Director: Michael Hamilton-Wright
Cast: Michael Jai White, Aimee Stolte, Dawn Olivieri, Aleks Paunovic, Benjamin Joel Arcé
Hostile Takeover is a 2025 American action-comedy-thriller directed by Michael Hamilton-Wright, starring Michael Jai White as a professional hitman whose secret attendance at a self-help program for workaholics triggers a deadly chain of consequences from his crime syndicate employer.
What is Hostile Takeover about?
Pete earns his living as a contract killer, precise and dependable — at least until his boss starts reading the wrong signs. When the head of a powerful crime syndicate discovers that Pete has been attending Workaholics Anonymous meetings, he interprets the sessions as something far more sinister: a potential betrayal. Suddenly, Pete finds himself not hunting a target but being hunted by a squad of seasoned assassins sent to eliminate the perceived threat. Caught between his instinct for self-preservation and a genuine desire to address his compulsive tendencies, Pete must outmaneuver both dangerous opponents and his own chaotic impulses. The film plays its premise for maximum comedic tension while keeping the action sequences grounded and punishing.
Cast & crew
Michael Jai White, a martial artist and actor known for high-octane genre films, carries the physical and comedic weight of the lead role. He is joined by Aimee Stolte, Dawn Olivieri, and Aleks Paunovic, alongside Benjamin Joel Arcé, Alex Mallari Jr., Damon Runyan, and Sala Baker. Director Michael Hamilton-Wright orchestrates the ensemble through a script that mines comedy from bureaucratic self-help culture colliding with criminal underworld logic.
Context & significance
Iranian diaspora viewers with a taste for fast-paced Hollywood genre cinema will find Hostile Takeover a satisfying 89-minute ride. The film sits squarely in the tradition of crime comedies where the protagonist is too professional to be incompetent but too human to be invincible — a formula that travels well across cultures. Persian-speaking audiences can enjoy the film with full Persian dubbing, which makes it accessible without any language barrier. The action-comedy blend, driven by a straight-faced hitman thrown into absurd institutional settings, has broad appeal for viewers who enjoy films like this on weeknights without needing a deep emotional commitment.
Where & how to watch
Hostile Takeover is available on K-Time with Persian dubbing and Persian subtitles. Watch on your browser, TV, or phone — no VPN needed, no geo-blocking, and no extra download required. Start or stop your subscription anytime.