Turbulence

If you want a crime drama that treats its mystery as more than a puzzle, Turbulence is available in the US on Kanopy right now. The length is exactly right for the story it is telling — nothing rushed, nothing dragged out. With 287 viewer ratings on TMDB, this is not a title flying under the radar. Ray Liotta sets the tone, and the ensemble matches it scene for scene. There is no real reason to keep putting it off — it is right there on Kanopy.

Part of the current wave of titles people are actually watching, Turbulence earns its spot. Turbulence treats its mystery as a means, not an end in itself. On a flight transporting dangerous convicts, murderer Ryan Weaver manages to break free and cause complete chaos throughout the plane. As various people on board fall victim to Weaver, it is ultimately down to flight attendant Teri Halloran to keep the aircraft from crashing, with on-ground support from an air traffic controller. While Halloran struggles to pilot the plane, Weaver continues to terrorize the surviving members of the crew. Ray Liotta and Lauren Holly lead a cast that brings real weight to the material. It was released in 1997. What distinguishes the best crime dramas from the rest is whether the character work can carry scenes where the mystery takes a breath — Turbulence passes that test consistently. It delivers reliably on what it promises, which is more than most of its competition manages.

Crime and mystery fans will find exactly what they are after in Turbulence. If you have run out of similar titles to watch, this is a strong next pick. The complete film is available and best experienced without too much prior knowledge of where it goes. Watch Ray Liotta work — it is a masterclass in the genre. Few crime dramas earn their twists this consistently.