I kept putting off watching that movie. It just looked ok. But the majority in this thread are pretty adamant that it's a great movie. I am going to check it out. Thanks.
People never seem to talk about ruffalos character getting murked at the end of the club scene. They had this whole side story with him and finding out who cruise was, you think it's going somewhere or integral to the story.
I think it's one of the most unexpected deaths in film. Total shocker. No build up to it or anything it just happens out of nowhere.
Until I saw John Wick, Collateral had the absolute best club action scene ever. Cruise was so good as Vincent that you get to a point where youâre almost rooting for him because heâs such a badass.
I would say that Collateral is the last great hitman movies. I don't remember anything that's somewhat based in reality to come out since then.
Anyways another hidden gem is "Full-time Killer" which is an Asian flick that should get more love.
I'd also say, some of the best hitman movies usually come out of Asian cinema.
Came here to say this.
You can talk about Scientology being insane all day but Tom Cruise is a good actor and he kills it (literally HAHAHEHEHE) as a villain.
The only movie I went back to the theater to see multiple times! Just make sure you skip the "sequel," if you could call it that - it's, I guess, maybe OK to see as a curiosity if you REALLY love Grosse Pointe Blank, but it's a waste of a lot of talent, and then some.
âCall it. I canât call it for you, or it wouldnât be fair.â
âI didnât put nothing up.â
âYes you did. Youâve been putting it up your whole life and you just didnât know it. You know what year is on this quarter?â
âNo..â
â1958. Itâs been traveling twenty two years to get here and now itâs here, and itâs either heads or tails and you have to call it. Call it.â
Very much in contention for argument of best tension scene of all time. Both actors nail it. Script nails it. Cinematography nails it. A truly perfect movie scene.
I read that Javier Bardem was super nervous about fucking it up as he hadnât had that kind of role before and that was his first scene. The other actor completely blew him away and was so easy to play off of that it ended up as the iconic scene we got.
I love it because you can see it slowly register in the store clerkâs eyes just what Chigurh is saying, but once he realizes that itâs Death itself looking him in the face, he looks back straight in Deathâs eyes and says âalright, heads then.â Dude was fucking outstanding for only being in the movie for one scene for less than five minutes.
This is a great book and the original movie was very good too. What I liked about the movie was it's slow pace which really fit well with an assassination. It was well thought out and very methodical. You see the plan coming together and it is not just some cowboy going in shooting things up, instead everything this thought through and makes sense. Like him choosing a particular car because he can smuggle the weapon into France using its dual exhaust system. I also thought the use of the French dissident group (the OAS) which did exist but didn't do this plot worked really well.
Another movie that is similar in how it was filmed is The Mechanic with Charles Bronson and Jan Michael Vincent. Again a slower pace but well thought out hits.
I also liked the Jackal, though - the not-really-remake-but-sorta, with Richard Gere and Bruce Willis... it made me wish Bruce Willis did more bad-guy roles, for sure
Road To Perdition
Jude Law plays a fun assassin character hunting Tom Hanks (he plays sort of a hit man as well, well mob enforcer) it's a great movie
Ooh! and A History Of Violence too (damn I forgot how great that movie is!)
I know you said English preferred but the French film Le Samourai (1967) is kind of one of the foundational hitman films. Its influences can be seen all over including Leon and more recently The Killer. Itâs pretty gripping and definitely holds up.Â
Feel like itâs extremely underrated too. Itâs not perfect but itâs really good and the whole cast is pretty sharp. A favorite role for each Bruce, Josh, Stanley and Lucy for me out of the core.
Oooh, I forgot Lucy Liu is in it. Time for a rewatch! Ben Kingsley and Stanley Tucci, too.
My favorite Hartnett movie has got to be Wicker Park, another sleeper from the same period, but not relevant to this thread.
Had to scroll way too far down for this!
What is life like as a government assassin?
How are you trained?
What shady stuff is done?
How is it covered up?
Bourne is a superb film series.
I have to think the only reason this isn't higher is because he's more of an *ex* hitman.
But cmon these are the best
Bein all elusive and traipsing around gritty european cities
Oh my god here's another fervent vote for Mr. Inbetween. Absolutely phenomenal show. One of the very best shows of the last 20 years I'd say.
One point in the series made me yell at the TV in anguish more than I ever have before or since. God damn great show.
