Monkey Man
Directed by Dev Patel
Kid is een onopvallende jongeman die zijn geld bijeenschraapt in een illegale vechtclub, waar hij elke nacht weer met een gorillamasker op door populairdere vechters tot moes geslagen wordt. Na jarenlang zijn woede over het verleden te hebben opgekropt, ontdekt Kid een manier om de geheimzinnige elite van de stad te infiltreren. Als hij zijn razernij de vrije loop laat, gebruikt hij zijn handen met mysterieuze littekens om op explosieve manier wraak te nemen op de mannen die hem alles ontnomen hebben.
Where to Watch Monkey Man
Monkey Man Ratings & Reviews
- rg94001 november 2024Monkey Man was a decent directorial debut. I went into it expecting a standard revenge thriller that has become so popular in the wake of John Wick, but I think it has a bit more depth to it than that. A bit. It sort of indirectly tries to tackle more complex sociopolitical criticisms, but it doesn't really do so head-on, making it feel a bit tacked on. The cinematography is at times really stylish and striking, and at other times, devolves a bit into shaky cameras and quick edits that feel chaotic during action sequences. Dev Patel is a star, but this isn't necessarily the best showcase of his acting. I think, for a debut, it's still surprisingly strong, and I prefer this to something like John Wick because it does attempt to at least give the character more depth. Though it does drag a bit in the first half, specifically near the middle. The second half is much stronger. I think the movie is at its best when it is setting the scene with some beautiful non-action cinematography.
- martin243316 april 2026One of the best films I've recently seen..!
- MrTrivet14 april 2026Riding the wave of popularity of lone-avenger stories, the film had a strong starting point and high expectations behind it. Unfortunately, the final result doesn’t fully live up to that potential. Its biggest issue is the chaotic storytelling. The narrative structure feels uneven, attempting to juggle multiple tones and plot threads without always delivering clarity or cohesion. Dev Patel, both as director and lead, clearly demonstrates his talent and ambition. There is a genuine effort to create something more than a straightforward action film. The socio-cultural layer, focused on class divisions, abuse of power, and social fractures forms the core of the story, yet it comes across as underdeveloped and only mildly engaging. Fortunately, the film truly comes alive in its action sequences - raw and intense, closer in spirit to Oldboy than the stylized precision of John Wick. These moments keep the film afloat for me despite its narrative chaos.
- Niztradamus18 maart 2026Return to Monke: The Movie Feels at times like John Wick at home (even mentions the movie at one point) but can stand for itself when it comes to the action scenes. Same can't be said for the story. When one of the most pivitol points in the movie require somebody to snort a line of dry bleach and then walk it off with nothing but a little nosebleed, you have lost me. I just can't let go of my disbelief at that point. You can also tell this was written and directed by "British" man, considering how the transformers are portrayed. To top it of I just can't take someone with an Indian accent trying to talk tough seriously. Other than that good movie. I'm glad I have watched it, even with its shortcomings.
- Mio Akiyama12 maart 2025Super good movie with constant stream of action, fighting scenes have great choreograrphy and the plot is easy to understand and appreciate.
