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{{Short description|2006 film by David R. Ellis}}
{{Infobox_Film |
{{pp-pc}}
name = Snakes on a Plane |
{{Infobox film
image = SOAP poster.jpg|
| name = Snakes on a Plane
amg_id = 1:313497|
| image = SOAP poster.jpg
imdb_id = 0417148|
| alt = Text at the center of the image says "Snakes on a Plane". Behind it is an overhead view of a jet passenger airplane with two snakes coiled around it. Towards the cockpit of the image the snakes' heads face each other with their mouths open and fangs and teeth shown. The background is all black.
producer = Craig Berenson<br>Stokely Chaffin<br>Toby Emmerich<br>Penny Finkelman Cox<br>Don Granger<br>Justis Greene<br>Jeff Katz<br>Gary Levinsohn<br>Sandra Rabins<br>George Waud<br>David J. Taylor |
| caption = Theatrical release poster
director = ] |
| director = ]
writer = ]<br>Sebastian Gutierrez<br>John Heffernan<br>David Dalessandro |
| producer = {{Plain list |
starring = ]<br>]<br>]<br>]<br>]<br>] |<br>]
* Craig Berenson
music = |
* ]
cinematography = Adam Greenberg |
* ]
editing = Howard E. Smith |
distributor = ] |
released = ], ] (]) <br> ], ] (]) <br> ], ] (]) |
runtime = 105 minutes (])|
budget= $36,000,000 |
language = ] |
}} }}
| screenplay = {{Plain list |
* John Heffernan
'''''Snakes on a Plane''''' is described by its director as a ] ]/] ],<ref name="David R. Ellis">{{cite web| url=http://www.avclub.com/content/node/51670| title=''The A.V. Club'': David R. Ellis| month=August 16th| year=2006| last=| accessdate=2006-08-16}}</ref> starring ], released by ] on ], ]. The ]-helmed film was created by ] and written by Dalessandro, John Heffernan, and ].
* ]
}}
| story = {{Plain list |
* ]
* John Heffernan
}}
| starring = {{Plain list |
* ]
* ]
* ]
* ]
* ]
* ]
* ]
* ]
* ]
* ]}}
| music = ]
| cinematography = ]
| editing = Howard E. Smith
| studio = ]
| distributor = ]<br />]
| released = {{Film date|2006|08|17|Puerto Rico|2006|08|18|United States}}
| runtime = 106 minutes
| country = United States
| language = English
| budget = $33 million<ref name="numbers">{{cite web |title=Snakes on a Plane (2006) - Financial Information |url=https://www.the-numbers.com/movie/Snakes-on-a-Plane#tab=summary |website=] |access-date=2021-11-05 |archive-date=2021-11-05 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211105120130/https://www.the-numbers.com/movie/Snakes-on-a-Plane#tab=summary |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="bom">{{cite Box Office Mojo|title=Snakes on a Plane (2006)|id=0417148|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211025205130/https://www.boxofficemojo.com/title/tt0417148/|archive-date=October 25, 2021|url-status=live}}</ref>
| gross = $62 million<ref name="numbers" /><ref name="bom" />
}}
'''''Snakes on a Plane''''' is a 2006 American ] ]<ref>{{cite web |author=Synopsis by Mark Deming |url=https://www.allmovie.com/movie/snakes-on-a-plane-v313497 |title=Snakes on a Plane (2006) - David R. Ellis &#124; Synopsis, Characteristics, Moods, Themes and Related |publisher=AllMovie |date=2006-08-18 |access-date=2018-04-27 |archive-date=2022-04-18 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220418071330/https://www.allmovie.com/movie/snakes-on-a-plane-v313497 |url-status=live }}</ref> film directed by ] and starring ]. It was released by ] on August 18, 2006, in North America. The film was written by ], John Heffernan, and ] and follows the events of dozens of venomous snakes being released on a passenger plane in an attempt to kill a trial witness.


