Terminal Velocity

Terminal Velocity

Year: 1994

Runtime: 102 mins

Language: English

Director: Deran Sarafian

Budget: $50M

ActionHigh speed and special opsExplosive and action-packed heroes vs. villainsAction comedy and silly heroicsAdrenaline-fueled action and fast cars

It’s not the fall that kills you… A maverick skydiver and a former KGB agent team up to stop the Russian mafia from stealing gold.

Warning: spoilers below!

Haven’t seen Terminal Velocity 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 – Terminal Velocity (1994)

Trace every key event in Terminal Velocity (1994) 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

Ambush in Tucson

A young Russian woman in Tucson is ambushed after reporting a Boeing 747 sighting. Kerr tortures her for information about her roommate and ultimately drowns her in an aquarium. The brutal act sets off a trail of danger that pulls Ditch into a larger conspiracy.

Evening Tucson, Arizona
2

Illegal BASE jump and meeting Chris

Richard 'Ditch' Brodie, a former Olympic gymnast turned daredevil, performs an illegal BASE jump off a skyscraper while FAA scrutiny looms over his jump school. A beautiful but nervous woman named Chris Morrow approaches him, insisting on performing a static jump from cruising altitude and letting him tag along. He agrees, drawn by her flirtatious bravado.

Day Skyscraper jump site / jump school
3

Tragic jump and investigation

During the flight, Chris briefly spots another aircraft below. When Ditch checks with the pilot, she cuts ties and jumps on her own, tumbling to the ground at terminal velocity. Chris's death triggers an investigation that shutters the jump school.

During flight Cruising altitude / airspace
4

Flight school fallout

Ditch raids Chris's personal belongings and finds her apartment key, along with a photograph that contradicts her supposed inexperience. Kerr assaults Ditch but he fends him off and escapes. The discovery deepens the mystery surrounding Chris.

Evening Ditch's vicinity
5

Pinkwater warns of manslaughter charge

Assistant District Attorney Ben Pinkwater informs Ditch that he could be charged with manslaughter over Chris's death. The warning escalates the stakes as Ditch becomes entangled in a larger legal and criminal web.

Following the incident Flight school
6

Chris alive: the ruse

Ditch sees a plane following him and traces it to a shack where he finds Chris alive, having faked her death using her roommate's body. She lures him into a nighttime jump at an aeronautics plant, promising to clear his name if he cooperates. The pair form a dangerous alliance.

Night Shack near aeronautics plant
7

Infiltration of the plant

Under Chris's plan, Ditch infiltrates the aeronautics plant via a smokestack and disables the security system. He steals a hidden optical disc before Kerr and his men arrive, forcing him to flee back toward the flight school. The stakes are raised as the operation reveals deeper conspiracies.

Night Aeronautics plant
8

Scrapyard showdown

Ditch arranges a meeting with Chris and Pinkwater at a scrapyard to expose the truth. Pinkwater kills Chris's partner Lex and reveals himself as a Kerr associate. A firefight erupts, and Chris and Ditch escape in a makeshift rocket car.

Evening Scrapyard
9

Desert revelation and gold plan

The duo hole up in the desert where Chris reveals her real identity as Krista Moldova and explains that she and the pursuers are former KGB operatives. They uncover that Pinkwater has aligned with the Russian mob to hijack a gold bullion shipment to fund a coup.

Night Desert
10

Missing Boeing 747 and the haul

Using the optical disc, Chris locates the missing Boeing 747 carrying the bullion. Ditch and Chris board it, locate the gold, but are soon discovered by Pinkwater's men and barely escape.

Later Missing Boeing 747
11

Exoneration news and rescue plan

Ditch finds a photograph showing 'Ditch Did Not Kill Me' that proves his innocence and triggers a desperate plan to rescue Chris. He heads to the airfield as Pinkwater and his gang lift off with Chris.

Morning Along the road to the airfield
12

Final ascent and confrontation aboard the 747

Posing as an FAA agent, Ditch convinces a willing biplane stunt pilot to help him reach the 747. He boards the plane just as Chris is stuffed into Kerr's car trunk, and he and Kerr fight as the craft begins to crash.

Climax 747 cargo hold / sky
13

Wind farm crash and Pinkerton's death

Ditch and Kerr's car careens out of the cargo hold and plummets to the ground, with Ditch freeing Chris from the trunk. They land in a wind farm where the plane is forced to land, and Pinkwater parachutes into a turbine where his fate is sealed.

Climax Wind farm
14

Resolution and Kremlin commendations

Police swarm the runway as the dangerous pursuit ends. Ditch and Chris receive official commendations at the Kremlin for preventing the coup.

Some time later Kremlin

Last Updated: October 07, 2025 at 09:34

Mobile App Preview

Coming soon on iOS and Android

The Plot Explained Mobile App

From blockbusters to hidden gems — dive into movie stories anytime, anywhere. Save your favorites, discover plots faster, and never miss a twist again.

Sign up to be the first to know when we launch. Your email stays private — always.

Unlock the Full Story of Terminal Velocity

Don't stop at just watching — explore Terminal Velocity in full detail. From the complete plot summary and scene-by-scene timeline to character breakdowns, thematic analysis, and a deep dive into the ending — every page helps you truly understand what Terminal Velocity is all about. Plus, discover what's next after the movie.

Terminal Velocity Summary

Read a complete plot summary of Terminal Velocity, including all key story points, character arcs, and turning points. This in-depth recap is ideal for understanding the narrative structure or reviewing what happened in the movie.

Terminal Velocity Summary

Characters, Settings & Themes in Terminal Velocity

Discover the characters, locations, and core themes that shape Terminal Velocity. Get insights into symbolic elements, setting significance, and deeper narrative meaning — ideal for thematic analysis and movie breakdowns.

Characters, Settings & Themes in Terminal Velocity

Terminal Velocity Spoiler-Free Summary

Get a quick, spoiler-free overview of Terminal Velocity that covers the main plot points and key details without revealing any major twists or spoilers. Perfect for those who want to know what to expect before diving in.

Terminal Velocity Spoiler-Free Summary

More About Terminal Velocity

Visit What's After the Movie to explore more about Terminal Velocity: box office results, cast and crew info, production details, post-credit scenes, and external links — all in one place for movie fans and researchers.

More About Terminal Velocity

Similar Movies to Terminal Velocity

Discover movies like Terminal Velocity that share similar genres, themes, and storytelling elements. Whether you’re drawn to the atmosphere, character arcs, or plot structure, these curated recommendations will help you explore more films you’ll love.