--- title: "Wanted" year: 2008 kind: "film" canonical: "https://film.one/film/wanted" fi1m_id: "wanted" imdb_id: "tt0493464" tmdb_id: 8909 wikidata_id: "Q4444" fi1m_score: 68 critics_score: 66 critics_reviews: 17 published: "2026-10-05T05:42:35.056779+00:00" updated: "2026-10-05T05:42:35.556745+00:00" region: "SG" 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." --- # Wanted (2008) Directed by Timur Bekmambetov · 1h 50m · Action, Thriller, Crime ## Identity Wanted - **Canonical:** https://film.one/film/wanted - **Type:** Film - **Fi1m ID:** wanted - **IMDb ID:** tt0493464 - **TMDB ID:** 8909 - **Wikidata ID:** Q4444 - **Same entity:** https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0493464/, https://www.themoviedb.org/movie/8909, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q4444 **Fi1m score: 68** · Critics 66 from 17 reviews *In a sentence:* Professional assassination turns out to involve an unreasonable amount of staff training > *Wanted* is an inventive, intermittently exhilarating action film with a tiresome belief that violence improves a life. James McAvoy and Angelina Jolie make it worth considering, provided the gunplay matters more than the story. ## Synopsis An office meltdown and a brutal training regime take Wesley Gibson (James McAvoy) away from ordinary working life and into the company of assassins. Fox (Angelina Jolie) and Sloan (Morgan Freeman) are among the people he encounters as he learns to handle violence himself. Bullets can curve, and an assassin’s training is as much a physical ordeal as a lesson in shooting. Wesley has to get through that education before he can hold his own among the killers. Leaving the office does not mean escaping punishment. ## Review Timur Bekmambetov’s *Wanted* takes the familiar fantasy of becoming dangerous enough to stop feeling small and gives it an alarming appetite for gunfire. It is inventive and entertaining, though its enthusiasm for settling grievances through violence grows tiresome. The appeal is easy enough to understand: Wesley Gibson’s office frustration becomes a route into an assassin’s life, with James McAvoy providing someone recognisably human beneath the aggression. At 110 minutes, it has room for extravagant action and rather too much insistence that all this amounts to liberation. James McAvoy makes the change convincing without making Wesley especially agreeable. The office meltdown gives the film a store of petty anger to draw on, and the performance shows how readily humiliation can become aggression. During the brutal training, we winced; the physical punishment makes his new life look considerably less desirable than the fantasy initially promises. That helps, because the film needs us to believe that Wesley can be hurt if the gunplay is to remain exciting. Angelina Jolie supplies a cooler presence as Fox, and her physical authority gives the action a focus that the script sometimes lacks. She looks comfortable with the violence in a way Wesley cannot yet afford to be, which makes them useful company on screen. It is a shame that she is given less attention than Wesley: watching someone who already knows the job can be more interesting than watching the recruit find his confidence. Morgan Freeman, as Sloan, makes the improbable explanations sound as though somebody has checked them. Mitchell Amundsen’s cinematography and David Brenner’s editing keep the gunplay legible even when the bullets refuse to travel in a straight line. We can follow the movement, and the speed has enough variation for the absurdities to register before the next one arrives. The director understands that an impossible shot still needs to be clearly presented; simply making everything faster would spoil the pleasure. We laughed at the curving bullets, pleased by the elaborate effort spent making a gunshot more complicated. John Myhre’s production design is less distinctive than the action, with the office and training spaces registering chiefly as places where Wesley is made miserable. The moving bodies and weapons command attention more readily than their surroundings. Danny Elfman’s music supplies the expected force, adding to a soundtrack whose pounding becomes wearing when the film is already working hard enough to excite us. In the action passages, that insistence suits the speed; elsewhere, a little less encouragement would have been welcome. The screenplay by Michael Brandt, Chris Morgan and Derek Haas is less inventive than the staging. The idea that a miserable man might be special is familiar action-film reassurance, and Wesley’s growing ability to hurt people does not make it any wiser. More damagingly, the reasons offered for the violence are too flimsy to justify the importance placed on them, however persuasively Sloan speaks. Those explanations need to survive a little thought, particularly when the film devotes so much attention to Wesley’s transformation. The later action cannot quite sustain the surprise of the opening, which is a problem for a film so dependent on escalation. There is still enough imagination in the shooting to make its excess worth considering. The 18 certificate deserves attention: physical punishment is a substantial part of the entertainment. Approach it for the elaborate gunplay, with a high tolerance for the man firing the gun. *Fi1m score 68, published 5 October 2026.