- j.pete62 november 2024DEV PATEL GOES MONKEY MODE. GOOD SOUP, MUST WATCH
- jackmeat14 november 2025My quick rating - 7.0/10. That was one wild, blood-pumping ride of a movie, and that isn't my sarcasm saying so. Monkey Man, produced by Jordan Peele and directed by Dev Patel, who also takes the lead as the mysterious fighter known simply as Kid, delivers a raw, emotional, and occasionally bone-crunching experience. Set in the shadowy corners of an unnamed Indian city, the film drops us into Kid’s underground world, where he makes ends meet by letting people beat the living hell out of him in illegal fight clubs while wearing a gorilla mask. Because, you know, dignity is optional when rent’s due. Underneath the sweat and blood is a deeper story of trauma and revenge. Patel weaves a layered story of a man who has been stepped upon one too many times, until finally, it's payback season. When Kid finds a way into the inner circle of the city’s corrupt elite, all that pent-up fury explodes, and his scarred hands turn into the kind of problem money can’t bribe away. What really makes Monkey Man stand out, though, is the action. The fight choreography is absolutely top-notch, with every punch, kick, and improvised weapon feeling genuine. There’s an intensity that reminds me of The Raid 2, especially during a spectacular kitchen fight that practically begs for a replay. I was glad the camera work never loses focus, letting the choreography speak for itself instead of hiding it behind shaky cuts. The chase scenes hit just as hard, throwing in bursts of chaos that kept me glued to the screen. The revenge story, while nothing particularly new, is well-told with emotional weight thanks to flashbacks that give Kid some real character depth. You actually feel why he’s doing what he’s doing, which is more than can be said for half the action heroes out there. Yeah, I thought a few moments were predictable and the film does dip into familiar territory now and then, but honestly, when the storytelling and the direction are this tight, who’s complaining? And the soundtrack isn't bad either. Each track strikes the right emotional cue, never too little, never too much. Patel is magnetic on-screen, balancing quiet vulnerability and explosive rage in a way that's riveting from start to finish. The supporting characters add some colorful flavor along the way, and the urban backdrops feel lived-in rather than dressed-up. I’ll admit, I was skeptical going in. Dev Patel directing an action revenge film sounded like one of those “this could either be genius or chaos” situations. Thankfully, it’s much closer to the first. Monkey Man is a smart, stylish, and brutally satisfying action flick that proves Patel’s got serious chops behind and in front of the camera. For action junkies, this one’s worth your time, and maybe a second viewing just to appreciate how clean those punches land.
- Audrey Layman30 oktober 2024Dev got that slum dawg in him 🐶
- Cubane31 oktober 2025Look, I love a good systematic victimization as much as the next guy... But these antagonists are pretty one-dimensional even by revenge plot standards. Still, the action is in ample supply and it's well done.
- daniellupi198815 februari 2026Action packed and i really enjoy it
- thomasrogers75313 augustus 2025This is a great directorial debut for Dave Patel. I’ve only really seen him in Wes Anderson’s stuff so this was a complete 180 that I was pleasantly surprised by
- Chris C1 augustus 2025As a directorial debut for Dev Patel, this is a very solid outing. It's a film rich in colors and hues, and it's easy to see that there was something personal about this for Patel. It's not non-stop action, but there are multiple well-crafted set pieces, which are lots of fun to watch. There's some real brutality to some of the action, which might put off some viewers, but I thought fit well into the movie. Plot-wise, it's ultimately a fairly standard "revenge action-thriller", but there's enough here that it still feels fresh enough. It's an above-average action movie and a great start for Patel as a director.
- Kevin Ward2 juli 2025Monkey Man if nothing else puts Writer/Director/Star Dev Patel on full display as a creative force. You can feel the passion and drive emanating off the screen. The tight close-ups and shaky cam aesthetic of most action scenes particularly early on will surely frustrate some. But I think it imbued the film with a messy but ferocious energy that fit perfectly with the story. Indeed as Patel’s skills level up throughout the movie we see the camera steady and pull back slightly from the action, the choreography becomes more elegant along with the costuming and settings—it’s as if the film itself is leveling up along with the kid or “Bobby”. The fact that this is Patel’s first directorial feature also lends itself to the feeling that Dev himself is leveling up as a director as the story progresses. I think this aspect is altogether unintentional, but I couldn’t help but feel that while watching it. As for the story, it is a straight forward revenge thriller that incorporates some elements of Indian Hindu mythology, spirituality and politics into the narrative, albeit with fairly broad strokes. Still it’s completely refreshing perspective from a mostly Western production. Overall, I was extremely entertained by Monkey Man. Brutal and bloody fight scenes (so many stabbings), and Dev Patel’s passion is splattered all over the screen. Highly recommend.
