John Moore‘s Flight of the Phoenix is a rollercoaster ride of emotions, and it’s all kicked into gear by a terrifying plane crash. It’s an event that leads to turmoil, conflict, and eventually a desperate quest for survival in the Gobi desert. But it’s not all gloom and doom, as it’s a also a story about comradery and perseverence even in the toughest of situations. In a way it’s quite beautiful, don’t you think? Finding humanity in the depths of hell isn’t easy, you know! But it’s something that Frank Towns was able to achieve alongside the other survivors. So, how about we count down the best ones? Here are the top 10 best Flight of the Phoenix characters!
10. Liddle
Played by Scott Michael Campbell
Where’s he going? Didn’t Rady just explain to Jeremy why wondering off in the Gobi desert is a terrible idea? Didn’t Liddle hear that? Sure, I’m not Frank Towns, but I’m more than happy to bring your butt back to reality! You’re not going anything, nor are you that good of a character to bring so much attention to yourself. Is that clear? Good! Now let’s take a look at what type of a person you really are, and see what you’re made of.
I have to start off mentioning Liddle’s warmth and good energy, as it’s something that makes him likable and trustworthy. I’m not saying that he’s a holier than thou character, but that he’s kind of like the little brother of the group, alongside Davis. It’s a fitting analogy, as Liddle often does stupid things that make no sense, without any rhyme or reason. First, he takes water and leaves the group without saying a word, forcing Frank to waste water to chase after him. Then, he yells out “that’s my watch” to a group of mercenaries, which results in Rodney’s death. Yes. It’s your fault, Rodney. No ifs, ands or buts about it! Last but not least, he isn’t seen working as hard as others, lounging around, doing very little to help. I’d say that these things make him a “little brother” type individual.
While Liddle is a likable character for his humble behavior and gentle personality, it’s hard to say that he’s a good character. If anything, I’d say that he’s memorable, considering that he’s involved in a handful of great scenes. But that’s it. In turn, I’m forced to place him 10th on my list of the top 10 Flight of the Phoenix characters!
9. Rady
Played by Kevork Malikyan
Whenever Rady opens his mouth, he says truly memorable things. Whether it’s a joke about religion and spirituality or a deep quote about the practice of praying for someone, Rady’s a person filled with golden nuggets of knowledge. Together with his humble and spiritual ways, he’s made memorable. However, he doesn’t do much else besides dishing out great quotes.
While I like Kevork Malikyan and his “firm” way of delivering lines, he simply comes across too uptight when playing Rady. It’s like he’s not very comfortable with his lines, so every time he says something it feels very rehearsed. While that’s a good thing in some ways, it also makes him feel very unnatural. In all honesty, I liked many of his quotes, but that’s not enough to be ranked highly on my list. I guess you could say that the character lacked believability. Also, he doesn’t have much substance. In turn, I’m going to place him 9th!
8. Jeremy
Played by Kirk Jones
Who knew that Sticky Fingaz, a well-known rapper from the late 90s and early 2000s, would be such a reliable actor? Seeing him shoulder to shoulder with the likes of Dennis Quaid, Miranda Otto and Hugh Laurie was truly thought provoking. I was not only impressed that he was able to hold his own, but I was happy to see him shine in more ways than one. And by that I mean that he stole the show at times, which I didn’t see coming.
Just as expected, Jeremy is the person with the most flavor and personality. He’s not afraid of asking stupid questions or taking risks, as long as the ends justify the means. But what makes him likable is his honesty. He’s real, and has a mentality of getting things done. In turn, there’s a lot to love about Jeremy, and honestly, he’s one of my personal favorites in the Flight of the Phoenix!
The thing that hinders Jeremy from ranking higher is how his role is unimportant in the grand scheme of things. Just think about it. Sammy has his food, Ian has his corporate guy persona tested, with Rodney showing everlasting courage and love towards his comrades. What about Jeremy? Well, he’s essentially in the movie for some extra umph, you know? It’s not like that’s a bad thing, but he doesn’t have a personal story. Nor does he have any real stake in anything that takes place in Flight of the Phoenix. In turn, he comes across as an afterthought. A superb personality that they don’t do much else than entertain us with.
7. Sammi
Played by Jacob Vargas
I would gladly visit Sammi’s Place, would you? It’s the name of his little shop in the middle of the Gobi desert. While there’s only canned food, he’s lovable personality and funny behavior make it a worth visit. I mean, if you’re already stuck in the desert, you might as well jump into Sammi’s Place and have a few peaches, right?
