History Film / AmericanAssassin

* NukeEm: The plot mostly revolves around the theft of weapons-grade plutonium and the nuclear weapon someone is sure to build with it. It gets a bit more complicated from there. [[spoiler:The bomb actually detonates in the finale and inflicts some damage, although not nearly as much as it could have without the {{Main Character}}s' intervention.]]

* RippedFromTheHeadlines: The story focuses heavily on Iran's nuclear ambitions, its long-standing beef with Israel, and the anti-nuclear treaty Iran signed with the West, [[RuleOfCautiousEditingJudgment something neither side is particularly happy with]]. The film was released late in 2017 when all these topics were making headlines in RealLife on a regular basis.

* WesternTerrorists: Ghost, who has a serious axe to grind with the US. Learning how it came to pass actually turns him into one of the more sympathetic characters in the film, which is pretty strange when one considers that [[spoiler:he's the BiggerBad]].

* HeroicSuicide: [[spoiler:Annika]] shoots [[spoiler:herself]] in the head to deprive Ghost of his hostage, allowing Rapp to take him out. The circumstances quickly turn it into a SenselessSacrifice as far as the mission is concerned, but since the person is also heavily implied to be a DeathSeeker by that point, at least they got what they wanted.

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%%%%%%%%%%%* AntiHero:

[[caption-width-right:225:If you're in his cross-hairs, run]]

* BeingTorturedMakesYouEvil: [[spoiler:Ghost was tortured by enemy agents, has become considerably unhinged, and wants revenge for being left behind. Hurley is unsympathetic, pointing out Ghost was captured because he disobeyed orders; and he had been told in training "no one's gonna come save you if you're caught".]]

* AdaptationalHeroism: [[spoiler: Victor in the novel is a sadistic trainer who is used by Hurley to push and taunt new recruits, while in the film he actually ''is'' a new recruit, passing the tests and participating in the initial mission. He's still a Jerkass.]]

* BeardOfSorrow: Rapp apparently grew one in the 18 months after his fiancee's death. [[spoiler:Emphasis on 'apparently' - he actually grew it to infiltrate the Islamic terrorist cell that was directly responsible for her death.]]
* BeingTorturedMakesYouEvil: [[spoiler:Ghost was tortured by enemy agents, has become considerably unhinged, wants revenge for being left behind. Hurley is unsympathetic, pointing out Ghost was captured because he disobeyed orders; and he had been told in training "no one's gonna come save you if you're caught"]].
* BetterToDieThanBeKilled: Hurley tells his trainees that if they get captured they will be tortured by the enemy, and no one will come to save them, so they should kill themselves to avoid it. [[spoiler:Ghost apparently didn't believe him and thought Hurley would come for him. Hurley blows him off for thinking that]].

* ChekhovsGun: Rapp [[spoiler: utilizing a BarehandedBladeBlock against Victor is seen again during his fight with Ghost. As well as Hurley's proper instruction on how to stab someone.]]
* ColdBloodedTorture: [[spoiler: Ghost]] subjects [[spoiler: Hurley]] to this, using a variety of methods. Judging by the former's looks and accusations, he himself was subjected to this before.
%%%%%%%* ColdSniper: Ghost, among being a cold-blooded everything else as well.

%%%%%* EnemyMine: How [[spoiler:Rapp's and Annika's]] working relationship could be summed up after the latter's true allegiance is revealed.

* {{Fingore}}: [[spoiler: Hurley's]] fingernails are ripped out during the above-mentioned torture scene.

* INeverToldYouMyName: A variant, as [[spoiler: Annika]] refers to Ghost by name despite having never been told it before. This leads Rapp to correctly guess that they're not who they say they are.

* NegatedMomentOfAwesome: There is a meta version present here. The film bypasses the [[spoiler: hand-to-hand fight between Rapp and Hurley when the two first meet in the book (also currently serving as the page quote), with Hurley simply letting Rapp stay when the latter ''suggests'' the idea,]] which could be seen as a let-down consider how heavily it was featured in the [[TrailersAlwaysLie trailer.]]

* NukeEm: The plot mostly revolves around the theft of weapons-grade plutonium and the nuclear weapon someone is sure to build with it. It gets a bit more complicated from there. [[spoiler:The bomb actually detonates in the finale and inflicts some damage, although not nearly as much as it could have without the {{MainCharacter}}s' intervention.]]

* RecklessGunUsage: Rapp shootss the targets at a shooting range ''while other shooters are firing at them.'' This earns the disgust of others around him, and quickly [[RealityEnsues leaves before anything bad happens.]]

* RippedFromTheHeadlines: The story focuses heavily on Iran's nuclear ambitions, its longstanding beef with Israel, and the anti-nuclear treaty Iran signed with the West, [[RuleOfCautiousEditingJudgment something neither side is particularly happy with]]. The film was released late in 2017 when all these topics were making headlines in RealLife on a regular basis.

* TheUnfettered: Ghost doesn't give a shit about who's in his way when he opens fire, merrily gunning down civilians, unlucky policemen and anyone else the moment the lead starts flying.

* WhyDontYouJustShootHim: A bladed variant, with Ghost hitting Rapp in the face multiple times with the handle of his knife during their final fight, even while the latter is defenseless, instead of...y'know, stabbing him.

** It's never mentioned exactly how Rapp's parents died, but it's implied that they were killed in a terrorist attack just like how his fiancee was.

* {{Fanservice}}: Rapp's fiancee at the beginning in her bikini, and the gratuitous toplessness of the Turkish arms dealer's mistress, although its brief.

* HeroicSacrifice: [[spoiler:Annika]] shoots [[spoiler:herself]] in the head to deprive Ghost of his hostage, allowing Rapp to take him out. The circumstances quickly turn it into a SenselessSacrifice as far as the mission is concerned, but since the person in question is heavily implied to be a DeathSeeker by that point, at least they got what they wanted.

