Air America

R

Released Aug 10, 1990

1 hr. 52 min.

Action

Comedy

List

13%

16 Reviews

Tomatometer

34%

25,000+ Ratings

Audience Score

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.

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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

Audience Member

A solid and underrated film with Gibson and Downey Jr. having fun.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

01/12/23

Full Review

steve d

Nothing new or especially interesting here.

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

03/30/23

Full Review

Audience Member

A Vietnam war era sitcom that never really takes off. Some funny scenes, but the Gibson-Downey Jr. team never really seems to blend.

Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars

02/25/23

Full Review

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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

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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

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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
Executive Producer: Mario Kassar, Andrew G. Vajna
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
Sound Mix: Surround, Magnetic Stereo 6 Track

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