A TSA officer faces a deadly ultimatum in this high-stakes holiday action thriller
In short: When a cynical airport screener is blackmailed by a ruthless mercenary, he must choose between his own integrity and the lives of hundreds. This Netflix hit, starring Taron Egerton and Jason Bateman, turns a routine Christmas Eve shift into a tense, explosive game of cat-and-mouse that keeps viewers guessing until landing.
Released on December 13, 2024, Carry-On follows Ethan Kopek, a TSA officer at LAX who finds himself coerced into facilitating a terrorist plot. The antagonist, known as the Traveler, threatens to kill Ethan's pregnant girlfriend unless he allows a suitcase containing a lethal nerve agent, Novichok, through airport security. The film, directed by Jaume Collet-Serra, was written by T. J. Fixman, who intended the narrative to serve as a modern illustration of the classic trolley problem. While the production received expert advice on security protocols, the filmmakers deliberately utilized artistic license to heighten the dramatic tension of the story.
The production was a significant success for Netflix, quickly becoming the fifth-most-watched English-language film on the platform of all time, with over 149.5 million views by January 2025. Critics generally praised the film, noting the strong performances of Egerton and Bateman. Reviewers highlighted the choice to cast Bateman as a villain as an inspired decision that elevated the material. Despite the film's popularity, it proved divisive among audiences, even as professional critics largely lauded its pacing and the chemistry between its two leads. The TSA itself acknowledged the movie's procedural inaccuracies but offered praise for the positive, heroic depiction of a security officer.
Filmed on an estimated budget of $47 million, the production took place in New Orleans between September 2022 and January 2023. Although the story is set at LAX, the vast majority of the terminal and concourse scenes were actually captured at a decommissioned terminal at the Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport. The plot culminates in a high-altitude confrontation where Ethan must outsmart the Traveler to prevent a political assassination designed to trigger international conflict and enrich weapons manufacturers. By the film's conclusion, Ethan has successfully transitioned into a career as an LAPD officer, leaving his airport security days behind him for a new life.
Opens the Intellect+ feed with this card first. Swipe up for the next one.
Sources
- Summary by Intellect · source: Carry-On
- Also: Wikidata — Carry On · CC0
- Also: Wikidata — Carry On · CC0
To cite this card, link to https://intellectplus.co.uk/app/entertainment-carry-on.
How we source, check and correct cards: Editorial standards.
General information, not professional advice. Spotted an error? Flag the card or see corrections and complaints.
Intellect Plus is a visual educational discovery platform for exploring fascinating facts and ideas. Brain Food, Not Brain Rot. What is Intellect Plus?
Related
More in Films · More in Entertainment · Latest · A–Z · All topics
