Gary Oldman has built a career on playing characters who are equal parts brilliant and unhinged, often with a touch of chaos. These days, audiences know him as the eccentric Jackson Lamb in Slow Horses, but nearly three decades ago, he was making life a living nightmare for a different kind of leader—this time, a fictional U.S. President played by Harrison Ford.
That film is Air Force One, the 1997 action thriller directed by Wolfgang Petersen, which has just landed on Netflix. The movie was a massive hit when it first hit theaters, grossing approximately $315.2 million worldwide against a reported $85 million budget. It's a classic example of high-stakes action done right, and it's now available for a whole new audience to discover.
The plot is simple but effective: President James Marshall (Ford) is flying home after a successful diplomatic trip to Russia, where his tough-on-terrorism speech has been met with applause. But his journey takes a terrifying turn when a group of terrorists, led by the unhinged Ivan Korshunov (Oldman), hijacks Air Force One. What follows is a tense, action-packed battle of wits and wills as the President—a former Medal of Honor recipient—fights to save his family, his staff, and his country.
The film's success hinges on the chemistry between Ford and Oldman. Ford brings his signature everyman heroism to the role, making the President both relatable and formidable. Oldman, meanwhile, is gloriously over-the-top as the villain, delivering a performance that's both menacing and wildly entertaining. Their dynamic elevates the film beyond a simple action flick into something truly iconic.
The supporting cast is equally impressive, featuring Glenn Close as Vice President Kathryn Bennett, Wendy Crewson as First Lady Grace Marshall, Liesel Matthews as daughter Alice, William H. Macy as Major Norman Caldwell, Dean Stockwell as Defense Secretary Walter Dean, and Xander Berkeley as Secret Service agent Gibbs. Each actor adds depth to the story, making the stakes feel real.
Air Force One was a box office juggernaut, opening with $37.1 million domestically and finishing with $173 million in North America, plus another $142.2 million overseas. It holds a 78% critics' score on Rotten Tomatoes, with praise going to Ford's commanding performance and Oldman's delightfully unhinged villain. It's a film that knows exactly what it is and delivers on every level.
If you're in the mood for a classic 90s action thriller, Air Force One is now streaming on Netflix. And if you're a fan of Oldman's work, you might also want to check out his Oscar-winning turn in Darkest Hour, which is currently on Prime Video. For more action-packed streaming picks, see Bruce Willis's Looper and Brad Pitt's Fury, both also on Netflix.
