Executive Decision (1996)
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63% of critics liked it
(38 reviews) -
51% of users liked it
(40,309 ratings)
In this action thriller, a group of Islamic terrorists, led by Nagi Hassan (David Suchet), highjacks a 747 jetliner with 400 passengers aboard, but Lt. Col. Austin Travis (Steven Seagal), a United States intelligence agent, is convinced that this isn't an ordinary case of air piracy. His… More In this action thriller, a group of Islamic terrorists, led by Nagi Hassan (David Suchet), highjacks a 747 jetliner with 400 passengers aboard, but Lt. Col. Austin Travis (Steven Seagal), a United States intelligence agent, is convinced that this isn't an ordinary case of air piracy. His suspicions are soon confirmed; Hassan's men have obtained a large cache of stolen Soviet nerve gas, and they are using the 747 to smuggle the deadly gas into the United States, where they intend to use it to wipe out Washington D.C. and possibly the entire East Coast. As the jet approaches the U. S., engineer Dennis Cahill (Oliver Platt) designs a plan in which a military plane will be able to transfer U.S. soldiers onto the 747 and regain control of the plane and its deadly cargo. However, when Travis dies in the course of the mission, intelligence agent Dr. David Grant (Kurt Russell) is forced to take his place alongside explosives expert Cappy (Joe Morton), commando Rat (John Leguizamo), and stewardess-turned-anti-terrorist Jean (Halle Berry). Executive Decision was the first directorial assignment for veteran film editor Stuart Baird; he cut the film as well. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi
- Directed By
- Stuart Baird
- Written By
- Jim Thomas, John Thomas
- Genres
- Action & Adventure
- In Theaters
- Jun 1, 1995 Wide
- Studio
- Warner Home Video
Critic Reviews
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Desson Thomson, Washington Post
Satisfying junk food.
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Janet Maslin, New York Times
A good, taut movie for red-meat action audiences.
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Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times
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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Joe Baltake, Sacramento Bee
It doesn't always work, but there's something inspiring about Baird's unwillingness to follow the usual formula.
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David Nusair, Reel Film Reviews
A smart, adult thriller...
See more critic ratings and reviews on Rotten Tomatoes
Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)
Rotten (59% or fewer critics rated the movie positively)
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Cast
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Kurt Russell
as Dr. David Grant
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Halle Berry
as Jean
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John Leguizamo
as Rat
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Steven Seagal
as Lt. Col. Austin Travis
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Oliver Platt
as Dennis Cahill
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Joe Morton
as Cappy
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Robert Apisa
as Demou
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Ray Baker
as 747 Captain
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Brad Blaisdell
as Beckings Institute Aide
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Paul Bollen
as Fire Fighter
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Len Cariou
as Secretary of Defense Charles White
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Paul Collins
as Nelson
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Maggie Egan
as CNN Reporter
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Juan Fernández
as London Bomber
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Stanley Grover
as General Price
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Charles Hallahan
as General Sarlow
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Whip Hubley
as Baker
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Todd Jeffries
as Collins
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Andreas Katsulas
as Jaffa
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Tim Kelleher
as Bulldog
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Marla Maples
as stewardess
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Michael Milhoan
as 747 First Officer
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John Rixey Moore
as Flight Instructor
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Marianne Muellerleile
as Diabetic Woman
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Nicholas Pryor
as Secretary of State Jack Douglas
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Richard Riehle
as Air Marshal
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Eugene Roche
as Admiral Lewis
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David Suchet
as Nagi
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Mary Ellen Trainor
as Allison
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James Victor
as Spider
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J.T. Walsh
as Senator Mavros
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B.D. Wong
as Louie
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Dey Young
as Gail
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Lance August
as American Embassy Duty Officer
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John Hardy
as Helicopter Pilot
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Nick Jameson
as London Maitre 'D
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Ken Jenkins
as General Wood
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Joseph Makkar
as Arab Co-pilot
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Warren Munson
as American Ambassador
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Don Fischer
as Remora Pilot
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Shaun Toub
as Terrorist
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Jay Tavare
as Nabill
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Joe Cook
as Chechen
- Chris Maher
- Sayed Badreya
