# Assassins

> 1995 film directed by Richard Donner

**Wikidata**: [Q739498](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q739498)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Assassins_(1995_film))  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/assassins

## Summary
Assassins is a 1995 American action thriller film directed by Richard Donner. It stars Sylvester Stallone and Antonio Banderas as rival assassins competing for a final contract.

## Key Facts
- Release date: October 6, 1995 (USA)
- Director: Richard Donner
- Writers: Andy Wachowski, Lana Wachowski (credited as Larry Wachowski)
- Producers: Bruce Davey, Richard Donner, Joel Silver
- Production companies: Silver Pictures, Canal+
- Distributor: Warner Bros.
- Runtime: 132 minutes
- Country of origin: United States, France
- Genre: Action film, Thriller film, Crime film
- IMDb ID: tt0112401
- Rotten Tomatoes rating: 16%
- Metacritic score: 38/100
- Box office: $30.3 million (worldwide)

## FAQs
**Who directed Assassins and who stars in it?**
Assassins was directed by Richard Donner, known for Lethal Weapon and Superman. The film stars Sylvester Stallone as Robert Rath, a veteran hitman, and Antonio Banderas as Miguel Bain, a younger rival assassin.

**What is the plot of Assassins?**
The film follows Robert Rath, a professional assassin who wants to retire, but finds himself targeted by Miguel Bain, a younger assassin trying to make a name for himself. Rath takes on one last job to eliminate Bain and secure his freedom.

**How was Assassins received by critics and audiences?**
Assassins received mostly negative reviews from critics, holding a 16% rating on Rotten Tomatoes. Critics found the plot predictable and the action sequences formulaic, though some praised the performances of Stallone and Banderas.

**What production companies were involved in making Assassins?**
The film was produced by Silver Pictures, founded by Joel Silver, and Canal+, the French television channel. Warner Bros. handled distribution in the United States.

## Why It Matters
Assassins represents a significant collaboration between Hollywood action star Sylvester Stallone and Spanish actor Antonio Banderas during the mid-1990s action film boom. The film showcases the transition in action cinema from the muscle-bound heroes of the 1980s to more nuanced characters, with Stallone playing a conflicted veteran rather than his typical invincible persona. Additionally, Assassins marks an early Hollywood screenplay credit for the Wachowski siblings, who would later revolutionize the genre with The Matrix.

## Notable For
- Early screenplay credit for the Wachowski siblings (The Matrix creators)
- Pairing of Sylvester Stallone and Antonio Banderas as rival assassins
- Directed by Richard Donner during his peak commercial period
- One of the last major action films of the pre-digital effects era
- Featured extensive location shooting in Seattle and San Francisco

## Body

### Production and Development
Assassins was developed by Warner Bros. as a vehicle for Sylvester Stallone, with the screenplay written by Andy and Lana Wachowski (credited as Larry and Andy Wachowski). The Wachowskis' original script was significantly rewritten by Brian Helgeland, though the siblings retained story credit. Richard Donner signed on to direct in 1994, bringing his experience from the Lethal Weapon franchise to the action thriller genre.

The film was produced by Silver Pictures, Joel Silver's production company known for action blockbusters like Die Hard and Predator. Canal+, the French premium television channel, co-produced the film, marking one of their early ventures into international film production. Principal photography took place in 1995, with extensive location shooting in Seattle, Washington, and San Francisco, California.

### Cast and Characters
Sylvester Stallone stars as Robert Rath, a world-weary professional assassin who has grown disillusioned with his profession and wants to retire. Antonio Banderas plays Miguel Bain, a younger, more flamboyant assassin who sees Rath as his idol but is determined to surpass him. Julianne Moore portrays Electra, a surveillance expert and thief who becomes entangled in the assassins' conflict.

The supporting cast includes Anatoli Davydov as Nicolai Tashlinkov, Rath's former mentor; Muse Watson as Alan Branch, Rath's handler; and Kelly Rowan as Jennifer, a target caught in the crossfire.

### Plot Summary
The story follows Robert Rath, a veteran hitman who has grown tired of his profession and wants to retire after completing one final contract. However, he discovers that a younger assassin, Miguel Bain, is systematically eliminating Rath's targets before him, attempting to establish himself as the world's greatest assassin by killing Rath.

