By Chris Snellgrove
| Published 35 seconds ago

If you’re a movie lover, the phrase “sci-fi remake” likely fills you with dread. After all, Hollywood has cranked out more than a few worthless reboots of nearly perfect genre films over the years. This includes the newer RoboCop, which, amusingly enough, lacked the humanity of the original Paul Verhoeven film. The newer Total Recall was slick and sanitized, lacking the messy charm and charismatic lead of the original. Despite Star Trek (2009) being a wholly original movie, the sequel film Star Trek Into Darkness was a remake of The Wrath of Khan that was worse in every possible way.

Star Trek Into Darkness might very well be the worst sci-fi remake in Hollywood history. Ironically, though, one of its stars is the lead in the best sci-fi remake of all time. I’m talking about Dredd (2012), which features Karl Urban as the popular comic book character who will stop crime at any cost. He fully embodies this complex role and headlines an action film powered by adrenaline, gunpowder, and pure, manic intensity. To experience the thrill ride for yourself, all you have to do is stream Dredd for free on Tubi.

Here Comes The Judge

The plot of Dredd is that future America has become a dystopian hellhole in which highly trained cops have become judge, jury, and executioner to any and all criminals. Judge Dredd is tasked with assessing the skills of a new recruit, one whose psychic abilities may give her a much-needed edge on the battlefield. But she and Dredd will need every advantage they can get to pull off their next mission: a bold raid on a 200-story tower that serves as the base of operations for a local drug lord with a new product that threatens to turn Dredd’s burned-out-berg into a city of junkies.

The central cast of Dredd is as tight as the movie’s script. Game of Thrones veteran Lena Headey plays the ruthless drug dealer who is, honestly, much more vicious than Cersei Lannister ever was. Meanwhile, Juno star Olivia Thirlby is excellent as the psychic rookie getting an unfettered look at what it means to be a Judge in a time of lawless chaos. But nobody is acting their hearts out like Karl Urban, who injects just the right amount of personality into Judge Dredd without turning him into a caricature of himself (something Sylvester Stallone failed to do in the previous Judge Dredd movie). 

Urban is an actor who always disappears into his roles. As a veteran of Marvel, Star Trek, and Lord of the Rings, he has more than earned the title of a genre legend. As great as he was in those other roles, though, Urban’s Dredd is the best performance of his career. In another actor’s hands, this performance would have been pure schlock (still looking at you, Stallone) or generic action slop. Paradoxically (and perfectly), Urban finds the sweet spot, conveying his character’s passion for justice while still coming across as a cool and emotionless agent of the law. 

It’s Dredd’s World. We Just Live In It

Now, here’s a confession that might cost me my nerd card: growing up, I never really got into the original Judge Dredd comics. Because of that, my only real exposure to this character has been through the medium of feature films. That’s why I was a little intimidated that I wouldn’t be able to fully appreciate Dredd: I had read about how this second film was infinitely more faithful to the comic, and so I worried that I’d be completely lost. Fortunately, I was quite wrong and discovered to my delight that this movie is very accessible to complete franchise newcomers.

That’s because Dredd, like Mad Max: Fury Road, embeds effortless world-building into its narrative without ever bogging down the storytelling or slowing down the action. If you’re a comic fan, you’ll appreciate all of the Easter eggs placed lovingly throughout the runtime. If you’re a sci-fi fan paying close attention to the dialogue, you’ll quickly suss out everything you need to know about this fictional world. Of course, if you’re just an action junkie who just wants to turn your brain off, it’s entirely possible to enjoy Dredd as a relentless movie filled with one action-packed scene after another.

One Action Scene After Another

For all its amazing attention to detail, the plot of Dredd is mostly a paper-thin excuse to shuffle us from one perfect action scene to the next. Like a sci-fi Die Hard, this movie is all about trapping our protagonists in a building where they are outnumbered and must fight wave after wave of well-armed foes. Fortunately, our heroes are driven by something more than their singular thirst for knowledge: the knowledge that all it takes is a single bullet to the leader’s head to utterly destroy this amoral organization.

It really is that simple. Our heroes must fight their way up the huge tower in search of their prey. At every turn, they encounter new foes, new challenges, and new surprises. The result is a visceral movie guaranteed to keep you on the edge of your seat. Dredd is the rare film that is full of surprises, always zigging when you expect it to zag. At the same time, however, it never fails to deliver exactly what its core audience wants: one balls-to-the-wall action scene after another. If you’re looking for something like a lo-fi John Wick crossed with The Matrix, then Dredd is the sci-fi action masterpiece you’ve been looking for.

Even if (like me on my first watch) you’re not very familiar with the title character, you owe it to yourself to watch Dredd. It’s got a small-but-swol cast, amazing costumes, and sweet set pieces. It also has action scenes that don’t stop until multiple bodies hit the floor. Think I’m overhyping the film too much? Fine, you be the judge! To experience the craziness for yourself, all you have to do is stream Dredd for free on Tubi. It’s better than the earlier movie in every way, but if this newer film inspires you to start belting out “I am the law!” in your best Stallone impression, don’t worry: I won’t tell anyone.