Hit List

Hit List

Year: 2024

Runtime: 128 mins

Language: Tamil

Directors: Sooryakathir Kaakkallar, K. Karthikeyan

CrimeThrillerDrama

Vijay, a man leading an ordinary middle-class life, finds himself caught in a terrifying ordeal when his family is kidnapped. A mysterious masked man forces him to become an assassin, compelling him to target the kidnapper’s enemies in a complex and dangerous game. Driven by desperation to save his family, Vijay must confront his own morality while navigating a twisted path of karmic retribution.

Warning: spoilers below!

Haven’t seen Hit List yet? This summary contains major spoilers. Bookmark the page, watch the movie, and come back for the full breakdown. If you're ready, scroll on and relive the story!

Timeline – Hit List (2024)

Trace every key event in Hit List (2024) with our detailed, chronological timeline. Perfect for unpacking nonlinear stories, spotting hidden connections, and understanding how each scene builds toward the film’s climax. Whether you're revisiting or decoding for the first time, this timeline gives you the full picture.

1

Kidnapping of Vijay's mother and sister

A masked man abducts Vijay's mother Sithara and his sister Abi Nakshatra and begins threatening calls to force Vijay's hand. He orders Vijay to break into the house of the local don Kaali and fight him, warning that failure will cost the lives of his family. The kidnapping sets a tight deadline that drives Vijay to choose between safety and action.

Vijay's home
2

Police begin the investigation

ACP Yazhvendan leads the investigation into the kidnapping and the masked assailant's demands. The team struggles to trace the anonymous caller and locate the victims, while public pressure mounts. Time is critical as the threat to the family persists.

City Police Headquarters
3

Masked man tasks Vijay to confront Kaali

The masked man communicates his demand directly to Vijay, insisting he break into Kaali's house and fight the don. He makes no bones about consequences, telling Vijay that his mother and sister will die if he refuses. Despite initial hesitation, Vijay agrees to comply to protect his family.

Location of Kaali's residence
4

Vijay fights Kaali and Kaali dies

Vijay enters Kaali's house and engages the don in a brutal, solo fight. Kaali is defeated and killed by Vijay during the confrontation. The act pushes Vijay further into a vigilante path, fueled by personal stakes.

Kaali's residence
5

Masked man abducts Dr Karunakaran's son

The kidnapper extends his reach by abducting the son of Dr Karunakaran, the government hospital dean. Vijay and Dr Karuna end up at a location specified by the masked man, which keeps the plot moving toward the truth behind Karuna. The stakes escalate as more lives hang in the balance.

Location specified by masked man
6

Masked man reveals truth about Karuna online

The masked man comes online to disclose what he claims is truth about Dr Karuna's conduct. He alleges that Karuna exploited the oxygen shortage during COVID-19 to profit by selling cylinders to private hospitals. The online revelation adds a digital trail to the case and intensifies public scrutiny.

Internet
7

Backstory: oxygen shortage and Karuna's misdeeds

During the COVID-19 lockdown, oxygen cylinders were scarce and Karuna allegedly misused his position to divert them to private hospitals. Dr Anitha, who worked at Karuna's hospital, sought to expose him and was killed by Kaali and his henchmen. The backstory explains the corrupt motives fueling the conflict.

COVID-19 lockdown Government hospital / Karuna's hospital
8

Vijay's motivation solidifies

The accumulated revelations and losses deepen Vijay's resolve to act, presenting a personal vendetta as a fight against systemic corruption. He embraces a vigilante path to dismantle Karuna's network and protect his family. The plan matures as he weighs the consequences.

9

Vijay kills Dr Karuna

In a climactic confrontation, Vijay defeats Karuna, ending the corrupt doctor’s power over oxygen distribution. The act frees his mother and sister, who are then released by the masked man. This marks the decisive turning point in Vijay's quest for justice.

Location specified by masked man
10

Release of Vijay's mother and sister

Following Karuna's death, the masked man releases Vijay's mother Sithara and sister Abi Nakshatra. They are safe for now, though the wider case remains unresolved. The release signals a temporary resolution for the family.

Unknown location
11

ACP Yazh traces the masked man but he escapes

Yazh tracks the masked man's location and moves to arrest him, but the fugitive escapes. The case is left open and investigators are left with questions about how to proceed. The reveal of the masked man's identity remains imminent.

