Jon Bernthal's Frank Castle is officially better off on Disney+ than Netflix, and the numbers prove it. The new special The Punisher: One Last Kill has debuted with an impressive 85% critics score and 91% audience rating on Rotten Tomatoes, surpassing both seasons of the original Netflix series. For fans who worried the character might lose his edge under the Disney umbrella, those fears can now be put to rest.
2026 is shaping up to be a massive year for Bernthal's Punisher. After a long hiatus, Frank Castle made his MCU return in 2025 during the first season of Daredevil: Born Again. While he sat out Season 2, Marvel kept its promise to deliver more Punisher content. Now, One Last Kill is streaming worldwide on Disney+, and Bernthal is set to reprise the role in one of the summer's biggest blockbusters: Spider-Man: Brand New Day, hitting theaters July 31. He'll also join Tom Holland in Christopher Nolan's upcoming historical epic The Odyssey.
Most fans agree that Bernthal's Punisher was used effectively in Daredevil: Born Again—both in emotional depth and brutal violence. But there was lingering concern about whether the character would retain his grit now that he's under Disney's control. One Last Kill puts those worries to bed with a Rotten Tomatoes score that outpaces the Netflix run. Critics praised Bernthal's performance and the action, though some noted the plot felt familiar. Collider's Therese Lacson gave it a 7/10, while ScreenRant went with a glowing 9/10, calling it "Frank Castle like you've never seen in the MCU." CBR also landed at 7/10, highlighting the combat but pointing out the story's drawbacks.
The special picks up after Daredevil: Born Again Season 1, where Frank Castle escaped captivity. He's taken down nearly all members of the Gnucci crime family—the ones responsible for his family's death—except for Ma Gnucci, played by Judith Light. Along the way, Frank is haunted by hallucinations of Karen Page (Deborah Ann Woll) and Curtis Hoyle (Jason R. Moore), forcing him to decide whether to continue his path of revenge or use his skills to protect the innocent.
This shift to Disney+ has clearly paid off. The higher Rotten Tomatoes scores suggest that the streaming platform's approach to the Punisher—balancing brutal action with emotional stakes—resonates with both critics and audiences. For those who've followed Frank Castle's journey from Netflix to the MCU, One Last Kill is a must-watch.
Check out The Punisher: One Last Kill on Disney+ and stay tuned for more MCU updates. For more on Bernthal's return, read our full review: Jon Bernthal's Punisher Returns in Brutal, Soul-Crushing 'One Last Kill' on Disney+.
