The Killer Elite is an action thriller starring James Caan (Mike Lockin) and Robert Duvall (George Hanson). It tells the story about two secret agents who are part of the so-called Killer Elite, a private mercenary organization called Com-Teg: Communications Integrity Associates (i.e., CIA). Duvall assassinates a man they are supposed to be protecting, and shoots Caan in the leg in the bargain. After nearly healing from his injuries, Caan is sent on his next assignment, which requires him to protect an Asian client (played by Mako), and gives him the opportunity to revenge himself on Duvall, who is part of the team out to assassinate the client. Lockin (Caan) retrains himself with the help of a cane and recruits a couple of former associates (Bo Hopkins and Burt Young) to help him. However, the entire deal turns out to be an elaborate set-up of both Caan and Duvall's characters, part of an internal power struggle among the directors of Com-Teg (Gig Young and Arthur Hill).

The film is regarded as one of Sam Peckinpah's weaker efforts. The screenplay's lack of character development and predictable story are the most common complaints. Nonetheless, some critics have noted that the film's action sequences are shot and edited with some of the flair typical of Peckinpah's earlier action films, though his characteristic use of slow motion tends to mesh poorly with the kung-fu sequences (more usually edited in a highly dynamic, quick-moving style in 1970s kung fu films). The film climaxes in a shootout on the deck of a ship between ninjas, Yakuza and mercenaries led by James Caan.

Caan and the other actors often ad libbed the dialogue, which is often quite amusing, but the ad libs also make clear the actors' and director's contempt for the material (for instance, Caan's from-the-sides jibes during the supposedly climactic kung-fu duel on the boat).

The editing was done by Monte Hellman. The film represents the last collaboration between Peckinpah and soundtrack composer Jerry Fielding.

Mike Locken is one of the principle members of a group of freelance spies. A significant portion of their work is for the C.I.A. and while on a case for them one of his friends turns on him and shoots him in the elbow and knee. His assignment, to protect someone, goes down in flames. He is nearly crippled, but with braces is able to again become mobile. For revenge as much as anything else, Mike goes after his ex-friend. Written by John Vogel