10 Underrated Hitman Movies You Probably Haven’t Seen

Summary

• Hitman movies have remained popular for decades, with Glen Powell’s “Hit Man” on Netflix earning praise.
• Films like “The Protégé” and “The Mechanic” showcase strong performances in action-packed narratives.
• Lesser-known hitman movies like “Blast of Silence” and “Killer Joe” offer unique perspectives on the genre.

SCREENRANT VIDEO OF THE DAY

SCROLL TO CONTINUE WITH CONTENT

You are watching: 10 Underrated Hitman Movies You Probably Haven’t Seen

Movies centered around hitman characters have been popular within the action thriller genre for years now, leaving some films to fall through the cracks. Netflix’s latest release, Hit Man, starring Glen Powell and Adria Arjona, has earned positive reviews from critics and is a top movie on the streaming service. Regarded as one of Richard Linklater’s best films, the conversations surrounding Hit Man are an excellent opportunity to bring up some hitman-related films that haven’t received a shared amount of attention.

From the ’60s to the late 2010s, action films that follow a leading hitman show the popularity of these storylines is undying. Where some films act as an amalgamation of classics that came before them, others manage to present something entirely new to the decades-old subgenre. Like Linklater’s film does with Powell’s recent Top Gun: Maverick and Anyone But You fame, many of the best hitman-related movies star notable names in Hollywood, including Liam Neeson, Geena Davis, and Charles Bronson.

Related
Hit Man Is A Reminder To Watch Netflix’s Popular Assassin Movie With 85% On RT From Last Year

The popularity of Glen Powell’s Hit Man movie on Netflix is a reminder to watch the streaming service’s successful assassin film from 2023.

10 Run All Night (2015)

Starring Liam Neeson

Run All Night
r

Where to Watch

*Availability in US

• stream
• rent
• buy

Not available

Not available

Not available

Run All Night is a 2015 action click starring Liam Neeson alongside Ed Harris, Joel Kinnaman, and Vincent D’Onofrio. In the Jaume Collet-Serra-directed film, Neeson plays Jimmy Conlon, a mobster and hitman who must choose whether to be loyal to his best friend named Shawn or his estranged son, Mike.

Director Jaume Collet-Serra Release Date March 13, 2015 Cast Ed Harris , Liam Neeson , Vincent D’Onofrio , Genesis Rodriguez , Joel Kinnaman Runtime 114minutes

Marking the third collaboration between Liam Neeson and director Jaume Collet-Serra, Run All Night is an underrated action thriller that isn’t innovative, but sure is a lot of fun. Previously, Neeson and Collet-Serra worked on the films Unknown and Non-Stop, which had a similar critical reception as Run All Night. Neeson, widely known for playing Bryan Mills in the Taken series, plays a similar role as a retired hitman, Jimmy.

When Jimmy’s son’s life is put on the line by his former boss (Ed Harris), he jumps right back into action to keep his son safe. Creatively speaking, Neeson doesn’t find himself outside his comfort zone as Jimmy — whose drinking habits and estranged relationship with his son is a well-written character note that should be mentioned — has numerous comparisons to other action characters in his filmography. Still, a shaky script and predictable plot points aside, Run All Night is filled to the brim with brutal action scenes and a strong cast that can keep the audience’s attention.

9 Blast Of Silence (1961)

Starring Allen Baron

The winter holiday season is typically associated with camaraderie, but Frank Bono in Blast of Silence couldn’t be more alone. The neo-noir film is written by, directed, and stars Allen Baron. With a considerably low budget, Baron and cinematographer Merrill Brody managed to immerse audiences in an image of New York City not often seen in other films. Unlike many hitman movies, Blast of Silence is a quieter, slow build that takes place over just a few days.

Additionally, a narration was included in the film that discusses Bono’s every move leading up to the deadly job he’s traveled to the city for. It’s because of this that Blast of Silence is a compelling exploration of a hitman’s internal dialogue before a risky job. Such a personal element is often only dealt with briefly in hitman movies, and rarely has an entire movie dedicated to it.

8 Killer Joe (2011)

Starring Matthew McConaughey

Killer Joe (2011)
NC-17

Where to Watch

*Availability in US

• stream
• rent
• buy

Not available

Not available

Not available

Killer Joe is a dark comedy thriller directed by William Friedkin. The film stars Matthew McConaughey as a detective who is also a contract killer hired by a desperate young man, played by Emile Hirsch, to murder his mother for insurance money. As the plot unfolds, the characters are drawn into a violent and morally complex web of deception and betrayal.

