The Jackal

A hired assassin known only as the Jackal is asked by a powerful Russian crime figure to avenge a brother killed in an FBI sting, and he accepts with clinical precision. The Jackal's talent for disguise and meticulous planning makes him a nearly invisible threat, and law enforcement scrambles to stop him before he can strike. Deputy FBI director Declan Mulqueen recruits a jailed IRA operative who claims he can identify the killer, while Russian Major Valentina Koslova offers cooperation from her side. The film follows their tense attempts to anticipate the Jackal's next move, trading close calls and strategy as they try to outthink an adversary who rarely leaves a trace.

Directed by Michael Caton-Jones and released in 1997, the movie was written by Chuck Pfarrer and Kenneth Ross. The casting of Bruce Willis as the Jackal opposite Richard Gere as Declan Mulqueen, with Sidney Poitier, Diane Venora, and J.K. Simmons in supporting roles, was a major selling point at release.

The Jackal did solid business at the box office, driven largely by its star power and high-concept premise. Audiences turned up for the thriller elements and the lead matchup, even as critical reactions were mixed.

The film left a noticeable imprint on late 90s action thrillers, partly because Willis played an antagonist with unusual calm and precision. The pairing of two leading men from different acting traditions, plus Poitier's steady presence, kept the movie in cultural conversation for a while. Certain set pieces, especially the assassination planning and disguise sequences, are the moments people still recall.

Critics gave the film mixed reviews and viewers have been similarly divided, reflected in an average vote of about 6.38 out of 10. Praise tended to land on performances and the tense cat-and-mouse setup, while complaints focused on plausibility and plotting. The movie wrestles with themes of revenge, identity and the ethics of state versus private violence, even as it prioritizes brisk action and suspense.