* ## What the critics say Most critics find Wanted entertaining, with praise centred on Timur Bekmambetov’s inventive action rather than the story supporting it. The reviews repeatedly credit the escalating set-pieces, imaginative gun battles and elaborate stunts with making its excess enjoyable. James McAvoy’s convincing transformation into an action hero attracts particular approval, while Angelina Jolie’s cool presence and physical performance win praise even from some detractors. The spread is wide: enthusiastic responses welcome the absurdity, while less favourable reviews find the plotting derivative, the violence gratuitous or the spectacle overindulgent. The AV Club captures the divide within a single review, admiring the execution while finding the power fantasy repulsive. The New Yorker objects to the exaggerated style and violence but still singles out Jolie for praise. The disagreement rests largely on how much inventive action can compensate for thin character reasoning and a familiar story. ## Straight answers **Is Wanted worth watching?** *Wanted* is worth considering for fans of elaborate gunplay rather than strong storytelling, and we score it 68 out of 100. James McAvoy and Angelina Jolie help make its impossible action entertaining, but the flimsy explanations and tiresome belief that violence improves a life limit our enthusiasm. **How long is Wanted, and what is it rated?** *Wanted* runs 1h 50m. It is an action and thriller film. **Where can I watch Wanted in Singapore?** *Wanted* is streaming on HBO Max and Hotstar in Singapore, and it is also available to rent from Apple TV from S$4.98. Availability is checked daily; the links above go straight to each service. **How violent or frightening is Wanted, and is it suitable for children?** *Wanted* carries a UK 18 certificate and is not suitable for children, with brutal training, substantial physical punishment and extravagant gunplay. We winced at the punishment inflicted on Wesley: the violence is part of the entertainment, not merely background detail, making this a poor choice for squeamish viewers. **How does Wanted compare to RoboCop?** *Wanted* offers inventive gunplay, but we recommend [*RoboCop*](https://film.one/film/robocop) as the stronger film for its sharper satire and greater sympathy for its damaged hero. Both involve brutal workplace transformations; *Wanted* suits an appetite for improbable shooting, while *RoboCop* gives its violence more purpose through its attack on corporate power. **What should I watch after Wanted?** After *Wanted*, try [*RoboCop*](https://film.one/film/robocop) (1987, Fi1m 91): Another brutal workplace transformation, with sharper satire and more sympathy for its damaged hero. Then [*Nikita*](https://film.one/film/nikita) (1990, Fi1m 76): Assassin training with more attention to what the recruit loses along the way; and [*Hard Boiled*](https://film.one/film/hard-boiled) (1992, Fi1m 86): Elaborate gun battles staged with enough clarity to make every reckless manoeuvre count. ### Reviews we read (17) - **The Hollywood Reporter**, The Associated Press (85/100, inferred): The critic gives the film an enthusiastic verdict, calling it an over-the-top action thriller with plenty of appeal. They single out its wildly inventive, computer-generated action sequences and jaw-dropping stunt work for praise. [Read](https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/business/business-news/wanted-114275/) - **Empire**, Kim Newman (82/100, inferred): Newman finds the film an entertaining, inventive action movie that works on its own terms. He particularly praises Bekmambetov’s escalating set-pieces and McAvoy’s convincing transformation into an action hero. [Read](https://www.empireonline.com/movies/reviews/wanted-2-review/) - **Total Film**, Total Film (4/5): The critic calls it massively enjoyable popcorn entertainment and one of the freshest summer movies in years. They single out Bekmambetov’s imaginative, energetic action, especially the mountainous-bridge train crash. [Read](https://www.gamesradar.com/wanted-review/) - **Variety**, Todd McCarthy (78/100, inferred): McCarthy finds the film a relentless, inventive action spectacle that signals Bekmambetov’s arrival in Hollywood. He praises the striking visual style and cast, especially McAvoy’s transformation and Jolie’s tough, self-aware performance, while noting that some flourishes are gratuitous. [Read](https://variety.com/2008/film/reviews/wanted-1200508935/) - **The AV Club**, Keith Phipps (B-): Phipps finds the film’s power fantasy repulsive, but says its execution makes it a considerable success. He praises Bekmambetov’s frenetic, coherent action and McAvoy’s portrayal of the protagonist’s transformation. [Read](https://www.avclub.com/wanted-1798204501) - **Screen Daily**, John Hazelton (64/100, inferred): The page identifies this as John Hazelton’s review, but the paywall prevents access to the critic’s verdict. No specific praise or complaint is available in the readable text. [Read](https://www.screendaily.com/wanted/4039458.article) - **Slant Magazine**, Nick Schager (2.5/4): Schager finds the film’s thrills energetic but its story derivative and its climax less exhilarating than its opening. He praises Angelina Jolie’s magnetic, ferociously physical performance, while faulting the film for sidelining her in favor of Wesley’s daddy issues. [Read](https://www.slantmagazine.com/film/wanted/) - **Radio Times**, Jeremy