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The Replacement Killers

  • 1998
  • R
  • 1h 27m
IMDb RATING
6.1/10
32K
YOUR RATING
Mira Sorvino and Chow Yun-Fat in The Replacement Killers (1998)
Trailer for The Replacement Killers
Play trailer2:22
1 Video
87 Photos
Gun FuActionCrimeThriller

A troubled hitman seeks aid from a forger to help him get papers to China. However, the drug lord has hired replacements to finish the job, and kill the hitman.A troubled hitman seeks aid from a forger to help him get papers to China. However, the drug lord has hired replacements to finish the job, and kill the hitman.A troubled hitman seeks aid from a forger to help him get papers to China. However, the drug lord has hired replacements to finish the job, and kill the hitman.

  • Director
    • Antoine Fuqua
  • Writer
    • Ken Sanzel
  • Stars
    • Chow Yun-Fat
    • Mira Sorvino
    • Michael Rooker
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    6.1/10
    32K
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • Antoine Fuqua
    • Writer
      • Ken Sanzel
    • Stars
      • Chow Yun-Fat
      • Mira Sorvino
      • Michael Rooker
    • 202User reviews
    • 105Critic reviews
    • 42Metascore
  • See production info at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 1 nomination total

    Videos1

    The Replacement Killers
    Trailer 2:22
    The Replacement Killers

    Photos87

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    Top Cast46

    Edit
    Chow Yun-Fat
    Chow Yun-Fat
    • John Lee
    Mira Sorvino
    Mira Sorvino
    • Meg Coburn
    Michael Rooker
    Michael Rooker
    • Stan 'Zeedo' Zedkov
    Kenneth Tsang
    Kenneth Tsang
    • Terence Wei
    Jürgen Prochnow
    Jürgen Prochnow
    • Michael Kogan
    • (as Jurgen Prochnow)
    Til Schweiger
    Til Schweiger
    • Ryker
    Danny Trejo
    Danny Trejo
    • Collins
    Clifton Collins Jr.
    Clifton Collins Jr.
    • Loco
    • (as Clifton Gonzalez Gonzalez)
    Carlos Gómez
    Carlos Gómez
    • Hunt
    • (as Carlos Gomez)
    Frank Medrano
    Frank Medrano
    • Rawlins
    Leo Lee
    Leo Lee
    • Lam
    Patrick Kilpatrick
    Patrick Kilpatrick
    • Pryce
    Randall Duk Kim
    Randall Duk Kim
    • Alan Chan
    Andrew J. Marton
    • Stevie
    Sydney Coberly
    • Sara
    Yau-Gene Chan
    • Peter Wei
    Carlos Leon
    Carlos Leon
    • Romero
    Nicki Micheaux
    Nicki Micheaux
    • Technician
    • Director
      • Antoine Fuqua
    • Writer
      • Ken Sanzel
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    User reviews202

    6.131.7K
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    10

    Featured reviews

    cbenavidez

    Watch this movie for it's action, you'll enjoy it more.

    Those of you who desire a deep, thought provoking, plot. One which leaves you asking questions, after the movie is done. Well, guess what? This is not the movie for you. However, if you are seeking a high intensity, past paced, exciting, action-packed, drama, stay tuned because the ride has just begun. This is the second time I have watched this movie. I watched it when it first came out and then again just last night. I can't help it but Chow Yun-fat is definitely the Sean Connery of our eastern brothers.

    I will admit that this movie is not for everyone. Then again, you can't make everyone happy all of the time. You can make some people happy some of the time. This movie made it's money's worth, so apparently it made most people happy most of the time.
    9mhasheider

    Hits the center of the bulls-eye with hair-raising accuracy.

    Wild and absolutely menacing thriller involving Chow Yun-Fat (in his American film debut) as John Lee, a quiet yet resourceful hit-man who along with a sarcastic forger, Meg Coburn (Mira Sorvino), become involved when Lee refuses to take out someone close to a cop (Michael Rooker), who shot and killed his mobster boss' drug-dealing son during a drug bust and in the process, Coburn and Lee are also targeted by his superiors.

    It's a brilliant debut for Yun-Fat and director Antoine Fuqua ("Bait", "Training Day"), both of whom show their skills with such respect. Some of the shoot-outs that take place in some areas that you wouldn't even think of (car wash, alley, movie theater, etc.). Plus, the cinematographer Peter Lyons Collister and composer Harry Gregson-Williams excell in making the movie even more entertaining. The scenery has a very colorful and artistic look to it and the music doesn't get too loud. I think of the movie as "Lethal Weapon" made like in the style of John Woo, who is one of the film's producers.

