Wanted (2008) Movie Review: Hit or Flop? Box Office, Plot, and Why We Never Got a Sequel

In the summer of 2008, just weeks before The Dark Knight changed comic book movies forever, a darker, weirder, and more violent comic book adaptation hit theaters. Wanted (2008), directed by Russian visionary Timur Bekmambetov, starred James McAvoy, Angelina Jolie, and Morgan Freeman.

With its R-rating and stylized violence, it was a gamble for Universal Pictures. But did it pay off? Is Wanted considered a hit or a flop today? This comprehensive guide breaks down the financial success, the mind-bending plot, and the film's lasting legacy.

Box Office Verdict: A Global Smash Hit

Financially, Wanted was an undeniable triumph. In an era before the MCU dominated every screen, an R-rated action movie making over $340 million was huge news.

The Numbers Breakdown

• Production Budget: $75 Million

• Domestic Collection (USA): $134.5 Million

• International Collection: $207.9 Million

• Total Worldwide Gross: $342.4 Million

The general rule of thumb in Hollywood is that a movie needs to earn 2.5x its budget to be profitable. Wanted earned 4.5x its budget, making it a highly profitable venture for Universal Studios. It opened at #2 at the box office, holding its own against Pixar’s WALL-E.

Plot Summary: The Fraternity and the Loom of Fate

Based loosely on the graphic novel by Mark Millar (creator of Kick-Ass and Kingsman), the film follows Wesley Gibson (James McAvoy), a meek account manager who is bullied by his boss and cheated on by his girlfriend.

His life changes instantly when he meets Fox (Angelina Jolie) in a pharmacy. She reveals that Wesley’s absentee father was a legendary assassin who was just murdered. Wesley is recruited into The Fraternity, a thousand-year-old secret society of assassins who take orders from "Fate" itself.

The Training Arc

Wesley is subjected to brutal training by the Fraternity’s members, including The Gunsmith (Common) and The Butcher. He learns the film’s signature move: "curving the bullet"—using adrenaline and wrist mechanics to fire bullets around obstacles.

The Twist: The Loom of Fate

The Fraternity receives its kill orders from a mystical textile machine called the Loom of Fate. The Loom weaves errors into fabric, which translates into binary code spelling out the names of targets who "must die to save thousands."

However, the film’s climax reveals a dark truth: Sloan (Morgan Freeman), the leader, has been faking the targets. The Loom had actually ordered the deaths of Sloan and the other Fraternity members, but Sloan hid the names to stay in power and kill for profit.

Cast and Characters: A Perfect Storm of Talent

One of the reasons Wanted succeeded was its perfect casting, blending Hollywood royalty with rising stars.

James McAvoy as Wesley Gibson

Before he was Professor X in X-Men, McAvoy was known for British period dramas (Atonement). Wanted proved he could carry a massive action blockbuster. His transformation from a panic-attack-prone loser to a super-assassin is the heart of the film.

Angelina Jolie as Fox

Jolie was at the peak of her action stardom (post-Tomb Raider and Mr. & Mrs. Smith). As Fox, she is the film’s cool, stoic moral compass. Her shocking decision in the finale—to sacrifice herself and the entire Fraternity to fulfill the Loom’s wish—remains one of the most memorable deaths in action cinema.

Morgan Freeman as Sloan

Playing against type, Freeman used his "voice of God" persona to play a villain. His delivery of the line, "Shoot this motherf*****!" became an instant meme and fan favorite moment.

Chris Pratt as Barry

Fun fact: A young Chris Pratt plays Barry, Wesley’s backstabbing best friend. This was years before Guardians of the Galaxy, and Pratt plays the "jerk" role perfectly, famously getting smashed in the face with a keyboard that spells out "F*** YOU" in flying keys.

Why Wanted Was a Hit (Analysis)

Why did this movie work so well with audiences?

1. Unique Visual Style: Director Timur Bekmambetov brought a fresh, frantic visual language to Hollywood. The "bullet time" sequences, upside-down car chases, and blood-splattered aesthetics felt like a video game come to life.

2. R-Rated Action: In a sea of PG-13 superhero movies, Wanted was unapologetically violent, catering to an adult audience craving grit.

3. The "Office Fantasy": The opening act, where Wesley finally snaps, tells off his boss, and smacks his friend with a keyboard, tapped into the universal fantasy of every overworked employee.

Differences from the Comic Book

The movie is famously very different from Mark Millar's source material.

• In the Comic: The Fraternity is a guild of Super Villains who secretly run the world after defeating all the Superheroes in 1986. Wesley’s dad is a villain named "The Killer," and Wesley kills innocent people for fun.

• In the Movie: They are "Anti-Heroes" or misguided vigilantes killing to save lives. The superhero aspect was removed entirely to make the world more grounded (albeit with magic looms).

Why Was There No Sequel?

Given the massive box office success ($342M on a $75M budget), a sequel seemed guaranteed. Wanted 2 was in development for years. So, why didn't it happen?

1. Angelina Jolie’s Character Died: Spoiler alert—Fox dies in the end. Jolie was the biggest selling point of the movie. The studio struggled to find a way to bring her back without it feeling cheap, and Jolie reportedly wasn't interested in returning if her character's sacrifice was undone.

2. James McAvoy Got Busy: Shortly after Wanted, McAvoy signed on for X-Men: First Class, which took up much of his schedule.

3. Creative Differences: Director Timur Bekmambetov moved on to other projects (Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter), and the script for a sequel never satisfied the studio.

Is Wanted (2008) Worth Watching Today?

Yes. Wanted remains a high-octane, stylish, and incredibly fun action movie.

• Watch it for: The keyboard smash scene, the train derailment sequence, and the "curved bullet" effects which—while physically impossible—look incredibly cool.

• Skip it if: You dislike excessive gore or plot holes involving magical textile factories.

Conclusion

Wanted (2008) is a definitive Hit. It stands as a unique artifact of late-2000s action cinema—a bridge between The Matrix era and the modern superhero boom. It proved that audiences were hungry for R-rated comic book adaptations, arguably paving the way for later hits like Deadpool and Logan.

If you haven't seen it, stream it for the adrenaline rush. Just don't try to curve a bullet at the shooting range.