Somebody, preferably with a background in forensic science, needs to explain the Baby Assassins franchise. Not what makes it tick—credit for that obviously goes to its two protagonists, whose youth and outwardly fun-loving personalities mask lethal fighting and assassination skills. Not why its fight scenes are so consistently top-tier—it is a law of nature that hiring Kensuke Sonomura as action director guarantees action fans get exactly what they crave. But what truly begs explanation in this Baby Assassins 3 review is what makes the franchise continually improve with each new entry, a question that ultimately matters less when experiencing the sheer fun of its unstoppable upward rise.
Trailer
Cast
Akari Takaishi and Saori Izawa return once again as professional assassins and close friends Chisato Sugimoto and Mahiro Fukagawa, with Sosuke Ikematsu playing their adversary Kaede Fuyumura. Atsuko Maeda and Iruka Minami also appear as Chisato and Mahiro’s impromptu assassin associates Riku Nanase, with Atom Mizuishi portraying Mamoru Tasaka and Tomo Nakai appearing as Mana Miyauchi.
Chisato and Mahiro are finally enjoying a well deserved vacation!
Chisato and Mahiro are wiped out after their latest mission.
Plot
Chisato and Mahiro are ready for a vacation from their lives as professional assassins, and aim to get their next job over and done as quickly as possible. However, things get complicated quickly when they find themselves directly assigned on a joint mission with fellow assassins Iruka and Riku to take out fellow assassins Kaede and his own assigned target Tsuyoshi Mastsuura. Still getting back in their assassin union’s good graces after their financial issues in “Baby Assassins 2”, Chisato and Mahiro grit their teeth and bear it on postponing their vacation for a tougher assignment than expected, with Kaede proving to be one of the toughest enemies the duo have dealt with yet.
Action
The “Baby Assassins” Franchise Just Keeps Getting Better
It’s become cliché to compare every rising assassin-centered action franchise to John Wick, but Baby Assassins is one case where the comparison genuinely applies. Like the Baba Yaga saga, this series continually outdoes itself, building momentum with each installment. What began as a modest but charming first film exploded into a sequel that surpassed expectations, and Baby Assassins 3 continues that upward trajectory. The third entry delivers crazier action, sharper comedy, and the most emotionally resonant exploration of Chisato and Mahiro’s bond yet. Framed around the pair’s attempt to enjoy some well-earned rest and relaxation, the film balances escalating spectacle with heartfelt character moments, proving once again that this franchise thrives by constantly raising its own bar.
Chisato & Mahiro Face New Challenges
By the beginning of Baby Assassins 3, Chisato and Mahiro’s very particular set of skills is so much a given that they carry out their first mission without breaking a sweat, and elect to cash in some vacation time for the rest of their assignment’s duration. In this Baby Assassins 3 review, it becomes clear how their plans are quickly co-opted by another unexpected assignment, building on the challenges they faced in Baby Assassins 2. While the franchise’s second chapter forced them into debt and low-level work under suspension, Baby Assassins 3 explores how something as simple as a few days off can create its own hurdles—challenges that will feel familiar to many viewers.
“Baby Assassins 3” Is Another Kensuke Sonomura Knock-Out
Delivering exceptional action has never been a challenge for Kensuke Sonomura, and Baby Assassins 3 is no exception. The film ramps up its already stellar fight choreography and gun battles, offering some of the most balletic and intense action sequences in the franchise so far. A standout element is the physical rivalry between Kaede and Mahiro, particularly when Mahiro suffers her first true defeat. That loss adds a humanizing layer to the story, grounding the heroines in vulnerability without sacrificing the series’ lighthearted energy. Combined with expertly staged combat and a thrilling gun-fu climax heading into the third act, the film strikes an ideal balance between emotional weight and pure action spectacle.
Chisato arrives to Mahiro’s aide.
Chisato will not let her adversary take her down.
The Final Showdown Is The Best “Baby Assassins” Finale Yet!
For a series that has so perfected final fight sequences, it’s still eminently impressive how much “Baby Assassins 3” surpasses the standards of its predecessors with the best final smackdown the franchise has delivered yet in Chisato and Mahiro’s duel with Kaede. Beginning with the three in a battle of knives, Chisato’s own most purely human moment comes in her desperate gripping of Kaede‘s blade with her bare hand to save Mahiro from being stabbed in the face. The grit and determination and indeed pure love among two dear friends of that moment alone intensifies and elevates the brawl like nothing ever seen before in the “Baby Assassins” series. Alongside Sonomura’s exceptional fight choreography and the lightning-fast execution of it by the three players involved, “Baby Assassins 3” hits a flawless knockout in its final showdown, capped off with a resolution of the dry humor that is the franchise’s heart as much as guns and fists are its soul.
Summary
Chisato and Mahiro never fail to impress as assassins, combatants, and a ridiculously adorable action-comedy duo, and in this Baby Assassins 3 review, the film exemplifies their command of winning the hearts of the audience and the cheers of action lovers with their latest successful mission. Ending on a finale that is both heart-racing and heart-wrenching in all the best ways possible, Baby Assassins 3 is a blast that solidifies just how much this gradually ascendent series has to offer for martial arts and gun-fu movie lovers. Please never retire, Chisato and Mahiro—you’re both continuing to kill it!
Chisato and Mahiro take a breather.
Mahiro breaks out her side arm for the incoming showdonw.
Trivia
Naohiro Kawamoto served as action coordinator on all three “Baby Assassins” movies. Some of his other credits in stunt work and fight choreography include the “Rurouni Kenshin” franchise, the “Kingdom” movies, “One-Percenter”, “Big Brother” and “Raging Fire” with Donnie Yen, and “John Wick: Chapter 4”.
Satoshi Kibe and Yasuaki Ishii served as assistant action coordinators on “Baby Assassins 3”.
Yasuaki Ishii’s other credits in stunt work and fight choreography include “Ghost Killer”, the “Rurouni Kenshin” franchise, “Enter the Fat Dragon, “Raging Fire”, and “Prisoner of War”,
Satoshi Kibe’s other credits in stunt work and fight choreography include the “Rurouni Kenshin” franchise, “Raging Fire”, ““Re:Born”, “Prisoners of the Ghostland”, “11 Rebels”, and “Samurai Fury”.
Favourite Quotes:
“I guess we got double-booked, huh?” – Chisato, upon seeing their assassin rivals on the same job.
Baby Assassins 3 is now available from Well Go USA!
Film rating – 8.5 /10
“Baby Assassins 3” is now available on VOD and Blu-ray! Have you seen “Baby Assassins 3”? What are your thoughts on Kensuke Sakamoto’s excellent fight choreography? What are some of your favourite Japanese action movies? Like, share and join in the conversation on Facebook, and follow us on Twitter & Instagram. (And don’t forget to pay a visit to KFK’s FU-niverse of movie reviews and exclusive interviews, grab your official KFK gear and subscribe for more action on YouTube, as well!)