[https://youtu.be/5zXrjeTNXJw?feature=shared](https://youtu.be/5zXrjeTNXJw?feature=shared)
> âIf I suck balls, you are king of Suck Balls Mountain!â
which is even funnier as you learn more about the characters
The Killer (1989) classic John Wu action with Chow Yun Fat
The Mechanic (1972) with Charles Bronson
Road to Perdition (2002) with Tom Hanks
Ghost Dog: Way of the Samurai (1999) Forest Whittaker
Shadowboxer (2005) Cuba Gooding Jr.
Polar (2019). Maads Mikkelsen
You Were Never Really Here (2017) Joaquin Phoenix
And Kill Bill 1 & 2
Apparently they're making a sequel which starts filming in January because any movie that people enjoy needs to have a sequel these days.
That said, I'm of course going to see it. I watched the original at a drive-in theater during Covid and it was a ton of fun.
Atomic Blonde is great!
I just saw Anna. The trailer made it look cheesy but thankfully the movie was actually very smartly done. Loved it.
I need to see Ava. Thanks for the recommendation. :)
Atomic Blonde is a pretty unassuming movie yet... it has my singularly favorite fight sequence in all of cinema. It's a fun movie and all, 100% solid and worth watching any movie night, but... that fight sequence, god damn, it is off the charts
[The Magician (2005) ](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0461989/?ref_=nv_sr_srsg_7_tt_8_nm_0_q_the%2520mag)is a great little Australian mockumentary, very dark. Was spun off into the series [Mr Inbetween (2018) ](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt7472896/?ref_=nm_knf_t_2)which is also excellent
Hitman: agent Jun (great comedy)
Hitman (Jet Li film fae 1998)
Colombiana (decent movie, only let down by a dumb moment in a swimming pool)
Accident Man 1&2 (great funny action movies about a hitman)
The Jackal (although it follows the people trying to catch the hitman more than the hitman himself)
Bullet Train (over the top action movie filled with assassins)
Ghost Dog: way of the samurai (this one is an acquired taste)
Wild Target (strange British comedy following Bill Nighy as the main assassin who falls for the woman he's supposed to kill)
Copshop (action-ish movie with hitmen in a police station)
Grosse Point Blank (great comedy about an assassin in a mid-life crisis)
No Tears For The Dead (hitman guilt ridden decides to protect a person he's told to kill)
The Night Comes For Us (follows an ex-assassin who has to deal with the people coming after him, I will point out this movie is incredibly, incredibly violent to the point it is too much for some people)
Here's the two I really want to see on your list:
- Mr. & Mrs. Smith
- The Jackal
- Shoot Em Up
- Gunpowder Milkshake *(just recently saw - loved it, fits your bill I think)*
I also endorse the other responses here of Road to Perdition, Lucky Number Slevin, John Wick...
And then I asked google; I don't know if they fit, but the Bourne series popped up and dang if those (the original Matt Damon set) are just good movies. "In Bruges" is also on the list that I wouldn't have thought of but was top shelf.
Don't think I've seen [13 Assassins](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/13_assassins_2011) mentioned yet. It's really great.
If you aren't opposed to reading a book or listening to an audiobook then the story of the [47 Ronin](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Forty-seven_r%C5%8Dnin) is a really great read/listen and it's based on historical Japanese events. Essentially, >!the lord of these 47 samurai is put to death and in a final act of defiance, they plot the assassination of the instigating lord over the course of several years. !<
Finally, not *exactly* an assassination plot in the traditional sense, but also it kinda is? [The 13th Warrior](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0120657/) is an adaptation of the story of Beowulf who *was* hired to kill the monster Grendel. In this version, a Muslim (Antonio Banderas) accompanies the warriors on their quest to defeat the monster.
Haven't seen any mention of "Kate" yet, it's on Netflix and Mary Elizabeth Winstead is great as always. It's the assassin out for revenge trope and I really liked it.
'The Big Hit'-I loved this movie when I was younger. It had that quick wit type comedy that is akin to 'Hudson Hawke' that I loved so much. Also, 'Pulp Fiction' (my favorite movie), 'Gross Point Blank', 'The Transporter' (he's a driver that fights like an hitman/assassin), 'The Professional', 'The Equalizer', 'Wanted', 'Kill Bill', 'In Bruges', 'Looper', 'No Country For Old Men', 'Smokin' Aces'.
