Fight or Flight (2025)

Movie · 2025 · Action, Comedy, Thriller · 1h 42m · R · English

Curator score: 2.1/10 (81.5K ratings)

This flight goes nonstop to hell.

Overview

A mercenary takes on the job of tracking down a target on a plane but must protect that target when they're surrounded by people trying to kill both of them.

Ratings

Director

James Madigan

Production

The Royal Budapest Film Company, Asbury Park Pictures, F or F Films, Liam Jay Films, Vertical

Cast

Josh Hartnett, Charithra Chandran, Katee Sackhoff, Marko Zaror, JuJu Chan, Julian Kostov, Hughie O'Donnell, Rebecka Johnston, Nóra Trokán, Sarah Lam, Willem van der Vegt, Sanjeev Kohli, Declan Baxter, Irén Bordán, Ágota Dunai, Danny Ashok, Jyuddah Jaymes, Attila Árpa, Anabelle Daisy Grundberg, Narantsogt Tsogtsaikhan

Where to watch

fuboTV, Paramount Plus Premium, Bloodstream

Curator Review

Verdict

A compact, knowingly silly action-comedy that gets mileage out of its airplane setting, brisk pacing, and Josh Hartnett’s committed performance. The action is generally clear and inventive for the budget, but the story is familiar and the jokes won’t land equally for everyone.

Best for

  • Viewers who enjoy B-movie action with a self-aware streak
  • Fans of claustrophobic one-location thrillers
  • People looking for a lighter, bloodier alternative to slicker action franchises
  • Audiences who like charismatic lead performances carrying a modest production

Skip if

  • You want polished, big-budget action spectacle
  • You dislike broad humor or knowingly ridiculous premises
  • You’re tired of the secret-assassin / criminal underworld formula
  • You need a fresh story rather than a familiar genre remix

Overview

Fight or Flight is the kind of mid-budget genre mashup that lives or dies on execution, and this one mostly survives on energy. The airplane setting gives the fights a nice pressure-cooker feel, and the choreography is staged with enough clarity that the chaos stays readable instead of mushy. It’s not reinventing anything, but it knows how to keep moving.

Worth noting

The movie’s biggest asset is Josh Hartnett, who leans into the absurdity with real commitment and makes the whole thing feel looser and more fun than its setup suggests. The humor is hit-or-miss, but when it works, it gives the violence a playful snap. The result is more scrappy than sleek, more rowdy than polished.

Bottom line

If you’re in the mood for a disposable but entertaining action diversion, this is an easy enough recommendation. If you’re hoping for something sharper, smarter, or more original than the recent wave of assassin-comedy hybrids, it may feel like a familiar altitude with a few good turbulence bumps.

Top Letterboxd reviews

NSerzh (2.5★) · 1286 likes

JUST KILD SOMONE

joe (3★) · 1269 likes

blonde josh hartnett covered in blood.

Kit Lazer (3.5★) · 1201 likes

This movie is ridiculous. It’s dumb as hell. Silly as shit. Very similar to Bullet Train in both plot and tone but made with a fraction of the budget. And it kinda…rocks? I love Josh Hartnett, and this is very impressive for a feature debut from James Madigan; the action is bonkers but clear and the comedy is well-timed. Fuck it, watch it.

Joel (3★) · 587 likes

My new goal in life is to one day have as much fun as I imagine Josh Hartnett had filming this stupid movie.

cob (3★) · 568 likes

save me josh hartnett covered in blood

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Topics

action-comedy, thriller, airplane, claustrophobic, mercenary, assassins, buddy chaos, violent, fast-paced, B-movie

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