---
title: "The Raid"
year: 2012
kind: "film"
canonical: "https://film.one/film/the-raid"
fi1m_id: "the-raid"
imdb_id: "tt1899353"
tmdb_id: 94329
wikidata_id: "Q1573662"
fi1m_score: 83
critics_score: 78
critics_reviews: 14
published: "2026-09-15"
updated: "2026-09-18T08:38:03.001097+00:00"
region: "US"
licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL."
---

# The Raid (2012)

Directed by Gareth Evans · 1h 41m · MPA R · Action, Thriller, Crime

## Identity

The Raid

- **Canonical:** https://film.one/film/the-raid
- **Type:** Film
- **Fi1m ID:** the-raid
- **IMDb ID:** tt1899353
- **TMDB ID:** 94329
- **Wikidata ID:** Q1573662
- **Same entity:** https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1899353/, https://www.themoviedb.org/movie/94329, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q1573662

**Fi1m score: 83** · Critics 78 from 14 reviews

*In a sentence:* Twenty police officers enter a building and make desk work look rather appealing

> Gareth Evans makes a tightly staged, punishing action film, with Iko Uwais giving the fighting extraordinary speed and clarity. Thin characters and some repetition matter, but not enough to spoil the pleasure.

## Synopsis

A squad of twenty police officers enters a building controlled by a crime lord and occupied by criminals. The operation becomes a fight through the building’s floors, with the officers facing opponents at close quarters. Iko Uwais plays Rama, alongside Joe Taslim as Jaka and Ray Sahetapy as Tama. Donny Alamsyah plays Andi and Yayan Ruhian plays Mad Dog. Also known as *Serbuan Maut*, this action thriller follows the confrontation between the police squad and the occupants through a succession of martial-arts fights.

## Review

*The Raid* is an excellent action film with little interest in making its people complicated. Gareth Evans, who writes and directs, puts twenty police officers into a building occupied by criminals and gives the fighting most of the attention. The crime story supplies a reason for them to be there. It does not offer much to think about between blows, and the limited variation eventually tells. For a film so dependent on physical skill, though, Evans has chosen his leading actor well.

Iko Uwais plays Rama, and his physical control supplies much of the interest that the writing leaves out. The speed is remarkable, especially when the film gives us time to watch a whole exchange. We caught ourselves holding our breath during his fights because the wide shots make the force of the blows so clear. His movements have enough precision to remain readable at that pace.

Matt Flannery and Dimas Imam Subhono’s cinematography makes that possible. The long, wide takes give the performers room, and the camera moves with an agility that matches theirs without making the action incomprehensible. We can follow an exchange of blows, which ought to be a basic requirement of this sort of film. Evans, also the editor, preserves enough movement within the shots for the choreography to register. His cuts keep the exchanges quick and readable.

The building does useful work too. Its cramped spaces give the combat a pressure that an open arena would not have, while the progress through its floors provides an uncomplicated structure. Evans keeps finding fresh ways to stage the next confrontation, even when the broad pattern is familiar. There is no need for elaborate explanation: the police are in hostile territory, and the film keeps our attention on the people immediately in their way.

The bass-heavy scoring is well judged for a film this physical. Music is credited to Fajar Yuskemal, Joseph Trapanese, Mike Shinoda and Aria Prayogi, and it keeps pushing the action forward. Its insistence suits the near-continuous fighting. The music gives the fighting weight without becoming the main attraction, which remains the sight of the performers at work.

At 101 minutes, the film still has stretches when the fighting becomes routine. Evans keeps changing the choreography, but gives us fewer reasons to feel differently about each confrontation. His writing supplies thin characters and predictable plotting, leaving the performers to carry most of our interest. A little more humour, or simply a longer pause, would make the violence feel sharper again.

For a martial-arts thriller, the important achievement is how clearly it lets us see what these performers can do. The simple story is useful until the film asks us to take its people more seriously than the writing allows. That is a familiar weakness in this kind of film, and the standard of the action earns considerable forgiveness here. Choose it for the precision of the fighting, and leave it alone if screen violence tends to spoil the evening.

