Moviegoers across the world can’t get enough ofedgy action flicks, and many of these blood-pumping pictures feature thrilling and compelling hitmen and assassins. The cinema trope has been utilized and implemented for decades, with memorable and electrifying results. These films keep audiences on the edge of their seats and continue to captivate and rivet fans; some of Hollywood’s most famous and beloved creations depict these deadly assassins in all their gritty glory. In recent years, it appears the genre has found a resurgence in popularity, with action stars like Keanu Reeves, Jason Statham, and Matt Damon all breathing new life into the provocative style of storytelling.
Whether illustrating a ruthless and calculating hitman in the Coen Brothers’ Oscar-winning filmNo Country for Old Menor a bored married couple who just so happen to be competing assassins in the box-office hitMr. and Mrs. Smith,some of the greatest and most exciting flicks feature these deadly killers. The edgy and innovative Quentin Tarantino has adopted this trope for his groundbreaking films countless times, most notably in the iconic1994 black comedy crime classicPulp Fictionand 2003 martial arts stapleKill Bill.Even John Cusack played a hitman (in one of his funniest and sexiest performances) inGrosse Pointe Blank. These are some of the coolest movies with hitmen and assassins.
Updated August 28th, 2023 by Darren Gigool:If you’re a fan of exhilarating movies about savvy assassins, then you’ll be happy to know this article has been updated with additional content and films.
17Hanna (2011)
In the frosty terrains of Europe, this movie tells a story of a young girl, meticulously trained by her father to be an assassin.Hannanarrates a compelling odyssey of an assassin, contrasting her youth with the world’s ruthlessness.
Saoirse Ronan’s portrayal has a mesmerizing quality that gets the audience emotionally invested in her, signifying a gripping storyline and an enticing evolution in the character’s cinematic journey. On top of the exfiltrating action thriller elements, the Chemical Brothers’ score pulse pundingly pushes the narrative forward, charging Hanna’s expedition and journey with dynamism.
16Leon: The Professional (1994)
Amidst the rugged avenues of New York City, an unexpected camaraderie blossoms inLeon: The Professional. A seasoned hitman discovers an affinity for a child, orphaned by an assassin’s bullet. Luc Besson creates a narrative that oscillates between juvenile purity and the grim realm of hired killers.
Elevated by the action-packed training sequences is the bond between Leon and Mathilda, juxtaposing Jean Reno’s stern demeanor with Natalie Portman’s nascent luminance and brilliance on her debut. This movie bestows the assassin niche with seldom-seen soulful depth, taking it beyond your run-of-the-mill hitman flick.
15In Bruges (2008)
Picturesque Bruges becomes the sanctuary for two hitmen after a botched London assignment. The duo find solace in this medieval Belgian town. However, subverted is the usual crime narrative with a dark comedic touch, creating a riveting blend of intensity and lightness.
Stunning canals and age-old buildings provide the setting for heart-rending scenes. Towering above all is the thrilling tower showdown, set against the myriad of whimsical encounters in the city, emphasizing Bruges as both sanctuary and battlefield. Displaying immense range were its lead actors. Colin Farrell and Brendan Gleeson masterfully tread between comedic elements and somber undertones, shaping characters that are simultaneously imperfect and profoundly human.
14La Femme Nikita (1990)
Nikitadives into the story of a young woman’s rocky journey to salvation. This turbulent individual is handed a grim choice: serve as a state assassin or spend your entire life in prison after being convicted of murder. Even after commencing her transformation from a narcotics-afflicted miscreant to a clandestine professional, her dark history always casts a long shadow throughout the filmcreating moments of suspensethat have audiences on the edge of their seats.
Memorable moments, such as the dramatic restaurant firefight, showcase the film’s exemplary craftsmanship, melding tension with raw brutality. WithNikita, Luc Besson demonstrated his knack for curating visually breathtaking, adrenaline-fueled cinematic pieces. Delivering an unfiltered and compelling performance as the troubled Nikita is Anne Parillaud, her stunning portrayal of a female assassin elevated the film’s prominence and laid a foundation for women in future hitman-genre movies.
Under the Great Depression’s looming gloom,a retribution-driven narrative unravelsinRoad to Perdition. Tom Hanks, enmeshed in mafia politics, traverses a realm where vendettas and kinship intertwine. Seeking vengeance, he and his son embark to confront and kill a mob kingpin responsible for murdering their family.
