Overview
A young TSA agent faces a moral dilemma when a mysterious traveler forces him into a dangerous game of blackmail.
Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Breakneck
- Intensity
- Strong
- Complexity
- Easy to follow
- Violence
- Moderate
- tense
- propulsive
- heightened
- christmas eve
- holiday movie night
What critics said
Critics broadly found the film to be a brisk, entertaining surveillance thriller elevated by Taron Egerton and Jason Bateman, despite familiar plotting and implausible airport details.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
The central conflict is concentrated inside Los Angeles International Airport, where security checkpoints, baggage systems, terminals, and aircraft become obstacles and tactical spaces.
TSA agent Ethan Kopek must choose how to respond after Traveler blackmails him into allowing a dangerous package through security.
The Christmas Eve setting and festive airport atmosphere contrast with the imminent threat aboard a passenger flight.
The dangerous package Ethan is ordered to let through security provides the concrete focus of the blackmail and race against time.
Films like Carry-On, and why
Die Hard
shares a Christmas setting, ordinary-worker hero, contained high-stakes action, and relentless race against time
Red Eye
shares airport security tension, a dangerous hidden threat, and escalating procedural suspense
Phone Booth
shares a pressured everyman protagonist, cat-and-mouse manipulation, and tightly paced thriller mechanics
Die Hard 2
shares holiday atmosphere, urban action, and an underdog confronting a determined criminal threat
Movie Details
- Director
- Jaume Collet-Serra
- Release Date
- 2024-12-05
- Runtime
- 120 min
- Rating
- 6.9 / 10 (2940)
Cast
- Taron Egerton
- Jason Bateman
- Sofia Carson
- Danielle Deadwyler
- Theo Rossi
- Logan Marshall-Green
- Dean Norris
- Sinqua Walls
- Gil Perez-Abraham
- Tonatiuh
Where to watch in United States
- Streaming
- Netflix, Netflix Standard with Ads
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is Carry-On about?
- On Christmas Eve, a young TSA agent must outmaneuver a blackmailing stranger to stop a dangerous package from boarding a crowded flight.
- What is Carry-On like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Carry-On as breakneck, its intensity as strong and its storytelling as easy to follow.
- Is Carry-On violent?
- Somewhat. Ember rates the violence in Carry-On as moderate.
- What did critics think of Carry-On?
- Critics broadly found the film to be a brisk, entertaining surveillance thriller elevated by Taron Egerton and Jason Bateman, despite familiar plotting and implausible airport details.
- Which films are like Carry-On?
- Films with a similar feel include Die Hard, Red Eye, Phone Booth, and Die Hard 2.
- How long is Carry-On?
- Carry-On runs 120 minutes.
- Where can I watch Carry-On?
- In United States, Carry-On streams on Netflix, Netflix Standard with Ads.
