The martial arts revenge action thriller never went away, it only changed form. Modern incarnations blend brutal fight scenes with slapstick comedy in a grim festival of violent detachment. TheJohn Wickfranchise is a perfect example. It delivered a straightforward story with immaculate world-building and compelling set pieces. Bill Skarsgard will lead a comedic revenge thriller in this year’sBoy Kills World.
Boy Kills Worldis the feature directorial debut of Moritz Mohr. He’s a German filmmaker with a few well-received short films under his belt. Mohr and Arend Remmers wrote and directed the short film that became the upcoming feature. They’re joined by Tyler Burton Smith, who recently co-wrote thestory forAlan Wake II. The big behind-the-scenes name on the project is Sam Raimi, who co-produced the film with Roy Lee of Vertigo Entertainment.
Release Date
July 19, 2025
Boy Kills Worldfollows the eponymous Boy, a deaf and muteman seeking revengefor the deaths of his loved ones. Boy grew up in a forest hut outside a dictatorial police state. His mom and sister died in a televised blood sport called the Culling, where innocent civilians and supposed dissidents suffer public executions. Egged on by the internalized voice of his beloved sibling, Boy spends a decade training with a mysterious martial arts master. Boy’s mentor gives him combat skills and several horrific narcotic experiences before sending him off to avenge his family. Boy must fight his way through armies of armed police officers to disrupt the latest Culling and bring down the system that took everything from him. His quest will pit himagainst a masked assassin, PR-obsessed officials, and a powerful dynasty on top of it all.
Who is starring inBoy Kills World?
Boy Kills Worldstars Bill Skarsgard as Boy. Skarsgard is having a big year. He’s set to star as Eric Draven in the long-awaitedCrowremakeand Count Orlok in Robert Eggers' remake ofNosferatu. Despite their differing tones,The CrowandBoy Kills Worldare revenge thrillers inspired by the graphic novels of the 80s and 90s. He also recently appeared inJohn Wick: Chapter 4andBarbarian. Skarsgard doesn’t speak inBoy Kills World. H. Jon Benjamin ofArcherandBob’s Burgersfame provides Boy’s internal monologue, providing a comedic voice. Some other cast members include:
What Critics Have Said aboutBoy Kills World
Boy Kills Worldhas a 71% positive audience score from fourteen critics' Rotten Tomatoes reviews. Metacritic compiled only four reviews, leaving the film with a weighted average of 61 out of 100.Brian Tallerico of RogerEbert.compraised the movie, commending the first-time director’s strong grasp of pacing, the cast’s willingness to play along, and the delightful action scenes.Nate Richard of Collidercondemned the film with 1.5 stars out of 5, calling its humor charmless and its confidence unearned.
When isBoy Kills Worldcoming out?
Boy Kills Worldwill hit theaters onApril 26, 2024. The filmpremiered at TIFFlast September but won’t reach wide audiences for another month.
Boy Kills Worldis a well-received action movie with a unique gimmick. It feels like a comedy sketch stretched to feature length and enhanced with extensive blood and gore. Fans of films likeJohn WickandAtomic Blonde, or games likeStreet FighterandMortal Kombatwill enjoyBoy Kills World. It won’t change anyone’s life, but it’s an entertaining ride worth 111 minutes of any audience’s time.Boy Kills Worldwill come to theaters across America on May 24, 2025. Anyone looking for an anarchic revenge thriller with a refreshingly fun premise will have a great time inBoy Kills World.
