Common Sense Media Review
By Tom Cassidy
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Violent Hong Kong crime thriller with anti-violence message.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 16+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
The Killer
Parent and Kid Reviews
What's the Story?
In THE KILLER, hitman Ah Jong (Chow Yun-Fat) accidentally damages club singer Jenny's sight during a job and vows to help her get the surgery she needs to restore her vision. Meanwhile, triad boss Wong Hoi (Shing Fui-On) and police inspector Lee Ying (Danny Lee) both want him dead, leading to unexpected alliances.
Is It Any Good?
This 1980s Hong Kong gun fu movie has spectacular action and bloody violence, but the action is really backdrop to what is essentially a character study along the lines of a Greek tragedy. John Woo's The Killer centers around a cop and a killer's mutual respect based on their integrity and morality, which makes for both compelling drama and conversations about the gray areas that exist in ethics. The movie's stylized and sometimes shocking violence presents its own contradiction: undeniably entertaining, it exists alongside a clear anti-violence message, as the film does not shy away from the harm it causes, especially to innocent people caught up in the conflict. Writer-director Woo's work in action cinema is thoughtful and endlessly exciting, and this movie remains a prime example of this.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the violence in The Killer. Was it glamorized or did it show real consequences? How did the film balance thrilling action with an anti-violence message about the human cost of killing? Does exposure to violent media desensitize kids to violence?
Discuss the morality of Inspector Lee Ying and Ah Jong. Is there such a thing as doing the wrong thing for the right reasons, or should all decisions be right or wrong?
Have you seen the 2024 remake of this movie? If so, how did it compare? If not, has it made you want to seek it out?
Movie Details
- In theaters : March 1, 1991
- On DVD or streaming : March 30, 2010
- Cast : Chow Yun-Fat , Danny Lee , Sally Yeh
- Director : John Woo
- Inclusion Information : Asian Movie Director(s) , Chinese Movie Director(s) , Asian Movie Actor(s) , Asian Movie Writer(s) , Chinese Movie Writer(s)
- Studio : Circle Films
- Genre : Action/Adventure
- Character Strengths : Integrity , Teamwork
- Run time : 111 minutes
- MPAA rating :
- MPAA explanation : pervasive strong violence and some language
- Last updated : February 24, 2026
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