city hunter movie review

• Cast & crew
• User reviews

City Hunter

An exceptional marksman and hopeless playboy, private eye Ryo Saeba reluctantly forms an alliance with his late partner's sister to investigate his death. An exceptional marksman and hopeless playboy, private eye Ryo Saeba reluctantly forms an alliance with his late partner's sister to investigate his death. An exceptional marksman and hopeless playboy, private eye Ryo Saeba reluctantly forms an alliance with his late partner's sister to investigate his death.

• Yûichi Satô
• Tsukasa Hôjô
• Tatsuro Mishima
• Ryohei Suzuki
• Misato Morita
• Masanobu Andô
• 22 User reviews
• 24 Critic reviews

• Kaori Makimura

• Hideyuki Makimura
• Saeko Nogami

• Akitaka Itô

• Tsukino Seta
• Kunio Konno

• Additional cast
• (english version)

• Akitaka Ito
• (English version)

• Kondo (Fox)
• All cast & crew
• Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

More like this

Did you know

• Trivia The film is to be shot on the real-life streets of Tokyo's Shinjuku area, where the "City Hunter" saga is set.
• Connections Remake of City Hunter (1987)
• Soundtracks Get Wild Continual Performed by Tm Network Courtesy of Sony Music Labels

User reviews 22

• Apr 25, 2024
• April 25, 2024 (United States)
• Official Netflix
• Thợ Săn Thành Phố
• Tokyo, Japan
• Netflix Studios
• Office Shirous
• See more company credits at IMDbPro

Technical specs

• Runtime 1 hour 42 minutes
• Dolby Digital

Related news

Contribute to this page.

• See more gaps
• Learn more about contributing

More to explore

Recently viewed

• Stranger Things Season 5
• Deadpool and Wolverine
• The Batman 2
• Spider-Man 4
• Yellowstone Season 6
• Fallout Season 2
• The Last of Us Season 2
• Entertainment

Netflix is streaming the craziest action movie of 2024. Here’s why I loved it

This month seems to be the time to release action movies that color outside the lines. We’ve already had Dev Patel’s Monkey Man , a messy, throw-everything-at-the-wall action movie that blends intricate fight sequences and on-the-nose social commentary in an entertaining package that will surely gain cult status in the near future. Just this weekend, Boy Kills World dished out loads of cartoon violence and over-the-top gore in a bid for John Wick-level fandom. Both movies bend or break the rules of reality to deliver quickly cut fight scenes that push the boundaries of the genre, all in an attempt to one-up the high standards set by the best movies in the Mission: Impossible and Fast and Furious franchises.

• It’s an adaptation of a massively popular franchise

The action scenes are over-the-top and sublime

Ryo is both incredibly cool and utterly immature, city hunter constantly surprises you.

Yet the best of the April bunch is the one that has the lowest profile. City Hunter doesn’t star anyone you’d recognize like It actor Bill Skarsgård in Boy Kills World  and hasn’t been backed by an extensive marketing campaign like Universal’s Monkey Man . But the movie is a blast; it’s like putting Pop Rocks in a can of Mountain Dew and chasing it down with a couple of Pixy Sticks. It’s ludicrous, immature, and totally unrealistic. It’s also my favorite action movie of 2024. Here’s why you need to stream City Hunter pronto.

It’s an adaptation of a massively popular franchise

If you’re not a manga, anime, or Jackie Chan fan, you’ve probably never heard of City Hunter . That’s OK, I hadn’t either until I watched Netflix’s version. City Hunter began life as a popular manga series in 1985. It was quickly adapted into an anime series in 1987 and, later, theatrical animated movies released in 1989, 1990, 1999, 2019, and 2023. It’s also been adapted into several live-action iterations, including a 1993 Hong Kong movie starring Jackie Chan (who publicly trashed the film) and a 2019 French version with Pamela Anderson (!) in the cast.

• Everything coming to Netflix in May 2024
• This underrated sci-fi movie turns 10 this year. Here’s why it’s still worth watching
• Netflix just remade one of the best thrillers of all time. Is it worth watching?

The Netflix version carries no baggage from the previous versions; in other words, you don’t need to know anything about the mythology of City Hunter to understand what’s going on. The movie’s plot is pretty straightforward: Former cops Ryo Saeba and his partner Hideyuki Makimura run a detective agency named City Hunter. They’re hired to find a teenage runaway, who has ingested a bootleg Angel Dust drug that gives its user temporary super strength. The only down side? You kinda die after the effects wear off.

After Hideyuki is murdered by one of these Angel Dust users, Ryo must team up with his partner’s adopted sister, Kaori, to find the the runway, protect her, avenge Hideyuki’s death, and take down the criminal organization behind the whole drug enterprise.

This is a fairly typical action movie plot (it reminded me a bit of the first two Lethal Weapon movies as well as The Adventures of Ford Fairlane ), and it’s retro simplicity is part of its charm. There’s no spooky AI algorithm to battle or world-ending crisis to solve; instead, Ryo has to overcome a designer drug cartel and a police force that doesn’t entirely trust his renegade behavior.

Is it a shock to claim that action movies live or die by their action sequences? No, of course not. And if you judge City Hunter purely by its fight scenes, the movie is a clear winner. It opens with one of its best scenes: an extended chase scene that starts with Ryo hand-gliding his way into a skyscraper, shooting a window so it break upon impact, executing a Street Fighter-style flying kick that would make Chun-Li proud, and concluding with Ryo using a massage mat to slide down some stairs and fly out another window, his flight scored by soaring rock music and punctuated by slow motion so you can soak it all in.

And that’s just the first 15 minutes! Later in the movie, there’s a showdown at a crowded cosplay convention where Ryo fights a leather-clad woman with a whip a la Catwoman , who then pulls out two small knives from the base of her bullwhip to subdue Ryo. Oh, and there’s also someone with a rifle shooting at Ryo while all this is going on. City Hunter ‘s action scenes are intense and often brutal, and even if they aren’t remotely realistic, you’re still on the edge of your seat to see how it will all turn out.

Two of my favorite action heroes ever are Steve McQueen’s cool, stylish cop in Bullitt and Spike Spiegel’s aloof loner in Cowboy Bebop . With his fashionable turtleneck shirts, beige trench coat, and playboy attitude, City Hunter ‘s Ryo Saeba is clearly drawn from the same cloth. And it’s a credit to actor Ryohei Suzuki that he embodies the aspects of this character flawlessly. Ryohei is incredibly charismatic, and he makes you love Ryo even when he’s acting like a complete idiot.

Unlike the characters that clearly inspired him, Ryo is immature and a bit goofy. He’s addicted to porn, ogles women’s breasts shamelessly, and is prone to showing his, er, excitement, when someone attractive is around him. (And someone always is.) Yet City Hunter doesn’t let its hero off the hook with this behavior.

Through Kaori’s constant disapproval and nudging to be better, Ryo eventually reigns in his immaturity enough to keep his focus and solve the case. It’s a redemptive arc that isn’t overplayed, and it feels earned.

I’d be remiss to not briefly touch on one of the best aspects of City Hunter : It always keeps you guessing as to what will happen next. The movie has its own narrative logic, so it never feels choppy, but it also constantly springs one surprise after another. From the aforementioned chase scene that opens the movie to its third-act showdown that pits Ryo and Kaori against a seemingly endless stream of foes, City Hunter throws constantly curveballs at you.

One such curveball is its non-sequitur humor. The movie is funny in ways that is both cheap and sophomoric, but it works. This is pre-adolescent humor that cheerfully finds comedy in the most juvenile things like uncontrollable erections, pervy photographers, and exploding heads, but it somehow all makes sense.

And then there’s a scene at a disco that finds City’s Hunter ‘s hero in nothing but a barely-there Speedo, dancing and posing joyfully in front of an adoring crowd. Why is Ryo doing this? And what purpose does it serve the movie? I’ll leave it to you to discover the answers to those questions because it’s all part of what makes the movie such a hoot to watch. You’d never find Tom Cruise’s Ethan Hunt doing what Ryo does in this movie, which makes it all the more unique and special to watch.

City Hunter may not be for everyone, and that’s OK. If you prefer dour action movies that are deadly serious, then give this film a hard pass. But if you want to see some of the craziest action scenes in film today, and don’t mind engaging with a movie that wields immature humor like a giant hammer (Kaori literally does this in several scenes), then start streaming City Hunter as soon as possible. It’s a movie that doesn’t take itself too seriously (just look at the last image of this article for proof) and remembers to prioritize one of the key reasons why we want to watch action movies in the first place: to have fun.

City Hunter is now streaming on Netflix.

