Con Air (1997)

Con Air (1997), directed by Simon West and produced by Jerry Bruckheimer, is an explosive, high-adrenaline action thriller that takes place almost entirely aboard a hijacked prison transport plane. Known for its over-the-top characters and iconic one-liners, the film has become a cult classic of 1990s action cinema.

Detailed Summary

Introduction: Meet Cameron Poe

Cameron Poe (Nicolas Cage) is an Army Ranger who accidentally kills a drunk man while defending his pregnant wife in a bar fight. Despite acting in self-defense, Poe is sentenced to 7–10 years in prison. He serves his time quietly, reading letters from his wife and awaiting the day he can meet his daughter for the first time.

Upon his parole, Poe is placed on a flight transporting some of the country’s most dangerous criminals to a new supermax facility. He just wants to get home—but, of course, things don’t go as planned.

The Takeover

The flight, nicknamed “Con Air,” is meant to be secure, but it quickly becomes a high-stakes nightmare. The convicts, led by Cyrus “The Virus” Grissom (John Malkovich), have an intricate escape plan. With the help of a smuggled-in weapon, they take over the plane, kill the guards, and attempt to fly to a non-extradition country.

Poe decides to keep his parole status secret in order to stay on board and protect his diabetic cellmate, Baby-O (Mykelti Williamson), and a female prison guard (Rachel Ticotin) being held hostage. He poses as just another inmate while sabotaging the convicts’ plans from the inside.

Landing in Carson City

The plane makes a scheduled stop in Carson City to offload and take on new prisoners. Here, Poe tries to sneak a message to U.S. Marshal Vince Larkin (John Cusack), who begins to suspect that Poe is not just another criminal.

Meanwhile, DEA agent Duncan Malloy (Colm Meaney), more trigger-happy than strategic, wants to blow the plane out of the sky, causing friction with Larkin who insists there’s a better way.

Lerner Airfield and the Plot Unravels

The convicts plan to switch planes at a remote desert airfield. However, the deal falls apart when the plane meant to pick them up is destroyed. Chaos erupts at the airfield, and Poe seizes the opportunity to further undermine Cyrus’s plan.

Larkin arrives by helicopter and begins to believe in Poe’s true intentions. Still, the convicts manage to take off again, forcing a climactic final act in the skies above Las Vegas.

Movie Ending

In the action-packed finale, the plane crashes onto the Las Vegas Strip after a chaotic chase with law enforcement. The crash is spectacular and symbolic—this is the moment Poe can finally put the nightmare behind him.

As the plane skids through the city, it takes out signs, cars, and nearly plows into a casino. Most of the remaining convicts are either dead or captured, but a few, including Cyrus, survive the crash. Poe chases Cyrus, leading to a final showdown. Cyrus is launched through the air and impaled on a construction site, ending his reign of terror.

After the dust settles, Poe finally meets his daughter for the first time. He gives her a stuffed bunny he’s protected throughout the film—a symbol of his love and hope. The moment is emotional and cathartic. The movie ends with Garland Greene (Steve Buscemi), the creepy serial killer, somehow surviving and enjoying a drink at a casino, setting a darkly humorous tone for the credits.

Are There Post-Credits Scenes?

No, Con Air does not have any post-credits scenes. The film ends after the final sequence in Las Vegas and a brief scene with Garland Greene, followed by the standard credits roll.

Type of Movie

Con Air is a high-octane action thriller with elements of crime, drama, and dark humor. It’s a classic example of the 1990s “high concept” action film, where big stunts and bold characters take center stage.

Cast

• Nicolas Cage as Cameron Poe
• John Cusack as U.S. Marshal Vince Larkin
• John Malkovich as Cyrus “The Virus” Grissom
• Ving Rhames as Nathan “Diamond Dog” Jones
• Steve Buscemi as Garland “The Marietta Mangler” Greene
• Colm Meaney as DEA Agent Duncan Malloy
• Mykelti Williamson as “Baby-O”
• Danny Trejo as Johnny-23

Film Music and Composer

The film’s score was composed by Mark Mancina, known for his work on Speed and Bad Boys. The soundtrack also includes “How Do I Live” by Trisha Yearwood, which became a major hit and was nominated for both an Academy Award and a Golden Raspberry (go figure).

