🎯 Quick Overview
Trailer
- Director: Timur Bekmambetov
- Genre: Action, Crime, Fantasy, Thriller
- Release year: 2008
- Runtime (length): 1h 50min
- IMDb rating: 6.7/10 (418K votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes: 71%
😅 Plot Summary – Badly Explained
A guy discovers his dad was a super assassin, learns to curve bullets like Beckham, and fights fate… which is decided by a magic loom.
🍿 Wanted: Detailed Plot Synopsis
Wesley’s Miserable Existence
Wesley Gibson is a downtrodden office worker whose life is defined by monotony, anxiety, and disrespect. He endures a soul-crushing job, a domineering boss, and a cheating girlfriend, all of which contribute to his sense of helplessness and despair. His days are a blur of unfulfilled potential and suppressed frustration. One day, while at a pharmacy getting his anxiety medication, his life is forever changed.

Recruitment by Fox
Wesley’s life takes a dramatic turn when he encounters Fox, a mysterious and alluring woman who reveals the truth about his past. Fox informs him that his recently deceased father was a professional assassin and that he possesses latent abilities that make him a target. Suddenly thrust into a world of danger and intrigue, Wesley is recruited into the Fraternity, a secret society of assassins.

Training and Transformation
Under the guidance of Fox and the Fraternity’s leader, Sloan, Wesley undergoes rigorous training to unlock his potential and harness his inherited abilities. He learns combat skills, marksmanship, and the power to control his adrenaline, granting him superhuman reflexes and precision. As he progresses, Wesley transforms from a meek office worker into a skilled and confident assassin.

Deception and Betrayal
As Wesley embraces his new life, he uncovers a web of deception within the Fraternity. He discovers that Sloan has been manipulating the Loom of Fate, a device used to identify targets, for his own personal gain. Furthermore, he learns a shocking truth about his father and his own identity, leading him to question everything he thought he knew.

⚠️ Spoilers and Ending Explained
🎬 Cast & Characters
- Wesley (James McAvoy): A frustrated office worker who discovers he’s the son of an assassin and is recruited into a secret organization.
- Fox (Angelina Jolie): A skilled and lethal assassin who recruits and trains Wesley in the Fraternity.
- Sloan (Morgan Freeman): The leader of the Fraternity who trains Wesley but is revealed to be corrupt.
- Cross (Thomas Kretschmann): A highly skilled assassin who is initially believed to be Wesley’s father’s killer, but is actually his father.
- Pekwarsky (Terence Stamp): An associate of Cross who reveals the truth about Sloan and the Fraternity to Wesley.
- The Gunsmith (Common): A member of the Fraternity responsible for providing weapons and training in firearms.
💬 Memorable Quotes
- Fox: “This is what a billion dollars looks like.” – Fox says this to Wesley after showing him a room filled with cash, emphasizing the resources of the Fraternity.
- Sloan: “Kill that motherfucker.” – Sloan says this to Wesley when training him, pushing him to embrace his killer instinct.
- Wesley: “What the fuck have you done lately?” – Wesley says this directly to the audience at the end of the movie, challenging them to take control of their lives.
💰Box Office
- Budget: $75,000,000
- Domestic Gross: $134,508,551
- Worldwide Gross: $342,463,063
💥 Wanted Reviews
Personal Review
Okay, “Wanted” is just pure escapism! I remember watching this in the theater and being blown away by the action. The bullet curving thing? Ridiculous, but awesome. James McAvoy’s transformation is fun to watch, and Angelina Jolie is just straight-up cool. It doesn’t make a whole lot of sense if you think about it too much, but who cares? It’s a blast!
- Who would enjoy:
- “Fans of action movies”
- “Viewers who enjoy over-the-top stunts and special effects”
- “Those looking for a dark and stylish thriller”
- “People who like comic book adaptations”
- Content warnings ⚠:
- “Graphic violence”
- “Strong language”
- “Some sexual content”
- “Mature themes”
Professional Reviews
- Rotten Tomatoes: “Wanted delivers stylish action sequences and a darkly humorous tone, even if the plot stretches credibility to its breaking point. The film is pure entertainment and adrenaline-pumping from start to finish.
- Metacritic: “While some found the film’s over-the-top action and far-fetched plot absurd, many appreciated its visual flair and engaging performances. It’s a film that doesn’t take itself too seriously, offering viewers a wild ride.
- IMDB: “The films works. It provides the amazing opiate of style and dark humor, and in such massive quantities that both evoke the spirit of the source material and utterly ignore the latter 90% of the graphic novel. But that independent streak works for Wanted. You feel a sense of amused wonder and curiosity throughout, and all the plot twists that follow are different enough from the source to actually hold your attention without ever being prematurely obvious.
Audience Reactions
The over-the-top action and special effects made the movie incredibly fun.: Viewers loved the stylish action, dark humor, and James McAvoy’s transformation.
Angelina Jolie’s portrayal of Fox was a standout for many fans.: The action may be the most interesting aspect of the film but the star studded cast takes over.
Overall Consensus: Wanted is a visually stunning action film that provides a fun and wild experience, despite its far-fetched plot.
Awards
- Saturn Award (Best Action/Adventure/Thriller Film)- 2009
🛠️ Behind the Scenes
- “James McAvoy was initially rejected for the lead role because the studio wanted a more ‘conventional’ leading man, but he was later chosen because the producers decided his character was more of ‘the runt of the litter’.”
- “There are no opening credits in the film. The title appears as a headline on a newspaper well into the movie.”
🖥️ How to Watch Wanted?
Wanted is available for streaming rental or purchase on platforms such as Prime Video, Apple TV, Google Play Movies, and Vudu. Check local listings for availability and pricing. Physical copies on Blu-ray and DVD can be purchased from major retailers.

