Warning! Spoilers ahead for The Killer’s Game’s ending.
The Killer’s Gamedirector J. J. Perry comments on the possibility ofThe Killer’s Game 2happening. Based on the 1997 novel of the same name by Jay Bonansinga, the action-comedy follows Dave Bautista’s hitman, Joe Flood, as he takes out a hit on himself after a terminal diagnosis, soon finding himself fending off his former assassin colleagues when they also target his ex-girlfriend, Maize (Sofia Boutella).The Killer’s Game’s endingleaves the door open for more story, with both Joe and a pregnant Maize alive, but there’s been no official confirmation of a sequel just yet.
In a recent interview withInverse, Perry is asked about the potential expansion ofThe Killer’s Game’s universe, and he expresses enthusiasm regarding a sequel. The director shares thathe already has plenty of ideas regarding what colorful characters could appear. Read his comment below:
“I’d be stoked to do a sequel forKillers Game.I’ve got a whole bunch of other characters that I could think of right now that I haven’t used over the years that I would love to put in there.”
Perry also comments specifically about what he envisions for Joe, Maize, and their upcoming baby, citing a scene fromShogun Assassin(1980) as a major influence:
“They have a baby carriage that has knives that pop out. I don’t know, we’ll figure it out. ButI think absolutely we should do a sequel.”
What The Killer’s Game’s Reception Means For Its Sequel Chances
How The Dave Bautista Movie Fared With Critics & Audiences
While Perry’s interest in making a sequel is a positive sign,The Killer’s Gameopening weekend reception is definitely not. The action film debuted to mostly negative reviews from critics, and currently sports a disappointing 35% score onRotten Tomatoes. The audience score, now called the Popcornmeter, is higher at 77%, but this hasn’t translated to a strong showing at the box office.
The Killer’s Gameearned a B+ CinemaScore, the same grade awarded to recent films likeSpeak No Evil(2024),Beetlejuice Beetlejuice(2024), asndAlien: Romulus(2024).
Specific budget figures forThe Killer’s Gamearen’t available, butDeadlinereports that the film had a production budget of less than $30 million before prints and advertising. That makes the film’s opening weekend gross of $2.6 million an especially dismal result, and it marks thelowest opening of Bautista’s career.
Dave Bautista’s New Action Movie Accomplishes What Jason Statham, Michael Keaton, & Wesley Snipes Couldn’t
Dave Bautista officially beats Jason Statham, Michael Keaton, and Wesley Snipes thanks to his new 2024 action movie, The Killer’s Game.
Though Lionsgate action flicks can be strong performers on VOD, and streaming deals and foreign sales can help a film earn back some of its budget before its even released, it’s extremely unlikely the movie will break even with this kind of start. Critically and commercially, then,The Killer’s Gameis a disappointment, andit’s very unlikely Perry will be getting a chance to make a sequel.
Our Take On The Killer’s Game 2’s Chances
Positive Audience Reception Won’t Be Enough To Justify Continuing Joe Flood’s Story
Perry is evidently enthusiastic about the world and the characters of the movie, and the audience response is generally positive. The film’s marketing, however, clearly didn’t connect, and not enough people were interested in actuallywatchingThe Killer’s Gamein theaters, or were even aware it was coming out. It’s possible that extremely strong VOD performance could turn the tides and makeThe Killer’s Game 2a reality, but the audience response thus far isn’t glowing enough to suggest this will be the case.
The Killer’s Game
Cast
A hitman named Joe is diagnosed with a terminal illness and decides to end his life on his own terms by placing a hit on himself. When he learns the diagnosis was a mistake, he must evade the world’s deadliest assassins who are now targeting him. The action-packed narrative follows Joe as he fights for survival while confronting his past decisions and the relentless killers pursuing him.
