Broken Arrow poster & wallpaper
Get movie widget Recommend it Add to Favorites

John Travolta, Christian Slater, Samantha Mathis, Delroy Lindo, Bob Gunton ... see more see more... , Frank Whaley , Carmen Argenziano , Vondie Curtis-Hall , Howie Long , Jim Palmer , Vyto Ruginis , Myke Schwartz , Kurtwood Smith , Jeffrey J. Stephan , Jack Thompson , Daniel von Bargen , Gary Epper , Chris Mulkey , Casey Biggs , Charlie Brewer , J.N. Roberts , French Stewart , Mario Roberts , Shaun Toub , James MacDonald

Hong Kong director John Woo's second U.S. film (his first was Hard Target) delivers a number of exciting action sequences but is let down by a credibility-straining plot. John Travolta plays Vic Deaki... read more read more...ns, an Air Force pilot on what is supposed to be a routine night flight mission with his co-pilot, the younger Riley Hale (Christian Slater), whom Deakins constantly kids for lacking the "will to win." Deakins is actually a traitor who crashlands their Stealth Bomber in Death Valley so that he can steal two nuclear warheads onboard and sell them to terrorists who plan to blackmail the government. Deakins meets up with his cohorts, who have been waiting in the park, while Hale survives and teams up with a young, attractive park ranger (Samantha Mathis) to foil Deakins's plans. Plenty of action ensues, with car chases, collapsing mine shafts, fights on burning trains, and even the underground detonation of a nuclear device. Despite the script's implausibilities and inconsistencies, Woo amply displays the expertise with action sequences and man-to-man conflict that has made his Hong Kong films cult favorites. ~ Don Kaye, Rovi

Flixster Users

51% liked it

176,820 ratings

Critics

53% liked it

30 critics

R, 1 hr. 50 min.

Directed by: John Woo

Release Date: February 9, 1996

Invite friends to see

DVD Release Date: March 9, 1999

Get It:

Stats: 3,930 reviews

report incorrect info

Photos

wow...u rock samantha Broken Arrow Broken Arrow what a terrible thing to say! insane....awesome travolta Samantha Mathis and Christian Slater Travolta Christian Slater in Broken Arrow Broken Arrow
Upload a Photo | View All Broken Arrow Photos

Your Rating


clear rating

Flixster Reviews (3,930)

  • garyX
    October 26, 2011
    garyX
    A US stealth bomber pilot steals its nuclear payload to hold the government to ransom with only his erstwhile comrade and a Park Ranger in a position to stop him. Yet another no-brainer from John Woo, Broken Arrow features every cliche from the Hollywood action playbook, includin... read moreg exploding helicopters aplenty, endless slow motion shoot outs and literally everything blows up in an enormous fireball (hell, one of them's even nuclear!) It features the machine gun toting hijackers providing the out of the frying pan into the fire into another frying pan scenarios of Die Hard and the runaway train finale of Speed, all set in some pretty desert locations and it all happens with digital clocks ominously counting down time after time after time. Christian Slater is likeable enough as the hero and Travolta is clearly enjoying himself as the grinning psychopath but there's little in the way of imagination or invention, it just preferring to stick to the formula with mechanical efficiency. Not exactly terrible, but there's also nothing here you won't have sat through during every other action blockbuster you've ever seen.
  • ajv2688
    July 9, 2011
    ajv2688
    No, it's not a remake of the 50s western with James Stewart, this is an entirely different movie. This action movie has good actors, an interesting story, and it's very exciting. I liked it.
  • allan913
    April 14, 2011
    allan913
    A high-octane and supersonic blast of a thrill-machine and it dose not let up until the very end. An excellent movie. Director, John Woo scores again with another stellar and exciting adventure. A tremendously entertaining and explosive action-packed thriller. A wickedly enjoyabl... read moree and blisteringly exciting movie that delivers. Loads of thrills, action, humor and adrenaline to kick-start your heart all over again. John Travolta gives a wildly unpredictable and sensational performance loaded with mad man energy that just makes him a total blast to watch in this bad guy role.
  • crunchbunch
    January 20, 2011
    crunchbunch
    Broken Arrow is the snotty little brother of the big, loud and ridiclous genre (think Con Air, Speed, Face Off). Where those films thrive, Broken Arrow falls short as despite its best efforts it isnt big enough, it isnt loud enough and the premise of the storyline (ex Army steali... read moreng a nuke..) is way too belieable.

    Christian Slater, although likeable, doesnt quite cut it as an action hero and John Travolta plays a watered down version of his Face Off role. Enjoyable but we've seen it all before, done bigger and better(and with the same actor!).