The nuanced portrayal of paternal bonds is magnetic, illustrating the extent people go for their families. More than mere mob drama, the film epitomizes kinship above and against a lawless panorama, all of this unravels against a visually stunning historical backdrop of the early 1930s.
Related:Every Tom Hanks Crime Thriller, Ranked
12No Country for Old Men (2007)
Esteemed filmmakers Joel and Ethan Coen wrote and directed the 2007 neo-Western crime thrillerNo Country for Old Men,which centers on three main characters with interconnecting stories. A Vietnam War veteran and hunter stumble upon a drug deal gone wrong and over two million dollars; a violent and ruthless hitman is tasked with recovering the stolen money, and the local sheriff is investigating the crime.
The film is based on Cormac McCarthy’s dark novel and stars Josh Brolin, Tommy Lee Jones, and Javier Bardem as the hitman devoid of remorse and compassion, who won the Academy Award, Golden Globe and British Academy Film Award for his chilling and engrossing performance. Hitman Anton Chigurh is practically the embodiment of evil.
11Collateral (2004)
Action legend Tom Cruise said goodbye to his good guy persona when he took on the role of a lethal hitman in Michael Mann’s 2004 neo-noir action thrillerCollateral, embracingthe villainous roleas the chilling assassin Vincent, who forces a Los Angeles taxi driver (Jamie Foxx) to drive him around to conduct a killing spree. The film’s writer, Stuart Beattie, was inspired to pen the script after taking a Sidney taxi home from the airport and imagined what it would be like if a homicidal, deranged maniac was lurking in the back seat and what a driver might do.
To prepare for the against-type role, Cruise secretly worked as a FedEx delivery driver and attempted to see if he could go undetected by his customers and remain incognito.Collateralwas a massive critical and commercial hit, with the performances of Cruise and Foxx being raved about; Foxx earned an Oscar nomination for Best Supporting Actor for his gripping portrayal. The thriller allowed both actors to showcase a different side and take on roles that demonstrated their stellar range as performers.
10The Mechanic (2011)
Thetalented Jason Stathamhas been widely praised for leading a resurgence of action films in the 2000s and 2010s, having headlined countless projects that showcase his martial arts and hand-to-hand combat skills. For the 2011 action thrillerThe Mechanic,he portrays Arthur Bishop, a professional assassin who specializes in making his hits look like accidents, suicides, or the acts of petty criminals.
When his close friend and mentor is brutally murdered, Bishop vows revenge and teams up with the man’s son to track down the killers. Co-starring Donald Sutherland and Ben Foster,The Mechanicfeatures impressive action sequences, and Statham as the antihero audiences can’t help but root for. A successful sequel,Mechanic: Resurrection,was released in 2016.
9Kill Bill: Volume 1 (2003)
The master of stylized violenceQuentin Tarantino wrote and directedthe 2003 martial arts spectacularKill Bill: Volume 1,which stars Uma Thurman as the Bride, who swears revenge on a team of assassins and their leader after they attempt to kill her and her unborn child. She ultimately finds herself in Tokyo, where she battles against the yakuza. With an impressive supporting cast including David Carradine, Lucy Liu, and Vivica A. Fox,Kill Billwas inspired by grindhouse films that played in cheap U.S. theaters during the 1970s, such as samurai cinema and spaghetti westerns.
According to the visionary director, the most difficult part of making the martial arts flick was “trying to take me to a different place as a filmmaker and throw my hat in the ring with other great action directors.”Kill Bill: Volume 1dominated at the box office and was heralded by critics, who praised Tarantino for his technique, action sequences, and innate gift for storytelling.Kill Bill: Volume 2was released the following year with similar success.
8Wanted (2008)
The 2008 action thrillerWantedtouts an impressive cast of Hollywood elite including James McAvoy, Morgan Freeman, andaction badass Angelina Jolie. The film follows frustrated account manager Wesley Gibson who discovers he is the son of a professional assassin and decides to join the secret society himself.Wantedis based on the comic book of the same name and was brought to the big screen by director Timur Bekmambetov, who was approached to helm the picture due to his unique and distinct visual style.
On what attracted him to the picture, he said, “It’s a comedy, a tragedy, a drama, a melodrama. Every scene, we change genres and that’s why our movie is different.” Angelina Jolie’s character Fox is a pro-assassin and accomplished member of the secret society, and mentors Wesley on how to become a hitman.Wantedwas praised for its stylized action sequences and fast pacing, and grossed over $340 million.
