The Jackal
Rent & Buy
Hired by a powerful member of the Russian mafia to avenge an FBI sting that left his brother dead, a psychopathic hitman known only as The Jackal proves an elusive target for the people charged with the task of bringing him down: a deputy FBI director, a Russian MVK Major, and a jailed IRA terrorist who can recognize him.
What critics thought
Critics were nearly unanimous in their disdain for this remake of the 1973 thriller, finding it a limp and bloated action film that trades suspense for tedium. Where the original built tension methodically, this version was widely seen as a dumbed-down retread that fails to generate genuine excitement despite its big-name cast.
“glum, curiously flat thriller”
Roger Ebert·Chicago Sun-Times
“more preposterous than thrilling”
Ruthe Stein·San Francisco Chronicle
“1997's most tedious movie”
Russell Smith·Austin Chronicle
Genres
Action, Thriller, Adventure, Crime
Cast & Crew
Michael Caton-JonesDirector
Bruce WillisThe Jackal
Richard GereDeclan Mulqueen
Sidney PoitierCarter Preston
Diane VenoraMajor Valentina Koslova
J.K. SimmonsFBI Agent T. I. Witherspoon
Mathilda MayIsabella Zanconia
John CunninghamFBI Director Donald Brown
Jack BlackIan Lamont
Stephen SpinellaDouglas
Tess HarperThe First Lady
David HaymanTerek Murad
Ravil IsyanovGhazzi Murad
Carter BurwellComposer
Chuck PfarrerWriter
Karl Walter LindenlaubCinematographyThe Jackal
Hired by a powerful member of the Russian mafia to avenge an FBI sting that left his brother dead, a psychopathic hitman known only as The Jackal proves an elusive target for the people charged with the task of bringing him down: a deputy FBI director, a Russian MVK Major, and a jailed IRA terrorist who can recognize him.
What critics thought
Critics were nearly unanimous in their disdain for this remake of the 1973 thriller, finding it a limp and bloated action film that trades suspense for tedium. Where the original built tension methodically, this version was widely seen as a dumbed-down retread that fails to generate genuine excitement despite its big-name cast.
“glum, curiously flat thriller”
Roger Ebert·Chicago Sun-Times
“more preposterous than thrilling”
Ruthe Stein·San Francisco Chronicle
“1997's most tedious movie”
Russell Smith·Austin Chronicle
Genres
Action, Thriller, Adventure, Crime
Cast & Crew
Michael Caton-JonesDirectorBruce WillisThe JackalRichard GereDeclan MulqueenSidney PoitierCarter PrestonDiane VenoraMajor Valentina KoslovaJ.K. SimmonsFBI Agent T. I. WitherspoonMathilda MayIsabella ZanconiaJohn CunninghamFBI Director Donald BrownJack BlackIan LamontStephen SpinellaDouglasTess HarperThe First LadyDavid HaymanTerek MuradRavil IsyanovGhazzi MuradCarter BurwellComposerChuck PfarrerWriterKarl Walter LindenlaubCinematographyRent & Buy