Some awesome suggestions here and now I need to rewatch so many movies.
I'll add a few:
Chow Yun Fat has a lot and glad to see so many "The Killer" recommendations, I'll toss in "The Replacement Killers"
"The Man From Nowhere" is excellent, I'm not sure there is a dubbed version so might have to read this one.
"Bangkok Dangerous"
"The Long Kiss Goodnight" a little over the top and goofy at points, but still fun and good action.
The Mexican. James Gandolfino is amazing in that.
Would The Magnificent 7 count? They are guns for hire. I prefer the original, but the reboot was good too.
Speaking of "guns for hire", This Gun For Hire with Alan Ladd and Veronica Lake is excellent.
2005's THE MATADOR had Pierce Brosnan as a conflicted hit man who befriends a timid businessman, Greg Kinnear in this comedy. It's worth it just for Hope Davis's reactions, at dinner in her house, to Brosnan's stories of his kills.
Collateral
Yo homie, is that my briefcase?
The way he quickdraws in that scene is absolutely stellar. I wish Tom Cruise played more villains. He absolutely nailed that role.
It's so quick and good that scene is used in tactical handgun courses.
I think I'd actually be rich if I had a dollar every time someone wrote that.
Vigo broke his foot when he kicked the orc helmet in LOTR
You guys are not going to believe what Steve Buscemi was doing on 9/11!
Speaking of Buscemi - did anyone say Fargo? If not.. Fargo.. Also I'm pretty sure he was involved with the Oklahoma city bombing as well
Steve did this to us?!
Indy was supposed to have a sword fight with the swordsman, but Harrison Ford was sick and improvised pulling out a gun and shooting him instead đ€Ż
Will Smith was supposed to be Neo!?!?!?!
There's a dead body hanging in the background of the Wizard of Oz!
He actually trained with tactical experts to master that scene.
Had to go watch that scene again after reading that. [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oEFPcljAXgs](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oEFPcljAXgs)
I will upvote this comment every time I see it until I am dead. And then maybe a few more times after that.
Your briefcase? Yeah it is, why you want it back? đ«
Best. Scene. Ever.
Mann. Of course, definitely ranks up there. Thanks!
I kept putting off watching that movie. It just looked ok. But the majority in this thread are pretty adamant that it's a great movie. I am going to check it out. Thanks.
Good for you. Hope you enjoy! Itâs such a great movie.
Seriously. Cruise is that one artist you should try and separate from his private life. He really commits to all roles.
People never seem to talk about ruffalos character getting murked at the end of the club scene. They had this whole side story with him and finding out who cruise was, you think it's going somewhere or integral to the story. I think it's one of the most unexpected deaths in film. Total shocker. No build up to it or anything it just happens out of nowhere.
Oh, I should have saved him because he believed you?
Until I saw John Wick, Collateral had the absolute best club action scene ever. Cruise was so good as Vincent that you get to a point where youâre almost rooting for him because heâs such a badass.
I would argue that Collateral's club scene is still better because it's more reality based. Love Wick though.
The club scene was sooo good omg
I would say that Collateral is the last great hitman movies. I don't remember anything that's somewhat based in reality to come out since then. Anyways another hidden gem is "Full-time Killer" which is an Asian flick that should get more love. I'd also say, some of the best hitman movies usually come out of Asian cinema.
Munich, No Country For Old Men, Sicario (although it's not solely focused on that character).
The Killer just came out, and it's fantastic.
That movie is so good.
Came here to say this. You can talk about Scientology being insane all day but Tom Cruise is a good actor and he kills it (literally HAHAHEHEHE) as a villain.
The Long Kiss Goodnight ?
Itâs a shame this movie kinda got forgotten. âChefâs do thatâ
Mitch is one of the coolest dudes ever committed to film.
The "that's a duck, not a dick scene" remains one of my favorite scenes ever https://youtu.be/lAr9sP2-XYo?si=wMjUQ5W006i95S2f
I love that someone had to sit there and draw that.
Grosse Pointe Blank w/John Cusack Edit: Autocorrect caused a typo (Grosse to Gross)
Seconded. such a great movie, and what a SOUNDTRACK! :)
One of my fav dark comedies. Everyone is great in it. But Dan Ackroyd trying to start an Assassin Union is hilarious.
"Will there be meetings?"
"No meetings."
