The Raid 2: A Violent Masterpiece That Wowed Critics but Missed Box Office Glory

When The Raid: Redemption dropped back in 2011, it shook the action movie world. Tight spaces, non-stop intensity, and martial arts that felt almost too real—it was raw, relentless, and unforgettable. So when The Raid 2: Berandal hit theaters in 2014, fans were buzzing: could it possibly top the original?
No spoilers, but it didn’t just outdo the original—it completely raised the bar.

🎬 What’s The Raid 2 All About, Anyway?

With Gareth Evans returning to the director’s chair, The Raid 2 picks up right where the first film left off, diving straight back into the aftermath.Our hero Rama (played by the immensely skilled Iko Uwais steps back in as Rama, this time going undercover in Jakarta’s underworld to expose deep-rooted corruption in the police ranks.
But this time? It’s not just one building. It’s a whole city of chaos.
There’s more story. More emotion. More characters. And yeah, a whole lot more bone-breaking brutality.

🧨 Critics Loved It: “Brutally Beautiful”

Unlike most sequels that lose steam, The Raid 2 just raised the stakes and leveled up. Critics couldn’t stop praising it.It’s sitting pretty with:
• 81% on Rotten Tomatoes
• 8.0/10 on IMDb
Why so much love?
• The fight scenes were next-level—each punch, each kick, each smash choreographed like a lethal dance.
• Cinematography was chic and sophisticated. The camera doesn’t simply record the action—it is in the action, moving through every battle like a ghostly member of the party.
• Ambition went through the roof. From a muddy prison yard brawl to a wild car chase to an assassin wielding hammers on a subway, the scale was massive.
The Verge called it “the most visually spectacular action film in years.” IndieWire nailed it by saying it’s “a crime saga wrapped in a bone-snapping martial arts epic.”
Honestly? Both are spot on.

💸 Box Office: Not a Knockout, But Still a Win

Here’s how it performed numbers-wise:
• Budget: ~ $4.5 million
• Worldwide Gross: ~ $6.6 million
• U.S. Opening Weekend: Around $177,000 (limited release)
It didn’t break box office records, but it held its ground and found its audience. For an Indonesian-language film with intense violence and a niche fanbase, it held its own—and has since become a cult classic, especially on home release and streaming.

🤔 Why Didn’t It Blow Up Bigger?

Three main reasons:
1. Limited U.S. Release – It did not open wide, so not as many had a chance to see it in the theater.
2. Ultra-Violence – The action is great… but come on, it’s also brutal.ot exactly mainstream popcorn fare.
3. Subtitles – Some casual viewers shy away from reading while watching fights (their loss, really).
But here’s the thing: The Raid 2 was never made for the masses. It was made for the fans. For the purists. For people who live for high-impact, high-skill action. And in that sense? It was absolutely delivered.

🥋 Legacy: Still a Heavy Hitter

Years later, The Raid 2 is still being talked about. Still being studied by filmmakers. Still being rewatched by fans who can’t get enough of its relentless style.
Some people even claim it’s better than the first one—a hot take, sure, but not entirely wrong.
Whether it’s your first time watching or your tenth, The Raid 2 never gets old. Every fight still hits. Every moment still thrills.

🔥 Final Thought: Do We Need The Raid 3?

It’s the million-dollar question. Gareth Evans has hinted that he may not return to finish a trilogy—and honestly, maybe that’s okay. These two films already feel like a complete, perfect set. But… if he ever did decide to come back for one more round?
We’d all show up, no question.

What about you? Would you want to see The Raid 3, or should the legacy of this brutal duology stay untouched?