See more : 20 Best Movies Like Prisoners

Director William Friedkin Release Date September 10, 2011 Cast Matthew McConaughey , Emile Hirsch , Juno Temple , Thomas Haden Church , Gina Gershon Runtime 102 Minutes

Dark in its violence and its humor, Killer Joe is, at times, an uncomfortable movie to sit through. The film is adapted from screenwriter Tracy Letts’ 1993 play and follows the part-time police detective and part-time hitman, Joe Cooper after he agrees to kill a woman so her family can collect her life insurance policy. Killer Joe is one of Matthew McConaughey’s best films as he deftly portrays the titular killer. McConaughey, alongside co-stars Emile Hirsch and Thomas Haden Church, makes Killer Joe rich with high-quality performances.

Being one of McConaughey’s best performances as a dramatic actor, it’s a shame that Killer Joe is fairly underrated, though it’s easy to understand why. The film’s NC-17 rating alienates a large portion of the general audience. However, Killer Joe is a treat for fans of William Friedkin who are looking for a similar gruesome tone as he and Letts’ previous collaboration years before, the horror film Bug.

7 The Protégé (2021)

Starring Maggie Q

The Protégé
R

Where to Watch

*Availability in US

• stream
• rent
• buy

Not available

Not available

Not available

Director Martin Campbell Release Date August 20, 2021 Cast Maggie Q , Michael Keaton , Robert Patrick , Samuel L. Jackson

Led by Maggie Q, known best for her action role in The Divergent series and as the lead role in the TV show Nikita, the action scenes in The Protégé are substantial. This is largely due to Q taking on her stunts and making a stronger case for her image as an action star. Despite The Protégé being well-led by Q as the said protégé of Samuel L. Jackson’s Moody and an enemy of Michael Keaton’s Michael Rembrandt, the thriller failed to find success with critics and audiences.

The Protégé follows Q’s character Anna, who has spent the last few decades training with Moody to become a skilled contract killer. Rembrandt and Anna’s interaction adds an interesting, albeit sometimes out of place, element of romance to The Protégé as well. There’s a believable chemistry between Q and Keaton and it’s never quite clear if the opposing killers will put their differences aside and fall in love. Though the notes of romance don’t align with the rest of the film, it’s an added layer of suspense that can be appreciated.

6 The Mechanic (1972)

Starring Charles Bronson

Richard Linklater’s Hit Man makes references to several hitman movies, including Michael Winner’s The Mechanic. Charles Bronson became a box-office star in the ’70s starring in films like Rider on the Rain and another Winner film, Death Wish. He was known for his acting skills and leading qualities and The Mechanic shows no signs of Bronson’s skill depleting. However, Winner’s direction is a large part of why the film received mixed reviews from critics and why The Mechanic isn’t lauded as one of Bronson’s most memorable movies.

However, the opening of the film is regarded as the strongest part of the film. Without any dialogue, audiences get to witness Bronson’s Arthur Bishop, a hitman, as he prepares to kill his intended victim. The Mechanic doesn’t dive too far into the relationships present in screenwriter Lewis John Carlino’s original script, leaving many critics to feel the narrative loses its weight, but the film does contain plenty of action sequences that are pleasant to watch, and especially considering the era, they don’t take you out of the film.

Related
10 Best Charles Bronson Movies, According To IMDb

Charles Bronson was the quintessential Hollywood tough guy. Across his decades-long career, he had many acclaimed movies with impressive IMDb scores.

5 Ghost Dog: The Way of the Samurai (1999)

Starring Forest Whitaker

Ghost Dog: The Way of the Samurai
R

Where to Watch

*Availability in US

• stream
• rent
• buy

Not available

Not available

Not available

An African-American Mafia hit man who models himself after the samurai of ancient Japan finds himself targeted for death by the mob.

Director Jim Jarmusch Release Date June 2, 1999 Cast Forest Whitaker , John Tormey , Cliff Gorman , Dennis Liu , Frank Minucci , Richard Portnow Runtime 116 minutes

Blending the code of the samurai and depictions of the American Mafia, Ghost Dog: The Way of the Samurai, directed by Jim Jarmusch, is a unique hitman film like no other. In one of his more underrated roles, Forest Whitaker leads the movie as the titular hitman who sees himself indebted to a mobster after he saves his life. Ghost Dog’s distinct way of life differentiates him from the stereotypical image of contract killers shown in other movies.

There’s a particularly endearing friendship between Ghost Dog and an ice cream man. Though neither one of them speaks the other’s language, he remains Ghost Dog’s closest friend. Ghost Dog: The Way of the Samurai is a hitman film with enough action to satisfy fans of the subgenre, but ultimately, the most rewarding viewing experience occurs when one embraces the oddities and charms of the film’s characters.

