Carry-On is the latest thriller from acclaimed director Jaume Collet-Serra, following an unlucky security officer at LAX who’s unwillingly pulled into an international conspiracy when a suspicious suitcase turns up on his shift. The film stars Taron Egerton and Jason Bateman in two very different roles, with the latter ditching his typical comedy for a gritter, more villainous character that helps drive this story forward. It’s one of Netflix’s best current movies, and it pays homage to a classic style of action/thriller storytelling.
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While Carry-On has a very original story that’s filled with twists and turns all the way through, it also feels very familiar – it’s the kind of mid-budget thriller that isn’t made all that frequently anymore but was very popular throughout the ‘90s and early 2000s. As such, Carry-On feels very reminiscent of those kinds of modern classics, using a couple of down-to-earth performances and some creative plot twists to keep the audience engaged despite the film’s fairly simple narrative. Carry-On really soars during its ending, when Collet-Serra fully leans into this high-octane style.
10 Panic Room (2002)
Directed By David Fincher
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Panic Room RCrimeThrillerDrama
Panic Room is a thriller directed by David Fincher, featuring Jodie Foster and Kristen Stewart as a mother and daughter trapped in their home’s secure panic room during a violent home invasion. As they seek safety, the intruders pursue their own hidden agenda centered on the room.
Release Date March 29, 2002 Runtime 112 minutes Main Genre Crime Cast Jodie Foster , Kristen Stewart , Forest Whitaker , Dwight Yoakam , Jared Leto , Patrick Bauchau Director David Fincher Writers David Koepp Expand
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Fincher’s Panic Room is one of the director’s lesser-known projects, but it’s undeniably one of his most exciting. The film stars Kristen Stewart and Jodie Foster as a mother and daughter who hide in their panic room when their house is broken into, but the burglars soon reveal their intentions to be much darker and more serious than a regular robbery.
Related Carry-On 2: Taron Egerton Responds With Sequel Condition For Netflix’s New Action Movie
Star Taron Egerton explains under what conditions he would return for a potential sequel to Netflix’s high-flying action movie Carry-On.
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What’s so brilliant about Panic Room is the way Fincher takes such a simple story and elevates it with slick direction, sharp writing, and two powerful performances that make everything feel authentic despite the melodrama of it all. Carry-On adopts a very similar approach, taking a concept that feels slightly exaggerated on paper but making it gripping by fully committing to the story.
9 The Guilty (2021)
Directed By Antoine Fuqua
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The Guilty RCrimeDramaThriller
Jake Gyllenhall stars as an LAPD officer Joe Baylor in The Guilty, a crime thriller remake of the 2018 film set in a 911 responder’s call center who finds himself the only hope of an abducted woman who reaches out for help. The film occurs between the call center and the abduction scene as Joe attempts to reach out to her family members to rescue her. However, the truth behind the woman’s abduction will shake the officer’s core as he tries to understand the chaotic series of events.
Release Date September 24, 2021 Runtime 90 minutes Main Genre Crime Cast Jake Gyllenhaal , Riley Keough , Peter Sarsgaard , Ethan Hawke , Paul Dano Director Antoine Fuqua Writers Nic Pizzolatto , Gustav Möller , Emil Nygaard Albertsen Studio(s) Amet Entertainment , Bold Films , Endeavor Content Distributor(s) Netflix Expand
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Antoine Fuqua is best known for the more action-packed thrillers in his filmography, including projects such as The Equalizer and Training Day, but The Guilty is a much more restrained and low-stakes thriller that’s equally exciting. The movie follows a 911 dispatch officer who receives a suspicious call that he can’t quite shake, leading him down a dangerous road of mysteries and hidden messages to help save the life of the young woman on the other end of the line.
The Guilty is loosely inspired by true events, and that’s obvious through Fuqua’s very grounded and attentive depiction of this story. Carry-On’s first act takes a very similar approach, and while it’s not based on truth, it still feels incredibly real as it’s balancing on the chemistry between Egerton and Bateman’s character’s conversations.
8 Buried (2010)
Directed By Rodrigo Cortes
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9/10 Buried RDramaDocumentaryMysteryThriller
Buried is a thriller film starring Ryan Reynolds by director Rodrigo Cortes. The film follows Reynolds as Paul Conroy, an Iraq-based American trucker who is attacked by a group of Iraqi insurgents, only to wake up and find he is now buried alive inside a coffin. With only a lighter, a pen, and his cell phone, Paul must find a way to reach the outside world and stay alive long enough for the government to rescue him.