Editors' Recommendations

• Everything coming to Max (formerly HBO Max) in May 2024
• Forget Netflix and chill: This is the best streaming service for binge watching on weekends
• Bill Skarsgård goes full action hero in Boy Kills World trailer
• Everything coming to Max (formerly HBO Max) in April 2024
• This underrated action movie inspired Tarantino’s Reservoir Dogs. Here’s why you should watch it
• Streaming Services

April is approaching, spring is finally here, and the weather seems to think it's still winter. That's OK though, as streaming TV has an abundance of treasures to keep you warm inside your home. In addition to  Netflix and Prime Video, Peacock has an impressive library of past and current hit movies and shows available to subscribers.

The highlights for Peacock in April include the series premiere of Orlando Bloom To The Edge and the streaming debut of the hit 2023 animated movie Migration. In addition, Community returns to the streamer, and season 3 of Resident Alien wraps up. Keep reading for the full list of films, series, and live sporting events that will be available on the streaming service throughout the month, as well as everything else coming to Peacock in April 2024. April 1 Bray Wyatt: Becoming Immortal (Peacock)*

With hit shows like Shōgun and blockbuster original movies like Damsel, streaming is still going strong in 2024. If you love watching movies at home, chances are you're already subscribed to popular streamers like Netflix and Hulu. But would you be surprised to know that one of the most underrated streaming services around is Tubi?

The underrated streamer has a plethora of new content available to stream from every conceivable decade and genre imaginable. Tubi has so much content that it can be hard to choose which shows and films are worth your time, but Digital Trends is here to help you sort out which ones are worth watching. Even though the streaming service is free, time is valuable, and no one wants to waste it watching mediocre movies.

It's never too late to celebrate Women's History Month. The month-long celebration happens every March, and this year, Max has decided to honor women everywhere with a programming schedule designed to highlight movies, TV shows, and documentaries that place women in front of and behind the camera, as well as subjects and themes that showcase the female experience.

Across its multiple brands and franchises, Max has refreshed its "In Her Voice" collection and broken the considerable library down into such categories as “Strong Leading Ladies,” “Comedy Showcase,” “Iconic Ensembles,” and more. Some highlights include recent TV shows such as True Detective: Night Country starring Jodie Foster and Kali Reis and The Regime with Kate Winslet, as well as past seasons of such popular series as And Just Like That..., Magnolia Table with Joanna Gaines, Insecure, Selena + Chef, Hacks, Abbott Elementary, and The Sex Lives of College Girls.

• Advertising

• Prime Video
• Best & Worst

Select Page

City Hunter – Netflix Review (2/5)

Posted by Karina "ScreamQueen" Adelgaard | Apr 25, 2024 | 3 minutes

CITY HUNTER on Netflix is a new movie from Japan. It’s a crazy genre hybrid that goes from silly to serious and then satirical in split seconds. It isn’t my thing, but others will surely love it. Read our City Hunter (2024) movie review here!

CITY HUNTER (2024) is a new Netflix movie from Japan (org. title: Shiti Hanta ). It’s based on a Manga and has already been made into a cartoon in the 1980s and a movie starring Jackie Chan in 1993. I’m sure there are lots of fans all over the world, who will love this Netflix movie.

Unfortunately, I am not one of them. It just doesn’t hit any of my sweet spots. I usually love genre hybrids, but this one has the Cowboy Bebop vibe that just did not work for me either. The runtime is just 1 hour and 42 minutes, which I did find was a good thing for the story covered.

Continue reading our  City Hunter movie review below. Find it on Netflix from April 25, 2024.

The first Japanese live-action adaption

I can understand why this has been a long-awaited adaption as the previously mentioned Jackie Chan movie (supposedly one of his own least favorite movies) was a Chinese live-action adaption. This Netflix movie is the first time the Manga is getting a Japanese live-action movie.

In  City Hunter , we meet Ryo Saeba. He is a top-class “sweeper” and we’re about to find out how he ends up working with Kaori Makimura. She’s the sister of his long-time partner, which isn’t something the original manga focused much on.

This alone should make for a great addition to the world of City Hunter for fans of the manga. It really does focus mainly on the story behind this partnership. Well, okay, and a case that has some sci-fi or supernatural (depending on how you look at it) elements as well.

“XYZ, please find my sister”

In this story, Ryo Saeba is working his “sweeper” magic (and sometimes doing a little dance in his briefs) in the underbelly of modern-day Shinjuku, Tokyo. He’s described as “balancing a cool demeanor with a fun personality” which is what I translate as him being very silly most of the time.

The movie opens with the message “XYZ, please find my sister” written on a message board. This leads to Ryo and his partner Hideyuki going out to search for Kurumi. She’s a famous cosplayer who has landed in serious trouble.

At the same time, we also become familiar with mysterious violent incidents taking place in Shinjuku. There are brutal scenes and a dark story at the heart of it all. I should love it, but it feels so superficial to me. It’s the style of it. It doesn’t resonate with me.

However, I absolutely want to acknowledge and respect that others will love it.

Watch  City Hunter (2024) on Netflix now!

This new Netflix movie from Japan (org. title: Shiti Hanta ) is the live-action adaptation of the legendary manga “City Hunter” by Tsukasa Hojo. The director is Yûichi Satô ( Kasane ) and the screenwriter is Tatsuro Mishima ( Yu yu hakusho , Zom 100: Bucket List of the Dead ).

“Ryo Saeba” is played by Ryohei Suzuki, who has an impressive six-pack and would be a lot more charming to me, if the silliness was dialed down. However, I suspect fans of City Hunter wouldn’t recognize the character then.

Misato Morita portrays his future partner, and the cool heroine, “Kaori Makimura”. Finally, Masanobu Ando plays “Hideyuki Makimura” while Fumino Kimura co-stars as “Detective Saeko Nogami”.

Despite being a fan of horror-comedy and other genre hybrids, this one jumps between moods, styles, and genres at such a pace that I cannot give in to it. A shame really. Especially because I can see the intriguing story there.

City Hunter  (org. title: Shiti Hanta ) is on Netflix from April 25, 2024.

Director: Yuichi Satoh Screenplay: Tatsuro Mishima Cast: Ryohei Suzuki, Misato Morita, Masanobu Ando, Asuka Hanamura, Ayame Misaki, Moemi Katayama, Ami201, Tetta Sugimoto, Takaya Sakoda, and Fumino Kimura, Isao Hashizume

An exceptional marksman and hopeless playboy, private eye Ryo Saeba reluctantly forms an alliance with his late partner’s sister to investigate his death.

• Recent Posts

• Lazareth – Movie Review (2/5) - May 8, 2024
• Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire – Movie Review (3/5) - May 8, 2024
• Dark Matter – Apple TV+ Series Review - May 7, 2024

About The Author

Karina "ScreamQueen" Adelgaard

I write reviews and recaps on Heaven of Horror. And yes, it does happen that I find myself screaming, when watching a good horror movie. I love psychological horror, survival horror and kick-ass women. Also, I have a huge soft spot for a good horror-comedy. Oh yeah, and I absolutely HATE when animals are harmed in movies, so I will immediately think less of any movie, where animals are harmed for entertainment (even if the animals are just really good actors). Fortunately, horror doesn't use this nearly as much as comedy. And people assume horror lovers are the messed up ones. Go figure!

Related Posts

Dark: Season 3 – Netflix Series Review (4/5)

June 24, 2020

Spree – Movie Review (4/5)

August 11, 2020

Horror Coming to Netflix in September 2023

August 28, 2023

Spectral (3/5)

December 9, 2016

Pin It on Pinterest

Common Sense Media

Movie & TV reviews for parents

• For Parents
• For Educators
• Our Work and Impact

Or browse by category:

• Get the app
• Movie Reviews
• Best Movie Lists
• Best Movies on Netflix, Disney+, and More

Common Sense Selections for Movies

50 Modern Movies All Kids Should Watch Before They're 12

• Best TV Lists
• Best TV Shows on Netflix, Disney+, and More
• Common Sense Selections for TV
• Video Reviews of TV Shows

Best Kids' Shows on Disney+

Best Kids' TV Shows on Netflix

• Book Reviews
• Best Book Lists
• Common Sense Selections for Books

8 Tips for Getting Kids Hooked on Books

50 Books All Kids Should Read Before They're 12

• Game Reviews
• Best Game Lists

Common Sense Selections for Games

• Video Reviews of Games

Nintendo Switch Games for Family Fun

• Podcast Reviews
• Best Podcast Lists

Common Sense Selections for Podcasts

Parents' Guide to Podcasts

• App Reviews
• Best App Lists

Social Networking for Teens

Gun-Free Action Game Apps

Reviews for AI Apps and Tools

• YouTube Channel Reviews
• YouTube Kids Channels by Topic

Parents' Ultimate Guide to YouTube Kids

YouTube Kids Channels for Gamers

• Preschoolers (2-4)
• Little Kids (5-7)
• Big Kids (8-9)
• Pre-Teens (10-12)
• Teens (13+)
• Screen Time
• Social Media
• Online Safety
• Identity and Community

Explaining the News to Our Kids

• Family Tech Planners
• Digital Skills
• All Articles
• Latino Culture
• Black Voices
• Asian Stories
• Native Narratives
• LGBTQ+ Pride
• Best of Diverse Representation List

Celebrating Black History Month

Movies and TV Shows with Arab Leads

Celebrate Hip-Hop's 50th Anniversary

City hunter, common sense media reviewers.

