Timothy Olyphant’s Hitman Gets a Streaming Resurgence on Tubi

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Timothy Olyphant is back as Agent 47, and the 2007 film is finding new popularity thanks to streaming on Tubi. While it initially received poor reviews, the movie is now experiencing a comeback.

According to FlixPatrol, the movie Hitman has unexpectedly climbed into the top 10 most-watched titles on Tubi in the U.S. It’s currently at number 4, right above Lara Croft Tomb Raider: The Cradle of Life. While Hitman was a box office success when it came out, earning over $101 million on a $24 million budget, critics didn’t love it – it only received a 16% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes.

Hitman Was Based on the Hit Video Game Series

The movie Hitman, directed by Xavier Gens and written by Skip Woods, is based on the popular video game series. Timothy Olyphant plays Agent 47, a highly skilled assassin who becomes the target of both Interpol and the FSB after stumbling into a large political scheme. To accurately portray the character from the games, Olyphant shaved his head to display a barcode on the back – a signature detail from the video game series. While critics generally praised Olyphant’s performance, the movie itself received criticism for its complicated and confusing storyline.

Originally, Vin Diesel was going to star as Agent 47, but he eventually left the project and was replaced by Timothy Olyphant. The first movie didn’t do well with audiences, so plans for a sequel were canceled, meaning Olyphant didn’t get to reprise the role. However, the Hitman story wasn’t over. In 2015, a completely new version of the film came out, with Rupert Friend taking on the role of Agent 47. This reboot was more successful than the 2007 film, earning $82 million worldwide and receiving a positive score of 8% on Rotten Tomatoes.

Timothy Olyphant Accepted the Role to Pay for His House

In 2019, Timothy Olyphant told Rolling Stone that he took the role in Hitman immediately after HBO canceled Deadwood. He explained he needed the money to cover the mortgage on a new house. He said, “I told them I’m in. I’ve got to make up some TV money.” But he also realized those less-than-ideal experiences were surprisingly valuable. He joked that finding himself in difficult situations, like working on a low-budget film in Bulgaria, motivated him to work harder and appreciate his opportunities.

Even though Timothy Olyphant doesn’t look back on making the movie Hitman with great fondness, the film continues to be enjoyed by viewers nearly two decades later, as seen by its recent popularity on Tubi. While critics weren’t kind to it when it came out in 2007, many audience members actually liked Hitman. Its Rotten Tomatoes audience score is 57%, which isn’t amazing, but significantly better than the 16% rating from critics.

You can stream Hitman on Tubi.

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2026-03-08 05:40