The Replacement Killers (1998)

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:

Yun-Fat Chow, Mira Sorvino, Michael Rooker

1 nomination.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Yun-Fat Chow	...	John Lee (as Chow Yun-Fat)
Mira Sorvino	...	Meg Coburn
Michael Rooker	...	Stan 'Zeedo' Zedkov
Kenneth Tsang	...	Terence Wei
Jürgen Prochnow	...	Michael Kogan (as Jurgen Prochnow)
Til Schweiger	...	Ryker
Danny Trejo	...	Collins
Clifton Collins Jr.	...	Loco (as Clifton Gonzalez Gonzalez)
Carlos Gómez	...	Hunt (as Carlos Gomez)
Frank Medrano	...	Rawlins
Leo Lee	...	Lam
Patrick Kilpatrick	...	Pryce
Randall Duk Kim	...	Alan Chan
Andrew J. Marton	...	Stevie
Sydney Coberly	...	Sara

Storyline

John Lee is the best hitman money can buy. But when John refuses to kill because of the seven year-old son of his target, John's bosses send someone after John to kill him and then take his place in the ring of hitmen. John then teams up with Meg Coburn to help him escape these "Replacement Killers."

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Plot Keywords:

hitman | sniper rifle | passport | forger | police | 

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Taglines:

Kill or be replaced.

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Genres:

Action | Crime | Thriller

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for strong violence and for language

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English Cantonese

Release Date:

6 February 1998 (USA)

Also Known As:

Asesinos sustitutos

Filming Locations:

Union Station - 800 N. Alameda Street, Downtown, Los Angeles, California, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$30,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$8,046,553, 8 February 1998, Wide Release

Gross USA:

$18,967,571, 19 April 1998

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$35,100,000

Company Credits

Production Co:

Columbia Pictures Corporation, Brillstein-Grey Entertainment, WCG Entertainment Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

87 min 96 min (extended cut)

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital SDDS (8 channels)

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.39 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

When Antoine Fuqua and Chow Yun-Fat had the first meetings about the film, they talked about everything but the film. Also, Fuqua describes Chow as a quiet and peaceful man.

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Goofs

In the alleyway, when John pulls out a pistol for the third time, he shoots a man on a fire escape, but no report from the gun is heard, nor is a flash seen.

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Quotes

Meg Coburn: Hostage etiquette: kidnapper pays the incidentals.

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Alternate Versions

Available in an extended version on DVD and Blu-ray.

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Connections

Referenced in Khauff (2000)

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Soundtracks

Escape From The City Of Angels
Written by Ithaka Darin Pappas and Pedro Passos
Performed by Ithaka (featuring Marta Dias)
Courtesy of BCB Productions

User Reviews

Great action

Regardless of what many other people say, if you like action then you should check this out. Granted, the film is not going to win any awards for storyline, in fact the storyline is fairly weak, but in terms of action this is one of the most adrenaline filled action packed movies I have ever seen. I am a big Chow Yun Fat fan and although this is not on par with some of his HK films, it is better than the debuts of many other HK actors/directors (John Woo and THAT terrible Van Damme film anyone?). Mira Sorvino is a great co-star too. Overall, if you are looking for an action packed roller coaster of a film then check this out, but if you prefer to have a little more substance in your movies then you should check out The Corruptor which places more focus on the storyline.