The Big Hit

The Big Hit

Year: 2020

Runtime: 105 mins

Language: French

Director: Emmanuel Courcol

Echo Score: 78
ComedyDrama

A struggling actor, Etienne, leads a theater workshop for prisoners, guiding them in a production of Samuel Beckett's Waiting for Godot. He brings together a diverse group of inmates, and when given the opportunity to take them on an outside tour, Etienne finds a chance to revitalize his career and connect with his performers in a new way.

Warning: spoilers below!

Haven’t seen The Big Hit 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 & Setting – The Big Hit (2020)

Explore the full timeline and setting of The Big Hit (2020). Follow every major event in chronological order and see how the environment shapes the story, characters, and dramatic tension.

Time period

Location

Urban city

Set in a modern, crime-saturated urban environment where corporate power and street violence intersect. The city functions as a backdrop for tense kidnappings, family drama, and clandestine alliances among mobsters and hitmen. The everyday life of Melvin unfolds against a backdrop of dinners, a video store, and high-stakes confrontations.

🏙️ Urban crime 🧭 Contemporary setting

Last Updated: October 01, 2025 at 12:12

Main Characters – The Big Hit (2020)

Meet the key characters of The Big Hit (2020), with detailed profiles, motivations, and roles in the plot. Understand their emotional journeys and what they reveal about the film’s deeper themes.

Melvin Smiley

Melvin Smiley is a contract killer with a working-class mentality who struggles to assert himself. His personal life is split between two demanding relationships, and he constantly tries to appease both without letting his job slip into view. As pressure from his mob boss Paris and from his own crew mounts, Melvin must choose between loyalty and self-preservation.

💼 Ambition 💔 Struggle

Chantel

Chantel is Melvin's demanding partner who resents his line of work and the secrecy it demands. She controls where he goes and how he spends his money, making him feel trapped. Her constant pressure pushes Melvin toward confrontation and the need to assert boundaries.

🔥 Demanding 💬 Toxic relationship

Pam

Pam is Melvin's girlfriend who remains largely unaware of his professional life. She embodies warmth and social normalcy, contrasting with his covert world. Her trust is tested as Melvin's lies unravel during the kidnapping ordeal.

💖 Love interest 🤫 Hidden truth

Cisco

Cisco is a volatile member of Melvin's team who pushes for quick results and personal gain. He becomes increasingly dangerous as the investigation closes in, and he is willing to push others aside to protect his share of the payoff. His actions trigger the cascade of betrayals and deadly confrontations.

🔪 Violence 🕶️ Suspicious

Crunch

Crunch is a steady, taciturn member of the hit squad who follows orders and keeps a cool head under pressure. He represents the professional side of the operation, ensuring plans stay on track even as chaos erupts. Behind the calm, he grapples with the morality of their line of work.

🧭 Loyalty ⚖️ Morality

Vince

Vince is another member of the team whose appetite for risk and success fuels the operation. He enjoys the thrill of the job and pressures Melvin to take decisive actions. His role escalates the tension as the plan unravels.

🧨 Chaos 😈 Deceit

Gump

Gump is the brute force of the crew, loyal but volatile. He is killed in the chaos that follows the kidnapping, highlighting the film's theme of mortality within criminal life. His presence underscores the dangers of relying on a violent path.

🛡️ Force 💥 Action

Keiko Nishi

Keiko Nishi is the teenage daughter of electronics magnate Jiro Nishi, kidnapped for ransom. She forms an unexpected bond with Melvin, offering him humanity in the midst of violence. Their growing feelings complicate loyalties and threaten both their worlds.

🌸 Innocence 💗 Forbidden romance

Jiro Nishi

Jiro Nishi is a bankrupt yet powerful electronics magnate whose wealth funds his interests and safety network. He coolly evaluates threats and uses his resources to navigate the crisis. His character embodies the clash between wealth, influence, and family loyalty.

💰 Wealth 🧩 Businessman

Paris

Paris is the mob boss and the godfather who drives the operation with a mix of charisma and brutality. He expects loyalty from his crew and uses fear to maintain control. His involvement intensifies the kidnapping plot and the pursuit that follows.

🏛️ Power 🗝️ Influence

Last Updated: October 01, 2025 at 12:12

Major Themes – The Big Hit (2020)

Explore the central themes of The Big Hit (2020), from psychological, social, and emotional dimensions to philosophical messages. Understand what the film is really saying beneath the surface.

🎭 Dual Life

Melvin's life as a contract killer clashes with his effort to maintain romantic relationships. The tension between his public persona and his private actions drives much of the film's conflict. His struggle to keep his two worlds from colliding underlines themes of identity and loyalty.

🔪 Violence & Crime

The kidnapping, assassination attempts, and the chaotic finale show how quickly calculated risk can spiral into deadly violence. The film explores the costs of criminal life on both the perpetrators and their loved ones. Power, money, and revenge propel the plot toward confrontation.

💖 Forbidden Romance

Keiko and Melvin's burgeoning feelings complicate loyalties and threaten to derail both their worlds. Their bond offers a glimmer of humanity amid crime and deceit. The romance becomes a catalyst for decisions that test the characters' boundaries.

Last Updated: October 01, 2025 at 12:12

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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.

Anxious Crime Spiral movies like The Big Hit

High-tension stories where one bad decision triggers a cascade of chaos.If you enjoyed the fast-paced, high-stakes chaos of The Big Hit, explore more movies where criminal plots spiral out of control. These films share a tense, anxious mood, heavy emotional weight, and a narrative built on cascading crises and desperate choices.

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Narrative Summary

The narrative follows a linear but intense downward trajectory, often starting with a single flawed decision. This triggers a domino effect of betrayals, violence, and unforeseen consequences, pushing the protagonist to their limits as they try to regain control.

Why These Movies?

Movies are grouped here based on their shared high-intensity, fast-paced structure and tense, anxious atmosphere. They feature protagonists trapped in volatile situations, where the emotional weight is heavy and the outcome is often morally complex.

Bittersweet redemption stories like The Big Hit

Finding a flicker of humanity and connection amidst violence and moral compromise.For viewers who liked the unexpected tenderness and complex character relationships in The Big Hit, this thread collects movies about finding redemption in dark places. These films blend heavy themes with moments of connection, leading to bittersweet but hopeful endings.

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Narrative Summary

The narrative follows a morally compromised character who, through an unlikely relationship or found connection, glimpses a path away from their destructive life. This journey is fraught with danger and sacrifice, leading to an ending that is hopeful yet tempered by the lasting scars of their past actions.

Why These Movies?

These movies are connected by their exploration of redemption amidst darkness. They share a heavy emotional weight, a tense tone, and a central theme of a toxic life being challenged by a genuine human bond, resulting in a bittersweet emotional resolution.

Unlock the Full Story of The Big Hit

Don't stop at just watching — explore The Big Hit 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 The Big Hit is all about. Plus, discover what's next after the movie.

The Big Hit Summary

Read a complete plot summary of The Big Hit, 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.

The Big Hit Summary

The Big Hit Timeline

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The Big Hit Timeline

The Big Hit Spoiler-Free Summary

Get a quick, spoiler-free overview of The Big Hit 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.

The Big Hit Spoiler-Free Summary

More About The Big Hit

Visit What's After the Movie to explore more about The Big Hit: box office results, cast and crew info, production details, post-credit scenes, and external links — all in one place for movie fans and researchers.

More About The Big Hit