Con Air

Con Air is a 1997 American action thriller film directed by Simon West (in his feature directorial debut) and starring Nicolas Cage, John Cusack and John Malkovich in the lead roles. Written by Scott Rosenberg and produced by Jerry Bruckheimer, the film centers on a prison break aboard a JPATS aircraft, nicknamed as "Con Air". It features an ensemble supporting cast of Steve Buscemi, Ving Rhames, Colm Meaney, Mykelti Williamson and Rachel Ticotin, with Monica Potter, Dave Chappelle, M. C. Gainey, and Danny Trejo in minor roles.

Con Air was released theatrically on June 6, 1997 by Buena Vista Pictures through Touchstone Pictures and was a box office success, grossing over $224 million against a production budget of $75 million. The film received mixed reviews from critics, who praised the acting, musical score and action sequences but criticized the inconsistent tone, direction and character development. The film achieved a cult following among action aficionados and the Nicolas Cage fanbase. It received Oscar nominations for Best Sound and Best Original Song for "How Do I Live", performed on the soundtrack by Trisha Yearwood.

Plot

Decorated honorably discharged Army Ranger Cameron Poe is convicted of involuntary manslaughter for killing a bar patron in self-defense when the other man drunkenly attacks him and his pregnant wife, Tricia. During his eight-year sentence, he writes letters to Tricia and their daughter Casey, whom he has never met. Eight years later, he is paroled and boards a flight to Alabama on the Jailbird, a Fairchild C-123 Provider converted to a prison transport plane, so he can be reunited with his family on Casey’s birthday. Accompanying Poe is his diabetic cellmate and best friend Mike "Baby-O" O'Dell.