The Replacement Killers

The Replacement Killers is a 1998 American action film directed by Antoine Fuqua in his feature film directorial debut, and starring Chow Yun-fat (in his American acting debut), Mira Sorvino, Michael Rooker and Kenneth Tsang. Veteran action director John Woo co-produced and choreographed the action sequences.

The film is set in modern-day Los Angeles and follows an emotionally disillusioned assassin who is forced to settle a violent vendetta for a ruthless crime boss.

Tropes used in The Replacement Killers include:

• Action Girl: Meg. Possibly a Dark Action Girl, given her career choice.
• Action Prologue: John's hit at the nightclub, followed by Zedkov's attempted drug bust of Wei's son.
• Back-to-Back Badasses: Meg and John during the shootout at her office, sort of--they face opposite directions to take out each other's would-be shooter.
• Badass Damsel: John's hostage holds her own against the bad guys.
• Badass in a Nice Suit: John, at the beginning.
• Badass Longcoat: Ryker, the big, German-looking replacement killer.
• Best Served Cold: Wei wants to be sure Zedkov's son dies in his arms so Zedkov will understand Wei's pain.
• Big Bad: Terence Wei.
• Blood Brothers: Seemingly, Alan and John.
• Briefcase Blaster: Ryker is equipped with this. (Since he and Collins carry out their assignment like proverbial bulls in a china shop, one wonders why he bothers disguising his weapon.)
• Butt Monkey: Loco.
• Car Fu: Meg uses this in the final battle, although it's more Van Fu.
• Catch Phrase: Meg's "I didn't think so."
• Cool Shades: John, occasionally, and a few of Wei's men.
• Even Evil Has Standards: Subverted. John isn't evil--he's being forced to do Wei's bidding.
• Gun Fu
• Guns Akimbo: Of course.
• Hitman with a Heart
• Honor Before Reason
• Imperial Stormtrooper Marksmanship Academy: Where the replacement killers evidently learned their trade.
• Informed Ability: See above entry. For professionals, the movie's title characters really suck at their job.
• It's Personal: For everybody except Meg, who's just sort of dragged into the situation.
  • Although, before the final fight, she insists on coming along because she now cares what happens to John.
• Leap and Fire
• Marked Bullet: John's calling card. If he sets one on the table in front of you, kiss your ass goodbye.
• Mexican Standoff: Between John and Wei.
• One Last Job: What John's assignment to kill Zedkov's son was supposed to be.
• Red Oni, Blue Oni: John is blue, Meg is red.
• Sacrificial Lamb: Wei's son winds up being this, kicking off the revenge plan.
• Throw-Away Guns
• Wouldn't Hurt a Child: Leads to John's inability to complete his assignment.