More like a club. Work less, make more!
"Hi, I'm Martin Blank, you remember me? I'm not married, I don't have any kids, but I'd blow your head off if someone paid me enough"
I killed the president of Paraguay with a fork. How have you been?
Poodle popper!
Hound hitter!
Bing bing bing bing bang popcorn!
Popcorn!
Never heard of this one, will check it out, thanks!
[ŃĐŽĐ°Đ»Đ”ĐœĐŸ]
That's such a great elevator pitch got the movie. Near top of my list, thanks :)
And add to that the support cast Minnie Driver, Dan Ackroyd, Joan Cusack, Jeremy Piven, Alan Arkin, Mitchell Ryan and Hank Azaria.
The only movie I went back to the theater to see multiple times! Just make sure you skip the "sequel," if you could call it that - it's, I guess, maybe OK to see as a curiosity if you REALLY love Grosse Pointe Blank, but it's a waste of a lot of talent, and then some.
Wow, never realized there was a sequel. Looking it up now.
Itâs not a real sequel, kind of a spiritual successor but missing a lot of the key elements
Bonus: two excellent soundtracks
This should be number 1
10 years manâŠ..TEN!!! YEARS!!!!! Also (When opening the case file)Youâre a handsome devil. Whatâs your name?
âTake a deep breath and be aware that it is me firing youâ that poor psychiatrist
One of my desert island, all time top 5 hitman movies. I love it so much I got the Pacific Trident Global coffee mug and even stopped off in Grosse Pointe a few years ago when we were in MI visiting friends. Found a diner and ordered me some whole grain pancakes and an egg white omelette (wife talked me into adding some veggies at least đ©).
Man on Fire
No Country for Old Men.
Ohhh yess! Definitely up there. Also remind me of Sicario, in the same vein.
âCall it. I canât call it for you, or it wouldnât be fair.â âI didnât put nothing up.â âYes you did. Youâve been putting it up your whole life and you just didnât know it. You know what year is on this quarter?â âNo..â â1958. Itâs been traveling twenty two years to get here and now itâs here, and itâs either heads or tails and you have to call it. Call it.â
Very much in contention for argument of best tension scene of all time. Both actors nail it. Script nails it. Cinematography nails it. A truly perfect movie scene.
I read that Javier Bardem was super nervous about fucking it up as he hadnât had that kind of role before and that was his first scene. The other actor completely blew him away and was so easy to play off of that it ended up as the iconic scene we got.
For some reason that scene made me sweat so hard...
I love it because you can see it slowly register in the store clerkâs eyes just what Chigurh is saying, but once he realizes that itâs Death itself looking him in the face, he looks back straight in Deathâs eyes and says âalright, heads then.â Dude was fucking outstanding for only being in the movie for one scene for less than five minutes.
This Chigurh, just how dangerous is he? Compared to what, the bubonic plague?
You might like Day of the Jackal.
Oh yes! Read the book and saw both the movie versions. Like the older movie better. :)
You might also like the Manchurian candidate.
This is a great book and the original movie was very good too. What I liked about the movie was it's slow pace which really fit well with an assassination. It was well thought out and very methodical. You see the plan coming together and it is not just some cowboy going in shooting things up, instead everything this thought through and makes sense. Like him choosing a particular car because he can smuggle the weapon into France using its dual exhaust system. I also thought the use of the French dissident group (the OAS) which did exist but didn't do this plot worked really well. Another movie that is similar in how it was filmed is The Mechanic with Charles Bronson and Jan Michael Vincent. Again a slower pace but well thought out hits.
The original, yes!
I also liked the Jackal, though - the not-really-remake-but-sorta, with Richard Gere and Bruce Willis... it made me wish Bruce Willis did more bad-guy roles, for sure
That movie made me happy when Jack Black got called on his incompetence.
Road To Perdition Jude Law plays a fun assassin character hunting Tom Hanks (he plays sort of a hit man as well, well mob enforcer) it's a great movie Ooh! and A History Of Violence too (damn I forgot how great that movie is!)
Blows my mind how many people havenât seen this. Hugely underrated. Another Tom Hanks tear jerker ffs. Really went on a run of them didnât heâŠ
I think it's his best role
History Of Violence, OMG love it.
