{ "id": "ep1t5n4yp6", "slug": "hitman-1998-film", "title": "Hitman (1998 film)", "updated": "2026-11-01", "topic_path": [ { "id": "culture", "label": "Arts and culture", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/topics/culture" }, { "id": "culture.performance", "label": "Screen and stage", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/topics/culture.performance" }, { "id": "culture.performance.screen", "label": "Film and television", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/topics/culture.performance.screen" }, { "id": "culture.performance.screen.films", "label": "Films and standalone screen works", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/topics/culture.performance.screen.films" }, { "id": "culture.performance.screen.films.films.individual-works", "label": "Individual films by title and year", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/topics/culture.performance.screen.films.films.individual-works" }, { "id": "culture.performance.screen.films.films.individual-works.action-adventure", "label": "Action and adventure films (individual works)", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/topics/culture.performance.screen.films.films.individual-works.action-adventure" }, { "id": "culture.performance.screen.films.films.individual-works.action-adventure.action-comedies", "label": "Action comedies", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/topics/culture.performance.screen.films.films.individual-works.action-adventure.action-comedies" }, { "id": "culture.performance.screen.films.films.individual-works.action-adventure.action-comedies.action-comedies-1970s-to-1990s", "label": "Action comedies, 1970s to 1990s", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/topics/culture.performance.screen.films.films.individual-works.action-adventure.action-comedies.action-comedies-1970s-to-1990s" } ], "geo": [ { "id": "geo.chn.t1946.culture.performance.screen.films.films.individual-works.action-adventure.action-comedies", "label": "China · 1946 to 2000: Action comedies", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.chn.t1946.culture.performance.screen.films.films.individual-works.action-adventure.action-comedies", "path": [ { "id": "geo.chn", "label": "China", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.chn" }, { "id": "geo.chn.t1946", "label": "China · 1946 to 2000", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.chn.t1946" }, { "id": "geo.chn.t1946.culture", "label": "Arts and culture", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.chn.t1946.culture" }, { "id": "geo.chn.t1946.culture.performance", "label": "Screen and stage", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.chn.t1946.culture.performance" }, { "id": "geo.chn.t1946.culture.performance.screen", "label": "Film and television", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.chn.t1946.culture.performance.screen" }, { "id": "geo.chn.t1946.culture.performance.screen.films", "label": "Films and standalone screen works", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.chn.t1946.culture.performance.screen.films" }, { "id": "geo.chn.t1946.culture.performance.screen.films.films.individual-works", "label": "Individual films by title and year", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.chn.t1946.culture.performance.screen.films.films.individual-works" }, { "id": "geo.chn.t1946.culture.performance.screen.films.films.individual-works.action-adventure", "label": "Action and adventure films (individual works)", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.chn.t1946.culture.performance.screen.films.films.individual-works.action-adventure" }, { "id": "geo.chn.t1946.culture.performance.screen.films.films.individual-works.action-adventure.action-comedies", "label": "Action comedies", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.chn.t1946.culture.performance.screen.films.films.individual-works.action-adventure.action-comedies" } ] } ], "excerpt": "Hitman (殺手之王, also Contract Killer) is a 1998 Hong Kong action comedy directed by Wei Tung, starring Jet Li as a kind-hearted hitman chasing a $100 million bounty with con-man agent Eric Tsang; Jet Li's last Hong Kong film before Hollywood.", "snippet": "Hitman (殺手之王, also Contract Killer) is a 1998 Hong Kong action comedy directed by Wei Tung, starring Jet Li as a kind-hearted hitman chasing a $100 million bounty with con-man agent Eric Tsang; Jet Li's last Hong Kong film before Hollywood.", "node": "culture.performance.screen.films.films.individual-works.action-adventure.action-comedies.action-comedies-1970s-to-1990s", "markdown": "# Hitman (1998 film)\n\n**Hitman** (殺手之王, literally *King of Assassins*; also released as *Contract Killer* and *The Hitman*) is a 1998 Hong Kong action comedy directed by Wei Tung, also credited as Stephen Tung Wai (董瑋), starring [Jet Li](https://www.edgepedia.org/jet-li) (李連杰) as a kind-hearted would-be hitman chasing a large bounty alongside a con-man agent played by [Eric Tsang](https://www.edgepedia.org/eric-tsang) (曾志偉)[1](https://www.lovehkfilm.com/reviews/hitman.htm) • [2](https://cinemasie.com/en/fiche/oeuvre/hitman/). It was Jet Li's last Hong Kong film before his move to Hollywood[3](https://www.eyeforfilm.co.uk/review/the-hitman-film-review-by-keith-hennessey-brown).