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The Killer

Play trailer Poster for The Killer R 1991 1h 51m Action Crime Drama Mystery & Thriller Play Trailer Watchlist
Watchlist Tomatometer Popcornmeter
96% Tomatometer 48 Reviews 92% Popcornmeter 25,000+ Ratings
Mob assassin Jeffrey (Chow Yun-Fat) is no ordinary hired gun; the best in his business, he views his chosen profession as a calling rather than simply a job. So, when beautiful nightclub chanteuse Jennie (Sally Yeh) is blinded in the crossfire of his most recent hit, Jeffrey chooses to retire after one last job to pay for his unintended victim's sight-restoring operation. But when Jeffrey is double-crossed, he reluctantly joins forces with a rogue policeman (Danny Lee) to make things right.

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The Killer

The Killer

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Critics Consensus

The Killer is another hard-boiled action flick from John Woo featuring eye-popping balletic violence and philosophical underpinnings.

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Critics Reviews

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Peter Bradshaw Guardian Mar 19
4/5
John Woo’s 1989 thriller is a reminder of the director’s habit of hitching the craziest of mayhem to a mile-wide streak of earnest emotionalism and sentimentality; a strong and under-acknowledged part of why his films are so addictive. Go to Full Review Hugo Davenport Daily Telegraph (UK) 07/27/2023
While there is no doubting the technical sophistication of Woo's hyper-kinetic massacres... the most notable aspect of [the film] is the award mix of tongue-in-cheek kitsch and lumbering, macho, male-bonding earnestness in between. Go to Full Review Keith Phipps The Dissolve 09/08/2017
The work of a filmmaker operating at the highest level of his abilities. Go to Full Review Sean Axmaker Stream on Demand Mar 7
The execution... is pure Woo bullet ballet with high melodrama, operatic buddy-movie bonding, and blood-soaked excess. Go to Full Review Tom Cassidy Common Sense Media Feb 24
5/5
This 1980s Hong Kong gun fu movie has spectacular action and bloody violence, but the action is really backdrop to what is essentially a character study along the lines of a Greek tragedy. Go to Full Review Matt Brunson Film Frenzy Dec 6
3.5/4
It’s a highlight of Hong Kong cinema, a mainstay of action cinema, and John Woo’s best film. Go to Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Mr Hollywood Apr 16 Classic John Woo film. If you love Face/Off you have to watch this. Action movie done right See more Matt Apr 15 If you don't like this movie, you're an asshole. See more Rob Apr 9 What a classic!! Epic! See more Dane K Apr 9 Fantastic action film! See more Grace Apr 9 A touching masterpiece and a true classic. With its iconic photography and legendary music, The Killer stands as the best movie of the Woo and Chow partnership. See more Abraham Apr 9 Amazing film and a Hong Kong classic. See more Read all reviews
The Killer

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Cast & Crew

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John Woo

Director

Chow Yun-Fat

Ah Jong

Danny Lee

Insp. Li

Sally Yeh

Jennie

Kenneth Tsang

Sgt. Randy Chang

Kong Chu

Fung Sei

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The Killer

The Killer (1989) The Killer (1989) View more photos

Movie Info

Synopsis Mob assassin Jeffrey (Chow Yun-Fat) is no ordinary hired gun; the best in his business, he views his chosen profession as a calling rather than simply a job. So, when beautiful nightclub chanteuse Jennie (Sally Yeh) is blinded in the crossfire of his most recent hit, Jeffrey chooses to retire after one last job to pay for his unintended victim's sight-restoring operation. But when Jeffrey is double-crossed, he reluctantly joins forces with a rogue policeman (Danny Lee) to make things right.
Director
John Woo
Producer
Hark Tsui
Distributor
Circle Films
Production Co
Magnum, Golden Princess Film Production Limited, Film Workshop Ltd.
Rating
R
Genre
Action, Crime, Drama, Mystery & Thriller
Original Language
Chinese
Release Date (Theaters)
Mar 1, 1991, Original
Rerelease Date (Theaters)
Apr 5, 2026
Release Date (DVD)
Mar 30, 2010
Runtime
1h 51m
Sound Mix
Mono
Aspect Ratio
Flat (1.85:1)