    Broken Arrow is worrth a watch if none of the forementioned are available, if only to count how many times the John Travolta 'bad guy' music score is repeated throughout the film. (Im going with at least 13 times).

    "Would you mind not shooting at the thermonuclear weapons?"
  • fb733768972
    August 24, 2010
    fb733768972
    Broken Arrow is an enjoyable action/thriller that which, at best, delivers just fine. It begins very weak, and almost makes no sense of why there is a rival, but it all comes together nicely to have a good old time watching things explode in a battle of the ages. The final scene ... read morehad my jaw-dropped, but the rest of the film will become forgettable over time. However, for what it is, it is a pretty good film!
  • stormyweather980
    October 15, 2009
    stormyweather980
    Was hyped to see it, but very disappointed after viewing it, so much so I didn't even review it on Amazon way back when, which is saying something. When it comes to "Broken Arrow," I prefer the Rod Stewart song of the same name.
  • SirPant
    September 25, 2009
    SirPant
    More poo from John Woo! John Travolta's acting is laughable but it?s so bad you keep watching. It?s a terrible film though so please don't bother!
  • kpn666
    September 2, 2008
    kpn666
    Travolta, Slater and John Woo - Enuff said!!! (did i mention 2 nuclear bombs??)
  • Chiefilms
    March 13, 2008
    Chiefilms
    Nothing special about the film except a couple death scenes towards the end. Boring environment and screenplay, mediocre acting.
  • DragonEyeMorrison
    March 4, 2008
    DragonEyeMorrison
    Woo shakes hands with the hollywood devil.

View All Broken Arrow Reviews

Critic Reviews

Mike Clark
January 1, 2000
Mike Clark, USA Today

Directed with the keen action instincts Woo brought to The Killer, Hard-Boiled and other cult causes from his career in Hong Kong.

Rob Gonsalves
August 11, 2007
Rob Gonsalves, eFilmCritic.com

An intricate, rather beautiful dance of momentum and force. Full Review

Michael Dequina
December 5, 2004
Michael Dequina, TheMovieReport.com

A perfectly entertaining, exciting, and competently made action thriller, [but] it can't help but be somewhat of a letdown. Full Review

Shannon J. Harvey
February 13, 2003
Shannon J. Harvey, Sunday Times (Australia)

Travolta is camp, but the action is cool in true John Woo style.

James Sanford
July 29, 2002
James Sanford, Kalamazoo Gazette

too long, too loud, too silly

Owen Gleiberman
September 7, 2011
Owen Gleiberman, Entertainment Weekly

Click to read the article Full Review

Mick LaSalle
June 18, 2002
Mick LaSalle, San Francisco Chronicle

Click to read the article Full Review

Peter Travers
May 12, 2001
Peter Travers, Rolling Stone

No review available.

Kenneth Turan
February 13, 2001
Kenneth Turan, Los Angeles Times

Click to read the article Full Review

James Berardinelli
January 1, 2000
James Berardinelli, ReelViews

Click to read the article Full Review

Critic ratings and reviews powered by RottenTomatoes.com

Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)

Rotten (59% or fewer critics rated the movie positively)

Cast

More Like This

Click a thumb to vote on that suggestion, or add your own suggestions.

  • Speed
    Speed (59%)
  • Domestic Disturbance
    Domestic Disturbance (33%)
  • Detonator (Death Train)
    Detonator (Death Train) (50%)
  • Con Air
    Con Air (89%)

More Movies like Broken Arrow

Facts

No facts approved yet. Be the first

Broken Arrow : Watch Free on TV

Broken Arrow Trivia

  • John Travolta plays a pilot trying to steal a couple of nukes. Also starring Christian Slater.  Answer »
  • I have been in Broken Arrow, Urban Cowboy, and the Boy in the Plastic Bubble. Who am I?  Answer »
  • A Renegrade and Experienced soldier robs 2 nuclear missiles to join hands with terrorists. But they are hunted and chased by a young fellow soldier and a female Park ranger. A film by John Woo.  Answer »
  • Who directed the 1996 film Broken Arrow, staring John Travolta and Christian Slater?   Answer »
More Broken Arrow Trivia

Movie Quizzes

Create a Quiz |

All Quizzes

Video Clips

No video clips yet. Want to upload one?

Meet Other Fans

Add Broken Arrow to favorites

Recent News

No recent headlines. Got one?

Recent Lists

Make a List |

View All Lists

Most Popular Skin

No skins yet. Interested in creating one?