Clearly what was meant to be the first in a [[TrilogyCreep series]] of action films ([[InNameOnly pretty tenuously]]) based on the [[Creator/VinceFlynn books series]] and starring Creator/DylanObrien and Creator/MichaelKeaton. Following the success of franchises like ''Film/TheBourneSeries'' and ''Film/{{Casino Royale|2006}}'' the story focuses on troubled young man Mitch Rapp and his desire to kill terrorists all around the world after one killed his girlfriend before his very eyes. Mentored by Stan Hurley, he and an elite team of assassins must travel the globe to save it from destruction.

The film mimics the gritty, realistic style of recent spy films like ''Film/JohnWick'' or ''Film/TheBourneSeries'' and is memorable for its fast-paced, rapid fire action sequences, as well as stunning visuals and impressive cinematography.

So far, there one film in the series:

* TheAce: Rapp is repeatedly touted as this by his CIA handler [[InformedAttribute for reasons no-one but her understands]]. The only reason he gets results where others don't is his constant disregard for orders, which actually says more about his superiors than him.

* AdaptationalHeroism: [[spoiler: Victor in the novel is a sadistic trainer who is used by Hurley to push and taunt new recruits, while in the film he actually ''is'' a new recruit, passing the tests and participating in the initial mission. He's still a Jerkass, though.]]

* AmericaSavesTheDay: One of the crudest examples in recent movie history. Bonus points for [[spoiler:essentially having to clean up their own mess, what with the BiggerBad being a rogue US agent]]. Considering the film title, it probably should't come as a surprise.
* AntiHero: An entire cast full of them. Depending on your stance on US interventionism, they can quickly fall into DesignatedHero or even VillainHasAPoint territory.

* AsYouKnow: At least two Iranian government officials use their very first lines on screen to mention their job titles during a meeting with US personnel that should most definitely know who those guys are, all for the audience's sake of course.
* BadassGrandpa: Hurley, who's still an excellent fighter despite his age.

* BlackAndGreyMorality: Iran is mostly portrayed as black, the protagonists as a pretty dark grey. Once the true villains are revealed, it turns into GreyAndGrayMorality.

* ColdSniper: Ghost, among being a cold-blooded everything else as well.

* CreateYourOwnVillain: [[spoiler:Ghost, the actual BigBad, was a former agent under Hurley's purview before he was apparently left behind enemy lines. [[BeingTorturedMakesYouEvil The torture he endured there made him slightly... unhinged]].]]

* EnemyMine: How [[spoiler:Rapp's and Annika's]] working relationship could be summed up after the latter's true allegiance is revealed.

* ItsPersonal: For nearly everyone involved in the plot, one way or another.
* {{Jerkass}}: [[PunctuatedForEmphasis Every. Single. Male. Character]] with a major role in the film is one. No exceptions. Makes it very hard to sympathize with any of them most of the time.
* KnifeFight: Appears several times.

* LeeroyJenkins: Rapp's defining character trait, much to Hurley's mounting consternation.

* NegatedMomentOfAwesome: The film bypasses the [[spoiler: hand-to-hand fight between Rapp and Hurley when the two first meet in the book (also currently serving as the page quote), with Hurley simply letting Rapp stay when the latter ''suggests'' the idea,]] which could be seen as a let-down consider how heavily it was featured in the [[TrailersAlwaysLie trailer.]]

* NukeEm: The plot mostly revolves around the theft of weapons-grade plutonium and the nuclear weapon someone is sure to build with it. It gets a bit more complicated from there. [[spoiler:The bomb actually detonates in the finale and inflicts some damage, although not nearly as much as it could have without the protagonists' intervention.]]

* RatedMForManly: The main cast consists entirely of mostly attractive, badass, tough-as-nails men, except for [[TheSmurfettePrinciple one token female member]] that's suitably easy on the eyes.

* RecklessGunUsage: Rapp storms the targets at a shooting range ''while other shooters are firing at them.'' This earns the disgust of others around him, and quickly gets him [[RealityEnsues kicked off the range.]]

* YouKilledMyFather: And my brother. And my uncle. That's Annika's personal beef with some of the bad guys. [[spoiler:It seriously compromises her professionalism, makes her do something incredibly stupid at a crucial moment, and gets her killed as a direct consequence.]]

* RevengeBeforeReason: Might as well be the film's TagLine. ''Every'' main character is out for someone's blood and will happily jeopardize the mission and their own life in their thirst for revenge. Predictably, many of the movie's most idiotic moments can be traced directly to this issue.

* TheUnfettered: Ghost doesn't give a shit about who's in his way when he opens fire, happily gunning down civilians, unlucky policemen and whatever else the moment the lead starts flying.
* WeHardlyKnewYe: Rapp's fiancee exists solely to be killed about three minutes into the prologue.

* WouldHitAGirl: Ghost has no compunctions about punching Annika in the face with his fist. Made worse by how he gave Rapp a mere two pimp slaps earlier.

* ColdBloodedTorture: [[spoiler: Ghost]] subjects [[spoiler: Hurley]] to this, using a variety of methods. Judging by the former's looks and accusations, he himself was subjected to this before.

* ColdBloodedSniper: Ghost, among being a cold-blooded everything else as well.

* AmericaSavesTheDay: One of the crudest examples in recent movie history. Bonus points for [[spoiler:essentially having to clean up their own mess, what with the BiggerBad being a rogue US agent]].

* RevengeBeforeReason: Might as well be the film's TagLine. ''Every'' main character is out for someone's blood and will happily jeopardize the mission and their own life in their drive for revenge. Predictably, many of the movie's most idiotic moments can be traced directly to this issue.