Dredd (2012) is a sci-fi action film directed by Pete Travis and written by Alex Garland, based on the Judge Dredd comic strip from the British magazine 2000 AD. The film stars Karl Urban as Judge Dredd, a law enforcement officer in a dystopian future where judges serve as judge, jury, and executioner. The film also stars Olivia Thirlby as Judge Cassandra Anderson and Lena Headey as the villainous Ma-Ma.
Unlike the 1995 Judge Dredd film starring Sylvester Stallone, this version received widespread acclaim for its gritty realism, faithful adaptation of the comics, and stylish visuals.
The film is set in a post-apocalyptic future where most of the Earth has become an irradiated wasteland. The surviving population resides in Mega-City One, a massive metropolis plagued by crime, poverty, and overpopulation. To maintain order, the city’s “judges” act as law enforcers, judges, and executioners.
The story follows Judge Dredd (Karl Urban), one of the city’s most feared and skilled judges. Dredd is tasked with evaluating a rookie recruit, Cassandra Anderson (Olivia Thirlby), who possesses powerful psychic abilities. Despite her lack of confidence and borderline performance in training, Anderson’s unique abilities make her a valuable asset.
Their mission begins as a routine investigation into a triple homicide in Peach Trees, a 200-story high-rise controlled by the ruthless drug lord Ma-Ma (Lena Headey). Ma-Ma has taken over the building with her gang and is manufacturing and distributing a drug called Slo-Mo, which slows down the user’s perception of time.
After Dredd and Anderson apprehend a key gang member, Ma-Ma locks down the building and orders her gang to hunt the judges. What follows is a brutal and intense battle for survival as Dredd and Anderson fight their way through waves of heavily armed criminals to bring Ma-Ma to justice.