\n\n| Key fact | Detail |\n|---|---|\n| Original title | 殺手之王 (King of Assassins); English titles include Hitman, The Hitman, and Contract Killer[2](https://cinemasie.com/en/fiche/oeuvre/hitman/) • [1](https://www.lovehkfilm.com/reviews/hitman.htm) |\n| Director / producer | Wei Tung (Stephen Tung Wai), who also served as action director; produced by Gordon Chan (陳嘉上)[2](https://cinemasie.com/en/fiche/oeuvre/hitman/) • [4](https://www.acmi.net.au/works/89963--the-hitman/) |\n| Writers | Chan Hing-Kai, Kam Fu Cheng, and Vincent Kok[5](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/hitman-1998) |\n| Cast | Jet Li, Eric Tsang, Simon Yam (任達華), Gigi Leung (梁詠琪), Keiji Sato[6](https://www.bbfc.co.uk/release/the-hitman-q29sbgvjdglvbjpwwc0zmtg1mtc) |\n| Hong Kong release | April 3, 1998; grossed HK$10,296,825, ranking 21st for the year[7](https://kungfutube.info/8586) |\n| Runtime | Reported between about 100 and 104 minutes depending on version[6](https://www.bbfc.co.uk/release/the-hitman-q29sbgvjdglvbjpwwc0zmtg1mtc) • [3](https://www.eyeforfilm.co.uk/review/the-hitman-film-review-by-keith-hennessey-brown) |\n| US re-release | 2002, cut, dubbed, and retitled *Contract Killer* by Columbia/Tri-Star[1](https://www.lovehkfilm.com/reviews/hitman.htm) |\n\n## Spoilers\n\n### Plot\n\nThe story turns on a bounty. An old man whose family was ruined by a Japanese trade lord during World War II hires the [King of Killers](https://www.edgepedia.org/king-of-killers) to assassinate him, and the dead man's revenge fund promises a vast reward to whoever kills the assassin[2](https://cinemasie.com/en/fiche/oeuvre/hitman/). According to the lovehkfilm review, the hit is worth $100 million, and everyone, including the murdered man's grandson, pursues it[1](https://www.lovehkfilm.com/reviews/hitman.htm); the Cinemasie database instead states a reward of $1 billion[2](https://cinemasie.com/en/fiche/oeuvre/hitman/).\n\nJet Li plays Fu, an ex-soldier and new immigrant from the mainland who is poor, good-hearted, and too nice for the trade[4](https://www.acmi.net.au/works/89963--the-hitman/) • [1](https://www.lovehkfilm.com/reviews/hitman.htm). He accidentally walks into the hitmen's meeting and is taken on by Ngok Lo (Eric Tsang), a con man who acts as his agent and hopes to score big on Fu's coat-tails[4](https://www.acmi.net.au/works/89963--the-hitman/). [Simon Yam](https://www.edgepedia.org/simon-yam) plays a cop assigned to watch the hitmen entering Hong Kong, and Gigi Leung plays the agent's daughter Kiki, a budding lawyer who takes a small shine to Fu[1](https://www.lovehkfilm.com/reviews/hitman.htm).\n\n## Production and context\n\nThe film was produced by Gordon Chan for China Star, with production companies including Win's Entertainment and Flea Market[4](https://www.acmi.net.au/works/89963--the-hitman/) • [5](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/hitman-1998). Director Wei Tung was a former movie fight choreographer, and he also designed the action[8](https://www.deseret.com/1998/9/25/20089061/film-review-hitman-the-1998/) • [2](https://cinemasie.com/en/fiche/oeuvre/hitman/).\n\n**A farewell to Hong Kong.** *Hitman* was Jet Li's last Hong Kong film before he moved to the United States, where *[Lethal Weapon 4](https://www.edgepedia.org/lethal-weapon-4)* introduced him to American audiences[3](https://www.eyeforfilm.co.uk/review/the-hitman-film-review-by-keith-hennessey-brown) • [8](https://www.deseret.com/1998/9/25/20089061/film-review-hitman-the-1998/). It is noteworthy for being shot in sync sound, making it the first time local audiences heard Jet Li's real voice[9](https://the14amazons.co.uk/r52447-Hitman?ReviewId=52447). The Hong Kong industry was struggling in 1998, having lost talent and investment after the handover, and Hollywood films took seven of that year's top ten spots at the local box office[9](https://the14amazons.co.uk/r52447-Hitman?ReviewId=52447) • [7](https://kungfutube.info/8586).\n\nThe film nods to the Hong Kong cinema tradition it came from: in a tailor-shop scene Li's character tries on outfits mimicking famous movie hitmen, including Léon from *Léon: The Professional* (1994) and Mark from *A Better Tomorrow* (1986)[10](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0163818/).