The Killer Elite
“They protect us from the enemy, but who protects us from them?”
Synopsis
Mike Locken is one of the principal members of a group of freelance spies. A significant portion of their work is for the CIA, and while on a case for them one of his friends turns on him and shoots him in the elbow and knee. His assignment, to protect someone, goes down in flames. He is nearly crippled, but with braces is able to again become mobile. For revenge as much as anything else, Mike goes after his ex-friend.
Trailers, Teasers & Extra Featurettes
Official promotional previews, behind-the-scenes footage, and exclusive clips.
Official TrailerOfficial
Type: Trailer • Published 2026-09-28
Top Cast
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James Caan
Mike Locken
Robert Duvall
George Hansen
Arthur Hill
Cap Collis
Bo Hopkins
Jerome Miller
Mako
Yuen Chung
Burt Young
Mac
Gig Young
Lawrence Weyburn
Tom Clancy
O'Leary
Tiana Alexandra
Tommie
Walter Kelley
Walter
Kate Heflin
Amy
Sondra Blake
Josephine
Carole Mallory
Rita
James Wing Woo
Tao Yi
George Cheung
Bruce
Hank Hamilton
Hank
Victor Sen Yung
Wei Chi
Tak Kubota
Negato Toku
Release History & Theatrical Window
New York City
Festival / Special Debut
December 19, 1975
Wide Cinema Exhibition
Financials & Box Office Performance
Production Budget
$5M
Filming & production cost
Worldwide Gross
$1M
Total global ticket sales
Box Office Return
0.2x
-$4M deficit
Theatrical Status
Budget Return
Box office tier
Key Information & Fast Facts
- Director
- Sam Peckinpah
- Screenplay & Story
- Marc Norman, Stirling Silliphant
- Original Score
- Jerry Fielding
- Original Title
- The Killer Elite
- Country of Origin
- United States of America
- Spoken Languages
- English, Mandarin
- Runtime
- 2h 2m
- Production Budget
- $5M
- Worldwide Gross
- $1M
- Production Studios
- United Artists, Persky-Bright Productions, Baum/Dantine Productions, Exeter Associates, Arthur Lewis Productions
Creative Leadership & Key Crew
Sam Peckinpah
Marc Norman, Stirling Silliphant, Robert Syd Hopkins
Jerry Fielding
Philip H. Lathrop
Tony de Zarraga, Monte Hellman
Martin Baum, Helmut Dantine, Arthur Lewis
Department Leadership Roster
Sam Peckinpah
Director
Marc Norman
Screenplay
Stirling Silliphant
Screenplay
Martin Baum
Producer
Arthur Lewis
Producer
Jerry Fielding
Original Music Composer
Philip H. Lathrop
Director of Photography
Tony de Zarraga
Editor
Monte Hellman
Editor
Ted Haworth
Production Design
Ray Summers
Costume Design
Whitey Hughes
Stunt Coordinator
Age Classification & Content Advisories
Official viewer rating standards and content warnings across international classification boards.
PG: Parental Guidance Suggested — May contain mild violence or suggestive material.
International Certification Matrix
FSK 16 — Restricted to viewers aged 16 and older.
Parental Guidance Suggested — May contain mild violence or suggestive material.
Production Stills & Gallery
Official cinematic photography and background stills for The Killer Elite.
Featured In Curated Collections
Editorial lists, community rankings, and cinematic collections featuring The Killer Elite.
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Frequently Asked Questions About The Killer Elite
Quick factual answers about cast, synopsis, director, box office, and release information.
What is The Killer Elite about?
Mike Locken is one of the principal members of a group of freelance spies. A significant portion of their work is for the CIA, and while on a case for them one of his friends turns on him and shoots him in the elbow and knee. His assignment, to protect someone, goes down in flames. He is nearly crippled, but with braces is able to again become mobile. For revenge as much as anything else, Mike goes after his ex-friend.
Who directed The Killer Elite?
The Killer Elite was directed by Sam Peckinpah.
Who stars in The Killer Elite?
The principal cast of The Killer Elite includes James Caan, Robert Duvall, Arthur Hill, Bo Hopkins, Mako.
When was The Killer Elite released and how long is it?
The Killer Elite was released in 1975 with a total runtime of 2h 2m.
What was the box office and production budget of The Killer Elite?
The Killer Elite had a reported production budget of $5M and grossed $1M at the worldwide box office (0.2 return on budget, classified as a underperformed).
Who composed the musical score for The Killer Elite?
The original motion picture soundtrack for The Killer Elite was composed by Jerry Fielding.
Is The Killer Elite based on a book or true story?
The Killer Elite is adapted from the following source material: Novel: "Robert Syd Hopkins".
What is the age rating and content advisory for The Killer Elite?
The Killer Elite holds official age classifications: DE: 16 (FSK 16 — Restricted to viewers aged 16 and older.); US: PG (Parental Guidance Suggested — May contain mild violence or suggestive material.).