'

Air America

Play trailer

Air America

R

Released Aug 10, 1990

1h 52m

Action

Comedy

Play Trailer

Watchlist

Watchlist

Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

13%

Tomatometer

16 Reviews

35%

Popcornmeter

25,000+ Ratings

Despite having just had his Los Angeles pilot's license revoked, Billy Covington (Robert Downey Jr.) is hired by Air America, a clandestine airline operating out of Laos run by the CIA. He soon discovers that his mission is to covertly transport illicit goods in and out of Southeast Asia and that his copilot will be the wild-flying Gene Ryack (Mel Gibson). But when Covington begins expressing doubt about the dubious morality of their operation, the two hotheaded pilots become at odds.

Watch on Fandango at Home

Buy Now

Owen Gleiberman

Entertainment Weekly

Rated: D+

Sep 7, 2011

Full Review

Entertainment Weekly

Rated: D+

Aug 10, 1990

Full Review

Rene Jordan

El Nuevo Herald (Miami)

Air America is irresponsible as it is confusing. [Full review in Spanish]

Nov 11, 2022

Full Review

Brian Orndorf

BrianOrndorf.com

Air America never finds a righteous pace -- it's an expensive ghost town mood with two handsome leads spending their screentime mentally cashing their paychecks.

Rated: D

Aug 12, 2010

Full Review

Rob Thomas

Capital Times (Madison, WI)

Everybody on-screen seems awfully bored.

Rated: 1/5

Aug 31, 2006

Full Review

Chuck O'Leary

Fantastica Daily

Rated: 3/5

Oct 8, 2005

Full Review

Read all reviews

J H

It certainly passes the time.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

04/26/25

Full Review

Jason A

I've always loved watching it since I was little. Great cast and some humor and good memorable lines, too. "Excuse me, is that an Uzi?"

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

09/29/24

Full Review

Ryan S

Exciting, amusing 1990s comedy and action film. Great cast.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

08/14/24

Full Review

Stephen F

It's not the most cerebral and the plot meanders, but it's a great flying-themed movie.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

09/02/23

Full Review

Audience Member

I had read the Book, so the movie was obviously a travesty!

Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars

01/31/23

Full Review

Audience Member

I'm a movie nerd but I don't have a movie nerd review I just like it and others that have seen it like it too. And regardless of what you take away from this movie you should watch it.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

02/18/23

Full Review

Read all reviews

Read More

Read Less

POST RATING

WRITE A REVIEW

EDIT REVIEW

Roger Spottiswoode

Director

Mel Gibson

Gene Ryack

Robert Downey Jr.

Billy Covington

Nancy Travis

Corinne Landreaux

David Marshall Grant

Rob Diehl

Lane Smith

Senator Davenport

Midnight Run

95%

87%

Midnight Run

Watchlist

True Lies

70%

76%

True Lies

Watchlist

Another 48 Hrs.

19%

35%

Another 48 Hrs.

Watchlist

Beverly Hills Cop III

11%

35%

Beverly Hills Cop III

Watchlist

Bad Boys

44%

78%

Bad Boys

Watchlist

Discover more movies and TV shows.

View More

View more photos

Synopsis

Despite having just had his Los Angeles pilot's license revoked, Billy Covington (Robert Downey Jr.) is hired by Air America, a clandestine airline operating out of Laos run by the CIA. He soon discovers that his mission is to covertly transport illicit goods in and out of Southeast Asia and that his copilot will be the wild-flying Gene Ryack (Mel Gibson). But when Covington begins expressing doubt about the dubious morality of their operation, the two hotheaded pilots become at odds.

Director: Roger Spottiswoode
Producer: Daniel Melnick
Screenwriter: John Eskow, Richard Rush
Distributor: TriStar Pictures
Production Co: TriStar Pictures, Carolco Pictures Inc.
Rating: R
Genre: Action, Comedy
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Aug 10, 1990, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Aug 26, 2016
Box Office (Gross USA): $29.2M
Runtime: 1h 52m
Sound Mix: Surround, Magnetic Stereo 6 Track

Most Popular at Home Now