WARNING: SPOILERS ahead for Hit Man.
Summary
The true story of the man who inspiredHit Manhints at an unfortunate end for Gary/Ron and Madison.Gary Johnson, the real-life undercover copwho pretended to be an assassin for his local police department, is the subject of Richard Linklater’s latest film. Already considered one of thebest movies of Richard Linklater’scareer,Hit Manblends several genressuch as screwball/romantic comedy, action thriller, and classic film noir.
Glen Powell shines asGary, Ron, and several other aliasesin the Netflix hit, which was released on July 23, 2025.Hit Manis Glen Powell’s highest-rated movie of his careerbased on his Rotten Tomatoes score of 97%, slightly outperformingTop Gun: Maverick’simpressive 96%.Powell and Linklater co-wrote the screenplay, marking Powell’s feature screenwriting debut. Powell recently starred in the rom-com hitAnyone But Youalongside Sydney Sweeney and will star in the upcoming summer blockbusterTwisters.
Is Hit Man Really Better Than Top Gun 2? Why It’s Now Glen Powell’s Highest-Rated Movie On Rotten Tomatoes
Hit Man is rated slightly higher on Rotten Tomatoes than Glen Powell’s breakout blockbuster Top Gun: Maverick but audiences share a different opinion.
The True Story Suggests Gary & Madison Get Divorced After Hit Man
The real-life Gary Johnson was divorced three times
While both Linklater and Powell quite obviously made a lot of changes to the true story of Gary Johnson, the fate of Gary and his wife in real life suggests that the dynamic duo’s happy marriage depicted at the end ofHit Mandidn’t last forever. In real life,Gary was married and divorced three separate times, suggesting that his relationship with Madison would not have lasted inHit Manor a potentialHit Mansequel, even though the fictitious couple had children.
It’s important to note the fact that the realGary Johnson never married one of his undercover targets, so Madison is essentially a completely fictional character. Powell and Linklater did get the true nature of Gary correct, however, as he was known to be a mild-mannered and soft-spoken loner who loves his cats and reading philosophy. It’s clear that Powell and Linklater were able to utilize the Madison character to further drive the drama ofHit Manwhile staying true to the elements of a classic romantic comedy.
Hit Man: Freud’s Psychological Theory Of The Id, Ego & Superego Explained
The Freudian concept of id, ego, & superego as the main provinces of the human psyche act as a key theme for Gary/Ron in Richard Linklater’s Hit Man.
Hit Man 2 Can Give A Real Answer To Gary & Madison’s Future
A Hit Man sequel could reunite the electric duo of Powell & Arjona
Richard Linklater has commented that aHit Mansequelis not entirely out of the question but that it’s currently way too soon for him to be thinking about that prospect. If Linklater and Powell did reunite for aHit Mansequel, it could eitherdouble down on the undeniable onscreen chemistry between Powell and Adria Arjona (Madison)or take another note out of the real-life Gary’s book and have Gary and Madison get divorced. It would be intriguing to see Powell pair with another electric co-star in a potentialHit Mansequel. However, his and Arjona’s dynamic would be hard to top or replicate.
Hit Man Is Exactly What We Need While Waiting For This Upcoming Movie That Won’t Release Until The 2040s
Hit Man is a great indication for Linklater’s future in the modern comedy genre as he continues to film an ambitious decade-spanning musical.
Hit Man
Cast
Hit Man centers on a mild-mannered professor involved in police sting operations as a fake hit man. His life spirals into chaos when he unexpectedly falls for a potential client, initiating a series of unforeseen complications and dilemmas.
