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The Big Hit
1998 91 min United States of America, Canada, France R 18+
★5.7
Action, Comedy, Crime, Thriller
Director: Kirk Wong
Trailers
EN
EN
Description
Affable hit man Melvin Smiley is constantly being scammed by his cutthroat colleagues in the life-ending business. So, when he and his fellow assassins kidnap the daughter of an electronics mogul, it's naturally Melvin who takes the fall when their prime score turns sour. That's because the girl is the goddaughter of the gang's ruthless crime boss. But, even while dodging bullets, Melvin has to keep his real job secret from his unsuspecting fiancée, Pam.
Budget:
$13M
US Gross:
$27.01M
Worldwide:
$27.01M
Starring
Mark Wahlberg
Actor
Lou Diamond Phillips
Actor
Christina Applegate
Actor
Key opinion
The Big Hit is a polarizing 90s action-comedy that is either viewed as a kitschy, high-energy cult gem or a disorganized, amateurish misfire. While some appreciate its satirical take on hitman tropes and kinetic pacing, others criticize its erratic narrative and technical inconsistencies.
| Originality | The film functions as a self-aware satire that effectively mocks 90s action movie tropes and hitman archetypes. | |
| Acting | Mark Wahlberg’s performance is largely viewed as a standard, serviceable effort that primarily serves as a draw for his dedicated fan base. | |
| Direction | The action choreography is highly contentious, drawing praise for its kinetic energy and criticism for awkward wirework and cartoonish physics. | |
| Editing | The film's technical execution, including continuity and editing, is widely criticized for being sloppy, featuring jarring visual errors and inconsistent storytelling. | |
| Screenplay | Opinions on the tone are split; some find the dark, absurd humor and pacing refreshing, while others dismiss the plot as confusing and repulsive. |