City / Police chase
12

Vijay's acquittal and masked man's identity revealed

Vijay is acquitted on the grounds that his actions saved his family. ACP Yazh then reveals that the masked man is Vijay himself, prompting questions about motive. A flashback is shown to explain his rationale and the choices he made.

Court / Police HQ
13

Flashback: father’s oxygen sacrifice motivates revenge

A memory sequence reveals that Vijay’s father sacrificed his own oxygen to save a pregnant woman during the shortage, dying in the process. This act becomes the emotional core of the family's vendetta against Karuna. The plan to expose Karuna and kill him had been years in the making.

Past (COVID-19 lockdown) Memory sequence
14

ACP Yazh's final stance on motive

ACP Yazh acknowledges Vijay's motives but chooses not to disclose them publicly. The case ends with a morally ambiguous tone, where vigilante justice is neither fully condemned nor openly celebrated. The truth remains within a private circle.

Police Headquarters

Last Updated: October 07, 2025 at 09:05

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Explore Movie Threads

Discover curated groups of movies connected by mood, themes, and story style. Browse collections built around emotion, atmosphere, and narrative focus to easily find films that match what you feel like watching right now.

Movies about forced vigilantism like Hit List

Ordinary people are pushed to extreme violence to protect their loved ones.If you liked the high-stakes premise of Hit List, where a man is forced to become an assassin to save his family, you'll find similar tension in these crime and thriller movies. This selection features ordinary people pushed into extreme violence, exploring themes of moral compromise and desperate acts for love.

desperatevengefulmorally conflictedgrippinganxiouscathartic

Narrative Summary

Stories in this thread typically begin with a devastating inciting incident, such as a kidnapping or attack, that forces a peaceful protagonist into a violent role. The narrative follows their rapid skill acquisition and moral unraveling as they confront a series of targets, often leading to a climax where the full consequences of their actions come to light.

Why These Movies?

These movies are grouped by their shared core premise: an average person is blackmailed or coerced into performing violent acts. They share a high-intensity, fast-paced thriller structure, a tone of relentless desperation, and a heavy emotional weight centered on the cost of sacrificing one's morality for survival.

Crime thrillers with bittersweet endings like Hit List

Stories where achieving justice comes at a profound personal cost.For viewers who appreciated the complex, morally heavy conclusion of Hit List, this list features similar crime and drama films. These movies deliver tense, gripping narratives that culminate in a bittersweet resolution, where the central conflict is resolved but characters are left to grapple with the moral cost of their actions.

sombercatharticmorally conflictedgrippingvengefulthought-provoking

Narrative Summary

The narrative pattern involves a protagonist engaging in a dangerous, morally questionable game to achieve a goal, often revenge or rescue. The plot builds to a climax where they succeed in their objective, but the final act reveals the psychological toll and the lingering consequences, resulting in an ending that is more somber reflection than pure triumph.

Why These Movies?

These films are united by their specific emotional payoff: a bittersweet ending following a heavy, tense journey. They share a high level of intensity, a focus on moral dilemmas, and an emotional weight that ensures the victory feels costly and complex, rather than a simple happy ending.

Unlock the Full Story of Hit List

Don't stop at just watching — explore Hit List in full detail. From the complete plot summary and scene-by-scene timeline to character breakdowns, thematic analysis, and a deep dive into the ending — every page helps you truly understand what Hit List is all about. Plus, discover what's next after the movie.

Hit List Summary

Read a complete plot summary of Hit List, including all key story points, character arcs, and turning points. This in-depth recap is ideal for understanding the narrative structure or reviewing what happened in the movie.

Hit List Summary

Characters, Settings & Themes in Hit List

Discover the characters, locations, and core themes that shape Hit List. Get insights into symbolic elements, setting significance, and deeper narrative meaning — ideal for thematic analysis and movie breakdowns.

Characters, Settings & Themes in Hit List

Hit List Spoiler-Free Summary

Get a quick, spoiler-free overview of Hit List that covers the main plot points and key details without revealing any major twists or spoilers. Perfect for those who want to know what to expect before diving in.

Hit List Spoiler-Free Summary

More About Hit List

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