🎥 Similar Movies
If you enjoyed Wanted, you might like these similar films:
- The Matrix (1999): Both films feature a disillusioned protagonist who discovers a hidden world with superhuman abilities and a destiny to fight against a corrupt system.
- Kingsman: The Secret Service (2014): Features a similar theme of a common person being recruited and trained into a secret organization of highly skilled individuals.
- Equilibrium (2002): A dystopian action film where a man rebels against a system and discovers he has extraordinary abilities. Like Wanted, it features stylized gunfights.
- Kick-Ass (2010): Based on a comic book by Mark Millar, it presents a similar theme of ordinary people embracing extraordinary violence and vigilantism.
🛒 Wanted Related Products
- Wanted (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack): Enjoy Danny Elfman’s thrilling score from Wanted. Perfect for reliving the movie’s intense moments.
- Wanted Graphic Novel: Explore the original story that inspired the film. Discover the darker and more violent world of Mark Millar’s Wanted.
- Funko Pop! Movies: Wanted – Fox: Add Fox, as portrayed by Angelina Jolie, to your Funko Pop! collection. This stylized figure captures the essence of the deadly assassin.
- Custom Wanted Movie Poster: High-quality print featuring the iconic imagery of “Wanted”, a stylish addition to any movie lover’s home decor.
🎧 Soundtrack
Wanted features a captivating soundtrack that enhances the movie’s atmosphere and emotional impact. Here are some notable tracks:
- “The Little Things” – performed by Danny Elfman
- “Success” – performed by Danny Elfman
- “Frat Party” – performed by Danny Elfman
- “Welcome to the Fraternity” – performed by Danny Elfman
- “I’m Ready” – performed by Danny Elfman
- “Fox’s Story” – performed by Danny Elfman
- “The Train” – performed by Danny Elfman
- “Revealed” – performed by Danny Elfman
- “Billboards” – performed by Danny Elfman
- “Sloan’s Office” – performed by Danny Elfman
- “The Plan” – performed by Danny Elfman
- “Happy Birthday” – performed by Mildred J. Hill and Patty S. Hill
You can find the complete soundtrack on Amazon Music and Apple Music.
🤨 FAQ
The Loom of Fate is an ancient device used by the Fraternity to identify targets for assassination. It supposedly weaves a coded message that reveals the names of individuals destined to cause chaos and evil. However, the film reveals that it is being manipulated.
The assassins in Wanted possess the ability to control their adrenaline flow, allowing them to achieve superhuman reflexes, strength, and speed. This enables them to perform extraordinary feats, such as curving bullets and reacting to threats with incredible precision.
Cross is initially presented as the assassin who killed Wesley’s father. However, it is later revealed that he is actually Wesley’s father, and he was trying to protect Wesley from the Fraternity’s corruption.
🔥 Bonus Content
Everything Wrong With Wanted In 17 Minutes Or Less
If you’re a fan of the movie ‘Wanted’ and enjoy a good laugh, you’ll want to check out this video from CinemaSins. They hilariously point out all the plot holes and inconsistencies in the movie, making it a fun and entertaining watch.
✨ Rate
There are no reviews yet. Be the first one to write one.