ReadNOW

Widely regarded as one of the finest actors of her generation, Academy Award-winner Jodie Foster has been entertaining audiences for over 50 years. The star has appeared in a slew of cinematic hits over her career, from gripping dramas like Taxi, The Accused, and Nyad to taut thrillers including The Silence of the Lambs and Panic Room.

In 2005, Foster delivered yet another exceptional performance when she portrayed a mother who desperately searches for her missing six-year-old daughter aboard a plane in the mystery psychological thriller Flightplan. Much like the newly-released Netflix action movie Exterritorial, Flightplan focuses on a parent’s steadfast mission to save their child while facing unfathomable hurdles, as Foster’s character refuses to back down until she is reunited with her daughter. Let’s take a closer look at the blockbuster hit.

Foster Plays a Mother on a Relentless Mission

Jodie Foster is known for portraying complex characters in every film and TV role she tackles, and in the 2005 psychological thriller Flightplan, she starred as American aviation engineer Kyle Pratt, who is heading home from Berlin to New York along with her six-year-old daughter Julia to bury her late husband David. After awakening from a nap during the flight, Kyle comes to the horrific realization that she can’t find her child and frantically searches for the girl, only to be left stunned when the crew claims there is no record of her ever boarding the plane.

Struggling to maintain her composure and sanity, Kyle continues to look for Julia on the huge double-decker plane, refusing to back down after its pilot, Capt. Marcus Rich (Sean Bean) and Air Marshal Gene Carson (Peter Sarsgaard) further state that her child never stepped foot on the plane. When Kyle discovers that the two men have hijacked the aircraft as part of a $50 million ransom and plans to frame her for the crime, the resilient mother takes matters into her own hands to deliver justice and save Julia.

‘Flightplan’ Delivers Plenty of Thrills High in the Sky

Similarly to the recent Netflix streaming hit Exterritorial, which features Jeanne Goursaud as a mother and former Special Forces soldier who desperately searches for her young son after he mysteriously vanishes in the U.S. Consulate in Frankfurt, Germany, Flightplan follows Foster’s Kyle as she goes to extreme lengths to track down her daughter and keep her safe, no matter the cost. Both relentless parents refuse to believe they were never with their children, pushing back against corrupt forces and ultimately uncovering nefarious conspiracies at play.

Heavily inspired by Alfred Hitchcock’s The Lady Vanishes, director Robert Schwentke described the film as a “slow boiling” thriller and sought to cast the lead trio of actors (Foster, Bean, and Sarsgaard) due to their brilliant ability to deliver subdued, naturalistic performances. Schwentke praises Sarsgaard for his villainous portrayal and describes the actor as someone “who can all of a sudden become a snake uncoiling.” Flightplan premiered on September 23, 2005, and dominated the box office, grossing a whopping $223 million against a $55 million budget during its theatrical run.

Though moviegoers awarded Flightplan a solid B+ CinemaScore, critics were less-than-impressed by the mystery thriller, with many praising the performances of the stacked cast and Schwentke’s spirited direction but taking issue with its far-fetched storyline and dwindling suspense. The taut flick currently holds just a 37% Rotten Tomatoes score, but its underwhelming critical response didn’t stop Flightplan from nabbing two Saturn Award nominations for Best Actress (for Foster) and Best Action or Adventure Film.

While Flightplan may not be as acclaimed as some of Foster’s other cinematic triumphs, the thriller is nonetheless an exciting way to spend 98 minutes and features a commanding portrayal by the actress as a strong-willed mother determined to rescue her child and keep her safe. The movie is the perfect follow-up to the equally pulse-pounding Exterritorial, and the late and great Roger Ebert was one of the few critics who gave Flightplan a glowing review in his 3-and-a-half out of 4-star rating. Ebert called it a “frightening thriller with an airtight plot” and praised the cast and crew:

“The movie’s excellence comes from Foster’s performance as a resourceful and brave woman; from Bean, Sarsgaard and the members of the cabin crew, all with varying degrees of doubt…Schwentke is limited, but not constrained, by the fact that most of his movie takes place on an airplane in mid-air. He uses every inch of the aircraft, and the plot depends on the mother’s knowledge of its operation and construction.”

How To Watch ‘Flightplan’

Fans of the chameleon-esque Jodie Foster or good ol’ fashioned thrillers can rent/buy Flightplan on Prime Video, Apple TV+, and Fandango, as it is currently unavailable to stream. The underrated Foster gem is perfect to watch after checking out the Netflix original Exterritorial in an exciting double-feature.