The Flight of the Phoenix

The Flight of the Phoenix (1965)

  • 89% of critics liked it
    (18 reviews)

  • 75% of users liked it
    (8,750 ratings)

Based on Elleston Trevor's novel, The Flight of the Phoenix opens with a well-staged plane crash in the middle of the Sahara desert. The pilot (James Stewart) and the navigator (Richard Attenborough) do their best to maintain order among the survivors, a group of oil men not well-suited for survival… More

Unrated, 2 hr. 27 min.
Directed By
Robert Aldrich
Written By
Lukas Heller, Trevor Dudley Smith
Genres
Drama, Action & Adventure, Classics
In Theaters
Dec 15, 1965 Wide
On DVD
May 20, 2003

Critic Reviews

  • Emanuel Levy, EmanuelLevy.Com

    Directed by Aldrich, this disaster picture about a plane crash boasts a terrific ensemble cast, headed by Jimmy Stewart and inluding Peter Finch and Ian Bannen in Oscar nominated turn.

  • Dennis Schwartz, Ozus' World Movie Reviews

    Plays against convention by raising scary questions about leadership.

  • Chuck O'Leary, Fantastica Daily

    A criminally underrated adventure classic.

  • Nick Schager, Lessons of Darkness

    Gets exciting mileage out of examining male codes of honor and behavior.

  • David Cornelius, eFilmCritic.com

    This is a different kind of action movie, but it's all the better for it.

Read all 8 critic reviews

Critic ratings and reviews powered by RottenTomatoes.com

Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)

Rotten (59% or fewer critics rated the movie positively)

Featured Audience Ratings

  • Jens S


    This adventure about a couple of men crash landing in the desert and trying to build a new plane from the remains while their egos are crushing is a true classic. The acting, even though over the top a few times, which may be a sign of the times, is outstanding and makes you feel as… More

  • jay n


    A trifle long but loaded with good performances and an interesting story. Greatly superior to terrible recent remake.

  • xGary X


    A brilliant cast are stranded in the desert and have to stop pulling in different directions to work for a common cause: escape. Very talky and featuring some dubious analogies, but the great dialogue and performances make for a gripping tale.

  • Dimitris S


    Buddy movies are repulsive.Skinless the least.And how has Aldrich restored my faith on those action boiled themes?It was easy after 30 minutes of his reviving Phoenix.The malevolent desert,the terrific cast,the insignificance of life lest that darned plane sets off.

Cast

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