Hit Man is a 2023 American romantic black comedy film directed by Richard Linklater
Based on the 2001 article "Hit Man" by Skip Hollandsworth. The film premiered at the 80th Venice International Film Festival on September 5, 2023, and was released in select theaters in the United States on May 24, 2024, before its streaming debut on Netflix on June 7, 2024.
Plot and Cast
The film follows Gary Johnson, a college professor and tech guy who moonlights as an undercover mole for the New Orleans Police Department. He poses as a reliable hitman to arrest those trying to hire him. Gary discovers he has a talent for theatrically matching the expectations of his suspects with humorous costumes, accents, and mannerisms, making him adept at his work. He meets Maddy Masters, a battered woman who wants to hire him to kill her husband, but he advises her to seek better help. They become romantically entangled.
The cast includes Glen Powell as Gary Johnson, Adria Arjona as Maddy Masters, Austin Amelio as Jasper, Retta as Claudette, and Sanjay Rao as Phil.
Production and Release
Before the 2022 Cannes Film Market, the film was announced for international sale. The screenplay was written by Richard Linklater and Glen Powell, based on the Texas Monthly article. Adria Arjona also stars. AGC Studios reported strong sales for international distribution at the 2022 Toronto International Film Festival. Filming began in New Orleans in October 2022 and was completed that November.
The film had its international premiere at the 80th Venice International Film Festival on September 5, 2023. It was followed by its North American premiere on September 11 at the 2023 Toronto International Film Festival. Netflix acquired distribution rights for $20 million at TIFF, with plans for a theatrical release and streaming debut.
Reception
The film received widespread critical acclaim. On Rotten Tomatoes, 97% of 190 critics' reviews are positive, with an average rating of 8.1/10. The consensus reads: "A deceptively dark thriller that's also loaded with laughs, Hit Man is an outstanding showcase for leading man Glen Powell—and one of the most purely entertaining films of Richard Linklater's career." Metacritic assigned the film a score of 83 out of 100, indicating "universal acclaim."