All of my bad jokes aside, I think that Sammi has an important role in Flight of the Phoenix. It’s not just the role of comedy, but Sammi’s wholesome nature combined with his level-headed mindset. While it’s not anything special, it makes him come across like a normal human being. Considering the wild situation that they’re in, it’s difficult not to go over-the-top in acting. But Sammi finds a really good balance between fitting into the story, while simoltaneously having a relatable personality. He’s kind of like the guy you’d want in this sort of situation, where all hope is lost and you only have days to live. And by that I mean an individaul who has his heart in the right place, knows how to joke around and goes through all the BS with dignity.
6. Ian
Played by Hugh Laurie
In December, 2024, Hugh Laurie played the part of Ian in Flight of the Phoenix. Merely 30 days before, the TV series House debuted, in which Hugh played the titular character, Dr. Gregory House. It’s crazy to think that these two projects released back-to-back, and that House came first. While it’s not that important, it just shows us that this was still Hugh Laurie’s early years. But he still managed to put on a genuinelly good performance as the corporate business man, Ian.
With an already excellent look of despair and shallow qualities, Hugh Laurie brings Ian to life without any problems whatsoever. While I did say that Hugh looks in despair and shallow, in this case these qualities are great! So, let me not beat around the bush, okay? Ian is solid. He does what he must, no more and no less. While there’s no actual depth in his personality, Ian does pull of the corporate a-hole really well. In many ways it’s easy to hate him. In other ways, he’s very likable. It’s honestly an effect that comes from Ian’s personal journey of becoming a better human, even apologizing when need-be. It’s not surprising, the threat of death changes people.
All in all, I like Ian. He’s a well-written character that works well opposite most characters, but some other more interesting people just have him beat. It’s that simple.
5. AJ
Played by Tyrese Gibson
Just 1 year after playing Roman in 2 Fast 2 Furious, Tyrese stars alongside Dennis Quaid in this thrilling survival film, in which we see his great sense of humor on full display. While he does a great job with the action scenes, it’s Ty’s exceptional feel for comedy that makes him a likable character in the first place. It’s not just his amazing Hollywood smile that makes me laugh, but his uncanny ability to joke about anything, and deliver lines with that extra umph! It’s what Ty was made for, and he showcases his best quality as an actor as AJ in Flight of the Phoenix.
What would Frank Towns be without AJ? To me, they got hand in hand, with AJ taking the role of a jokester and a protective friend, while Frank Towns plays the strong and weathered pilot. What makes this combo work so well is AJ’s genuine care and love for Towns. It’s a friendship that is well shown through their more intimate discussions. You know, the 1-on-1 moments? Like when Towns only talked to AJ about the smugglers, and how AJ threatened Elliot when the plane-builder asked Towns to apologize for the deaths of the oil rig members. These are some of the small moments that showed us the type of bond AJ and Frank truly had.
AJ is a likable character, but his best parts come when interacting with others. He, by himself, isn’t particularly interesting. He doesn’t have a backstory neither, so what we are left with is a person with a cool personality and a likable behavior, without any real depth. While that’s not always necessary, it’s definitely the reason he ranks 5th on my list of the top 10 best Flight of the Phoenix characters!
4. Rodney
Played by Tony Curran
I have watched Flight of the Phoenix over 10 times in my life, you know? And every single time I watch it, I’m always impressed by Tony Curran’s performance as Rodney. Tony has, without a doubt in mind, the most challenging scenes in the entire film, and he nails every single second of it! To be more specific, I’m referring to his emotional scenes, which there are plenty of. Let’s not forget about his emotional reaction to finding out that Davis is missing. Or what about the genuine joy he shows when Sammi succeeds in connecting the wing? Also, what of his superb performance as we see him slowly die infront of everybody? Let’s not forget the brilliance of a truly great performer!
Rodney is the rough-n-tough oil rig worker, who can be seen as the “muscle” of the group. He definitely fits the bill, as he’s ripped out of his mind, and he’s a great work horse. Not only that but his confrontational relationship with AJ shows that he’s not alright with someone treating him poorly. It’s another trait that makes him stand out. But what truly makes him memorable, aside from the lovely Scottish accent, is his believable reactions and genuine emotions.
I like Rodney. He’s great. But some characters are more well-written. It’s that simple.
