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Turbulence

  • 1997
  • R
  • 1h 40m
IMDb RATING
5.0/10
13K
YOUR RATING
Turbulence (1997)
After a shootout on a flight transporting prisoners, a flight attendant must outwit a smooth-talking serial killer and land the plane herself.
Play trailer2:00
1 Video
49 Photos
Dark ComedyPsychological ThrillerActionThriller

After a shootout on a flight transporting prisoners, a flight attendant must outwit a smooth-talking serial killer and land the plane herself.After a shootout on a flight transporting prisoners, a flight attendant must outwit a smooth-talking serial killer and land the plane herself.After a shootout on a flight transporting prisoners, a flight attendant must outwit a smooth-talking serial killer and land the plane herself.

  • Director
    • Robert Butler
  • Writer
    • Jonathan Brett
  • Stars
    • Ray Liotta
    • Lauren Holly
    • Brendan Gleeson
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    5.0/10
    13K
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • Robert Butler
    • Writer
      • Jonathan Brett
    • Stars
      • Ray Liotta
      • Lauren Holly
      • Brendan Gleeson
    • 118User reviews
    • 54Critic reviews
  • See production info at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 4 nominations total

    Videos1

    Official Trailer
    Trailer 2:00
    Official Trailer

    Photos49

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    + 43
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    Top cast50

    Edit
    Ray Liotta
    Ray Liotta
    • Ryan Weaver
    Lauren Holly
    Lauren Holly
    • Teri Halloran
    Brendan Gleeson
    Brendan Gleeson
    • Stubbs
    Hector Elizondo
    Hector Elizondo
    • Detective Aldo Hines
    Rachel Ticotin
    Rachel Ticotin
    • Rachel Taper
    Jeffrey DeMunn
    Jeffrey DeMunn
    • Brooks
    John Finn
    John Finn
    • Sinclair
    Ben Cross
    Ben Cross
    • Captain Sam Bowen
    Catherine Hicks
    Catherine Hicks
    • Maggie
    Heidi Kling
    Heidi Kling
    • Betty
    Gordy Owens
    • Carl
    J. Kenneth Campbell
    J. Kenneth Campbell
    • Captain Matt Powell
    James MacDonald
    James MacDonald
    • First Officer Ted Kary
    Michael Harney
    Michael Harney
    • Marshall Douglas
    Grand L. Bush
    Grand L. Bush
    • Marshall Arquette
    Richard Hoyt-Miller
    • Marshall Riordan
    • (as Richard Hoyt Miller)
    Michael Francis Kelly
    • Marshall Green
    • (as Michael F. Kelly)
    Alan Bergmann
    Alan Bergmann
    • Mr. Kramer
    • Director
      • Robert Butler
    • Writer
      • Jonathan Brett
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    User reviews118

    5.013.2K
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    10

    Featured reviews

    7ccthemovieman-1

    Lots of Fun, But Check Your Brains At The Door

    Here's one of those films that wears you out. By the end, you're exhausted. I really liked this the first two times but three viewings were enough. By then, the absurdity of the whole thing had fried what few brain cells I have left.

    Ray Liotta is excellent as the psycho serial killer who puts on a charming Ted Bundy-like appearance for a short while before publicly showing his insanity. He's fascinating, start to finish here, even providing some very humorous lines.

    I wish I could say I enjoyed the other people in here but, except for Ben Cross, I couldn't. Lauren Holly, the female star of the film, is decent for much of the "ride" but becomes annoying and totally non-believable in the final phase of the film, becoming out-of-character profane and nasty herself. (Of course, her flight did turn out to be a tiny bit stressful which might have affected her patience. ha ha)

    Of course, with a film like this, there are going to be some severe questions with credibility, but when did that ever stop filmmakers? Other reviewers in here have already detailed some of the non--sensible parts, so no need to dwell on that. This is not brainfood: it's just escapist entertainment for a night, something to show your girlfriend so she'll hold onto you during all the suspense!

    Anyway, I enjoyed the special effects, especially with the plane smashing a few buildings, and the sound was awesome, at least on the DVD. For much of the flight, they are flying through a storm and the rumbles form the shaking airliner, was dramatic.
    5=G=

    How's this for rationalizing?

    There's a bizarre human appetite for that which is awful. From lookie-looing at traffic accidents to Man Show mooks to Lettreman's stupid pet tricks to worst home videos, etc., people like to watch people being stupid, outrageous, and ridiculous. Therein lies the appeal of "Turbulence", a not-to-be-taken-seriously white knuckle ride into the realm of the ridiculous with Holly as the "Stew" who's got to save a 747 jumbo jet with a handful of passengers against all odds including one very whacked out serial killer (Liotta). Ok, ok...this movie is stupid. However, for those who can get to that place in their heads where they don't intellectualize, just go with it, and enjoy the humor-tinged hair raising suspense and silliness, 100 minutes of entertainment awaits. (C)
    zippgun

