# The Replacement Killers (1998) — Celluloid fact sheet

Source: https://celluloidscore.com/movies/the-replacement-killers-1998/
Last reviewed: 2026-07-23

| Field | Value |
|-------|-------|
| Celluloid Score | 58% |
| Critic Score | 57% |
| Audience Score | 60% |
| Metascore | 54/100 |
| Letterboxd | 2.9/5 |
| IMDb | 6.1/10 |
| Director | Antoine Fuqua |
| Genres | Action, Crime, Thriller |
| Runtime | 87 min |

## Quick answer

The Replacement Killers (1998) earns a 58% Celluloid Score — Not Recommended. Chow Yun-fat’s Hollywood action debut — a stylish assassin chase that introduced his cool to mainstream U.S. audiences. Metascore 54/100. Directed by Antoine Fuqua.

## Critics consensus

Chow Yun-fat’s Hollywood action debut — a stylish assassin chase that introduced his cool to mainstream U.S. audiences.

## Synopsis

Hired assassin John Lee is asked by Chinatown crime boss Terence Wei to murder the young son of policeman Stan Zedkov. Lee has the boy in his sights, but his conscience gets the better of him, and he spares the child's life. Afraid that Wei will take revenge on his family in China, Lee seeks out expert forger Meg Coburn to obtain the passport he needs to get out of the country, but a band of replacement killers is soon on his trail.

## Cast

Chow Yun-fat, Mira Sorvino, Michael Rooker, Kenneth Tsang, Jürgen Prochnow, Til Schweiger, Danny Trejo, Clifton Collins Jr., Carlos Gómez, Frank Medrano

## Common questions

**Is The Replacement Killers worth watching?**
The Replacement Killers holds a 58% Celluloid Score. Chow Yun-fat’s Hollywood action debut — a stylish assassin chase that introduced his cool to mainstream U.S. audiences.

**What is The Replacement Killers about?**
Hired assassin John Lee is asked by Chinatown crime boss Terence Wei to murder the young son of policeman Stan Zedkov. Lee has the boy in his sights, but his conscience gets the better of him, and he spares the child's life. Afraid that Wei will take revenge on his family in China, Lee seeks out expert forger Meg Coburn to obtain the passport he needs to get out of the country, but a band of replacement killers is soon on his trail.

**Who directed The Replacement Killers?**
The Replacement Killers (1998) was directed by Antoine Fuqua.

**What is the Celluloid Score of The Replacement Killers?**
58% — the average of five public sources: critics 57%, audience 60%, Metascore 54/100, Letterboxd 2.9/5, and IMDb 6.1/10.

**Where can I watch The Replacement Killers?**
Streaming availability varies by region — see the The Replacement Killers page for current options.

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Reviewed and scored by Celluloid · Editor: Kaiser Khan (https://celluloidscore.com/author/kaiser-khan/)

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