Release: 2024-09-12
Runtime: 1h 44m (104 minutes)
When top hitman Joe Flood is diagnosed with a terminal illness, he decides to take matters into his own hands – by taking a hit out on himself. But when the very hitmen he hired also target his ex-girlfriend, he must fend off an army of assassin colleagues and win back the love of his life before it's too late.
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Provided by JustWatch
Genres: Action, Comedy, Crime
Cast: Sofia Boutella, Dave Bautista, Scott Adkins, more
Sofia Boutella
as Maize Arnaud
Dave Bautista
as Joe Flood
Scott Adkins
as Angus Mackenzie
Ben Kingsley
as Zvi Rabinowitz
Pom Klementieff
as Antoinette
Terry Crews
as Creighton Lovedahl
Alex Kingston
as Sharon Rabinowitz
Hoon Lee
as Goyang
Marko Zaror
as Emilio 'El Botas'
Lucy Cork
as Ginni
Daniel Bernhardt
as Max
Antonia Desplat
as Aimee
When top hitman Joe Flood is diagnosed with a terminal illness, he decides to take matters into his own hands – by taking a hit out on himself. But when the very hitmen he hired also target his ex-girlfriend, he must fend off an army of assassin colleagues and win back the love of his life before it's too late.
Winning is all in the execution.
The Killer's Game is an action-comedy film released in the United States on 13 September 2024. Directed by J. J. Perry and written by Rand Ravich and James Coyne, the movie is based on a novel of the same name by Jay Bonansinga. The film features a talented cast, including Dave Bautista, Sofia Boutella, Terry Crews, Scott Adkins, Pom Klementieff, and Ben Kingsley.
The storyline follows Joe Flood, a hitman who finds himself in a whirlwind of chaos after a botched assassination in Budapest. While on a mission, Joe helps a dancer named Maize escape a dangerous situation. They quickly develop a romantic relationship, but Joe hides the truth about his job from her. Soon, Joe learns he has a serious illness with only three months to live and devises a plan to take out a life insurance policy for Maize. He tries to hire someone to end his life, but complications arise when he discovers that he has been misdiagnosed.
As the plot thickens, Joe's decision to put a hit on himself leads to a series of thrilling and humorous encounters with various assassins, including the determined Lovedahl Gasevich, played by Terry Crews. Joe sets traps to lure the hitmen to him, leading to an action-packed showdown. Throughout the chaos, Joe and Maize's relationship is tested, especially as they navigate the unexpected risks of Joe's profession.
Despite its promising premise, The Killer's Game has received mixed reviews. Critics noted that while Dave Bautista's performance added a refreshing element, the film lacked originality and did not deliver on its comedic potential. On the review aggregator site Rotten Tomatoes, the film holds a 42% rating, with an average score of 4.9/10. Similarly, Metacritic assigned a score of 37 out of 100, indicating generally unfavorable reviews.
In its opening weekend, The Killer's Game grossed approximately $2.6 million, positioning it seventh at the box office. Overall, the film has garnered about $5.9 million worldwide, which is significantly lower than its $30 million budget. Audiences rated the film a "B+" according to CinemaScore, highlighting that despite the film's flaws, some viewers appreciated its entertainment value.
The film was originally titled Godforsaken and underwent several changes before reaching its current form. Principal photography took place in Budapest starting in July 2023. It is produced by Mad Chance Productions and Endurance Media, with distribution by Lionsgate.
For fans of action comedies and those who enjoy the charisma of Dave Bautista, The Killer's Game offers a mix of thrills and laughs, though expectations should be tempered regarding its overall execution and originality.
