- Network: Disney+
- Series Premiere Date: May 12, 2026
Watch Now
Where To Watch
| Stream On |
|
Critic Reviews
- Critic score
- Publication
- By date
-
The Special Presentation is the character study that makes you more invested if you weren't already on board, while paving the way for a new era for the MCU's Punisher.
-
In terms of no-holds-barred ultra-violence, it’s like John Wick times one thousand.
-
Punisher does a lot of killing in his Marvel Special Presentation. A whole lot. But layered into the over-the-top violence is a powerful character study of a PTSD-addled veteran who has lost nearly everything.
-
Reinaldo Marcus Green and Jon Bernthal locate and explore Frank Castle’s essence in brutal, bloody and heartfelt fashion.
-
Ultimately, it's clear that what makes The Punisher work is still the star at the center of it. Bernthal has a very lived-in approach to Frank, one that manages to make his depressing scenes feel somewhat fresh despite retreading the same ground.
-
It’s an approach that doesn’t necessarily do anything new with the character in the MCU (nor does it address any of the shortcomings of that approach), but it’s one that succeeds in stripping away the extraneous fluff of the Netflix series and just giving fans what they crave.