🥉 Kelly
Played by Miranda Otto
Time flies, doesn’t it? Did you know that Miranda Otto played Eowyn in The Lord of the Rings prior to playing Kelly in Flight of the Phoenix? The Two Towers was released in 2002 and The Return of the King came out a year later in 2003. So both movies predate the release of Flight of the Phoenix. Isn’t that interesting? She played Kelly after playing Eowyn. I don’t know why, but I always thought it was the other way around. After all, Miranda does a far better job with Eowyn than with the oil-chaser Kelly.
She’s the mediator, the one who always inserts herself into everything and anything, all with the goal of creating peace and harmony. It’s not like she’s an uptight individual. In fact, she’s easy going, who knows her way with people. In addition, Kelly has a very healthy approach to different adversities that she faces, always knowing what to do and what to say. It’s a quality that she alone has, and that makes her stand out in the crowd.
Miranda does an admirable job as Kelly, so I have to hand it to her. It’s a good performance. I do, however, have to say that she can sometimes come across a bit forgettable. When you’ve got a cast with so many colorful characters it makes sense that even quality people like Kelly can get lost in the mix. I simply mean that badass individuals like Rodney and Jeremy stand out more, and are more memorable, than Kelly. But it doesn’t mean that they are superior characters. I mean, I’ve got Kelly at number 3!
🥈 Frank Towns
Played by Dennis Quaid
He’s a pilot that takes the most grounded approach to anything and everything, only to realize that the impossible is sometimes the most practical thing to do! What lies beneath the surface can float to the top, revealing a person’s inner struggles and give them depth. It’s what makes Frank Towns such a pleasure to watch, as he’s flawed. He’s not perfect. He’s mentally weak. It is exactly the reason he’s so interesting to watch, as he comes across very human. It’s like he’s one of us, the regular people. It’s a hard thing to pull off, but magical if you do. You did, Dennis Quaid!
My favorite thing about Frank Towns is his inability to stay consistent and stick to his guts. It’s like he’s having an inner struggle with every decision. Whether it’s the decision to fly through the sandstorm or build the plane, it’s obvious that Frank questions everything on a deep level. But that’s not all. Another great example would be his decision to hit Elliot in the face when he was angry, only to play by his rule and actually say sorry to him multiple times. Then, he even squashed the beef by shaking hands with him. If that’s not genuine, understandbly flawed, way of acting, I don’t know what is. And I loved it, as it makes his character relatable, while making him very polarizing.
I could easily put Frank Towns at number 1, but there’s one measley weasle that snuck past him. In turn, he’ll have to be happy with the 2nd spot!
🥇 Elliot
Played by Giovanni Ribisi
He’s a self-entitled arrogant jerk, who believes he is god himself. Oh boy, does he have issues! Maybe he was bullied as a child? Or maybe his line of work, building toy airplanes, has turned him into a social outcast? I think both are true! But do you know what? Elliot is a damn good character, who is balancing on a tightrope with a unicycle between being the most reasonable person in the Gobi desert and being the biggest a-hole in the world, who should be on meds! It’s a balance that Gio Ribisi struck perfectly, and I do mean perfectly.
Essentially, Elliot is a misunderstood individual, who’s kind of like the puzzle piece that does not fit. While the others are oil rig workers, he’s just an toy airplane designer who decided to stay for a while with the workers. But that’s what makes him a spicy nugget, as him not fitting creates turmoil and conflict. He’s not someone who has allies or enemies, but makes them in his crazy pursuit to building a plane. It’s this insane idea that gets them out of alive, but it’s a decision he made out of personal ego, thinking that he could build a real plane for once. For all we know, he could’ve failed miserably. Luckily, he was able to design a great plane that did in fact work. But in this journey, he showed his true narcissistic colors.
Hug Him or Punch Him? That’s the Question!
One moment, you want to hug the poor boy. The other, you want to punch him in the face. It’s what makes Elliot polarizing, perplexing, and genuinelly interesting. There’s a great backstory there, I’m sure, and without anyone info, some of his qualities are as clear as day. I’m talking about his obvious problems socially, he’s immense craving for power and control, as well as his genuine butthurt reactions to things that don’t go his way. It all gives us info on what type of a person he was prior to crashing in the Gobi desert. Sure, he’s an a-hole, but his part in Flight of the Phoenix is undeniably important and interesting.
It’s a joy to watch him get on everybody’s nerves, as he walks around like he’s the uncrowned king of the Gobi desert. However, if the ends justify the means, and the designed the freaking plane, then he is definitely the king of this story. And I’m going to crown him! So, without any more talking, I crown Elliot the best character of Flight of the Phoenix! 👑
