1997 · R · 115 min
Con Air
A newly paroled former Army Ranger finds himself trapped on a prisoner transport plane when the inmates seize control.
- Director
- Simon West
- Released
- June 6, 1997
- Studios
- Touchstone Pictures, Jerry Bruckheimer Films
- Worldwide
- $314,975,955
Con Air
- Budget
- $100,000,000
- Opening Weekend
- $28,591,370
- Domestic
- $85,028,192
- Worldwide
- $314,975,955
- Return on Budget
- 3.1x
Synopsis
The picture.
Cameron Poe, a former U.S. Army Ranger, is paroled after serving eight years for manslaughter. To get home to the daughter he has never met, he hitches a ride on the Jailbird, a transport plane carrying some of the country's most dangerous criminals to a new facility.
The transport is quickly hijacked by mastermind Cyrus 'The Virus' Grissom and his gang. Poe must work undercover to protect his diabetic cellmate and a female guard while secretly communicating with U.S. Marshal Vince Larkin on the ground.
As the plane heads toward a showdown in Las Vegas, Poe navigates a deadly game of deception and survival.
Above the Line
Cast & crew.
Director
- Simon West
Writers
- Scott Rosenberg
Principal Cast
- Nicolas Cage
- John Cusack
- John Malkovich
- Steve Buscemi
- Ving Rhames
- Colm Meaney
Studios
- Touchstone Pictures
- Jerry Bruckheimer Films
Trailer
Watch it.
Production Notes
What made it work.
- 01
Marked the feature directorial debut of Simon West, previously a celebrated music-video director.
- 02
Production used a real C-123 Provider transport plane for many of the flying sequences.
- 03
The climactic Las Vegas crash was filmed at the actual Sands Hotel before its scheduled demolition.
- 04
The film's theme song, How Do I Live, was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Original Song.
- 05
Concept inspired by an article about the real-life Justice Prisoner and Alien Transportation System.
Reception
How it landed.
Critical
Mixed critical response highlighting the high-energy action and eccentric performances while questioning the script's logic.
Audience
Major box office success and a defining 90s action blockbuster with a lasting cult following.