‘Riders of Justice’ Hits UK TV With 96% Rotten Tomatoes Score
The acclaimed Danish dark comedy action thriller Riders of Justice is airing on British television tonight, July 26, 2026, on Film4 at 10:50 PM. The 2020 film, starring Mads Mikkelsen, currently holds a 96% critic score on Rotten Tomatoes and an 89% Popcornmeter audience rating, making it Mikkelsen’s best-reviewed action movie to date.
Directed by Anders Thomas Jensen, Riders of Justice follows Markus (Mikkelsen), a Danish soldier who returns from Afghanistan after his wife dies in a train crash. He soon learns from a statistics-obsessed passenger, Otto (Nikolaj Lie Kaas), that the crash was no accident but an attack by a local motorcycle gang called the Riders of Justice. Markus then teams up with Otto and two eccentric friends to seek revenge.
A Rare TV Broadcast for a Fan Favorite
The broadcast comes as streaming and rental options remain available on Apple TV, Google Play, Rakuten TV, and the Sky Store. But for viewers who prefer linear television, tonight’s showing on Film4 offers a prime opportunity to catch a film that many critics have called one of the best action movies of the decade.
Why Riders of Justice Stands Out
The film marks the fifth collaboration between Mikkelsen and writer-director Anders Thomas Jensen, who has never made a feature without the actor. Their partnership spans over two and a half decades, producing beloved black comedies such as Adam’s Apples, The Green Butchers, and Flickering Lights.
Blending Grief, Violence, and Deadpan Humor
What sets Riders of Justice apart from typical Hollywood revenge thrillers is its emotional depth and darkly comic tone. Jensen’s signature deadpan humor, eccentric characters, and raw violence are all present, but here the comedy lands against a backdrop of genuine grief. Mikkelsen’s Markus is a taciturn soldier struggling to connect with his teenage daughter Mathilde (Andrea Heick Gadeberg), and the family drama gives the revenge plot real emotional stakes.
The film also subverts the conventions of revenge movies. Otto’s claim that the train death was deliberate is never fully verified by hard evidence, leaving Markus—and the audience—in a state of uncertainty. That ambiguity prevents the story from becoming a clean, cathartic tale of justice and instead explores how people build certainty from fragments of information.
Critical and Audience Consensus
With a 96% critic score and 89% audience score, Riders of Justice has achieved the rare feat of pleasing both critics and general viewers. The split suggests the film has enough craft to satisfy the review aggregation crowd while still delivering the action and humor that mainstream audiences expect. For Mikkelsen, this film sits comfortably above his other action outings, proving that Danish cinema can compete with—and often surpass—its American counterparts.
Broader Implications for Nordic Cinema and Mikkelsen’s Career
The continuing popularity of Riders of Justice reflects a broader trend: Nordic cinema’s growing global footprint. Danish films, particularly those from Jensen and Mikkelsen, have carved out a niche for dark, character-driven stories that balance violence with wit. While Hollywood often separates these elements, Jensen’s work merges them seamlessly.
Mikkelsen’s Return to Danish Roots
Despite becoming a global star through American roles in Casino Royale, Hannibal, and the recent The Last Viking (also directed by Jensen), Mikkelsen frequently returns to his Danish roots. His performances in Jensen’s films are often regarded as his most nuanced, and Riders of Justice is no exception. The film has been described as one of his clearest calling cards outside his more visible international work.
A Template for Revenge Stories
Jensen’s approach to revenge may influence how future filmmakers tackle the genre. By centering the story on the emotional aftermath of loss rather than on cathartic violence, Riders of Justice offers a template that is both more realistic and more resonant. In an era when audiences are increasingly skeptical of simplistic narratives, films like this one prove that complexity and entertainment can coexist.
For those who miss the TV broadcast, Riders of Justice remains available to rent on multiple platforms. And for fans of Mikkelsen, it’s an essential watch—a reminder that sometimes the best performances come from actors working in their native language, with directors who know them best.
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