5 CRIME COMEDIES LIKE NETFLIX'S 'HIT MAN' THAT ARE LOOSELY BASED ON A TRUE STORY -- OR SEEM LIKE THEY COULD BE
Netflix have a surprise hit on their hands, in more ways than one, with Richard Linklater’s Hit Man, a comedy crime thriller inspired by the true story, sort of, featuring a fake hitman. Glen Powell stars in the twisted and often hilarious feature. With everyone talking about the film, I’ve rounded up another five movies like Hit Man that you might also enjoy, especially if you’re into films based on true stories, urban legends, or that feel like they could have a basis in truth even though they’re fictional.
Catch Me If You Can (2002)
Steven Spielberg would bring humor, charm, and pathos to this story of alleged true-life con man Frank Abagnale Jnr, based on the autobiography of the same name, written by the scoundrel himself. Abagnale would be involved in various scams, including posing as a Pan Am pilot, and after forging cheques and committing various frauds, he attracted the attention of the FBI.
Leonardo DiCaprio would play the role, adding to the allure of the character, and despite painting a somewhat colorful portrait of the con man, many believe the biggest con of all was that it actually never happened.
Pain and Gain (2013)
Pain and Gain | Image via Variety
Mark Wahlberg and Duane Johnson star in this crime thriller, which features three bodybuilding enthusiasts who find themselves wrapped up in a caper involving kidnapping and blackmail. This feature is based on the true story of Daniel Lugo, desperate to find the secret to living the American dream, but it’s all muscle and hustle, and not a lot of thinking things through, leading to this caper unraveling and proving brain is often more important than brawn.
Grosse Pointe Blank (1997)
Grosse Pointe Blanc | Image via Prime Video
John Cusack stars as an unlikely hitman in this well-loved classic, which finds the killer suffering from a moral crisis and attending his high school reunion while on another assassination assignment. However, he is not alone, as the FBI and another hitman are also on his trail, and he starts to think about the path his life has taken.
Charming, funny and originally rumored to be based on a true story, the film has enough heart in the screenplay to make you think that this is exactly how this situation would play out. The truth is that the story has its roots in an urban legend, and was never a true crime tale.
Lucky Number Slevin (2006)
Lucky Number Slevin | Image via Flicks
An all-star ensemble cast including Josh Hartnett, Morgan Freeman, Ben Kingsley, and Bruce Willis brings this multi-layered thriller to life, with intertwined plot threads and plenty of twists and turns. Gangsters, hitmen, and detectives are all in the mix, and although the story is so out there it could be based in fact, the truth is the film is a work of fiction but it does use many tropes and styles that may have led to some thinking it could have been inspired by true events.
Quirky, funny, and shocking, if you enjoyed Hit Man you should check this out.
In Bruges (2008)
In Bruges | Image via Prime Video
This highly acclaimed comedy thriller stars Colin Farrell and Brendan Gleason as a pair of hitmen forced to spend downtime in Bruges after an assignment goes wrong. With two central performances that brings heart to the proceedings, this is a brilliant example of merging genres into a perfect mix.
Despite the incredible performances, the film is a work of fiction, and its screenplay uses the F word an impressive 126 times over its runtime.
Do you have any more recommendations for movies like Hit Man? Let us know in the comments below.
2024-06-15T08:10:38Z dg43tfdfdgfd