Con Air

Name: Con Air
Genre: Action, Thriller, Crime
Released: June 6, 1997
Duration: 115 min
Rating: 52
Cast: John Cusack, John Malkovich, Nicolas Cage

1997

METASCORE

Mixed or average reviews based on 23 Critic Reviews

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USER SCORE

Universal acclaim based on 371 Ratings

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8.5

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8.5	User Score Universal acclaim based on 371 Ratings

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Con Air

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Movie Details & Credits

Buena Vista Pictures | Release Date: June 6, 1997 | R

Starring: John Cusack, John Malkovich, Nicolas Cage

Summary: A prison parolee (Nicolas Cage) on his way to freedom faces impossible odds when the maximum security transport plane he's on is skyjacked by the most vicious criminals in the country. [Buena Vista Entertainment]

Director: Simon West

Genre(s): Action, Thriller, Crime

Rating: R

Runtime: 115 min

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Critic Reviews

Rita Kempley

Preposterous, predictable, but excessively entertaining, this frenzied thriller draws both story and characters from such action classics as "The Fugitive," "Die Hard," "The Dirty Dozen" and "The Silence of the Lambs." Read full review

Lisa Alspector

Director Simon West hits just the right note between self-conscious silliness and real dramatic intensity in this 1997 action thriller, which uses typecast actors to make the characters' one-liners and predictable behavior resonate. Read full review

Roger Ebert

This is a movie that knows it is absurd, and does little to deny it. Read full review

Duane Byrge

Packed high with explosive action and loaded with high-stakes jeopardy, Con Air charts a generally sound narrative course, although it hits some story turbulence before it hits its climactic jackpot. Read full review

James Berardinelli

This movie is a perfect example of what's wrong with many big-budget films today: no characters, no intelligence, and, worst of all, little fun. Read full review

Mick LaSalle

From scene to scene, the tone shifts from supposed sincerity to arch and amused, until the picture begins to seem like some mad, desperate, scattershot attempt to hold an audience's attention from moment to moment, by any means. Read full review

Dallas Observer Andy Klein

While tyro director Simon West fills Con Air with all the slam-bang action and well-honed wisecracks that were the more positive qualities of its predecessors, the film brims even more with all their worst qualities. Read full review

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User Reviews

MsMia

Jun 1, 2011

This is one to watch! The reason this movie grossed $224,012,234 in the box-office is because it is a real crowd pleaser! It had a budget of $75 million, and it really shows. This movie is and always will be a hit. Is it the best movie ever....NO! But is it the worst......HELL NO! ThisThis is one to watch! The reason this movie grossed $224,012,234 in the box-office is because it is a real crowd pleaser! It had a budget of $75 million, and it really shows. This movie is and always will be a hit. Is it the best movie ever....NO! But is it the worst......HELL NO! This movie is a huge YES YES YES!… Expand

36 of 37 users found this helpful361

PoorJeff

Jan 4, 2013

What is wrong with you all. Con Air is such a bad film it's good. It doesn't take itself overly seriously like all the egotistical action movies of this decade. It is badass, lighthearted fun, I hated Nic Cage until I watched this film and the director used his infamous bad acting to hisWhat is wrong with you all. Con Air is such a bad film it's good. It doesn't take itself overly seriously like all the egotistical action movies of this decade. It is badass, lighthearted fun, I hated Nic Cage until I watched this film and the director used his infamous bad acting to his advantage and made the movie another awesomely bad cheesy 90s action film. 10/10!!!!… Expand

8 of 9 users found this helpful81

Xenophobe114

Jun 25, 2021

*:*:*;*;*;*;*;;*;*:*:*"*"*:*:¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡
⊙⊙⊙⊙⊙⊙⊙⊙⊙⊙⊙⊙⊙⊙⊙⊙⊙⊙⊙⊙⊙⊙⊙⊙⊙⊙⊙⊙⊙⊙⊙⊙⊙

6 of 6 users found this helpful60

MovieSpud

Mar 26, 2019

The whole cast seems to be having a ball here and it's infectious. If you don't smile at least occasionally while watching, you need a checkup from the neck up.

0 of 6 users found this helpful06

Dampferrets

Nov 27, 2020

Such an amazingly terrible movie that takes so many cliches, so many plot holes, and so many unrealistic scenarios and pumps them up to 11. Cannot recommend enough!!!!

0 of 6 users found this helpful06

Meth-dude

Jul 31, 2018

Is Con Air the epitome of 90's cheesy action flicks? Probably. It's got pretty much everything you expect. Over the top acting performances, lots of explosions, a very high level of testosterone and highly unrealistic and over the top action scenes. If you're into 90's action movies and youIs Con Air the epitome of 90's cheesy action flicks? Probably. It's got pretty much everything you expect. Over the top acting performances, lots of explosions, a very high level of testosterone and highly unrealistic and over the top action scenes. If you're into 90's action movies and you haven't seen Con Air, you should definitely watch it.… Expand

0 of 9 users found this helpful09

Broyax

Jan 22, 2018

Nicolas Cage s'est commis de temps à autre dans le blockbuster hollymerdique alimentaire avant de sombrer bien plus tard dans les affres des nanars et téléfilms bas de gamme (pléonasme) mais on ne lui en veut pas dans le cas présent (même s'il est aussi transparent et inexistant), carNicolas Cage s'est commis de temps à autre dans le blockbuster hollymerdique alimentaire avant de sombrer bien plus tard dans les affres des nanars et téléfilms bas de gamme (pléonasme) mais on ne lui en veut pas dans le cas présent (même s'il est aussi transparent et inexistant), car Malkovich s'est aussi égaré sur ce vol consternant de beauferie amerlocaine.

Ainsi que John Cusack et Steve Buscemi et d'autres seconds couteaux plus ou moins coutumiers de ces grosses farces qui étalent vulgairement leurs dizaines de millions de dollars à l'écran. Le scénario complètement foireux a été écrit par un enfant de 5 ans et les dialogues semblent récupérés d'une mauvaise sitcom (double pléonasme) : ça touche tellement le fond à chaque réplique que même tous les Expendables réunis sont allés crever de honte dans leur coin.

C'est réalisé par Simon West qui n'a rien à envier à Michael Bay : la moindre action est saucissonnée en tranches et totalement incompréhensible, un montage ultra-cut permanent façon clip de rap sur MTV ou autre chaîne poubelle pour ados. Enfin, même en mettant de côté le grand guignol pathétique de ces branques dont une partie cabotine comme des clébards à piquer et l'autre s'agite comme des poulets sans tête, la grosse daube infernale ne parvient pas à maintenir le rythme et se permet des apartés niaiseux. Tout simplement insupportable !… Expand

0 of 20 users found this helpful020

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17	#17 Most Discussed Movie of 1997
66	#66 Most Shared Movie of 1997