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Executive Decision (1996)

R | | Action, Adventure, Thriller | 15 March 1996 (USA)
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When terrorists seize control of an airliner, an intelligence analyst accompanies a commando unit for a midair boarding operation.

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2 wins & 2 nominations. See more awards »

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Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
... David Grant
... Lt. Colonel Austin Travis
... Jean
... Rat
... Cahill
... Cappy
... Nagi Hassan
... Louie (as B. D. Wong)
... Secretary of Defense Charles White
... Baker
... Jaffa
... Allison
... Nancy (as Marla Maples Trump)
... Senator Mavros
... Doc
See full cast »
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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>

Plot Summary | Add Synopsis

Plot Keywords:

panic | survival | stealth plane | mission | disaster film | See All (165) »

Taglines:

Five miles above the earth, an elite team of six men must make an air to air transfer, in order to save 400 lives on board a 747... and 40 million below. See more »

Genres:

Action | Adventure | Thriller

Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for violence and brief language | See all certifications »

Parents Guide:

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Details

Country:

Language:

Release Date:

15 March 1996 (USA)  »

Also Known As:

Critical Decision  »

Filming Locations:

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Box Office

Budget:

$55,000,000 (estimated)

Gross USA:

$56,569,216

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$121,969,216
See more on IMDbPro »

Company Credits

Production Co:

,  »
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Technical Specs

Runtime:

Sound Mix:

|

Color:

(Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1
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Did You Know?

Trivia

Stuart Baird's directorial debut. See more »

Goofs

At the indicated time of year, the nights in London are over 10 hours long and twilight lasts about 35 minutes. A scene set at Gatwick Airport about 2 hours before the hijacked plane arrives in Washington takes place in darkness, which is correct if it was about sunset at the time of hijacking. But the takeoff time from Gatwick referred to is about 6:30 am, long after sunrise, and indeed we see this plane flying in daylight, still before the hijacked plane reaches Washington. See more »

Quotes

Cappie: I think we're looking up the ass-end of a dead dog, but it's worth a try.
See more »

Connections

Referenced in Family Guy: Airport '07 (2007) See more »

Soundtracks

It's Nice to Go Trav'ling
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 »

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What is Executive Decision about?
Q: Is it true that Steven Seagal held up production because he didn't want to film his death scene?
Q: What are the differences between the British BBFC 15 version and the uncut version?
See more »

User Reviews

Different After 9/11
27 July 2004 | by – See all my reviews

Like my review of "Air Force One", the counterpart of this movie which came out the following year, this movie takes on a whole new element in the post 9/11 world. When released, a terrorist taking control of an airplane and using it against American Citezens as a bomb seemed the stuff Hollywood would make up and produce. After those shocking events, however, the movie takes on a quality of realism that it didn't before, and unlike the aforementioned "Air Force One", is superior in many ways.

First off, the cast: Kurt Russell, Steven Seagal, and the star-to-be Halle Berry star. Russell proves himself as a versatile Character Actor. Afterall, his previous role was that of a Special Operations Soldier in the Sci-Fi hit "Stargate", and in this movie he plays an intelligence analyst whom Special Operations Soldiers despise, and pulls it off well. Seagal completely convinces you he is the Soldiers Soldier that he is supposed to be. And Halle Berry, well, she deserves that Oscar she later won, and her abilities are showcased here. She was not the star then that she is today, and this is perhaps one of her many breakout appearances.

Second, all branches of the Armed Forces (save the Marine Corps) have a chance to shine in this movie. It shows a true devotion among the men who serve the United States. The Special Ops guys are Army, the delivery pilot is Air Force and the Tomcat Pilots are Naval Aviators along the lines of Maverick from "Top Gun".

In conclusion, this is a good movie that is under-rated, and in the wake of 9/11, seems that much more real.
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