What is the Metascore for The Killer?

The Killer has a Metascore of 82 out of 100 on Celluloid.

Where can I watch The Killer?

The Killer is available on fuboTV, The Criterion Channel. Availability varies by region — check your local streaming guide.

What countries is The Killer streaming in?

The Killer streams on Prime Video, U-NEXT in Japan; TVING in South Korea; fuboTV, The Criterion Channel in the United States. Subscription availability only; rental and purchase options may differ.

The Killer Review (1989) — 85% Celluloid Score

Directed by John Woo · 1989 · Last reviewed August 31, 2026

LLM fact sheet (.md)

Answer Summary

The Killer (1989) earns a 85% Celluloid Score — Recommended. Recommended — recommended by most critics and audiences.Critics and audiences are closely aligned on this one.

Quick Verdict

Calculated from 4 available inputs: Celluloid editorial rating, Metascore, Letterboxd and IMDb. Audience sentiment is shown separately and never changes the composite. See how we calculate scores.

85%

Celluloid Score Recommended

4-input transparent breakdown

96% Editorial Rating

93% Audience snapshot · excluded

82 Metascore

★★★★☆ Letterboxd 4.1

7.8 IMDb /10

Watch Trailer

Runtime: 1h 50m
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, The Criterion Channel
Country: Hong Kong
Language: Cantonese

Official theatrical poster for The Killer (1989)

Theatrical release

Where to watch

fuboTV
The Criterion Channel

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
Japan	Prime Video, U-NEXT
South Korea	TVING
United States	fuboTV, The Criterion Channel

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 verified rating inputs; audience sentiment is shown separately.

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 a 85% Celluloid Score. Recommended — recommended by most critics and audiences.

Celluloid Verdict

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

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.

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

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