Release Date September 24, 2010 Runtime 95 minutes Cast Ryan Reynolds , José Luis García Pérez , Robert Paterson , Stephen Tobolowsky , Samantha Mathis , Ivana Miño Director Rodrigo Cortés Writers Chris Sparling Studio(s) Versus Entertainment , The Safran Company , Dark Trick Films Distributor(s) Warner Bros Pictures Expand
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The Buried is often remembered for Ryan Reynolds’ fierce lead performance, but the film itself doesn’t get enough credit for its precise storytelling and incredible ability to create tension at the drop of a hat. The narrative centers around a US soldier who awakens in a dusty coffin trapped several feet underground, with nothing but a cell phone and a lighter to figure out how to save himself from impending death.
It’s Reynolds’ charming and visceral performance that makes the audience care about his well-being, just like Egerton’s character in
Carry-On
.
Buried is one of Ryan Reynolds’ best movies, primarily because of how simple and authentic it feels. It doesn’t rely on international espionage or high-stakes threats to keep the audience on the edge of their seats, but rather the life of a single character who’s in obvious danger. It’s Reynolds’ charming and visceral performance that makes the audience care about his well-being, just like Egerton’s character in Carry-On.
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7 Red Eye (2005)
Directed By Wes Craven
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8.8/10 Red Eye PG-13Thriller
Red Eye (2005) is a suspense thriller directed by Wes Craven, featuring Rachel McAdams as Lisa Reisert, a hotel manager who becomes entangled in a plot orchestrated by Jackson Rippner, played by Cillian Murphy. The film’s tension builds during a red-eye flight, where Lisa must thwart a scheme that threatens not only her life but also the lives of others.
Release Date August 19, 2005 Runtime 85 Minutes Cast Rachel McAdams , Cillian Murphy , Brian Cox Director Wes Craven Writers Carl Ellsworth
Wes Craven’s Red Eye is very different from the rest of the director’s filmography, ditching the supernatural monsters and gory slashers for a much more personal, tangible story about a plane that’s hijacked by a terrorist. The narrative is told from the perspective of Rachel McAdams’ character Lisa, who unknowingly befriends the killer before he takes over the plane and attempts to kill an important American diplomat.
Red Eye shares many important themes with Carry-On, although it’s much more overt and obvious in its action. The latter spends more time building tension and intrigue regarding the contents of the mysterious case, while Craven’s film is action-packed from the beginning. It also features one of Cillian Murphy’s most playful and entertaining performances as Jackson, the terrorist who takes control of the flight.
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6 Non-Stop (2014)
Directed By Jaume Collet-Serra
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Non-Stop PG-13ActionThrillerMystery
Non-Stop is a thriller featuring Liam Neeson as U.S. Air Marshal Bill Marks. During a transatlantic flight, Marks receives a series of threatening text messages that endanger passengers’ lives and demands a large ransom. The film delves into the ensuing tense and escalating situation, as Marks must identify and stop the perpetrator before disaster strikes. Co-starring Julianne Moore, Non-Stop is directed by Jaume Collet-Serra.
Release Date February 26, 2014 Runtime 106 Minutes Main Genre Action Cast Liam Neeson , Julianne Moore , Scoot McNairy , Michelle Dockery , Nate Parker Director Jaume Collet-Serra Writers John W. Richardson , Christopher Roach , Ryan Engle Studio(s) StudioCanal , Silver Pictures , TF1 Films Production Expand
Carry-On is somewhat of a return to form for Jaume Collet-Serra, who made a name for himself as an emerging voice in mid-budget thrillers before moving over to blockbuster projects like Jungle Cruise and Black Adam. Non-Stop was one of his earlier films, starring Liam Neeson as a US air marshal who finds himself blackmailed to transfer huge amounts of money to an offshore account in exchange for his passengers’ lives.
Non-Stop
was the second of four current collaborations between Liam Neeson and filmmaker Jaume Collet-Serra
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Much like Collet-Serra’s latest film, Non-Stop is a masterclass in how to create tension using nothing but sharp dialogue between two excellent actors. Nothing groundbreaking happens until Non-Stop’s ending, and the majority of the film consists of dramatic conversations that plant the seeds of the action that’s to follow. It’s a formula that Collet-Serra has stuck to for a long time, but it almost always works.