Violent manga adaptation has language, sexist behavior.

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this movie.

Some positive messages of courage. Fight for your

Ryo works hard to avenge his partner and protect h

The film and cast are Japanese. Other characters r

Meant to be an action comedy, most of the violence

The main character is often distracted by cleavage

Strong language includes "s--t," "a--hole," "ass,"

Adults share champagne while celebrating a birthda

Parents need to know that City Hunter is a Japanese action comedy based on a manga by Tsukasa Hojo about an ex-assassin detective who solves people's requests for help around the city. When his partner is killed and leaves behind a sister in need of protection, the "city hunter" must figure out what happened…

Positive Messages

Some positive messages of courage. Fight for your friends and family. Protect those who cannot protect themselves.

Positive Role Models

Ryo works hard to avenge his partner and protect his sister. Kaori tries her best to help.

Diverse Representations

The film and cast are Japanese. Other characters routinely call the main character "pervy," and he often objectifies and sexualizes women. He frequently stares at women's cleavage and butts and sometimes gives nicknames to women like, "Miss Sweater Melons." The primary women characters in the film are helpless victims in need of saving. Some brief shots of men in drag are shown but only for the purpose of spectacle.

Did we miss something on diversity? Suggest an update.

Violence & Scariness

Meant to be an action comedy, most of the violence is lighthearted, but people do get shot with handguns and automatics, and blood shows. A handful of people also have little bombs placed in the back of their necks explode, and while their heads don't fly off, sprays and splatters of blood go everywhere. A man slices a woman's neck, and blood seeps out as she bleeds out and dies. A man has a grenade stuffed in his mouth, and later, it goes off, but in the distance. Lots of hand-to-hand combat, kicks, punches, knees, throws, and slams. Dead bodies are shown. People are stabbed with knives, choked, drugged, and held captive against their will. A woman is slapped in the face. A truck crashes into a building.

Did you know you can flag iffy content? Adjust limits for Violence & Scariness in your kid's entertainment guide.

Sex, Romance & Nudity

The main character is often distracted by cleavage. He often stares at and makes comments about women's bodies. Through binoculars he stares at women in bathing suits in another building. Someone dumps a box of pornographic DVDs on the ground, and they spill out. Different people advertise "girls" for their businesses. A social media post shows a woman dancing sexually and showing cleavage. A man gets naked, covering up his genitals with different objects. Jokes about "boners" and a character repeatedly says, "mokkori," which is Japanese slang for "erection."

Did you know you can flag iffy content? Adjust limits for Sex, Romance & Nudity in your kid's entertainment guide.

Strong language includes "s--t," "a--hole," "ass," "d--k," "boner," "mokkori (erection)" "butthole," "damn," and "hell."

Did you know you can flag iffy content? Adjust limits for Language in your kid's entertainment guide.

Drinking, Drugs & Smoking

Adults share champagne while celebrating a birthday. A woman complains that her brother gets "wasted" too much. Adults in bars drink alcoholic beverages in the background. A drug characters refer to as "angel dust" is forced upon random victims. It makes them super strong and then it kills them.

Did you know you can flag iffy content? Adjust limits for Drinking, Drugs & Smoking in your kid's entertainment guide.

Parents Need to Know

Parents need to know that City Hunter is a Japanese action comedy based on a manga by Tsukasa Hojo about an ex-assassin detective who solves people's requests for help around the city. When his partner is killed and leaves behind a sister in need of protection, the "city hunter" must figure out what happened. While mean to be comedic, some of the violence is still bloody, with characters getting shot, stabbed, and killed. Dead bodies are shown, veins grotesquely bulge in victims' throats before they die, and some characters have little bombs in the back of their necks explode, causing blood to spray and splatter everywhere. Additionally, there's a lot of fighting, kicks, punches, knees, and throws. There's no explicit sex, but the main character often sexualizes and ogles women, staring at their cleavage and butts. He also keeps large quantities of pornographic DVDs and frequently jokes about "boners" and "mokkori" (Japanese slang for "erection"). One scene features the man naked and dancing, covering up his genitals with various objects, never revealing them. A large part of the plot involves a criminal group experimenting with "angel dust" and forcibly testing variations of it on random victims, who get super strong and then die. A few scenes show adults drinking alcohol. Strong language includes "s--t," "a--hole," "ass," "d--k," "butthole," "damn," and "hell." To stay in the loop on more movies like this, you can sign up for weekly Family Movie Night emails .

Where to Watch

Videos and photos.

Community Reviews

• Parents say

There aren't any parent reviews yet. Be the first to review this title.

What's the Story?

In CITY HUNTER, ex-assassin detective Ryo (Ryohei Suzuki) hunts around the city solving random requests that are posted on an anonymous "board." But when his partner is killed, Ryo uncovers a dangerous conspiracy that involves his partner's sister.

Is It Any Good?

This Japanese action comedy suffers from being an adaptation of a manga from the 1980s that hasn't aged well. In order to adapt this manga for a modern audience, City Hunter tries to reduce the original's sexism and main character's sexualization and objectification of women, but there's still plenty of it. For some viewers, this may not offend at all, and the film's well-done action sequences will thrill and excite. But for many, the frequent camera shots of women's cleavage and butts, jokes about "boners" and "erections," and laughing off the way men objectify women will be too much to suffer through. While the film tries to playfully shame this behavior sometimes, it's always admonished only through the voice of women characters.

It'd be one thing to poke fun at the main character for his sexist behavior, but he's also by far the hero of the story, the "cool" guy, the best fighter, and "the savior" of the two other main women characters in the story, who have little to do except be victims. They have little agency, can't fight, don't help to solve the crime, and only "mess things up," get in the way, and make mistakes. To make matters worse, one of them is a cosplayer who makes her way by dressing up in sexualized costumes and posting them on social media. The danger here is that these narratives of "masculine" heroism and passive "femininity" normalize unequal and sexist behavior and beliefs about both genders.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

Families can talk about violence in action comedies. Did any of the violence in City Hunter surprise you, given the comedic theme of movie?

How did you feel about Ryo's overt sexualization and objectification of women? While his character was clearly meant to be funny, did you find him funny? Why or why not?

How do you feel about Kaori and Kurumi? Do you feel they have enough agency or things to do in the film?

Movie Details

• On DVD or streaming : April 25, 2024
• Cast : Ryôhei Suzuki , Misato Morita , Masanobu Andô , Fumino Kimura
• Director : Yûichi Satô
• Inclusion Information : Female actors, Asian actors
• Studio : Netflix
• Genre : Action/Adventure
• Run time : 102 minutes
• MPAA rating : NR
• Last updated : April 28, 2024

Did we miss something on diversity?

Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by suggesting a diversity update.

Suggest an Update

Our editors recommend.

Fukushima 50

Police Story

The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift

Best international films for kids, movies with asian, asian american, native hawaiian, and pacific islander characters.

Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.

Log in or sign up for Rotten Tomatoes

Trouble logging in?

By continuing, you agree to the Privacy Policy and the Terms and Policies , and to receive email from the Fandango Media Brands .

By creating an account, you agree to the Privacy Policy and the Terms and Policies , and to receive email from Rotten Tomatoes and to receive email from the Fandango Media Brands .

By creating an account, you agree to the Privacy Policy and the Terms and Policies , and to receive email from Rotten Tomatoes.

Email not verified

Let's keep in touch.

Sign up for the Rotten Tomatoes newsletter to get weekly updates on:

• Upcoming Movies and TV shows
• Trivia & Rotten Tomatoes Podcast
• Media News + More

By clicking "Sign Me Up," you are agreeing to receive occasional emails and communications from Fandango Media (Fandango, Vudu, and Rotten Tomatoes) and consenting to Fandango's Privacy Policy and Terms and Policies . Please allow 10 business days for your account to reflect your preferences.

OK, got it!

Movies / TV

No results found.

