8 Best Assassin Movies of All Time

By Vlad Zakh · February 11, 2026

The professional killer is cinema’s most enduring archetype, and these films explore the code, coldness and occasional conscience behind the trigger. John Wick has a retired hitman seeking revenge, In Bruges has two hitmen hiding out in Belgium, and Collateral has a cab driver chauffeuring one through a night of killings. Ghost Dog, Leon: The Professional, La Femme Nikita, The Day of the Jackal and Le Samourai round out the eight.

John Wick (2014)

IMDb ★ 7.5 RT 87% Metacritic 68

A retired hitman is pulled back into violence after a small act of cruelty against him.

Directed by Chad Stahelski · 1h 41m · Rated R

5 wins & 10 nominations

Where to watch

Stream: YouTube TV · Rent: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, Fandango At Home, FlixFling, Spectrum On Demand · Buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

In Bruges (2008)

IMDb ★ 7.9 RT 84% Metacritic 67

Two hitmen hide out in a Belgian tourist town over Christmas while waiting for orders that will change everything.

Directed by Martin McDonagh · 1h 48m · Rated R

Nominated for 1 Oscar25 wins & 55 nominations

Where to watch

Rent: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home, FlixFling · Buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

Collateral (2004)

TMDB ★ 7.5

A cab driver is taken hostage by a contract killer for one long, deadly night across Los Angeles.

Directed by Michael Mann · 2h 00m · Rated R

Where to watch

Stream: Amazon Prime Video, fuboTV, MGM+ Amazon Channel, Paramount Plus Premium, Paramount Plus Essential, Peacock Premium · Rent: JustWatch TV, Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home · Buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

Ghost Dog: The Way of the Samurai (1999)

TMDB ★ 7.2

A mob-employed hitman living by an ancient samurai code becomes the target of his own employers.

Directed by Jim Jarmusch · 1h 57m · Rated R

Where to watch

Stream: HBO Max Amazon Channel, Cinemax Amazon Channel, HBO Max, Cinemax Apple TV channel · Rent or buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

Léon: The Professional (1994)

IMDb ★ 8.5 RT 76% Metacritic 64

A hitman reluctantly takes in a young girl after her family is murdered, teaching her his trade.

Directed by Luc Besson · 1h 51m · Rated R

5 wins & 16 nominations

Where to watch

Stream: Sundance Now, Sony Pictures Core Amazon Channel · Rent: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home, Plex · Buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

La Femme Nikita (1990)

TMDB ★ 7.2

A violent young criminal is secretly trained and reprogrammed as a government assassin.

Directed by Luc Besson · 1h 57m · Rated R

Where to watch

Rent or buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

The Day of the Jackal (1973)

TMDB ★ 7.7

A professional assassin is hired to kill the President of France, setting off an international manhunt.

Directed by Fred Zinnemann · 2h 23m · Rated PG

Where to watch

Rent or buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

Le Samouraï (1967)

IMDb ★ 8.0 RT 92% Metacritic 90

A hitman's rigid, near-silent code of conduct starts to crack after one witness sees his face.

Directed by Jean-Pierre Melville · 1h 45m · Rated PG

1 nomination

Where to watch

Stream: Amazon Prime Video, HBO Max Amazon Channel, HBO Max, Amazon Prime Video with Ads · Rent or buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

Streaming availability data from JustWatch, via TMDB. Availability changes often, so check the service before you plan a movie night.

Vlad Zakh

Founder, Movieix

Founder of Movieix. He started the site because most recommendation pages felt like noise. Here, lists are sorted by who's in the film, where it's from and what mood you're in tonight.

8 Best Assassin Movies of All Time

John Wick (2014)

In Bruges (2008)

Collateral (2004)

Ghost Dog: The Way of the Samurai (1999)

Léon: The Professional (1994)

La Femme Nikita (1990)

The Day of the Jackal (1973)

Le Samouraï (1967)

You might also like

50 Best Action Movies of All Time

50 Best Crime Movies of All Time

50 Best Revenge Movies of All Time

10 Best French Thriller Movies

10 Best British Crime and Thriller Movies

15 Best 2010s Action Movies