The story of This Gun for Hire: A hitman's worst day
This Gun for Hire opens with a clean setup: Raven, a professional assassin, takes a job that seems routine. He executes his target without hesitation—another day at the office. But here's where everything falls apart. The man he killed wasn't some ordinary mark. He was a senator. That one mistake sets off a chain reaction that'll consume the rest of the film: a massive manhunt, false accusations, and Raven scrambling to figure out who set him up and why. The thriller doesn't waste time with exposition. It drops you straight into the chaos, and from there it's a race against the clock. Along the way, Raven takes a woman named Anne hostage—a move that's supposed to be tactical, a bargaining chip. Except things get complicated when she develops a strange fascination with him. That fascination becomes a problem, especially since Anne's boyfriend happens to be the one hunting Raven down. It's a locked-room triangle of suspicion, attraction, and betrayal that drives the second half of the narrative.
Behind the making of This Gun for Hire and its literary roots
This Gun for Hire is actually a remake—or more accurately, another adaptation of Graham Greene's 1936 novella A Gun for Sale. Greene's source material had already been filmed before, most notably in 1942 with Alan Ladd in the lead role. That earlier version became a classic of film noir, so remaking it in 1991 was a bold choice. The 1991 version was directed by Lou Antonio for USA Network, which was still finding its footing as a cable destination for original programming. Robert Wagner, who'd spent decades in Hollywood and television, took on the role of Raven—and here's something worth noting: Wagner himself said in 2000 that this was one of his favorite roles he'd ever played. That kind of statement from an actor who'd worked across multiple decades carries weight. It suggests he found something in the character or the material that clicked for him in a way that other, higher-profile projects didn't. The film was produced by MCA Television Entertainment, a major production house at the time. At 100 minutes, it's trim enough to feel like a feature film rather than a bloated TV movie, which was a real consideration in the early 1990s when networks were still learning how to pace original drama.
What makes This Gun for Hire stand out as a lean thriller
Look—this film isn't going to blow anyone away with groundbreaking cinematography or a revolutionary script. The IMDb rating of 3.8/10 tells you something about how mainstream critics and audiences have treated it over the years. But that score doesn't capture what actually works here, which is the economy of storytelling. This Gun for Hire doesn't waste a single scene. There's no subplot about Raven's troubled childhood or a lengthy origin story explaining why he became an assassin. It's pure momentum. Wagner brings a weathered quality to Raven—a guy who's professional enough to stay calm under pressure but human enough that he can't entirely ignore Anne when she starts to see him as something other than a killer. That's where the film finds its emotional core, not in spectacular action sequences (of which there aren't many) but in the slow-burn tension between two people on opposite sides of a manhunt who can't quite deny what they feel. What's striking is how the film trusts its audience to follow the logic of a double-cross without spelling it out. You're meant to piece together who betrayed Raven and why, and there's a satisfaction in that puzzle-solving that keeps you engaged even when the dialogue isn't particularly sharp. The screenplay doesn't try to be clever in a way that dates it. It's functional, which in a thriller is often exactly what you need.
Where to stream This Gun for Hire online
If you're looking to watch This Gun for Hire, the film is available on major OTT services—you can check the where-to-watch widget at the top of this page for the most current streaming availability in your region. Movie OTT tracks where films like this pop up across different platforms, since licensing deals shift constantly and a title that's on one service today might move tomorrow. The nice thing about This Gun for Hire being a TV movie from 1991 is that it's not locked behind a single exclusive deal. It tends to show up on multiple platforms, so you'll likely have options depending on what subscriptions you already have. The 100-minute runtime means it's perfect for a weeknight watch—not a massive time commitment, but substantial enough to feel like you've actually sat through something.
Frequently asked questions
Q: Is This Gun for Hire based on a true story?
No, it's based on Graham Greene's 1936 novella A Gun for Sale, which is a work of fiction. However, this wasn't the first time the story had been adapted—the most famous earlier version starred Alan Ladd in 1942.
Q: Who directed This Gun for Hire?
The film was directed by Lou Antonio for USA Network. Antonio had a long career in television directing, working on numerous dramas and TV movies throughout the 1980s and 1990s.
Q: What's the runtime of This Gun for Hire?
The film runs 100 minutes, making it lean and efficient—long enough to tell its story properly without padding or unnecessary subplots.
Q: Did Robert Wagner enjoy making This Gun for Hire?
Yes. Wagner stated in 2000 that playing Raven was one of his favorite roles, which is notable given his extensive career spanning multiple decades in film and television.
Q: Where can I watch This Gun for Hire right now?
The film is available on major OTT platforms. Check the where-to-watch widget above for current availability, as streaming rights vary by region and change over time.
Final thoughts on This Gun for Hire
This Gun for Hire won't change your life. It's not a film that's going to end up on best-of lists or spark heated debates at dinner parties. But it's exactly what it sets out to be: a tight, unpretentious thriller that respects your time. If you're in the mood for something that doesn't require a huge emotional investment but delivers solid tension and a couple of decent performances, it's worth an evening. Robert Wagner's own affection for the role suggests there's something here worth discovering, even if the wider critical consensus hasn't been kind. Sometimes the best watch is the one nobody's talking about anymore.
