When terrorists seize control of an airliner, an intelligence analyst accompanies a commando unit for a midair boarding operation.
Director:
Stuart Baird
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Title: Executive Decision (1996)
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2 wins & 2 nominations.
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Cast
| Cast overview, first billed only: | |||
| Kurt Russell | ... | ||
| Steven Seagal | ... | ||
| Halle Berry | ... | ||
| John Leguizamo | ... | ||
| Oliver Platt | ... | ||
| Joe Morton | ... | ||
| David Suchet | ... | ||
| BD Wong | ... |
Louie
(as B. D. Wong)
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| Len Cariou | ... |
Secretary of Defense Charles White
|
|
| Whip Hubley | ... | ||
| Andreas Katsulas | ... |
Jaffa
|
|
| Mary Ellen Trainor | ... | ||
| Marla Maples | ... |
Nancy
(as Marla Maples Trump)
|
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| J.T. Walsh | ... |
Senator Mavros
|
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| Ingo Neuhaus | ... |
Doc
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Edit
Plot Summary
|
Add Synopsis
Storyline
Terrorists take over a 747 bound from Athens to Washington D.C., supposedly to effect the release of their leader. Intelligence expert David Grant suspects another reason and convinces the military that the 'plane should not be allowed to enter U.S. airspace. An assault mission is devised, using a specially equipped 'plane designed for mid-air crew transfers, and Grant finds himself aboard the 747 with a team of military anti-terrorists who have to defuse a bomb and overpower the terrorists. Written by Ron Kerrigan <mvg@whidbey.com>
Taglines:
Fasten your seat belts See more »Parents Guide:
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Details
Country:
USALanguage:
EnglishRelease Date:
15 March 1996 (USA) See more »Also Known As:
Critical Decision See more »Filming Locations:
Alverno High School - 200 North Michillinda Avenue, Sierra Madre, California, USA See more »Edit
Box Office
Budget:
$55,000,000 (estimated)Gross USA:
$56,569,216Cumulative Worldwide Gross:
$121,969,216Company Credits
Show more on
IMDbPro »
Technical Specs
Runtime:
Color:
Color (Technicolor)Aspect Ratio:
2.35 : 1
Edit
[Travis reaches his hand but falls back down]
David Grant: Colonel, we're not gonna make it!
Lt. Colonel Austin Travis: *You* are!
[Travis shuts himself in and is sucked out of the plane to his death]
See more »
Written by Sammy Cahn and Jimmy Van Heusen (as James Van Heusen)
Performed by Frank Sinatra
Courtesy of Capitol Records
Under Licence from CEMA Special Markets
See more »
Did You Know?
Trivia
The face of Steven Seagal was added on German and Dutch cinema posters and VHS covers to attract more viewers, as he was quite popular there at the time. See more »Goofs
The computer for the fake bomb trigger has a hard disk drive with the internal disks and read/write heads exposed. This would never be the case since any dust or dirt that contacted the mechanism would cause the hard drive to crash and fail. See more »Quotes
David Grant: Colonel, grab my hand![Travis reaches his hand but falls back down]
David Grant: Colonel, we're not gonna make it!
Lt. Colonel Austin Travis: *You* are!
[Travis shuts himself in and is sucked out of the plane to his death]
See more »
Soundtracks
It's Nice to Go Trav'lingWritten by Sammy Cahn and Jimmy Van Heusen (as James Van Heusen)
Performed by Frank Sinatra
Courtesy of Capitol Records
Under Licence from CEMA Special Markets
See more »
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I am curious to know how many Steven Seagal fans walked out of the theater after the first twenty minutes demanding their money back. It is a good thing that Exectutive Decision does not direct its attention towards Seagal. Instead it chooses to focus on suspense and thrills which is exactly what it offers. It is slow and ominous, even claustrophobic at times. The plot stays consistent, never getting too thick, and it keeps you focused, Which is good enough for me.
It will be hard to watch Executive Decision today and not think about 9/11. Islamic terrorists from Algeria highjack a 747 flying from Athens to D.C. they have loaded a nuclear weapon on board, and they are giving the US government until landing time to free one of the leading Islamic terrorist they have in custody, or they blow Washington. A small team of soldiers are sent out in a small aircraft, which will latch on to the jet and allow them to board in secret. With them is intelligence consultant David Grant, who knows that there is a bomb on board and what it is capable of. confined to the labyrinth of tiny corridors and storage cabins, our heroes have only a few hours, to find the bomb, defuse it and take out the terrorists, without being seen.
This is the directorial debut for Oscar nominated editor Stuart Baird, and he does a sensational job of crafting tension. It is not until the climactic twenty minutes where Executive Decision lets out all its energy. Baird really takes his time, and just occasionally it feels like the story could use a little tightening, but not too much.
The movie is not meant to be mind enriching, but in a way it does make you realize, how much we took freedom and safety for granted, before 9/11 occurred. If that disturbs you, than perhaps you should not see this movie. Anyone else who wants to be thrilled and on the edge of their seat should watch this one for sure