/vsmlShNNHrYlERZaqMOsZ3YctoO.jpg
ActionThrillerCrime

Con Air

- They were deadly on the ground. Now they have wings.

Newly-paroled former US Army ranger Cameron Poe is headed back to his wife, but must fly home aboard a prison transport flight dubbed "Jailbird" taking the “worst of the worst” prisoners, a group described as “pure predators”, to a new super-prison. Poe faces impossible odds when the transport plane is skyjacked mid-flight by the most vicious criminals in the country led by the mastermind — genius serial killer Cyrus "The Virus" Grissom, and backed by black militant Diamond Dog and psychopath Billy Bedlam.

Release Date : 1997-06-05

Language :English

Adult : false

Status : Released

Production Company : Touchstone PicturesJerry Bruckheimer Films

Production Country : United States of America

Alternative Titles :

Cast

Nicolas Cage

Character Name : Cameron Poe

Original Name : Nicolas Cage

Gender : Male

John Cusack

Character Name : Agent Vince Larkin

Original Name : John Cusack

Gender : Male

John Malkovich

Character Name : Cyrus "The Virus" Grissom

Original Name : John Malkovich

Gender : Male

Ving Rhames

Character Name : Nathan "Diamond Dog" Jones

Original Name : Ving Rhames

Gender : Male

Mykelti Williamson

Character Name : "Baby-O" O'Dell

Original Name : Mykelti Williamson

Gender : Male

Dave Chappelle

Character Name : "Pinball" Parker

Original Name : Dave Chappelle

Gender : Male

Colm Meaney

Character Name : Agent Duncan Malloy

Original Name : Colm Meaney

Gender : Male

Monica Potter

Character Name : Tricia Poe

Original Name : Monica Potter

Gender : Female

Landry Allbright

Character Name : Casey Poe

Original Name : Landry Allbright

Gender : Female

Rachel Ticotin

Character Name : Guard Sally Bishop

Original Name : Rachel Ticotin

Gender : Female

Steve Buscemi

Character Name : Garland Greene - "The Marietta Mangler"

Original Name : Steve Buscemi

Gender : Male

Nick Chinlund

Character Name : William "Billy Bedlam" Bedford

Original Name : Nick Chinlund

Gender : Male

M.C. Gainey

Character Name : "Swamp Thing"

Original Name : M.C. Gainey

Gender : Male

Danny Trejo

Character Name : "Johnny-23"

Original Name : Danny Trejo

Gender : Male

Renoly Santiago

Character Name : "Sally-Can't Dance"

Original Name : Renoly Santiago

Gender : Male

Steve Eastin

Character Name : Guard Falzon

Original Name : Steve Eastin

Gender : Male

Brendan Kelly

Character Name : Conrad

Original Name : Brendan Kelly

Gender : Male

Jesse Borrego

Character Name : Francisco Cindino

Original Name : Jesse Borrego

Gender : Male

Carl Ciarfalio

Character Name : Con #1

Original Name : Carl Ciarfalio

Gender : Male

Mongo Brownlee

Character Name : Ajax

Original Name : Mongo Brownlee

Gender : Male

José Zúñiga

Character Name : Sims

Original Name : José Zúñiga

Gender : Male

Ned Bellamy

Character Name : Chopper Pilot

Original Name : Ned Bellamy

Gender : Male

John Marshall Jones

Character Name : Gator

Original Name : John Marshall Jones

Gender : Male

John Roselius

Character Name : Devers

Original Name : John Roselius

Gender : Male

Fredric Lehne

Character Name : Pilot

Original Name : Fredric Lehne

Gender : Male

Martin McSorley

Character Name : Co-Pilot

Original Name : Martin McSorley

Gender : Male

Dylan Haggerty

Character Name : Starkey

Original Name : Dylan Haggerty

Gender : Male

Dan Bell

Character Name : Fuel Jockey

Original Name : Dan Bell

Gender : Male

Bob Stephenson

Character Name : Ted, the Pilot

Original Name : Bob Stephenson

Gender : Male

Scott Ditty

Character Name : Bus Guard

Original Name : Scott Ditty

Gender : Male

Tommy Bush

Character Name : Sheriff

Original Name : Tommy Bush

Gender : Male

Lauren Pratt

Character Name : Debbie (6 Yrs Old)

Original Name : Lauren Pratt

Gender : Female

Steve Hulin

Character Name : Ronnie

Original Name : Steve Hulin

Gender : Male

Don C. McGovern

Character Name : Smoke

Original Name : Don C. McGovern

Gender : Male

Angela Featherstone

Character Name : Ginny

Original Name : Angela Featherstone

Gender : Female

Doug Hutchison

Character Name : Donald

Original Name : Doug Hutchison

Gender : Male

Jeris Poindexter

Character Name : Watts

Original Name : Jeris Poindexter

Gender : Male

David Ramsey

Character Name : Londell

Original Name : David Ramsey

Gender : Male

Conrad Goode

Character Name : Viking

Original Name : Conrad Goode

Gender : Male

Emilio Rivera

Character Name : Carlos

Original Name : Emilio Rivera

Gender : Male

Mario Roberts

Character Name : Mongoose (Stunt)

