10 Best Movies Like David Fincher’s The Killer

WARNING: This article contains SPOILERS for The Killer.

David Fincher’s new Netflix movie The Killer is a unique thriller about a ruthless assassin, but there are other just-as-exciting films focused on ruthless experts and hitmen. Fincher has long been known for his distinctive vision and meticulous craftmanship within the thriller genre. With classics like Seven, Fight Club, and Zodiac, Fincher has repeatedly proven his mastery in creating tense, atmospheric narratives that challenge audiences. The arrival of The Killer marks Fincher’s highly anticipated return to the thriller scene after a nine-year break from the genre. With The Killer, Fincher crafts a cinematic experience that delves into the paradoxes of a killer bound by a personal code.

The Killer emerges as an interesting addition to Davin Fincher’s movie career, expanding upon the themes of obsession and the human psyche. The protagonist, a nameless hitman portrayed with chilling precision, enters a tumultuous journey of revenge and self-exploration after a mission goes awry. The narrative is gripping from the outset, opening with an intense, nearly silent 15-minute sequence that harks back to the voyeuristic tension of cinema classics. From the hitman’s methodical use of disguises to the critique of the digital age’s overreach, Fincher creates a world that is at once familiar and foreboding, and there are a few compelling thriller movies just like it.

10 Rear Window (1954)

The Killer’s Opening Is An Homage To Rear Window

Alfred Hitchcock’s Rear Window is a seminal work that creates suspense out of the seemingly mundane act of observation. The film centers on a wheelchair-bound photographer who spies on his neighbors from his apartment window and becomes convinced one of them has committed murder. The movie’s genius lies in its ability to keep audiences riveted, using the protagonist’s perspective to build a compelling narrative that’s all about piecing together a story from fragments, much like the opening sequence of Fincher’s The Killer. The Killer’s opening scene, in which the protagonist watches people’s routines in a Parisian courtyard for 15 minutes, could be considered an homage to Rear Window.

9 The Conversation (1974)

Harry Caul & The Killer Have A Similar Work Ethic

The Conversation is a masterful exploration of privacy, surveillance, and paranoia. It follows a surveillance expert, Harry, who faces a moral dilemma when he suspects that a couple he is spying on will be murdered. The film’s intense focus on the lead character’s professional crisis and the moral implications of his work mirrors the existential themes in The Killer, where the act of watching becomes a central, haunting element of the narrative. Just like The Killer’s opening, The Conversation’s opening sees Harry spying on a couple in an open courtyard (only this time in San Francisco), and the entire movie focuses on his obsession with deciphering the audio recording.

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8 Fight Club (1999)

The Killer Frequently Cheekily References Fight Club

Fincher’s own Fight Club is an aggressive critique of consumer culture, packaged in the form of a gritty, mind-bending thriller. It follows the story of a disillusioned office worker who forms an underground fight club with a charismatic soap salesman. The film’s dark humor and commentary on modern society’s ills find echoes in The Killer, where the protagonist’s disdain for the internet and big corporations underscores a similar disenchantment. The Killer has big corporations in its crosshairs, as it satirically makes incoherent criticisms of Amazon and Postmates, and it’s almost as if Fincher is making fun of himself, or at least making cheeky references to the 1999 movie.

7 Collateral (2004)

Collateral Features An Even More Methodical Killer

Collateral, directed by Michael Mann, takes place over one night in Los Angeles and follows a cab driver who becomes the hostage of an efficient hitman (Tom Cruise) carrying out a series of contract killings. The movie’s examination of the hitman’s psychology, his methodical approach to his craft, and his philosophical musings make it a kindred spirit to The Killer, where the lead character’s own set of ethics and meticulousness shine through. In the current cinematic landscape where Tom Cruise only plays the action hero, it’s refreshing to watch a film where the Mission: Impossible actor plays the villain, and he’s absolutely brilliant as the menacing and focused assassin.

6 Hitman (2007)

Hitman Creatively Uses Disguises

Based on the popular video game series, Hitman portrays a genetically engineered assassin known for his precision and loyalty to the code. Despite its more stylized approach to the assassin’s tale, Hitman delves into themes of identity and control, paralleling the journey of self-discovery and autonomy that is central to The Killer. Though the games focus on this element more and the movie should have taken more advantage of the concept, Hitman is all about Agent 47’s method of getting into secure and hard-to-reach areas by using creative disguises. The Killer makes great use of this too, and it’s the most entertaining element of the 2007 movie.

5 Heat (1995)

Neil McCauley & The Killer Have A Lot In Common

Michael Mann’s Heat stars Al Pacino and Robert De Niro and is a crime saga that delves into the lives of a seasoned professional thief and a relentless detective. The film is renowned for its realistic portrayal of heists and the complex relationship between the criminal and the lawman. While The Killer isn’t about a thief, Heat’s protagonist Neil McCauley and the Killer have a lot in common. The Killer shares Heat’s interest in the professional ethics of its characters and the loneliness that accompanies the chosen paths. At the end of the day, both Neil and the Killer ultimately put themselves in danger because of their love interests.

4 The Mechanic (2011)

The Mechanic Is A Fun Popcorn Flick

The Mechanic follows an elite assassin who makes his kills look like accidents or suicides. His isolated lifestyle and strict adherence to his code resonate with the solitary and ethical quandaries of Fincher’s protagonist in The Killer, where the lead also follows his own complex set of rules. However, the reason why The Mechanic is a must-watch following The Killer is that it’s simply a fun and entertaining popcorn flick. The Killer is the most accessible and audience-pleasing David Fincher movie since Panic Room, and just like The Killer, The Mechanic delivers on the creative kills, breath-holding tension, and stylish filmmaking.

3 In Bruges (2008)

In Bruges & The Killer Share The Same Themes

In Bruges presents a darkly comedic take on the assassin genre, featuring two hitmen hiding out in the quaint Belgian city after a job gone wrong. The film balances humor with profound questions about fate and consequence, similar to the way The Killer weaves its narrative through the lens of who is essentially a confused villain. In Bruges’ exploration of morality, guilt, and redemption resonates with The Killer’s portrayal of an assassin on a quest for answers after his own mission falters. Both films portray hitmen grappling with the consequences of a botched hit and the ironic situations they find themselves in, often highlighting the absurdity of their existence.

2 Leon: The Professional (1994)

Leon Is An Assassin Conflicted Between His Professional & Personal Life

Leon: The Professional is a poignant tale of an assassin who becomes the unlikely protector of a young girl. The title character, much like the Killer, follows a strict personal code, which is challenged and ultimately evolves through his relationship with Mathilda. Both films showcase the solitary world of the assassin and the internal conflicts that arise when their professional and personal lives collide. Additionally, just like The Killer, Leon is a man of few words, letting his actions speak volumes. His proficiency with weapons and disguises, his strict personal regimen, and his navigation through moral ambiguities mirror the journey of Fincher’s protagonists.

1 The Bourne Identity (2002)

The Bourne Identity Follows The Most Resourceful Movie Assassin

The Bourne Identity launches audiences into a story of an amnesiac assassin trying to piece together his identity while being hunted. The film’s protagonist, like the Killer, is proficient, resourceful, and bound by a complex moral compass. Both characters are enigmatic, highly skilled, and must navigate a perilous world as they seek answers to their own puzzles. It isn’t just The Bourne Identity that should be watched but the whole Jason Bourne movie timeline. Just like The Killer, the Bourne franchise is about an expert assassin who is seemingly on a wild goose chase to discover who’s behind the curtain, and against all odds, he achieves it.