20 hard and dynamic films about killers

2024 Author: Malcolm Clapton | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 03:44

Assassins from different countries, married couples, maniacs and fair loners are waiting for you.

20. Mr and Mrs Smith

• USA, 2005.
• Action, comedy.
• Duration: 120 minutes.
• IMDb: 6, 5.

Spouses John and Jane Smith live very quietly. But each of them hides their main work from their loved ones, because both are actually killers. And one day John and Jane are given the task to eliminate each other.

The comedy thriller, on the set of which the relationship between Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie began, was accepted without enthusiasm. But this film has all the ingredients for a pleasant viewing: an easy dynamic plot, great action and real chemistry between the characters. And in 2022, Amazon plans to release a serial remake of the story with Phoebe Waller-Bridge and Donald Glover.

19. Especially dangerous

• USA, Russia, Germany, 2008.
• Action, crime.
• Duration: 110 minutes.
• IMDb: 6, 7.

The usual clerk Wesley Gibson is mired in everyday life and humiliation. At work, they do not stand on ceremony with him, and the girl openly cheats. But suddenly the hero learns that his missing father was in a secret elite society of killers and that he was recently killed. Wesley decides to follow in his parent's footsteps and discovers an almost supernatural ability.

The film is based on the comic strip of the same name by Mark Millar, but for many it will be difficult to read the original: there is too much rudeness and black humor in it. But the director Timur Bekmambetov turned the plot into an energetic and bright action movie. And James McAvoy and Angelina Jolie were invited to the main roles, which made the picture even more memorable.

18. Nine yards

• USA, 2000.
• Detective, comedy.
• Duration: 98 minutes.
• IMDb: 6, 7.

Former contract killer Jimmy Tulip lives next door to dentist Nicholas Ozeranski. It turns out that the criminal stole $ 10 million from his boss and is now hiding. Nicholas' wife decides to turn Jimmy over to his former employers, and the whole company is drawn into the world of crime.

All the humor in the picture is built on the contrast of the main characters. The eternally cold-blooded hitman, played by Bruce Willis, and the nervous dentist, played by Matthew Perry, captivated the audience. Moreover, initially, even the actors themselves did not really believe in the success of the picture. Perry and Willis had an argument about the future box office, and the latter, according to the terms of the bet, had to star in Friends.

17. Long kiss goodnight

• USA, 1996.
• Action, crime, drama.
• Duration: 116 minutes.
• IMDb: 6, 8.

School teacher Samantha Kay is raising her daughter and leading a very calm family life. Due to memory loss, she does not remember anything that happened more than eight years ago. But then it turns out that once the heroine served as a professional assassin in the CIA. Together with the detective who unearthed her past, Samantha once again plunges into spy games.

Geena Davis and Samuel L. Jackson starred in the energetic action movie. Moreover, the first had to appear in two images at once: at first she seems to be a funny and modest wife and mother, and then she transforms into a bright and cruel killer.

16. Mechanic

• USA, 1972.
• Action, thriller.
• Duration: 100 minutes.
• IMDb: 6, 9.

A mercenary, nicknamed the Mechanic, eliminates his victims for huge fees, presenting everything as accidents. One day he decides to take the son of a deceased comrade as his assistant. However, competition turns out to be more important than affection.

Action star Charles Bronson has collaborated with director Michael Winner on numerous occasions, and The Mechanic is considered one of their most successful works. And in 2011, a remake of the film was released, in which the main role was given to Jason State.

15. Born to Kill

• Japan, 1967.
• Action, thriller, drama.
• Duration: 91 minutes.
• IMDb: 7, 3.

Professional assassin Goro Hanada ranks third in the ranking of killers and is able to complete almost any task. After a mercenary is assigned to transport one valuable client, difficulties begin in his life. And exactly then he meets the fatal beauty Misako.

At the time of its release, Seijun Suzuki's film was considered a creative failure, as the director showed the theme of the yakuza war from an ironic point of view. For example, the main character literally goes crazy over the smell of freshly cooked rice. But over the years, the picture became a cult, and such directors as Quentin Tarantino and Takeshi Kitano referred to it.

14. Nikita

• France, Italy, 1990.
• Action, thriller.
• Duration: 117 minutes.
• IMDb: 7, 3.

