Movies About Hitmen

From Quentin Tarantino, starring John Travolta, Uma Thurman, Samuel L. Jackson, Bruce Willis
Rated R

Pulp Fiction is a 1994 crime film written and directed by Quentin Tarantino. It stars John Travolta, Samuel L. Jackson, Uma Thurman, and Bruce Willis. The story follows two mob hit men, a boxer, a gangster's wife, and a pair of diner bandits whose lives intertwine in four tales of violence and redemption. Through a non-linear narrative structure, the film interweaves these stories in a complex web of crime and intrigue. Pulp Fiction is a darkly comic masterpiece and one of the most influential films of its era. It has been praised for its innovative storytelling structure, playful dialogue, and crafty use of music. Its success further established Tarantino as one of the most influential filmmakers of the modern era.

From Luc Besson, starring Jean Reno, Gary Oldman, Natalie Portman, Danny Aiello
Rated R

Léon: The Professional (1994) is an action-thriller film directed by Luc Besson. The film follows a professional hitman, Léon (Jean Reno), who lives a lonely life in New York City. After a failed hit, Léon is visited by a 12-year-old girl named Mathilda (Natalie Portman) whose family has been killed by a corrupt DEA agent, Stansfield (Gary Oldman). Léon reluctantly takes Mathilda under his wing, teaching her the tricks of the trade as she seeks revenge for her family’s death. As the two form a bond, Léon must find a way to keep Mathilda safe from Stansfield and his team of corrupt cops. In the end, the unlikely duo is able to take down Stansfield and his team, proving that love and loyalty trump evil.

From Directors: Ethan Coen, Joel Coen, starring Tommy Lee Jones, Javier Bardem, Josh Brolin, Woody Harrelson
Rated R

No Country for Old Men is a 2007 crime-thriller directed by the Coen Brothers. The film follows Llewelyn Moss (Josh Brolin), a hunter who stumbles upon a drug deal gone wrong, taking home a suitcase of money while being pursued by a relentless assassin named Anton Chigurh (Javier Bardem). Meanwhile, Sheriff Ed Tom Bell (Tommy Lee Jones) struggles to keep up with the escalating violence and death in his small Texas town. The film follows the intersecting lives of Moss, Chigurh, and Bell as they each search for the money in a world with rapidly changing moral codes and an increasing sense of chaos. Ultimately, Bell's tragedy is that he is a man born too late, unable to find a place in a world overrun by violence and evil.

From Quentin Tarantino, starring Uma Thurman, David Carradine, Daryl Hannah, Michael Madsen
Rated R

Kill Bill: Vol. 1 is a 2003 martial arts action film written and directed by Quentin Tarantino. It tells the story of "The Bride" (Uma Thurman), a former assassin who is seeking revenge on a quartet of assassins (Lucy Liu, Vivica A. Fox, Daryl Hannah and Michael Madsen) who attempted to kill her and her unborn child on her wedding day. With the help of a former colleague, Bill (David Carradine), she embarks on a violent mission, tracking down her enemies one by one. In the process, she discovers the truth about her former profession and the relationships that defined her life. The film features intense action sequences, vibrant cinematography, and a mix of modern and classic movie techniques. It was followed by Kill Bill: Vol. 2 in 2004.

From Martin Campbell, starring Daniel Craig, Eva Green, Judi Dench, Jeffrey Wright
Rated PG-13

Casino Royale is the 21st installment in the James Bond franchise and the first to star Daniel Craig as 007. The movie follows Bond as he takes on Le Chiffre, a banker to the world's terrorist organizations, in a high-stakes poker game at the Casino Royale in Montenegro. With the help of Vesper Lynd, a British Treasury agent, Bond's mission is to stop Le Chiffre from winning and bankrupting the British government. With intense action sequences, thrilling plot twists, and an all-star cast, Casino Royale is a modern classic in the Bond franchise.

From Martin McDonagh, starring Colin Farrell, Brendan Gleeson, Ciarán Hinds, Elizabeth Berrington
Rated R

In Bruges is a dark comedy film directed by Martin McDonagh and starring Colin Farrell, Brendan Gleeson, and Ralph Fiennes. The film follows two Irish hitmen, Ray and Ken, who are sent to the Belgian city of Bruges to hide out after a botched job. While there, Ken starts to appreciate the culture and beauty of the city while Ray becomes increasingly agitated and desperate to leave. As they await instructions from their boss Harry, they encounter a variety of characters and situations that begin to change their outlook on life, leading them to a climactic confrontation.

