Turns Out Gerard Butler’s New Film ‘Plane’ Is A Throwback 80’s Action Movie Banger

gerard butler plane

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If you’ve been paying attention to Gerard Butler’s career in recent years, then you’ve likely noticed that the 53-year-old Scot has quietly put together a string of solid action movies over the last decade or so.

Since 2013, Butler — who famously played Leonidas in Zack Snyder’s 300 — has starred in films such as Olympus Has Fallen, London Has Fallen, Geostorm, Den of Thieves, The Vanishing, Hunter Killer, Angel Has Fallen, Green Land, Copshop, and Last Seen Alive. And, somewhat against all odds, they’re all entertaining if not legitimately solid action thrillers.

And now, according to the film’s reviews, Butler’s new throwback 1980s-esque romp Plane can join that list of surprisingly decent action films, as the reception to the project has been largely positive across the board.

“A movie like Plane is so rare and such a throwback, it comes off as a refreshing breather from what we usually get fed at theaters these days. Like its title, Plane is a tight and to-the-point movie and I had a whole lot of fun watching it. (Also, as a bonus, like most movies from that era, once the plot is wrapped up, it ‘just ends’),” hails Uproxx.

Plane may not take you anywhere you’ve never gone before, but if you’re buying a ticket to a movie called Plane odds are it will get you exactly where you want to go,” says IndieWire.

The reviews make it clear that audiences obviously miss the type of old-school action movies that dominated the 80s and 90s:

“It is all such gloriously smart stupidity that you cannot help but applaud everyone involved for sticking the landing,” says the review in Globe and Mail.

“Arguably the best of Hollywood’s old-school action heroes, Butler is in fine macho form in Jean-François Richet’s feature, which hits theaters Jan. 13, proving once again that few marquee leads are as comfortable, and skilled, at kicking ass in do-or-die genre efforts,” The Daily Beast writes.

“In his newest film, Plane, Butler plays an airline pilot, so you can rest assured that his flight is not going to go smoothly. Fortunately for moviegoers, the veteran Scottish actor is an engaging, charismatic presence, and Plane is the sort of breathlessly paced suspenser that barely leaves a moment for audiences to stop suspending their disbelief,” The Hollywood Reporter claims.

Having seen the film myself ahead of my interview with Butler, my thoughts are basically the same: Plane is the sort of elevator pitch action movie that we Gen Xers and Millenials grew up on — the one’s Harrison Ford and Bruce Willis and Nic Cage made careers off of — it’s simple, exciting, and entertaining. And, really, that’s all you need to make a good movie.

Plane, which also stars former Luke Cage lead Mike Colter, hits theaters in the United States on Friday, January 13. Also make sure to check out our full interview with Gerard — where we discuss filming the stunts in Plane, working with Christian Bale and Matthew McConaughey on Reign of Fire, and the legacy of 300 — below:

RELATED: Gerard Butler Explains When He Realized ‘300’ Would Be A Massive Hit (Exclusive)

Eric Italiano BroBIble avatar
Eric Italiano is a NYC-based writer who spearheads BroBible's Pop Culture and Entertainment content. He covers topics such as Movies, TV, and Video Games, while interviewing actors, directors, and writers.