Overview
Witness the birth of a cultural phenomenon that changed sports forever.
Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Brisk
- Intensity
- Moderate
- Complexity
- Easy to follow
- Violence
- None
- witty
- warm
- propulsive
- sports night
- motivational movie night
What critics said
Critics broadly found the film entertaining, fast-paced, warm, and elevated by its screenplay and lively ensemble performances, though some objected to its thin character development and celebration of capitalism.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
Sonny Vaccaro and Nike's basketball division pursue Michael Jordan to transform a struggling sneaker operation into the Air Jordan brand.
Vaccaro stakes Nike's limited basketball budget and his professional future on an unconventional strategy focused almost entirely on Jordan.
The film recreates the 1984 sneaker market, corporate competition, NBA celebrity culture, and the emergence of athlete-centered branding.
The central conflicts unfold through urgent pitches, executive meetings, phone calls, and confrontational exchanges among Nike representatives and Jordan's team.
Films like Air, and why
Moneyball
shared true-story sports drama, motivational tone, and focus on the business forces behind athletic success
The Founder
shared 1980s corporate drama, ambitious outsider strategy, and inspirational underdog structure
Eddie the Eagle
shared biographical sports drama, charismatic performances, and emphasis on cultural impact beyond competition
Movie Details
- Director
- Ben Affleck
- Release Date
- 2023-04-05
- Runtime
- 112 min
- Rating
- 7.3 / 10 (2461)
Cast
- Matt Damon
- Jason Bateman
- Ben Affleck
- Chris Messina
- Viola Davis
- Julius Tennon
- Damian Young
- Chris Tucker
- Matthew Maher
- Gustaf Skarsgård
Where to watch in United States
- Streaming
- Amazon Prime Video, YouTube TV, Amazon Prime Video with Ads
- 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 Air about?
- A determined Nike executive risks everything on an untested basketball prospect whose partnership reshapes sports marketing and popular culture.
- What is Air like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Air as brisk, its intensity as moderate and its storytelling as easy to follow.
- Is Air violent?
- No — Ember's analysis finds no violence in Air.
- What did critics think of Air?
- Critics broadly found the film entertaining, fast-paced, warm, and elevated by its screenplay and lively ensemble performances, though some objected to its thin character development and celebration of capitalism.
- Which films are like Air?
- Films with a similar feel include Moneyball, The Founder, and Eddie the Eagle.
- How long is Air?
- Air runs 112 minutes.
- Where can I watch Air?
- In United States, Air streams on Amazon Prime Video, YouTube TV, Amazon Prime Video with Ads.
