Protector (2025 film)
| Protector | |
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_poster.jpg) Theatrical release poster | |
| Directed by | Adrian Grünberg |
| Screenplay by | Bong-Seob Mun |
| Produced by |
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| Starring |
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| Cinematography | Vern Nobles Jr. |
| Edited by |
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Release dates |
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Running time | 92 minutes[3] |
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| Language | English |
| Box office | $2 million[4] |
Protector is a 2025 action thriller film directed by Adrian Grünberg and written by Bong-Seob Mun.
Plot
Nikki is an ex-soldier who left her violent life behind to raise her daughter Chloe. Eventually, Nikki wakes up in an abandoned factory and learns that Chloe has been kidnapped, and sets off in a race against time to comb through the criminal underworld in search of Chloe as she eludes both the cops and the military.
Cast
- Milla Jovovich as Nikki Halsted
- Isabel Myers as Chloe Halsted
- Shane Williams as Ben Blaine
- D. B. Sweeney as Captain Michaels
- Matthew Modine as Colonel Joseph Lavelle
- Michael Stahl-David as Detective John Blake
- Lydia Hull as Detective Alexa Jane
- Chase E. Kim as Detective Jin Woo
- Don Harvey as Sullivan
- Texas Battle as SWAT Team Leader Savoy
- Manny Montana as Victor The Butcher
- Brooklyn Sudano as Detective Keyes
- Nick Genta as Control Room Boss
- Gabriel Sloyer as The Chairman
- Yoko Hamamura as Kodera
- Arica Himmel as Ellie
Production
In November 2024, it was reported Milla Jovovich would star in Protector for Highland Film Group, a Taken-like action-thriller film to be directed by Adrian Grünberg from a script by Bong-Seob Mun.[5] Filming was reported to take place in New Mexico.[6]
In May 2025, it was reported that principal photography had wrapped.[6][5]
Release
The film premiered on September 19, 2025 at the 30th Busan International Film Festival in the Midnight Passion section.[6] It was released on March 6, 2026 in the United States by Magenta Light Studios,[7] and was released in South Korea on March 25, by Ascendio Entertainment.[8]
Critical reception
On the review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, 17% of 30 critics' reviews are positive, with an average rating of 4.2/10. The website's consensus reads: "Only intermittently redeemed by Milla Jovovich's ferocious performance amid its otherwise ridiculous and uninspired execution, Protector veers into baffling, trope-leaden revenge flick territory."[9] Metacritic, which uses a weighted average, assigned the film a score of 41 out of 100, based on 6 critics, indicating "mixed or average" reviews.[10]
References
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 Booth, Ned (December 5, 2025). "'Protector' Trailer: Milla Jovovich Stars As A Mom On A Mission Next February". The Playlist. Retrieved April 15, 2026.
- ↑ "Protector [15]". Korea Media Rating Board (in Korean). March 3, 2026. Retrieved March 5, 2026.
- ↑ "Protector [14A]". Alberta Film Classification Office. February 17, 2026. Retrieved February 17, 2026.
- ↑ "Protector". Box Office Mojo. Retrieved April 2, 2026.
- 1 2 "AFM: Milla Jovovich to Star in Action-Thriller 'Protector' (Exclusive)". hollywoodreporter.com. November 6, 2024. Archived from the original on November 6, 2024. Retrieved February 3, 2026.
- 1 2 3 "First Look: Milla Jovovich in Action Thriller 'Protector'". Variety. May 14, 2025. Archived from the original on May 14, 2025. Retrieved February 3, 2026.
- ↑ Wiseman, Andreas (January 9, 2026). "Bob Yari's Magenta Light Studios Sets Ten-Picture Production Deal With Korean-U.S. Outfit Aanaxion; Milla Jovovich Thriller First Up". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on January 9, 2026. Retrieved January 30, 2026.
- ↑ Eun-Net, Lee (February 27, 2026). "밀라 요보비치 '프로텍터', 3월 25일 개봉 확정…배급은 아센디오 회장 남궁견 < 경제/산업 < 기사본문 - 이로운넷". Eroun. Retrieved March 5, 2026.
- ↑ "Protector". Rotten Tomatoes. Fandango Media. Retrieved June 7, 2026.
- ↑ "Protector". Metacritic. Retrieved March 10, 2026.