Sources: Wikidata · OpenAlex · Library of Congress. The record of the motion picture, not an assessment of this cell.
FILM NOTES
Released in 2004 by Lionsgate, this adaptation of Marvel's antihero arrived during a wave of comic book films still finding their tone before the genre's mainstream dominance took hold. Directed by Jonathan Hensleigh and starring Thomas Jane, it carried the gritty, R-rated sensibility of its source material rather than the polish of later franchise entries. The film has since built a durable cult following among fans who prize its willingness to embrace a darker, more punishing vision of vigilante justice, making it a distinct entry point for collectors tracing the genre's rougher edges before superhero cinema became a polished industry standard.
This cell preserves Frank Castle in his identity as The Punisher, the moment collectors most associate with the character's purpose. Frank Castle in action speaks to the film's core appeal: a man defined entirely by retribution, stripped of the theatrical trappings other heroes carry. A 35mm cell like this represents a physical fragment of the theatrical print itself, a tactile link to the movie as it was projected in 2004, valued by collectors for its direct connection to the character's screen presence during his defining sequences.
Authentication Findings8 checks
Consistent with a 35mm Fujicolor 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 strip.
Soundtrack
A variable-area optical track is visible running along one edge beside the picture area.
Edge print
Text reading 'FUJICOLOR' is visible along the upper edge, printed in reverse indicating emulsion-up orientation.
Base & colour
The base carries a cyan-teal tint characteristic of Fujicolor print stock; the dye image appears neutral with no visible colour shift or fading.
Projection history
No splices, cue marks or significant scratches are visible in this capture.
Picture
Positive colour image; all three frames appear to be consecutive frames from a single shot, consistent with an action sequence from The Punisher (2004).
Era check
Fujicolor print stock with a variable-area optical track and cyan base tint is consistent with a theatrical release print from the early-to-mid 2000s, matching the 2004 release date 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 000064412
Original Film CaptureAs received
Photographed on the light panel at intake, before encapsulation — tap to open full size
Tap to enlarge
