Action films these days, particularly ones that are working on a lower budget, live or die on what their main hook is. This often comes down to a statement like “It’s ‘EX big budget hit action movie’ but with…”, such as Under Siege being Die Hard on an aircraft carrier or Nobody being John Wick with a suburban dad. It’s a tricky formula to pull off, as one too many similarities can easily make a prospective action hit go from a twist on a more well-known concept to a shameless knockoff. In the case of Fight or Flight, which is essentially David Leitch’s Bullet Train but on an airplane, the result is closer to the former.
In addition to being the feature directorial debut of James Madigan, Fight or Flight also continues an ambitious return to the spotlight for Black Hawk Down star Josh Hartnett. After being part of the ensemble cast in the Best Picture-winning Oppenheimer and leading the divisive-yet-successful M. Night Shyamalan thriller Trap, Hartnett has been setting the stage for a well-deserved comeback. Any good comeback needs some variety and versatility, and Fight or Flight has plenty of that in its completely absurd premise paired with some very impressive action scenes that allow Hartnett to let loose and have some fun.
What Is ‘Fight or Flight’ About?

Fight or Flight’s “man with a particular set of skills” for its roughly hour-and-a-half flight time is none other than Lucas Reyes (Josh Hartnett) — a former government operative who’s been stranded abroad after a mission went sour. That’s until he’s brought back into the fold by the very person who scorned him, Katherine Brunt (Katee Sackhoff), who gives Reyes a proposition he can’t possibly refuse. Brunt wants Reyes to get on a flight that is said to have an international terrorist known as “The Ghost” onboard, and while nobody knows what they look like, Reyes needs to find them and bring them back to the U.S. alive. There’s just one problem — The Ghost has a multi-million-dollar bounty on their head and now the plane is infested with dozens of ruthless assassins ready to collect. Since it’s virtually impossible to tell who’s a friend and who’s a foe, Reyes enlists the help of a flight attendant (Charithra Chandran) to try and find a way off this flight from hell.
As alluded to earlier, it is almost impossible not to compare the absurd premise and darkly comedic nature of Fight or Flight to Bullet Train — the Brad Pitt-starring hit that has become an action cult classic thanks to its sharp screenplay, dynamic characters, and a truckload of Thomas the Tank Engine references. The comparison alone doesn’t do Fight or Flight too many favors, as Bullet Train certainly has the edge in most areas, especially when it comes to the slower dramatic moments. Those are the times when Fight or Flight really screeches to a halt, but thankfully, those moments are made up for some truly great action setpieces.
‘Fight or Flight’s Action Scenes Are Where the Film Truly Shines

Image via Thunder Road Pictures

For the action to be this well-choreographed and directed by a first-time feature filmmaker is truly impressive, and James Madigan should be commended for how well-done and well-shot the action in the film is. This is made even more impressive by the extremely claustrophobic setting, yet the action always feels in focus and cleverly edited. Strong music choices and practical stuntwork only elevate the sequences even further. From an opening struggle in a bathroom to an absolutely bonkers finale — not to mention a wholly unexpected, random, and hilarious scene involving two Mormon missionaries — there is a lot of great stuff for action fans to chew on here, even if they all require a large level of disbelief suspension.

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Where nobody onboard noticing anything felt like an understandable convenience in Bullet Train, here in Fight or Flight, it’s just outright unexplainable. For a good chunk of the runtime, guns are shot and bodies are laid out in plain sight, and yet there’s always some unbelievable reason why none of the plane’s non-murderous passengers have noticed. It’s a deeply unserious approach, but Fight or Flight is also clearly an unserious movie in more positive ways than negative.
Josh Hartnett seems like he’s having a blast in the movie, and he demonstrates a welcome knack for physical comedy that’s up there with many of the greats. While Lucas Reyes may not have the nuances of a character like Trap’s Cooper, Reyes still has plenty of likability and charm that will suit B-movie action fans just fine. Fight or Flight’s supporting cast members are also very solid, with both Katee Sackhoff and Charithra Chandran being standout examples.
‘Fight or Flight’ Is Helping Lead a Strong Start to the 2025 Summer Movie Season

Image via Vertical

Fight or Flight may not be narratively deep (bar a pretty clever twist in the third act), but it does have one thing that many movie fans and action fans in particular have been craving more of — fun, and lots of it. In an age of big-budget blockbusters, it’s always refreshing when a sleeper lower-budget B-movie feels up to the quality of its blockbuster competitors. It’s that exact situation that led a somewhat obscure action flick following a man’s vengeance for his dead dog into one of the biggest and most iconic franchises today, and if the ambiguous ending of Fight or Flight is any indicator, this might not be the last stop for Lucas Reyes.
Even before we get to July’s hat trick of Jurassic World Rebirth, Superman, and The Fantastic Four: First Steps, summer 2025 is already looking like one of the best summers for movies in a while. Along with the unprecedented box office success of Sinners and the Marvel movie formerly known as Thunderbolts* becoming a critical darling, Fight or Flight being one of the year’s most pleasant surprises only adds to that further. It may not reinvent the wheel for tightly-knit actioners, but Fight or Flight still sticks the landing for a crowd-pleasing and chaotic thrill ride.
Fight or Flight comes to theaters on May 9.

Fight or Flight

Even with some turbulence, Fight or Flight’s action spectacle is as smooth as butter.

Release Date

May 9, 2025

Runtime

102 minutes

Director

James Madigan

Pros & Cons

Top notch action scenes that are as absurd as they are fun.
Josh Hartnett feels right at home in an action-comedy.
‘Fight or Flight’ makes great use of its claustrophobic setting.

Suspension of disbelief can only be stretched so much.
The slower moments don’t hit as hard as the faster paced ones.