Movie · 2023 · Drama, History · 1h 52m · R · English
Curator score: 6.0/10 (719.1K ratings)
Some icons are meant to fly.
Overview
Discover the game-changing partnership between a then undiscovered Michael Jordan and Nike's fledgling basketball division which revolutionized the world of sports and culture with the Air Jordan brand.
Matt Damon, Jason Bateman, Ben Affleck, Chris Messina, Viola Davis, Julius Tennon, Damian Young, Chris Tucker, Matthew Maher, Gustaf Skarsgård, Barbara Sukowa, Jay Mohr, Joel Gretsch, Michael O'Neill, Marlon Wayans, Asanté Deshon, Billy Smith, Al Madrigal, Jackson Damon, Dan Bucatinsky
Where to watch
Amazon Prime Video, Amazon Prime Video with Ads
Curator Review
Verdict
A slick, crowd-pleasing business drama with strong performances and a surprisingly warm sense of humor. It turns a corporate origin story into an entertaining underdog movie about instinct, persuasion, and the value of betting on greatness early.
Best for
Viewers who like smart, dialogue-driven workplace dramas
Fans of sports-adjacent stories without needing on-court action
Anyone who enjoys 1980s nostalgia and brand-history storytelling
Audiences who want an easy, entertaining adult drama
Skip if
You want a true sports movie with lots of game footage
You dislike boardroom talk and dealmaking
You prefer high-stakes tension over breezy, conversational storytelling
You are tired of corporate origin stories
Overview
Air is the rare corporate origin story that plays like a crowd-pleaser. Ben Affleck keeps the pace nimble and the tone loose, finding humor in conference rooms and pressure in every phone call. The movie understands that the real drama is not the shoe, but the people trying to convince each other to believe in it.
Worth noting
Matt Damon gives the film its steady center as a man who knows how to spot talent and trust his instincts, while the supporting cast keeps the banter sharp and the stakes human. The movie is less interested in sports than in persuasion, timing, and the moment a company decides to risk everything on a once-in-a-generation athlete.
Bottom line
It is polished, accessible, and designed to go down easy, but it also has enough craft to feel more than disposable. If you like movies about work, momentum, and the mythology of American success, this is an easy recommendation.
Top Letterboxd reviews
coffee (3.5★) · 8904 likes
middle aged white men yelling at each other about budgets for almost two hours, that’s what cinema is all about. the dad movie of the year, this shit is gonna go so crazy when i rewatch it on an airplane
steph mccann (2.5★) · 8108 likes
i was so nervous that the company Nike was going to fail
Patrick Willems (3.5★) · 6414 likes
Ben knows what the people want: movies about Matt Damon being good at his job
Alex Vlahov (5★) · 4797 likes
do the Crocs movie you cowards
Christopher Lee (4.5★) · 3825 likes
Alternative titles include:
We bought a shoe
The Jordan Identity
And
Good Air Hunting
2019 · Drama, Action, History · 2h 33m · PG-13 · Curator 8.4/10 (1.5M ratings) · Where to watch: Amazon Prime Video, fuboTV, Amazon Prime Video with Ads
Another sleek corporate-competition drama that turns expertise and obsession into entertainment.