What Is The Hitman About?
The premise of The Hitman in 279 words, with nothing given away. The full story follows below.
In the rain‑slick streets of Seattle, a city where the neon glow masks a restless undercurrent, a hardened police officer is thrust from the badge‑clad world of law into the shadowed realm of contract killing. After a betrayal by his own partner, Cliff Garrett walks away from a near‑fatal ambush with a single, burning purpose: to turn the tables on the criminal network that once protected him. The film opens with a stark contrast between the orderly precinct and the chaotic, ever‑shifting underworld, establishing a tone that is both gritty and methodical, underscored by a relentless sense of calculated revenge.
The narrative follows Cliff as he discards his former identity and adopts the cold moniker of a professional hit‑man. He learns to navigate a landscape populated by emerging crime syndicates, each vying for power while maintaining a fragile veneer of order. The city itself becomes a character, its foggy alleys and bustling docks echoing the protagonist’s internal conflict—loyalty to a broken system versus a personal code forged in blood. With each step deeper into this labyrinth, he cultivates a reputation that both intimidates and earns the uneasy trust of those who thrive in the shadows.
Underlying the action is a moody, atmospheric aesthetic that blends the stark realism of police procedural with the stylized tension of noir‑type intrigue. Cliff’s transformation is portrayed not merely as a quest for vengeance but as a darker exploration of identity, where the lines between hunter and hunted blur. The film invites viewers to wonder how far one man will go when the very institution meant to protect him becomes the greatest threat, and whether the price of retribution can ever be truly paid.
What Happens in The Hitman?
The complete story of The Hitman, from the first scene to the last, in 573 words (about 2 minutes). Spoilers throughout. Names in the text link to 6 cast member pages.
Spoilers ahead
Seattle cop Cliff Garret, Chuck Norris, is severely wounded in a drug bust gone bad—shot by his corrupt partner Ronny “Del” Delaney, Michael Parks. He dies momentarily in the emergency room, then is brought back to life by a defibrillator, a miracle that sets off a chain of choices with consequences for everyone around him. Garret’s survival is swept under the rug by the hospital, as his supervisor Chambers, Ken Pogue, orders the staff to keep quiet about what happened. Garret is given a new identity, and the man who used to be a cop becomes the hitman Danny Grogan, a transformation that will redefine loyalty, morality, and survival.
A year passes, and Grogan’s undercover work brings him into the dangerous orbit of Marco Luganni, the ruthless mob boss played by Al Waxman. The plan is intricate: Grogan is to orchestrate a meeting between Luganni and his rival, the French-Canadian mafioso Andre Lacombe, Marcel Sabourin, hoping that their confrontation will weaken both sides and clear the way for a larger takedown. The scheme fuses two powerful empires in a fragile alliance, a chess game where every move could trigger a deadly cascade.
Two years into the operation, a new wildcard arrives on the scene: Iranian drug dealers who want a bigger slice of the cities’ territories. Their arrival forces Luganni, Lacombe, and Delaney to recalibrate their plans just as Grogan quietly navigates the shifting alliances. Through it all, Grogan guards a growing friendship with Tim Murphy, a fatherless boy who lives in the apartment down the hall. Tim’s mother, Christine De Vera, Alberta Watson, works three jobs to keep the family afloat, and Grogan becomes a constant, if morally ambiguous, presence in Tim’s life.
Tim’s world is a small, rough-edged classroom for Grogan’s more dangerous lessons. He teaches Tim how to defend himself after watching the boy stand up to a neighborhood bully, a moment that culminates in a stark confrontation where the bully’s father is punched through a screen door. The boy’s courage rekindles a glimmer of hope in a world of crime, and Grogan’s protective instincts begin to blur the lines between guardian and operative.
The past comes roaring back when Delaney recognizes Grogan as Garret. He tries to loop Tim into the danger, tying the boy to a chair loaded with explosives to force Grogan’s cooperation. The chair bomb detonates, but Tim survives, and the brutal gambit only hardens Grogan’s resolve. The confrontation accelerates toward a brutal denouement where Grogan, who has played all sides against each other, seizes control of the collapsing alliance.
At a climactic meeting to settle terms, Delaney’s side orders Luganni’s men to kill Lacombe and his entourage. The Iranian dealers and Delaney then strike Luganni, but Grogan arrives just in time to wipe out the remaining threats and secure a staggering payoff for Tim and his mother in Tim’s hospital room. The gesture is deeply moving, a rare moment of mercy in a story defined by revenge and calculation.
In the final act of retribution for what he did to Tim, Grogan detonates Delaney while Delaney is tied to a chair outside a window, a dramatic and coldly precise blow that leaves Chambers watching with a mix of dismay and reluctant respect. The ending confirms Grogan’s transformation from an undercover instrument of the system to a man who defines his own code of justice, even as the cost is measured in blood and broken loyalties.
The Hitman Timeline: Every Key Event in Order
13 key events in the order they happen, from “Garret is mortally wounded and revived” to “Final act of retribution against Delany”. 13 events name a place, across 12 locations.
