History Film / ExecutiveDecision

* {{Retirony}}: The flight attendant gushing about her recent wedding is the first to die when the hijackers take over the plane.

* CoversAlwaysLie / NeverTrustATrailer: [[spoiler:Although killed off quicky, Seagel's character was heavily featured in the film's marketing, as he was the most bankable star.]]

* HandycappedBadass: Cappy [[spoiler: after his neck injury]]

* TookALevelInBadass: Over the course of the movie, Grant goes from a nerdy (but still kinda suave) nobody to almost fearlessly taking on the terrorists with the [=SEALs=] as if he was one of them; this was best shown when he fought [[spoiler: the sleeper]].

* SacrificialLamb: [[spoiler:Col. Travis, played by Steven Seagal.]]

* CrashCourseLanding: Except the heroes are attempting to use the flight manual rather than having someone talk them in over the radio.

** The terrorists quickly realize that the manifest is gone, but they think that it was destroyed to cover up the fact that there was a Senator on board.

Comparisons with ''[[Film/AirForceOne Air Force One]]'' are inevitable, but although that film is better known, this one actually predates it by [[DuelingMovies one year]] (both were also scored by veteran composer JerryGoldsmith).

Comparisons with ''[[Film/AirForceOne Air Force One]]'' are inevitable, but although that film is better known, this one actually predates it by [[DuelingMovies one year]] (both were also been scored by veteran composer JerryGoldsmith).

* WhatHappenedToTheMouse: There are two other members of the assault team that go down with the Remora, but they are not mentioned or even acknowledged.

'''''Executive Decision''''' is a 1996 action film, directed by Stuart Baird (his directorial debut) and starring KurtRussell, HalleBerry, David Suchet, John Leguizamo, and StevenSeagal.

** This was only in the international release. The American release had Kurt Russell solely billed above the title (he had some recent hits at the time as well, such as ''Film/{{Stargate}}'' and ''UnlawfulEntry'').

* CoversAlwaysLie / NeverTrustATrailer: Although [[spoiler:killed off quicky]], Seagel's character was heavily featured in the film's marketing, as he was the most bankable star.

* DeadStarWalking: [[spoiler: Travis]].

* ImmuneToBullets: About half the cast. The Sky Marshall takes several rounds and survives long enough to be taken to hospital. The BigBad gets [[MoreDakka More Dakka'ed]] to near death, yet is able to get up and take out the pilots. Rat gets shot in the back with little more effect than being knocked unconscious for around thirty seconds.

* SpannerInTheWorks: Dennis Cahil.

** This was only in the international release. The American release had Kurt Russell solely billed above the title (he had some recent hits at the time as well, such as ''{{Stargate}}'' and ''UnlawfulEntry'').

Terrorists have hijacked a Boeing 747 en route from Athens to Washington, D.C., demanding in exchange for the hostages the release of fictional terrorist El Sayed Jaffa, who had been recently captured and taken into United States custody. It is discovered that the terrorists are actually planning an attack on Washington, D.C., placing a bomb on the airplane that will release a large amount of nerve gas on detonation. A plan is devised to place a small team of United States Army Special Forces into the plane mid-flight to retake control and disable the bomb. If they are not successful, it may become necessary to shoot down the aircraft before it reaches United States airspace, sacrificing approximately 400 innocent passengers to save the lives of hundreds of thousands on the ground. That call is an "executive decision", meaning that it must be made by the President of the United States.

SacrificialLamb: [[spoiler:Col. Travis, played by Steven Seagal.]]

* CoolPlane: The F-117X Remora aircraft. Basically an F-117 with a boarding sleeve on the back and room in the back for passengers.
** Interesting to note this was inspired by an early F-117 test where the aircraft's stealth was tested by seeing if it could be detected by a 747's collision avoidance radar.

* WhatHappenedToTheMouse?: There are two other members of the assault team that go down with the Remora, but they are not mentioned or even acknowledged.

* CoolPlane: The Remora aircraft. Basically an F-117 with a boarding sleeve on the back.

* AdvertisedExtra : Travis.

* MeaningfulEcho: [[spoiler:"Just fly the plane."]]

** Such a manual being in the cockpit of a commercial jet is, of course, TruthInTelevision. The heroes knowing where it is and how to use it is {{justified}} by them being a student pilot and a (non-pilot) member of the flight crew.

'''''Executive Decision''''' is a 1996 action film, directed by Stuart Baird (his directorial debut) and starring KurtRussell, HalleBerry, David Suchet, John Leguizamo, and Steven Seagal.