Buckle up and get ready for some high-flying chaos — Con Air (1997) is one of the most gloriously over-the-top action films of the ’90s. With a star-studded cast led by Nicolas Cage, the film turns a prisoner transport flight into a wild airborne hostage situation packed with explosions, one-liners, and unforgettable villains.
But how well do you really remember this adrenaline-fueled classic? From bunny gifts to Vegas crashes, our 10-question trivia quiz will test whether you’re just another passenger or a true action aficionado. Take the challenge and prove your Con Air cred now!
Con Air Trivia Questions & Answers
Let’s break down the answers and provide context for each question from the Con Air (1997) trivia challenge. Whether you’re a die-hard action movie fan or just revisiting the chaos in the sky, here’s the full rundown:
1) Who plays the role of Cameron Poe in Con Air?
Correct Answer: Nicolas Cage
Nicolas Cage stars as Cameron Poe, a former Army Ranger who finds himself aboard a hijacked prisoner transport plane. With his Southern drawl, flowing mullet, and strong moral code, Poe became one of Cage’s most iconic action roles of the ’90s.
2) Why is Cameron Poe originally imprisoned?
Correct Answer: He killed a man in self-defense
Poe is sentenced to prison after unintentionally killing a man in a bar fight while defending his pregnant wife. Although he acted in self-defense, his military training was used against him in court. This sets up his status as a sympathetic hero — a good man caught in a bad system.
3) What is the nickname given to the prisoner transport plane?
Correct Answer: Con Air
The film’s title comes from the nickname of the actual prison transport system, the Justice Prisoner and Alien Transportation System (JPATS). In the film, the plane carrying some of the most dangerous inmates is simply referred to as “Con Air.”
4) Which actor plays U.S. Marshal Vince Larkin?
Correct Answer: John Cusack
John Cusack plays Vince Larkin, the smart, slightly unconventional U.S. Marshal who tries to stop the hijacking and help Poe. Unlike many of Cusack’s other roles, this one puts him in the middle of big-budget action — often wearing sandals and driving a stolen sports car.
5) Who is the criminal mastermind that hijacks the plane?
Correct Answer: Cyrus “The Virus” Grissom
John Malkovich delivers a chilling and intelligent performance as Cyrus Grissom, known as “The Virus.” A career criminal and master manipulator, Cyrus takes control of the plane and orchestrates the entire hijacking with ruthless efficiency and a twisted sense of humor.
6) What unusual item does Cameron Poe carry as a gift for his daughter?
Correct Answer: A stuffed bunny
The stuffed bunny becomes a quirky emotional symbol in the film. Poe promises to give the bunny to his daughter when he’s released from prison. It’s even at the center of one of the film’s most quoted lines: “Put the bunny back in the box.”
7) Which city does the plane crash into during the film’s climax?
Correct Answer: Las Vegas
The film’s explosive climax takes place on the Las Vegas Strip, where the hijacked plane makes a dramatic emergency crash landing. The sequence is filled with destruction, chaos, and pure ‘90s action spectacle.
8) Who plays the unsettling serial killer Garland Greene?
Correct Answer: Steve Buscemi
Steve Buscemi portrays Garland Greene, a serial killer with a calm, almost philosophical demeanor. While his character is played for tension and occasional comic relief, there’s a strange ambiguity about his actions — especially during the scene with the little girl — that still fuels fan debates.
9) What does Cyrus plan to do after hijacking the plane?
Correct Answer: Escape to a non-extradition country
Cyrus and his fellow inmates plan to rendezvous with a cartel airstrip where they can flee the U.S. and avoid extradition. His plan involves swapping planes and escaping justice forever — until Poe and Larkin step in to stop him.
10) How does Cameron Poe ultimately stop Cyrus?
Correct Answer: By fighting him on a fire truck
After the plane crash, the action continues on the Las Vegas Strip as Cyrus hijacks a fire truck in a desperate attempt to escape. Poe engages in a final battle on top of the truck, leading to Cyrus’s spectacular demise under a falling structure. It’s one of the film’s many outrageous action set pieces.