• What's the Tomatometer®?
• Login/signup

Movies in theaters

• Opening this week
• Top box office
• Coming soon to theaters
• Certified fresh movies

Movies at home

• Fandango at Home
• Netflix streaming
• Prime Video
• Most popular streaming movies
• What to Watch New

Certified fresh picks

• The Fall Guy Link to The Fall Guy
• I Saw the TV Glow Link to I Saw the TV Glow
• The Idea of You Link to The Idea of You

New TV Tonight

• Doctor Who: Season 1
• Dark Matter: Season 1
• The Chi: Season 6
• Reginald the Vampire: Season 2
• Bodkin: Season 1
• Blood of Zeus: Season 2
• Black Twitter: A People's History: Season 1
• Pretty Little Liars: Summer School: Season 2
• Hollywood Con Queen: Season 1
• Love Undercover: Season 1

Most Popular TV on RT

• A Man in Full: Season 1
• Fallout: Season 1
• Baby Reindeer: Season 1
• The Sympathizer: Season 1
• The Veil: Season 1
• Hacks: Season 3
• Them: Season 2
• Dead Boy Detectives: Season 1
• The Asunta Case: Season 1
• Best TV Shows
• Most Popular TV
• TV & Streaming News

Certified fresh pick

• Hacks: Season 3 Link to Hacks: Season 3
• All-Time Lists
• Binge Guide
• Comics on TV
• Five Favorite Films
• Video Interviews
• Weekend Box Office
• Weekly Ketchup
• What to Watch

Planet of the Apes In Order: How to Watch the Movies Chronologically

Planet of the Apes Movies Ranked by Tomatometer

Asian-American Native Hawaiian Pacific Islander Heritage

What to Watch: In Theaters and On Streaming

Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes First Reviews: A Thoughtful, Visually Stunning, Action-Packed Triumph

Furiosa First Reactions: Brutal, Masterful, and Absolutely Epic

• Trending on RT
• Furiosa First Reactions
• Streaming in May
• Best Asian-American Movies
• Planet of the Apes First Reviews

City Hunter Reviews

You can get away with a lot of this stuff in video games and animation. But this tries to go the extra step... It's just not that engaging.

Full Review | May 8, 2024

A cheesy crime action-drama with some comedy thrown in. What's most interesting about it is how backward these characters are and how different Japanese attitudes are from ours.

A lively, action-packed extravaganza that successfully brings the anime to life.

Full Review | May 3, 2024

While maintaining a structure similar to its predecessor, director Kenji Kodama infuses fresh elements throughout.

Full Review | Original Score: 3/5 | Apr 30, 2024

Suzuki makes the silly story fun to follow between fights with a giggling, juvenile charisma that is hard to resist.

Full Review | Original Score: 2.5/4 | Apr 30, 2024

It is a very Japanese comedy, with its characteristic excesses and conventions. [Full review in Spanish]

Full Review | Original Score: 3/5 | Apr 29, 2024

The horniness of the tone and main character can be off-putting, but when viewed in context of his heart, the antics showcase an endearing contradiction with the outward projection versus the inward beliefs.

Full Review | Original Score: 4/5 | Apr 27, 2024

The film can’t quite settle on the right tone. The final act is a particular drag, as the story shifts to a series of generic sets that look like John Wick knock-offs.

Full Review | Original Score: 2/5 | Apr 26, 2024

It is a hard-boiled detective drama with the stylised kinetic gunfights -- bullet time, zoom shots -- of a pacy page-flipping read.

Full Review | Original Score: 3/5 | Apr 26, 2024

Mainstream animation from the U.S. and Japan may be far apart in sensibility, style, and intended audience, but cartoons from both countries do share one major piece of common ground: the vast difficulty of translating them into live action.

Full Review | Apr 25, 2024

It's not for me, but it might be for you, if you like your entertainment to be slapdash, silly, and sexist, until it gets bloody.

When it comes to unfunny jokes that should have died a death in some smoke-filled boardroom from the 1980s, City Hunter takes the cake.

Full Review | Original Score: 2.5/5 | Apr 25, 2024

The action was satisfactory, but I guess I was blindsided by the fact that the comedy was so misogynistic in nature. Maybe if I was familiar with the source material, I would’ve been better prepared to tackle some of [City Hunter's] perverse stuff.

Full Review | Original Score: 3/5 | Apr 25, 2024

If you’re even slightly against playboy characters, this might not be for you. But if you’re all in on a seemingly horrible guy with a real heart of gold and badass action sequences, then City Hunter is ace.

Full Review | Original Score: 8.5/10 | Apr 25, 2024

'City Hunter' Review: Ryohei Suzuki starrer is a fast-paced action-comedy that makes for a good weekend watch

SHINJUKU CITY, TOKYO: ' City Hunter ', the live-action adaptation of Tsukasa Hojo's iconic manga series, has premiered on Netflix , shining the light on the neon-soaked underbelly of modern Tokyo.

We meet Ryo Saeba, a charismatic protagonist with a knack for solving problems and a penchant for trouble. But the city's glittering facade hides a dark secret, and Ryo finds himself thrust into a dangerous web of conspiracy alongside a fiery new partner: Kaori Makimura.

Fueled by grief and a thirst for justice, this unlikely duo dives headfirst into a thrilling hunt for the truth, all while dodging bullets and cracking wise. Action fans, 'City Hunter' is here to deliver the goods.

This live-action faithfully transports the charismatic Ryo Saeba and his world of intrigue into the modern era, offering a thrilling adventure with a healthy dose of action, humor, and heart.

'City Hunter' emerges as a cinematic blast of action-comedy 

'City Hunter' slays onto the screen with a live-action adaptation that bursts with energy. Director Yūichi Satō throws us into action with a weightless chase sequence that sets the tone for the film's fun and frenetic style.

The charismatic Ryo Saeba (Ryohei Suzuki) is a detective with a flair for the dramatic and a partner, Hideyuki Makimura (Masanobu Andô), who perfectly complements his energy. The film cleverly pivots after introducing the core characters, setting up the classic dynamic: a grieving Ryo reluctantly takes on Hideyuki's sister, Kaori (Misato Morita), as his new partner.

Together, they delve into a dangerous conspiracy involving a mysterious drug called 'Angel Dust'. The film delivers stunning fight choreography, blending intense hand-to-hand combat with slapstick humor for a perfectly balanced experience. The gunplay is a particular highlight, with over-the-top ballets of bullets that impress without getting bogged down in realism.

Ryo Saeba himself is a complex protagonist. A womanizing playboy with a heart of gold, he's undeniably charming. His performance is a standout, showcasing comedic brilliance and action-hero charisma. However, his juvenile humor might not land for everyone.

Meanwhile, Kaori serves as the film's emotional core. Burdened by guilt over her brother's death, she's determined to find justice. Despite her fiery personality, the film allows her to showcase her strength and agency.

City Hunter thrives on absurdity. It's not a film for those easily offended by its protagonist's antics, but for action-comedy fans, it delivers in spades. Sure, some scenes might lack the polish of a high-budget production, but that's part of City Hunter's charm. It leans into its cartoon roots, offering a refreshing blast of action and laughs for fans of the classic series.

Ryo Saeba's persona steals the limelight in 'City Hunter'

City Hunter's Ryo Saeba, played by Ryohei Suzuki, is a charming contradiction. A crack-shot detective with a heart of gold, his primary motivation seems to be gawking at beautiful women.

His signature 'Mokkori' screams of exaggerated lechery, a character trait that might raise eyebrows with modern audiences unfamiliar with the source material.

But to dismiss Ryo as simply a childish pervert would be a mistake. He's a product of his time, and the film acknowledges this. The characters around him constantly roll their eyes at his antics. Still, Suzuki fully commits to the role, delivering a frenetic and bombastic performance.

Despite the immaturity, there's a development arc. While Ryo remains a playful playboy, the film explores his grief over his friend's death Hideyuki Makimur, and his growing bond with the Makimur's fierce sister, Kaori. Ultimately, City Hunter offers a complex protagonist – flawed, funny, and surprisingly endearing.

'City Hunter' is available for streaming on Netflix

Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson Then and Now: Be it wrestling or acting, the star has always looked buff

• Movie Review
• Release Date
• Privacy Policy
• Advertise with Us
• Web Stories

City Hunter Netflix Review: Thrill, Comedy and a Taste of Nostalgia

City Hunter Movie Review

City Hunter

Since its debut in 1985, Tsukasa Hojo’s iconic manga series City Hunter has spawned several translations throughout the world. Ryo Saeba’s adventures have been immortalized in a long-running anime, animated feature films, a 2011 Korean drama series, and even a French live-action movie. Netflix has joined the race with a new feature film starring Ryohei Suzuki as the ultimate action hero.

Ryo Saeba (played by Ryohei Suzuki) is an expert marksman and investigator. His main motivation? Leering over youthful, buxom ladies, he exclaims Mokkori! in exaggerated excitement. Yes, he’s a product of his time, and current viewers may find his actions offensive. Fortunately, director Yuichi Sato assures that everyone around him disapproves whenever his shenanigans surface—which is rather often.

