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Hijack

Hijack

Who can you trust when it's all on the line?

2023–Ongoing2 seasons15 episodes~47 min/epTV-MAMidcredits score: 61st percentile of all shows

Expert negotiator Sam Nelson is in for the ride of his life—and so is everyone on board with him—after a group of hijackers take control. Sam will try every move in his playbook to take them down...as the stakes grow higher by the second.

Your rating, lists and review

Where to watch

Where can I watch Hijack?

As of October 24, 2026, MovieCove lists Hijack streaming on Apple TV.

Subscription

Highlights

What stands out about Hijack?

Hijack earns 3 badges, led by Crowd Pleaser and Preferred by Critics.

  • Reception
  • Craft and mood

Reception

Is Hijack worth watching?

Hijack's Midcredits score is the 61st percentile of all shows, from 122K ratings across 6 sources. 80% liked it (rated it 7 or higher out of 10).

Midcredits score

How well it was received

61st percentile

Better received than 61% of shows

59th percentile among Drama66th percentile among 2020s
Acclaim (how much people like it)48th
Approval (how many liked it)72nd

Acclaim

Crowd Pleaser: Rating-distribution shape vs the catalog

How much people like it

70 /100

48th percentile of all shows

46th percentile among Drama53rd percentile among 2020s

Critics 65 · Audience 71

Audiences liked it more than critics did.

Rating distribution

A broad spread centered near 7.4 — solid but not unanimous.

Approval

How many liked it

80% liked it

72nd percentile of all shows

68th percentile among Drama76th percentile among 2020s
80% rated it 7–1020% rated it 1–6

Critics 80% · Audience 43%

On Rotten Tomatoes, a bigger share of critics approved than audiences.

Reach

How many have seen it

98th percentile

122K ratings across platforms

97th percentile among Drama99th percentile among 2020s
TMDB popularity, last 155 days to Oct 26Up 24% in 30 days

What reviewers say

Common ground

The show is a far-fetched, unrealistic thriller that works best if you don't think about the logical flaws.

Fans praised

  • Idris Elba's commanding and charismatic lead performance
  • Real-time pacing maintains relentless tension
  • Intense claustrophobic thriller that hooks you

Detractors panned

  • Plot full of holes and laughably implausible events
  • Characters act illogically and make idiotic decisions
  • Inaccurate aviation and security details break immersion

What stands out

ActingDivisive75

Elba praised as magnetic; some call supporting cast uneven

TensionDivisive75

Effective edge-of-seat moments, but diminishing returns

AtmosphereDivisive70

Tense and immersive on the plane

PacingDivisive65

Real-time structure praised by fans; detractors call it slow and padded

CharactersDivisive45

Unlikable or one-dimensional; only Elba's character has depth

Originality35

Derivative of other hijack thrillers

EndingDivisive30

Disappointing, anticlimactic, or unsatisfying

Plot and storyDivisive25

Ridiculous, full of holes and implausible

Preferred by

Critics vs users

Preferred by Critics

Critics scored it 27 points higher than users.

No notable difference between the other groups: each pair ranks it within 10 percentile points.

  • Women vs men 1 point apart
  • Under-30s vs over-30s 1 point apart
  • US vs non-US 5 points apart

Episodes

2 seasons

Season 2 · 2026 · 8 episodes · 6.4 average across 8 rated episodes

  • S2E1

    Signal

    Jan 14, 202643 minTMDB rating 5.6
  • S2E2

    Control

    Jan 21, 202646 minTMDB rating 6.3
  • S2E3

    Baggage

    Jan 28, 202655 minTMDB rating 6.6
  • S2E4

    Switch

    Feb 4, 202645 minTMDB rating 6.7Season best
  • S2E5

    Outage

    Feb 11, 202640 minTMDB rating 6.6
  • S2E6

    Junction

    Feb 18, 202644 minTMDB rating 6.4
  • S2E7

    Contact

    Feb 25, 202644 minTMDB rating 6.6
  • S2E8

    Terminal

    Mar 4, 202650 minTMDB rating 6.4Finale

Watch experience

What is Hijack like to watch?

Conclusions only — categories and positions, no plot detail.

Earnest, dark and intense — an even-paced watch that leaves you thinking.

ToneFeelDemandexact position · filled zone: the category

What it asks of you

What it feels like

Moods
TenseDreadThrilling
Heaviest: middle
Register
Adventurous · 15% of shows
Told as
Real time · under 1% of shows: Story time equals screen time — no time skips.Case of the week plus an arcNew arc each season
ToneThe series plays its high-stakes premise straight, building tension through a sense of realism despite acknowledged plot implausibilities, and takes the threat seriously without irony.
The rideThe series maintains a steady undercurrent of tension that peaks in the middle episodes as the standoff escalates, with occasional action beats.
StructureThe story unfolds in real time over a seven-hour flight, with each episode covering roughly an hour of the crisis.
Episode formatEach episode features a self-contained high-stakes situation, but these are connected by the overarching hijacking arc and its aftermath.
Season formatThe series presents a new hijacking or major crisis each season, with the same core cast, though season one's arc is the primary focus so far.

