Fight or Flight
A High-Altitude, Looney Tunes Die Hard
An amusing, uncomplicated ride with John Wick-style combat.
A fun twist on the Die Hard story model, Fight or Flight is an entertaining action yarn that thankfully doesn't take itself too seriously. Anchoring the film is a likable performance from Josh Hartnett, fresh from his dramatic turn in Oppenheimer and his chilling role in Trap. As an action star, Hartnett proves his mettle with excellent fight scenes mixed with laugh-out-loud humor.
"Hartnett brings a weary, everyman charm to the chaos, making the bone-crunching stunts feel grounded even when the logic goes full Looney Tunes."
🎬 Cast & Crew
- Director: Magnus Martens
- Writer: Brooks McLaren
- Starring: Josh Hartnett, Julianne Hough
- Supporting: Jennifer Jason Leigh, Scoot McNairy
- Stunt Coordinator: James Young
The Director's Vision
Tying things together is a thin story concerning a socially conscious cyber-terrorist needing protection from a plane full of contract-killing assassins. But this isn't a "story" kind of movie. Director Magnus Martens uses the plot as an excuse to stage John Wick-style combat and provide some "shits and giggles" to pass the time—a goal the film thankfully succeeds at.
Clocking in at 1 hour and 41 minutes, it’s an amusing diversion with Jason Statham-level choreography. While it isn’t going to win awards or make any year-end Top Ten lists, it’s a movie worthy of standing just a tier below the best action films of the year.
🎬 Cinephile Fun Facts
- Hartnett's Training: To prepare for the "Jason Statham-level" choreography, Josh Hartnett trained for three months in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and Muay Thai, performing nearly 80% of his own stunts.
- The Wick Connection: The stunt team included veterans from the John Wick franchise, which explains the high-intensity, "gun-fu" aesthetic of the cabin brawls.
- Limited Set: 90% of the film was shot on a single gimbal-mounted airplane set in London, used to simulate realistic turbulence during the fight sequences.
✅ Pros
- Josh Hartnett’s effortless transition into a modern action lead.
- Creative use of confined airplane space for combat.
- Fast-paced, breezy runtime that never overstays its welcome.
❌ Cons
- The "socially conscious" terrorist subplot is paper-thin.
- Requires a total suspension of disbelief regarding physics and logic.
The Performances
- Josh Hartnett: Proves he has the physical mettle for the genre, mixing intense combat with a dry, comedic timing that keeps the film light.
- Jennifer Jason Leigh: Brings a veteran gravitas to her supporting role, grounding the more absurd plot points with a "wink and a nod" performance.
👀 Where to Watch
Fight or Flight (2025): Now available for digital purchase and rental on Apple TV and Prime Video.
Streaming: Scheduled to arrive on Netflix in late 2026.
Definitely worth a viewing, and probably even better with a group of friends. Fight or Flight is an uncomplicated ride that knows exactly what it is—and what it is is a whole lot of fun.
Final Verdict: A High-Flying Action Diversion
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