National Film Vault

FILM NOTES

Lionsgate's 2004 adaptation of Marvel's Punisher arrived during a transitional moment for comic-book cinema, positioned between the first wave of post-2000 superhero films and the consolidated franchise era that followed. Directed by Jonathan Hensleigh and starring Thomas Jane, the film leaned into its R-rated, revenge-thriller roots, drawing directly from Garth Ennis's darker comic run. It remains a notable artifact of mid-2000s Marvel licensing, before the studio reclaimed its properties.

This cell captures a frame from the Punisher Logo title sequence, preserving the stark graphic design that opens the film: the iconic skull motif set against black, with red lettering spelling out THE PUNISHER. Repeated title card frames of this composition were standard practice in 35mm prints, and securing one places a foundational piece of the film's visual identity directly in hand.