The Big Hit (1998)
A hapless hitman, a kidnapping gone sideways, and a fiancée who suspects nothing — The Big Hit is a relentlessly entertaining late-90s action-comedy.
The Big Hit - Movie Information
- Original Title: The Big Hit
- Release Year: 1998
- Directed by: Kirk Wong Chi-Keung
- Type: Movie
- Genres: Action, Adventure, Comedy, Crime, Thriller
- Age Rating (US): R
- Runtime: 1h 31m
- Original Language: English
- Spoken Languages: English
- Release Date (Theatrical): April 24, 1998 (United States - R), August 27, 1998 (Germany - 18), August 5, 1998 (France), June 25, 1998 (Australia - MA15+)
- Alternative Titles: ビッグ・ヒット (JP), 無字頭四殺手 (HK), The Big Hit - Volltreffer (DE)
- Production Companies: TriStar Pictures, Lion Rock Productions, Amen Ra Films
- Production Countries: United States of America, Canada, France
The Big Hit - Plot
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.
The Big Hit - Trailer
Watch the official trailer and see the mayhem unfold:
Nothing's more dangerous than some nice guys... with a little time to kill.
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The Big Hit - Cast & Crew
Director(s)
- Kirk Wong Chi-Keung
Main Cast
- Mark Wahlberg
- Lou Diamond Phillips
- Christina Applegate
- Avery Brooks
- Bokeem Woodbine
- Antonio Sabàto, Jr.
- China Chow
- Lainie Kazan
- Elliott Gould
- Sab Shimono
Writers
- Ben Ramsey
Producers
- Warren Zide
- Wesley Snipes
- John M. Eckert
The Big Hit - FAQs
Who plays the lead role in The Big Hit?
Mark Wahlberg plays Melvin Smiley, the affable hitman at the center of the story. He is joined by Lou Diamond Phillips as the scheming Cisco, Christina Applegate as his unsuspecting fiancée Pam, China Chow as the kidnapped Keiko, and Avery Brooks as the menacing crime boss Paris.
What is The Big Hit about?
The Big Hit follows Melvin Smiley, a good-natured professional assassin who gets manipulated into a kidnapping scheme by his greedy colleagues. When the target turns out to be the goddaughter of their own crime boss, the job unravels spectacularly — all while Melvin scrambles to hide his violent career from his oblivious fiancée.
Does Melvin Smiley survive at the end of The Big Hit?
Yes. After a chaotic chain of double-crosses, shootouts, and comedic mishaps, Melvin ultimately outsmarts his treacherous colleagues and the crime boss's enforcers. He walks away alive, having shed the toxic relationships dragging him down — a rare happy ending for a hitman juggling so many personal disasters simultaneously.
Is The Big Hit a dark comedy or straight action film?
The Big Hit is firmly a dark action-comedy. Director Kirk Wong Chi-Keung blends Hong Kong-style kinetic action sequences with broad American comedy, including slapstick, satirical suburban humor, and absurdist situations. The film leans heavily into its comedic tone, using Melvin's people-pleasing personality as the engine for most of its humor.
Where can I stream The Big Hit?
The Big Hit is available to watch on the Criterion Channel. It can also be rented or purchased digitally on Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, and Fandango At Home. Availability may vary depending on your region.
What is the age rating for The Big Hit?
The Big Hit is rated R in the United States, meaning it is intended for audiences aged 17 and older. The film contains strong violence, language, and adult humor consistent with its action-comedy genre. In Australia it carries an MA15+ classification, and in Germany an 18 rating.
Who directed The Big Hit and what is their background?
The Big Hit was directed by Kirk Wong Chi-Keung, a Hong Kong filmmaker known for his energetic crime films. His background in Hong Kong action cinema heavily influenced the film's fast-paced choreography and stylized violence, giving The Big Hit a distinctive flair that set it apart from typical Hollywood action-comedies of the late 1990s.
What are similar movies to The Big Hit?
If you enjoyed The Big Hit, you might also like 3000 Miles to Graceland (2001), Fierce Creatures (1997), Ruthless People (1986), and Money Talks (1997). These films share a similar blend of crime, dark comedy, and fast-paced action that defined a particular strand of late-1990s genre filmmaking.
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