4 Violent City (1970)

Starring Charles Bronson

Charles Bronson stars in another hitman film, this time with a more cohesive direction from Italian director, Sergio Sollima. Violent City sees Bronson as a retired hitman who is trying to move on with his life but gets brought right back into trouble. In addition to strong performances from Bronson and his real-life wife Jill Ireland, Violent City is fast-paced and pulls interesting themes from spaghetti westerns, which Sollima had worked on previously.

Violent City has intense action scenes and cleverly written twists that keep coming until the last moments of the film. From Bronson’s extensive filmography, Violent City isn’t groundbreaking or a stand-out among his better-known work, but it’s a thrilling film and one of the first of its kind. Violent City falls under the poliziotteschi subgenre of Italian crime films that feature car chases, gunfights, and a protagonist who acts as an outsider.

3 Internal Affairs (1990)

Starring Richard Gere and Andy García

The same year that Internal Affairs came out starring Richard Gere and Andy García, the former had another, more beloved film released, the romantic comedy Pretty Woman. Opposite of Julia Roberts, Gere is as charming as ever. However, his versatility is part of what makes him the star that he is and Internal Affairs shows Gere in a grittier role as a corrupt police officer and hitman, Dennis Peck.

García brings a commendable performance as well as a member of the Internal Affairs Division who takes it upon himself to look into Peck’s suspicious behavior. When Internal Affairs hit the theaters, it didn’t do as well as other hitman films have done and it has become one of the lesser-known films of the crime subgenre. It doesn’t break the mold by any means, but Internal Affairs is worth watching to witness Gere’s star power and his on-screen dynamic with García.

2 The Long Kiss Goodnight (1996)

Starring Geena Davis and Samuel L. Jackson

The Long Kiss Goodnight (1996)
R

Where to Watch

*Availability in US

• stream
• rent
• buy

Not available

Not available

Not available

The Long Kiss Goodnight is a 1996 action thriller directed by Renny Harlin. Geena Davis stars as Samantha Caine, an amnesiac schoolteacher who discovers her former identity as a highly trained covert operative. As she unravels her past, she teams up with a private investigator, played by Samuel L. Jackson, to confront those who want her dead.

Director Renny Harlin Release Date October 11, 1996 Cast Geena Davis , Samuel L. Jackson , Yvonne Zima , Craig Bierko , tom amandes Runtime 121 Minutes

Two familiar stars in Renny Harlin’s filmography are Geena Davis and Samuel L. Jackson, and the actors team up for a thrilling adventure in The Long Kiss Goodnight. Following the best of Harlin’s work, The Long Kiss Goodnight is an over-the-top action adventure that fails to get remembered by the public. In the film, Davis is given the opportunity to show off her acting skills by playing Samantha, a woman unknowingly living a double life following an accident that affected her memory.

As a part-time CIA assassin, Davis holds the audience’s attention and flows naturally with the quick pace of Shane Black’s script. Jackson, too, is comfortably situated within Black’s writing, full of sharp dialogue and subtle humor, resulting in some of Samuel L. Jackson’s best quotes. As his character, a private detective who helps Samantha uncover the truth about her past, Jackson’s chemistry with Davis is undeniable and helps carry the film along the way.

1 The Iceman (2012)

Starring Michael Shannon

The Iceman
pg-13

Where to Watch

*Availability in US

• stream
• rent
• buy

Not available

Not available

Not available

The Iceman tells the story of Richard Kuklinski, an infamous contract killer and criminal. When he was arrested in 1986, his wife and daughters had no idea he was a criminal mastermind. In the film, Michael Shannon plays Kuklinski alongside Chris Evans, James Franco, Winona Ryder, Ray Liotta, and David Schwimmer.

Director Ariel Vromen Release Date May 2, 2013 Cast James Franco , Ray Liotta , Chris Evans , Michael Shannon Runtime 106minutes

Michael Shannon stars in The Iceman as Richard Kuklinski, a real-life hitman who lived a double life as a criminal and an average family man. Critical reviews of The Iceman aren’t entirely positive, as many note the inaccuracies in the script and a desultory attempt at diving deeper into the darkest parts of Kuklinski’s criminal activity. However, what many frequently bring attention to is Shannon’s dramatic performance, with critics suggesting giving the movie a watch for his on-screen persona alone.

Shannon is captivating and fully embodies Kuklinski as a character, though sometimes it’s unfitting for the subject of the film. Too often in The Iceman does Shannon’s allure shine through, suggesting a touch of sympathy be felt for the infamous killer. Still, Kuklinski is one of Michael Shannon’s underrated roles that encapsulates the many qualities of his talent that continue to define his sweeping career.

Source: https://www.lsu.edu.vn
Category: Entertainment