The Killer

R

Released Oct 27, 2023

1h 58m

Mystery & Thriller

Drama

Action

Adventure

Crime

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List

85%

287 Reviews

Tomatometer

61%

2,500+ Ratings

Audience Score

After a fateful near-miss an assassin battles his employers, and himself, on an international manhunt he insists isn't personal.

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Critics Consensus

The Killer finds director David Fincher on firm footing with a stylish and engaging thriller that proves a perfect match for leading man Michael Fassbender.

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Audience Consensus

The Killer will be a hit with Fincher fans, although others might find it a little dull or even pretentious.

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Michael

Slick fast moving, clever, fun (I must say), interesting changing, yes sometimes brutal movie, I could see again because I didn't always understand what was going on, but it's not playing anywhere.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

12/30/23

Full Review

baker

Great Fincher film. Fassbender is fantastic.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

11/09/23

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Lynn

Great character study

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

11/06/23

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Daikel Fandino

The Killer brings back memories of David Fincher's early films. This is a fun and intriguing subversion of the stereotypical hitman movie, a richly fascinating study of social and economic class. The film portrays Michael Fassbender as a cold, methodical, and objective character. A unique perspective on the psyche and lifestyle of a calculated contract killer who has both nothing and everything to lose is given to us. Fincher's meticulous direction and Fassbender's reserved performance elevate this to a top-tier level. He reminds himself throughout the movie to be emotionless, anticipate everything, and strive for perfection in everything he does. We're not listening to a man describe why he's the perfect hitman. We're listening to a man trying to be the perfect killer and trying to think like a sociopathic hitman. He's not describing himself in his monologues, but rather the person he wants to be, regardless of his flaws. The film consists of excellent cinematography, editing, score, and sound. The story isn't exactly anything to write home about, but it doesn't really need to be. While this is a basic investigation and revenge setup that we've seen before, the aesthetic that Fincher produces makes it difficult to care. I would say that the motivations of this character seem a little underdeveloped. His stoicism is deliberate. To fully understand the journey he is on, I felt like I needed to gain a greater understanding of his personal life. Michael Fassbender chose the right movie to return to. It's been some time since we last saw him on the big screen, but he made it apparent that we were missing him with this movie. Despite my issues with the script, I enjoyed this movie. It would have been great if the story had been expanded a lot more. It's worth watching.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

10/30/23

Full Review

Michael C

David Fincher at his peak.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

10/30/23

Full Review

Jeremy

Worth it for fans of film directors who respect that youre there to watch their process to piece together the vision the have for a common story.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

10/30/23

Full Review

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David Fincher

Director

Michael Fassbender

The Killer

Charles Parnell

The Lawyer - Hodges

Arliss Howard

The Client - Claybourne

Tilda Swinton

The Expert

Kerry O'Malley

Dolores

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Peter Rainer

FilmWeek (KPCC - NPR Los Angeles)

[David Fincher] certainly has powerhouse craft when all cylinders are firing -- which they are in this movie... A first-rate neo-noir.

Nov 29, 2023

Full Review

Tim Cogshell

FilmWeek (KPCC - NPR Los Angeles)

[It has] the best fight scene I've seen in a movie in a long, long time. It's thrilling. I really, really dug this.

Nov 29, 2023

Full Review

Joshua Rothkopf

Los Angeles Times

The Killer is an opportunity for America’s most stylish director to reboot, to get back to basics, to come in under two hours.

Nov 21, 2023

Full Review

Jamie Healy

Radio Times

The Killer does provide a fine showcase for some expert close-up fight choreography, but the same attention to detail doesn't extend to the film's contrived, confusing plot and lazy stock characters.

Rated: 2/5

Mar 27, 2024

Full Review

Matt Brunson

Film Frenzy

It plays like a John Wick flick for people who think they’re too good for a John Wick flick.

Rated: 1.5/4

Mar 12, 2024

Full Review

Rubén Rosario

MiamiArtZine

The Killer evaporates before your eyes, undone by an obtrusive voiceover narration that undermines its sleek minimalism at nearly every turn.

Mar 11, 2024

Full Review

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Synopsis

After a fateful near-miss an assassin battles his employers, and himself, on an international manhunt he insists isn't personal.

Director: David Fincher
Screenwriter: Andrew Kevin Walker
Distributor: Netflix
Production Co: Plan B Entertainment, Panic Pictures (II), Boom! Studios
Rating: R (Strong Violence|Language|Brief Sexuality)
Genre: Mystery & Thriller, Drama, Action, Adventure, Crime
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Oct 27, 2023, Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Nov 10, 2023
Runtime: 1h 58m
Sound Mix: Dolby Atmos, Dolby Digital
Aspect Ratio: Digital 2.39:1

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