Rath takes on a job to eliminate Bain and secure his retirement, but complications arise when he encounters Electra, a skilled thief and surveillance expert. As Rath and Electra form an alliance, they must outmaneuver Bain while dealing with corrupt government agents who have their own agenda. The film culminates in a final confrontation between Rath and Bain, with Rath's future hanging in the balance.

### Technical Specifications
The film has a runtime of 132 minutes and was shot on 35mm film stock. Cinematography was handled by Vilmos Zsigmond, an Academy Award winner known for his work on Close Encounters of the Third Kind. The score was composed by Marco Beltrami in his first major studio feature film assignment.

The action sequences were choreographed to showcase both traditional gunplay and hand-to-hand combat, reflecting the transition in action cinema from purely physical confrontations to more tactical approaches. The film's visual style emphasizes the urban environments of Seattle and San Francisco, using the cities' architecture and geography to create dynamic action set pieces.

### Release and Distribution
Assassins premiered in the United States on October 6, 1995, through Warner Bros. Pictures. The film opened in second place at the box office, behind Seven, grossing $14.2 million in its opening weekend. It went on to earn $30.3 million domestically and an additional $43.3 million internationally, for a worldwide total of $73.6 million.

The film was released in multiple international markets, with Canal+ handling distribution in France and other European territories. Marketing emphasized the star power of Stallone and Banderas, as well as the action-packed premise of rival assassins competing for supremacy.

### Critical Reception
Assassins received predominantly negative reviews from critics. On Rotten Tomatoes, it holds a 16% approval rating based on 44 reviews, with an average rating of 4.2/10. The critical consensus states: "Sylvester Stallone and Antonio Banderas fail to inject any life into this rote, by-the-numbers action thriller."

Metacritic assigned the film a score of 38 out of 100 based on 20 critics, indicating "generally unfavorable reviews." Roger Ebert gave the film 2 out of 4 stars, praising the performances but criticizing the predictable plot. Janet Maslin of The New York Times described it as "a mechanical thriller that never quite finds its rhythm."

Despite the critical drubbing, some reviewers appreciated the dynamic between Stallone and Banderas. Peter Travers of Rolling Stone noted that "Banderas brings a dangerous spark to his role that almost makes you forget the movie's shortcomings."

### Legacy and Cultural Impact
While not considered a classic of the action genre, Assassins holds significance as an early Hollywood credit for the Wachowski siblings and as a transitional work in Stallone's career. The film represents one of the last major action films before the digital effects revolution of the late 1990s, relying on practical stunts and location shooting rather than CGI.

The movie has maintained a modest cult following among fans of 1990s action cinema, particularly for the performances of Stallone and Banderas. It also serves as an interesting case study in the evolution of the assassin thriller subgenre, which would later be refined in films like The Professional and the Bourne series.

### Related Works and Connections
Assassins exists within the broader context of 1990s action cinema, sharing thematic elements with films like The Fugitive, Clear and Present Danger, and The Rock. The film's focus on professional killers competing against each other would be explored more successfully in later works like Killing Eve and Atomic Blonde.

The Wachowski siblings' involvement connects Assassins to their later groundbreaking work on The Matrix, which similarly dealt with themes of identity and purpose, albeit in a science fiction context. Richard Donner's direction links the film to his established action credentials from the Lethal Weapon series.

### Technical and Creative Team
Beyond the principal cast and director, the film's creative team included editor Stuart Baird, who had previously worked on Superman and Die Hard 2. Production designer Jackson De Govia created the film's distinctive visual environments, while costume designer Erica Edell Phillips dressed the leads in attire that reflected their characters' personalities and professions.

The film's action sequences were coordinated by stunt coordinator Conrad E. Palmisano, who had extensive experience with high-profile action films. Visual effects, though limited compared to later productions, were supervised by Thomas L. Fisher and included practical effects for explosions and gun battles.

## References

1. [Source](http://stopklatka.pl/film/zabojcy-1995)
2. IMDb
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4. [Source](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0112401/fullcredits)
5. Česko-Slovenská filmová databáze
6. The Movie Database
7. Assassins. Rotten Tomatoes
8. [Source](http://www.zelluloid.de/filme/index.php3?id=1387)
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