Broken Arrow

Broken Arrow

Year: 1996

Runtime: 108 min

Language: English

Director: John Woo

ActionAdventureThriller

In a heart-pumping game of cat and mouse, two Air Force pilots are sent on a deadly mission - but when one turns rogue, the stakes soar. Vic Deakins' betrayal sets off a high-stakes chase as Riley Hale teams up with a feisty park ranger to stop him from selling nuclear weapons to terrorists.

Warning: spoilers below!

Haven’t seen Broken Arrow yet? This summary contains major spoilers. Bookmark the page, watch the movie, and come back for the full breakdown. If you're ready, scroll on and relive the story!

Timeline – Broken Arrow (1996)
Trace every key event in Broken Arrow (1996) with our detailed, chronological timeline. Perfect for unpacking nonlinear stories, spotting hidden connections, and understanding how each scene builds toward the film’s climax. Whether you're revisiting or decoding for the first time, this timeline gives you the full picture.
1

Introduction of Major Deakins and Captain Hale

Major Vic 'Deak' Deakins and Captain Riley Hale are introduced as distinguished pilots in the United States Air Force. Their camaraderie sets the tone for the intense challenges they will soon face while on a high-stakes mission.

Southwest United States
2

Assignment of the Secret Mission

Deak and Hale receive orders for a top-secret operation involving the B-3 Stealth Bomber, a fictional aircraft equipped with live nuclear weapons. The gravity of their task becomes evident as they prepare for takeoff from Whiteman Air Force Base.

Whiteman Air Force Base
3

Takeoff and Escalating Tension

As Deak and Hale take to the skies over the picturesque Utah landscape, the anticipation mounts. They successfully evade radar detection, but the mood shifts dramatically as Deak turns against Hale during their flight.

Utah
4

Deakins Betrays Hale

In a shocking twist, Deak initiates a brutal confrontation with Hale, ultimately ejecting him from the aircraft. With Hale gone, Deakins unceremoniously releases the nuclear bombs, abandoning the plane to crash.

Sky over Utah
5

Search and Rescue Operation Begins

Following the crash, a search and rescue mission is launched to locate the missing B-3's nuclear warheads. The situation escalates as the discovery of unaccounted weapons results in a declaration of a 'Broken Arrow,' indicating a grave crisis.

Utah Mountains
6

Warheads Discovered by Mercenaries

The mercenaries, led by the corrupt Sgt. Kelly, find the nuclear warheads in a nearby canyon but face dire consequences. They encounter a violent fate, highlighting the perilous nature of the situation unfolding around the warheads.

Canyon near the crash site
7

Hale's Rescue and Plan Formulation

After surviving his ejection, Hale is rescued by Park Ranger Terry Carmichael. Together, they devise a plan to track down Deakins and stop him from using the stolen nuclear weapons for nefarious purposes.

Utah
8

Hale Attempts to Disarm the Warhead

Hale races against time to neutralize the hijacked Humvee with the nuclear weapons. He reaches a copper mine to input a safety code, but in a twist of fate, he inadvertently arms one of the warheads instead.

Copper Mine, Utah
9

Deakins Seizes Control

Deakins arrives at the mine, capturing the unarmed nuclear weapon as Hale's efforts falter. This pivotal moment leaves Hale and Terry in a dire situation as they anticipate a massive explosion.

Copper Mine, Utah
10

Hale's Pursuit Begins

After escaping with the remaining warhead, Deakins misleads military forces into believing Hale is the threat. However, Hale manages to gather support for once again pursuing Deakins and thwarting his plans.

Military Headquarters
11

Train Interception

Hale deduces that Deakins plans to transport the nuclear weapon by train and boards a helicopter to intercept him. This daring pursuit sets the stage for a climactic showdown aboard the moving train.

Train route to Denver
12

Battle on the Train

Hale discovers Terry on the train, where she is being forced to arm the nuclear weapon. A chaotic battle ensues, resulting in significant casualties as Deakins' plan begins to spiral out of control.

Train
13

Climactic Confrontation

In a dramatic face-off, Hale intervenes during a tense standoff between Deakins and Sgt. Kelly atop a viaduct. The confrontation showcases Hale's agility as he fights for the fate of the nuclear warhead.

Viaduct
14

Disarming the Bomb

Hale takes a bold leap from the train and manages to seize the remote control. In a nail-biting moment, he disarms the bomb just in time, averting disaster while setting off a chain reaction of chaos.

Moving Train
15

Conclusion and Triumph

In the aftermath of the confrontation, Hale finds a $20 bill, symbolizing their earlier wager during training. Reuniting with Terry, they prepare to leave behind the harrowing ordeal they have just survived.

Train wreckage

Last Updated: November 03, 2024 at 12:12

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