This Thriller Wasn't Only a 36%-Rated Flop but Also a Hell to Make, Peter Sarsgaard Says

Peter Sarsgaard is an actor who is equally at home in independent films, blockbusters, and television – his film résumé has something for everyone.

However, there's one movie he really didn't enjoy making: the 2005 thriller Flightplan, starring Jodie Foster. Although the movie grossed over $220 million worldwide against a $50 million budget, Sarsgaard says the shoot was a real challenge.

Peter Sarsgaard Reveals That He "Didn't Enjoy" Making 'Flightplan'

During an interview, Sarsgaard candidly discussed his experience working on Robert Schwentke's film:

“You shoot a movie like this, and you walk down the stairs from one scene, and they don't have the downstairs built yet. A long time later, they pick up downstairs coming through, it's like just trying to remember a lot of what you're doing.”

He was especially depressed by the work on the sound stage where they built a model of the airplane:

“Yeah. I didn't enjoy it. It was on a soundstage and in a tube on a soundstage with a lot of extras, all sitting there all day long.”

What Is 'Flightplan' About?

Kyle is flying from Berlin to New York with her six-year-old daughter, Julia. She is carrying the body of her husband, who committed suicide. During the flight, Kyle falls asleep and wakes up to find Julia missing.

She searches the plane, but none of the passengers or crew remembers seeing Julia. The kid's paperwork shows that she never checked in.

When confronted by the ship's captain and a federal air marshal, Kyle begins to doubt her own sanity. Desperate, she decides to rely solely on her wits and ingenuity.

'Flightplan' Is a Psychological Thriller That Failed to Live up to Expectations

On paper, Flightplan looked like a sure thing: Jodie Foster was set to star in a thriller set in a confined space and paying homage to Hitchcock. In reality, however, it was somewhat of a mixed bag, despite its success at the box office.

Critics panned Flightplan for its implausible script and weak logic, and many drew unfavorable comparisons to The Lady Vanishes.

For Jodie Foster, it was just another role as a strong, desperate mother, which she played flawlessly. For Peter Sarsgaard, it was another movie that made money but brought him no satisfaction.

What Did Critics & Viewers Think of 'Flightplan'?

• Flightplan has 36% from critics and 48% from viewers on Rotten Tomatoes.

• On IMDb, the movie has a score of 6.3/10.

• On Letterboxd, Flightplan scored 3.1/5.0.

Where to Watch 'Flightplan'?

Flightplan is available to stream on Disney+.