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#Skyking

Play trailer Poster for #Skyking 2026 1h 20m Documentary Mystery & Thriller Play Trailer Watchlist
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A troubled airport worker's impulsive decision to steal and fly a commercial plane becomes an aerial drama that reflects deeper issues of mental health and working-class struggles in America.

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#Skyking

Critics Reviews

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John Anderson Wall Street Journal Apr 13
While Ms. Gillespie can’t solve the mystery of why exactly her subject did what he did, she has created a novel kind of crime film, one aided in no small way by what seems to be the complete flight recording from Russell’s mad act. Go to Full Review
Johnny Loftus Decider 1d
#SKYKING is at once a harrowing live audio journey into a dangerous airborne situation and an effective examination of the personal issues and cultural forces that led to it. Go to Full Review
Stephen Silver The SS Ben Hecht 5d
Tells the compelling story of a troubled man, although one gets the sense the filmmakers were stretching to fill 90 minutes. Go to Full Review
Carla Hay Culture Mix 6d
The documentary #SkyKing gives empathetic perspectives of Richard 'Beebo' Russell and his mental health crisis that led to him stealing a Horizon Air plane (with no passengers on board) in 2018. Most of the people interviewed are his loved ones. Go to Full Review
Chase Hutchinson The Inlander (Spokane, WA) Mar 30
Save for a more misguided musical choice near the end that sees the film falling prey to the online mythologizing that still surrounds the incident, it mostly manages to delve deeper into what happened and what it means all these years later. Go to Full Review
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Audience Reviews

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Lisa H @OscarObsessedADHD 1d A layered, thought-provoking documentary that challenges the internet’s rush to label and simplify. #SKYKING uses real audio and deeply personal interviews to turn a viral story into something far more human. It doesn’t offer easy answers, and that’s exactly the point. See more Jeff B @RT54874440 1d A pretty good documentary that touches on two of America's biggest issues right now - Corporate Greed and Mental Health without bringing politics into the conversation. Rich, while talking mentions that 'everything is business' and absolutely nobody caught on to that comment. Andrew (I'm a retired ATC myself) was put in a terrible position, but he was not the "right guy" - he was 100% business (which is 100% what the FAA wants) and 0% social. A pretty good glimpse behind the FAA curtain on what happens during events like these with getting everyone in the loop in real-time, from the Command Center to the military, but I'm positive there have been some redactions concerning all communication that took place about this incident. "the loss of the aircraft is a fully insured event with no deductibles" - Alaska Air Group See more Jess S @RT25861954 2d Maybe...just MAYBE...the perpetrator is at fault and not society, corporations, governments, etc. This boils down to a doc seeking a scapegoat other than the individual performing the actual actions or the broken home he came from. Had high expectations but not sure if this is supposed to be a comedy (FAA audio recordings) or a tragedy (interviews with family and friends). The fact that it CELEBRATES barrels roll stunts with both crescendo music and non-expert interviewee praise disqualifies this as a serious documentary. See more Matthew W. @Mattrocks704 3d Strong emotional story, if anyone is struggling with mental health please seek help. It not a burden on anyone. See more Jay C. @JayCassario 6d I went into this doc with no expectations, just looking to watch as I worked. 15 minutes in and I was mesmerized by the story being presented. It’s a story that will stick with me a while. See more Shona P @Shona700 6d Aw, this one will stick with me for a long time. He was a thoroughly decent man, struggling to be human in a world lacking in humanity. Really heartbreaking. But this documentary manages to elevate his final, extreme gesture to the status of art - there is poetry in his reach for the sky, it's astonishing and you can't help but to admire his daring. See more Read all reviews
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Movie Info

Synopsis A troubled airport worker's impulsive decision to steal and fly a commercial plane becomes an aerial drama that reflects deeper issues of mental health and working-class struggles in America.
Director
Patricia E. Gillespie
Distributor
Hulu
Production Co
Fifth Season, ABC News Studios
Genre
Documentary, Mystery & Thriller
Original Language
English
Release Date (Streaming)
Apr 14, 2026
Runtime
1h 20m
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