Sources: Wikidata · OpenAlex · Library of Congress. The record of the motion picture, not an assessment of this cell.
FILM NOTES
Released in 2004 through Lionsgate, The Punisher arrived as part of the early-2000s wave of comic book adaptations that leaned into violence and vigilante justice rather than spectacle for its own sake. Thomas Jane took on the role of Frank Castle, a former Marine turned FBI agent whose family is murdered, setting him on a path of methodical vengeance. The film sits between older grindhouse-style crime pictures and the polished superhero era that would soon dominate multiplexes, making it a notable transitional entry for fans tracing the genre's evolution.
This cell preserves Frank Castle himself, the character at the center of the entire story. Collectors seek him out because he embodies the film's core identity: a man defined by loss and retribution rather than costume or catchphrase. A 35mm cell bearing his name alone suggests a straightforward character study frame, likely drawn from a moment meant to establish who he is, whether through credits, trailer material, or an introductory beat. For enthusiasts, owning Castle in this format means holding a physical fragment of the character's foundational presence on screen.
Authentication Findings8 checks
Consistent with a 35mm theatrical release print of The Punisher (2004).
Gauge
35mm, confirmed by four perforations per frame on both edges; the strip holds three frames.
Perforations
Four per frame on both edges; spacing appears even and the punched edges appear clean throughout the visible strip.
Soundtrack
A variable-area optical track is visible below the picture area, appearing as a dual bilateral variable-area waveform; Dolby Digital data blocks are also visible in the inter-perforation gaps on the lower edge, indicating a composite optical/Dolby Digital soundtrack.
Edge print
Not visible in this capture at a readable resolution.
Base & colour
The base shows a slight warm-neutral tint consistent with a colour print stock; dye image appears stable with no visible fading or red shift.
Projection history
No splices, cue marks, or prominent scratches are visible in this capture.
Picture
Positive colour image; all three frames appear to be from a single continuous shot, consistent with a release print of The Punisher (2004).
Era check
The composite Dolby Digital plus variable-area optical soundtrack configuration is consistent with a theatrical release print from the early 2000s, matching the 2004 release date of the film on record.
Read from the original intake capture shown below. Observations only — film is authenticated, not graded.
This original motion picture film element has been examined and authenticated by Crown Grading in partnership with National Film Vault, and encapsulated for archival preservation.
Why so little survivesRelease prints were leased to theaters, not sold. When the run ended they went back to the distributor to be destroyed, and most were. What collectors hold today came from the prints that escaped that order, and no new 35mm prints of these films are being struck.
CROWN SERIAL 000064402
Original Film CaptureAs received
Photographed on the light panel at intake, before encapsulation — tap to open full size
Tap to enlarge
