The story of The Saint and its high-stakes heist premise
The Saint follows Simon Templar, a charming and ruthless thief for hire who exists in the shadows of international crime and espionage. When he's contracted to steal the secret process for cold fusion—a technology that could reshape global power—he finds himself navigating far more treacherous waters than a simple job. The target isn't just a formula; it's caught between a Russian traitor plotting to overthrow his government and a brilliant woman who holds the secret. What begins as a lucrative assignment becomes a web of conflicting loyalties, double-crosses, and an attraction that threatens to compromise everything. The tagline says it all: "Never reveal your name. Never turn your back. Never surrender your heart." That last part is where things get complicated.
Director Phillip Noyce crafts a world where Templar must adopt the identities of various saints—using false names and elaborate disguises as both shield and weapon. He's not a traditional hero; he's an anti-hero operating in moral gray zones, which is precisely what makes him compelling. The 116-minute runtime moves briskly through Moscow winters, luxury penthouses, and the kind of spy-craft that defined late-90s action cinema. This isn't a slow burn. It's designed to keep you watching.
Behind the making of The Saint and its box office success
Produced by Paramount Pictures alongside Rysher Entertainment, Mace Neufeld Productions, and Studio Trite, The Saint arrived during a peculiar moment in Hollywood when studios were actively hunting the next Tom Cruise—the next action-spy franchise anchor. Val Kilmer was riding genuine star power at the time, fresh off his turn as Batman in Joel Schumacher's Batman Forever, and he brought a certain magnetism to the role that couldn't be faked.
Wesley Strick and Jonathan Hensleigh penned the script, attempting to modernize the character for audiences who'd never seen Roger Moore's television series from the 1960s. The supporting cast included Elisabeth Shue as the scientist caught between duty and desire, and Rade Šerbedžija as the antagonist with geopolitical ambitions. It's a solid ensemble, though the film doesn't always know what to do with them.
Financially, The Saint performed better than critics might suggest. The picture earned a worldwide box office of $169.4 million—a significant haul for 1997—with an additional $28.2 million in rentals. DVD sales sustained the title for years afterward, suggesting that audiences, even if they didn't catch it theatrically, found something worth returning to. That's not blockbuster money by today's standards, but it was respectable for a mid-budget action-thriller of that era. The film carried a PG-13 rating, which helped broaden its appeal, though some viewers felt that constraint softened the edge the material might've had.
What makes The Saint's performances and style stand out
Here's the thing about Val Kilmer in this role—he commits fully to the artifice. He's not playing a real person; he's playing someone who's constantly playing other people. That's a tricky balance, and Kilmer walks it with a kind of theatrical precision that works more often than it doesn't. When he shifts between identities, there's a physical and vocal transformation that shows genuine craft. You believe he could fool someone. He's slick without being insufferable, dangerous without being cartoonish.
Elisabeth Shue, meanwhile, brings intelligence to what could've been a one-dimensional love interest. She's a scientist with her own agency, her own secrets, and her own reasons for not trusting the man in front of her. The scenes between Kilmer and Shue have an actual charge—they're sparring intellectually as much as they're flirting, which elevates the romantic subplot beyond the usual action-movie formula. What's striking is that the film almost works best when it leans into those character moments rather than the plot mechanics.
Phillip Noyce's direction keeps things visually crisp. The cinematography has that late-90s sheen—all cool blues and sleek interiors—that's aged in interesting ways. Some of it looks dated now, sure, but there's also a confidence to the visual language that suggests Noyce knew exactly what kind of movie he was making. The action sequences are competent, if not particularly innovative. What carries The Saint is style and performance, not technical dazzle. That's not a criticism; it's an observation about where the film's actual strengths lie.
User reviews on Movie OTT and other platforms reveal a split audience. Some viewers felt disappointed that this version strayed so far from the Roger Moore television iteration—the Saint they knew was a different creature entirely. Others found it a solid, entertaining watch that doesn't demand much beyond popcorn consumption. A recurring comment: the dialogue could've been sharper, but Kilmer and Shue make it work anyway. One viewer mentioned rewatching it three or four times over the years, drawn back despite its flaws. That's the kind of cult-adjacent loyalty The Saint seems to inspire.
Where to stream The Saint online
The Saint is currently available on major OTT services, making it easier than ever to revisit or discover this 1997 action-thriller. Rather than hunting through cable listings, you can check the "Where to Watch" widget at the top of this page to see exactly which streaming platform in your region is carrying it right now. Availability shifts seasonally, so that widget stays updated with current information. Movie OTT tracks these changes across Netflix, Prime Video, and other major platforms, so you don't have to guess. Just click, and you'll know where to find Simon Templar tonight.
Frequently asked questions
Q: Who directed The Saint and what other films has he made?
Phillip Noyce directed The Saint. He's also known for thrillers like Patriot Games (1992) and Clear and Present Danger (1994), as well as the Australian film Backroads (1977). He has a solid track record with action and espionage material.
Q: Is The Saint based on a true story or an existing property?
The Saint is based on the classic character created by Leslie Charteris, who first appeared in novels and later in a famous 1960s television series starring Roger Moore. This 1997 film is a modernized adaptation, though it diverges significantly from the source material's tone.
Q: What's the runtime and rating of The Saint?
The Saint runs 116 minutes and carries a PG-13 rating, making it accessible to a broad audience while still delivering action-thriller content.
Q: How much money did The Saint make at the box office?
The film earned $169.4 million worldwide, which was a respectable performance for a mid-budget action-thriller in 1997, and continued to generate revenue through rentals and home video sales.
Q: How does Val Kilmer's version compare to the original Roger Moore TV series?
Kilmer's Simon Templar is darker, more morally ambiguous, and operates in a modern espionage world. The 1960s series was lighter in tone and more focused on Templar as a Robin Hood figure. They're quite different interpretations of the same character.
Final thoughts on The Saint and who should watch it
The Saint isn't a perfect film, but it's a perfectly watchable one—and that's not nothing. It understands what it is: a stylish, globe-trotting action-thriller that prioritizes charm and visual flair over narrative complexity. Val Kilmer and Elisabeth Shue carry it on their shoulders, and the late-90s aesthetic has aged well enough that it doesn't feel completely of-the-moment. If you're in the mood for espionage without pretension, action without exhaustion, and a protagonist who's more interested in outsmarting his enemies than punching them, The Saint delivers. It's the kind of film that works best on a lazy afternoon or late-night viewing, when you're not analyzing every plot point but just enjoying the ride. Don't expect it to reinvent the wheel. Do expect to be entertained.