Filming Locations

• Salt Lake City International Airport, Utah – Used for the early prison scenes.
• Wendover Airport, Utah – Doubled as Lerner Airfield.
• Las Vegas Strip, Nevada – The final plane crash scene was partially filmed on location and partially recreated with models and visual effects.

These locations were chosen for their expansive, open landscapes and iconic visuals. The final Las Vegas scene adds a symbolic layer of “chaotic freedom” to the climax.

Awards and Nominations

• Academy Award Nominations (1998):
  • Best Original Song (“How Do I Live”)
  • Best Sound
• Razzie Award Nominations:
  • Worst Original Song (“How Do I Live”)
  • Worst Reckless Disregard for Human Life and Public Property

Despite the mixed critical reception, the film was commercially successful and loved by action fans.

Behind the Scenes Insights

• Nicolas Cage insisted on performing many of his own stunts.
• He also trained with military advisors to adopt realistic combat movement.
• The long-haired, Southern-accented Poe was Cage’s idea—he wanted the character to be more grounded and sympathetic.
• Steve Buscemi’s character, though extremely dark, was played with such charm that test audiences ended up loving him.
• A real C-123 Provider military aircraft was used for filming many of the exterior plane scenes.

Inspirations and References

The film is an original script but draws heavily on:

• Classic prison break tropes
• Disaster and hijack films like Die Hard, The Rock, and Under Siege
• The character Garland Greene is loosely inspired by real-life serial killers like Charles Manson, giving a disturbing but strangely compelling vibe.

Alternate Endings and Deleted Scenes

A few deleted scenes involve:

• More character background on Baby-O and Poe’s prison relationship.
• An extended final confrontation with Cyrus that was trimmed for pacing.
• An alternate ending where Garland Greene’s escape is made more sinister, but test audiences preferred the ambiguous version.

Book Adaptations and Differences

There is no official novel the film is based on, but it was novelized after its release. The book adaptation includes deeper backstories and internal monologues, particularly for Garland Greene and Cyrus.

Memorable Scenes and Quotes

Key Scenes

• The initial takeover of the plane.
• Garland Greene’s creepy yet philosophical chat with a young girl in an abandoned pool.
• The Las Vegas crash sequence, one of the most famous action scenes of the 1990s.

Iconic Quotes

• “Put the bunny back in the box.” – Cameron Poe
• “Make a move and the bunny gets it.” – Johnny-23
• “Define irony: A bunch of idiots dancing around on a plane to a song made famous by a band that died in a plane crash.” – Garland Greene

Easter Eggs and Hidden Details

• The number on the plane is “Jailbird”, a nod to its mission and inmates.
• The stuffed bunny became a cult symbol and has since been referenced in other Cage films like Face/Off.
• Garland Greene’s philosophical musings are actually quotes from famous thinkers, adding a weird layer of intellect to his character.

Trivia

• The Las Vegas crash scene cost over $1 million to film and used a mix of full-size mockups and miniature models.
• The song “How Do I Live” was recorded by both Trisha Yearwood and LeAnn Rimes—studio politics decided Yearwood’s version would be used in the film.
• John Malkovich admitted he had no idea what was happening in the script half the time but did it because he liked the villain role.

Why Watch?

Watch Con Air for:

• Classic 1990s action mayhem
• A bizarre but endearing mix of melodrama and testosterone
• Nicolas Cage in peak action-hero form
• An ensemble of memorable, weirdly charismatic villains
• Unintentional comedy that aged into genuine cult status

Director’s Other Movies

• Lara Croft: Tomb Raider (2001)
• The General’s Daughter (1999)
• When a Stranger Calls (2006)
• The Mechanic (2011)

Recommended Films for Fans

• The Rock (1996)
• Face/Off (1997)
• Air Force One (1997)
• Under Siege (1992)
• Die Hard (1988)
• Gone in 60 Seconds (2000)