Non-Stop (2014)

Text message bubbles float across the screen for most of Non-Stop, and Liam Neeson squints at every one like it owes him money. It’s not the action-hero job you’d expect, and weirdly, it works for a good while. The cabin is full of suspects, and every passenger looks a little guilty, from a grumpy off-duty cop to a nervous programmer to the flight crew. Neeson plays Bill as a mess with a badge, tired and sad and constantly accused of being the bad guy, which is a fun twist on his usual routine. Julianne Moore is wasted as the chatty seatmate, mostly there to look worried and keep an eye on the aisle. Then the mystery lands, and the reason behind the whole scheme is so clumsy and preachy that it nearly empties the plane. It made $222.8 million worldwide. A 5.6 because the setup is a great whodunit and the answer is a shrug. $9,551 says you get a text on your next flight and angle the screen away from your seatmate like it’s evidence.

What works: The text-message gimmick and a cabin packed with suspects make the first stretch a tight, fun guessing game.

What doesn’t: The villains’ motive is clumsy and preachy, and Julianne Moore gets almost nothing to do beyond looking worried.

Who it’s for: People who like their thrillers short, silly and confined to a very small space.