Flight of the Phoenix

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Flight of the Phoenix

PG-13

2004

1h 52m

Adventure

Action

Drama

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Popcornmeter

30%

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117 Reviews

40%

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50,000+ Ratings

On a flight over the Gobi Desert in Mongolia, Capt. Frank Towns (Dennis Quaid) and co-pilot A.J. (Tyrese Gibson) are unable to keep their cargo plane in the air when a violent sandstorm strikes. Crash-landing in a remote part of the desert, the two pilots and their passengers -- a crew of oil workers and a drifter (Giovanni Ribisi) -- must work together to survive by rebuilding the aircraft. Soon, low supplies and a band of merciless smugglers add greater urgency to their task.

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Critics Consensus

What this update lacks in tension, it makes up for with generic action.

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Nell Minow

Common Sense Media

Exciting (but intense) adventure for older kids.

Rated: 4/5

Dec 24, 2010

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Sara Michelle Fetters

MovieFreak.com

Sure, it's a bit of a mess, but it's an entertaining mess, and even if it does fly off a cliff towards the end I still can't exactly complain about being burned.

Rated: 2.5/4

Dec 27, 2004

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Mark Holcomb

Village Voice

By film's end the adventure appears less a matter of base survival than a beach barbecue gone slightly sour.

Dec 21, 2004

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Mark Steyn

The Spectator

John Moore decided the time was ripe for a new Phoenix, so he sawed the old movie in two, rewrote one half and tries to get it to take off.

Feb 2, 2018

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Cole Smithey

ColeSmithey.com

Remake of Robert Aldrich's revered 1965 classic would be 15% better if not for its abysmal use of pop music, and 100% better if Aldrich's son William had never thought to ride on his father's coattails by producing it in the first place.

Rated: C-

Apr 18, 2009

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Jim Lane

Sacramento News & Review

Rated: 2/5

Aug 7, 2008

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Alexander S

While the Flight of the Phoenix remake doesn't exactly soar to new heights, it's still a solid adventure film that stays true to its roots - perhaps with a bit more creative liberties, it could've truly taken flight. Grading: C

Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars

10/20/25

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Jorge Alekxey R

Esta es una película donde puedes disfrutarla desde el inicio pero cómo toda buena película debe de ser criticado al final, fue bueno ver algo diferente después de todo.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

10/12/25

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Stephen C

Success in 1 hour and 52 minutes!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Rated PG-13 for Some Language, Action and Violence!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! The USA grossed over $21,000,000.00!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

07/30/25

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Henry T

I enjoyed the movie immensely. I think the reviews were a bit harsh. I believe this is because the reviewers probably spent their time comparing this movie with the original. We should remember that the original was made decades ago. The younger audiences are unlikely to have seen the original. I watched this movie with my teenage children and they simply loved it until I let them watch the original James Steward version.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

07/26/25

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Tilly B

Some of the worst acting, special effects and cinematography that I have ever seen. The producers made a terrible mistake in making an abridged copy of the original classic.

Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars

06/14/25

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Farah R

A few parts were engrossing, others less so, but overall, Flight of the Phoenix is decent enough for a one-time watch on a dull night.

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

04/12/25

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John Moore

Director

Dennis Quaid

Frank Towns

Giovanni Ribisi

Elliott

Tyrese Gibson

A.J.

Miranda Otto

Kelly

Hugh Laurie

Ian

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Synopsis

On a flight over the Gobi Desert in Mongolia, Capt. Frank Towns (Dennis Quaid) and co-pilot A.J. (Tyrese Gibson) are unable to keep their cargo plane in the air when a violent sandstorm strikes. Crash-landing in a remote part of the desert, the two pilots and their passengers -- a crew of oil workers and a drifter (Giovanni Ribisi) -- must work together to survive by rebuilding the aircraft. Soon, low supplies and a band of merciless smugglers add greater urgency to their task.

Director: John Moore
Producer: William Aldrich, Alex Blum, John Davis, Wyck Godfrey
Screenwriter: Scott Frank, Edward Burns
Distributor: 20th Century Fox
Production Co: Namibia Film Commission, Optional Pictures, Twentieth Century Fox, Davis Entertainment
Rating: PG-13 (Some Language|Action|Violence)
Genre: Adventure, Action, Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Dec 22, 2004, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Dec 2, 2015
Box Office (Gross USA): $21.0M
Runtime: 1h 52m
Sound Mix: Dolby SRD, DTS, Surround
Aspect Ratio: Scope (2.35:1)

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