- 1
Garret is mortally wounded and revived
During a drug bust gone wrong, Seattle cop Cliff Garret is critically wounded and dies momentarily. He is revived with a defibrillator and rushed to the hospital. The hospital and Garret’s superiors agree to conceal his survival from the department.
When:Immediately after the bust Where:Emergency room / hospital
- 2
A new identity begins
Garret’s survival is kept secret by his supervisor, and he is given a new identity as Danny Grogan. He is moved into a discreet life as an undercover operative. The change marks the start of a long, risky mission.
When:Shortly after revival Where:Hospital safehouse
- 3
Grogan enters Luganni’s world
One year later, Grogan infiltrates the organization of mob boss Marco Luganni. He embeds himself among Luganni’s crew and begins building trust and influence. The assignment is dangerous but potentially game-changing for everyone involved.
When:One year after revival Where:Luganni’s city operations
- 4
The plan to dismantle two bosses
Grogan hatches a plan to bring Luganni and his rival LaCombe together so they can be targeted at the same time. He works the plan for two years, carefully setting up opportunities and alliances. His goal is to trigger a gang war that will remove both men.
When:Over two years Where:Various gang locations
- 5
Iranian dealers disrupt the balance
A gang of Iranian drug dealers enters the picture, muscles in on the territories, and strikes just as Luganni and LaCombe are also being targeted. Grogan must adapt to the new threat and keep his cover intact. The underworld erupts into a dangerous three-way struggle.
When:During the two-year arc Where:City streets / drug market
- 6
Tim Murphy is introduced to Grogan
Grogan befriends Tim Murphy, a fatherless boy living in the apartment down the hall. Tim’s mother works three jobs, so Tim spends time with Grogan and begins to see him as a protector. The bond deepens as Grogan mentors him in basic self-defense.
When:During the infiltration period Where:Tim’s apartment building
- 7
Grogan teaches Tim to fight
Seeing Tim bullied on the street, Grogan teaches him how to defend himself and stand up to bullies. Tim learns practical skills and gains confidence. Their growing friendship becomes a quiet counterpoint to Grogan’s volatile double life.
When:During the infiltration period Where:On the street / around Tim’s building
- 8
Delany uses Tim to press Grogan
Delany reappears and, recognizing Grogan as Garret, ties Tim to a chair loaded with explosives to force Grogan’s cooperation. The danger is both personal and political, as Tim becomes a pawn in a larger power struggle. Grogan must improvise to protect Tim while keeping his cover.
When:Later in the plan Where:Tim’s apartment
- 9
The chair bomb goes off; Tim survives
Delany detonates the chair bomb, but Grogan is unharmed and Tim survives the attack. The incident raises the stakes and tightens Grogan’s resolve to end Delany’s threat. The attack exposes the brutality of the scheme and the costs of Grogan’s double life.
When:Shortly after the tie incident Where:Tim’s apartment
- 10
The alliance meeting turns deadly
At a meeting to set terms of alliance, Delany has Luganni’s men kill LaCombe and his associates. The Iranian rivals and Delany then kill Luganni. The orchestrated treachery collapses Grogan’s multi-year plan into a brutal scramble for power.
When:During the alliance talks Where:Meeting location
Show the other 3 events of The Hitman Hide the last 3 events
- 11
Grogan arrives and wipes out the killers
Grogan arrives on the scene and eliminates Luganni’s killers, the Iranian faction, and Delany. He unravels the web of betrayals and consolidates his own control over the chaos. The underworld loses its balance as Grogan asserts dominance.
When:Immediately after the double-cross Where:Scene of the killings
- 12
Grogan’s gift to Tim and his mother
Grogan leaves a large sum of money in Tim’s hospital room for Tim and his mother, a gesture that reveals his softer side beneath the hard exterior. Tim’s mother is deeply grateful for the unexpected financial help. The moment starkly contrasts with the violence surrounding Grogan’s life.
When:After the killings Where:Tim’s hospital room
- 13
Final act of retribution against Delany
In retribution for what he did to Tim, Grogan blows Delany up while Delany is tied to a chair hanging outside a window. Chambers, Grogan’s former supervisor, looks on with dismay at the cost of the vendetta. The film closes on a grim note as Grogan’s vengeance completes his arc.
When:End Where:Outside a window, tied to a chair
Who Are the Main Characters in The Hitman?
8 characters, among them Cliff Garret (Chuck Norris), Danny Grogan (Chuck Norris) and Marco Luganni (Al Waxman): who each one is and the part they play in the story. Every profile links to the actor’s page.
-
Cliff Garret (Chuck Norris)
Played by Chuck Norris
Seattle cop who is shot by a corrupt partner, dies momentarily, and is revived with a defibrillator. He assumes a new identity as Danny Grogan to infiltrate the mob, blurring lines between justice and vengeance.
- 🗡️ Vigilante
- 🌀 Dual Identity
- ⚖️ Morality
-
Danny Grogan (Chuck Norris)
Played by Chuck Norris
A former cop turned hitman who works as an undercover operative to infiltrate rival crime rings and stage a high-stakes takedown. His carefully constructed veneer masks a conflicted conscience as he manipulates factions to secure his ultimate plan.
