Directed by Charles Correll (who directed a ton of TV and was a cinematographer on movies like Star Trek III, Joy of Sex, Movie Madness, Nice Dreams, Animal House and The Dark Secret of Harvest Home) and written by David E. Peckinpah (who wrote The Paperboy and Hotline), this is the kind of made-for-TV movie that I love: one that has character actors and TV personalities playing out of character characters.

Peter Cronin (Anthony Michael Hall) is a criminal being transported by commercial jet who breaks out thanks to his girlfriend Shayna (Hudson Leick) and henchmen, using a plastic gun and a bomb to take over the whole plane. Now, only FBI agent Deni Patton (Ally Sheedy) — yes, this movie has the Brat Pack go to war with each other — can save everyone. By everyone, I mean pilot Veronica Mitchell (Barbara Stock), her ex-boyfriend and co-pilot Ron Showman (James Brolin), Vietnam crippled vet Ben Horner (Michael Gross), air hostess Barbara (Kim Miyori), an alcoholic — literally, his name is Alcoholic in the credits — played by David “Tackleberry” Graf and the Paulsen family — who many divorce before this ends.

For a TV movie, this looks way better than you’d think, thanks to cinematographer Stephen L. Posey, who also shot Hellhole, Friday the 13th: A New Beginning, Savage Streets and Bloody Birthday and was on camera for Surf II and The Howling.

You can watch this on Tubi.