Overview
A war veteran finds himself caught in a deadly game of survival aboard a hijacked prison plane.
Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Breakneck
- Intensity
- Strong
- Complexity
- Easy to follow
- Violence
- Brutal
- propulsive
- irreverent
- heightened
- action movie night
- 1990s nostalgia
What critics said
Critics broadly viewed it as a stylish, entertaining, knowingly implausible thrill ride whose visual energy and wit outweigh its credibility problems.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
The central action unfolds aboard a prison-transfer airplane seized by inmates.
Cameron Poe must appear aligned with the hijackers while attempting to stop their escape.
The film emphasizes outsized criminal personalities, verbal wit, plane jeopardy, and spectacular destruction.
Poe's imprisonment and parole are shaped by the justice system, while Agent Larkin works inside official channels to counter the hijacking.
Films like Con Air, and why
The Rock
shares high-octane aviation peril, prison-criminal antagonists, muscular 1990s blockbuster spectacle, and darkly comic action energy
Speed
shares a hijacked-vehicle thriller structure, charismatic criminals, propulsive pacing, and exaggerated action set pieces
The Longest Yard
shares an ensemble of dangerous convicts, irreverent action-comedy tone, and stylized crime-thriller excess
Face/Off
shares Nicolas Cage's heightened action persona, criminal conspiracy, and flamboyant 1990s genre filmmaking
Movie Details
- Director
- Simon West
- Release Date
- 1997-06-05
- Runtime
- 116 min
- Rating
- 6.8 / 10 (4882)
Cast
- Nicolas Cage
- John Cusack
- John Malkovich
- Ving Rhames
- Mykelti Williamson
- Dave Chappelle
- Colm Meaney
- Monica Potter
- Landry Allbright
- Rachel Ticotin
Where to watch in United States
- Streaming
- YouTube TV, TNT, TBS, tru TV
- Rent
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
- Buy
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is Con Air about?
- An ex-Army Ranger must secretly oppose a plane full of escaped convicts while fighting his way back to his family.
- What is Con Air like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Con Air as breakneck, its intensity as strong and its storytelling as easy to follow.
- Is Con Air violent?
- Yes. Ember rates the violence in Con Air as brutal.
- What did critics think of Con Air?
- Critics broadly viewed it as a stylish, entertaining, knowingly implausible thrill ride whose visual energy and wit outweigh its credibility problems.
- Which films are like Con Air?
- Films with a similar feel include The Rock, Speed, The Longest Yard, and Face/Off.
- How long is Con Air?
- Con Air runs 116 minutes.
- Where can I watch Con Air?
- In United States, Con Air streams on YouTube TV, TNT, TBS, tru TV.