The plot begins with Ryo and his late partner’s sister, Kaori (Misato Morita), collaborating to investigate her brother’s death. Their aim is to discover Kurumi (Asuka Hanamura), a prominent internet cosplayer who has been afflicted with a serum that transforms her into a violent, super-powered force. Among the pandemonium, Hideyuki (Masanobu Ando), Ryo’s old coworker, meets an untimely death. His dying wish? Ryo should safeguard Kaori.

Also read: Do Aur Do Pyaar Movie Review: Vidya Balan’s Performance Elevates This Non Judgemental Drama

Ryo and Kaori discover a dark conspiracy with far-reaching effects. The video chronicles their adrenaline-fueled journey through the streets of Shinjuku, where they receive cases via a message board, generally involving assisting young ladies in danger.

Suzuki goes all out in his frantic and muscular portrayal of Ryo. Audiences ready to accept Ryo’s juvenile pranks will love the well-polished action sequences and great comedy. City Hunter offers thrills, comedy, and a taste of nostalgia. Fans of the original manga and anime should try it for themselves.

Rasavathi Tamil Movie 2024 Release Date, Cast, Crew, Story and More

Bad behaviour movie 2024 release date, cast, crew, story and more, supacell release date, cast and plot, mother of the bride movie release date on netflix, cast, crew, storyline and more, baki hanma vs kengan ashura release date and plot, sweet tooth season 3 release date, cast, plot, ipl 2024, match 57, srh vs lsg: dream11 prediction today match, related articles, the program: cons, cults, and kidnapping review: horrors of ivy ridge exposed, how to avail netflix, amazon prime, disney hotstar, and zee5 subscription for free, kohrra netflix web series release date, cast, plot, trailer and more, top 5 shows releasing on ott this week to rescue you from the mental lockdown.

Entertainment News, Bollywood, Tollywood, Hollywood, Box Office, Reviews, OTT Updates, Lifestyle & Fitness Tips, Flight Offers, Free OTT Subscription

Popular Topics

• Hottest Photos

OTT Platforms

• Amazon Prime Video
• Disney+ Hotstar

Latest Articles

70 flights of air india express got cancelled, know the reason here.

Copyright @ Flickonclick 2024

Home » Endings Explained » Movies - Ending Explained

Ryo and Kaori Are Out For Revenge in the ending of ‘City Hunter’ on Netflix

WARNING: THIS ARTICLE CONTAINS MAJOR SPOILERS

The ending of  City Hunter (2024) sees Ryo and Kaori avenge Makimura’s murder while blowing open the Angel Dust conspiracy. It’s a reluctant partnership, with the two learning to work together on the job.

After her brother’s death, Kaori is desperate for answers and wants to work with Ryo. But Ryo would rather she stayed far away from the world he inhabits. His day-to-day includes dangerous fights, visits to hostess bars, and more pornography than one human should consume in their lifetime. 

The Netflix movie is the first live-action adaptation of the  City Hunter  manga by Tsukasa Hojo , and despite its blatant misogyny, it isn’t without its charms, many of which are contained in the third act and climax detailed below.

City Hunter (2024) Ending Explained

After the commotion at the Lore event, Saeko takes “Miss Sexy Melons” in for questioning. However, she and, excuse the pun, her melon explodes in the car on the way to the station. 

Kaori’s mistake of letting Kurumi go with Officer Ito for protection places the young cosplayer in the hands of the bad guys. Not to worry, the officer gets what’s coming to him when the bag containing his bribe explodes. These Union bad guys have a penchant for making things go boom. 

Why doesn’t Ryo Want to Work With Kaori?

At Ryo’s house, he’s still giving Kaori the silent treatment for not listening to him. When she starts beating herself up, Ryo tries to once again tell her to go home and leave this dangerous life behind. He then admits he’s been trying to discourage her from working with him because he’s trying to honor Makimura’s final request to keep her safe. 

But Kaori reveals she blames herself for being too scared to hold her brother when he died and that she’s always known they’re not blood-related. She vows to go after the people who killed Makimura and kidnapped Kurumi with or without Ryo’s aid. Instead, Ryo gives her a bulletproof vest and the two go out to avenge Makimuro together. 

What is the relationship between Union and Lore?

Poor Kurumi wakes up in a Lore laboratory and is greeted by the CEO herself who’s been involved in the Angel Dust experiments all along. But these Union people don’t play well with others. They must deem anyone without one of those nifty head-exploding devices as untrustworthy. Without a word, the Union member slits the CEO’s throat and kills everyone in the lab, aside from Kurumi, of course. 

Meanwhile, Ryo and Kaori are following the tracker he hid on Kurumi’s earrings. On the way, Ryo gets a call from the Old Man who has some interesting info about the mysterious Union Teopi organization. They’re a worldwide secret society from South America and they’ve been using Lore as a front for the Japanese dealings. Of course, Ryo is one step behind as we’ve already watched the Union sever its contract with Lore. 

Ryo and Kaori arrive at Lore headquarters

City Hunter | Image via Netflix

The two arrive at Lore headquarters via a cool underground tunnel and find the aftermath of the massacre disturbing, to say the least. Upon going deeper into the facility, Ryo and Kaori are met by a small Union army. But the two work as a team and defeat the many armed bad guys. By team, I mean Ryo does the fighting and shooting while Kaori does the weapon passing. 

When the Union guy shows himself, he’s holding poor Kurumi hostage. The man does offer Ryo the chance to join his criminal organization, but our hero politely refuses. That’s when Black Bear, a substantially larger and stronger man on the Angel Dust, jumps out of his box. Ryo instructs Kaori to follow the Union member while he deals with the teddy bear. 

What happened to Kaori’s fathers?

As he’s waiting for his helicopter rescue with Kurumi, the Union guy taunts Kaori with her origin tale. Kaori’s biological father was a Union employee forced to become an Angel Dust test subject when he tried to leave. A police officer shot him in self-defense while he went into a rage. That officer was Kaori’s adopted father. 

Thankfully, Ryo shows up in time to incapacitate the man and rescue Kurumi. When the union chopper finally arrives, they leave their employee behind. Kaori points a gun at him as she wants revenge for the family she lost, but can’t bring herself to pull the trigger. Thankfully, the man is a Union employee and they do make his head go boom.

By the time Saeko and the rest of the police force pry their way into the building, they’ve missed all the action. 

Hammer Time

A few days after saving Kurumi and defeating the bad guy, Kaori visits her brother’s grave to pay her respects. We also learn that Kurumi resumed her career and is doing very well for herself. 

When Ryo wakes up from his peaceful slumber, he’s less than pleased to find Kaori vacuuming his apartment. Not only that, but she also got rid of his collection of “babes” and plans on moving in. She pulls out the iconic giant hammer and starts following the lovable perv around the apartment with it. 

• City Hunter (2024) Review

Article by Lori Meek

Lori Meek has been a Ready Steady Cut contributing writer since September 2022 and has had over 400 published articles since. She studied Film and Television at Southampton Solent University, where she gained most of her knowledge and passion for the entertainment industry. Lori’s work is also featured on platforms such as TBreak Media and ShowFaves.

Doctor Cha Season 1 Episode 10 Recap - How does Jeong-suk find out about Eun-seo?

Selena: The Series season 2, episode 9 recap - the ending explained

This website cannot be displayed as your browser is extremely out of date.

Please update your browser to one of the following: Chrome , Firefox , Edge

City Hunter (2024)

watch later

not interested / hide

Play Trailer

20 Best 2024 Foreign-language Movies So Far

50 Best 2024 Movies Released So Far

12 Best Streaming Services with Student Discounts

8 Live TV Streaming Services For Multiple Homes

How to Watch All Seasons of Survivor in 2024

How To Watch Starz Without Cable 2024

Renee Cuisia

You can tell it’s based on an anime created in the ‘80s by how outdated and sexist its humor is.

What it's about

What stands out, add a comment, more like this in.

Do Not Expect Too Much from the End of the World (2023)

A cynical, but terribly honest portrait of the indignity of modern life

The Guilty (2018)

A minimalist, razor-sharp thriller that will have you gasping for air.

Lust, Caution (2007)

A wartime spy falls for a collaborator in this erotic espionage drama

Leave the World Behind (2023)

Shyamalan meets Black Mirror in this hugely entertaining, visually inventive apocalyptic thriller with a killer ending

Problemista (2024)

Dark, weird, poignant, and funny, this debut feature by Los Espookys star Julio Torres is a modern parable of the American Dream

Cleaners (2019)

A weird and wonderful coming-of-age anthology featuring classic moments in 2000’s Philippine high schools

Wind River (2017)

Sicario's screenwriter directs this story of murder in an Indigenous reserve

Unfrosted (2024)

A fun but ultimately too-childish romp about the discovery of the Pop-Tart

Falling in Love Like in Movies (2023)

A contemplative Indonesian romance film that rewrites and re-examines the genre’s conventions

The Farewell (2019)

Awkwafina shines in this complex culture clash comedy.