How it leaves you

what you carry away
Thought-provokingUnsettling
Why it leaves you this wayThe show's blend of real-time tension and political conspiracy lingers, leaving you contemplating the plausibility of negotiation under such extreme duress, while its unresolved threads and unearned climax contribute to a slightly unsettling final impression.
How it ends · evidence
Ambiguous endingTwist

Story archetype

where it sits among all shows
Monster — 18% of shows. A threat menaces the hero's world and must be defeated.Rags — 3% of shows. A rise from lowliness to fortune, status, or recognition.Quest — 6% of shows. A journey toward a defined objective, with companions and obstacles.Voyage — 2% of shows. Into a strange world and back again, changed.Comedy — 12% of shows. Confusion and cross-purposes resolved into harmony.Tragedy — 4% of shows. A flaw or fixation drives the protagonist to ruin.Rebirth — 7% of shows. A stalled or darkened life reopened and renewed.Mystery — 8% of shows. A question drives the story — who did it, what happened, what is real — until it is answered.No archetype — 40% of showsPredator — 7% of shows. A creature or killer hunts the protagonists (Jaws, Alien).Tyrant — 3% of shows. A human villain holds power over the hero's world (Die Hard).Invasion — 2% of shows. An external force attacks the home or world (Independence Day).Oppressive state — 3% of shows. A government, its agencies or a secret faction inside them is the monster (V for Vendetta).Corporate villainy — 1% of shows. A company or its bosses are the monster (Erin Brockovich).Institutional injustice — 1% of shows. A court, prison, police force, school or church is itself the enemy (Spotlight).Class system — under 1% of shows. The gap between rich and poor, or a rigid hierarchy, is the monster (Parasite).Technology turns — under 1% of shows. Technology people rely on becomes the threat (The Terminator).Inner demon — 1% of shows. The monster is within — addiction, illness, a dark double.Underdog triumph — 2% of shows. Rise through competition or contest (Rocky).Social ascent — 1% of shows. A climb in class or status (Pretty Woman).Fame and fortune — under 1% of shows. An artistic or showbiz rise (A Star Is Born).Rise and fall — under 1% of shows. Wealth or power gained, self lost (Scarface).Hidden worth revealed — under 1% of shows. The protagonist's true value finally recognized.Treasure hunt — 1% of shows. Retrieve an object of value (Raiders of the Lost Ark).Rescue — 2% of shows. Retrieve or save a person (Saving Private Ryan).Mission — 4% of shows. Accomplish or destroy a defined objective (Mission: Impossible).Journey home — under 1% of shows. The goal is getting back (Finding Nemo).Pilgrimage — under 1% of shows. The journey itself transforms; the destination is symbolic.Portal fantasy — under 1% of shows. Transported into another world (The Wizard of Oz).Fish out of water — 1% of shows. Displaced into an unfamiliar social world (Elf).Survival ordeal — under 1% of shows. Trapped in a hostile environment, fighting back (Cast Away).Time displacement — under 1% of shows. Unstuck in time (Back to the Future).Descent — under 1% of shows. A night-journey into an underworld or subculture (After Hours).Romantic comedy — 2% of shows. Lovers kept apart by confusion, united at last.Comedy of errors — 3% of shows. Mistaken identity or misunderstanding drives the plot.Farce — 2% of shows. Escalating absurd chaos and coincidence (The Hangover).Buddy comedy — 1% of shows. A mismatched pair forced together (Rush Hour).Comedy of manners — 2% of shows. Social codes and class satirized (Clueless).Hubris — 1% of shows. Pride or ambition invites the fall (There Will Be Blood).Obsession — under 1% of shows. A fixation consumes the protagonist (Black Swan).Corruption arc — 1% of shows. Step-by-step moral decay (The Godfather).Doomed love — 1% of shows. Love destroyed by circumstance (Brokeback Mountain).Crushed by fate — 1% of shows. Destroyed by forces beyond the protagonist's control.Redemption — 1% of shows. Moral reawakening of a hardened soul (A Christmas Carol).Healing — 3% of shows. Recovery from grief or trauma (Good Will Hunting).Liberation — 2% of shows. Breaking free of a confining life (Room).Second chance — 1% of shows. A stagnant life re-opened to love or purpose (Groundhog Day).Puzzle — 1% of shows. A clue-by-clue puzzle you can try to solve before the reveal (Knives Out, Clue).Investigation — 6% of shows. A long pursuit of the truth that may never be fully solved (Zodiac, Memories of Murder).Enigma — 1% of shows. The mystery is what is real, or what is actually happening (Mulholland Drive).Monster
Every story archetype, clockwise from the top
  • Monster 18% (this title): Predator 7% · Tyrant 3% · Invasion 2% · Oppressive state 3% (this title) · Corporate villainy 1% · Institutional injustice 1% · Class system under 1% · Technology turns under 1% · Inner demon 1%
  • Rags 3%: Underdog triumph 2% · Social ascent 1% · Fame and fortune under 1% · Rise and fall under 1% · Hidden worth revealed under 1%
  • Quest 6%: Treasure hunt 1% · Rescue 2% · Mission 4% · Journey home under 1% · Pilgrimage under 1%
  • Voyage 2%: Portal fantasy under 1% · Fish out of water 1% · Survival ordeal under 1% · Time displacement under 1% · Descent under 1%
  • Comedy 12%: Romantic comedy 2% · Comedy of errors 3% · Farce 2% · Buddy comedy 1% · Comedy of manners 2%
  • Tragedy 4%: Hubris 1% · Obsession under 1% · Corruption arc 1% · Doomed love 1% · Crushed by fate 1%
  • Rebirth 7%: Redemption 1% · Healing 3% · Liberation 2% · Second chance 1%
  • Mystery 8%: Puzzle 1% · Investigation 6% · Enigma 1%
  • No archetype 40%

