Hancock 2008

Will Smith’s John Hancock, a self-destructive force of nature wielding superhuman abilities - the capacity to defy gravity, shrug off harm, cheat mortality, and flex muscles of Herculean might - brings chaos to the City of Angels as he valiantly battles crime. However, his inebriated crusade against wrongdoers inadvertently wreaks havoc on a massive scale, razing property values and earning him the derision of Los Angeles’ citizens. The city’s authorities are equally unimpressed, with Hancock consistently ignoring court summons to address the destruction he’s caused.

Meanwhile, Jason Bateman’s Ray Embrey, a PR spin doctor with a penchant for touting corporate benevolence, is left reeling after a failed meeting pitches his All-Heart logo to companies eager to burnish their charitable credentials. As he’s about to become an unwitting statistic on the railroad tracks, Hancock swoops in, saving Ray from certain doom - albeit at the cost of derailing the train and imperiling another motorist. The people who were just a moment ago rejoicing at the superhero’s heroics are now lambasting him for causing more mayhem.

Undeterred by the backlash, Ray seizes the opportunity to revamp Hancock’s tarnished image. Convinced that the city desperately needs its protector, Embrey convinces the drunken do-gooder to take a chance on redemption - albeit a temporary one, as they orchestrate his incarceration for outstanding warrants. The crime rate spikes in Hancock’s absence, and the Chief of Police comes knocking on the superhero’s door, begging him to intervene when a bank heist unfolds. With Ray’s guidance and a fresh costume, Hancock takes to the skies once more, thwarting the robbers and rescuing a police officer before dispatching their leader, Red Parker (Eddie Marsan), with a decisive hand-amputation. Parker, now behind bars, vows vengeance and sets out to recruit accomplices for his next move.

As the dust settles on the bank robbery’s aftermath, Hancock basks in the adoration of the masses, his reputation as a hero revived. He celebrates this newfound fame over dinner with Ray and Mary (Charlize Theron), where he reveals the enigmatic circumstances surrounding his apparent immortality and 80-year-old amnesia. The origins of his name, Hancock, are explained: a nod to the signature request that sparked his self-identification as a superhero.

As the evening wears on, Mary’s secrets begin to unravel, her own superhuman powers laid bare. She confesses to Hancock that she and Ray have lived for 3,000 years, their extraordinary abilities having earned them divine status in bygone eras. But their conversation is cut short when Hancock discovers Mary’s true nature and departs to confide in Ray. The ensuing battle between the two super-powered individuals ravages downtown Los Angeles, leaving a trail of destruction in its wake.

Ray, oblivious to the chaos unfolding mere miles away, remains fixated on his business meeting. However, he is soon jolted back into reality when Mary’s superheroic prowess comes to light, eerily mirroring Hancock’s own abilities. The seeds of discord have been sown, setting the stage for a confrontation that will shake the very foundations of their world.

Back at Ray and Mary’s residence, the truth begins to unfold. Mary reveals that Hancock is her husband, a fundamental aspect of an ancient design that pairs immortals across time and space. As their bond grows stronger, so too do the consequences: their powers begin to wane, a poignant reminder of the transience of mortal existence.

Hancock’s next encounter with mortality comes when he intervenes in a liquor store robbery, only to be struck down by gunfire twice. Rushed to the hospital, Mary visits her wounded husband and shares the gravitas of their immortal curse: as they grow closer, their powers fade. She also discloses that Hancock was brutally attacked 80 years prior, leaving him with amnesia – an attack she abandoned him for, allowing him to recover from his injuries.

As Hancock recuperates in the hospital, he and Mary are once again beset by Red Parker, the bank robber, and two men whose humiliation at Hancock’s hands still simmers. In the ensuing chaos, Mary is gravely injured, while Hancock fights valiantly against their attackers, only to succumb to further harm. When Red attempts to deliver the final blow, Ray bursts into the scene, disarming and killing the bank robber with a fire ax.

With Mary’s life hanging in the balance, Hancock flees the hospital, knowing that his departure will allow her to heal and recover through the power of their immortal bond.

As Hancock’s odyssey unfolds, his path converges with the vibrant metropolis of New York City, where he assumes the mantle of a superhero. Meanwhile, Ray strolls alongside Mary, engaging in a lighthearted conversation that traverses the annals of history, effortlessly referencing the imposing reign of Attila the Hun. In a poignant display of gratitude towards Ray, Hancock leaves an indelible mark on the lunar surface by painting his iconic All-Heart logo, beckoning Ray to gaze up at the night sky and behold the global advertisement. The cinematic narrative culminates in a heart-pumping sequence set against the backdrop of New York City, where a desperate criminal holds a woman hostage at gunpoint. With calculated precision, Hancock descends from the skies to intervene, ultimately acquiescing to the criminal’s demands that the police lay down their arms. This concession comes at a significant cost, as the criminal’s parting shot - a scathing epithet labeling Hancock an “asshole” (or, in the censored version, a “psycho”) - serves as a deliberate affront, one that earlier in the film would have triggered a ruthless retaliation from our enigmatic protagonist. As the credits roll, Hancock stands poised on the precipice of action, his eyes fixed intently on the criminal, foreshadowing a confrontation that will soon unfold with devastating consequences.