The Jackal

The Jackal has quietly become one of the more dependable crime dramas currently available in the US on Amazon Prime Video, and in the UK on Amazon Prime Video and BBC iPlayer. The runtime earns every minute, with nothing here that feels like padding. 2,149 people have weighed in on TMDB, and the verdict leans heavily positive. Bruce Willis anchors it, but the writing does the real work. Available now on Amazon Prime Video — press play and find out why people keep recommending it.

There is a reason The Jackal keeps coming up in conversation. The Jackal treats its mystery as a means, not an end in itself. Hired by a powerful member of the Russian mafia to avenge an FBI sting that left his brother dead, a psychopathic hitman known only as The Jackal proves an elusive target for the people charged with the task of bringing him down: a deputy FBI director, a Russian MVK Major, and a jailed IRA terrorist who can recognize him. Bruce Willis and Richard Gere lead a cast that gives the tension real weight. The Jackal came out in 1997. What makes The Jackal hold up is that the resolution matters less than how the characters get there. There is real craft here, even in the moments that do not fully land.

If you cannot walk away from a good mystery, The Jackal will keep you hooked. If you have run out of similar titles to watch, this is a strong next pick. The complete film is available and best experienced without too much prior knowledge of where it goes. Bruce Willis anchors it, but the writing does the real work. If you are going to commit to one crime drama this month, make it this one.