Curated by humans, not algorithms.

© 2024 agoodmovietowatch, all rights reserved.

City Hunter (2024) Review | Ryo Saeba’s Latest Jump to Live-Action is a Hit

City Hunter is an entertaining movie for both long-time fans and those new to Ryo Saeba's adventures.

There’s a new City Hunter live-action film, but before, most anime fans were not at all looking forward to live-action movies or shows based on their favorite titles. Thanks to some acclaimed adaptations like One Piece and Yu Yu Hakusho though, there has been a renaissance in the realm of live-action anime adaptations.

As Netflix is among those leading the charge when it comes to adaptations, it’s no surprise that the streaming giant started to help bring the iconic 80s classic City Hunter to live-action. While the franchise has gotten lots of live-action versions before (including the Jackie Chan one), this latest adaptation promises to be the most faithful one yet.

Based on the trailer, the show definitely looks more like City Hunter than the previous projects. But does it succeed in bringing the iconic anime/manga to life and being an entertaining film? Well, it’s safe to say that this new film knocks it out of the park in both.

Ryohei Suzuki and the Cast Shine in Netflix’s New Live-Action Anime Adaptation

For this new live-action adaptation, Ryo Saeba is played by Ryohei Suzuki while Misato Morita takes on the role of Kaori Makimura, forming the series’ iconic duo.

Given that Ryo Saeba is the central character of the series, the movie will live and die by how well it brings Ryo to life. Thankfully, Ryohei Suzuki pulls off the role of the iconic sweeper incredibly well.

In the original manga and anime, Ryo is a funny guy who is a grade-A pervert with an incredible knack for shooting, though he also becomes serious when needed. Ryohei Suzuki portrays all of these qualities of Ryo well as he’s a joy to watch on screen, whether it’s in action scenes, comedic moments, or more serious parts.

Sure, Ryo’s perverted side may not be that funny to some, but I got a sense from Suzuki’s portrayal that he uses this as a mask at some points as he’s still shown to have a caring side.

As for Kaori, Morita also does a great job of bringing Ryo’s partner to life in live-action. Though do take note that given this film’s story sees Ryo and Kaori before they become proper partners, Kaori is still quite new to the whole sweeper thing, so she’s not yet as experienced as in the latter parts of the anime/manga.

Of course, Kaori does get to shine a lot in this film as she serves as sort of the emotional core of the story. What’s more, Kaori and Ryo in the film have great chemistry together, even though it has not yet developed romantically at this point.

Aside from the two main stars, the rest of City Hunter’s cast is also great, though it’s undeniable that Ryo and Kaori are the focal points, both in terms of the story and the various action scenes.

Dazzling Action Scenes with a Dose of Comedy

If I were to describe the City Hunter movie, I’d say that it’s an action-comedy with heart. Given this focus on action, I’m happy to report that the film does feature lots of great action scenes.

Sure, the fights here aren’t John Wick levels of intricate in terms of choreography, but what City Hunter has is a sense of fun. A lot of the fights are quite comedic which works well with both the story and Ryo as a character.

In a way, you can think of the film’s action scenes as throwbacks to classic action movies of past decades in that they’re just a ton of fun without being too grim.

Make no mistake, there are some darker moments here, but I found that the film balances both these aspects well.

It’s What You’d Expect, But in a Good Way

With its entertaining action scenes and great performances from the cast, City Hunter is already a must-see. But what about its story?

Well, it’s quite gripping, and it has a lot of nods and story elements that are sure to delight fans of the original anime or manga. However, don’t expect too much as this film’s story is still fairly standard. Not bad mind you, it’s just that the story acts more like a vehicle to deliver the action and to deepen the relationship between the characters.

In a sense, City Hunter’s story is what you’d expect, though that should be a good thing for fans of the source material as it doesn’t try to reinvent the series like other live-action adaptations would. Instead, it captures the spirit of the original well, even though it’s set in the modern day instead of glitzy 80s Japan.

It helps that the film’s scenes in Shinjuku are actually shot on-location in Kabukicho. It’s a small miracle that the production was able to film there given how busy the area is, but it helps a lot in giving the City Hunter the same vibe as the original.

City Hunter (2024) Final Verdict

City Hunter is not the type of live-action anime adaptation where its creators want to make something entirely different from the original. Instead, it’s a film where the cast and crew are focused on bringing the classic City Hunter to life in live-action in a way that will delight long-time fans, all while having more modern flourishes that are sure to entertain newer viewers.

Sure, it doesn’t exactly reinvent the wheel as far as action films go, but it offers such an entertaining mix of set pieces, character moments, and comedy that it’s something that I can easily recommend watching on a weekend. In fact, I’d even say that City Hunter is now one of my favorite live-action anime adaptations to date.

The new City Hunter film is now streaming worldwide exclusively on Netflix .

Letterboxd — Your life in film

Forgotten username or password ?

• Start a new list…
• Add all films to a list…
• Add all films to watchlist

Add to your films…

Press Tab to complete, Enter to create

A moderator has locked this field.

Add to lists

Where to watch

City hunter.

Directed by Yuichi Satoh

An exceptional marksman and hopeless playboy, private eye Ryo Saeba reluctantly forms an alliance with his late partner's sister to investigate his death.

Ryohei Suzuki Misato Morita Masanobu Ando Fumino Kimura Asuka Hanamura Isao Hashizume Tetta Sugimoto Ayame Misaki Takaya Sakoda Moemi Katayama Ami201 Keita Arai Mafia Kajita Akira Kamiya

Director Director

Yuichi Satoh

Producers Producers

Keisuke Sanpei Kôsuke Oshida Masaaki Ito

Writer Writer

Tatsuro Mishima

Original Writer Original Writer

Tsukasa Hojo

Editor Editor

Takuya Taguchi

Cinematography Cinematography

Motonobu Kiyoku

Assistant Director Asst. Director

Mitsuhiro Yamada

Executive Producer Exec. Producer

Shinichi Takahashi

Composer Composer

Otomo Yoshihide

Costume Design Costume Design

Kumiko Ogawa

Horipro Office Shirous Netflix

Releases by Date

24 apr 2024, 25 apr 2024, releases by country, afghanistan.

• Digital Netflix

American Samoa

Antigua and barbuda.

• Digital +16 Netflix
• Digital MA 15+ Netflix
• Digital 16 Netflix

Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela

Bosnia and herzegovina, british indian ocean territory, british virgin islands, brunei darussalam, burkina faso.

• Digital R Netflix

Cayman Islands

Central african republic, christmas island, cocos (keeling) islands, cook islands, democratic republic of congo, dominican republic, el salvador, equatorial guinea, falkland islands, faroe islands, federated states of micronesia.

• Digital K-16 Netflix

French Guiana

French polynesia, guinea-bissau, heard island and mcdonald islands.

• Digital A Netflix
• Digital 15 Netflix

Ivory Coast

Lao people's democratic republic.

• Digital 16+ Netflix

Liechtenstein

• Digital N-16 Netflix
• Digital 18SG Netflix

Marshall Islands

• Digital C Netflix

Netherlands

New caledonia, new zealand.

• Digital R16 Netflix

Norfolk Island

North macedonia, northern mariana islands, papua new guinea, philippines.

• Digital R-16 Netflix
• Digital M/16 Netflix

Puerto Rico

Republic of moldova, saint helena, ascension and tristan da cunha, saint kitts and nevis, saint lucia, saint pierre and miquelon, saint vincent and the grenadines, sao tome and principe, saudi arabia, sierra leone.

• Digital NC16 Netflix

Solomon Islands

South africa, south georgia and the south sandwich islands, south korea.

• Digital 18 Netflix

South Sudan

State of palestine, switzerland, timor-leste, trinidad and tobago.

• Digital 18+ Netflix

Turkmenistan

Turks and caicos islands, us virgin islands, united arab emirates, united republic of tanzania, united states minor outlying islands, vatican city, wallis and futuna, western sahara.

105 mins   More at IMDb TMDb Report this page

Popular reviews

Review by Deathy ★★★½ 2

Score : 7.4/10 ✅

Extremely fun. It's a great sleeper hit (on Netflix) and yes, you should watch it.

A meticulous marksman who loves improvising with a Plan B (or even C) swings trick shots like he’s an overqualified old-fashioned hero who’ll do anything to accommodate ladies with sexy cleavage. Luxuriously ridiculous.

Sharply well-detailed and fun to sit through, City Hunter is surprisingly delivering fun set pieces that are really unique. The cosplay show is principally the one I’m thinking of. It was entertaining as hell. Best moment during the film, I could see a lot of people loving this sequence.

