Exploring a world of fast-paced shootouts and high-stake espionage, movies with assassins provide viewers with an exhilarating escape from reality. With knives, guns and other deadly weapons at their disposal, these performances often culminate in thrilling action sequences as the assassin battles to conquer any obstacle that stands in his/her way. Matter of fact, I think I may have been an assassin in a former life (just kidding, LOL)! Anyway, today, we will be highlighting some of the most iconic movies with assassins in a range of genres. Let’s check them out!
Assassins [1995]
Starring Sylvester Stallone and Julianne Moore, Assassins follows the professional hitman Robert Rath as he engages in an intense battle with a rival assassin to survive.
Leon: The Professional [1992]
This classic French action thriller tells the story of Leon, a professional hitman played by Jean Reno. He meets Mathilda (Natalie Portman), a twelve-year-old girl whose family have been murdered by corrupt DEA agents. In order to stay alive and get revenge on those who wronged her, Mathilda seeks refuge with Leon, forming an unlikely bond between them.
13 Assassins [2010]
Based on the 1963 jidaigeki film of the same name, “13 Assassins” follows a group of samurai as they attempt to protect their Shogun from an evil lord. The remake features some extraordinary fight scenes and plenty of intense action.
Ghost Dog: The Way of the Samurai [1999]
This Jim Jarmusch cult classic follows Ghost Dog (Forest Whitaker), a hitman who lives by the ancient code of the samurai.
The Looper [2012]
A trained assassin is sent back in time to eliminate his future self. As he attempts to complete his mission, however, things don’t go quite as planned.
Lucky Number Slevin [2006]
Slevin (Josh Hartnett) finds himself caught in the crossfire between two of New York City’s most notorious crime bosses: The Rabbi (Ben Kingsley) and the Boss (Morgan Freeman). He is mistaken for someone else. As Detective Brikowski (Stanley Tucci) and assassin Goodkat (Bruce Willis) close in, Slevin must devise a plan to stay alive before his luck runs out.
The Irishman [2019]
Directed by Martin Scorsese and starring Robert De Niro, Al Pacino, and Joe Pesci, this Netflix-exclusive follows the story of Frank Sheeran (De Niro), a hitman with ties to the Bufalino crime family. As he ages, Sheeran reflects on his life as an assassin and attempts to make peace with his past.
Kill Bill: Volumes 1 & 2
In this two-part series, The Bride (Uma Thurman) is an assassin seeking revenge against the team of assassins who left her for dead. She battles her way through thrilling fight sequences and intense shootouts as she attempts to exact her revenge.
The John Wick Franchise
John Wick (Keanu Reeve) is a retired hitman who seeks revenge after being forced back into the criminal underworld. His movies feature some of the best gunfights and thrilling action sequences ever seen onscreen.
Grosse Pointe Blank [1997]
A professional hitman is forced to go back to his hometown of Grosse Pointe, Michigan for his ten-year high school reunion. While there, he reconnects with his old friends and former love, Debi, played by Minnie Driver. Meanwhile, he is also attempting to take out a contract on one of his former classmates.
Smoking Aces [2006]
When a Vegas mob boss puts out a contract on Buddy “Aces” Israel, a notorious Las Vegas magician, half of the criminal underworld descends upon the city to try and take him down. As they battle it out in this wild action-comedy, two FBI agents (Ray Liotta and Ryan Reynolds) must save Aces and maintain the peace.
The Bourne Identity Franchise
With his memory a total blank and dangerous talents that hint at a perilous past, Matt Damon is rescued from the brink of death by an Italian fishing vessel. Desperate to uncover who he is and why assassins are pursuing him, he embarks on an epic search for answers, with help from Franka Potente’s initially reluctant Marie.
Collateral [2004]
A ruthless contract killer, Tom Cruise, hijacks a taxi driven by Max (Jamie Foxx) to use it as his getaway vehicle after a series of assassinations. When Max discovers Vincent’s intentions, he attempts to foil them, while Vincent becomes increasingly desperate to complete his job.
Taken Trilogy
Liam Neeson stars in Taken, a film about a former government operative on a mission to rescue his daughter after she is kidnapped by an organized crime syndicate. He must use all of his special skills and training in order to find her and bring her back safely.
La Femme Nikita [1990]
This French film tells the story of a young woman who is framed for murder and sent to prison. However, she is soon approached by a secret government agency, which offers her the chance to rehabilitate herself by becoming an assassin.
The Day of the Jackal [1973]
This classic political thriller follows an assassin hired to kill Charles de Gaulle, the President of France. The Jackal (Edward Fox) is a master manipulator who will do whatever it takes to get the job done, even if it means going up against the French police and military forces.
Hanna [2011]
Hanna (Saoirse Ronan) is a young girl who has been trained from childhood by her father to be an assassin. Now, on the run and trying to stay ahead of those who are hunting her, Hanna must rely on her instincts and skills as she finds herself in the middle of an international conspiracy.
The Killers [1946]
Two assassins enter a diner in search of “the Swede” (Burt Lancaster) and discover him waiting for them. Knowing what was coming, he doesn’t put up any resistance. Intrigued by the enigmatic life insurance policy that the Swede had taken out, an investigator (Edmond O’Brien) commences his own research into this suspicious death. As more details about The Swede emerge, it is slowly revealed that he may have been manipulated into taking part in a bank robbery orchestrated by another man (Albert Dekker), all due to his love for one beautiful woman – Ava Gardner.
In Bruge [2008]
After a grueling assignment, Ray (Colin Farrell) and Ken (Brendan Gleeson) flee to Belgium until the heat dies down. While Ray loathes this ancient city’s quaintness, Ken is mesmerized by its beauty and tranquility. As they traverse their new surroundings – mingling with tourists, locals, an American dwarf and possibly even finding love for Ray – adventures become increasingly bizarre yet perhaps life-altering in nature.
Ninja Assassin [2009]
Raizo (Rain) is a former member of the Ozunu Clan, an elite group of assassins that trains its members from childhood. But when he defects from this ruthless gang and attempts to take out their leader, his former masters come after him with a vengeance.
Kate [2021]
With less than a day to live, an ice-cold Tokyo assassin slips her deadly poison and takes on one last mission: find out who set her up for the kill and take vengeance.
The Equalizer Trilogy
Retired operative Robert McCall (Denzel Washington) is forced to come out of retirement and use his particular set of skills to protect a young girl who has become the target of Russian mobsters intent on assassinating her.
Colombiana [2011]
Cataleya (Zoe Saldana) takes down the people responsible for her parent’s death; she must use all of her guile and skill to elude the police and professional killers, who are hot on her trail.
The Mechanic [2011]
Arthur Bishop (Jason Statham) is a top-tier assassin whose assignments are done with exactness, objectivity and loyalty to his code. But when Harry (Donald Sutherland), Bishop’s beloved mentor, meets an unfortunate fate, he promises revenge. Entering the scene is Harry’s son (Ben Foster), filled with wrath yet wanting to learn from Bishop himself – thus initiating a deadly relationship between them both.
Mr and Mrs Smith [2005]
John and Jane Smith (Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie) are a married couple who have grown bored with their mundane lives. Only when they discover that they are both assassins for rival organizations, do their stagnant marriage start to experience some excitement – as well as danger.
What are your favorite movies with assassins? Share them in the comments below!
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