- Yuvi Randhawa20 mei 2025Dev Patel the icon you are. Trailblazer for the South Asian artists out there, this is an important film for the culture I promise you
- Varun26 januari 2025A movie that is a little rough around the edges but works due to the passion it exudes. Dev Patel’s acting was pretty good and he really sells the revenge arc. All action movies require a suspense of disbelief but the first sequence of the movie asked for too much with some awkward cuts, overly shaky camera and a mediocre car chase. However it does a great job of establishing the brutal intensity and carnage that Dev is going for. Rana’s character is despicable and menacing with a dominating physique, it makes you want to root even more for Dev. The actor who played the evil Baba did a really good job too, and it’s also pretty funny that he looks very similar to my dad lol. Alphonso provided some nice comic relief. I really liked the representation of the Hijra community, Alpha was a cool character that, despite using some cheesy dialogue, really grounds Dev with some good wisdom. I’m a sucker for trippy scenes so I enjoyed the visuals of Dev opening his chest, but I found the whole Hanuman connection lacking. For a movie named Monkey Man I think they should’ve incorporated more monkey style martial arts and also in that trippy scene they could’ve visually represented how Dev taps into the human evolutionary past to embody the stronger traits of primates to help him achieve his revenge. The monkey/hanuman aspect is only used as a kind of mental/spiritual inspiration rather than any physical manifestation. There is so much depth in Indian philosophy and mythology but for some reason movies only expound on it in the most vague ways possible. Now I absolutely loved the training arc because one of my favourite bands of all time is Shakti and I’m a huge fan of Zakir Hussain. As soon as I saw him I had a huge grin on my face. For those of you who don’t know this, in many Indian Classical Music concerts, two musicians with different instruments will have a battle where they take turns playing the same musical beats and tones. To see that parallel with the punching bag and tabla was so freaking good. The soundtrack for the movie was also good and I liked some of the rap music choices. The final fight sequence was shot really well, and despite me usually preferring purely raw sounds, I actually enjoyed the somber music that played during the bar fight. I personally liked the close up cinematic choices and also enjoyed the visual tone of the whole movie, I think it’s imperfect but that somehow adds more depth to the gritty nature of the story. I feel like the runtime was a bit long, a lot of the early flashbacks to Dev’s past was a bit unnecessary and removes some of the mystery. It reminded me of the constant use of flashbacks in older anime. The final reveal of the full picture of his past was great and powerful in mirroring the violent events that have taken place in India and still continue to happen to this day. The Baba and political allusions was underbaked but I still thought its addition and the visual montage at the end provided some powerful emotional commentary on the downward direction that fundamentalism and populism is taking India in. Dev’s strong passion for many social issues and his bold decision to share it through a John Wick style action film is such a commendable endeavour, especially considering it’s his directorial debut. The flaws can be forgiven and I hope to see more finesse in Dev’s future projects. I’m so glad to finally see more western action movie projects incorporate South Asian countries and cultures like Extraction, Polite Society and now Monkey Man, there’s so much untapped potential and I really hope our communities actually support and recommend these movies as much as possible.
Watch Monkey Man Videos
Monkey Man Trivia
Monkey Man was released on 3 april 2024.
Monkey Man was directed by Dev Patel.
Monkey Man has a runtime of 2 u, 2 m.
Monkey Man was produced by Anjay Nagpal, Erica Lee, Christine Haebler, Jordan Peele, Ian Cooper, Win Rosenfeld, Bavand Karim, Jomon Thomas, Samarth Sahni, Basil Iwanyk, Dev Patel.
Kid is een onopvallende jongeman die zijn geld bijeenschraapt in een illegale vechtclub, waar hij elke nacht weer met een gorillamasker op door populairdere vechters tot moes geslagen wordt. Na jarenlang zijn woede over het verleden te hebben opgekropt, ontdekt Kid een manier om de geheimzinnige elite van de stad te infiltreren. Als hij zijn razernij de vrije loop laat, gebruikt hij zijn handen met mysterieuze littekens om op explosieve manier wraak te nemen op de mannen die hem alles ontnomen hebben.
The key characters in Monkey Man are Kid (Dev Patel), Rana (Sikandar Kher), Baba Shakti (Makrand Deshpande).
Monkey Man is rated 16.
Monkey Man is an Action, Thriller, Misdaad film.
Monkey Man has an audience rating of 8.1 out of 10.
Monkey Man had a budget of US$ 10 mln..
Monkey Man has made US$ 35,3 mln. at the box office.