I’m not familiar with the manga/anime but as a standalone film, City Hunter is more entertaining than you can imagine.

Review by Brandon Streussnig

What a lovely, hilarious delight. Gun + fight choreo is pretty tremendous. Found the way this realized anime aesthetics into live action to be so thrilling. That and its much appreciated earnestness kind of reminded me of Anno’s Cutie Honey adaptation, just not as singular. Always a sucker for the day being won through love alongside some surprisingly brutal violence. Had such a good time with this. The casting is especially unbelievable.

Review by joshrowley ★★★

Amusing; entertaining; ridiculous; silly; uneven; well-choreographed.

Review by Dr_Mafoony ★★★★★ 1

As an adaptation of Tsukasa Hojo’s CITY HUNTER manga/anime this is everything I could’ve ever wanted from a live action iteration. While there have been successful iterations before, this movie managed to balance both the irreverent, outrageous humor with the drama, character depth, and heart that made the series special. Just like in the source material, Ryo Saeba can be a total goofball with his womanizing ways yet change on a dime and lock in to be a total, serious bad ass. The music, visuals, and costume design all feel like the anime but at the same time don’t feel out of place or forced.

As an actual movie, this is easily one of the most fun experiences I’ve had…

Review by DRK_92 ★★★★½

Hi my friends! I just saw the new adaptation of City Hunter by Netflix and overall I had a great time!

I'm still not an expert in the manga or anime but I found that it was a good adaptation of which i refound some elements that I already knew. The fighting scenes are really cool and well choreographed, Ryohei Suzuki was excellent as Ryo Saeba and as for the direction and photography, they were really good.  

Now, I had a little trouble with Laura and the actress who interpreted her except at the end of the film which I recognized the basic character well and I found it a shame that we exploit no more than that the…

Review by William (SpaceTree Studios) ★★★★½

"He's like a pervert Aladdin"

Mokkori Bros. I do believe we've won Nails the balance between City Hunter's comedy and action. It never loses sight of what it's supposed to be, and will mix both elements together perfectly. It understands its source material and does a great job adapting it into live action. Ryohei Suzuki is perfect as Ryo, his voice is spot on and gets all the mannerisms down.

This isn't the first live action take on CH, there's the Jackie Chan film from the 90s which was....basically CH in name only. Then there was the 2010's French "Nicky Larson" adaptation which went for the Speed Racer/Popeye route of making it a cartoon but irl. Not everyone's bag but…

Review by DonnieDarko666 ★★★½ 3

Watched on Netflix.

The film is actually funny, has likeable characters, good action and a spectacukar finale and of course it has MOKORRI BABES!!!

Hoping for a second part here.

Review by Yo_Roboto ★★★

From my limited experience with City Hunter as an intellectual property — which includes a sampling of the manga, the anime, and the cringe-pocalypse Jackie Chan adaptation — I understand the premise to essentially be... He's a sex pervert who solves crimes?

Sure, he's pitched as a “playboy private detective”, but in the manga, I think the first thing City Hunter does, canonically, is molest a client. In the anime, he's basically a Taz the Tasmanian Devil of sexual harassment, a Cookie Monster of non-consensual boob-touching. The same way Dexter is a serial killer who channels his instincts into hunting killers, City Hunter is like a subway groper who uses his powers for good. You would be shocked at how…

Review by Noah Thompson ★★★

What will likely remain 2024's notable "gentleman's six" for me: A mostly decent film with some really notable high points. I hold the very odd opinion that the original City Hunter film, a movie that its star the legendary Jackie Chan has outright admitted to hating, is one of the best films made by said legendary star. In terms of translating anime and/or manga to live action, I really think few other films have done it better. It's an acquired taste, but man if you haven't seen it, please give it a shot, it's a wild ride. I believe I had heard a bit ago that this new adaptation of the original series was coming to Netflix, but I…

Review by Jimbo without the Jet-Set ★★½ 7

Pervy Japanese John Wack*!

*not a typo!

Review by ama (nda) ★★½ 2

Why this pervert got cheekbones sculpted by the gods themselves

Review by JJAMV ★★★★

Long live Ryo Saeba

Select your preferred poster

Upgrade to remove ads.

Letterboxd is an independent service created by a small team, and we rely mostly on the support of our members to maintain our site and apps. Please consider upgrading to a Pro account —for less than a couple bucks a month, you’ll get cool additional features like all-time and annual stats pages ( example ), the ability to select (and filter by) your favorite streaming services, and no ads!

‘City Hunter’: Netflix Whiffs Yet Another Live-Action Manga Adaptation

ENOUGH ALREADY

The Netflix film starring Ryohei Suzuki may be live action, but it can’t escape a cartoonishness that makes the whole thing a mess.

Jesse Hassenger

Mainstream animation from the U.S. and Japan may be far apart in sensibility, style, and intended audience, but cartoons from both countries do share one major piece of common ground: the vast difficulty of translating them into live action. Whether softening the artistry of Disney classics for ill-advised blockbuster remakes or attempting to maintain the quirks of a long-running manga adaptation like One Piece for Netflix, there’s an even-when-they-win-they-lose quality to the most notable successes. The would-be franchise-starter City Hunter , Netflix’s latest crack at fleshing out an animated phenom, shares that quixotic feeling, even if it isn’t an awkward Americanization like the streamer's Cowboy Bebop redo.

Technically, City Hunter —like a lot of famous anime properties—originates from a manga, and the source material seems pretty flexible, having inspired multiple anime series, several animated features, a live-action adaptation from Hong Kong starring Jackie Chan, and a live-action TV drama from Korea, among others. But the movie is, in its soul, a cartoon brought to life, for better or worse.

That’s evident from the jump, as its extended pre-credits opening follows private detective Ryo Saeba (Ryohei Suzuki) and his partner Hideyuki Makimur (Masanobu Andô) chasing a young woman through the streets of Tokyo, attempting to save her. Director Yūichi Satō gives this chase sequence a weightless quality even before the woman’s face bulges with alien-looking veins and she leaps away like a superhuman. None of the action is especially convincing, but it is pleasingly breezy, and the cartooniness extends to the trench-coated characters: Hideyuki is positioned as the straight man, while Ryo maintains nearly wolf-whistling levels of libido.

Shortly thereafter, the movie makes a pivot that’s equally clever and jarring, setting up the source material’s basic premise: Hideyuki is abruptly murdered, and a new odd-couple dynamic is swapped in. Ryo reluctantly takes on Hideyuki’s adopted sister Kaori (Misato Morita) as his partner as they track down the purveyors of a mysterious substance that gives users enhanced strength but denies them their free will, and eventually destroys them.

A photo still from City Hunter

The plotting of this conspiracy is so murky that it infects even seemingly straightforward scenes: Hideyuki’s murder, for example, is staged with spatial confusion and strangely protracted action—the kind of off-rhythm editing that animation might have saved through sheer graphic memorability. In live action, it’s harder to salvage a prolonged close-up of an actor’s face where it’s unclear whether she can even see a stabbing happening mere feet away from her. (Later, a one-off cutaway to actual animation underlines this point further.)

City Hunter alternates middling-to-incompetent scenes of sci-fi conspiracy grimness with sequences like the one where Ryo and Kaori stake out a cosplay convention and Ryo keeps bugging his eyes out at all the cleavage on display. This is also the occasion for a winking homage to the original material, where Kaori apparently wields a giant hammer to curb Ryo’s horniest impulses; here, the hammer makes an appearance as an outsized cosplay prop, rather than a fixture of Kaori’s repertoire. (She still manages to hold her own in the action sequences, though chauvinism dictates that Ryo does the heavy lifting, which is to say shooting.)

Despite or possibly because of Ryo’s throwback mixture of Sam Spade and Benny Hill, the Suzuki/Morita duo makes for an enormously appealing investigative engine, with the kind of knockabout energy that probably helps to justify a live-action remake to begin with. Together, they have a way of humanizing the movie’s most outlandish (and sometimes chintzy-looking) action beats: gun-tossing, impossible marksmanship, overpowered mini-boss henchmen.

It’s the hidden revelations, anguished cries, and ruminations on the possible futility of revenge that give the performers, and especially the movie, a little more trouble. Maybe the melodramatic bits played better in animated form or on the page. Regardless, this version of City Hunter never quite reconciles them with its goofiness, and in its more serious moments, its animation-as-live-action aesthetic starts to look limiting, rather than oddly freeing. The movie wants to somehow wield its giant cartoon hammer and hide it, too.

Got a tip? Send it to The Daily Beast  here .

READ THIS LIST

• Beauty Product Reviews
• Book Reviews
• Movie Reviews
• Other Product Reviews
• Restaurant Reviews
• Series Reviews
• Tech Gadget Reviews
• Automobile News
• Business News
• Entertainment News
• Fashion News
• Sports News
• Technology News
• Trending News
• Health & Well-being
• Learning & Development
• Travel & Explore
• Write For Us

Subscribe below to get the free bi-weekly newsletter from us with all the latest news and offers on beauty products and more!

