Elektra (released in theaters on Jan. 15, 2005) emerged during the experimental early era of Marvel’s cinematic presence. A spin-off from 2003’s Daredevil, the film eschews traditional city-bound vigilantism in favor of a more mystical, Eastern-influenced aesthetic.
Directed by Rob Bowman, it focuses on the psychological landscape of its titular anti-heroine, trading the gritty streets of Hell’s Kitchen for a lush, atmospheric world of ancient prophecies and supernatural warriors.
After being resurrected by the blind martial arts master Stick (Terence Stamp), Elektra Natchios (Jennifer Garner) has transformed into the world’s most lethal assassin.
Severed from her past and plagued by obsessive-compulsive impulses, she operates as a lone shadow for hire.
Her life takes a pivotal turn when she is contracted to kill a man named Mark Miller (Goran Višnjić) and his young daughter, Abby.
However, after bonding with the pair, Elektra’s dormant conscience resurfaces, and she chooses to protect them instead.
This act of defiance puts her in the crosshairs of The Hand, a powerful crime syndicate led by the ruthless Kirigi (Will Yun Lee) and the venerable Roshi (Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa).
Elektra discovers that Abby is “The Treasure,” a prodigy of martial arts who is the key to a centuries-old war between good and evil.
To save the girl, Elektra must confront a team of supernatural assassins with unique abilities, including the lethal Typhoid Mary and the beast-summoning Tattoo.
As she fights her way through a series of stylized, high-stakes encounters, Elektra must reconcile her dark nature with her role as a protector, eventually engaging in a climactic showdown that tests her mastery of the “Kimagure”—the ability to control life and death itself.
Jennifer Garner in Elektra (Photo/20th Century Fox)
Reception for Elektra
Elektra grossed $14.8 million on its opening weekend, finishing fifth at the box office.
The film would gross $57 million worldwide.
Legacy
The legacy of Elektra is its status as a pioneer for female-led superhero cinema at a time when such projects were a significant rarity in Hollywood.
While the film faced critical challenges upon its release, it has since been reassessed as a visually striking work that successfully captured the “comic book” feel of the mid-2000s.
Garner’s dedication to the physical demands of the role solidified her status as a premier action star of the decade, following her success on Alias.
The film is also remembered for its creative production design and its willingness to lean into the more fantastical, “magic” elements of Marvel lore long before the MCU made such concepts mainstream.
