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Executive Decision

Executive Decision

Action · Adventure · Drama · 1996

Terrorists hijack a 747 inbound to Washington D.C., demanding the release of their imprisoned leader. Intelligence expert David Grant suspects another reason and he is soon the reluctant member of a special assault team that is assigned to intercept the plane and hijackers.

Movie details

Executive Decision

“Five miles above the earth, an elite team of six men must make an air to air transfer, in order to save 400 lives on board a 747...and 40 million below.”

1996 Action · Adventure · Drama 2h 12m

Critical arithmetic

One number, for now.

TMDB

6.3 / 10

Community rating

Terrorists hijack a 747 inbound to Washington D.C., demanding the release of their imprisoned leader. Intelligence expert David Grant suspects another reason and he is soon the reluctant member of a special assault team that is assigned to intercept the plane and hijackers.

CriticWise case file

What this film says about your taste.

Not a recommendation score. A measure of how closely the film’s taste signals resemble yours.

The archetype split

Who fights over Executive Decision?

The split comes from the same five-axis model used by the test, not audience ratings or review sentiment.

Taste neighbourhood

Nearby on the taste map.

TMDB supplies the candidates. CriticWise reorders them by craft, strangeness, prestige, emotion, and pace.

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Where it lives

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Names above the title

The people responsible.

Directed by

Stuart Baird

Written by

Jim Thomas · John Thomas

Kurt Russell

Kurt Russell

David Grant

Steven Seagal

Steven Seagal

Lt. Colonel Austin Travis

Halle Berry

Halle Berry

Jean

John Leguizamo

John Leguizamo

Rat

Oliver Platt

Oliver Platt

Cahill

Joe Morton

Joe Morton

Cappy

David Suchet

David Suchet

Nagi Hassan

Court is in session

Put Executive Decision on trial.

Two incompatible taste archetypes. One film. Read the arguments, then issue a completely binding cultural ruling.

The defence The Adrenaline Seeker

“Momentum is a formal choice.”

The velocity sharpens instinct and tension, making every beat land before self-importance can settle in.

The prosecution The Auteur Devotee

“Speed as an alibi.”

The film races past its weak spots and hopes acceleration will keep the audience from inspecting the evidence.