The Replacement Killers
The Replacement Killers

The Replacement Killers

1998Movie87 minEnglish

Hired assassin John Lee is asked by Chinatown crime boss Terence Wei to murder the young son of policeman Stan Zedkov. 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 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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Insights

IMDb6.2/10
Rotten Tomatoes37%
Metacritic41/100
Google Users62%
Director: Antoine FuquaGenres: Action, Crime, Thriller

Plot Summary

A skilled hitman, John Lee, is double-crossed by his employer and framed for the murder of a crime boss. Now on the run from both the mob and the Interpol, he must find a way to clear his name and survive. He teams up with a skilled art forger, Meg Coburn, who becomes entangled in his dangerous world as they race against time to expose the truth and escape the deadly consequences.

Critical Reception

The Replacement Killers received mixed reviews from critics, who often praised its stylized action sequences and visual flair but criticized its predictable plot and underdeveloped characters. The film was noted for its Hong Kong-style martial arts influences and its grimy, neon-lit urban setting. While not a critical darling, it found a niche audience appreciative of its high-octane thrills.

What Reviewers Say

  • Praised for its inventive and kinetic action sequences.
  • Criticized for a formulaic storyline and thinly drawn characters.
  • Visually striking with a gritty, atmospheric urban setting.

Google audience: Audiences found the action to be exciting and visually impressive, appreciating the film's fast pace and stylish direction. However, many felt the plot was derivative and the characters lacked depth, leading to a generally lukewarm reception.

Fun Fact

The film was the first American production to be entirely shot on location in Hong Kong after the handover to China in 1997.

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My Review

TMDB Reviews

1 reviews
JPV852

JPV852

Not a great action-thriller (one of many of the East meets West team-up pictures of the late 90s/early aughts) but has its moments and liked the pairing of Chow Yun-fat and Bridget Fonda. Still relatively entertaining though apparently high...