*Fi1m score 83, published 15 September 2026.*

## What the critics say

Most critics welcome The Raid as a forceful, tightly focused action film, with praise concentrated on its martial-arts choreography and the physical skill of Iko Uwais. The reviews repeatedly credit Evans with filming the fights clearly, using long takes and wide shots that let the performers’ work register. The editing and sustained pace also draw approval. For its admirers, the simple story gives the inventive combat enough space to carry the film.

The reservations concern repetition, thin characterisation and how little the tone varies between fights. Even some enthusiastic reviews find the prolonged violence wearing, though most consider the choreography sufficient compensation. The New York Times finds the action monotonous and the people overwhelmed by it. The Playlist also questions Uwais’s charisma, a notable departure from the broader praise for his performance; the divide is chiefly over how much dramatic interest the fighting can supply.

## Straight answers

**Is The Raid worth watching?**

*The Raid* is worth watching for anyone who wants an action film built almost entirely on martial-arts fighting, and we scored it 83. Iko Uwais moves with remarkable speed and precision, and the wide, long takes let us follow every blow. The characters are thin and the fighting sometimes turns routine, but the standard of the action earns considerable forgiveness.

**How long is The Raid, and what is it rated?**

*The Raid* runs 1h 41m and is rated R by the MPA in the US. It is an action and thriller film.

**Where can I watch The Raid in the US?**

*The Raid* is streaming on Hulu, Amazon Prime Video and Disney+ in the US, and it is also available to rent from Apple TV and Amazon Prime Video from $3.99. It leaves Hulu on 1 October. Availability is checked daily; the links above go straight to each service.

**How violent or frightening is The Raid, and is it suitable for children?**

*The Raid* is an 18-certificate film of near-continuous close-quarters violence, and it is not suitable for children. Twenty police officers fight their way through a building of criminals, and the wide shots make the force of each blow unusually clear. Leave it alone if screen violence tends to spoil the evening; the fighting is the whole point.

**How does The Raid compare to Attack the Block?**

*The Raid* is the more punishing film and [*Attack the Block*](https://film.one/film/attack-the-block) the funnier one, though both stage an urban siege with clear, readable action. Gareth Evans gives almost everything to the fighting and little to character, while Joe Cornish gives his young cast sharper jokes and more room to be cared about. Choose *The Raid* for the precision of the combat and *Attack the Block* for the company.