A young girl Nikita in a state of drug intoxication went to a robbery and killed a man. She was sentenced to life imprisonment. But then she was injected with sleeping pills, and she woke up already in the school for spies and killers. Nikita is turned into a professional killer for the most secret assignments.

Even those who have not watched this film by the famous Luc Besson are probably familiar with its plot. In the USA there was a similar picture "No Return" with Bridget Fonda. And then there were two remakes: the Canadian "Her Name Was Nikita" with Peta Wilson and the American "Nikita" with Maggie Q.

13. American friend

• Germany, France, 1977.
• Thriller, drama, crime.
• Duration: 128 minutes.
• IMDb: 7, 4.

The owner of the framing workshop, Jonathan Zimmermann, meets Tom Ripley, who trades in counterfeiting works of art. He finds out that the hero is sick, and invites him to become a hired killer in order to provide for his family after his death. But Zimmerman doesn't realize that Ripley's plans are much more complicated.

Many people remember the famous character of the books of Patricia Highsmith in the movie "The Talented Mr. Ripley", where he was played by Matt Damon. But in fact, there are several pictures about this hero. In Wim Wenders' film American Friend, this image went to Dennis Hopper. And the main role was played by Bruno Gantz.

12. John Wick

• USA, China, 2014.
• Action, crime.
• Duration: 101 minutes.
• IMDb: 7, 4.

Once John Wick was the coolest hitman. Over time, he retired and lived quietly with his dog. But a negligent criminal steals a car from Wick, killing the dog along the way. In response, he declares a real war on the mafia.

Keanu Reeves and director Chad Stahelski have worked together since The Matrix, when the latter was a stuntman. Years later, they came up with one of the best action movies of the decade. Gradually, "John Wick" has grown into a large-scale franchise: three parts have already been released, and then not only sequels are planned, but also spin-offs.

11. Accessory

• USA, 2004.
• Thriller, drama.
• Duration: 120 minutes.
• IMDb: 7, 5.

Taxi driver Max gives a ride to a mysterious client named Vincent. He, impressed by the driver's skills, proposes a contract: they must visit five places per night. But it soon turns out that Vincent is a hitman who must eliminate several victims. He threatens Max, and he is forced to help the villain.

Director Michael Mann is a renowned master of crime fighters and thrillers. In this film, much of the action takes place in the car, and the tension is achieved through the communication of the characters. But that’s what makes Accessory so addicting.

10. An explosion of silence

• USA, 1961.
• Thriller, drama, crime.
• Duration: 77 minutes.
• IMDb: 7, 5.

Killer Frankie Bono returns to his native New York on Christmas Eve. He must fulfill the next order. While preparing for the murder, Franky visits familiar places and recalls his past.

A low-budget film noir is more about the loneliness of the protagonist rather than the world of crime. Therefore, the action unfolds very slowly, and the process of tracking down the victim fades into the background.

9. Ghost dog: the path of the samurai

• USA, Germany, France, Japan, 1999.
• Drama, crime, action.
• Duration: 116 minutes.
• IMDb: 7, 5.

The killer, nicknamed the Ghost Dog, doesn't just kill people. He lives by the laws of samurai honor. Once he was saved from death by an Italian mafia, and now the hero performs any of his tasks. But one day he himself becomes a target for the bandits.

Director Jim Jarmusch is renowned for his leisurely and philosophical presentation. Therefore, the film "Ghost Dog" can hardly be considered a classic crime story. The author rethinks both the samurai code of honor and traditional mafia stories.

8. Fallen angels

• Hong Kong, 1995.
• Drama, crime, comedy.
• Duration: 99 minutes.
• IMDb: 7, 7.

For several years, the killer worked in tandem with the Agent, a girl who cleaned up his tracks. The partners never saw each other, but they perfectly studied each other's psychology and began to look for meetings. In parallel, the story of an unusual young man, who is looking for a casual acquaintance, unfolds.

The painting by legendary author Wong Karwai combines an almost mystical presentation with a drama about the search for a loved one. In the plot, the fate of the characters is intertwined in the most bizarre way, so it is almost impossible to predict what will happen next.

7. Hired Assassin

• Hong Kong, 1989.
• Action, thriller.
• Duration: 111 minutes.
• IMDb: 7, 8.