Aspinall (3/5): The review describes the film as a high-octane action adventure and gives it a positive three-star assessment. It singles out James McAvoy’s performance as particularly strong, while noting Angelina Jolie’s cool presence. [Read](https://www.radiotimes.com/movie-guide/b-a021dg/wanted/) - **The Guardian**, Guardian staff reporter (55/100, inferred): The review finds the film brainless, hyperactive pulp but admits its spectacular excess is entertaining. It praises the set pieces and camerawork, and notes James McAvoy brings a small measure of humanity. [Read](https://www.theguardian.com/film/2008/oct/17/dvdreviews-actionandadventure1) - **Time Out**, David Jenkins (2/5): The low rating signals a largely unfavorable verdict. The available description criticizes the action caper for seeming heavily indebted to The Matrix films. [Read](https://www.timeout.com/movies/wanted-1) - **The New Yorker**, Anthony Lane (30/100, inferred): Lane’s verdict on “Wanted” is largely negative, criticizing its relentlessly exaggerated style and gratuitous violence. He singles out Angelina Jolie’s performance as a bright spot, praising her cool, splendid presence. [Read](https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2008/06/30/big-kills) - **Digital Spy**, Alex Fletcher (85/100, inferred): The critic finds the film thoroughly satisfying and calls it standout action entertainment. They praise James McAvoy’s convincing transformation and Timur Bekmambetov’s visceral action sequences. [Read](https://www.digitalspy.com/movies/a103459/wanted-103459/) - **Eye for Film**, Scott Macdonald (85/100, inferred): The critic is enthusiastically positive about the film’s gleefully over-the-top action, despite finding it mindless. They single out the imaginative gun battles and efficiently staged action sequences for praise. [Read](https://www.eyeforfilm.co.uk/review/wanted-film-review-by-scott-macdonald) - **The Skinny**, Paul Greenwood (★★★★): Greenwood finds the film a successful, spectacular action movie, despite some elements that threaten to become silly. He singles out its audacious action, pounding soundtrack, and Angelina Jolie’s star-making performance. [Read](https://www.theskinny.co.uk/film/new-releases/wanted) - **/Film**, Hunter Stephenson (7/10): Stephenson finds Wanted’s reckless, logic-defying action entertaining, though ultimately overindulgent and forgettable. He singles out the lavish stunts and Angelina Jolie’s striking screen presence for praise. [Read](https://www.slashfilm.com/499747/hunter-stephensons-movie-review-wanted/) - **Den of Geek**, Kevin Pocock (3/5): Pocock finds Wanted a fast, feel-good action film that largely works, though it is not fully cohesive. He praises McAvoy’s charismatic performance and the film’s thrilling action and memorable guitar riff. [Read](https://www.denofgeek.com/movies/wanted-review/) - **Paste**, Robert Davis (40/100, inferred): Davis finds the film’s action entertaining but its characters’ flimsy reasoning undermines the plot. He especially praises Morgan Freeman, whose delivery makes even the film’s far-fetched explanations sound convincing. [Read](https://www.pastemagazine.com/movies/morgan-freeman/wanted) ## Details - **Director:** Timur Bekmambetov - **Director:** Timur Bekmambetov - **Screenplay:** Michael Brandt, Derek Haas, Chris Morgan - **Cinematography:** Mitchell Amundsen - **Editor:** David Brenner - **Music:** Danny Elfman - **Production design:** John Myhre - **Costume design:** Varvara Avdyushko - **Producer:** Jim Lemley, Iain Smith, Jason Netter - **Cast:** James McAvoy as Wesley Gibson; Angelina Jolie as Fox; Morgan Freeman as Sloan; Terence Stamp as Pekwarsky; Thomas Kretschmann as Cross; Common as The Gunsmith; Kristen Hager as Cathy; Marc Warren as The Repairman - **Runtime:** 1h 50m - **First release (the UK):** 12 June 2008 - **Genres:** Action, Thriller, Crime - **Budget:** $75 million - **Box office:** $342 million - **Trailer:** https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b9YEdjEKme0 ## Where to watch in Singapore - HBO Max: streaming - Hotstar: streaming - Apple TV: rent S$4.98, hd - Apple TV: buy S$12.98, sd *Checked 2026-10-05.* Also available in: AE, AR, AT, AU, BE, BG, BR, CA, CH, CL, CO, CZ, DE, DK, EC, EE, ES, FI, FR, GB, GR, HK, HR, HU, ID, IE, IL, IN, IT, JP, KR, LT, MX, MY, NL, NO, NZ, PA, PE, PH, PL, PT, RO, RS, SE, SG, TH, TR, UA, US, VN, ZA. Add `?region=XX` to this URL for another country. ## Awards - Academy Awards 2009: Best Sound (nominated); Best Sound Editing (nominated) ## If you liked this - *RoboCop* (1987), Fi1m 91: Another brutal workplace transformation, with sharper satire and more sympathy for its damaged hero. — [Fi1m page](https://film.one/film/robocop.md) - *Nikita* (1990), Fi1m 76: Assassin training with more attention to what the recruit loses along the way. — [Fi1m page](https://film.one/film/nikita.md) - *Hard Boiled* (1992), Fi1m 86: Elaborate gun battles staged with enough clarity to make every reckless manoeuvre count. — [Fi1m page](https://film.one/film/hard-boiled.md) - *The Villainess* (2017), Fi1m 68: Furious assassin action that makes bodily punishment harder to mistake for simple empowerment. — [Fi1m page](https://film.one/film/the-villainess.md) - *Upgrade* (2018): A physically inventive power fantasy with a better grasp of its own nastiness. --- © 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/wanted