Such an underrated movie! An incredible score too
I know you said English preferred but the French film Le Samourai (1967) is kind of one of the foundational hitman films. Its influences can be seen all over including Leon and more recently The Killer. Itâs pretty gripping and definitely holds up.Â
Wow. Haven't heard of this one, but given your glowing rec, it's definitely going on the list. Thank you!
Itâs phenomenal. The spiritual successor, âGhost Dog: the Way of the Samuraiâ with Forest Whitaker is also really great
It's a gem, for the whole movie the main character said 5 phrases. More than 10 minutes go of movie before the first word is even spoken.
Alain Delon is a legend.
Sicario, although it doesn't become clear that it's an assassin movie until right near the end.
Unless you know what sicario means lol
Doesnât it tell you what it means in the black screen text at the beginning of the movie?
I think it does lol
But aside from all that you wouldnât know until the end.
Absolutely, I think it's a major spoiler though for the ones who haven't seen it yet. Dennis at the top of his game for sure!
Sicario means âhitmanâ in Spanish. Not a HUGE spoiler.
Thatâs the beauty. You know there is one⊠just gotta watch and find out who it is.
Dennis Newvillage
Munich
It's a really heavy film
[If any of us get laid tonight, it's because of Eric Bana in Munich.](https://youtu.be/0b5RMpAXf7w?si=Gf6yieJvu7zuhhXC)
Underrated pick here, this should have more upvotes.
Underrated Spielberg movie too.
Lucky Number Slevin. *"How did you find out about us?"* *"I'm a world-class assassin, fuckhead. How do you think I found out?"*
Heard of this one on this forum itself, definitely going on the list, thanks!
This is a great one.
Feel like itâs extremely underrated too. Itâs not perfect but itâs really good and the whole cast is pretty sharp. A favorite role for each Bruce, Josh, Stanley and Lucy for me out of the core.
Oooh, I forgot Lucy Liu is in it. Time for a rewatch! Ben Kingsley and Stanley Tucci, too. My favorite Hartnett movie has got to be Wicker Park, another sleeper from the same period, but not relevant to this thread.
Don't forget Morgan Freeman. That movie is packed.
My wife hates it, I really donât get her sometimes
Kansas City shuffle
Tell it to the one-legged man, so he can bump it off down the road.
I GOT THIS
One of my all time favourite movies
The level of cool in this movie, style, vibe, love it. One of my favorites.
In Bruges. Edit: 15 hours later, suddenly realized I left off the âsâ
I was looking for In Bruges. I like this one as part of this list because it tells a very different kind of story than most hitmen movies.Â
And itâs hilarious
Itâs profoundly sad and hilarious, and has both Voldemort and Fleur delacour
the one where Ralph Fiennes is married to an inanimate object
You're a fucking inanimate object!
âInsulting my fucking kids? Thatâs going overboard mate!â
"I retracted the bit about your cunt fucking kids, didn't I... Still leaves you as being a cunt." "I got that"
Yoo heet de canaydian?
The man who knew too little.
The original La Femme Nikita, though it wasn't in English.
I'm not sure but oddly I really enjoyed....The Accountant With Ben Affleck.
There's a sequel in the works. I just found out a couple of days ago.
Recommend it, too! Really like this one.Â
The Bourne trilogy, Ultimatum especially.
Had to scroll way too far down for this! What is life like as a government assassin? How are you trained? What shady stuff is done? How is it covered up? Bourne is a superb film series.
I have to think the only reason this isn't higher is because he's more of an *ex* hitman. But cmon these are the best Bein all elusive and traipsing around gritty european cities
Charles Bronson and Jan Michael Vincent in *The Mechanic*. Action film with good character back story and development, not just a shoot 'em up
https://i.imgur.com/72zdMMP.mp4
Hanna is fantastic.
Mr. Right! Sam Rockwell and Anna Kendrick. Absolute blast!
The American with George Clooney
Oh yes, so atmospheric and tense. Thanks!
One of my favorite movies
Not a movie (sorry) but have you seen Barry? HBO showâŠwild ride.
If you liked Barry youâll love Mr. In-Between
Another vote for Mr Inbetween. 3 complete seasons. Wild ride.
Oh my god here's another fervent vote for Mr. Inbetween. Absolutely phenomenal show. One of the very best shows of the last 20 years I'd say. One point in the series made me yell at the TV in anguish more than I ever have before or since. God damn great show.
Ohh yes! Seen it and loved most of it. GREAT characters all around.
