Broken Arrow

If you want a crime drama that treats its mystery as more than a puzzle, Broken Arrow is available in Australia on Disney Plus, and in the US on Amazon Prime Video right now. A tight runtime that never overstays its welcome. A 6/10 rating says what the writing already makes obvious: this one works. Watch John Travolta work — the performance is a masterclass in restraint. Available now on Disney Plus — press play and find out why people keep recommending it.

Whatever else is competing for your attention this week, Broken Arrow is worth clearing space for. The plotting in Broken Arrow is tight enough that the twists feel earned rather than assembled. When rogue stealth-fighter pilot Vic Deakins deliberately drops off the radar while on maneuvers, the Air Force ends up with two stolen nuclear warheads -- and Deakins's co-pilot, Riley Hale, is the military's only hope for getting them back. Traversing the deserted canyons of Utah, Hale teams with park ranger Terry Carmichael to put Deakins back in his box. John Travolta and Christian Slater lead a cast that brings real weight to the material. It was released in 1996. The plot mechanics of Broken Arrow never overwhelm the human cost underneath them. There is real craft here, even in the moments that do not fully land.

For anyone who wants their crime drama to earn its twists, Broken Arrow delivers. It stands on its own even without an obvious comparison point. A contained runtime means every scene is doing real work. John Travolta carries scenes that would sink a lesser production. The resolution feels inevitable rather than arbitrary, which is rarer than it sounds.