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Killer Elite

Play trailer Poster for Killer Elite R 2011 2h 0m Action Mystery & Thriller Play Trailer Watchlist
Watchlist Tomatometer Popcornmeter
27% Tomatometer 124 Reviews 42% Popcornmeter 25,000+ Ratings
Danny Bryce (Jason Statham), one of the world's deadliest special-ops agents, returns from self-imposed exile after his mentor, Hunter (Robert De Niro) is captured. Danny reassembles his former team of skilled commandos to launch a rescue mission, and also to infiltrate the highly feared military unit, the British Special Air Service. The mission will not be easy, for Danny and his team must cut their way through Spike (Clive Owen) and a team of assassins known as the Feather Men.
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Killer Elite

Killer Elite

What to Know

Critics Consensus

A rote, utterly disposable Jason Statham vehicle that just happens to have Clive Owen and Robert De Niro in it.

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Critics Reviews

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Sara Michelle Fetters MovieFreak.com 01/27/2012
1.5/4
The movie just sort of sits there, going through the motions, reveling in clich, building to a strangely inert climax that is forgone as it is underwhelming. Go to Full Review
Kimberley Jones Austin Chronicle 09/30/2011
2/5
The overlong, perfunctory Killer Elite is simply a series of (reasonably well-choreographed) assassination sequences. Go to Full Review
Nick Hasted Little White Lies 09/28/2011
2/5
Long, muddled, misguided. Go to Full Review
Matt Brunson Film Frenzy May 18
1.5/4
Anyone hoping for an intriguing game of cat-and-mouse between Statham and Owen -- on the order of Ford and Jones in The Fugitive -— will realize that their skirmishes can’t even match the feud between Tom and Jerry… or Punch and Judy, for that matter. Go to Full Review
Brian Eggert Deep Focus Review 03/08/2023
2.5/4
Killer Elite is more involving than your usual Statham drivel and certainly deserves attention outside of his usual fanbase. Go to Full Review
Mike Massie Gone With The Twins 11/30/2020
6/10
Successfully maintains a surprising degree of intrigue and intensity, not through an overly clever storyline, but with an air of unpredictability within its characters. Go to Full Review
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Audience Reviews

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Chris S @Janomi 21h Killer Elite is strongest when it leans into its old-school espionage/action tone. The mercenary world, political coverups, assassinations, ex-SAS history, and personal debts give the movie a grittier, more grounded feel than a lot of modern action thrillers. Jason Statham is the film’s biggest asset as Danny Bryce. He brings toughness, restraint, and credibility to the role, making Danny feel like a capable professional rather than a superhero. Robert De Niro adds emotional weight as his mentor, while Clive Owen makes a solid rival, smart and physical enough to feel like a real threat. The close-quarters fights, especially between Statham and Owen, are brutal and practical in the right way. The main issue is that the plot is cluttered, piling on revenge, oil politics, secret groups, and betrayals without turning them into a clean, gripping story. It is good and watchable, but more complicated than compelling. See more Dave L @RT29131586 Feb 4 A good up to date remake of an old classic. And what a cast, what's there not to like ?? Well worth a watch. See more Mika F @RT56216153 Sep 27 It was hard to follow the details here and there, but I really enjoyed it! See more Gregory S @Gregory566 05/02/2025 Awesome cast and a pretty cool story. Fun action flick to turn the brain off to. See more AD 3 @RT11830953 04/26/2025 These ppl are stupid. Rotten Tomatos must pick the worst critics who really don't much about film or life. I think im done with this site, a movie only good if it's about transvestites or something See more Korra N @RT88131552 02/02/2025 The cast does a great job, but the movie they're in is pretty bland. Still, it's worth a look for fans of action thrillers. See more Read all reviews
Killer Elite

My Rating

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Movie Info

Synopsis Danny Bryce (Jason Statham), one of the world's deadliest special-ops agents, returns from self-imposed exile after his mentor, Hunter (Robert De Niro) is captured. Danny reassembles his former team of skilled commandos to launch a rescue mission, and also to infiltrate the highly feared military unit, the British Special Air Service. The mission will not be easy, for Danny and his team must cut their way through Spike (Clive Owen) and a team of assassins known as the Feather Men.
Director
Gary McKendry
Producer
Sigurjon Sighvatsson, Steve Chasman, Michael Boughen, Tony Winley
Screenwriter
Matt Sherring
Distributor
Omni Lab, Open Road
Production Co
Film Victoria, Mascot Pictures Corporation
Rating
R (Some Sexuality/Nudity|Language|Strong Violence)
Genre
Action, Mystery & Thriller
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Sep 23, 2011, Wide
Release Date (Streaming)
Jan 6, 2016
Box Office (Gross USA)
$25.1M
Runtime
2h 0m
Sound Mix
SDDS, Dolby Digital