From Doug Liman, starring Franka Potente, Matt Damon, Chris Cooper, Clive Owen
Rated PG-13

The Bourne Identity is an action thriller film directed by Doug Liman. It stars Matt Damon as Jason Bourne, an amnesiac fugitive trying to uncover his past. After being found floating in the Mediterranean Sea, Bourne is brought ashore in France where he regains consciousness but has no memories of his past. With nothing but a pair of passports, a handgun, and several million francs, Bourne embarks on a journey to discover his real identity. Along the way, he is pursued by CIA agents led by Deputy Director Ward Abbott (Brian Cox) who believe he is a dangerous assassin. With the help of Marie (Franka Potente) and an old friend, Bourne slowly pieces together his past—a past which includes a dangerous mission gone wrong, a broken relationship with a high-ranking CIA official, and a mysterious past involving a Treadstone project. As Bourne comes closer to uncovering the truth about himself, his enemies become more desperate to eliminate him. In the end, Bourne discovers his true identity and is able to elude his pursuers.

From John Woo, starring Chow Yun-Fat, Danny Lee, Sally Yeh, Kong Chu
Rated R

The Killer follows the story of Ah Jong (Chow Yun-Fat), a hitman who is double-crossed by a rival gang and accidentally blinds a singer during a gunfight. After this incident, Ah Jong develops a conscience and decides to quit his job, but his former employers hunt him down and force him to complete one last mission. Ah Jong teams up with a young cop, Inspector Li (Danny Lee), who is investigating a series of gang-related murders. Together they take on the powerful and dangerous triad, facing off against a relentless series of obstacles. As they get closer to the truth, they discover that the motivation behind the killings is far more complex than they'd originally thought. Ah Jong and Inspector Li must ultimately risk their lives to catch the killer, while also coming to terms with the moral complexity of their situation.

From Fred Zinnemann, starring Edward Fox, Terence Alexander, Michel Auclair, Alan Badel
Rated PG

The Day of the Jackal is an action thriller directed by Fred Zinnemann. The film follows an assassin, known only as "The Jackal," who is hired by a secret organization to assassinate the President of France. The Jackal methodically and meticulously plans and executes his mission, evading the police, the military, and a relentless private detective, who is determined to track him down. The intense cat-and-mouse game between the Jackal and the detective leads to a thrilling finale. The Day of the Jackal is an exciting and suspenseful film, boasting a thrilling narrative and spectacular performances from its talented cast.

From Pierre Morel, starring Liam Neeson, Maggie Grace, Famke Janssen, Leland Orser
Rated PG-13

Taken is an action-packed thriller directed by Pierre Morel, released in 2008. The story follows Bryan Mills (Liam Neeson), an ex-CIA agent, as he embarks on a frantic search to find his daughter, Kim (Maggie Grace), who has been taken by a ruthless human trafficking organization while vacationing in Paris. With time running out, Bryan will stop at nothing to save her, using his old-school CIA tactics to take down anyone who stands in his way. Along the way, Bryan discovers the shocking truth about the lengths the traffickers will go to in order to make money. With plenty of twists and turns, Taken is sure to keep you on the edge of your seat with thrilling action sequences and a powerful story about the lengths a father will go to protect his daughter.

From Sam Mendes, starring Tom Hanks, Tyler Hoechlin, Rob Maxey, Liam Aiken
Rated R

Road to Perdition is a 2002 American crime drama film directed by Sam Mendes. It stars Tom Hanks as Michael Sullivan, a mob enforcer and killer who embarks on a road trip with his son, played by Tyler Hoechlin, in search of retribution against a mobster who murdered Sullivan's wife and older son. Along the way, they encounter various people, including a mysterious hitman played by Paul Newman, who may be the key to Sullivan's revenge. The film is set during the Great Depression and examines the relationship between Sullivan and his son, as well as the bonds of loyalty and temptation in the criminal underworld.

From Paul McGuigan, starring Josh Hartnett, Ben Kingsley, Morgan Freeman, Lucy Liu
Rated R

Lucky Number Slevin (2006) is an American neo-noir crime thriller film directed by Paul McGuigan and written by Jason Smilovic. The story follows an unlucky man named Slevin Kelevra (Josh Hartnett) who is mistaken for a criminal called "The Rabbi" and is drawn into a mysterious high-stakes game of revenge between two of the city's most rival crime bosses: The Boss (Morgan Freeman) and The Rabbi (Ben Kingsley). Slevin must outwit them both to stay alive and discover the secret behind the mysterious Lucky Number Slevin. With the help of a quirky friend (Lucy Liu) and an enigmatic assassin (Bruce Willis), Slevin embarks on an exhilarating journey through the back alleys of the city to find out the truth and come out alive.