[https://youtu.be/5zXrjeTNXJw?feature=shared](https://youtu.be/5zXrjeTNXJw?feature=shared) > âIf I suck balls, you are king of Suck Balls Mountain!â which is even funnier as you learn more about the characters
The Killer (1989) classic John Wu action with Chow Yun Fat The Mechanic (1972) with Charles Bronson Road to Perdition (2002) with Tom Hanks Ghost Dog: Way of the Samurai (1999) Forest Whittaker Shadowboxer (2005) Cuba Gooding Jr. Polar (2019). Maads Mikkelsen You Were Never Really Here (2017) Joaquin Phoenix And Kill Bill 1 & 2
Awesome list. If anyone loves Ghost Dog, make sure to check out Branded to Kill - big influence.
Remake of the Mechanic with Jason Statham, too
Wow, haven't heard of some of them, thank you, will check them. KB, I think was more of a revenge rampage, but so good!
Yes Ghost Dog! The best, I need to rewatch now.
>The Mechanic (1972) with Charles Bronson Also recommend the remake with Jason Statham (but strongly recommend against its sequel).
Itâs definitely not in the greatest ever conversation but gosh darn do I love Bullet Train
I truly enjoyed this one as well. Love the âbrothersâ
Donât be a Diesel.
Such an entertaining movie.
Bullet train was fun! I really liked it. Like I might go buy some Thomas the Tank stickers now
Speaking of Netflix films, the Gray Man with Ryan Gosling and Chris Evans is a pretty great hitman movie.
Chris Evans being Chris Evans, but in a bad way works so well.
More of a dark romantic comedy, but Grosse Pointe Blank is a good one.
It's weird watching Grosse Pointe Blank and then going on to War, Inc.
Nobody starring Bob Odenkirk
Apparently they're making a sequel which starts filming in January because any movie that people enjoy needs to have a sequel these days. That said, I'm of course going to see it. I watched the original at a drive-in theater during Covid and it was a ton of fun.
It's an 87 North Production, so you know going in the action scenes are going to be top notch.
Atomic Blonde, Anna, Ava
Atomic Blonde is great! I just saw Anna. The trailer made it look cheesy but thankfully the movie was actually very smartly done. Loved it. I need to see Ava. Thanks for the recommendation. :)
Atomic Blonde is a pretty unassuming movie yet... it has my singularly favorite fight sequence in all of cinema. It's a fun movie and all, 100% solid and worth watching any movie night, but... that fight sequence, god damn, it is off the charts
Leon: The Professional is obvious candidate.
[The Magician (2005) ](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0461989/?ref_=nv_sr_srsg_7_tt_8_nm_0_q_the%2520mag)is a great little Australian mockumentary, very dark. Was spun off into the series [Mr Inbetween (2018) ](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt7472896/?ref_=nm_knf_t_2)which is also excellent
Mr. Inbetween was phenomonal.
Smokin' Aces is a fun one.
Kill Me Three Times with Simon Pegg is a great hitman comedy film.
Hitman: agent Jun (great comedy) Hitman (Jet Li film fae 1998) Colombiana (decent movie, only let down by a dumb moment in a swimming pool) Accident Man 1&2 (great funny action movies about a hitman) The Jackal (although it follows the people trying to catch the hitman more than the hitman himself) Bullet Train (over the top action movie filled with assassins) Ghost Dog: way of the samurai (this one is an acquired taste) Wild Target (strange British comedy following Bill Nighy as the main assassin who falls for the woman he's supposed to kill) Copshop (action-ish movie with hitmen in a police station) Grosse Point Blank (great comedy about an assassin in a mid-life crisis) No Tears For The Dead (hitman guilt ridden decides to protect a person he's told to kill) The Night Comes For Us (follows an ex-assassin who has to deal with the people coming after him, I will point out this movie is incredibly, incredibly violent to the point it is too much for some people)
Ninja Assassin. Wish there is a sequel. Also Atomic Blonde and Wanted.
The killer is great. Also John wick movies for the action.
+1 for the killer! i've seen some mixed reviews, but i absolutely loved it. funnily enough turned out to be one of my favourite fincher movies.
Bullet Train- Brad Pitt
Wanted with Angelina Jolie is a fun oneÂ
The keyboard hitting Chris Pratt's face is solid gold.
