Broken Arrow (1996)

Terrorists steal nuclear warheads from the U.S. military but don't count on a pilot and park ranger spoiling their plans.

Director:

John Woo

Writer:

Graham Yost

Stars:

John Travolta, Christian Slater, Samantha Mathis

1 win & 3 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
John Travolta	...	Vic Deakins
Christian Slater	...	Riley Hale
Samantha Mathis	...	Terry Carmichael
Delroy Lindo	...	Colonel Max Wilkins
Bob Gunton	...	Pritchett
Frank Whaley	...	Giles Prentice
Howie Long	...	Kelly
Vondie Curtis-Hall	...	Lt. Colonel Sam Rhodes
Jack Thompson	...	Chairman, Joint Chief of Staff
Vyto Ruginis	...	Johnson
Ousaun Elam	...	Lt. Thomas
Shaun Toub	...	Max
Casey Biggs	...	Novacek
Jeffrey Stephan	...	Shepherd (as Jeffrey J. Stephen)
Joey Box	...	Frakes

Storyline

"Broken Arrow" is the term used to describe a nuclear device that has been lost. In this movie, two nuclear missiles are stolen by rogue US pilot Deakins, but hot on his trail is his co-pilot Hale and a Park Ranger, Terry. The action takes place in Utah's canyon country; a high stakes game of cat and mouse.

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Plot Keywords:

male male relationship | good versus evil | evil man | villain | hero | 

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Taglines:

Prepare to Go Ballistic

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Genres:

Action | Adventure | Thriller

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for strong action violence and language

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

9 February 1996 (USA)

Also Known As:

Código flecha rota

Filming Locations:

Lee's Ferry, Arizona, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$50,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$15,583,510, 11 February 1996

Gross USA:

$70,770,147

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$150,270,147

Company Credits

Production Co:

Twentieth Century Fox, Mark Gordon Productions, WCG Entertainment Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

108 min

Sound Mix:

DTS Dolby Digital SDDS

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

John Travolta formed a close friendship with John Woo while filming.

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Goofs

The helicopter shoots at the truck from the side, yet bullet holes can be seen later that enter the front and leave the back.

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Quotes

Terry Carmichael: Just put it down, and I won't have to kill you.
Riley Hale: This isn't a standoff. I've got the gun.
Terry Carmichael: I never keep it loaded.
[Hale is momentarily distacted; Terry acquires the gun and points it at him]
Riley Hale: Thought you said it wasn't loaded?
Terry Carmichael: [fires a shot into the air] I LIED!

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Connections

Featured in Films of Fury: The Kung Fu Movie Movie (2011)

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Soundtracks

Brothers
Composed by Hans Zimmer
Courtesy of Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation

User Reviews

Classic John Woo!

If you want an action film in which the hero has a personality, and the bad guy has an even better personality, take a look at Broken Arrow. John Woo's choreographed action is not as dramatic as the Matrix-clone films that are so common today. He is great at creating interesting relationships between heroes and villains, and this film is a good example.

John Travolta is terrific. Christian Slater breaks typecast by playing a nice, sane soldier doing his duty. The love interest isn't an idiotic supermodel playing a nuclear scientist or something, but a park ranger, also doing her duty. She is cute, earthy, and actually believable.

If you want a film that will repeat every aspect of every other military adventure film you have ever seen, you will be disappointed. If dialog bores you, skip this film. If you like action movies filmed entirely in parking garages and spooky allies, then you will not appreciate the settings in this film in America's majestic West.