Netflix has officially dropped the trailer for its highly anticipated holiday thriller, Carry-On, showcasing a gripping narrative led by Taron Egerton, Sofia Carson, and Jason Bateman. Directed by Jaume Collet-Serra (The Shallows, Jungle Cruise), the film promises a high-stakes, edge-of-your-seat experience set against the bustling backdrop of an airport on Christmas Eve—anyone else considering this might go down in history with Die Hard as a Christmas thriller that is deemed “not a Christmas movie”? Carry-On is scheduled to land on Netflix on December 13, 2024, just in time to bring suspenseful thrills to the holiday season.
Netflix’s Carry-On:
A Deadly Offer
In Carry-On, Taron Egerton stars as Ethan Kopek, a young Transportation Security Administration (TSA) agent thrust into a high-stakes moral dilemma when Jason Bateman’s mysterious traveller blackmails him into allowing a dangerous package through security on Christmas Eve.
At first glance, the film unfolds with the warmth and charm of a holiday romance between Ethan and his girlfriend, played by Sofia Carson, complete with the promise of festive cheer and personal connections—feeling like a film that wouldn’t be amiss on the Hallmark Channel. However, this façade quickly shatters, transforming into an intense, edge-of-your-seat thriller packed with nerve-wracking twists and turns. The trailer offers a glimpse of a gripping game of cat-and-mouse as Ethan races to outmanoeuvre his shadowy adversary and avert disaster in one of the busiest travel hubs of the year.
Unpacking the Carry-On Trailer
Set against the chaotic backdrop of Christmas Eve, the Carry-On trailer plunges viewers straight into the frenzied atmosphere of an airport at peak capacity. Low-level Transportation Security Officers (TSOs) struggle to manage an overwhelming flow of travellers—200,000 impatient passengers to be precise—setting the stage for tension and unpredictability. Amidst this whirlwind, we meet Ethan Kopek, a TSA agent grappling with the stress and monotony of his role in what seems to be just another day of holiday madness.
The trailer offers glimpses into Ethan’s personal life, balancing the chaos of his job with touching moments shared with his girlfriend. Their interactions exude warmth and love, capturing the magic of the holiday season and the anticipation of new beginnings. However, this tender setup takes a dark turn when Ethan is confronted with a dangerous ultimatum that threatens not only his career but also the safety of his girlfriend. The contrast between festive cheer and looming peril heightens the stakes, intertwining themes of romance and tension as the story unfolds.
Ethan’s day spirals out of control when a mysterious stranger delivers a chilling warning, demanding he let an unidentified bag bypass security. The stakes skyrocket as this shadowy figure, played by Jason Bateman, reveals a sinister edge, leveraging Ethan’s personal vulnerabilities to coerce him into compliance. As Ethan weighs his limited options, the trailer reveals his internal conflict, capturing the moral and emotional turmoil of a man trapped in a no-win situation.
Tensions reach a boiling point when a 911 call disrupts the airport’s already fragile order, signalling the onset of a full-blown crisis. The urgency is palpable as Ethan scrambles to protect his loved ones and prevent a potential catastrophe. Jason Bateman’s menacing presence looms large, intensifying the suspense as Ethan is forced to make split-second decisions that could save or doom hundreds of lives.
As the clock ticks relentlessly, the trailer teases a nerve-wracking crescendo, with Ethan pushed to his limits in a desperate bid to outwit his adversary and safeguard the passengers. The gripping sequence of events showcases the story’s high stakes, leaving viewers on edge as they glimpse the ultimate showdown that could determine the fate of everyone involved.
The Trio Bringing Carry-On to Life
Taron Egerton, celebrated for his transformative performances in Rocketman and the Kingsman series, takes on a more grounded role in Carry-On, once again proving his ability to inhabit a wide range of characters. This time, he plays a man caught in an extraordinary situation that puts both his resilience and morality to the test—and let’s be honest, the traveller chose the wrong person to blackmail, if his previous action roles are anything to go by.
Speaking about his character to Entertainment Weekly, Egerton described Ethan as an everyday man battling internal and external struggles. “He’s unhappy at work at the airport and feeling flat and dejected about it,” Egerton shared. “He’s also just found out his girlfriend is pregnant. So, he feels pressure to be a responsible father and provider, but I think he also feels a deep lack of fulfillment. So when he’s put in this terrible situation, he has a huge occasion to rise to.”
Sofia Carson, celebrated for her roles in Purple Hearts and Disney’s Descendants portrays Nora Parisi, Ethan’s pregnant girlfriend. Carson’s performance promises to add emotional depth to the story, as her character becomes the leverage Bateman’s sinister traveller uses to manipulate Ethan.
Jason Bateman, who masterfully blends charm and menace in roles like those in Arrested Development, Ozark, and Game Night, brings a chilling intensity to his character. His cryptic warning, “One bag for one life”, sets the tone for the nerve-wracking narrative.
A Star-Studded Cast
Joining Egerton, Carson, and Bateman is an impressive ensemble that includes Danielle Deadwyler (Till, The Harder They Fall, The Piano Lesson), Theo Rossi (Sons of Anarchy, Luke Cage, Emily the Criminal), Logan Marshall-Green (Devil, Upgrade, Prometheus), Dean Norris (Breaking Bad, Under the Dome, Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark), and Sinqua Walls (American Soul, Resort to Love, Teen Wolf). With a screenplay penned by T.J. Fixman (Ratchet & Clank) and Michael Green (Logan, Blade Runner 2049), Carry-On is packed with talent both in front of and behind the camera.
High Stakes in a Constrained Space
Director Jaume Collet-Serra is no stranger to crafting thrilling tales in confined spaces, having previously helmed Non-Stop and The Commuter. Speaking about the film to Tudum, Collet-Serra highlighted the unique challenges of creating tension in a single-location setting like an airport. “Contained environments force us to get to know the movie’s characters very quickly and personally—we’re immediately in the thick of the story with them, which creates a genuine investment in what’s happening on-screen,” Collet-Serra shares. “It’s also a very exciting visual challenge as a filmmaker to come up with creative ways to shoot every inch of a small space and try to make it look different and find new details of the world in each scene.”
The production team also worked closely with TSA advisors to ensure the film’s authenticity. From training the cast to recreating airport dynamics, every detail was scrutinised to enhance the realism of the movie’s high-pressure environment.
A Holiday Thriller
While Carry-On centres around a Christmas Eve setting, it isn’t your typical holiday movie. The festive decor and holiday soundtrack provide a stark contrast to the intense drama unfolding in the narrative. Collet-Serra tells Tudum that he hopes the film will be enjoyed “all year round as a fun, popcorn thriller”, but its holiday backdrop adds a unique charm to the suspenseful story.
Release Date
Mark your calendars for December 13, 2024, when Carry-On premieres on Netflix. With its compelling performances, tightly wound suspense, and intriguing characters, the film is set to be a must-watch this holiday season.