Hitman (2007)

Movie · 2007 · Action, Thriller, Drama · 1h 29m · R · English

Curator score: 0.6/10 (256.7K ratings)

Most believe his very existence is a sin. But others know he is a necessary evil.

Overview

A genetically engineered assassin with deadly aim, known only as "Agent 47" eliminates strategic targets for a top-secret organization. But when he's double-crossed, the hunter becomes the prey as 47 finds himself in a life-or-death game of international intrigue.

Ratings

Director

Xavier Gens

Production

EuropaCorp, Charles Gordon Productions, Adrian Askarieh Productions

Cast

Timothy Olyphant, Dougray Scott, Olga Kurylenko, Robert Knepper, Ulrich Thomsen, Henry Ian Cusick, Michael Offei, Christian Erickson, Ériq Ebouaney, Joe Sheridan, James Faulkner, Jean-Marc Bellu, Nicky Naudé, Abdou Sagna, Ilya Nikitenko, Loïc Molla, Youssef Diawara, Patrick Ligardes, Anca Radici, Cyril Gueï

Curator Review

Verdict

A slick but uneven video-game adaptation with a few effective action beats, a pulpy international-conspiracy setup, and enough style to keep genre fans engaged. The plotting is messy and the emotional stakes are thin, so it works more as disposable assassin entertainment than a fully satisfying thriller.

Best for

  • fans of glossy, mid-2000s action thrillers
  • viewers curious about video-game adaptations
  • people who enjoy stoic antiheroes and espionage plots
  • audiences looking for a low-commitment action watch

Skip if

  • you want tight storytelling and strong character development
  • you dislike clunky dialogue or obvious studio-movie plotting
  • you expect the film to closely capture the game’s tone
  • you need action scenes with especially memorable choreography

Overview

Hitman is the kind of movie that should be better than it is, but it never quite finds the right balance between cool premise and coherent execution. The setup is strong: a genetically engineered assassin, a global conspiracy, and a protagonist designed to be all precision and no personality. That concept gives the film a clean, comic-book-like appeal, and the production has enough polish to suggest a sharper movie hiding inside it.

Worth noting

What holds it back is the storytelling. The movie moves fast, but not always purposefully, and the emotional beats arrive without much weight. It often feels like a pilot for a larger franchise rather than a complete feature, which can make the whole thing feel rushed and oddly hollow even when the action is working.

Bottom line

Still, there’s a certain appeal in its bluntness. If you’re in the mood for a sleek, disposable assassin thriller with international locations, coded identities, and a lead performance that leans into dead-eyed detachment, it can go down easily enough. Just don’t expect elegance where the film mostly offers momentum and attitude.

Top Letterboxd reviews

c.w. scott (1★) · 432 likes

my Google Search history today 2 hours ago: 'download hitman movie 2007' just now: 'how to hire an actual hitman to murder me'

Matt Singer (1.5★) · 265 likes

Somehow, there are two of these Hitman movies. And if you look them up online, you’ll see not even Amazon can tell the difference between them. (It has a picture of Rupert Friend attached to this movie, where the lead character is played by Timothy Olyphant.)

shookone (1★) · 231 likes

looks like someone took randomly film strips out of the editors rubbish bin and glued them arbitrarily together. a festival of continuity errors and narrative levels that feel like the fast forward button got jammed.

Jackie Stargrove (0.5★) · 178 likes

Shitman.

oliviathebi (1★) · 145 likes

It must've been difficult to make an action film so boring

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Topics

action thriller, video game adaptation, assassin, espionage, international intrigue, antihero, mid-2000s, conspiracy, stylized violence, pulp

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