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ActionCrimeDramaThriller HKIFF 1989 Editor's Pick

The Killer Review (1989) — 85% Celluloid Score

Directed by John Woo · 1989 ·

Short answer

Is The Killer worth watching?

Yes. The Killer (1989) earns an 85% Celluloid Score. That puts it in our Recommended tier. Critics and audiences are closely aligned on this one. See the 4 inputs.

85%
Celluloid Score Recommended

4-input transparent breakdown

96% Editorial Rating
93% Audience snapshot · excluded
82 Metascore
★★★★☆ Letterboxd 4.1
7.8 IMDb /10
0
Watch Trailer
Released
Runtime
1h 50m
Age rating
R (US) · 18 (UK) · R 18+ (Australia) · 15 (South Korea) · R15+ (Japan)
Cast
Chow Yun-fat , Danny Lee Sau-Yin , Sally Yip Sin-Man , Paul Chu Kong , Kenneth Tsang , Shing Fui-On , Tommy Wong , James Ha Chim-Si , Ricky Wong Chun-Tong , Barry Wong Ping-Yiu
Streaming
fuboTV, WeTV
Country
Hong Kong
Language
Cantonese

Also known as 喋血雙雄 The Killer (El asesino) O Matador 狼 男たちの挽歌・最終章 첩혈쌍웅 喋血双雄 Acımasız Katil โหดตัดโหด

Where to watch

  • fuboTV
  • WeTV

Rent: Apple TV, Google Play, YouTube, Fandango at Home

Buy: Apple TV, Google Play, YouTube, Fandango at Home

Where to watch The Killer by country

Country Streaming on
India WeTV
Indonesia WeTV
Japan Prime Video, U-NEXT, WeTV
Malaysia WeTV
Philippines WeTV
South Korea TVING, WeTV
Thailand WeTV
United Arab Emirates WeTV
United States fuboTV, WeTV

Subscription availability, refreshed from TMDB. Rental and purchase options may differ.

Why this score?

  • Celluloid's editorial rating is exceptional (96/100).
  • Audiences widely enjoyed it (93%).
  • Metascore signals universal acclaim (82/100).
  • Letterboxd diarists rate it highly (4.1/5).
  • Celluloid Score 85% combines 4 rating inputs; audience sentiment is shown separately. Consult the source notes for verification dates where recorded.

Best for

  • Viewers who want a well-regarded action, crime, drama, thriller pick
  • Short runtime — easy weeknight watch

Not ideal for

    Scores reflect data indexed at build time. Component sources are shown on this page; Celluloid Score is our composite, not a third-party trademark. Scoring policy

    Streaming availability, artwork and title metadata courtesy of TMDB. This product uses the TMDB API but is not endorsed or certified by TMDB.

    Is The Killer worth watching?

    Yes — The Killer earns an 85% Celluloid Score. That puts it in our Recommended tier. It suits viewers who want a well-regarded action, crime, drama, thriller pick.

    Celluloid verdict

    Woo and Chow’s assassin melodrama is a pinnacle of Hong Kong action — balletic gunfights with genuine tragic weight.

    , Founder & Editor

    Critics and audiences are closely aligned on this one.

    What is The Killer about?

    Mob assassin Jeffrey is no ordinary hired gun; the best in his business, he views his chosen profession as a calling rather than simply a job. So, when beautiful nightclub chanteuse Jennie is blinded in the crossfire of his most recent hit, Jeffrey chooses to retire after one last job to pay for his unintended victim's sight-restoring operation. But when Jeffrey is double-crossed, he reluctantly joins forces with a rogue policeman to make things right.

    Watch the Trailer

    The Killer stills

    Official production imagery supplied through TMDB, kept with the movie instead of split into a thin gallery page.

    The Killer production still 1
    The Killer production still 2
    The Killer production still 3
    The Killer production still 4
    The Killer production still 5
    The Killer production still 6

    Images courtesy of TMDB. TMDB does not endorse or certify Celluloid.

    Reader takes

    No reader takes published yet. Send yours and we may publish it after editing.

    The Killer: frequently asked questions

    Is The Killer worth watching?

    Yes. The Killer (1989) has a Celluloid Score of 85%, averaged from the available Celluloid editorial, Metascore, Letterboxd and IMDb ratings. That puts it in our Recommended tier. Audience sentiment is shown separately and does not change the score.

    Where can I watch The Killer?

    In the United States, The Killer streams on fuboTV, WeTV with a subscription, and you can rent it from Apple TV, Google Play, YouTube, Fandango at Home or buy it from Apple TV, Google Play, YouTube, Fandango at Home. Elsewhere: WeTV in India; WeTV in Indonesia; Prime Video, U-NEXT, WeTV in Japan; WeTV in Malaysia. Availability changes; the where-to-watch table on this page is refreshed from TMDB.

    How long is The Killer?

    The Killer runs 1 hour 50 minutes (110 minutes).

    What is The Killer rated?

    The Killer is rated R in the United States, 18 in the UK, R 18+ in Australia, 15 in South Korea and R15+ in Japan. These are the official classifications as recorded on TMDB; check your local classification board for content advice.

    Who stars in The Killer?

    The Killer is directed by John Woo and stars Chow Yun-fat, Danny Lee Sau-Yin, Sally Yip Sin-Man, Paul Chu Kong, Kenneth Tsang.

    What is the Metascore for The Killer?

    Metacritic's Metascore for The Killer is 82 out of 100. It is one of the inputs to the Celluloid Score.

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