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, part of a mid-2000s push to bring Marvel properties to the screen before the studio-era Marvel Cinematic Universe reshaped the genre entirely. Thomas Jane starred as Frank Castle, with the film leaning into a grim, vigilante-justice tone rooted in 1970s and 80s revenge cinema rather than superhero spectacle. It carries cult standing among fans who prize its harder edge and its faithfulness to the character's comic-book brutality.
This cell centers on Howard Saint, the crime boss whose empire and family are torn apart by Castle's campaign, making him the story's central antagonist and the engine of its revenge plot. Collectors seek him out as the counterweight to Castle, the man whose actions set the entire narrative machine in motion. A single-character 35mm cell like this preserves a physical fragment of that adversarial presence, a tangible artifact from the print reels struck for theatrical release.
Authentication Findings8 checks
Consistent with a 35mm colour 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 with no visible tearing.
Soundtrack
A variable-area optical track is visible running along the lower edge beside the picture area, appearing as two bilateral tracks; Dolby Digital data blocks are also visible in the inter-perforation gaps on the lower edge.
Edge print
Not visible in this capture at sufficient resolution to quote characters.
Base & colour
The base shows a slight cyan-teal tint consistent with a colour print stock; the dye image appears warm and well-saturated 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; the three frames appear to be consecutive frames from a single shot, consistent with a theatrical release print of the film on record.
Era check
The combination of bilateral variable-area optical track, Dolby Digital inter-perforation data blocks, colour positive stock with cyan base tint, and four-perforation 35mm format is fully consistent with a 2004 theatrical 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 000064453
Original Film CaptureAs received
Photographed on the light panel at intake, before encapsulation — tap to open full size
Tap to enlarge
