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Hitman (2007) – CBFC: A | Action/Thriller | 1h 40m
Overview
Hitman (2007) adapts the popular video-game series for the big screen. The film centers on Agent 47, a silent, efficient professional assassin raised by a shadowy “Organization.” When a public hit in Russia goes sideways, 47 is pulled into a larger political scheme involving body doubles, corrupt power brokers, and an international chase that pits him against Interpol and the FSB—as well as his own employers. Despite mixed reviews, the movie found a strong audience and became a box-office success.
Story Summary (Simple English)
The film opens with a glimpse into the past: boys with shaved heads are marked with barcodes and trained in weapons, hand-to-hand combat, and discipline. From this program comes Agent 47 (Timothy Olyphant), a specialist who completes contracts around the world with exact timing and very few words.
In the present, Interpol investigator Mike Whittier (Dougray Scott) returns home and finds 47 waiting for him. Their tense conversation frames the story as 47 looks back at the job that changed everything. Months earlier, 47 executed a warlord in Africa with his usual precision. Soon after, his handler sent an unusual order: assassinate Russian President Mikhail Belicoff in a public setting. 47 takes the shot, hits the target, and prepares to leave. Then he receives a confusing message—his mission has failed, and the president somehow survived.
The Organization claims there was a witness and instructs 47 to remove her. He tracks down Nika (Olga Kurylenko), Belicoff’s mistress, but realizes she has never seen him before. At the same time another assassin tries to kill 47, proving he is the one being set up. A secret warning from his handler confirms the truth: a political double is pretending to be Belicoff, and powerful people want 47 erased to hide the plan.
With Nika reluctantly in his care, 47 fights off teams of assassins—including a close-quarters sword battle on a train—and slips past local forces. Interpol’s Whittier briefly corners him, but 47 refuses to kill the agent, and the chase continues. To settle the larger conflict, 47 targets Udre Belicoff (Henry Ian Cusick), the real president’s reckless brother and a key piece in the conspiracy. By impersonating a gunrunner, 47 gets close to Udre, eliminates him, and forces the fake president to show up at a large public funeral.
During the ceremony, 47 manipulates the security detail and chaos in the crowd to reach the imposter. Disguised as a soldier, he cuts through the protection and kills the fake Belicoff cleanly, bringing the conspiracy into the open. Although Interpol tries again to capture him, a CIA contact repays a favor and helps 47 escape custody.
In the final moments, 47 ensures Nika can start a new life—a quiet gift that he watches from a distance. He warns the Organization not to harm her, then disappears back into the shadows, leaving Whittier with more questions than answers. The story closes on 47’s code: do the job, avoid attachments, and never stop moving.
Cast & Characters
Timothy Olyphant plays Agent 47 with calm focus and sharp physical control.
Dougray Scott’s Mike Whittier is the dogged investigator who wants the truth more than a headline arrest.
Olga Kurylenko’s Nika begins as a pawn in someone else’s plan but becomes a person 47 chooses to protect.
Robert Knepper portrays FSB officer Yuri Marklov, who helps drive the hunt.
Ulrich Thomsen takes on the dual role of Russian president Mikhail Belicoff and his double.
Henry Ian Cusick’s Udre Belicoff adds a volatile edge as a criminal prince whose actions push events toward the finale.
Production Notes
The movie is a France–US–UK co-production directed by Xavier Gens from a script by Skip Woods, with Luc Besson among the producers. Principal photography started in Sofia, Bulgaria, with additional work across London, Istanbul, St. Petersburg, and Cape Town. The film went through notable reshoots to adjust action beats and story clarity, including replacing an earlier train-platform fight with a close-quarters sword sequence inside a carriage. Editorial changes aimed to tighten the pacing and broaden the movie’s appeal for theatrical release.
Release & Box Office
Hitman opened in the United States on November 21, 2007 (with later dates for the UK and France) after a short delay from its original schedule. Reviews from critics were largely negative, often pointing to a busy plot and heavy violence, though some singled out Timothy Olyphant’s controlled performance. Audiences, however, showed up in strong numbers. Against a reported budget of about $24 million, the movie earned over $100 million at the global box office and built a long tail with home video sales.
Critical Reception (In Brief)
Critics were split: many disliked the dialogue and narrative turns, but others appreciated the stylized action, cool locations, and the game-faithful aesthetic—black suit, red tie, and a clean tactical approach. Over time, the film has grown into a “guilty pleasure” for fans of the franchise and action-thrillers who enjoy sleek set-pieces and the stoic anti-hero mold.
Key Credits & Details
| Directed by | Xavier Gens |
|---|---|
| Written by | Skip Woods |
| Based on | Hitman by IO Interactive |
| Produced by | Daniel Alter, Adrian Askarieh, Luc Besson, Chuck Gordon |
| Starring | Timothy Olyphant, Dougray Scott |
| Cinematography | Laurent Barès |
| Edited by | Carlo Rizzo, Antoine Vareille |
| Music by | Geoff Zanelli |
| Production companies | 20th Century Fox, EuropaCorp, Anka Film, Daybreak Productions, Dune Entertainment, Prime Universe Productions, IO Interactive |
| Distributed by | 20th Century Fox (Worldwide), EuropaCorp Distribution (France) |
| Release dates | Nov 21, 2007 (US); Nov 30, 2007 (UK); Dec 26, 2007 (France) |
| Running time | 92 minutes |
| Countries | France, United States, United Kingdom |
| Languages | English, Russian |
| Budget | $24 million |
| Box office | $101.3 million |
CBFC Rating: A (Adults Only in India)
Final Thoughts
If you enjoy sleek, globe-trotting action with a cool, quiet lead, Hitman delivers. It is not a deep character study, but it moves fast, looks stylish, and stays loyal to the core image of Agent 47. The conspiracy hook, the train fight, and the funeral set-piece are the film’s standouts. Whether you’re a fan of the games or just want a sharp 90-minute thriller, this one is an easy pick—and our recap video above makes the twists simple to follow.
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