Four contestants competed on each episode of Hit Man in a quiz based on memory and instant recall.

Film topics varied widely and included biographies, behind-the-scenes features about specific movies, professions, hobbies, etc.

Each correct answer moved the challenger one step up a five-step ladder behind him/her, while a miss put the question out of play and froze him/her out of the next one.

The champion joined the two remaining challengers onstage, and all three contestants were shown a second film and asked a series of toss-up questions about it.

Champions remained on the show until they were defeated in the second round of the main game or had played the Triple Crown five times.

Hit Man premiered on January 3, 1983, as one of three new game shows on NBC's daytime schedule, along with the new Just Men!

Although NBC was drawing better ratings in the hour, Hit Man suffered from ratings trouble against the second half of The Price Is Right on CBS and reruns of The Love Boat on ABC and the network did not renew the series beyond its original sixty-five episode commitment, with the final episode airing on April 1.

Peter Tomarken later hosted Press Your Luck, which debuted in September 1983 (five months after Hit Man ended) and ran for three years on CBS.