    "The Replacement Killers" certainly hits the center of the bulls-eye with hair-raising accuracy.
    7Calicodreamin

    Great music, pretty good plot

    The soundtrack is killer for this movie, giving off an edgy yet sexy vibe that the whole movie relies on. The storyline is fairly well developed, the acting is pretty good, and the main characters have good chemistry. The action delivers well enough and keeps up through the whole movie.
    zrow-2

    Very good Hong Kong stylised action movie Excellent

    Very entertaining movie however too short and lacks just a small bit of background story yet still mind blowing action.

    Although its too Americanised and also the influence of a music video director as main director takes away a small bit.
    loui-in-stlouis

    papa sorvino is right to be proud

    i think this movie rocks -- it is the best place to watch Mira Sorvino be entertaining and hot.

    i just bought the DVD in a bargain bin and i can't stop watching it. OK it's a bit of a TV movie script. but it's a year ahead of the matrix, and i dare you to watch it without making production comparisons. in fact, i can't watch the matrix any more. so much for movies with great scripts.

    so much of the goodness of this movie relies on Mira Sorvino's screen presence that it plays a bit like a bit music video -- it's just plain fun to see her on screen. Chow Yun Fat is good, and this American Chinese boy (me) likes seeing a hybrid movie like this... well, it's fun to see the Chinese guy wear nice suits and kick some a$$ too. i can't watch any of the crappy hong kong stuff that the other users seem to think is superior to this. i can see how HK martial arts lovers wouldn't like this -- it's a very different, very American movie. personally, i'd rather see more clones of this movie than more jackie chan.

    hey, did i mention Mira Sorvino is hot? i even like the relationship chemistry that develops here -- sort of like the David Carradine character wandering the desert in the Kung Fu TV shows -- he never even gets to kiss the pretty girl who falls for his decency, but the mutual respect is better that way. more movies need to take this route.

    i'm not a Mira watcher -- i've only seen her aphrodite and some awful film school $hit i'm sure she wishes she never made, and her happy day on the Oscar alumni stage. as a Harvard guy, i'm not sure i want to see her in romy and michelle. this was simply a great role for a very underutilized actress at the right time in her life during the era of east-west action fusion. if i were producing movies, i'd kick myself for not watching this movie sooner and taking advantage of Mira Sorvino in her prime. it's not too late -- check our her recent IMDb pics. papa sorvino was right -- his daughter is great, and anyone who says otherwise should get a cap in his knee. this movie is the proof.

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    Related interests

    Keanu Reeves in The Matrix (1999)
    Gun Fu
    Bruce Willis and Taniel in Die Hard (1988)
    Action
    James Gandolfini, Edie Falco, Sharon Angela, Max Casella, Dan Grimaldi, Joe Perrino, Donna Pescow, Jamie-Lynn Sigler, Tony Sirico, and Michael Drayer in The Sopranos (1999)
    Crime
    Cho Yeo-jeong in Parasite (2019)
    Thriller

    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      This movie set the record for the most bullets fired in an American film.
    • Goofs
      After John and Meg escape from Wei's gang, they return to John's hideout, where he treats her dislocated patella - which looks amazingly like the real thing, makeup or no. John pops the kneecap back into place with no difficulty. However, anyone who has ever suffered that particular injury knows that it would be impossible to immediately stand, walk, run and jump as Meg does when the evil-doers subsequently chase them from the apartment. The tissue damage involved takes weeks, if not months, to heal enough to allow that kind of activity.
    • Quotes

      John Lee: You're safer with me.

      Meg Coburn: Is it my perfume or something? Because you are the second guy today to assume I need, want or will accept help. I won't.

      John Lee: [drawing his pistol] It's not an option.

      Meg Coburn: And what happens when I tell you to go fuck yourself?

      [John cocks his pistol]

      Meg Coburn: O.K. If that's the way you want to play it. But when the gun is in my hand, we're gonna have this conversation again.

    • Alternate versions
      Available in an extended version on DVD and Blu-ray.
    • Connections
      Featured in HBO First Look: Where the Action Is: Making 'The Replacement Killers' (1998)
    • Soundtracks
      Keep Hope Alive
      Written by Ken Jordan and Scott Kirkland

      Performed by The Crystal Method

      Courtesy of Outpost Recordings

      Under license from Universal Music Special Markets

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    FAQ20

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    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • February 6, 1998 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Languages
      • English
      • Cantonese
    • Also known as
      • Sát Thủ Thay Thế
    • Filming locations
      • Union Station - 800 N. Alameda Street, Downtown, Los Angeles, California, USA(airport terminal: Replacement killers arrival, John's departure)
    • Production companies
      • Columbia Pictures
      • Brillstein-Grey Entertainment
      • WCG Entertainment Productions
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • $30,000,000 (estimated)
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $19,204,929
    • Opening weekend US & Canada
      • $8,046,553
      • Feb 8, 1998
    • Gross worldwide
      • $19,204,929
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Tech specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      • 1h 27m(87 min)
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Dolby Digital
    • Aspect ratio
      • 2.39 : 1

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