### Reviews we read (21)

- **Los Angeles Times**, Gary Goldstein (90/100, inferred): The critic calls the film a slam-bang action bonanza with peerlessly shot and choreographed fight sequences. Evans is hailed as a visionary force delivering exhausting, exhilarating, high-octane filmmaking. [Read](https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/la-xpm-2012-mar-23-la-et-raid-redemption-capsule-20120323-story.html)
- **The Guardian**, Peter Bradshaw (90/100, inferred): The critic calls the film a skull-splinteringly violent, uncompromisingly intense and simply brilliant martial arts action movie that puts western action movies to shame. They single out the stunning choreography and athleticism of lead Iko Uwais as well as the director's unflagging pace and muscular filmmaking. [Read](https://www.theguardian.com/film/2012/may/17/the-raid-review)
- **The New Yorker**, Bruce Diones (85/100, inferred): The review praises the bone-crunching Indonesian action film for its ultra-violence and brilliant martial-arts choreography. Evans’s gravity-defying camera work and the performers’ personal touches in combat deliver a pure adrenaline rush. [Read](https://www.newyorker.com/goings-on-about-town/movies/the-raid-redemption-2)
- **The AV Club**, Noel Murray (B+): The critic finds the film a respectful, old-school throwback to 80s cult action with blisteringly quick, inventive fight choreography that keeps viewers gasping and cheering. He notes a lack of tonal or plot variation as the main drawback. [Read](https://www.avclub.com/the-raid-redemption-1798172083)
- **Little White Lies**, Matt Bochenski (3/4/4): The critic hails it as one of the most exciting action movies of the decade, praising the jaw-dropping silat fight choreography and its visceral, adrenaline-pumping spectacle. [Read](https://lwlies.com/reviews/the-raid)
- **Radio Times**, Lucy Barrick (4/5): The critic finds it a pure, exhilarating distillation of the action movie into intense, satisfying essentials, singling out the stunningly choreographed and edited fight scenes for praise despite predictable plotting. [Read](https://www.radiotimes.com/movie-guide/b-uu2bj8/the-raid/)
- **Screen Daily** (80/100, inferred): The review describes it as a bone-crunching, brutally cool entertainment that delivers all-out action thrills through stylish staging of silat martial arts and visceral fight sequences. [Read](https://www.screendaily.com/the-raid/5031891.article)
- **The Telegraph**, Tim Robey (80/100, inferred): The critic enjoys the pounding, proficient and bloody action, praising the best-choreographed fight scenes since Ong-bak and the director's announcement as a successor to John Woo. They note a clanking, lockstep quality to the pacing but still find it awesome overall. [Read](https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/film/filmreviews/9273008/The-Raid-review.html)
- **Slant Magazine**, Jaime N. Christley (70/100, inferred): The critic admires the film's humble, single-minded focus on floor-by-floor ass-kicking action and its video-game-like simplicity. He complains that the combat sequences grow monotonous after a while and that the lo-fi aesthetic and serious drama detract from momentum. [Read](https://www.slantmagazine.com/film/the-raid-redemption/)
- **Time Out**, Tom Huddleston (3/5): The review calls the ultraviolent action filmmaking impressive in scale but criticises its lack of emotional depth and narrative unpredictability, while praising the lead performance and fight scenes. [Read](https://www.timeout.com/movies/the-raid)
- **The New York Times**, Manohla Dargis (55/100, inferred): The critic finds the film a monotonous blur of thudding violence despite the director's grasp of genre fundamentals and the novel appeal of pencak silat. The choreographed mayhem overwhelms the thin story and characters. [Read](https://www.nytimes.com/2012/03/23/movies/the-raid-redemption-directed-by-gareth-huw-evans.html)
- **Empire**: The critic hails the film as an exhilarating, visceral action spectacle that delivers constant adrenaline and makes audiences gasp. Praise centers on the long-take, wide-shot choreography of the pencak silat fights and Iko Uwais's performance. [Read](https://www.empireonline.com/movies/reviews/raid-review/)
- **Evening Standard**: The review calls it a surprisingly exciting martial-arts film driven by impressive fight choreography filmed in long, wide takes. It singles out the relentless, inventive silat sequences for praise while complaining that the non-stop brawling becomes dull when extended too long. [Read](https://www.standard.co.uk/culture/film/the-raid-review-7763571.html)
- **The Hollywood Reporter**, David Rooney: The critic praises the film's relentless, inventive martial arts action and dynamic set pieces as exceptionally exciting and well-modulated. He singles out the choreography, camerawork, and Evans' energetic direction for particular admiration. [Read](https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-reviews/raid-toronto-review-233596/)
- **Vulture**, David Edelstein: The critic calls the film an unforgettable, relentless action spectacle with supremely elegant, propulsive stunts and minimal trickery. He highlights the lead's bionic physical skill and the director's focus on visceral, dancerly violence over cartoonish elements. [Read](https://www.vulture.com/2012/03/movie-reviews-deep-blue-sea-the-raid.html)
- **HeyUGuys**, Jamie Neish (5/5): The film delivers intense, surprising action with a furious pace and bass-heavy score, though low on gore. Evans shows strong technical skill in choreography and camera work, backed by a likable central performance from Uwais. [Read](https://www.heyuguys.com/gff-2012-the-raid-review/)
- **Collider**, Matt Goldberg (A-): The film is an action feast that keeps finding new ways to dish out inventive kills and fights. Evans knows how to build tension to magnificent action scenes with remarkable fight choreography. [Read](https://collider.com/the-raid-redemption-review/)
- **The Playlist**, The Playlist Staff (C-): The Raid: Redemption expands scale and intensity over Evans' prior work but feels repetitive in its close-quarters fights and lacks humor or visual flair, leading to a plateau mid-film. Uwais is a nondescript lead who fails to bring needed nuance or charisma. [Read](https://theplaylist.net/counterpoint-review-the-raid-redemption-adds-a-little-bit-of-steroids-to-the-same-martial-arts-film-youve-seen-twice-before-20120320/)
- **Den of Geek**, Ryan Lambie (4 out of 5): The critic hails it as potentially one of the best action movies in years for its intense, brutal fight sequences and introduction of Silat martial arts. Praises the gritty cinematography and simple effective structure while noting minor flaws in the second half. [Read](https://www.denofgeek.com/movies/the-raid-review/)
- **Digital Spy**, Ben Rawson-Jones (5): Praises the raw, spectacular fight sequences with long uninterrupted shots highlighting choreography. Highlights the human core with Iko Uwais's performance and the claustrophobic setting as key strengths, calling it a potential game changer. [Read](https://www.digitalspy.com/movies/a370791/the-raid-review-a-brutal-and-engrossing-action-thriller/)
- **Paste**, Michael Burgin (8.4): The Raid: Redemption is the type of hyper-violent action film that makes grown men wince and chuckle. Evans and Uwais deliver on a nonstop premise of cop-versus-building-full-of-homicidal-criminals with no room for comic relief. [Read](https://www.pastemagazine.com/movies/the-raid-redemption)

