Sources: Wikidata · OpenAlex · Library of Congress. The record of the motion picture, not an assessment of this cell.
FILM NOTES
The Punisher arrived in 2004 through Lionsgate and Marvel Enterprises, part of the early wave of Marvel adaptations released before the studio's cinematic universe reshaped the genre. Thomas Jane starred as Frank Castle, a former special forces operative turned vigilante following the murder of his family, in a film that leaned into hard-edged crime drama rather than superhero spectacle. It found its audience through home video and cult appreciation, valued for its punishing tone and its faithfulness to the character's comic book roots as a man defined by loss and retribution rather than costume or code name.
This cell carries the designation Frank Castle - Armed, placing the character in his defining posture as both grieving father and instrument of vengeance. Frank Castle and The Punisher appear as the same man across two identities, civilian and symbol, and this framing reflects the character's core duality prized by collectors. Being armed is inseparable from who Castle becomes after tragedy, making this a foundational image for anyone building a collection around the character's transformation. As a 35mm film cell, it preserves a physical fragment of that theatrical presentation, a tactile artifact from the movie's original release print.
Authentication Findings8 checks
Consistent with a 35mm colour theatrical release print of The Punisher (2004).
Gauge
35mm, 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 running along one edge beside the picture area, appearing as a dual bilateral waveform pattern.
Edge print
Not visible in this capture at sufficient resolution to read any key numbers or manufacturer text.
Base & colour
The base shows a slight warm-cream tint consistent with a colour print stock; the dye image reads with normal colour saturation and no visible fading or red shift.
Projection history
Light longitudinal lines are visible running the length of the strip, consistent with projection wear; no splices or cue marks are seen.
Picture
Positive colour image; all three frames appear to be consecutive frames from a single shot, consistent with a theatrical release print of a 2004 feature film.
Era check
The dual bilateral variable-area optical track, colour positive print stock, and warm-tinted base are all consistent with a 2004 theatrical 35mm release print.
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 000064428
Original Film CaptureAs received
Photographed on the light panel at intake, before encapsulation — tap to open full size
Tap to enlarge
