The Saint

Simon Templar, known as The Saint, operates on the edge of propriety, taking jobs that suit his sharp wits and fearless style. When he is hired to steal the secret for a cold fusion process, he stumbles into a dangerous power struggle. A traitor schemes to topple a Russian government, and Emma Russell, the woman who guards the secret, becomes a central figure in a game where loyalties shift quickly. The Saint must outwit dangerous enemies, dodge double crosses, and decide how far he will go to protect the truth and his own code. The tone keeps a light touch even when danger rises, letting the romance between Templar and Emma add warmth to the chase.

Directed by Phillip Noyce, The Saint adapts a character from Leslie Charteris with a script by Jonathan Hensleigh and Wesley Strick. Val Kilmer plays Simon Templar opposite Elisabeth Shue as Emma Russell, and the film unfolds as a globe trotting thriller that leans on brisk pacing and stylish set pieces and flair.

With a production budget around 68 million, The Saint grossed approximately 118.1 million worldwide, marking a solid return for a mid range spy adventure of the late 1990s. It performed respectably in international markets, though it did not become a blockbuster.

Critics tended to split on the balance between slick action and character banter, praising Kilmer and Shue for carrying the film while noting uneven plot beats. The movie explores loyalty versus self interest and the lure of high stakes danger, with a flirtatious edge.

Beyond its immediate story, The Saint contributed to the late 90s fashion of suave spy personas blending charm with competence. The film occasionally surfaces in discussions of screen antiheroes, and Kilmer's take helped keep a long running fictional franchise in circulation during a crowded era for action thrillers.