Movies

John Wick and 4 Other Stone-Cold Movie Assassins You Wouldn’t Want to Cross

John Wick and 4 Other Stone-Cold Movie Assassins You Wouldn’t Want to Cross
Image credit: Lionsgate, Netflix, DreamWorks Pictures, Miramax Films, Gaumont Buena Vista International

There are plenty of movie characters who kill people for money, but only a select few have the skills and style to be considered true professionals.

From action films to comedies, there have been many movies that revolve around or simply feature professional assassins, and many of them offer a unique approach to the subject.

However, only a few of them instill fear by their mere presence, sending shivers down the spine of the viewer due to their methodical approach to killing.

So, let's take a look at five of the most cold-blooded movie assassins who radiate the vibes of a dangerous professional the moment they appear on screen.

Vincent — Collateral (2004)

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It's rare to see Tom Cruise in a villainous role, but this 2004 Michael Mann film left fans wishing the actor played the bad guy more often.

The way Vincent goes from being friendly to putting a bullet between his victim's eyes in a second can be downright disturbing, and Cruise nailed the stone-cold nature of his character, shocking viewers with the way Vincent casually eliminates his targets.

Anton Chigurh — No Country for Old Men (2007)

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If you look up the meaning of "danger" in a visual dictionary, there is a chance that you will see the picture of this guy, as Anton Chigurh remains one of the best roles in Javier Bardem's already impressive acting career.

The actor stole every second of screen time he was in, making the uncompromising hitman almost uncomfortable to watch and even more memorable than the film's protagonist, Llewelyn Moss, played by Josh Brolin.

John Wick — John Wick (2014)

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Although it has grown into an entire massive movie franchise over the years, it was the first John Wick movie, released in 2014, that introduced viewers to the titular assassin and took Keanu Reeves ' career to new heights.

Despite the fact that John is the main character we're supposed to root for, it doesn't change the fact that he can look genuinely scary at times, as Reeves' brilliant performance instantly made the film a cult classic.

Léon — Léon: The Professional (1994)

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Another movie protagonist whose softer side in no way overshadows his cold and methodical approach to killing, Léon, portrayed by Jean Reno, became an icon decades before the first John Wick movie.

With his signature look, including a trench coat, beanie and round black sunglasses, as well as his love for his houseplant, Léon instantly became one of the most recognizable assassins in film history.

The Killer — The Killer (2023)

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The newest addition to our list, Michael Fassbender absolutely shined as the titular nameless professional assassin in David Fincher's latest film.

With his slow, calculated and methodical approach to eliminating his targets, rather than going in guns blazing like many other movie assassins, The Killer definitely earned a spot on our list for his cold professionalism.