During the execution of the next order, the killer Jeffrey accidentally deprived the singer of her sight. Feeling guilty for his mistake, he wants to pay the girl for treatment. But for this, the hero must commit one more murder. Meanwhile, a brave and clever policeman is on his trail.

Action master John Woo's film references cinematic legends such as Wicked Streets by Martin Scorsese and Samurai by Jean-Pierre Melville. At the same time, the film itself became a cult for fans of crime thrillers, and Luc Besson, Robert Rodriguez and many others were already guided by it.

6. Day of the Jackal

• Great Britain, France, 1973.
• Thriller, drama, crime.
• Duration: 145 minutes.
• IMDb: 7, 8.

A conspiratorial team is planning an assassination attempt on French President Charles de Gaulle. But all of its members are already known to the local authorities. Therefore, the organization is hiring an English sniper. He demands 500 thousand dollars, and the criminals have to commit several robberies.

The plot of the picture is based on the book of the same name by Frederick Forsythe. And that, in turn, was written based on the real events of 1961. In 1997, a remake of the film was released, starring Richard Gere and Bruce Willis. But in the new version, only the confrontation between the special services and the killer remained from the original plot, everything else was changed.

5. Lay low in Bruges

• USA, UK, 2007.
• Drama, comedy, crime.
• Duration: 107 minutes.
• IMDb: 7, 9.

Killer Ray killed the boy by mistake and is now tormented by guilt. The boss sends him along with his partner to the city of Bruges to wait out the hype. But Ray's condition is getting worse. And then the partner receives the task to remove the hero.

Martin McDonagh's film strangely combines very funny scenes and great textual humor with a depressing atmosphere and philosophical discourses about life. Therefore, the picture falls both on the lists of the best comedies and in the selections of dark films. But it is this combination, along with the great acting of Colin Farrell and Brendan Gleason, that makes Sneak Down in Bruges so memorable.

4. Brother

• Russia, 1997.
• Drama, crime.
• Duration: 100 minutes.
• IMDb: 8, 0.

Chechen war veteran Danila Bagrov comes to St. Petersburg to visit his brother Viktor. But it turns out that he became a hitman and received an order to kill a crime boss. Victor drags unsuspecting Danila into the showdown.

The painting by Alexei Balabanov has become a real symbol of the era of the 90s. The ambiguous image of Sergei Bodrov Jr., realistic Petersburg, the music of Nautilus Pompilius and other details create a gloomy, depressing atmosphere that is very different from the typical grotesque of action films.

3. Kill Bill

• Action, thriller, crime.
• USA, 2003.
• Duration: 111 minutes.
• IMDb: 8, 1.

A contract killer named Black Mamba quit her job and decided to get married. But the boss Bill did not want to let the subordinate go and staged a massacre at her wedding. The heroine did not die. After lying in a coma for four years, she comes to her senses and decides to take revenge on Bill and his assistants.

In this film, Quentin Tarantino confesses his love for old Hong Kong action films. The main character wears a yellow suit in the style of Bruce Lee from the movie "Game of Death", and some scenes directly quote various classics.

2. There is no place for old people

• USA, 2007.
• Thriller, western.
• Duration: 122 minutes.
• IMDb: 8, 1.

Vietnam War veteran Llewellyn Moss stumbles upon a truck loaded with heroin and dead bodies. And besides that, he comes across a bag with two million dollars. Moss decides to appropriate the valuable finds for himself, but the assassin Anton Chigur is already following his trail.

The Coen brothers are known by many for their crime comedies. But No Country for Old Men is a dark and very harsh neo-western film. And Anton Chigur, who was superbly played by Javier Bardem, became one of the most creepy on-screen killers for many years.

1. Leon

• France, USA, 1994.
• Drama, action, crime.
• Duration: 133 minutes.
• IMDb: 8, 5.

After the death of the whole family at the hands of the police, young Matilda went to the unsociable killer Leon. He decided to raise a girl and for the first time in his life became attached to someone. But Matilda wants to take revenge on the murderer of her parents, so she begins to learn Leon's skills.

This joint film by Luc Besson and Jean Reno has become one of the most successful works for both the director and the actor. And Natalie Portman, who played her first role in the film, instantly became a star.