Original Name : Mario Roberts

Gender : Male

Ty Granderson Jones

Character Name : Blade

Original Name : Ty Granderson Jones

Gender : Male

Earl Billings

Character Name : Guard

Original Name : Earl Billings

Gender : Male

Greg Collins

Character Name : Guard

Original Name : Greg Collins

Gender : Male

Billy Devlin

Character Name : Guard

Original Name : Billy Devlin

Gender : Male

Mark Ginther

Character Name : Guard

Original Name : Mark Ginther

Gender : Male

Joseph Patrick Kelly

Character Name : Guard

Original Name : Joseph Patrick Kelly

Gender : Male

Jeff Olson

Character Name : Uncle Bob

Original Name : Jeff Olson

Gender : Male

Dawn Bluford

Character Name : Female Baggage Handler

Original Name : Dawn Bluford

Gender : Male

Charlie Paddock

Character Name : Transportation Officer #1

Original Name : Charlie Paddock

Gender : Male

Randee Barnes

Character Name : Stickman

Original Name : Randee Barnes

Gender : Male

Don S. Davis

Character Name : Man In Car

Original Name : Don S. Davis

Gender : Male

Barbara Sharma

Character Name : Woman In Car

Original Name : Barbara Sharma

Gender : Male

Thomas Rosales Jr.

Character Name : Cindino Gunman (Stunts)

Original Name : Thomas Rosales Jr.

Gender : Male

Eddie Perez

Character Name : Cindino Gunman (Stunts)

Original Name : Eddie Perez

Gender : Male

Scott McCoy

Character Name : Cindino Gunman (Stunts)

Original Name : Scott McCoy

Gender : Male

Brian Hayes Currie

Character Name : Cop In Vegas

Original Name : Brian Hayes Currie

Gender : Male

Ashley Smock

Character Name : Huey Pilot

Original Name : Ashley Smock

Gender : Male

Charles Lynn Frost

Character Name : DEA Agent

Original Name : Charles Lynn Frost

Gender : Male

Joey Miyashima

Character Name : Tech Guy

Original Name : Joey Miyashima

Gender : Male

Scott Burkholder

Character Name : Air Traffic Controller

Original Name : Scott Burkholder

Gender : Male

Kevin Cooney

Character Name : Judge

Original Name : Kevin Cooney

Gender : Male

Gérard L'Heureux

Character Name : Guard Renfro

Original Name : Gérard L'Heureux

Gender : Male

Pete Antico

Character Name : Guard Garner

Original Name : Pete Antico

Gender : Male

John Robotham

Character Name : Guard Ryan

Original Name : John Robotham

Gender : Male

Gilbert Rosales

Character Name : Ramirez (Stunt)

Original Name : Gilbert Rosales

Gender : Male

Richard L. Duran

Character Name : Warlock (Stunt)

Original Name : Richard L. Duran

Gender : Male

George Randall

Character Name : Old Con on Plane

Original Name : George Randall

Gender : Male

Jamie Bozian

Character Name : Con

Original Name : Jamie Bozian

Gender : Male

Harley Zumbrum

Character Name : Con

Original Name : Harley Zumbrum

Gender : Male

Doug Dearth

Character Name : Con

Original Name : Doug Dearth

Gender : Male

David Roberson

Character Name : Supervisor

Original Name : David Roberson

Gender : Male

Alexandra Balahoutis

Character Name : Waitress

Original Name : Alexandra Balahoutis

Gender : Female

Dick 'Skip' Evans

Character Name : Airplane Pilot

Original Name : Dick 'Skip' Evans

Gender : Male

Sheldon Worthington

Character Name : Co-Pilot

Original Name : Sheldon Worthington

Gender : Male

Robert Taft

Character Name : Soldier

Original Name : Robert Taft

Gender : Male

Robert White

Character Name : Soldier

Original Name : Robert White

Gender : Male

Chris Ellis

Character Name : BOP Official Grant

Original Name : Chris Ellis

Gender : Male

John Campbell

Character Name : BOP Bus Driver

Original Name : John Campbell

Gender : Male

Brian Willems

Character Name : Paramedic

Original Name : Brian Willems

Gender : Male

Bill Cusack

Character Name : Paramedic

Original Name : Bill Cusack

Gender : Male

Dabbs Greer

Character Name : Old Man Under Truck

Original Name : Dabbs Greer

Gender : Male

Marco Kyris

Character Name : Cindino's Pilot

Original Name : Marco Kyris

Gender : Male

Kevin Gage

Character Name : Billy Joe (uncredited)

Original Name : Kevin Gage

Gender : Male

Sam Arnold

Character Name : LVPD Officer (Mike Danley) (uncredited)

Original Name : Sam Arnold

Gender : Male

Dennis Burkley

Character Name : Dale (uncredited)

