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Con Air

Play trailer 2:24 Poster for Con Air R 1997 1h 55m Action Play Trailer Watchlist
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59% Tomatometer 70 Reviews 75% Popcornmeter 250,000+ Ratings
Just-paroled army ranger Cameron Poe (Nicolas Cage) is headed back to his wife (Monica Potter), but must fly home aboard a prison transport flight dubbed "Jailbird" with some of the worst criminals living. Along with Diamond Dog (Ving Rhames) and Baby-O (Mykelti Williamson), genius serial killer Cyrus "The Virus" Grissom (John Malkovich) unleashes a violent escape plot in mid-flight. Secretly working with U.S. Marshal Vince Larkin (John Cusack), Poe tries to foil Grissom's plan.
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Con Air

Con Air

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Critics Consensus

Con Air won't win any awards for believability - and all involved seem cheerfully aware of it, making some of this blockbuster action outing's biggest flaws fairly easy to forgive.

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Critics Reviews

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David Ansen Newsweek 02/28/2018
The saving grace of Con Air is its sense of its own absurdity. Rosenberg and director Simon West seem to know just how preposterous their story is. Go to Full Review
Carol Buckland CNN.com 01/05/2018
It's exhausting rather than exhilarating. Go to Full Review
Duane Byrge The Hollywood Reporter 06/06/2017
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. Go to Full Review
James Croot The Post NZ 11/07/2022
3.5/5
Writer Scott Rosenberg throws in plenty of conundrums, curveballs and extra characters... Go to Full Review
Rob Gonsalves Rob's Movie Vault 09/01/2022
C
The bunny is a good indication that the script, by Scott Rosenberg, was intended as a deadpan goof on stupid action flicks. Go to Full Review
Keith Garlington Keith & the Movies 08/16/2022
4/5
“Con Air” never takes itself too seriously. It knows how preposterous it is and doesn’t try to be anything other than wild raucous popcorn entertainment. And sometimes that’s all I’m in the mood for. Go to Full Review
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Audience Reviews

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Wait , Whut ?! @iamhipnhappy 1d So, there have been so many outright garbage sequels and prequels, especially from the mouse house. Why not a prequel for the Cameron Poe character from this classic? Either as the decorated soldier and his exploits leading up to the night at the bar fight that ended him up on the "Con Air" flight, or, as a pardoned US Marshal in some action packed scenario. Either or both seem like they would be great draws at the ticket booth. Say what you want about the "believability" of the plot, (it's entertainment for an hour and a hour for gosh sake), it's longevity and popularity speaks to the entertainment value and for the plot and pace the multi star cast brought it home very well. I'll always feel Nick Cage is an underrated actor and his versatility and willingness to not be "character cast" and is a Hollywood favorite leading man/performer with a laundry list of great films albeit some less "believable" than others but, ALWAYS worth the theater ticket ! Anyone want to weigh in ? ~ See more Brian F @FedUpDVDCollector 3d On a short list for best action movie. Cheesy lines and unbelievable scenarios make for good laughs along the way. Great cast and self-aware writing. See more DZ E @Ziggy88z 4d 85/100 Great acting. See more Jack F @MovieFan111 Jan 1 I really liked this movie. Great cast. Action packed, but only really at the end. See more Ulrich Jacov B @Ulrich Dec 11 All what a good story needs: a problem, a hero, unrelativistic differentiation between good and evil and the hero that shows us ressourceculness, determination and clining to traditional values of family, truth, keeping your word and leaving no comrades behind. Everything the relativistic woke hell does not wat to hear about. See more Peter M @RossMcAree Dec 5 Simply the greatest movie ever made. Cage is magnificent, supported by a stellar cast. Do yourself a favour and wArtch this. See more Read all reviews
Con Air

My Rating

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Movie Info

Synopsis Just-paroled army ranger Cameron Poe (Nicolas Cage) is headed back to his wife (Monica Potter), but must fly home aboard a prison transport flight dubbed "Jailbird" with some of the worst criminals living. Along with Diamond Dog (Ving Rhames) and Baby-O (Mykelti Williamson), genius serial killer Cyrus "The Virus" Grissom (John Malkovich) unleashes a violent escape plot in mid-flight. Secretly working with U.S. Marshal Vince Larkin (John Cusack), Poe tries to foil Grissom's plan.
Director
Simon West
Producer
Jerry Bruckheimer
Screenwriter
Scott Rosenberg
Distributor
Buena Vista Pictures
Production Co
Runway Pictures, Touchstone Pictures, Kouf/Bigelow Productions, Jerry Bruckheimer Films, Hiett Designs of Las Vegas
Rating
R
Genre
Action
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Jun 6, 1997, Original
Release Date (Streaming)
Mar 1, 2015
Box Office (Gross USA)
$101.1M
Runtime
1h 55m
Sound Mix
SDDS, Surround, DTS, Dolby Digital
Aspect Ratio
35mm, Scope (2.35:1)
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