Executive Decision

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Executive Decision

R,

1996,

2h 12m,

Action/

Mystery & Thriller

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Watchlist

63%

43 Reviews

Tomatometer

53%

25,000+ Ratings

Popcornmeter

63%

Tomatometer

43 Reviews

53%

Popcornmeter

25,000+ Ratings

When terrorists hijack a plane traveling from Greece to Washington, D.C., U.S. Army specialist David Grant (Kurt Russell) and Lt. Colonel Austin Travis (Steven Seagal) join forces to bring the plane to safety. While terrorists on board the plane claim they hijacked the plane to force the U.S. government to release their leader, who was captured by military forces, David and Austin discover that the plane is carrying a bomb full of nerve gas to be released on Washington, D.C.

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Critics Consensus

Executive Decision adheres entertainingly to classic action thriller formula, proving a genre outing doesn't need to win points for originality to be solidly effective.

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Desson Thomson

Washington Post

May 20, 2003

Satisfying junk food.

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Janet Maslin

New York Times

Jan 1, 2000

4/5

A good, taut movie for red-meat action audiences.

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Roger Ebert

Chicago Sun-Times

Jan 1, 2000

3/4

A movie for people who are sophisticated enough to know how shameless the film is, but fun-loving enough to enjoy its excesses and manic zeal.

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Nick Rogers

Midwest Film Journal

Mar 17, 2026

3.5/5

There are well-established systems for action-thrillers like this to enjoy a smooth coast down the runway. But they mean absolutely nothing without a well-rated professional like Kurt Russell in complete control of every last instrument on the panel.

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Alistair Lawrence

Common Sense Media

May 22, 2024

Tipped as a starry hot property upon its release in 1996, this aviation thriller unfortunately proves to be weighed down by some serious excess baggage.

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Mal Vincent

The Virginian-Pilot

Mar 10, 2022

2.5/4

For moviegoers, the nerve gas might be no more irritating than the film's preposterous plotting.

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George R

Feb 10, 2019

Don't understand why this has such a low audience rating on here. Yes it's been called die hard on a plane. Yes there's a surprise involving a main cast member early in the film that might have put some people off. It's well written, directed, acted and filmed. The suspense doesn't let up and you are kept on the edge of your seat until the final moments of the movie. In my opinion this is one of the most underrated action thrillers of the 90s. It deserves more recognition than it gets.

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Theodore S

Jan 2, 2018

A better than average mid-90s actioner

Kylo W

Oct 25, 2017

It was a entertaining hijack movie. The cast was solid and had great actors. The action scenes were solid but the overall plot of the movie was a bit ridiculous and it wasnt as fast paced as I was think it would be. Still worth a watch.

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Theodore L

Jul 14, 2017

Executive Decision might as well be put in a time capsule for future folks to see as an example of a by the numbers 1990's action movie. There is nothing inherently wrong with this movie as it sets out to entertain and does, it just does really nothing more than exist as a means to put together an action movie. There are so many moments where the audience is ahead of the movie and I am sure they were in 96 too. Kurt Russell holds it down as always and leads a crew of action lugheads and doofuses in trying to save the day. And there is Steven Segal in a small role, which is probably one of the coolest things that he did next to Machete. This works as a mindless action movie bursting with generic formula but it isn't bad.

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Ron W

Apr 9, 2017

Seriously underrated film, from beginning to end, you get yourself immersed into it. Yes, it has some cheesy lines and someone says the film's title at some point but didn't we all enjoy those things back in the 90s? Definitely a must see!

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Albus W

Mar 18, 2017

Very awesome and action-packed. Steven Seagal isn't in it enough, though. The action is very cool.

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Stuart Baird

Director

Kurt Russell

Dr. Phil. David Grant

Halle Berry

Jean

John Leguizamo

Captain Rat

Steven Seagal

Lt. Col. Austin Travis

Oliver Platt

Dennis Cahill

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Synopsis

When terrorists hijack a plane traveling from Greece to Washington, D.C., U.S. Army specialist David Grant (Kurt Russell) and Lt. Colonel Austin Travis (Steven Seagal) join forces to bring the plane to safety. While terrorists on board the plane claim they hijacked the plane to force the U.S. government to release their leader, who was captured by military forces, David and Austin discover that the plane is carrying a bomb full of nerve gas to be released on Washington, D.C.

Director: Stuart Baird
Producer: Joel Silver, Jim Thomas, John Thomas, Karyn Fields
Screenwriter: Jim Thomas, John Thomas
Production Co: Warner Bros., Silver Pictures
Rating: R
Genre: Action, Mystery & Thriller
Original Language: English
Release Date (Streaming): Sep 1, 2008
Box Office (Gross USA): $55.7M
Runtime: 2h 12m
Sound Mix: Surround, Stereo

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