It’s funny how a single flight can change everything. In 2005, the world wasn't exactly looking for a "Hitchcock on a plane" thriller from the guy who gave us Freddy Krueger. But then we got Cillian Murphy and Rachel McAdams trapped in a 767 at 30,000 feet, and suddenly, everyone was terrified of the person sitting in 5B.
Wes Craven’s Red Eye is one of those movies that feels like a fever dream now. Think about it. You’ve got the future "Oppenheimer" playing a guy named Jackson Rippner (seriously, that name) and the queen of the 2000s, Rachel McAdams, right after she blew up in Mean Girls and The Notebook.
It was a weird time for movies.
The "Negative Chemistry" that Actually Worked
Most people talk about "chemistry" like it’s always a romantic thing. With Cillian Murphy and Rachel McAdams, it was different. Critics at the time actually called it "negative chemistry." It’s that weird, magnetic tension where you can’t tell if they want to kiss or kill each other. Honestly? It was probably a bit of both.
Cillian Murphy has this way of looking at you that feels like he's scanning your hard drive. In Red Eye, he used those famous blue eyes to play a terrorist who was basically a charming sociopath. He starts off buying Lisa (McAdams) a drink and making small talk about her dead grandmother. Five minutes later, he's telling her he’ll have her father killed if she doesn't help him assassinate a politician.
Talk about a bad date.
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What makes their dynamic work is that they aren't playing tropes. Rachel McAdams isn't a "scream queen." She’s a hotel manager who uses her professional training—literally her "customer service" voice—to try and negotiate her way out of a kidnapping. It’s smart. It’s grounded. And it's why the movie still holds up in 2026 while other thrillers from that era feel like dusty relics.
That One Scene That Went Too Far
You know the bathroom scene? The one where things get physical?
Behind the scenes, it wasn't exactly a "Hollywood magic" moment. It was actually pretty rough. Cillian has mentioned in interviews that he found the physical stuff—especially the scene in the airplane lavatory—really unpleasant to film. You have to remember, they were working in a tiny, cramped set meant to mimic the claustrophobia of a real plane.
There's a famous bit of trivia that's been floating around for years. During one of the more intense takes, Cillian accidentally knocked Rachel McAdams out. Like, out-cold unconscious for a second.
He felt terrible, obviously.
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But Rachel, being the absolute pro she is, reportedly woke up and wanted to go again immediately. That’s the kind of grit she brought to the role. It wasn't just about looking scared; she was actually in the trenches. They spent their off-camera time doing crossword puzzles together to keep the mood light, but once the camera rolled, the "Jackson and Lisa" energy was pure, unadulterated stress.
Cillian Murphy’s Surprising Take on the Film
Here’s the thing: Cillian Murphy kinda hates the movie.
Or, well, maybe "hate" is a strong word. In a 2024 interview with GQ, he admitted he doesn't think it’s a "good" movie. He called it a "good B movie." He’s always been his own harshest critic, but it’s funny to see him distance himself from it when so many fans consider it a cult classic.
"I love Rachel McAdams and we had fun making it," Murphy said. "But I don't think it's a good movie."
He took the role because of the "duality." He liked the idea of the "nice guy" turning into the "bad guy" mid-flight. For him, it was a character exercise. For us, it was the moment we realized he could be absolutely terrifying without even raising his voice.
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Why We’re Still Talking About It 20 Years Later
If you look at the landscape of 2005, we were still living in the shadow of 9/11. An airplane thriller was a risky move. Wes Craven knew that. He intentionally avoided the "supernatural" stuff he was known for and focused on the psychological.
The movie is lean. It’s 85 minutes long. No bloat. No unnecessary side plots. Just two people in a small space trying to out-think each other.
- The Pen Scene: That Bart Simpson pen (which they couldn't get the rights to, so they had to design a generic "promotional" pen) became an iconic piece of 2000s thriller lore.
- The House Chase: The third act moves from the plane to a suburban house, which felt like a classic Craven slasher, but with the stakes of a political thriller.
- The "Jackson Rippner" Name: Seriously, who named him that? It’s so on the nose it almost loops back around to being cool.
The Red Eye Legacy in 2026
Is there going to be a sequel? Probably not. Cillian is an Oscar winner now, and Rachel has moved on to massive projects. Plus, Wes Craven’s passing in 2015 means the original vision is gone.
But if you’re looking for a masterclass in how to build tension with nothing but two actors and a couple of airplane seats, you can’t do much better than this. It’s a snapshot of two massive stars right before they became "legends."
If you haven't seen it in a while, it’s worth a rewatch just to see the "turn" again. Watch Cillian's eyes. The moment they go from "charming stranger" to "assassin" is still one of the best acting beats of his career.
To get the most out of your next rewatch, try focusing on the sound design. The way the plane's ambient hum changes as the tension rises is a subtle trick Craven used to keep the audience's heart rate up without them even realizing it.
Next Steps for the Fan:
If you're diving back into this era of thrillers, go watch Cillian Murphy in Batman Begins (which came out the same year) to see how he played "villainous" differently. Then, check out Rachel McAdams in Red Eye followed by Game Night to see how her "capable woman under pressure" archetype evolved into comedy.