Citizen Vigilante is a 2026 vigilante action thriller film produced, written, and directed by Uwe Boll. It stars Armie Hammer and Costas Mandylor.
๐ฅ Film Production
In January 2025, a thriller film produced, written, and directed by Uwe Boll titled The Dark Knight was in pre-production, with Armie Hammer cast in the lead role. Principal photography began on January 27, 2025, in Croatia with Mathias Neumann serving as the cinematographer.
In February, Costas Mandylor joined the cast. Filming wrapped on April 3, 2025. Warner Bros. sent Boll a cease-and-desist letter regarding the use of the title The Dark Knight. In April 2025, the title had been changed to Citizen Vigilante.
๐ Plot Summary
In an unnamed European city, a young mother is fatally stabbed in front of her son by a passing migrant. Michael Sanders is a former U.S. Army officer who moved to Europe after inheriting his estranged father’s real estate business. He secretly operates as the Vigilante Citizen, a ruthless vigilante who targets those who have escaped justice.
Sanders later kidnaps Reinhold and fatally slits the judge’s wrists. Sanders visits the home of Yusuf, one of the rapists, and takes him and his family hostage. As Yusuf’s relatives excuse his actions and blame the victim, Sanders orders him to summon his accomplices to the apartment. Once they arrive, Sanders executes Yusuf, his family, and the other attackers.
โ๏ธ Legal & Release Issues
The film was released in select theaters and digitally on June 19, 2026, and did not receive an age rating in Germany, effectively banning it in the country. According to Boll, this was due to concerns that the film would incite violence against migrants.
In February 2026, Quiver Distribution acquired the film rights to Citizen Vigilante, which was released on June 19, 2026. The film was released on X on June 25, 2026 for 48 hours, and was reposted by Elon Musk.
๐ฐ Critical Reception
Todd Gilchrist of Variety described the film as “astonishingly bad” and a “violent, incoherent, morally bankrupt slice of exploitation”, with Hammer’s character being as “xenophobic and entitled as the broadest American stereotype” who delivers “self-righteous monologues”.
| Category | Detail | Category | Detail |
|---|---|---|---|
| Director | Uwe Boll | Lead Actor | Armie Hammer |
| Release Date | June 19, 2026 | Inspiration | 2016 Hamburg gang-rape case |
| Germany Rating | No age rating (effectively banned) | Original Title | The Dark Knight |
| Filming Location | Croatia | Distributor | Quiver Distribution |