Red Eye

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Red Eye

PG-13

Released Aug 19, 2005

1h 25m

Mystery & Thriller

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Popcornmeter

80%

Tomatometer

194 Reviews

64%

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250,000+ Ratings

In the wake of her grandmother's funeral, hotel manager Lisa Reisert (Rachel McAdams) is waiting to fly back home when she meets charming Jackson Rippner (Cillian Murphy) at check-in. She thinks it luck that they're seated together on the plane, but soon learns otherwise. Jackson hopes to assassinate the head of Homeland Security, but to do so, he needs Lisa to reassign the official's room number at her hotel. As insurance, Jackson has kidnapped Lisa's father (Brian Cox).

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Critics Consensus

With solid performances and tight direction from Wes Craven, Red Eye is a brisk, economic thriller.

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Chris Stuckmann

ChrisStuckmann.com

I just think it's a really fun thriller.

Rated: B

Oct 21, 2019

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Nigel Floyd

Time Out

The psychological mind-games are played to the hilt, the pressurised cabin air increases the edge-of-the-seat tension and the 85-minute flight time is gratifyingly short.

Jun 3, 2006

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Empire Magazine

Not the most sophisticated psychological thriller, yet slick fun deftly handled by Craven and his leads.

Rated: 3/5

Jan 7, 2006

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Michael Clark

Epoch Times

When taking place at the airport and on a plane, “Red Eye” is pitch perfect. The cloistered space and confined quarters ratchets up the suspense, often to uncomfortable (but welcomed) levels.

Rated: 3.5/5

Nov 6, 2023

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Sean Axmaker

Stream on Demand

[H]orror pop-meister Wes Craven proves to be a good hand at crafting a simple, straightforward, surprisingly effective thriller with a minimum of gimmickry.

Sep 8, 2023

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James Croot

Stuff.co.nz

Craven shows he still knows how to ratchet up the tension - chiefly using claustrophobic camera angles - and conjure up images and scenarios that are the stuff of nightmares.

Rated: 3.5/5

Mar 12, 2021

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Tracy M

What an awful film. Unbelievable and ridiculous, that’s 85 minutes I will never get back again.

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

02/15/25

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Craig B

Red Eye is a fairly entertaining thriller in the hands of the legendary Wes Craven (SCREAM franchise). Rachel McAdams and Cillian Murphy are both solid in the main roles and the movie moves at a good pace, not least due to the short runtime.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

02/14/25

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Ralph R

Red Eye is a solid thriller that builds tension well, especially in its first act. The slow-paced setup allows for strong character introductions, but it does feel like Rachel McAdams' character should have picked up on Cillian Murphy's unsettling presence sooner. The second act loses some momentum, with certain scenes dragging more than necessary, but Wes Craven's direction keeps the suspense alive. The final act is where the movie really kicks into gear, delivering a satisfying climax. The script does a good job of balancing psychological tension with action, though some moments require a suspension of disbelief-especially regarding in-flight conversations that seemingly go unnoticed by passengers. Cinematography is straightforward but effective, using tight framing to enhance the claustrophobic feel of the setting. Cillian Murphy brings an eerie, controlled intensity, while McAdams carries the film well with a believable performance. The supporting characters don't add much, and the film occasionally misdirects attention to elements that don't pay off. The score complements the suspense but isn't particularly memorable. While not groundbreaking, Red Eye is an entertaining, well-crafted thriller that works best when it leans into its psychological tension rather than its action.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

02/08/25

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Lucas t

How did they used to make them do good???

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

01/17/25

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Rick T

Exciting all the through and (spoiler alert) with a happy ending.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

12/23/24

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Audience Member

Solid performances from Rachel McAdams and Cilian Murphy.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

12/14/24

Full Review

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Wes Craven

Director

Rachel McAdams

Lisa Reisert

Cillian Murphy

Jackson Rippner

Brian Cox

Joe Reisert

Jayma Mays

Cynthia

Jack Scalia

William Keefe

Red Eye: Official Clip - If You Want Your Dad to Live

1:43

Red Eye: Official Clip - Trying to Kill Me

2:06

Red Eye: Official Clip - Fill Out a Comment Card

1:03

Red Eye: Official Clip - Airport Pursuit

2:12

Red Eye: Official Clip - Don't Get Cute

1:43

Red Eye: Official Clip - 18F Has Bomb

2:13

Red Eye: Official Clip - Keefe is a Target

2:13

Red Eye: Official Clip - The Assassin

0:47

Red Eye: Official Clip - Pen Stabbing

1:55

Red Eye: Official Clip - Reservation Emergency

1:55

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Red Eye: Trailer 1

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Synopsis

In the wake of her grandmother's funeral, hotel manager Lisa Reisert (Rachel McAdams) is waiting to fly back home when she meets charming Jackson Rippner (Cillian Murphy) at check-in. She thinks it luck that they're seated together on the plane, but soon learns otherwise. Jackson hopes to assassinate the head of Homeland Security, but to do so, he needs Lisa to reassign the official's room number at her hotel. As insurance, Jackson has kidnapped Lisa's father (Brian Cox).

Director: Wes Craven
Producer: Chris Bender, Marianne Maddalena, Corinne Pooler
Screenwriter: Carl Ellsworth
Distributor: DreamWorks SKG
Production Co: DreamWorks Pictures
Rating: PG-13 (Sequences of Violence|Language)
Genre: Mystery & Thriller
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Aug 19, 2005, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Mar 18, 2017
Box Office (Gross USA): $57.9M
Runtime: 1h 25m
Sound Mix: Surround, Dolby SRD, DTS, SDDS
Aspect Ratio: Scope (2.35:1)

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