    Hokum-and hugely entertaining

    Many people are very critical of this movie-but it does have some fans,including me!Okay,the whole thing is full of absurdities-but so what!Butler takes the old "stewardess flies the plane" cliche,runs with it,and delivers an enormously entertaining slice of hokum.The formula is paired down to basics,as mad serial killer Weaver(Ray Liotta),creates havoc aboard the plane,determined it will crash into L.A.-so he can go out in a blaze of vengeful glory.All that stands in his way is plucky flight attendant Teri(Lauren Holly).The stage is set for a frantic live action "Tom and Jerry" wing ding between monstrous male psycho predator,and winsome female "prey". Liotta really seems to be enjoying himself here,and is given lots of goofy "psycho speak" to deliver with relish.Weaver has a sense of humor too!"I'm never flying this airline again!",he shouts to himself,after being tumbled backwards down some stairs,a leg painfully crushed in a door. Then there's Terri-cute,willowy and Bambi eyed-I found myself pretty upset seeing what poor Teri goes through in this movie!But despite insults,threats,punches,assaults,smoke attacks and all,she has the moxie to keep going.Battered,bruised and bloodied she still looks stunning!And at the beginning,we are told some guy just broke off his engagement to THIS girl!HE must've been crazier than Weaver!
    seashellz

    Pointless squared

    at first I thought I had stumbled upon a TV "Movie of the Week" Then I realised we had seen it all before; Then I thought, "People would PAY money to see this?" Tho the gal that lands the plane was good-and cute, too.
    ddd3

    Your life is too short...

    Don't watch this film. It will plant the idea that flight crew really

    might be this stupid in your mind and make you afraid to fly. This is

    one of those movies where no-one does anything sensible, from the

    pilot, who, knowing that there are two violent criminals on board his

    'plane, hears gunshots and goes out to see what's happening, to the

    stewardess who's locked herself in the cabin because she KNOWS what's

    going on, and then comes out because the bad guy tells her that her

    friend is asking for her, despite the trifling fact that the cops, the

    FBI, and the ground crew have all told her that her friend is probably

    already dead, and they need her in the cabin to monitor what the

    'plane's doing or everyone will be dead anyway.

    You will, however, be pleased to learn that, after being set alight,

    flying into a casino and a parking garage, having a truck wedged on its

    undercarriage, and being fired at by a fighter plane (Not to mention

    the scene, right out of 'Airplane', where the 'plane flies upside down

    for a while, entirely of its own volition...), the aeroplane itself

    emerges unscathed.

    This isn't so bad that it's good, it's so bad that it should have been

    strangled at birth, and I'm a pacifist by nature.

    More like this

    Turbulence 2: Fear of Flying
    4.3
    Turbulence 2: Fear of Flying
    Turbulence 3: Heavy Metal
    3.7
    Turbulence 3: Heavy Metal
    Turbulence
    4.8
    Turbulence
    Inferno
    5.2
    Inferno
    Boiling Point
    5.0
    Boiling Point
    Liberty Stands Still
    5.7
    Liberty Stands Still
    Maniac Cop 3: Badge of Silence
    5.0
    Maniac Cop 3: Badge of Silence
    Chill Factor
    5.2
    Chill Factor
    Hard Rain
    5.9
    Hard Rain
    Passenger 57
    5.9
    Passenger 57
    Money Train
    5.7
    Money Train
    Firestorm
    4.8
    Firestorm

    Related interests

    Phoebe Waller-Bridge and Sian Clifford in Fleabag (2016)
    Dark Comedy
    Rosamund Pike in Gone Girl (2014)
    Psychological Thriller
    Bruce Willis in Die Hard (1988)
    Action
    Cho Yeo-jeong in Parasite (2019)
    Thriller

    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Despite being a box-office failure when released theatrically, two direct-to-video sequels were made. This was due to the movie being one of the most rented home videos of 1997.
    • Goofs
      When the pressure hull is breached, the copilot declares an emergency and requests permission to descend immediately, but Air Traffic Control says to maintain altitude due to traffic below. What should happen is that he starts the emergency descent first, then tells ATC what he's doing, and they immediately divert the other traffic to give him priority.
    • Quotes

      Ryan Weaver: Alright, I need a volunteer for a dangerous mission.

      [pulls out three circuit boards]

      Ryan Weaver: You, You, You,OK,You

      [pulls the main circuit board and gets electrocuted]

      Ryan Weaver: OW! WHOA, WHOA, Ok, you can stay.

    • Connections
      Featured in WatchMojo: Top 10 Airplane Crashes in Movies (2014)
    • Soundtracks
      Carol o' the Bells
      Written by Mykola Dmytrovych Leontovych

      (Incorrectly credited as Traditional)

      Arranged by Shirley Walker

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    FAQ19

    • How long is Turbulence?Powered by Alexa

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • January 10, 1997 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Thảm Họa Máy Bay
    • Filming locations
      • Clinton, New Jersey, USA
    • Production company
      • Rysher Entertainment
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • $55,000,000 (estimated)
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $11,538,235
    • Opening weekend US & Canada
      • $4,464,008
      • Jan 12, 1997
    • Gross worldwide
      • $11,538,235
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Tech specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      • 1h 40m(100 min)
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • DTS
      • Dolby Digital
      • SDDS
    • Aspect ratio
      • 2.35 : 1

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