The 6 Greatest Hijack Movies of All Time, Ranked

Hijack movies have a simple structure. Put a bunch of people in an enclosed space, add an external threat (usually terrorists), and watch a hero rise to defeat the bad guys. When done well, it works wonders, and there is ample opportunity to experiment with this setting. We have seen hijacks being done in buildings, ships, buses, and the best of all: planes.

From Harrison Ford to Kevin James, everyone has done a hijack film. This list ranks six standout films by emotional impact, craftsmanship, and rewatch value. Some are sober recreations of real events, while others are gloriously loud action spectacles. One is a family comedy with a Segway. Together they show how flexible the formula is. 

6 Paul Blart: Mall Cop Was a Welcome Blend of a Hijack Movie and Comedy

Kevin James’ Paul Blart: Mall Cop might seem like a weird choice for this list, but we love it here. The action comedy blends the hijack genre seamlessly into a mall setting and sees James as a mall cop who rises to the occasion. The film is basically a Die Hard parody, with many of the story beats reflecting the Bruce Willis classic.

We are not the only ones who like it, though. The film was a surprise hit, earning $183 million against a $26 million budget (via Box Office Mojo). Critically, however, it is a different story. The film scored a rotten 34% on the Tomatometer (via RT). But, hey, who cares? It was a fun film, and we have been gracious enough to put it at the end of the list, as it is not as thrilling as the others.

5 Con Air Hits the Genre Home Despite Being a Campy

It is crazy that a debut director like Simon West could pull off a casting coup like Nicolas Cage, John Cusack, Steve Buscemi, Colm Meaney, Ving Rhames, and John Malkovich. Con Air had all these incredible actors at the top of their game, with Cage leading the gang as Cameron Poe, who is being transported on a prison plane. The plane is filled with other criminals. What could go wrong?

We don’t have to imagine what could go wrong, because the film shows everything in full volume. Realism was never the priority for this. Cage goes full campy, and that is exactly what is needed for this movie. While it may take us out of the experience sometimes, which is why it ranks at 5, this is Hollywood at its best.

4 Harrison Ford Nails It as the President in Air Force One

If you have seen Harrison Ford as President James Marshall, then you know why Captain America: Brave New World was disappointing. Air Force One sees Ford having to take control of the most important aircraft in the world when it is taken over by a group of Russian nationalists. Classic 90s action set-up with Russians, eh?

What makes it better is Ford taking over the reins and Gary Oldman’s incredible performance as the villain. Oldman can really bring in the villainy when required (remember, Léon: The Professional). Glenn Close as the VP is also incredible. The reason it ranks at 4 despite being a great experience is that it is sometimes too far-fetched.

3 Keanu Reeves and Sandra Bullock Race Against Time in Speed

Among all the Die Hard reworks, Speed is the one movie that reinvents it in the best way. A bus is remotely hijacked by an angered terrorist (Dennis Hopper at his best), and only one man who can handle it: Keanu Reeves. The incredible plot point in this is that the bus has to be on the move because if it goes under a particular speed, it explodes. This is cinema!

Everything is near-perfect in the film. Reeves’ troubled performance, Sandra Bullock proving why she became a star after this, and the number of supporting characters playing their roles to perfection. It sort of loses steam after the whole bus schtick gets over, but otherwise it is a solid entry.

2 Tom Hanks Turns a Real Story into a Gripping Thriller in Captain Philips

We all know the memes. But behind that is an adaptation of a real-life hijacking, and who better than Tom Hanks to give it the heart it deserves. Captain Philips is based on the Maersk Alabama hijacking, when a cargo ship was hijacked by pirates (yes, pirates!).

The film earned six Oscar nominations, including Best Picture, and Barkhad Abdi was nominated for Best Supporting Actor as the pirate leader Muse. Greengrass gives both sides complexity, showing the desperation behind the crime without excusing it. Hanks delivers a devastating final scene that many viewers consider among the finest of his career. 

1 Die Hard Created the Template for Hijack Films

We included all the Die Hard parodies. It is only fair that the OG comes first. Bruce Willis redefined what a Christmas movie should be with Die Hard. A cop comes to meet his estranged wife in LA and gets embroiled in a hijacking of the building by a group of German terrorists. Alan Rickman portrays the deliciously ruthless Hans Gruber, the leader of the terrorists.

Apart from Willis’ John McClane and Gruber, the supporting characters also add life to the movie. Reginald VelJohnson’s Sergeant Powell is iconic. While the rest of the franchise has highs and lows, the first movie is perfect. We get the hype, Jake Peralta! We would love to take a picture with everything in Nakatomi Plaza.

Which hijack movie do you think is the best? Comment below.