97 Minutes (2023) is a high-stakes action thriller directed by Timo Vuorensola that unfolds in real time aboard a hijacked commercial airplane. With a ticking clock, claustrophobic setting, and themes of sacrifice and trust, the film aims to deliver adrenaline and suspense — and mostly succeeds.
The story revolves around a hijacked flight with 97 minutes of fuel left before it must make an emergency landing. The plane, carrying both innocent passengers and dangerous secrets, becomes the center of a covert operation involving the NSA and a mysterious agent aboard. That agent is played by Jonathan Rhys Meyers, who leads the cast as a conflicted operative caught between orders and morality.
As chaos erupts in the cabin, the film crosscuts between the drama on the plane and the crisis response center on the ground, led by Alec Baldwin in a supporting role as the NSA director overseeing the situation. With pressure mounting and political stakes rising, decisions must be made—fast—and not everyone on board is who they claim to be.
What sets 97 Minutes apart is its real-time structure. The film doesn’t waste a second, using its tight timeframe to heighten tension. The confined airplane setting adds a layer of claustrophobia, while the constantly shifting allegiances among passengers and hijackers keep the viewer guessing.
Jonathan Rhys Meyers brings intensity and restraint to his role, portraying a man with a deeply buried past and a dangerous mission. Baldwin, while limited to a control room setting, adds weight to the ground-level strategy and ethical dilemma that plays out alongside the airborne chaos.
Visually, the film is modest in scale, relying more on tight editing and smart pacing than large-scale effects. That works to its advantage—97 Minutes is more of a pressure-cooker thriller than an over-the-top blockbuster. The direction is efficient, if at times familiar, and the dialogue leans on genre tropes but gets the job done.
Conclusion:
97 Minutes is a lean, fast-paced action thriller that doesn’t pretend to be more than it is. It delivers tension, solid performances, and an engaging “ticking clock” premise that keeps viewers strapped in from takeoff to landing. If you enjoy real-time thrillers like Non-Stop or Flightplan, this film will keep your pulse elevated.
