‘Punisher: One Last Kill’ Breaks Marvel’s Rotten Tomatoes Record

Disney+ has officially launched ‘The Punisher: One Last Kill’, marking Jon Bernthal’s return as Frank Castle in his inaugural solo MCU venture.

This special presentation debuted on May 12 as part of Marvel’s Phase 6 lineup, and initial reviews are already making waves online. According to Rotten Tomatoes, the project kicked off with an impressive 82% critic score, establishing it as the highest-rated live-action adaptation of the Punisher to date.

This score positions ‘One Last Kill’ above both seasons of Netflix’s ‘The Punisher’ series and the earlier Punisher films from the 2000s. The first season of the Netflix show holds a 68% rating, while the second season is at 61%. The 2004 ‘Punisher’ movie has a score of 30%, and ‘Punisher: War Zone’ from 2008 stands at 29%. The audience score for the new special is yet to be disclosed as viewers continue to submit their ratings.

So far, the MCU has released only a handful of Special Presentations. The ‘Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special’ boasts a 95% score, while ‘Werewolf By Night’ holds 90%. Consequently, ‘One Last Kill’ is currently Marvel’s third-highest-rated special presentation.

Jon Bernthal shared insights with ScreenRant about the creative direction for Frank Castle this time around. He mentioned that he and director Reinaldo Marcus Green aimed to depict Frank at his emotional lowest. Bernthal stated, “I felt like we really needed to see what rock bottom looked like with Frank, and I think you’re going to see it in this.”

The narrative unfolds months after Frank escapes from the Anti-Vigilante Task Force. Living in isolation, he grapples with grief and is haunted by visions of his loved ones. The special portrays Frank questioning his purpose before being drawn back into violence when crime boss Ma Gnucci places a citywide bounty on him.

As the threats escalate, Frank faces a dilemma between seeking revenge and protecting innocent lives. Ultimately, the story propels him back into his role as the Punisher.

The cast features Deborah Ann Woll reprising her role as Karen Page and Jason R. Moore returning as Curtis Hoyle. Judith Light makes her MCU debut as Ma Gnucci, the leader of the Gnucci crime family. Several actors from Netflix’s ‘Punisher’ series also return for poignant flashbacks and hallucinations connected to Frank’s past.

Directed by Reinaldo Marcus Green, who co-wrote the script with Bernthal, the special was reportedly developed during the production of ‘Daredevil: Born Again’ after Bernthal’s official return to the MCU in 2023.

Fans won’t have to wait long to see Frank Castle again. Bernthal is confirmed to appear in ‘Spider-Man: Brand New Day’ alongside Tom Holland when the film releases on July 31. Although Marvel has yet to announce any future Punisher projects, the positive early response to ‘One Last Kill’ is generating significant interest in Bernthal’s return.

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