Released in 1997, Con Air is my favorite Nicholas Cage movie and my favorite Jerry Bruckheimer movie too. I saw this while I was in high school, so I was probably the perfect age for it, but I have seen it many times over the years, and there is a rumor that there is a 4K release coming soon. This is one of those movies that I can fire up any time I am stuck for something to watch, and I always have a great time with it.
Where to Watch Con Air
Con Air was released on June 6, 1997. You can stream the film from a digital platform such as Amazon Prime Video or Apple TV. Interested in more films with Nick Cage? Check out our reviews of Face/Off, Gone in 60 Seconds, or National Treasure: Book of Secrets.
Con Air Movie Review and Story Breakdown
Nicholas Cage plays the role of a military man called Cameron Poe. Poe gets into a fight, protecting his hot wife, and one of the men ends up getting killed as a result. It was an accident, but Poe was sentenced to prison for several years. His wife was pregnant at the time, so he missed his little girl’s first few years of life. However, the letters from her and his wife kept him going during his time in prison.
Poe’s time is up, and he is about to be released, and he is catching a flight home. The trouble is, this is no normal flight; this is a special plane that is made to transport some of the most dangerous prisoners in the country. The cast of prisoners in this movie is amazing! Steve Buscemi, Danny Trejo, Ving Rhames, and Dave Chappel are all fantastic in their roles. We also have “Bubba” Mykelti Williamson, playing the role of Poe’s diabetic cellmate who is also hitching a ride on this plane ride from hell.
The Villain That Stole the Show: Cyrus the Virus
There is one other prisoner on this plane, and that is John Malkovich’s Cyrus the Virus. If I had to pick a favorite John Malkovich role, hands down it would be Cyrus the Virus. Cyrus is as ruthless as they come, and he, along with many of the other prisoners, has orchestrated a plan to hijack this plane and to fly to freedom.
Why Cameron Poe is the Ultimate Action Hero
However, they did not count on Cameron Poe being on board. Poe has the chance to get off the plane, but his buddy ends up in trouble, so he decides to stay and try to help him and also the one female crew member. What we get is a balls-to-the-wall thrill ride that is just under two hours of awesomeness. I honestly do not get how someone could not like Con Air! Granted, I may love it more than others, but at the very least, I do not know how you could not be entertained by this movie.
Star-Studded Cast Delivers Iconic Performances
I already mentioned some of the main cast, but this is one of those movies where everyone gets the assignment when it comes to their performances. John Cusack, Colm Meaney, Monica Potter, MC Gainey, and I am sure there are more I am missing, all nail their roles. I think that Steve Buscemi also has one of his most memorable roles here as a crazy cannibal who, on this plane of insane people, may be one of the most sane people on board!
Final Thoughts on Con Air’s Legacy
I cannot say enough positive things about Con Air. I love and I mean love this movie, and I know I throw out 10/10 scores a lot, but there is no way I could give this anything less! My only complaint is that as I write this, we only have a Blu-Ray, which is better than the DVD, but still not great. Hopefully, these rumors/leaks of a 4K set of Con Air coming later in 2025 turn out to be true!