Original Name : Dennis Burkley

Gender : Male

Reviews

P

Per Gunnar Jonsson

@Dark Jedi

2024-05-16

This is one of those movies which are simply good solid entertainment. The fact that I do like Nicolas Cage, even though he is at times really lousy at choosing which movies he participate in, is of course an additional plus. Naturally I do like the performance of Nicolas Cage in this movie but John Malkowich is also great as the main bad guy and Steve Buscemi is perfect as the nutcase although his role could have been a bit more expanded upon. The rest of the actors are doing nicely as well although it always saddens me to see Colm Meaney playing a dumbass and/or bad guy after his role in Star Trek. The story is not really bad although it has the usual Hollywood mistakes here and there. The ease by which they pick locks in this high security flight is somewhat laughable and I seriously doubt that they would have been able to haul the plane out of that desert junkyard in flyable condition in real life for instance. Still, it is not a bad story and it works for moving the movie forward. There are plenty of action and it is mostly quite entertaining. Sometimes it is a bit silly and rather unrealistic of course but, as I wrote, mostly it is quite entertaining. The ending is definitely a bit on the silly side with the plane touching down on the Las Vegas Strip. This bit felt like the producers realized that they had some FX budget left and just had to burn it. Anyway, on the whole a quite entertaining movie.

J

John Chard

@John Chard

2024-05-16

Ladies and Gentlemen, this is your captain speaking. I have the only gun on board. Welcome to Con Air. Hummingbird Humdinger. Con Air is directed by Simon West and produced by Jerry Bruckheimer. It stars Nicolas Cage, John Cusack and John Malkovich. Plot sees Cameron Poe (Cage), a parolee on his way home to his wife and daughter after serving years in prison for manslaughter. He's travelling on a plane full of the most dangerous criminals currently being held in America, they are being transferred to some new super prison. Inevitably something goes wrong and the cons take over the plane, with only Poe standing between them and freedom. No doubt about it, Con Air is one of the most over the top action film's you are ever likely to see. But it knows it is, it embraces it - and positively revels in it. What we have is a bunch of sicko's and psycho's on a plane, their roll call of crimes as gargantuan as the excess of explosions and quips are. Down on the ground are a frantic John Cussack and an angry Colm Meaney, the play off between the two almost as funny as the shenanigans on the plane - where characters called Billy Bedlam (Nick Chinlund), Cyrus The Virus (Malkovich) & The Marietta Mangler (Steve Buscemi) push mania to a new level. Enter director West, who clearly under orders from Bruckheimer, unleashes a barrage of explosive set pieces, each one more outrageous than the last. It's neatly edited and paced like a good action movie should be. There's also no small amount of tension to sidle along side the white knuckle thrills. As Cage strips down to his Bruce Willis vest we have a real likable hero to get on side with, yes it's played tongue in cheek, very much so, but his character has been so well written by Scott Rosenberg we really forgive the ridiculousness of each heroic act. Also along the for the ride are Ving Rhames, Danny Trejo, M.C. Gainey & Rachael Ticotin, the latter of which does admirably well as the lone female surrounded by 800 tonnes of testosterone. Junky nonsense as a story for sure, but just like the cast are having a blast of a time with it, so too should the discerning action comedy fan. 7.5/10

A

Andre Gonzales

@SoSmooth1982

2023-05-08

Great movie. One of my favorites growing up. Action packed with a great storyline. Great cast too.

C

CinemaSerf

@Geronimo1967

2023-08-27

This takes forever to get going, but once the plot gets the establishing twenty minutes out of the way, it's actually quite a decent adventure story. Ranger Nicolas Cage ("Poe") gets embroiled in a fatal brawl that lands him in jail. Out on his parole, he gets caught up in a highly sophisticated prison break planned by "Cyrus" (John Malkovich) - intent on hijacking their prison flight and executing a complicated onwards escape plan before the pursuing Colm Meaney ("Agent. Malloy") and an heavily armed squad of soldiers track them down. Luckily for Cage, and the authorities, John Cusack ("Agent Larkin") is on hand to help guide in the Feds as time marches on, and Cage's predicament becomes even more precarious. Malkovich makes for quite a good scheming baddie; there is plenty of action, a little bit of humour, pyrotechnics and the last half hour consists of pretty decent, entertaining, end-to-end stuff. Nothing remotely cerebral, but it's still an enjoyable film that finds a use for a snow plough in the desert! Soundtrack is quite good, too.

H

Horseface

@Horseface

2025-02-09

Silly perfection! Having just watched this again after twenty-odd years, as it's now available in 4k. My god, Hollywood was great back in the day. This movie is stupid, silly, over-the-top everything, and wholly implausible. But it doesn't matter. It's 100% honest wholesome fun, like an action comic for boys in men's bodies. It's got everything, and everything's like a love letter. I want Criterion to add this to their collection and have some of their film historians create commentary tracks for it. This movie is now in my top ten, and I'll watch at least ten times more. 10/10