Overcoming the monster: A threat menaces the hero's world and must be defeated. · Oppressive state: A government, its agencies or a secret faction inside them is the monster (V for Vendetta).

18% of shows fit this archetype

with Rebirth underneath

Why this archetypeThe series follows Sam Nelson as he negotiates with hijackers who have taken over a plane, a direct monster to overcome, while ground authorities battle a wider conspiracy, making the oppressive state subtype apt. Sam's persuasive skills also suggest a potential rebirth arc as he steps up to save lives.

What it's about

7 groups · 53 themes
Bonds — 31% of showsSelf — 27% of showsPower — 7% of showsMorality — 11% of showsSurvival — 9% of showsSociety — 10% of showsIdeas — 5% of showsRomantic love — 10% of showsMarriage — 2% of showsFamily bonds — 22% of showsParenthood — 1% of showsFriendship — 18% of showsLoyalty — 7% of showsIdentity — 20% of showsComing of age — 9% of showsAging — under 1% of showsSelf-worth — 7% of showsAmbition — 14% of showsPurpose — 16% of showsMemory — 3% of showsObsession — 2% of shows. A fixation consumes the protagonist (Black Swan).Power — 5% of showsCorruption — 3% of showsGreed — 2% of showsClass — 4% of showsOppression — 2% of showsFreedom — 4% of showsJustice — 14% of showsDuty — 2% of showsRevenge — 1% of showsGuilt — 1% of showsRedemption — 3% of shows. Moral reawakening of a hardened soul (A Christmas Carol).Forgiveness — under 1% of showsSacrifice — 2% of showsBetrayal — 3% of showsDeception — 6% of showsSurvival — 12% of showsWar — 1% of showsViolence — 2% of showsMortality — 2% of showsGrief — 4% of showsTrauma — 5% of showsMental illness — under 1% of showsAddiction — under 1% of showsIllness and disability — under 1% of showsCommunity — 25% of shows. Consequences reach a town, institution or group.Isolation — 3% of showsPrejudice — 2% of showsDisplacement — 1% of showsFaith — 1% of showsTradition vs change — 3% of showsFame — 5% of showsLegacy — 3% of showsFate — 1% of showsFree will — under 1% of showsTruth — 6% of showsHope — 4% of showsNature — 3% of showsArt — 2% of showsTechnology — 1% of showsSelfSurvival
Every theme, clockwise from the top
  • Bonds 31%: Romantic love 10% · Marriage 2% · Family bonds 22% · Parenthood 1% · Friendship 18% · Loyalty 7%
  • Self 27%: Identity 20% · Coming of age 9% · Aging under 1% · Self-worth 7% · Ambition 14% · Purpose 16% · Memory 3% · Obsession 2%
  • Power 7%: Power 5% · Corruption 3% · Greed 2% · Class 4% · Oppression 2% · Freedom 4%
  • Morality 11%: Justice 14% · Duty 2% · Revenge 1% · Guilt 1% · Redemption 3% · Forgiveness under 1% · Sacrifice 2% · Betrayal 3% · Deception 6%
  • Survival 9% (this title): Survival 12% (this title) · War 1% · Violence 2% · Mortality 2% · Grief 4% · Trauma 5% · Mental illness under 1% · Addiction under 1% · Illness and disability under 1%
  • Society 10%: Community 25% · Isolation 3% · Prejudice 2% · Displacement 1% · Faith 1% · Tradition vs change 3% · Fame 5% · Legacy 3%
  • Ideas 5%: Fate 1% · Free will under 1% · Truth 6% · Hope 4% · Nature 3% · Art 2% · Technology 1%

