Dredd, starring Karl Urban, Olivia Thirlby, and Lena Headey, debuted in 2012 and centers on the metropolis of Mega City One. In this sprawling, violent city, criminals run free and make all the rules; the only law lies in the hands of “judges,” who act as judge, jury, and executioner, and Dredd (Urban) is the most reviled of the bunch. Dredd, now partnered with Cassandra (Thirlby), a rookie with powerful psychic abilities, receives a report of a terrible crime that sends both of them to the seediest part of town, ruled over by Ma-Ma (Headey), a drug lord who will stop at nothing to protect her empire.
General audiences were slightly less impressed with the new take on the comic IP, handing it a 72% on the Popcornmeter. “Thin plot and generic villain, but it was a slick, cool, bloody, and enjoyable movie, Karl Urban was a badass with his constant stank face expression, shame they never did a sequel,” said one viewer. Another said, “Appreciated the coarse setting and the locked-in theme. But the satire, the self-aware humour or the nods to fundamental questions of justice and self-righteousness are not enough to justify the hollow brute force violence, that in the end is not grounded, but empty.” Most, however, can agree that the film was due for a sequel and had the potential to kick off an entire franchise—which looks like it might finally be happening.
