Hit Man (2023 film)

Hit Man is a 2023 American action comedy film co-produced and directed by Richard Linklater and starring Glen Powell, both of whom wrote the screenplay based on the 2001 Texas Monthly magazine article of the same name by Skip Hollandsworth. It also stars Adria Arjona. In the film, an undercover Houston police officer poses as a reliable hitman as he tries to save a woman in need.

Hit Man
Directed byRichard Linklater
Screenplay by
Based on"Hit Man"
by Skip Hollandsworth
Produced by
Starring
CinematographyShane F. Kelly
Edited bySandra Adair
Music byGraham Reynolds
Production
companies
Distributed byNetflix
Release date
  • September 5, 2023 (2023-09-05) (Venice)
Running time
113 minutes[1]
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish

Hit Man premiered at the 80th Venice International Film Festival on September 5, 2023.

Premise

An undercover Houston police officer poses as a reliable hitman to arrest those trying to hire him until he tries to save a woman in need.

Cast
  • Glen Powell as Gary Johnson, college professor and tech guy turned undercover mole
  • Adria Arjona as Maddy Masters, Gary's love-interest
  • Austin Amelio as Jasper, an undercover cop
  • Retta as a police officer Gary works for
  • Sanjay Rao as a police officer Gary works for
  • Evan Holtzman as Ray Masters, Maddy's husband
  • Molly Bernard
  • Mike Markoff

Production

Before the 2022 Cannes Film Market, Hit Man was announced as a new film for sale internationally. The screenplay was based on "Hit Man", a Texas Monthly article by Skip Hollandsworth, and written by Richard Linklater and Glen Powell, who would also direct and star, respectively. Adria Arjona would also star.[2] AGC Studios reported strong sales for international distribution at the 2022 Toronto International Film Festival.[3] Powell was joined by Austin Amelio, Retta, and Molly Bernard in October 2022.[4][5]

Filming began in New Orleans in October 2022,[5][6] and production was completed that November.[7]

Release

Hit Man debuted in September 2023.[8][9] The 80th Venice International Film Festival had its world premiere on September 5,[10][11] followed shortly afterward by its North American premiere on September 11 at the 2023 Toronto International Film Festival.[1]

Netflix acquired distribution rights to the film for $20 million at TIFF, making it the largest film deal of the festival and of 2023. There are plans for a theatrical release as well.[12]

Reception

On the review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, 96% of 69 critics' reviews are positive, with an average rating of 8.6/10. The website's 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."[13] Metacritic, which uses a weighted average, assigned the film a score of 82 out of 100, based on 19 critics, indicating "universal acclaim".[14]

References
  1. "Hit Man". TIFF. Archived from the original on August 16, 2023. Retrieved August 16, 2023.
  2. Ravindran, Manori (May 11, 2022). "Richard Linklater to Direct Hitman Starring Glen Powell and Adria Arjona, AGC International Selling in Cannes (Exclusive)". Variety. Penske Media Corporation.
  3. Kay, Jeremy (September 20, 2022). "AGC Studios reports strong TIFF pre-sales on 'Hitman', 'The Dating Game'". Screen Daily. Archived from the original on September 20, 2022. Retrieved November 10, 2022.
  4. Vlessing, Etan (October 3, 2022). "Austin Amelio Joins Richard Linklater's Hitman (Exclusive)". The Hollywood Reporter. PMRC.
  5. Chitwood, Adam (October 4, 2022). "Richard Linklater's Hitman Adds Retta, Molly Bernard as Filming Begins". TheWrap. Archived from the original on November 10, 2022. Retrieved November 10, 2022.
  6. Lutz, John (October 19, 2022). "Glen Powell Shares Set Image From Richard Linklater's Hitman". Collider. Archived from the original on July 24, 2023. Retrieved July 24, 2023.
  7. "Productions - Film New Orleans". filmneworleans.org. City of New Orleans. Archived from the original on November 4, 2022. Retrieved November 10, 2022.
  8. Roxborough, Scott (July 25, 2023). "Venice Scores Star-Studded Lineup Despite Strikes (Full List)". The Hollywood Reporter. Penske Media Corporation.
  9. Lang, Brent (July 24, 2023). "Toronto Film Festival 2023 Lineup Includes Alexander Payne, Richard Linklater, Anna Kendrick, George C. Wolfe and Ethan Hawke Movies". Variety. Penske Media Corporation.
  10. "Biennale Cinema 2023 | Hit Man". La Biennale di Venezia. July 4, 2023. Archived from the original on August 10, 2023. Retrieved August 1, 2023.
  11. "Richard Linklaters Hit Man Gets Enthusiastic 6-Minute Ovation At Venice Film Festival Premiere". Deadline Hollywood. Penske Media Corporation.
  12. Fleming, Mike Jr (September 18, 2023). "Netflix Lands Richard Linklater-Helmed Hit Man For $20 Million Toronto Deal; Aggregate/AGC Studios Pic Stars Glen Powell & Adria Arjona". Deadline Hollywood. Penske Media Corporation. Retrieved September 18, 2023.
  13. "Hit Man". Rotten Tomatoes. Fandango Media. Retrieved October 28, 2023.
  14. "Hit Man". Metacritic. Fandom, Inc. Retrieved October 8, 2023.
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