We can always count on Netflix to bring out fresh action movies throughout the month, and June is no exception.
On June 12, Netflix is adding Plane, a 2023 action thriller with perhaps the plainest (no pun intended) movie title ever. Say what you will about Snakes on a Plane or The Taking of Pelham 123, but those are memorable titles that sound like they mean something. Plane is simply too minimal to be a proper name for a Hollywood movie.
Much like its title, Plane could have been completely forgettable if it were not for the fact that it’s surprisingly good. Pulling in $74.5 million worldwide off a $25 million budget has to be considered a win for Lionsgate.
However, the main reason Plane stands out in June 2025 is because it made me realize how shocking it is that the film’s co-star, Mike Colter, isn’t a a huge action star already.
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This Film Is a Netflix Homecoming For Mike Colter
Nearly a decade ago, Colter had a starring role on Marvel’s Luke Cage TV series. In the comics, Cage is one of Marvel’s most prominent Black superheroes, and Colter perfectly embodied the part across two seasons of his own show, a recurring role on Jessica Jones and one season of The Defenders.
Colter actually has a lot of projects currently on Netflix, including the first three seasons of Evil, The Union and Extinction, as well as another leading part in Social Distance. But Plane is the first real starring role Colter has had in an action flick, and this film serves as a reminder of just how talented he really is.
‘Plane’ Proves Colter Can Carry a Film
Looking at Plane, it’s hard not to see Colter’s role as the type of part that would typically go to Vin Diesel or another A-list action star. Giving the role of Louis Gaspare was a vote of confidence in Colter’s abilities, and he delivered. In the film, Louis is a former member of the French Foreign Legion who is accused of murder and is initially a prisoner on a flight back to Toronto.
When the plane goes down on a lawless island in the Philippines, Louis steps up as one of the protectors of the remaining survivors, even when it would probably have been easier to simply abandon them when terrorists attacked. Louis isn’t the deepest action character, but Colter gives him a lot of charisma, and he lights up the screen during his scenes.
Gerard Butler Shares the Spotlight With Colter
Despite his large role in the film, Colter is still technically the second lead behind Gerard Butler. Although Butler has been an action icon since starring in 300, a lot of his genre films have been hit and miss in the nearly two decades since that movie came out. Plane, however, lets Colter carry most of the action load while Butler portrays the film’s everyman hero, Brodie Torrance.
Unlike Louis, Brodie isn’t accustomed to using violence to defend himself. Butler still gets some fight scenes and action sequences, but his character is deliberately shown to be less effective at those than his regular action roles. Plane doesn’t really attempt to go for laughs and there isn’t a buddy comedy dynamic between Brodie and Louis. Instead, it’s a refreshingly straightforward partnership that leads to mutual respect.
We’re not going to spoil the ending or say which characters survive, but it has to be noted that there will be a sequel to Plane, and it’s going to be called Ship. We’ll be able to forgive that unimaginative title if it’s at least half as much fun as Plane.
Plane is streaming on Netflix.