Survival

Survival · 12% of shows
Interrogates its theme: Questions its theme without settling the answer.Community stakes: Consequences reach a town, institution or group.Single lead
How it treats its themeThe series examines the lengths one person will go to in order to survive and protect others, often forcing moral compromises, while also questioning what defines one's identity under extreme pressure.
StanceThe show interrogates the ethics and efficacy of high-stakes negotiation, questioning whether manipulation is justified when lives are on the line.

The world

ContemporaryIn transitInstitutionalUrbanStylized realism
Orchestral modernElectronicSupportive music · hybrid
SettingA hijacked plane en route to London, cross-cut with ground-based authorities and negotiators
MusicThe score amplifies tension with pulsing electronics and orchestral swells, particularly during action sequences.

Content guide

Is Hijack okay for kids?

TV-MA

Hijack is rated TV-MA. As of August 18, 2026, Midcredits content scores put its violence at intense (67/100), sexual content at mild (18/100), language at intense (69/100), drug and alcohol content at mild (25/100) and frightening material at intense (65/100). Overall it is heavier than 33% of TV-MA shows.

Ratings in 45 other countries
  • UK15
  • Canada18+
  • AustraliaM
  • Germany16
  • France12
  • Ireland15
  • South Korea15
  • Brazil14
  • ArgentinaSAM 16
  • Austria16
  • Belgium16
  • BG16
  • CLI12
  • Czechia15+
  • Denmark15
  • FinlandK16
  • Greece16
  • Hungary16
  • IDD
  • IndiaA
  • Israel18+
  • ItalyVM14
  • LTN-14
  • LU16
  • MexicoB-15
  • MY18
  • Netherlands16
  • Norway15
  • PhilippinesSPG
  • Poland16
  • Portugal16
  • PRTV-MA
  • RO15
  • Russia18+
  • SingaporeNC16
  • SK15
  • South Africa16
  • Spain16
  • SwedenFrån 15 år
  • Switzerland16
  • Taiwan15+
  • THน 18+
  • Türkiye18+
  • UA18+
  • VITV-MA
Overall
Moderate · all five categories
Heavier than 61% of all showsHeavier than 33% of TV-MA shows
Violence & Gore
Intense
typical for a TV-MA show
heavier than 54%
Sex & Nudity
Mild
light for a TV-MA show
heavier than 5%
Profanity
Intense · audience split: No severity level holds a majority of voters
typical for a TV-MA show
heavier than 53%
Alcohol & Drugs
Mild
light for a TV-MA show
heavier than 5%
Frightening / Intense
Intense
typical for a TV-MA show
heavier than 60%

Point along a line to see a well-known title at that level.

The reason to think twice is language, violence, and frightening material. Everything else sits at or below what TV-MA shows usually carry.

Source: Midcredits content scores, 0 (none) to 100 (severe) per category, with each standing ranked against other shows that have them.

What content warnings does Hijack have?

MovieCove's classifier found 3 depicted content warnings in Hijack: Gore or body horror (moderate), Kidnapping or confinement (moderate), plus 1 withheld here because it would spoil the plot. Each is backed by a verbatim quote from the parents' guide notes; a missing warning is not a guarantee of absence.

ModerateGore or body horrorKidnapping or confinement

Cast and crew

Who is in Hijack?

Cast

1 of the cast already had the standing of a top-10% working actor.

Idris Elba
as Sam Nelson
Established: A standing when this show came out that a top-10% working actor has today.Top draw: One of the 3 biggest draws in this cast: billing here weighted by career star power.
Max Beesley
as Daniel O'Farrell
Christine Adams
as Marsha Smith-Nelson
Neil Maskell
as Stuart Atterton
Career best: Their highest-reaching show role by billing, audience size and rating.Top draw: One of the 3 biggest draws in this cast: billing here weighted by career star power.
Archie Panjabi
as Zahra Gahfoor
Veteran: 15 or more years in, with as much work as the typical long-career actor.Top draw: One of the 3 biggest draws in this cast: billing here weighted by career star power.
Christian Näthe
as Otto Weber
Career best: Their highest-reaching show role by billing, audience size and rating.
Clare-Hope Ashitey
as Olivia Thatcher
Lisa Vicari
as Clara Berger
Dejan Bućin
as Zoran Beck
Newcomer: A standing when this show came out that sits in the bottom quarter of working actors today.
Jasmine Bayes
as Mei Tan
Newcomer: A standing when this show came out that sits in the bottom quarter of working actors today.

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