Do you want to see ‘Con Air’?

Con Air (1997)

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All Critics
Top Critics

Average Rating: 5.7/10
Reviews Counted: 62
Fresh: 34 | Rotten: 28

No consensus yet.

Average Rating: 4.9/10
Critic Reviews: 12
Fresh: 3 | Rotten: 9

No consensus yet.

audience

liked it
Average Rating: 3.4/5
User Ratings: 390,278

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Movie Info

Former war hero Cameron Poe (Nicolas Cage) is sentenced to eight years in prison when he accidentally kills a man in a barroom brawl while defending his pregnant wife. When his release comes through, he's eager to see the daughter he's never met. However, Poe's original flight is delayed, so he's put aboard a flight transporting ten of the most dangerous men in the American penal system to a new high-security facility. One of the criminals, Cyrus "The Virus" Grissom (John Malkovich), is a serial

R, 1 hr. 55 min.

Action & Adventure

Directed By: Simon West

Written By: Scott Rosenberg

In Theaters: Jun 6, 1997 Wide

On DVD: Mar 24, 1998

Cast

Nicolas Cage
Cameron Poe
John Cusack
Vince Larkin
John Malkovich
Cyrus (The Virus) Griss...
Steve Buscemi
Garland Greene
Ving Rhames
Diamond Dog
Colm Meaney
Duncan Malloy
Mykelti Williamson
Baby-O
Danny Trejo
Johnny 23
Jesse Borrego
Francisco Cindino
Dave Chappelle
Pinball
Nick Chinlund
Billy Bedlam
M.C. Gainey
Swamp Thing
John Roselius
Devers
Rachel Ticotin
Sally Bishop
Jose Zuniga
Sims
Angela Featherstone
Ginny
Renoly Santiago
Ramon "Sally-Can't Danc...
Mario Roberts
Mongoose
Landry Allbright
Casey Poe
Monica Potter
Tricia Poe
Pete Antico
Guard Garner
Mongo Brownlee
Ajax

Critic Reviews for Con Air

All Critics (66) | Top Critics (14) | Fresh (35) | Rotten (30) | DVD (25)

Rosenberg's sarcastic, tough-guy dialogue is full of lean-and-mean one-liners, and the superbly cast actors know how to milk them for all they're worth.

September 18, 2008 Full Review Source: Variety

| Comment (1)

Todd McCarthy

Variety

Top Critic

They're 'the worst of the worst.' So's the movie.

May 11, 2001 Comment

Peter Travers

Rolling Stone

Top Critic

Numbing but not boring, it's finally more dispiriting than exhilarating, like a wild night of debauchery that leaves only a fearsome hangover for a souvenir.

February 14, 2001 Full Review Source: Los Angeles Times

| Comment

Kenneth Turan

Los Angeles Times

Top Critic

Sitting through this movie is like watching a dog running in circles chasing its tail -- the amusement factor dies quickly as the situation become repetitive.

January 1, 2000 Full Review Source: ReelViews

| Comment

James Berardinelli

ReelViews

Top Critic

All of the principals normally work in films more interesting and human than this one, which gives Con Air a touch of the subversive and turns it into a big-budget lark.

January 1, 2000 Full Review Source: New York Times

| Comment

Janet Maslin

New York Times

Top Critic

How's the movie? Big, loud, brutal and stupid, that's how it is.

January 1, 2000 Full Review Source: Salon.com

| Comment

Charles Taylor

Salon.com

Top Critic

A schmaltzy action-adventure at 8,000 feet.

December 18, 2010 Full Review Source: Common Sense Media

| Comment

Heather Boerner

Common Sense Media

Resolutely not boring.

July 24, 2009 Full Review Source: Not Coming to a Theater Near You

| Comment

Rumsey Taylor

Not Coming to a Theater Near You

Mega-budget action extravaganzas don't get much sillier than this.

September 18, 2008 Full Review Source: TV Guide's Movie Guide

| Comment

Maitland McDonagh

TV Guide's Movie Guide

This frankly silly action movie scores major points for bordering on self-parody.

September 18, 2008 Full Review Source: Film4

| Comment

Film4

It doesn't surprise, but Con Air still manages to hold your attention.

January 19, 2008 Full Review Source: Movie Metropolis

| Comment (1)

James Plath

Movie Metropolis

Very cool, but also very cold.

June 24, 2006 Full Review Source: Time Out

| Comment

Time Out

Why now? Don't ask; just shut up and enjoy the ride.

June 9, 2006 Full Review Source: Movie Habit

| Comment

Marty Mapes

Movie Habit

the quintessential high-octane action flick

June 8, 2006 Full Review Source: 7M Pictures

| Comment

Kevin Carr

7M Pictures

It's not exactly a spoof of action flicks, but everyone involved clearly has tongue wedged firmly within cheek.

May 12, 2006 Full Review Source: DVDTalk.com

| Comment

Scott Weinberg

DVDTalk.com

If this thing had been done straight, it might have been a total disaster. As it is, it's only a partial disaster; just enough to make it fun to watch. (Extended Edition)

May 12, 2006 Full Review Source: Movie Metropolis

| Comment

John J. Puccio

Movie Metropolis

Rude, crude, mindless action and nonstop gratuitous violence just don't get any better.

May 12, 2006 Full Review Source: Movie Metropolis

| Comment

John J. Puccio

Movie Metropolis

Bruckheimer may be the only producer working in Hollywood today who deserves the auteur treatment.

May 9, 2006 Full Review Source: Arkansas Democrat-Gazette

| Comment

Philip Martin

Arkansas Democrat-Gazette

Director Simon West pulls off the impossible task of having the film make constant fun of itself and its viewers while keeping the storyline grounded enough for emotional payoffs.

April 28, 2006 Full Review Source: Arizona Daily Star

| Comment

Phil Villarreal

Arizona Daily Star

More Critic Reviews

Audience Reviews for Con Air

View All

Con Air, for me is a decent action film that is fairly entertaining despite the flaws. The film is a mindless action film that is fun. The performance from the actors range from decent to good to bad. John Malkovitch was the best actor in this film. I felt that the film could have been much better, but it was a pretty

September 17, 2011

Jeff "The Dude" Lebowski

Super Reviewer

Buckle Up!Very exciting action movie. The story was good and entertaining. Very nice cast, lots of crazy people. If you like action this is a movie you must see.Cameron Poe is an Army Ranger who was going to go home to his pregnant wife when he got into a fight with three men. He would kill one of them and the other

February 13, 2009

Manu Gino

Super Reviewer

Con Air Quotes

View All

1. Garland Greene: He's got the whole world in his hands he's got the whole world in his hands he's got the whole world in his hands he's got the whole world in his hands.
– Submitted by Baurushan J (2 months ago)
1. Cyrus (The Virus) Grissom: The last thing your daughter will see is my stinky breath!
– Submitted by Baurushan J (2 months ago)
1. Cyrus (The Virus) Grissom: Hey he's right If your dick jumps out your pants you're jumping out of this plane.
– Submitted by Baurushan J (2 months ago)
1. Johnny 23: When you wake up, Bishop, I'll be Johnny 24.
– Submitted by james r (6 months ago)
1. Cameron Poe: Why couldn't you put the bunny back in the box?
– Submitted by james r (6 months ago)

Character	Quote
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