\n\n## Reception\n\nCritical response was mixed. The Deseret News found the plot hard to follow and the first hour slow, but credited the film with almost non-stop action in its second half, an elevator-shaft sequence, and a showdown against a samurai-sword-wielding assailant, and noted that Eric Tsang upstaged Li in the dramatic scenes[8](https://www.deseret.com/1998/9/25/20089061/film-review-hitman-the-1998/). The Eye for Film review called it a departure from Li's usual formula, an action comedy closer to [Jackie Chan](https://www.edgepedia.org/jackie-chan)'s style, and judged it a pleasant surprise with easy-going charm and good comic timing[3](https://www.eyeforfilm.co.uk/review/the-hitman-film-review-by-keith-hennessey-brown). lovehkfilm called it uncharacteristically low-key for a Jet Li film but worthwhile for the chemistry between the actors, with good action sequences weighed down by a sometimes confusing and slow plot[1](https://www.lovehkfilm.com/reviews/hitman.htm). A Far East Films review found the film well directed but lacking without a [Yuen Woo-ping](https://www.edgepedia.org/yuen-woo-ping)-style action designer, singling out a mid-film fight between Li and a lanky American and a powerful final reel[11](https://fareastfilms.com/review/hitman/).\n\nOn Rotten Tomatoes the film has no critic score on the Tomatometer (0 reviews) and a 39% audience score from 50+ ratings[5](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/hitman-1998). At the 18th Hong Kong Film Awards it received one nomination, Best Action Design for Stephen Tung Wai[1](https://www.lovehkfilm.com/reviews/hitman.htm).\n\n## Release history and titles\n\nThe film opened in Hong Kong on April 3, 1998, and in South Korea on April 10, 1999; it was not released theatrically in Japan[7](https://kungfutube.info/8586). In 2002 Columbia/Tri-Star brought it to the United States cut, dubbed, and retitled *Contract Killer*[1](https://www.lovehkfilm.com/reviews/hitman.htm). It has since circulated under several English titles, including *The Hitman* on British home video[6](https://www.bbfc.co.uk/release/the-hitman-q29sbgvjdglvbjpwwc0zmtg1mtc), and streams on services such as Prime Video and Tubi[5](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/hitman-1998) • [12](https://tubitv.com/movies/100025250/hitman).\n\n## References\n\n1. [Hitman (1998), lovehkfilm review by Kozo](https://www.lovehkfilm.com/reviews/hitman.htm)\n2. [Hitman, Cinemasie database](https://cinemasie.com/en/fiche/oeuvre/hitman/)\n3. [The Hitman (1998) Movie Review, Eye for Film, Keith Hennessey Brown](https://www.eyeforfilm.co.uk/review/the-hitman-film-review-by-keith-hennessey-brown)\n4. [The Hitman, Tung Wai, 1998, ACMI collection](https://www.acmi.net.au/works/89963--the-hitman/)\n5. [Hitman (1998), Rotten Tomatoes](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/hitman-1998)\n6. [The Hitman, British Board of Film Classification](https://www.bbfc.co.uk/release/the-hitman-q29sbgvjdglvbjpwwc0zmtg1mtc)\n7. [ヒットマン／殺手之王（1997）, KUNGFU TUBE](https://kungfutube.info/8586)\n8. [Film review: Hitman, The (1998), Deseret News, Jeff Vice](https://www.deseret.com/1998/9/25/20089061/film-review-hitman-the-1998/)\n9. [Hitman, The 14 Amazons](https://the14amazons.co.uk/r52447-Hitman?ReviewId=52447)\n10. [Hitman (1998), IMDb](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0163818/)\n11. [Hitman (1998) Review, Far East Films, Tony Ryan](https://fareastfilms.com/review/hitman/)\n12. [Hitman (1998), Tubi](https://tubitv.com/movies/100025250/hitman)\n\n---\n*Topic: Encyclopedia › Arts and culture › Screen and stage › Film and television › Films and standalone screen works › Individual films by title and year › Action and adventure films (individual works) › Action comedies › Action comedies, 1970s to 1990s*\n\n*Initially written Oct 3, 2026 · Reviewed: Oct 25, 2026 · Edited: Oct 15, 2026; Oct 25, 2026; Nov 1, 2026 · Last review: Oct 25, 2026*\n\n*Copyright 2026 EdgeChat AI, a subsidiary of Biostate AI.*\n\nLicense: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license\n", "same_as": [], "url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/hitman-1998-film", "markdown_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/hitman-1998-film.md", "license": { "name": "Edgepedia Community License 1.0", "url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license", "summary": "Free with credit, commercial use included. AI training is open to everyone. For other uses, organizations over USD 100M in revenue or 100M monthly users license separately.", "spdx": "LicenseRef-Edgepedia-Community-1.0" }, "credit": "\"Hitman (1998 film)\", Edgepedia (EdgeChat), https://www.edgepedia.org/hitman-1998-film. Edgepedia Community License 1.0.", "credit_md": "\"[Hitman (1998 film)](https://www.edgepedia.org/hitman-1998-film)\", Edgepedia (EdgeChat), [https://www.edgepedia.org/hitman-1998-film](https://www.edgepedia.org/hitman-1998-film). [Edgepedia Community License 1.0](https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license).", "credit_html": "\"Hitman (1998 film)\", Edgepedia (EdgeChat), https://www.edgepedia.org/hitman-1998-film. Edgepedia Community License 1.0.", "speakable": "Hitman is a 1998 Hong Kong action comedy directed by Wei Tung, starring Jet Li as a kind-hearted hitman chasing a $100 million bounty with con-man agent Eric Tsang; Jet Li's last Hong Kong film before Hollywood." }