After electrifying the action genre with The Raid (2011) and The Raid 2 (2014), Gareth Evans returns in 2025 with The Raid 3, a visceral, globe-trotting blood‑sport spectacle that both honors the franchise’s roots and ventures into darker, uncharted territory.
Moving beyond the claustrophobic apartment tower and the sprawling underworld of Jakarta, The Raid 3 opens amid Southeast Asia’s lawless borderlands, where ex-SWAT officer Rama (Iko Uwais) is dragged into a brutal underground fighting ring known only as “The Coliseum.” Recruited (or forced) to battle powerful crime lords and elite fighters from around the world, Rama soon uncovers that the ring’s control lies in the hands of his old adversary—Mad Dog (Yayan Ruhian)—who survived the events of The Raid 2. What follows is a relentless descent deeper into the moral compromises of survival, vengeance, and honor.
As expected, the action is nothing short of spectacular. Fight scenes are choreographed with bone‑shattering precision, blending pencak silat with improvised weapons, broken glass, and environmental mayhem. The centerpiece—a half-hour “Coliseum Gauntlet”—features Rama battling six specialists in a circular cage, each opponent raising the stakes with unique styles, brutal weapons, and escalating difficulty. Evans and Uwais demonstrate that kinetic energy and storytelling can coexist in brutal beauty.
The expanded international fighter roster introduces varied voices and combat philosophies—like a Russian sambo specialist, a French parkour assassin, and a Nigerian stick‑fighter—creating a multicultural tapestry of styles that never feels gimmicky.
Among its strengths, Raid 3 deepens Rama’s arc: he fights not just for survival, but to dismantle the underground empire and protect those still trapped inside. Supporting characters like Mei (Julia Yüan), a fighter‑turned‑coach with ties to Rama’s past, add emotional gravity and thematic depth. Their connection injects genuine stakes into the carnage.
Mad Dog’s return as a war‑hardened mentor‑turned‑tyrant adds compelling tension. Though more of a symbol than a fleshed‑out villain, his presence confronts Rama with the cost of returning to violence—and asks whether vengeance is ever enough.
Cinematography is sharper and more atmospheric than ever. Dimly lit back‑alleys, humid jungle encampments, and the bloody glow of ring‑side spotlights create a gritty yet operatic aesthetic. The film is drenched in sweat and rain—its visual palate reinforcing the physical and moral weight of every blow.
The Raid 3 delivers exactly what it promises: breathtaking, brutal action woven through a tighter emotional core and a bold, international scope. It reinvigorates the franchise, pushing Rama into new arenas—literally and thematically—while keeping the pulse‑pounding energy fans crave.