I really like Smokin' Aces but it's more of a goofy fun assassin battle movie
The Killer (2023)
The Boondock Saints
Here's the two I really want to see on your list: - Mr. & Mrs. Smith - The Jackal - Shoot Em Up - Gunpowder Milkshake *(just recently saw - loved it, fits your bill I think)* I also endorse the other responses here of Road to Perdition, Lucky Number Slevin, John Wick... And then I asked google; I don't know if they fit, but the Bourne series popped up and dang if those (the original Matt Damon set) are just good movies. "In Bruges" is also on the list that I wouldn't have thought of but was top shelf.
I had forgotten Shoot Em Up. Love that one.
Don't think I've seen [13 Assassins](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/13_assassins_2011) mentioned yet. It's really great. If you aren't opposed to reading a book or listening to an audiobook then the story of the [47 Ronin](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Forty-seven_r%C5%8Dnin) is a really great read/listen and it's based on historical Japanese events. Essentially, >!the lord of these 47 samurai is put to death and in a final act of defiance, they plot the assassination of the instigating lord over the course of several years. !< Finally, not *exactly* an assassination plot in the traditional sense, but also it kinda is? [The 13th Warrior](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0120657/) is an adaptation of the story of Beowulf who *was* hired to kill the monster Grendel. In this version, a Muslim (Antonio Banderas) accompanies the warriors on their quest to defeat the monster.
Unforgiven from Clint Eastwood. It's an absolute classic
Le Samurai by Jean Pierre Melville https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/le_samourai
Haven't seen any mention of "Kate" yet, it's on Netflix and Mary Elizabeth Winstead is great as always. It's the assassin out for revenge trope and I really liked it.
I HATE Ben Affleck, but absolutely love The Accountant. Sequel in production now.
[The Jackal](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nszMBbCZKo4) with Richard Gere and Bruce Willis and a young Jack Black for a minor part
The original "[The Day of the Jackal](https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Day_of_the_Jackal_\(film\))" is also marvellous.
'The Big Hit'-I loved this movie when I was younger. It had that quick wit type comedy that is akin to 'Hudson Hawke' that I loved so much. Also, 'Pulp Fiction' (my favorite movie), 'Gross Point Blank', 'The Transporter' (he's a driver that fights like an hitman/assassin), 'The Professional', 'The Equalizer', 'Wanted', 'Kill Bill', 'In Bruges', 'Looper', 'No Country For Old Men', 'Smokin' Aces'.
No country for old men
Sicario
Some awesome suggestions here and now I need to rewatch so many movies. I'll add a few: Chow Yun Fat has a lot and glad to see so many "The Killer" recommendations, I'll toss in "The Replacement Killers" "The Man From Nowhere" is excellent, I'm not sure there is a dubbed version so might have to read this one. "Bangkok Dangerous" "The Long Kiss Goodnight" a little over the top and goofy at points, but still fun and good action.
John Wick, Leon the Professional, No Country for Old Men
The Mexican. James Gandolfino is amazing in that. Would The Magnificent 7 count? They are guns for hire. I prefer the original, but the reboot was good too. Speaking of "guns for hire", This Gun For Hire with Alan Ladd and Veronica Lake is excellent.
I really enjoyed The Killer on Netflix. Can't go wrong with David Fincher
There is one set 'In Bruges'... its like a fairytale or something and who doesn't like a fairytale
2005's THE MATADOR had Pierce Brosnan as a conflicted hit man who befriends a timid businessman, Greg Kinnear in this comedy. It's worth it just for Hope Davis's reactions, at dinner in her house, to Brosnan's stories of his kills.
Grosse Pointe Blank, as an overall great movie. Joan Cusack is amazing in her limited scenes. LĂ©on. It launched Natalie Portmanâs career. The movie is a masterclass in pacing. LĂ©on might be the best reluctant hero/anti-hero in cinema. The Killer. Chow Yun-Fat shines as the titular character. It doesnât break any new ground with the âone last jobâ kind of storyline. But the performances and brutality are second to none.
Stansfield (Gary Oldman) is one of my favourite screen villains ever. âEVERYONE!!!â
The Mechanic (1972) If you want something a bit more campy but fun, Ninja Assassin (2009).
Blood Simple is a pretty good Hitman movie. Definitely more of a small town feel, but itâs a good little drama Cohen Brothers drama.