Dredd (2012)

Karl Urban never takes off the helmet, so he plays the whole movie with his chin and a frown, and somehow that’s plenty. Dredd is a lean, mean 95 minutes stuck inside one giant concrete tower, and it never pretends to be anything bigger. That’s the strength and the ceiling. The story is basically a video game level: climb a floor, clear it, climb again. Olivia Thirlby is the real heart as Anderson, the psychic rookie who keeps asking the questions Dredd won’t. Lena Headey makes Ma-Ma frightening without ever raising her voice. Pete Travis shoots Peach Trees like a grimy concrete beehive, and the action is crisp and easy to follow. A heads-up for families: it’s very violent, and the camera rarely looks away. It made just $41 million worldwide on a reported $30M to $45M. A 7.3 because it does one thing extremely well and never reaches for a second. $9,114 says you answer the next question you get at work with one flat word and call it a ruling.

What works: Karl Urban’s deadpan Dredd, Olivia Thirlby’s thoughtful rookie and tight, easy-to-follow action inside one locked-down tower.

What doesn’t: The plot is one long climb with almost no surprises, and most side characters exist only to get in the way.

Who it’s for: Grown-up action fans who like a simple mission, a sealed building and zero filler.