Assassins (1995)
Assassins is a high-stakes action thriller starring Sylvester Stallone as Robert Rath, a world-weary, deeply skilled contract killer haunted by his past. Once the top assassin in the world, Rath is burdened by guilt, especially over the memory of murdering his mentor. He dreams of escaping the life, taking one final job, and vanishing forever. But the underworld he serves is not so easily left behind.
Rath’s retirement plans unravel when a new, unpredictable threat emerges: Miguel Bain, a young, ruthless assassin played by Antonio Banderas. Bain is everything Rath is not—reckless, energetic, eager to prove himself, and dangerously unhinged. Worse still, Bain is hired to kill the same targets as Rath, turning every mission into a deadly competition. Bain idolizes Rath’s legendary status but is determined to surpass him by eliminating him.
Their deadly rivalry intensifies when both men converge on their next objective: Electra, an expert hacker played by Julianne Moore. Electra possesses encrypted data valuable to powerful criminal interests, making her a target. Rath is ordered to kill her, but upon meeting her, he sees someone as trapped and alone as he is. Instead of carrying out the hit, he decides to protect her, defying his employers and making himself their new target.
Barely escaping Bain’s relentless pursuit, Rath and Electra flee from city to city, relying on Rath’s instincts and Electra’s digital skill to survive. Trust grows slowly; both are guarded, living lives built on secrecy. Bain, however, does not rest—his obsession drives him to track them across borders, leaving chaos in his wake.
The climax unfolds in Mexico, where Rath plans to collect payment for the final job and disappear. But the drop is a trap orchestrated by Bain and the very organization Rath once served. The shocking twist reveals that Rath’s old mentor—the man he believed he killed—has been alive all along, manipulating events to eliminate both assassins and reclaim power.
In a dramatic showdown inside an abandoned hotel, Rath confronts his past, his rival, and his would-be executioner. Rath outmaneuvers Bain in a tense standoff, sparing Electra and finally breaking free from the cycle of killing that defined his life.
As the dust settles, Rath and Electra walk away—two survivors choosing a different future, leaving behind a world built on betrayal.
Assassins is a film about skill, conscience, and the cost of living in the shadows—where the greatest victory is simply getting out alive.