From Tony Scott, starring Denzel Washington, Christopher Walken, Dakota Fanning, Radha Mitchell
Rated R

Man on Fire is a 2004 American action thriller directed by Tony Scott and starring Denzel Washington. The film follows a former CIA operative-turned-mercenary named John Creasy, who is hired to protect a young girl named Pita Ramos from kidnappers in Mexico City. After a failed attempt to abduct Pita, Creasy finds himself on a path of revenge, determined to protect the girl at any cost. As he takes on the local criminal underworld, government corruption, and the desperate situation of countless innocent people, Creasy must decide how far he is willing to go to save Pita from the hands of her captors. Along the way, Creasy and Pita form an indelible bond that will forever change both of their lives.

From Kar-Wai Wong, starring Leon Lai, Michelle Reis, Takeshi Kaneshiro, Charlie Yeung
Rated Not Rated

Fallen Angels is a 1995 Hong Kong crime-drama film written and directed by Wong Kar-Wai. The movie follows the lives of two characters, Wong Chi-Ming and Chang, who are part of a contract killing group. The two men cross paths with a beautiful mute woman, and the trio embarks on a series of adventures and misadventures in the Hong Kong underworld. The film explores a variety of themes, such as love, loyalty, friendship, and redemption, as the characters interact with each other and navigate their relationships. The film features unorthodox editing and cinematography with fast-paced and overlapping scenes, as well as a jazzy soundtrack, which set it apart from the typical Hong Kong crime films. The film was well-received by critics, who praised its visual style and unconventional storytelling.

From Denis Villeneuve, starring Emily Blunt, Josh Brolin, Benicio Del Toro, Jon Bernthal
Rated R

Sicario is a 2015 crime thriller directed by Denis Villeneuve and starring Emily Blunt, Benicio Del Toro and Josh Brolin. The film follows an idealistic FBI agent (Blunt) as she is enlisted by a government task force to aid in the escalating war against drugs at the US-Mexico border. The task force is headed by a mysterious and ruthless operative (Del Toro) with a questionable agenda. Brolin plays their ruthless government handler. As the mission progresses, the team venture deeper and deeper into the labyrinth of the Mexican drug cartels, with shocking and unexpected consequences. Along the way, the audience is given a hard look at the morality of the mission and the blurry line between good and evil.

From Michael Mann, starring Tom Cruise, Jamie Foxx, Jada Pinkett Smith, Mark Ruffalo
Rated R

Collateral (2004) is a crime film directed by Michael Mann. The story follows Max (Tom Cruise), a contract killer who forces taxi driver Vincent (Jamie Foxx) to drive him around Los Angeles for the night so he can complete his job. As the night progresses, Max and Vincent form an unlikely bond and find themselves embroiled in a complex web of deceit, death and betrayal as they fight to survive the night and outsmart the police. Along the way, Vincent confronts his own demons, while Max discovers a newfound respect for life. Ultimately, the two must come together and work as a team to stay alive.

From Jim Jarmusch, starring Forest Whitaker, Henry Silva, John Tormey, Cliff Gorman
Rated R

Ghost Dog: The Way of the Samurai is a 1999 crime action film directed by Jim Jarmusch. It stars Forest Whitaker as Ghost Dog, a hitman living in an inner-city neighborhood of Liberty City who follows the ancient code of the samurai. After a job goes wrong, his Mafia employers become convinced that he is a liability and order his death. Ghost Dog finds himself on a quest for revenge, defended by the honor code of the samurai and aided by his loyal companion, a French-speaking Haitian ice cream vendor. Along the way, he finds solace in the writings of the ancient Japanese warrior-philosopher, Hagakure. With its unique blend of gangster genre conventions and Eastern philosophy, Ghost Dog is an exploration of loyalty, honor, and the complex moral code of the warrior.

From Wim Wenders, starring Dennis Hopper, Bruno Ganz, Lisa Kreuzer, Gérard Blain
Rated Not Rated

From Directors: Chad Stahelski, David Leitch, starring Keanu Reeves, Michael Nyqvist, Alfie Allen, Willem Dafoe
Rated R

From David Cronenberg, starring Viggo Mortensen, Maria Bello, Ed Harris, William Hurt
Rated R

From Luc Besson, starring Anne Parillaud, Marc Duret, Patrick Fontana, Alain Lathière
Rated R

From George Armitage, starring John Cusack, Minnie Driver, Dan Aykroyd, Joan Cusack
Rated R

From Kurt Wimmer, starring Christian Bale, Sean Bean, Emily Watson, Taye Diggs
Rated R

From Erik Van Looy, starring Koen De Bouw, Werner De Smedt, Jan Decleir, Laurien Van den Broeck
Rated R

From Wolfgang Petersen, starring Clint Eastwood, John Malkovich, Rene Russo, Dylan McDermott
Rated R