## Details

- **Director:** Gareth Evans
- **Director:** Gareth Evans
- **Writer:** Gareth Evans
- **Cinematography:** Matt Flannery, Dimas Imam Subhono
- **Editor:** Gareth Evans
- **Music:** Joseph Trapanese, Mike Shinoda, Fajar Yuskemal, Aria Prayogi
- **Producer:** Ario Sagantoro
- **Cast:** Iko Uwais as Rama; Joe Taslim as Jaka; Donny Alamsyah as Andi; Yayan Ruhian as Mad Dog; Pierre Gruno as Wahyu; Ray Sahetapy as Tama; Tegar Satrya as Bowo; Iang Darmawan as Gofar
- **Runtime:** 1h 41m
- **Certificate (MPA):** R
- **Release (the US):** 13 April 2012
- **Genres:** Action, Thriller, Crime
- **Budget:** $1 million
- **Box office:** $9 million
- **Trailer:** https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GDYwcjhvD-Y

## Where to watch in the US

- Hulu: streaming, uhd, leaving 2026-10-01
- Amazon Prime Video: add-on, uhd
- Disney+: add-on, uhd
- Apple TV: rent $3.99, hd
- Amazon Prime Video: rent $3.99, uhd
- Amazon Prime Video: buy $12.99, hd
- Apple TV: buy $12.99, hd

*Checked 2026-09-15.*

Also available in: AR, AT, AU, BE, BR, CA, CH, CL, CO, DE, DK, ES, FI, FR, GB, IE, IN, IT, MX, NO, NZ, PA, PT, SE, US. Add `?region=XX` to this URL for another country.

## If you liked this

- *Police Story* (1985): Jackie Chan makes dangerous physical comedy as readable as the fighting.
- *Assault on Precinct 13* (1976): Another contained siege, with more waiting and dread between the attacks.
- *13 Assassins* (2010): Patient preparation gives way to sustained combat, with clearer moral stakes.
- *The Night Comes for Us* (2018): More Indonesian close-quarters fighting, with considerably less mercy towards the stomach.
- *Attack the Block* (2011), Fi1m 84: Another urban siege, with sharper jokes and more room for character. — [Fi1m page](https://film.one/film/attack-the-block.md)

---
© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Canonical: https://film.one/film/the-raid