12 Movies Like Flight Risk You Must See

Directed by Mel Gibson, ‘Flight Risk’ follows U.S. Marshal Madolyn Harris (Michelle Dockery), who has been given the difficult task of transporting a witness named Winston (Topher Grace) from Alaska to New York. He is an accountant up for a testimony against Moretti, a mobster. She boards a chartered small aircraft to fly from a remote location in Alaska to Anchorage. Daryl Booth (Mark Wahlberg) is the pilot responsible for the safe transport of the officer and the witness.

As the three start flying to Anchorage, they face threatening revelations and secrets that could foil Madolyn’s mission. With the Alaskan wilderness below them and a sense of isolation kicking in, they find it difficult to trust each other, while also looking to survive. The action thriller film raises the tension as the main characters are left with difficult choices. In this list, we bring you movies similar to ‘Flight Risk’ that will thrill and entertain you.

12. A Dark Reflection (2015)

‘A Dark Reflection’ is the story of investigative journalist Helen Eastman (Georgina Sutcliffe), who returns to the UK and takes a newspaper job to be close to her boyfriend Joe Forbes (T.J. Herbert), an air traffic controller, who has been suspended due to his alleged neglect of safety while handling Flight 313. Helen, however, uncovers a disturbing conspiracy linked to a famous aviation company. As she investigates further, a grave secret emerges, which may have grave consequences for the aviation industry and the people hiding secrets. Directed by Tristan Loraine, the British investigative thriller film, like ‘Flight Risk,’ involves intense sequences related to aviation, while also featuring female protagonists fighting against dangerous elements to complete their missions.

11. The Pilot: A Battle for Survival (2021)

Helmed by Renat Davletyarov, ‘The Pilot: A Battle for Survival’ or ‘Letchik’ chronicles the adventures of Nikolai Komlev (Pyotr Fyodorov), who crash-lands his plane under attack near a forest during the Second World War. Though he is alive, he is deep within hostile territory. What lies ahead is a harrowing ordeal that demands extreme physical and mental endurance from the protagonist. As he looks to make it out alive, he faces unforeseen challenges that may be the difference between life and death. The Russian historical drama film captures the essence of survival, redemption, and courage in ways similar to ‘Flight Risk.’ The protagonists of both stories must make difficult choices in order to achieve their goals.

10. Hijack (1998)

‘Hijack’ is an action thriller film that centers on the kidnapping of Senator Douglas Wilson (Ernie Hudson). He is trapped when he takes a train at Union Station, which gives a militia group the chance to capture him and fellow passengers. The only hope for the captured individuals is Eddie Lyman (Jeff Fahey), an agent of the ATF and fellow passengers who must fight against the criminals and stop a bomb from taking out the train, and save the lives of the passengers. But the kidnapped individuals and the agent may have to risk it all to get out of their ordeal. Directed by Worth Keeter, the narrative complements ‘Flight Risk’ due to its depiction of hostage scenarios in tense, claustrophobic settings. The element of survival is a theme that the stories have in common.

9. Skyjacked (1972)

‘Skyjacked,’ based on David Harper’s novel ‘Hijacked,’ follows Sergeant Jerome K. Weber (James Brolin), a Vietnam War veteran who hijacks a Boeing flight from Oakland to Minneapolis. He takes this drastic step to be granted permission to fly to Moscow and defect to the Soviet Union. As he demands to be flown to Anchorage in Alaska, the authorities have to handle the crisis, which seems to be escalating beyond their control. Amidst the chaos, Captain Hank O’Hara (Charlton Heston), the main pilot, must use his own skills to ensure the safety of the passengers. The action-disaster film directed by John Guillermin shares similarities with ‘Flight Risk’ due to its portrayal of hostage scenarios, claustrophobic sequences, and political angles.

8. Money Plane (2020)

In ‘Money Plane,’ a robber named Jack Reese (Adam Copeland) must do everything he can to ensure the safety of his family and manage his financial obligations to dangerous individuals. He is forcibly hired by gang leader Darius Grouch III (Kelsey Grammer), who gives him the seemingly impossible task of stealing the cryptocurrency and hard cash reserves from the “Money Plane,” an airborne casino used by elite criminals. As the protagonist and his crew strive to achieve their objectives on board the flight, they must face unexpected difficulties to survive. Directed by Andrew Lawrence, the action film is spiritually connected to ‘Flight Risk’ due to its intertwining elements of crime and survival. The main characters in both stories find themselves in close spaces where they must fight against dangerous individuals.