- 🧭 Double Life
- 🃏 Deception
- 🛡️ Protector
-
Marco Luganni (Al Waxman)
Played by Al Waxman
Mafioso boss whose organization becomes a focal point of inter rival plots. He exerts control through loyalty and intimidation, but is ultimately targeted by the shifting alliances.
- 💼 Crime Boss
- 🧭 Power Broker
- ⚔️ Rivalries
- AL
André Lacombe (Marcel Sabourin)
Played by Marcel Sabourin
French Canadian mob boss who navigates alliances and betrayals. He is drawn into a dangerous plan that makes him a focal point of the power struggle and is killed amid shifting loyalties.
- 💼 Rival Boss
- 🕵️♂️ Betrayal
- 🧭 Strategic
-
Ronny 'Del' Delaney (Michael Parks)
Played by Michael Parks
A corrupt and ruthless figure who manipulates others to achieve his own ends, including using Tim as leverage. His schemes collide with Grogan’s plan and escalate toward a dramatic showdown.
- 💼 Corrupt Cop
- 🧩 Manipulation
- ⚔️ Betrayal
- TM
Tim Murphy (Salim Grant)
Played by Salim Grant
A fatherless, bullied boy who becomes Grogan’s unlikely ward. He experiences fear, courage, and a fragile hope as the merciless world presses in from all sides.
- 🧒 Vulnerable Youth
- 🧭 Mentorship
- 🛡️ Protection
- CD
Christine De Vera (Alberta Watson)
Played by Alberta Watson
Tim’s mother who works multiple jobs to support her son. She represents resilience and gratitude when a costly windfall arrives, illustrating the human cost behind the crime world.
- 👩 Working Mother
- 🤝 Gratitude
- 🏠 Family
- C(
Chambers (Ken Pogue)
Played by Ken Pogue
Police supervisor who attempts to manage the fallout from the cover-up and Grogan’s undercover operation, navigating loyalty to the force and the truth.
- 🏛️ Authority
- 🕵️♂️ Corruption
- 🧭 Ambition
Where and When Is The Hitman Set?
The Hitman is set in Seattle and Washington. Here is why the place matters to the story.
Where
Seattle, Washington
The film unfolds in a gritty urban Seattle setting, centering on a police precinct, a hospital, and dim apartment blocks. The city’s underworld collides with law enforcement as a corrupted partnership threatens the safety of civilians. The contrast between the neon-lit streets and sterile hospital halls underscores the dual life at the story’s core.
- 🌆 Urban setting
- 🚓 Police backdrop
- 🏙️ Cityscape
What Are the Themes of The Hitman?
4 ideas the story keeps returning to, among them Identity, Violence and Protection.
-
01
Identity
The story hinges on a man living a double life after a fatal shooting is covered up, then reemerges as a new operative. Infiltration requires false loyalties, disguises, and constant moral negotiation, highlighting how identity can be weaponized for survival. The narrative questions whether a person can redefine themselves without losing their conscience. Deceit becomes a central tool in a city-wide power game.
-
02
Violence
Violence is both instrument and consequence as different crime factions collide. Grogan’s calculated use of force triggers a deadly chain reaction among mob bosses, rivals, and corrupt officials. The climactic eliminations serve as a brutal reckoning for betrayals and schemes. The film treats violence as strategic rather than gratuitous, shaping character futures.
-
03
Protection
Grogan forms a protective bond with Tim Murphy, a bullied boy living across the hall. He mentors Tim, teaching him to fight and stand up for himself. This relationship provides a moral counterpoint to the merciless world around them and drives Grogan’s more humane choices. The outcome shows how care can emerge even in a world driven by crime.
-
04
Power & Corruption
The interlocking crime empires reveal how power is negotiated through deception, alliances, and murder. Characters maneuver for advantage, using others as pawns in a larger political game. The unraveling of Luganni, LaCombe, and Delaney exposes corruption within both criminal networks and law enforcement. The story ultimately critiques the costs of chasing control at any price.
What Kind of Film Is The Hitman?
Dark in tone, with steady pacing and a moderate story, going by the plot summary.
- Tone
- Dark
- Pacing
- Steady
- Story
- Moderate
- Intensity
- High
- Ending
- Bittersweet
A gritty and tense action thriller where an undercover cop's quest for revenge creates a morally fraught journey of brutal violence and shifting loyalties, punctuated by moments of melancholic connection.
- gritty
- tense
- vengeful
- paranoid
- brutal
- morally ambiguous
- undercover cop
- revenge
- betrayal
- organized crime
Content notes: child in jeopardy, murder of a police officer, man murders a woman, explosives, betrayal.
Quiz
How well do you remember The Hitman? Test yourself on the story.
Where to Watch The Hitman
Stream it on Hoopla and YouTube Free, or rent or buy it from Amazon Video and Apple TV Store. US availability and prices from JustWatch.
Stream 2
Hoopla 
YouTube Free 
Streaming availability in the US, powered by 
