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Law Abiding Citizen

Law Abiding Citizen is a 2009 American crime thriller film directed by F.

By Ethan Anderson| Reviewed by Olivia Bennett, Standards & Fact-Checking Lead| Updated July 26, 2026|2 min read| Fact-checked

Law Abiding Citizen is a 2009 American crime thriller film directed by F. Gary Gray and written by Kurt Wimmer. It stars Gerard Butler and Jamie Foxx and follows a man who seeks revenge after a plea bargain allows one of his family’s killers to receive a reduced sentence.

Plot

The film follows Clyde Shelton after a plea bargain allows one of the men involved in his family’s murder to receive a reduced sentence. Ten years later, Shelton begins a violent campaign against those responsible and against the legal system he believes failed him.

Cast and characters

Gerard Butler portrays Clyde Shelton, while Jamie Foxx plays Nick Rice, the prosecutor connected to the case. The supporting cast includes Colm Meaney and Viola Davis.

Production and release

Law Abiding Citizen was directed by F. Gary Gray from a screenplay by Kurt Wimmer. It opened in U.S. theatres on October 16, 2009, and was later released on DVD and Blu-ray on February 16, 2010.

Reception and classification

The film is generally categorized as a crime, drama, and thriller title. Public-facing review sources note its violent content and moral-revenge theme, while Rotten Tomatoes lists an R rating and a runtime of 1 hour 48 minutes.

Key facts

  • The film is set in Philadelphia and centres on Clyde Shelton, whose wife and daughter are killed during a home invasion.
  • Jamie Foxx plays assistant district attorney Nick Rice, whose plea bargain becomes a central point of conflict.
  • The story focuses on revenge, the justice system, and the consequences of prosecutorial decisions.
  • The film was released theatrically in the United States on October 16, 2009.
  • It was rated R for strong bloody brutal violence, torture, a scene of rape, and pervasive language.
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Canadian context

The film was distributed internationally and remains familiar to Canadian viewers through home video, television, and streaming circulation, but it has no especially notable Canada-specific production or subject connection in the provided sources.

Frequently asked questions

What is Law Abiding Citizen about?
It follows Clyde Shelton, a man who retaliates after a plea bargain lets one of his family’s killers receive a reduced sentence.
Who directed Law Abiding Citizen?
The film was directed by F. Gary Gray.
Who stars in Law Abiding Citizen?
The main stars are Gerard Butler and Jamie Foxx.
When was Law Abiding Citizen released?
It was released in U.S. theatres on October 16, 2009.
What genre is Law Abiding Citizen?
It is described as a crime thriller, and also categorized as crime, drama, and thriller.

References

  1. Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Law_Abiding_Citizen
    Supports: Plot setting in Philadelphia and basic premise.
  2. IMDb — https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1197624/
    Supports: Release year, runtime, rating, genres, and release date.
  3. IMDb — https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1197624/faq/
    Supports: Plot summary and central conflict.
  4. Common Sense Media — https://www.commonsensemedia.org/movie-reviews/law-abiding-citizen
    Supports: Director, cast, runtime, rating, and content description.
  5. Rotten Tomatoes — https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/law_abiding_citizen
    Supports: Director, producers, screenwriter, genre, release date, rating, and runtime.
  6. Movie Insider — https://www.movieinsider.com/m4686/law-abiding-citizen
    Supports: Theatrical release date and home media release date.