Search for an article

City hunter movie review: a whip and crack adaptation, dead boy detectives series review: an engaging tale of supernatural investigation, love reset movie review: a quirky tale of second chance romance, maamla legal hai series review: witness the other side of the law, from high-stake offers to high-impact vision: ambar raj’s journey at wild oak, the lasting power of greyhound: unraveling the mystique of a timeless brand, addressing the challenges faced by the women’s cricket in india, smytten app review: how smytten works | coupon code included, nanoplastia hair treatment: repairing damaged hair | benefits, procedure, side effects, 6 easy plants to grow in your home: gardening for beginners, 10 proven tips and tricks for linkedin profile optimization.

Last Updated

City Hunter is one of the most popular mangas from the 80s. The manga has seen adaptation across anime and live-action ventures. City Hunter follows Ryo Saeba aka City Hunter, a proficient detective but a sleazy man. He goes around Japan solving crimes and helping the police department. His expertise as an assassin also brings along his pervert ways. The manga has spawned into several anime and live action adaptations. Come 2024, we have a new live-action Japanese film based on the characters which have been loved and also critiqued over the years.

The 2024 version of City Hunter stars Ryohei Suzuki in the titular lead Ryo Saeba aka City Hunter. He is joined by Misato Morita as Kaori Makimura. The movie follows Ryo and Kaori as they avenge Hideyuki. Hideyuki was Ryo’s loyal friend and colleague as well as Kaori’s brother. His death was a murder. He was killed by a hidden but powerful organization after Ryo and him got closer to uncovering a secret and illegal project of creating superhumans. The movie premiered on Netflix on April 25, 2024.

The movie is just under two hours and packs quite an entertainment factor, if one can let go of the perverted scenes that is. In the original work, Ryo Saeba is a Grade A sleazeball and pervert. He does not take up any case if there are no appealing women involved. The original and a few adaptations featured quite a few explicit scenes which would not sit well audience of today. It was wrong even then, but a mature dialogue around these things was absent.

Watch the trailer of City Hunter here:

The Netflix adaptation sticks to the original character where Ryo Saeba is a playboy who is unabashed about his attraction towards physically attractive women. There was a forward change in the character with no off-handed comments on any sexuality, gender, identity. But even then the objectification of women was ever so present. The movie also displays the night markets of modern day Tokyo where women are still marketed as sexual objects to fulfil men’s fantasies. It is a sad truth we all have to live with.

City Hunter’s cartoon-like dialogue delivery and behaviour add a comic angle to the character. One cannot comment much on the character growth or arc here. The characters are pretty straight forward, with more or less predictable tendencies. Perhaps it was the physical lack of an antagonist. We know that Ryo is against an organization with its roots in Central America, but there was not one challenging character to manipulate Ryo’s techniques.

All we saw was a few low-ranking men and a hoard of soldiers attempting to thwart Ryo and Kaori’s attempts. The only saving grace was the lady who had initially approached Ryo under a fake identity to find a young girl named Kurumi. The fight between her and Ryo was the closest we came to Ryo actually fighting off an antagonist.

It is a decently pace piece for a movie which serves as an introduction film. The slow-motion scenes are well timed and add to the viewers’ engagement in the scene. It is always a challenge to translate from pen to stylus but the makers of City Hunter have done a good job when it comes to catching the nuances of the original and embedding it in the latest settings.

If one can manage to it through the tantalizing shots of exposed flesh, then City Hunter is not so bad to invest time in. It chalks up to a decent comedy action film with enough intrigue to keep the audience engaged. It sits in line with those cult classic films featuring a mystery engaging enough to get the thinking wheels turning.

Also Read: Maamla Legal Hai (2024) Series Review

Will there be a sequel for City Hunter?

At the time of this writing, there has been no official news from Netflix about a sequel for City Hunter. Considering the movie’s rising popularity, Netflix might give a green signal for the next story. The movie concluded with an open ending where we see that Ryo and Kaori manage to save Kurumi and find the truth behind Hideyuki’s murder. But we do not know who is the brains behind the organization running these illegal scientific experiments on humans. This movie serves as a good premise for a broader story, if there ever was to be one. One can sure hope there will be a sequel for City Hunter, perhaps with less sleaziness and more comedy.

JAL gives City Hunter 6 out of 10 stars. What are your thoughts on City Hunter? Tell us in the comments below!

• city hunter
• movie review

Latest articles

Ricky stanicky movie review (2024): how far can you take a lie, you may also like, final offer by lauren asher book review: dreamland billionaires, rich dad poor dad summary and review – is rich dad poor dad worth reading, anxious people book review: why it’s a must read, the midnight library summary and review, more like this.

Your one-stop destination for all news from beauty, entertainment, food, travel to business and more! Explore a diverse range of topics curated to inspire, inform, and entertain you in one convenient hub.

• Privacy Policy
• Terms Of Use

© 2024 Just A Library. All rights reserved.

• Streaming calendar

City Hunter (2024) summary and ending explained

City Hunter follows a pervy private eye named Ryo Saeba, as he’s joined by the sister of his partner who’s killed by a shady organization pushing a new potent drug in Shinjuku. The film is now streaming on Netflix.

Warning: This article contains heavy spoilers

Plot summary 

Private Eye Ryo Saeba and his partner Hideyuki Makimura, work alongside to rescue a girl named Kurumi. Ryo, also feared as the City Hunter in the criminal underworld, beats up the men, but Kurumi escapes. 

She drops vials of a drug that Makimura picks up. He goes to the dinner he had promised his sister Kaori for her birthday. 

There, he’s rammed by a truck, and the driver, under the influence of the same power-enhancing drug that Kurumi was under, kills Makimura. 

The former police officer asks his friend City Hunter to look after his sister. Kaori swears revenge on those responsible for her brother’s death and she asks Ryo for help. 

He refuses to help her and repeatedly asks her to go home, but she is really persistent. He eventually lets her join in his investigation and they soon find Kurumi. 

They give her refuge in his house and later accompany her as bodyguards at a cosplay event. She is taken by the Union, a shady organization behind the peddling of the drug and the murder of Makimura. 

Ryo and Kaori work together to get to the bottom of it all and track down Kurumi’s location, before fighting hordes of armed Union guys and rescuing Kurumi.

Ending explained:

Kaori’s revenge .

Kaori’s biological father was in the Union, and when he had her, he wanted out. He shared this with Kunio Konno, who ratted him out.

Consequently, he was made a test subject and injected with the drug. In a violent outburst, he attacked Inspector Nobuyuki Makimura, who had to kill him. 

Failing to find where the drug came from, Nobuyuki took in the man’s daughter, i.e., Kaori, and raised her as his own. 

His son, died after he got his hands on the drugs as part of his investigation. He was killed at the orders of Konno too, who now leads the Union’s branch in Japan.

Kaori swears revenge on those who deprived her of her brother. In City Hunter ‘s climax, Konno further breaks her by revealing he led to her biological father’s death as well. 

She gets the chance to shoot Konno down, but she can’t go through with it. Her brother’s killer does end up dead though. After the ordeal, she moves into Ryo Saeba’s house as his new partner.

The Union & the drug

The Union is a Central American organization which uses Shinjuku as an advertisement space for a new drug that can change the game. 

The drug is called Angel Dust, used in warfare before it was banned because it was so inhumane. It makes people violent with a sudden surge in their power and athletic abilities.

However, subjects die as soon as their violent outburst is over. Only one subject manages to survive it and use the abilities it offers without any of the side effects. She is Kurumi, a cosplayer who goes by the name “Milk.”

She is kidnapped as incorporating her DNA into the drug will eliminate the side effects and then the drug can be sold worldwide for warfare. 

Konno takes the research data and kills the CEO and scientists of Lore, the subsidiary of Seta Pharmaceuticals which also serves as the Union’s front for activities in Japan. 

He grabs Kurumi and plans on boarding a helicopter out of Shinjuku, but Ryo Saeba shoots down all his armed guards and a juiced-up henchman called Brown Bear. 

He and Kaori confront Konno at the terrace and as he goes to kill them, Konno dies himself, as the bomb in his neck is activated by the Union members in the helicopter. 

Also Read: Dead Boy Detectives summary and ending explained

More from The Envoy Web

Fareedan: heeramandi: the diamond bazaar character explained, t・p bon summary and endings explained: all episodes, raymond peepgrass: a man in full character explained, a man in full summary and ending explained, sand land: the series review: fun, adventurous tribute to toriyama.

• Privacy Policy
• Media Coverage

© Prophecyverse Media Private Limited