5 The Call (2013)
Directed By Brad Anderson
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The Call RThrillerDrama
The Call is a thriller directed by Brad Anderson, starring Halle Berry as a veteran 911 operator. When she receives a call from a kidnapped teenager, played by Abigail Breslin, she takes it upon herself to ensure the girl’s safe return. The suspenseful storyline highlights the intense responsibilities and quick decision-making required in emergency response situations.
Release Date March 15, 2013 Runtime 94 Minutes Main Genre Thriller Cast Halle Berry , Abigail Breslin , Morris Chestnut , Michael Eklund , David Otunga Director Brad Anderson Writers Richard D’Ovidio , Nicole D’Ovidio , Jon Bokenkamp Studio(s) TriStar Pictures , WWE Studios , Troika Pictures , Stage 6 Films , Amasia Entertainment Expand
The Call is another film whose tension and excitement are mostly created through gripping phone calls with other characters, much like Carry-On. The film centers around a dispatch officer who uses her many years of experience to figure out the location of a kidnapped girl via several calls with important witnesses.
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Much like The Guilty, Anderson’s film is bolstered by its lead performance – in this case, from Halle Berry. She’s the only character on the screen for the majority of the story, with the rest of the cast only providing their voice for the telephone calls. It’s a story that shouldn’t be anywhere near as exciting as it is on paper, but Anderson’s dynamic direction and Berry’s palpable compassion really make it work.
4 Speed (1994)
Directed By Jan de Bont
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7/10 Speed RThrillerActionAdventure
In Jan de Bont’s 1994 action thriller Speed, LAPD officer Jack Traven (Keanu Reeves) works alongside passenger Annie (Sandra Bullock) to safely stop a bus that will explode if it goes below 50 mph.
Release Date June 10, 1994 Runtime 116 minutes Main Genre Thriller Cast Dennis Hopper , Sandra Bullock , Joe Morton , Jeff Daniels , Keanu Reeves Director Jan de bont Writers Graham Yost Studio(s) 20th Century Distributor(s) 20th Century Expand
Speed is one of the best action films of the 1990s, and it’s only gotten better with age. With Keanu Reeves and Sandra Bullock in the lead roles, Jan de Bont’s movie follows a city bus that’s rigged with explosives by a dangerous terrorist, who threatens to explode the device if the vehicle’s speed falls below a certain threshold.
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Related Carry-On Soundtrack: Every Song In The Movie
Netflix’s Carry-On is finally here, and since the film is full of holiday songs, here is a full breakdown of the Carry-On soundtrack and music.
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What makes Speed work so effectively is the constant possibility of the bomb setting off – even if the audience knows it’s not really going to happen. De Bont’s direction always ensures that threat is lingering in the background, and the lead performances from Reeves and Bullock do a great job of capturing the constant terror of the situation.
3 Phone Booth (2002)
Directed By Joel Schumacher
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8/10 Phone Booth RMysteryThriller
Phone Booth, directed by Joel Schumacher, follows a New York publicist who answers a ringing phone in a booth and receives a chilling ultimatum: if he hangs up, he will be killed. The threat is underscored by a laser rifle sight, proving the caller’s deadly seriousness.
Release Date April 4, 2003 Runtime 81 minutes Main Genre Mystery Cast Colin Farrell , Kiefer Sutherland , Forest Whitaker , Radha Mitchell , Katie Holmes , Paula Jai Parker , Arian Ash , Tia Texada , John Enos III , Richard T. Jones , Keith Nobbs , Dell Yount , James MacDonald , Josh Pais , Yorgo Constantine , Colin Patrick Lynch , Troy Gilbert , Seth William Meier , Svetlana Efremova , Billy Erb , Domenick Lombardozzi , Maile Flanagan , Tom Reynolds , Julio Oscar Mechoso , Karara Muhoro , Zidu Chen Director Joel Schumacher Writers Larry Cohen Expand
Phone Booth is undeniably the film that’s drawn the most comparisons to Carry-On, as their plots are surprisingly similar. Schumacher’s film centers around a man named Stu (played by Colin Farrell), who takes a call from an unknown number in a phone booth and is forced to comply with his caller’s increasingly dangerous and destructive demands if he wants to stay alive. Like Carry-On, the film explores how far people will go to protect themselves and their loved ones.
