30 Years Ago, This Kurt Russell Action Movie Made A Ballsy Move That Still Holds Up Today

Warner Bros. Pictures

The 1980s and 1990s were a aureate property for Hollywood action movies. They came successful each shapes and sizes: low-budget exploitation ("The Exterminator"), mid-range vehicles for B-level stars (anything pinch Charles Bronson), and blockbuster-level extravaganzas. That past class came loaded pinch risks, moreover if your lead was 1 of nan biggest stars successful nan world. Sylvester Stallone tripped up pinch bombs for illustration "Assassins." Arnold Schwarzenegger misfired pinch "Last Action Hero." And Bruce Willis grounded to battalion 'em successful pinch "Last Man Standing."

"Executive Decision" deed theaters successful nan outpouring of 1996 facing a unsocial conundrum. The "'Die Hard' connected a plane" riff had already been done to profitable effect pinch nan Wesley Snipes-led "Passenger 57," but "Predator" screenwriters Jim and John Thomas outfitted their book pinch a bold twist that would either hook audiences aliases nonstop them headed for nan exits. The movie was sold arsenic a two-hander: Kurt Russell stars arsenic Dr. David Grant, a U.S. Army Intelligence advisor who joins a Special Ops squad led by Steven Seagal's Lieutenant Colonel Austin Travis to defuse a explosive planted by Chechen terrorists connected a Boeing 747. There's conscionable one, beautiful large hitch: They person to dock pinch nan level via a stealth pitchy and deposit Grant and nan soldiers connected nan Boeing without raising nan suspicions of nan hijackers.

That, amazingly, is not nan twist. Moviegoers who bought their tickets hoping to spot Seagal show disconnected his martial arts expertise were successful for a immense surprise: 40 minutes into nan film, erstwhile nan docking cognition goes southbound owed to turbulence, Seagal sacrifices himself to guarantee everyone other gets connected committee nan plane. Audiences responded positively, though nan movie wasn't arsenic large of a deed arsenic expected.

Warner Bros. Pictures

If you're acquainted pinch Steven Seagal's filmography, you cognize that nan feline prefers his characters to brutally dispatch bad guys successful lopsided fights. In his prime, it was uncommon for an force to laic truthful overmuch arsenic a digit connected him. So, it was a daze erstwhile he consented to an onscreen decease early successful a movie sold successful portion connected his beingness (though nan infinitesimal was, successful retrospect, heavy teased successful nan film's trailer).

While Seagal was cool pinch dying heroically, he balked astatine nan mode of his death, which recovered his caput exploding erstwhile nan docking portal came unmoored from nan Boeing. Instead, we spot his assemblage autumn retired of nan portal mid-air.

A bully number of critics dug this twist (Gene Siskel and Roger Ebert gave nan movie 2 thumbs up), while audiences signaled their support by giving nan movie an A- Cinemascore. I deliberation "Executive Decision" is simply a terrifically tense workplace action flick boosted by a stellar supporting formed that includes Halle Berry, Joe Morton, John Leguizamo, and David Suchet, on pinch taut guidance by legendary movie editor Stuart Baird. And yet, it only grossed $122 cardinal astatine nan world container agency against a $55 cardinal budget.

"Executive Decision" opened successful 2nd spot down nan wildly celebrated "The Birdcage." This wasn't a complete surprise. Kurt Russell playing a tuxedoed intelligence went against his tough-guy type, while Seagal's fame was connected nan wane. It's excessively bad because nan movie is really an ensemble portion that plays for illustration a little jingoistic "The Delta Force." If you've ne'er seen "Executive Decision," it's presently disposable to rent connected Prime Video and Apple TV. So, spell up and dainty yourself to 1 of nan 1990s' astir underrated action movies.