Law Abiding Citizen (2009) is a tense, morally complex thriller that asks how far one man will go to get justice when the system fails him. With Gerard Butler as the vengeful mastermind and Jamie Foxx as the prosecutor caught in his deadly game, the film is packed with shocking twists and explosive tension.
Think you remember every courtroom deal, tactical kill, and psychological showdown? Take our 10-question trivia challenge and see if you’re playing by the rules — or writing your own.
Law Abiding Citizen Trivia Questions & Answers
Here are the correct answers and detailed explanations for all ten questions from our Law Abiding Citizen trivia challenge — a film that blurs the line between justice and vengeance, asking just how far a broken man can go to make the system feel his pain:
1) Who plays Clyde Shelton in Law Abiding Citizen (2009)?
Correct Answer: Gerard Butler
Gerard Butler stars as Clyde Shelton, a man whose grief and rage after a personal tragedy morph into a calculated and brutal vendetta against the justice system. His cold intensity drives the film’s tone and moral ambiguity.
2) What event triggers Clyde’s quest for revenge?
Correct Answer: The murder of his wife and daughter
Clyde’s wife and young daughter are brutally murdered during a home invasion. When the justice system fails to deliver what he sees as true punishment, Clyde takes matters into his own hands in devastatingly elaborate fashion.
3) What is Nick Rice’s profession?
Correct Answer: Prosecutor
Jamie Foxx plays Nick Rice, a successful and ambitious Philadelphia prosecutor who values his perfect conviction rate. His decision to strike a plea deal early in the film sets the stage for Clyde’s wrath and the film’s central moral tension.
4) Why is Clyde upset with Nick after the trial?
Correct Answer: He made a deal with one of the killers
Rather than risk losing the case, Nick offers a plea bargain to one of the killers in exchange for testifying against the other. Clyde sees this as a betrayal of justice, igniting his desire to expose and destroy the corrupt, convenience-driven system.
5) How does Clyde initially get revenge on one of the killers?
Correct Answer: He tortures and kills him
Clyde methodically tracks down the freed killer, abducts him, and kills him in a gruesome, calculated manner — sending a clear message to the city and to Nick that he’s just getting started.
6) What unusual situation surrounds Clyde’s revenge plot?
Correct Answer: He carries it out from prison
Even after being arrested and jailed, Clyde continues to orchestrate murders and chaos from behind bars, baffling police and prosecutors. His uncanny ability to predict and control outcomes gives the story a chilling sense of omnipresence.
7) What is revealed about Clyde’s background?
Correct Answer: He worked in black ops for the government
It’s revealed that Clyde had a shadowy past as a government operative — a tactical genius involved in “problem elimination” missions. His skills in surveillance, explosives, and psychological warfare explain how he manipulates events so effectively.
8) What kind of device does Clyde use to kill people remotely?
Correct Answer: A cell phone-triggered bomb
Clyde engineers several lethal traps, including explosive devices triggered by cell phones. His knowledge of technology and timing turns everyday objects into deadly weapons, reinforcing his role as a methodical mastermind.
9) Why is Clyde’s cell considered suspicious?
Correct Answer: It’s close to a tunnel system
Nick and his team discover that Clyde’s cell is unusually close to an underground tunnel system — allowing him to sneak out undetected, carry out attacks, and return without a trace. This twist helps explain the impossible nature of his coordinated revenge spree.
10) What theme is central to Law Abiding Citizen?
Correct Answer: Justice vs. vengeance
The core of the film is the question of justice: Is Clyde seeking true justice for his family, or is he driven by vengeance? And does a broken system justify extreme measures? The film walks a razor-thin line between sympathy and horror, making viewers question their own sense of right and wrong.