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The entirety of
Phone Booth
consists of conversations between Farrell’s protagonist and Keifer Sutherland’s elusive villain on the other side of the phone, as the two enter a battle of wits despite never looking each other in the eyes.
The entirety of Phone Booth consists of conversations between Farrell’s protagonist and Keifer Sutherland’s elusive villain on the other side of the phone, as the two enter a battle of wits despite never looking each other in the eyes. The whole film runs on the electric dynamic between these two actors, in a very similar vein to Carry-On’s tension between Egerton and Bateman’s characters.
2 Collateral (2004)
Directed By Michael Mann
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10/10 Collateral RCrimeDocumentaryDramaThriller
Directed by Michael Mann, the crime thriller Collateral features Tom Cruise as a hitman hired to take out witnesses before a big trial and Jamie Foxx as the cab driver who unwittingly becomes his accomplice. With Jada Pinkett Smith, Mark Ruffalo, and Javier Bardem in its cast, the 2004 film received critical acclaim for its direction, performances, and suspenseful plot.
Release Date August 6, 2004 Runtime 120 minutes Cast Tom Cruise , Jamie Foxx , Jada Pinkett Smith , Mark Ruffalo , Peter Berg , Bruce McGill Director Michael Mann Writers Stuart Beattie Studio(s) DreamWorks Distribution Distributor(s) DreamWorks Distribution Expand
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Nobody can direct a thriller like Michael Mann, and Collateral is one of his most intense and gripping stories to date. The film centers around Jamie Foxx’s character, a taxi driver named Max, who picks up a dangerous client and ends up involved in a brutal assassination after realizing he’s been hired by a hitman. Collateral features one of Tom Cruise’s best performances as the eccentric Vincent, the assassin who finds himself in a dangerous conflict with Max’s moral compass.
The best part of Collateral, beyond the dynamic between Cruise and Fox’s well-written characters, is the film’s ability to constantly increase the danger levels at any given moment. Whenever the audience thinks the film has reached its peak intensity, Collateral goes even further and raises the stakes even higher. This makes for an unbeatable viewing experience, and Mann somehow ties all the loose ends together in the film’s explosive ending.
1 Die Hard (1988)
Directed By John McTiernan
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10/10 Die Hard RActionThriller
During a holiday party, NYPD detective John McClane’s wife’s workplace is hijacked by German terrorists led by evil icon Hans Gruber. McClane (Bruce Willis), evades capture and fights to save hostages, including his wife, and foil Gruber’s elaborate heist initially without weapons, shoes, or a shirt.
Release Date July 15, 1988 Runtime 132 minutes Main Genre Action Cast Bruce Willis , Bonnie Bedelia , Reginald VelJohnson , Paul Gleason , William Atherton , Hart Bochner Director John McTiernan Writers Roderick Thorp , Jeb Stuart , Steven E. de Souza Expand
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Carry-On has already faced several comparisons to well-loved Christmas films thanks to its festive setting, but there’s one holiday movie that it seems closer to than any other. John McTiernan’s Die Hard is a classic of the action genre, centering around an LA Detective on Christmas Eve who enters into a dangerous hostage situation in order to save his wife and everybody she works with.
The similarities between Carry-On and Die Hard are obvious: they’re both set on Christmas Eve, they both feature main characters whose love interests are used as hostages, and they both center around terrorists who force the protagonist to comply with their plans in order to save civilian lives. McTiernan’s classic was obviously an inspiration for Carry-On, and Collet-Serra’s film does a great job of living up to its festive legacy.
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8.6/10 Carry-On PG-13ActionDramaMysteryThriller
Carry On is a film directed by Jaume Collet-Serra, focusing on a young TSA agent who is coerced by a mysterious traveler into allowing a dangerous package onto a Christmas Eve flight. As events unfold, he must use his wits to resolve the perilous situation.
Release Date December 13, 2024 Runtime 119 Minutes Main Genre Action Cast Taron Egerton , Jason Bateman , Sofia Carson , Danielle Deadwyler , Tonatiuh , Theo Rossi , Logan Marshall-Green , Dean Norris , Sinqua Walls , Curtiss Cook , Joe Williamson , Gil Perez-Abraham , Josh Brener , Benito Martinez , Edwin Kho , Reisha Reynolds , Adam Stephenson , Michael Scott , Jeff Pope , Raymond Rehage Director Jaume Collet-Serra Writers Michael Green , T.J. Fixman Expand
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