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The Replacement Killers

Play trailer Poster for The Replacement Killers R Released Feb 6, 1998 1h 26m Action Play Trailer Watchlist
Watchlist Tomatometer Popcornmeter
37% Tomatometer 38 Reviews 47% Popcornmeter 25,000+ Ratings
Hired assassin John Lee (Chow Yun-Fat) is asked by Chinatown crime boss Terence Wei (Kenneth Tsang) to murder the young son of policeman Stan Zedkov (Michael Rooker). Lee has the boy in his sights, but his conscience gets the better of him, and he spares the child's life. Afraid that Wei will take revenge on his family in China, Lee seeks out expert forger Meg Coburn (Mira Sorvino) to obtain the passport he needs to get out of the country, but a band of replacement killers is soon on his trail.
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The Replacement Killers

The Replacement Killers

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Critics Consensus

Chow Yun-fat makes his dubious English-language debut in The Replacement Killers, a stylish but muddled knockoff of the Hong Kong shoot-em-ups that earned the star his international renown.

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Critics Reviews

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Lisa Schwarzbaum Entertainment Weekly Rated: C Sep 7, 2011 Full Review Globe and Mail Rated: 1.5/4 Apr 25, 2003 Full Review USA Today Rated: 3/4 Jan 1, 2000 Full Review Dan DiNicola The Daily Gazette (Schenectady, NY) This film might be the ultimate temp job, but stars Chow Yin-Fat and Mira Sorvino deserve better work. Rated: C- Jan 19, 2023 Full Review Mike Massie Gone With The Twins It isn't boring, but it could have amounted to a lot more, particularly as the final showdown is thrillingly chaotic and brutal. Rated: 6/10 Jun 28, 2021 Full Review Leigh Paatsch Herald Sun (Australia) As for the plot here, let's just say it has something to do with hit men, drug lords and revenge, and leave it at that. Rated: 1.5/5 Jun 9, 2020 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Alec B Fuqua was doing his best possible imitation of John Woo here, but all it did was invite comparisons to those much better action films. Rated 2 out of 5 stars 12/13/23 Full Review DanTheMan 2 Extended Cut A well-paced and highly glossy version of a Hong Kong action movie, just made in America, The Replacement Killers marks both the directorial debut of Antoine Fuqua and the international debut of the embodiment of coolness himself, Chow Yun-fat. Chow's unshakable cool presence is inescapable in the midst of a pretty barebones story, it isn't boring, but it could have amounted to a lot more, particularly as the final showdown is so thrillingly chaotic and brutal. No wonder, as the set pieces were all choreographed by John Woo, they shine amidst the chaotic production and how much this film was torn apart in the edit. With some great performances, especially Mira Sorvino and Chow, given he was learning English at the time and a darkly hypnotic synth-driven score by Harry Gregson-Williams (later getting him the job composing for Metal Gear Solid), The Replacement Killers manages to overcome its ho-hum narrative by just being good at what it does. Rated 3 out of 5 stars 09/29/23 Full Review carlos t Minha opinião: Um filme de 1998 e você pode assistir nos dias de hoje que não sentira diferença. Um clássico filme ao estilo #chinês de #máfia e #vingança O tempero não muda, mas bem feito. Boa atuação Cho Yun-Fat, Mira Sorvino que na época bem jovem e linda. Temos também Michael Rooker, Danny Trejo. Muito tiro ao estilo dos filmes de #JohnWoo Conta a estória onde a policia com Michael faz uma batida e acaba matando o filho de um grande mafioso. O mafioso então contra Chow que é um matador para vingar e matar o filho do policial. Mas na hora ele não executa. Então em vingança o mafioso agora esta atrás dele e do filho do Michael. Chow quer fugir para China para salvar sua família e contrata uma falsificadora de passaporte. Ai surge na estória Mira, que não tem nada a haver com estória, mas é envolvida pela máfia, e ela começa a afeiçoar por Chow. E ajuda ele a matar o chefão. Nisso ele contrata outros matadores, entre eles Danny. E chega ao final do filme com muito tiro, muita morte. E claro no final o mocinho vence. Vale apena assistir. Roteiro: Apesar do roteiro não trazer novidade, ele é bem feito. Oque faz da produção boa para assistir. Nota: 7 Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 03/30/23 Full Review Audience Member LOL, the best of now-English speaking Chow Yun-Fat!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Rated 5 out of 5 stars 01/28/23 Full Review Audience Member I don't know what the hate is about, I love this as an action movie. I will admit as a soldier I think the two gun thing belongs in action movies and anime, because it is functional stupid, but it is part of the art in this movie. It is like any Chinese martial art movie (in this case pistol being the art), very stylized, but there is a beauty to it. There is more soul in this movie than you would think. It is not a western aesthetic, if you are looking for Clint Eastwood you will rate it low. If you were looking for Crouching Tiger hidden Beretta, you will be in love. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 02/18/23 Full Review Audience Member Fatt's first international appearance as lead cast but he already have huge reputation to meet for his Chinese fans. Pretty enjoyable action die-hard style even some part don't makes sense. Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 02/03/23 Full Review Read all reviews
The Replacement Killers

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Movie Info

Synopsis Hired assassin John Lee (Chow Yun-Fat) is asked by Chinatown crime boss Terence Wei (Kenneth Tsang) to murder the young son of policeman Stan Zedkov (Michael Rooker). Lee has the boy in his sights, but his conscience gets the better of him, and he spares the child's life. Afraid that Wei will take revenge on his family in China, Lee seeks out expert forger Meg Coburn (Mira Sorvino) to obtain the passport he needs to get out of the country, but a band of replacement killers is soon on his trail.
Director
Antoine Fuqua
Producer
Bernie Brillstein, Brad Grey
Screenwriter
Ken Sanzel
Distributor
Columbia Pictures
Production Co
Columbia Pictures, WCG Entertainment Productions, Brillstein-Grey Entertainment
Rating
R (Strong Violence|Language)
Genre
Action
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Feb 6, 1998, Wide
Release Date (Streaming)
Jan 1, 2012
Box Office (Gross USA)
$19.0M
Runtime
1h 26m
Sound Mix
SDDS, Dolby Stereo, Surround
Aspect Ratio
Scope (2.35:1)
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