Hitmen make for truly fascinating protagonists in film. They are exciting by nature, as ruthless figures who kill people with expert precision, they usually serve as deadly villains in the films they appear in rather than as violent heroes. However, be they action blockbusters, contemplative dramas, or even black comedies, many movies cast contract killers as the main attraction to delve into the human condition and explore the moral conundrums surrounding life and death while offering a sensational spectacle to boot.
These hitman movies focus on contract killers for criminal associations rather than political assassins or government operatives, reveling in the shady underbelly of the world where violent and ruthless characters wait around every corner. Ranging fromQuentin Tarantinoclassics to masterpieces of international cinema, these films are amongthe very best hitman movies ever made, and they have high IMDb scores to support them.
20’The Killer' (2023)
IMDb Score: 6.7/10
A Netflix original,The Killermarks the 12th feature film by acclaimed directorDavid Fincher, not to mention his fifth collaboration with Netflix, and sees the meticulous filmmaker in fine form. With elements of action, crime-thriller, and drama, it follows an assassin who, after a job goes wrong, embarks on an international manhunt to track down and kill his employers.
The Killershowcases Fincher’s perfectionism, blending genres as the Killer’s (Michael Fassbender) internal monologue of strict rules comes increasingly at odds with his actions. The confidence in the filmmaking is a treat to watch, with the movie’s briskness never glossing over the kills while never slowing down for them either, while Fassbender’s performance is characteristically sublime.The Killeris sure to become a cherished gem within Fincher’s filmography, already garnering a small but potent fanbase.
The Killer
19’The Iceman' (2012)
IMDb Score: 6.8/10
The Icemanis a crime drama that can lay claim to being a biographical picture given its loose basis on American hitmanRichard Kuklinski(portrayed byMichael Shannon), a killer for hire who was convicted of four murders in 1988, though he claimed to have killed upwards of 100 people. The film focuses on Kuklinski as he carries out the killings while keeping his violent life hidden from his family.
While the film was somewhat hampered by a few plot issues and some weak moments,Michael Shannon’s suitably chilling performance as the infamous Iceman commands the screen with such presencethat it is impossible not to be entranced by him. With a brilliant supporting cast around him, the performances alone makeThe Icemanan essential film for all lovers of hitman flicks and crime cinema.
The Iceman
18’The Equalizer' (2014)
IMDb Score: 7.2/10
An action thriller that packs a punch and successfully launched a film trilogy, 2014’sThe Equalizerre-adapted the ‘80s television series of the same name with aptly crowd-pleasing results. It starsDenzel Washingtonas Robert McCall, a former U.S. Marine who has left his violent past behind him, but when he sees a teenage girl being abused by the Russian mobsters she works for, he steps in to expel justice and ensures the girl remains safe.
While it flaunted some style and plenty of action violence, it was largelyWashington’s typically brilliant and weighty lead performancethat saw the film thrive. Coupled with directorAntoine Faqua’s eagerness to use small details to ground the vigilante hero as a violent saint amid a corrupt and cruel world,The Equalizerproved to be an easily likable and triumphant action film with plenty of entertainment value to boot.
The Equalizer
17’Bullet Train' (2022)
IMDb Score: 7.3/10
A fun-loving and vibrant action romp set aboard a high-speed train in Japan,Bullet Trainstands as another stylistic, crowd-pleasing triumph for directorDavid Leitch. It seesBrad Pittstar as Ladybug, an unlucky and contemplative assassin who is tasked with retrieving a briefcase from the train. However, he crosses paths with several other hired guns, each with their own objectives that span from revenge to protecting the son of a crime lord.
While critics were mixed on the film, general audiences seemed to embrace it with far more warmth, as is evidenced by its strong IMDb score and its impressivebox office intake of $239.2 million. At its best,Bullet Trainis a relentless action spectacle that piles on the laughs to offer exhilarating and pure entertainment.
Bullet Train
16’This Gun For Hire' (1942)
IMDb Score: 7.4/10
Something of a forgotten gem of noir cinema from Hollywood’s Golden Age,This Gun For Hireis the film that launchedAlan Laddto superstardom and also excels asa gripping hitman thriller that has aged gracefully over the decades. Part of the reason for this has been its complex story and its moral ambiguity, ensuring that cheering for a roguish antihero isn’t really an option.
