · Aging under 1% · Self-worth 7% · Ambition 7% · Purpose 9% · Memory 3% · Obsession 3%
  • Power 7%: Power 2% · Corruption 3% (this title) · Greed 3% · Class 3% · Oppression 4% · Freedom 5%
  • Morality 16% (this title): Justice 13% (this title) · Duty 2% · Revenge 4% (this title) · Guilt 3% · Redemption 6% · Forgiveness 1% · Sacrifice 4% · Betrayal 5% · Deception 9%
  • Survival 15%: Survival 17% · War 1% · Violence 4% · Mortality 2% · Grief 6% · Trauma 7% · Mental illness 1% · Addiction 1% · Illness and disability under 1%
  • Society 9%: Community 14% · Isolation 5% · Prejudice 3% · Displacement 1% · Faith 3% · Tradition vs change 2% · Fame 3% · Legacy 4%
  • Ideas 5%: Fate 1% · Free will under 1% · Truth 4% · Hope 5% · Nature 2% · Art 4% · Technology 1%

Morality

Revenge · 4% of filmsJustice · 13% of filmsCorruption · 3% of films
Warns its theme: Presents its theme as a danger or a coming cost.Global stakes: Consequences reach the world.Single lead
How it treats its themeThe film explores the tension between personal vengeance and institutional justice when a war criminal is protected by the CIA for geopolitical gain.
StanceThe film uses a vigilante storyline to warn about the moral cost of state pragmatism that shields war criminals for geopolitical ends.

The world

Late 20th centuryUrbanRuralRealistic
Orchestral modernForeground music · original score · Stephen Graziano
SettingMid-1990s, spanning the US, Bosnia, and South Africa in a hunt for a war criminal.

Content guide

Is Avenger okay for kids?

As of October 2, 2026, Midcredits content scores put its violence at intense (67/100), sexual content at minimal (11/100), language at mild (22/100) and frightening material at mild (33/100). None has enough votes to rank yet.

Overall
Moderate · 4 of 5 categories
not ranked
Violence & Gore
Intense
too few votes to rank (1 vote)
Sex & Nudity
None / Minimal
too few votes to rank (3 votes)
Profanity
Mild
too few votes to rank (3 votes)
Frightening / Intense
Mild
too few votes to rank (1 vote)

Too few votes to rank this title overall (8 votes across 4 categories; ranking needs 10 in at least three).

Source: Midcredits content scores, 0 (none) to 100 (severe) per category, with each standing ranked against other films that have them.

What content warnings does Avenger have?

Not screened for content warnings yet.

Cast and crew

Who is in Avenger?

Cast

Sam Elliott
as Calvin Dexter
Timothy Hutton
as Frank McBride
James Cromwell
as Paul Devereaux
William Hope
as Stephen Edmonds
David Hayman
as Zoran Zilic
Jamie Bartlett
as Van Rensburg
Lucy Russell
as Curtis
Jacqueline Chan
as Madame Huong
Antonio David Lyons
as Washington Lee
Andre Jacobs
as Fleming

Crew

More like this

What are movies like Avenger?

Movies like Avenger include Sniper: Reloaded (2011), Ghayal Once Again (2016) and The Odessa File (1974). Of the 12 closest matches, two are films written by Frederick Forsyth, and half are revenge thrillers.

Balanced: every group counts the same, and production only breaks ties.

10 of these 12 share its story type: political thriller. Those cards say what else they share.

Explore by

What else shares a premise, people or place with Avenger?

1.1K other films share the rarest tag below, kind of film: political thriller. Each tag opens Browse with the films that share it.