Hit Man is an all new comic crime thriller that pairs well-regarded indie director Richard Linklater with rising star Glen Powell in a movie that has built a solid bit of buzz around it.
Hit Man premiered during the 2023 fall film festival circuit, screening at both the Venice Film Festival and Toronto International Film Festival, where it received strong reviews and was eventually picked up by Netflix for distribution.
Here's everything to know about Hit Man.
How to watch Hit Man
After getting a limited run in movie theaters, you can now watch Hit Man on Netflix worldwide.
Hit Man plot
Richard Linklater and Glen Powell co-wrote the script for Hit Man, which is based on a real-life incident that was written as a Texas Monthly article by Skip Hollandsworth. Here's the synopsis:
"Inspired by an unbelievable true story, a straight-laced professor discovers he has a hidden talent as a fake hit man. He meets his match in a client who steals his heart and ignites a powder keg of deception, delight, and mixed-up identities."
Hit Man cast
In addition to co-writing the screenplay, Glen Powell stars in Hit Man as Gary Johnson. Powell's star power has really begun to rise in recent years, particularly with roles in Top Gun: Maverick, Devotion and Set It Up. He also has a previous history with Richard Linklater, starring in the director's Everybody Wants Some!!, Apollo 10 1/2 and Fast Food Nation. He most recently starred in the rom-com Anyone But You.
Ardia Arjona also stars in the movie as the woman that Gary falls for. Viewers will recognize Arjona from her roles on Andor, Father of the Bride, Irma Vep and Morbius.
Others in the cast include Austin Amelio (The Walking Dead), Retta (Parks & Recreation), Sanjay Rao (The Flight Attendant), Molly Bernard (Chicago Med) and Evan Holtzman (Hidden Figures)
Hit Man trailer
See Glen Powell play various styles of hit men in the crime comedy before finding himself in a bit of a predicament when he starts to fall for his latest target. Watch the official Hit Man trailer right here, as well as the previously released teaser trailer
Hit Man reviews
The reviews for Hit Man are stellar, it has an impressive 98% "Certified Fresh" score on Rotten Tomatoes.
Here are some samplings from the reviews:
Ty Burr, Ty Burr's Watch List: "A witty, relaxed, and cheerfully fictionalized comedy-caper-romance."
Ben Croll, The Wrap: "The comedy is a deliriously entertaining star vehicle for actor Glen Powell."
Jo-Ann Titmarsh, London Evening Standard: "An intelligent comedy that contains plenty of laugh-out-loud moments and references Kant and Nietzsche, it is also a thriller that is darker than it first appears."
Richard Linklater movies
Richard Linklater is an acclaimed director, though as most of his work has been of the more indie variety (with a couple bigger movies sprinkled in), it can sometimes feel like he is a bit lost in the shuffle. However, just look at his list of directing credits to remind yourself that he is one of the best in the business:
- It's Impossible to Learn to Plow by Reading Books (1988)
- Slacker (1990)
- Dazed and Confused (1993)
- Before Sunrise (1995)
- SubUrbia (1996)
- The Newton Boys (1998)
- Waking Life (2001)
- Tape (2001)
- School of Rock (2003)
- Before Sunset (2004)
- Bad News Bears (2005)
- Fast Food Nation (2006)
- A Scanner Darkly (2006)
- Inning by Inning: Portrait of a Coach (2008)
- Me and Orson Welles (2008)
- Bernie (2011)
- Before Midnight (2013)
- Boyhood (2014)
- Everybody Wants Some!! (2016)
- Last Flag Flying (2017)
- Where'd You Go Bernadette (2019)
- Apollo 10 1/2 (2022)