It follows a sadistic gunman who, upon learning he has been paid in marked bills, vows to take revenge on his double-crossing employer. However, the situation grows complicated when the shooter falls in with one of his employer’s new entertainers, who just so happens to be the girlfriend of the detective looking into the case. Ahead of its time, Ladd’s performance as the hitman was unique in its era, giving the film a distinct edge that not only made the actor a star, but gave the picture an enduring timelessness as well.
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15’The American Friend' (1977)
Based onRipley’s GamebyPatricia Highsmith,Wim Wenders' 1977 psychological thrillerThe American Friendis a suitably gripping film about an imperfect hit that bears dire consequences. It follows American expatriate Tom (Dennis Hopper), who makes a living selling forged artworks, as he participates in a murder scheme for some extra cash. In need of a gunman who won’t talk, Tom decides to use Jonathan (Bruno Ganz), a desperate family man dying of cancer, but his ineptitude as a hitman spells trouble for all involved.
In addition to its exploration of moral corruption,The American Friendalso capitalizes on an alluring visual display and two intriguingly juxtaposed performancesbetween the eccentricity of Hopper and the stoicism of Ganz. Surprisingly grounded given its story, the film can be a challenge to grasp on first viewing, but its somber humanity makes it worth experiencing.
The American Friend
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14’Looper' (2012)
Hitman narratives entwine beautifully with a vast range of different genres, somethingRian Johnsonproved with excellent results with his sci-fi thrillerLooper. Set in 2074, it follows a hitman who is paid by gangsters 30 years in the future to execute targets sent back in time, thus eradicating their deaths from the future world entirely. However, the situation grows volatile inthe time loop moviewhen Joe (Joseph Gordon-Levitt) is confronted with his own future self who escapes the hit.
It served as a major breakthrough in the context of Johnson’s career, with the writer-director being celebrated in equal parts for his strong, atmospheric direction and his intelligent, original, and thought-provoking story. Bolstered by excellent supporting performances fromEmily BluntandBruce Willis,Looperremains one of the sharpest sci-fi films of the century with an intense and gripping hitman story to boot.
13’John Wick' (2014)
As the spearhead of a massive resurgence in violent and fun action cinema in America,John Wickis a scintillating revenge movie that became an instant pop-culture phenomenon. It starsKeanu Reevesas the titular hero, a legendary hitman grieving his wife’s death in retirement when the son of a Russian gangster steals his car and kills his dog, setting John Wick on a brutal quest for revenge.
As an all-out action spectacle,John Wickis less preoccupied with using hitmen as a thematic catalyst to explore human morality. Instead, it’s all about delivering exhilarating action thrills, with directorChad Stahelski’s experience as a stuntman coming to the fore in the incredibly choreographed combat sequences.John Wickhas spawned an extensive seriesand a television spin-off, while Reeves’ now iconic hitman has become almost mythic in the eyes of action lovers everywhere.
12’A Bittersweet Life' (2005)
IMDb Score: 7.5/10
From South Korea,A Bittersweet Lifeis a heart-pounding and stylistically violent crime thriller that excels as both a neo-noir hitman flick and an out-and-out action delight. It followsLee Byung-hun’s Kim Sun-woo, a revered hitman in a criminal empire, whose refusal to murder his boss’s cheating mistress ignites a volatile gang war that sees many crooks end up dead as Kim is ruthlessly pursued by his former mob.
The film dances with the tropes of the genre with grace and punch, reveling in the ultra-violent mayhem it explores while still making Kim Sun-woo a compelling character bolstered by Byung-hun’s strong and nuanced performance.With chaos, carnage, choreographed kills, and character drama,A Bittersweet Lifecontains something for everyone, making it a popular hitman movie and one of the best South Korean films this century.
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11’Collateral' (2004)
As the strongest film of renowned filmmakerMichael Mann’s career since the turn of the century,Collateralflies by as an adrenaline-pumping crime thriller with a brilliant, confined narrative. It follows a cab driver in Los Angeles who realizes that the fare he’s been taking to multiple locations is actually a contract killer carrying out a number of hits for a drug lord. As he learns the truth, Max (Jamie Foxx) struggles to find a way to interrupt the murder spree while keeping himself alive.
It mixed a hard-edged, gritty intensity with an enthralling, pacy story to be a richly immersive action thriller, one bolstered by a truly brilliantagainst-type performance fromTom Cruisewho portrayedthe cold and efficient killer, Vincent. While Cruise’s performance surprisingly didn’t earn recognition,Collateraldid net Academy Award nominations for its film editing and for Jamie Foxx’s supporting performance.