7. Altitude (2010)

Directed by Kaare Andrews, ‘Altitude’ is the tale of Sara (Jessica Lowndes), who, before moving to Montreal, plans a trip with her friends Sal (Jake Weary), Mel (Julianna Guill), and others. She decides to pilot the small plane herself. However, a mysterious malfunction causes the plane to lose control, trapping Sara and her four teenage friends in a terrifying, deadly battle against an inexplicable and seemingly otherworldly force. The Canadian horror film is a poignant navigation of survival, courage, and mystery within a plane, which connects it to ‘Flight Risk,’ its characters, and setting.

6. Turbulence (1997)

‘Turbulence,’ an action thriller film, chronicles the struggles of a flight attendant named Teri Halloran (Lauren Holly), who must overcome the threats posed by serial killer Ryan Weaver (Ray Liotta) after he takes control of a flight transporting him and other prisoners. Ryan eliminates the other prisoners and crew, leaving Teri as the only one left to safely land the plane while playing a deadly game with the menacing killer. The Robert Butler directorial shares similarities with ‘Flight Risk,’ as it focuses on the experiences of a female protagonist who must battle against the odds to survive. The visual choices in the narratives also forge a greater connection between them.

5. Flight (2012)

‘Flight’ is the story of alcoholic pilot Whip Whittaker (Denzel Washington), who shockingly crash-lands a plane that suffers mechanical issues. However, when the following investigations question if he was intoxicated during the flight, he enlists his drug dealer (John Goodman) and lawyer (Don Cheadle) to prepare him for the hearing. As he contends with legal issues, he must also recognize certain truths about himself in the drama film directed by Robert Zemeckis. The movie features adrenaline-fueled aviation sequences and intense moments of crisis management that make it complementary to ‘Flight Risk’ and its characters.

4. Emergency Declaration (2021)

Directed by Han Jae-rim, ‘Emergency Declaration’ or ‘Bisang seoneon’ deals with the handling of a terrorist threat by South Korean officials. When word gets out that a dangerous individual might be one of the passengers of a flight headed to the US, the authorities panic. However, when passengers begin to exhibit unusual medical issues during the flight, it poses a far greater threat. With the lives of Jae-hyuk (Lee Byung-hun) and other passengers at stake, the pilot moves towards declaring an emergency. The South Korean disaster film is a navigation of survival and the risk of aviation with dangerous individuals, which makes it similar to ‘Flight Risk.’ Both films contain adrenaline-fueled action sequences that make them complementary.

3. 7500 (2019)

Amazon Prime Video’s ‘7500’ revolves around the actions of pilot Tobias Ellis (Joseph Gordon-Levitt), who finds himself in a chaotic and dangerous situation when his aircraft flying from Berlin to Paris is hijacked by terrorists. He desperately attempts to save the lives of his innocent passengers while also conducting a tough negotiation with the attackers. As the protagonist communicates with the authorities and the hijackers, his limits are tested in unprecedented ways. The action-thriller film, directed by Patrick Vollrath, contains elements of survival, negotiation, and dangerous flight maneuvers, which connect it to ‘Flight Risk’ and its characters.

2. Red Eye (2005)

‘Red Eye’ is a psychological thriller film helmed by Wes Craven that centers on the journey undertaken by Lisa Reisert (Rachel McAdams) on an overnight flight to Miami. During the travel, she crosses paths with fellow passenger Jackson Rippner (Cillian Murphy), who unexpectedly takes her hostage to achieve his dangerous mission of assassinating the Deputy Secretary of Homeland Security. As the protagonist thinks of survival, she must outsmart her attacker before it is too late. The experiences of Lisa in the film and Madolyn in ‘Flight Risk’ establish a spiritual connection between the two movies. The narratives also feature common elements like shocking revelations, deception, and courage.

1. Non-Stop (2014)

Directed by Jaume Collet-Serra, ‘Non-Stop’ revolves around the actions of Bill Marks (Liam Neeson), a US Air Marshal who takes a routine transatlantic flight from New York to London. His responsibility is to act in case there is any danger to the flight. When he starts receiving cryptic texts during the journey, he is forced to handle the situation and stop a dangerous fellow passenger from causing harm to the lives of the passengers. With time running out and exorbitant demands from the mysterious attacker, Bill must use all his expertise and experience to survive. The action thriller film, on the lines of ‘Flight Risk,’ focuses on the bravery of the protagonist, secrets and deception, and also features similar action sequences.