The Killers | Rotten Tomatoes (2024)

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Two hit men walk into a diner asking for a man called "the Swede" (Burt Lancaster). When the killers find the Swede, he's expecting them and doesn't put up a fight. Since the Swede had a life insurance policy, an investigator (Edmond O'Brien), on a hunch, decides to look into the murder. As the Swede's past is laid bare, it comes to light that he was in love with a beautiful woman (Ava Gardner) who may have lured him into pulling off a bank robbery overseen by another man (Albert Dekker).

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The Killers

Critics Reviews

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Wendy Ide

Times (UK)

It's [got] a blistering opening sequence.

Rated: 4/5

Dec 4, 2014

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Empire Magazine

Rated: 4/5

Apr 28, 2008

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Variety Staff

Variety

Taken from Ernest Hemingway's story of the same title, picture is a hard-hitting example of forthright melodrama in the best Hemingway style. Performances without exception are top quality.

Apr 8, 2008

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Tony Sloman

Radio Times

This is one of the most powerful and influential thrillers ever made, with director Robert Siodmak's lovingly bleak and pessimistic tone virtually defining the term film noir.

Rated: 5/5

Aug 8, 2024

Full Review

Sean Axmaker

Stream on Demand

[T]he web of deceit and double crosses of the story and expertly-constructed screenplay by Anthony Veiller works thanks to the atmosphere of doom and duplicity created by Siodmak and his crew, and to the defining presence of Lancaster and Gardner.

Mar 4, 2023

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Eric Melin

Scene-Stealers.com

The movie darts around in time, constantly surprising and adding more depth to the character of The Swede. It's a psychological exploration of a man who was so worn down by life that he merely gave up.

Rated: 3.5/4

Oct 7, 2015

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Audience Reviews

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Irene M Based on a (Very) short story by Ernest Hemingway, this script and movie has survived the 'test of time'. Its so well done, I'm surprised I've never heard of it before. Its quite complicated and requires your attention! Rated 4/5 Stars • Rated 4 out of 5 stars 08/24/24 Full Review Audience Member Five Stars 'cuz Ava is SMOKIN' Hot! Rated 5/5 Stars • Rated 5 out of 5 stars 07/17/24 Full Review Steve D Fine but lacking any surprises. Rated 3/5 Stars • Rated 3 out of 5 stars 03/29/24 Full Review harwee h Entertaining and well directed, Burt Lancaster always stunning. But in the end you don't care about the characters. Rated 2.5/5 Stars • Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars 03/10/24 Full Review Alec B Think of it as a mash up of "Citizen Kane" and "Double Indemnity". Maybe the ending isn't totally effective but it has one hell of a compelling opening and much of the middle section shades the characters in interesting ways. Rated 4/5 Stars • Rated 4 out of 5 stars 02/21/24 Full Review nick s A quality mystery noir, with good acting performances. There's enough suspense & intrigue to ensure it never gets dull. Rated 4.5/5 Stars • Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 12/08/23 Full Review Read all reviews

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Cast & Crew

Robert Siodmak Director Burt Lancaster Ole "The Swede" Andersen Ava Gardner Kitty Collins Edmond O'Brien Jim Reardon (investigator) Albert Dekker Big Jim Colfax Sam Levene Lt. Sam Lubinsky

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The Killers

The Killers (1946)

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Synopsis Two hit men walk into a diner asking for a man called "the Swede" (Burt Lancaster). When the killers find the Swede, he's expecting them and doesn't put up a fight. Since the Swede had a life insurance policy, an investigator (Edmond O'Brien), on a hunch, decides to look into the murder. As the Swede's past is laid bare, it comes to light that he was in love with a beautiful woman (Ava Gardner) who may have lured him into pulling off a bank robbery overseen by another man (Albert Dekker).

Director: Robert Siodmak
Producer: Mark Hellinger
Screenwriter: Ernest Hemingway, Anthony Veiller, Richard Brooks, John Huston
Distributor: Universal Pictures, Universal International Pictures
Production Co: Mark Hellinger Productions
Genre: Crime, Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Aug 28, 1946, Original
Release Date (Streaming): Aug 30, 2016
Runtime: 1h 45m
Sound Mix: Mono
Aspect Ratio: 35mm