Broken Arrow

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Broken Arrow

R

Released Feb 9, 1996

1h 48m

Action

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Popcornmeter

53%

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34 Reviews

44%

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100,000+ Ratings

Air Force pilots Vic Deakins (John Travolta) and Riley Hale (Christian Slater) are sent on an overnight top-secret mission with two nuclear weapons aboard their aircraft. But, after they are in the air, Deakins changes the plan. He attempts to kill Hale and then steals the weapons with the intent of selling them to terrorists. However, Hale survives the crash and meets up with park ranger Terry Carmichael (Samantha Mathis). Together, Hale and Terry attempt to thwart Deakins' plan.

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Critics Consensus

John Woo adds pyrotechnic glaze to John Travolta's hammy performance, but fans may find Broken Arrow to be a dispiritingly disposable English-language entry for the action auteur.

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Jonathan Rosenbaum

Chicago Reader

Broken Arrow is beautifully crafted, mindless entertainment–nothing more, but also nothing less.

Jun 7, 2022

Full Review

Owen Gleiberman

Entertainment Weekly

Rated: C

Sep 7, 2011

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Mick LaSalle

San Francisco Chronicle

Rated: 3/4

Jun 18, 2002

Full Review

Robin Holabird

KUNR (Reno, NV)

The movie Broken Arrow remains rentable, while the region's monolithic cliffs still overwhelm the senses.

Jul 23, 2021

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Mike Massie

Gone With The Twins

Despite a lot of mayhem taking place on screen, the only memorable component of this ramshackle actioner is Hans Zimmer's score.

Rated: 2/10

Sep 11, 2020

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Dennis Schwartz

Dennis Schwartz Movie Reviews

An inane thriller for those with a penchant for films that nuke themselves on purpose.

Rated: C

Aug 8, 2018

Full Review

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Ben S.

A great 90s Woo effort. Slater and Travolta have fun cat & mouse chemistry and the action delivers. Great Hans Zimmer under appreciated score too. Not sure why this one slips under the radar for many, but it’s a 90s action gem not to be missed.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

07/10/25

Full Review

Farah R

Mindless action stunts and over-the-top acting are the main components of Broken Arrow, so be prepared to overlook its flaws in favor of some silly fun.

Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars

05/30/25

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Daniel M

It was great watching this after so many years. Not the greatest movie, but it passed the time well.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

05/03/25

Full Review

Jerod S

It's just one dated special effect after another as Bale and Travolta battle it out over stolen nukes in the desert.

Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars

04/02/25

Full Review

Rosana B

Começa bem frio, vai ganhando contornos mais violentos, mais emocionante, com boas cenas de ação, ótimo efeito, principalmente na excelente cena da explosão nuclear subterrânea, a mim inédita e adorável… John Travolta um vilão canastrão, Christian Slater mocinho galã, bons ingredientes para um bom e razoável produto, nada muito inédito, tampouco inesquecível, entretanto um bom entretenimento que não envelheceu mal… Regular...

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

12/31/24

Full Review

Dan R

1996s 'Broken Arrow' is an action packed, though flawed, movie which sees John Travolta at his best. SYNOPSIS: 'Terrorists steal nuclear warheads from the U.S. military but don't count on a pilot and park ranger spoiling their plans.' 'Broken Arrow' is a perfectly entertaining, exciting, and competently made action thriller, however its story and delivery can't help but be somewhat of a letdown. And that has to be down to director John Woo who was still taking his initial steps into Hollywood at the time of release. Some of the story points and arcs are just ridiculous and they totally remove all you from the film. John Travolta is exceptional here, chewing everyl bit of scenery as possible. The perfect set up for 1997s 'Face/Off'. 6/10

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

12/25/24

Full Review

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John Woo

Director

John Travolta

Maj. Vic Deakins

Christian Slater

Capt. Riley Hale

Samantha Mathis

Terry Carmichael

Delroy Lindo

Col. Max Wilkins

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Synopsis

Air Force pilots Vic Deakins (John Travolta) and Riley Hale (Christian Slater) are sent on an overnight top-secret mission with two nuclear weapons aboard their aircraft. But, after they are in the air, Deakins changes the plan. He attempts to kill Hale and then steals the weapons with the intent of selling them to terrorists. However, Hale survives the crash and meets up with park ranger Terry Carmichael (Samantha Mathis). Together, Hale and Terry attempt to thwart Deakins' plan.

Director: John Woo
Producer: Mark Gordon, Bill Badalato, Terence Chang
Screenwriter: Graham Yost
Distributor: Fox, 20th Century Fox
Production Co: 20th Century Fox, WCG Entertainment Productions, Mark Gordon Productions
Rating: R
Genre: Action
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Feb 9, 1996, Original
Release Date (Streaming): Mar 1, 2013
Box Office (Gross USA): $70.6M
Runtime: 1h 48m
Sound Mix: Surround

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