In 2014, a modest action film about an assassin avenging his puppy became a cultural phenomenon. John Wick wasn't just another action movie—it heralded a wave of hitman films that would dominate screens for a decade. From "The Equalizer" to "Atomic Blonde," audiences have developed an insatiable appetite for stories about professional killers. But why this genre, and why now? Perhaps in our gridlocked democracy, watching someone definitively solve problems with a Glock provides the catharsis our political system cannot.

Unlike their predecessors who killed for money, today's cinematic assassins act out of moral conviction or personal vengeance. This shift reveals a profound undercurrent in our cultural psyche: the fantasy of consequential action in a world where many feel increasingly powerless.

Francis Fukuyama suggests that citizens in democratic societies increasingly feel traditional political channels fail to produce meaningful change. As institutions lose credibility and divisions intensify, many feel trapped within systems they neither influence nor support. We vote, protest, and tweet our outrage—yet the world remains unmoved by our efforts.

The surge in these films correlates with extraordinary political turmoil—from Brexit to Trump's presidency, with climate inaction and pandemic mishandling fueling frustration across the political spectrum. As trust in rule-makers diminishes, so does our appreciation for rule-following heroes. When........

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