Turbulence (1997)

After a shootout on a flight transporting prisoners, a stewardess must outwit a smooth-talking serial killer and land the plane herself.

Director:

Robert Butler

Writer:

Jonathan Brett

Stars:

Ray Liotta, Lauren Holly, Brendan Gleeson

3 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Ray Liotta	...	Ryan Weaver
Lauren Holly	...	Teri Halloran
Brendan Gleeson	...	Stubbs
Hector Elizondo	...	Lt. Aldo Hines
Rachel Ticotin	...	Rachel Taper
Jeffrey DeMunn	...	Brooks
John Finn	...	FBI Agent Frank Sinclair
Ben Cross	...	Captain Samuel Bowen
Catherine Hicks	...	Maggie
Heidi Kling	...	Betty
Gordy Owens	...	Carl
J. Kenneth Campbell	...	Captain Matt Powell
James MacDonald	...	1st Officer Ted Kary
Michael Harney	...	Marshal Marty Douglas
Grand L. Bush	...	Marshal Al Arquette

Storyline

Ryan Weaver romances beautiful women before he kills them. Ryan is arrested, convicted, and is part of a Christmas Eve transfer of prisoners on a transcontinental 747 commercial flight. Other airlines at JFK may have holiday passengers waiting on stand-by, but this jumbo jet takes off with a lot of empty seats. Ryan and another prisoner overpower and kill their guards. The few civilian passengers are herded into a "pantry" on the plane and are not seen again until the end of the movie. Ryan eliminates the other prisoners and all the crew members except Teri Halloran. The remainder of the movie follows a "cat-and-mouse" game between Ryan and Teri on the 747.

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Plot Keywords:

airplane | marshal | christmas | stewardess | cat and mouse | 

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Taglines:

If you weren't afraid of flying before, you will be now.

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Genres:

Action | Thriller

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for terror, strong violence and language

Details

Official Sites:

MGM

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

10 January 1997 (USA)

Also Known As:

Turbulência

Filming Locations:

Clinton, New Jersey, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$55,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend:

ITL 231,489,000 (Italy) (28 February 1997)

Gross:

$11,466,088 (USA) (14 March 1997)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM), Rysher Entertainment

Technical Specs

Runtime:

100 min

Sound Mix:

DTS Dolby Digital SDDS

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The toy store in the movie in reality is a bookstore on the Main Street in Clinton, New Jersey, USA. There is a toy store on Main Street but it is in an alley and director Robert Butler didn't like the exterior of the building. The bookstore's front window was decorated with toys for the week of filming.

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Goofs

When the plane loses communication, the controller asks them to sqawk 7700...the actual transponder code for loss of communication is 7600. It is also doubtful that 747s have a rapidly closing sliding door at the top of the staircase to the upper deck.

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Quotes

Sinclair: Wait a minute, wait a minute. You've got a 747 beat to hell by level 6 turbulence, your flight crew is dead, you've got an armed convicted serial killer loose on board, eight passengers have disappeared, and your stewardess is locked in the goddamned cockpit. Have I left anything out?
Controller: You forgot about the truck.
[it's stuck to the landing gear]

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Connections

References It's a Wonderful Life (1946)

User Reviews

Hokum-and hugely entertaining

Many people are very critical of this movie-but it does have some fans,including me!Okay,the whole thing is full of absurdities-but so what!Butler takes the old "stewardess flies the plane" cliche,runs with it,and delivers an enormously entertaining slice of hokum.The formula is paired down to basics,as mad serial killer Weaver(Ray Liotta),creates havoc aboard the plane,determined it will crash into L.A.-so he can go out in a blaze of vengeful glory.All that stands in his way is plucky flight attendant Teri(Lauren Holly).The stage is set for a frantic live action "Tom and Jerry" wing ding between monstrous male psycho predator,and winsome female "prey". Liotta really seems to be enjoying himself here,and is given lots of goofy "psycho speak" to deliver with relish.Weaver has a sense of humor too!"I'm never flying this airline again!",he shouts to himself,after being tumbled backwards down some stairs,a leg painfully crushed in a door. Then there's Terri-cute,willowy and Bambi eyed-I found myself pretty upset seeing what poor Teri goes through in this movie!But despite insults,threats,punches,assaults,smoke attacks and all,she has the moxie to keep going.Battered,bruised and bloodied she still looks stunning!And at the beginning,we are told some guy just broke off his engagement to THIS girl!HE must've been crazier than Weaver!