Riders of Justice

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2:03

Riders of Justice

2021

1h 56m

Action

Mystery & Thriller

Comedy

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Watchlist

Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

96%

Tomatometer

141 Reviews

89%

Popcornmeter

500+ Ratings

RIDERS OF JUSTICE follows recently-deployed Markus (Mads Mikkelsen), who is forced to return home to care for his teenage daughter after his wife is killed in a tragic train accident. But when a survivor of the wrecked train surfaces claiming foul play, Markus begins to suspect his wife was murdered and embarks on a revenge-fueled mission to find those responsible.

Critics Consensus

A darkly humorous revenge thriller with satisfying depth and a dash of savory quirk, Riders of Justice makes another compelling case for Mads Mikkelsen as an all-purpose leading man.

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David Stratton

The Australian

10/02/2021

4.5/5

Suffused with character-driven comedy, and not avoiding elements of violence, this is an outstanding film. The ensemble cast is flawless and the witty and deliciously complex screenplay is among the best we've seen this year.

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Alison Willmore

New York Magazine/Vulture

08/11/2021

Mikkelsen manages to simultaneously lean into and dismantle tough-guy tropes while playing a stoic soldier reeling from the death of his wife in a train crash.

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Mark Kermode

Kermode & Mayo's Film Review

08/05/2021

Fun in a "what on earth is happening" kind of way.

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Joonatan Itkonen

Region Free

07/05/2024

5/5

Riders of Justice is a thoughtful, compassionate affair, the kind you remember missing as you experience it. You feel safe in its hands, even as it careens towards fates that feel inevitable and horrifying.

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Ben Flanagan

Vague Visages

02/07/2024

For a films shot like prestige TV that is dour and tense, he draws a large family of compelling characters. And that makes Riders of Justice worth giving consideration beyond an opening night film — the art of the hangout movie lives, after all...

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Carmen Paddock

TAKE ONE Magazine

11/29/2023

...the violence inflicted by co-conspirators on each other – be the emotional or literal socks to the jaw – registers somewhere between hilarity and pathos. There is no room for superheroes here – human folly is far more interesting

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Leon H

@RT13589101 Nov 29

Watched Oct 2025. Mads Mikkelsen was the reason for watching this film. I went in knowing very little about it or the plot, other than the reviews left on RT - and the movie was all the better for NOT knowing much about it. Hollywood movies can be so boringly formulaic but Scandi films usually boast very original ideas and this was no different. I won't say anything about what unfolds, however I will say that this has been my favourite film watched in 2025 this far. Mads is again highly watchable and a mix of thriller, dark comedy, great characterisation and a plot that was difficult to predict left my wife and I delighted. And the second best Xmas film after Die Hard. SLIGHT PLOT SPOILER AHEAD - half a star deducted for the plot armour worn by every major character. A resounding 👍 from me.

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Dennui S

@dennui Sep 19

Excellent character driven film led by Mads. Themes of coincidence and uncertainty.

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Ben H

@RT66522368 Aug 29

Jensen's Masterpiece!

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David M

@Channel019 Jul 28

Riders Of Justice is SO good! It is funny and dark and moving with some absolutely superb performances in it.

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Jelisije J

@jjosifovic Jul 5

One of the rare cases where a dark comedy works as a serious action film? Rewatch rewatch and rewatch for this unforgettable experience.

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Sean F

@SeanAF May 19

So good I wish it was in English so I could appreciate the acting/inflection all the more. Stylish, original story (to me) with plenty of wit/humor for a serious premise

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Anders Thomas Jensen

Director

Mads Mikkelsen

Markus

Nikolaj Lie Kaas

Otto

Andrea Heick Gadeberg

Mathilde

Lars Brygmann

Lennart

Nicolas Bro

Emmenthaler

25 Best Action Movies: The Highest-Rated of Each Year Since 1998

Riders of Justice: Trailer 1

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Synopsis

RIDERS OF JUSTICE follows recently-deployed Markus (Mads Mikkelsen), who is forced to return home to care for his teenage daughter after his wife is killed in a tragic train accident. But when a survivor of the wrecked train surfaces claiming foul play, Markus begins to suspect his wife was murdered and embarks on a revenge-fueled mission to find those responsible.

Director: Anders Thomas Jensen
Producer: Sisse Graum Jørgensen, Sidsel Hybschmann
Screenwriter: Anders Thomas Jensen
Production Co: Zentropa Entertainment, Zentropa International Sweden, Film i Väst, MEDIA Programme of the European Union, Swedish Film Institute, Nordisk Film Distribution, TV2 Danmark, Nordisk Film- & TV-Fond, Yleisradio, Sveriges Television, Yousee, FilmFyn, Danish Film Institute
Genre: Action, Mystery & Thriller, Comedy
Original Language: Danish
Release Date (Theaters): May 14, 2021, Limited
Release Date (Streaming): May 21, 2021
Box Office (Gross USA): $77.0K
Runtime: 1h 56m