The film gained a considerable amount of attention before its release, forming large ]s online and becoming an ], due to the film's title, casting, and premise. In response to the Internet fan base, ] incorporated feedback from online users into its ], and added five days of reshooting. Before and after the film was released, it was parodied and alluded to on television shows and films, fan-made videos, ], and various forms of ].
The film has been rated R by the ] for language, a scene of sexuality and drug use, and intense sequences of terror and violence.<ref name="MPAA">{{cite web| url=http://www.mpaa.org/| title=The Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA)| month=August 17th| year=2006| last=| accessdate=2006-08-17}}</ref>


Released in the US and UK on August 18, 2006, the film received mixed reviews and was a "box office disappointment".<ref name="NYT-letdown"/><ref name="EW-nobite" /> Despite the immense ], the film's ] did not live up to expectations; it earned ]15.25 million in its opening weekend.<ref name="NYT-letdown">{{cite news|last=Waxman|first=Sharon|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2006/08/21/movies/21box.html|title=After Hype Online, "Snakes on a Plane" Is Letdown at Box Office|newspaper=]|date=August 21, 2006|access-date=May 11, 2009|archive-date=April 17, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110417180728/http://www.nytimes.com/2006/08/21/movies/21box.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="EW-nobite">{{cite magazine|last=Rich|first=Joshua|url=https://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,1229136,00.html|title=Oh Sssssnap! (''Snakes'' doesn't have much bite)|magazine=]|date=August 20, 2006|access-date=May 11, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060822061859/http://www.ew.com/ew/report/0,6115,1229136_1_0_,00.html|archive-date=August 22, 2006|url-status=dead}}</ref> The film grossed US$62 million worldwide before its release on home video on January 2, 2007.
Due to its considerable Internet fan base, New Line Cinema incorporated feedback from online users into its production. The film wrapped up principal photography in September 2005, but after anticipation of the upcoming film grew to unexpected levels, the studio later ordered five days of additional re-shooting to raise the ] from a PG-13 to an R. <ref name="Fan frenzy for 'Snakes' is on a different plane">{{cite web| url=http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/thr/film/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1002234847| title=''The Hollywood Reporter.com'': Fan frenzy for 'Snakes' is on a different plane| month=March 24| year=2006| last=Borys Kit| accessdate=2006-03-24}}</ref>


==Plot==
Despite its status as an ],<ref>{{cite news | url=http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/discussion/2006/08/17/DI2006081701125.html | title=Snakes on a Plane: Film Has Become An Internet Phenomenon | publisher=Washington Post | date=Flex Alexander | date=August 18, 2006}}</ref> box office returns for the film in its opening weekend were described as "disappointing" by David Tuckerman, New Line's president of distribution.<ref>{{cite news | url=http://www.nytimes.com/2006/08/21/movies/21box.html?ref=arts | title=After Hype Online, "Snakes on a Plane" Is Letdown at Box Office | publisher=New York Times | date=August 21, 2006 | author=Sharon Waxman}}</ref>
After witnessing crime lord Eddie Kim brutally murder prosecutor Daniel Hayes in a secluded forest in ], Sean Jones is escorted by ] agents Neville Flynn and John Sanders on a ] to testify in a trial against Kim in Los Angeles. Kim arranges for a time-release crate full of ]s to be placed in the cargo hold in an attempt to bring down the plane before it reaches ] (LAX). To ensure the snakes indiscriminately attack everybody without the need for provocation, he has one of his henchmen disguised as an airport ground employee spray the passengers' ]s with a special ] which makes the snakes highly aggressive.


The crate opens midway through the flight and the snakes make their way through the cabin, with a viper attacking an electric panel in the process, thus shutting down the power. A cat in the cargo bay, ], and a man using another bathroom are the first ones killed. The plane's captain, Sam McKeon, investigates the power outage and fixes an electrical short, but is killed by the ] that caused it. Co-pilot Rick, unaware of the snakes, believes Sam has suffered a ] and continues toward LAX. Some snakes attack Rick, and while fending them off he accidentally releases the oxygen masks throughout the plane, causing most of the snakes to drop into the cabin with them. Numerous passengers, including Agent Sanders, are killed when the snakes invade the cabin.
==History==
The storyline of the film is credited to Dalessandro, a ] administrator and first-time Hollywood writer, who got the idea in 1992 from a nature magazine. "I read about the Indonesian ] climbing onto planes in cargo during ]". He originally wrote the screenplay about the brown tree snake loose on a plane and called it "Venom". He soon revised it to be about poisonous snakes, and then crediting the film '']'' revised it again to include "lots of them loose in the fuselage of a plane."<ref name="pg">{{cite news | url=http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/06228/713732-254.stm | title='Snakes on a Plane' scares up a following based on Hollywood's frightful track record | publisher=] | work=post-gazette.com | date=August 16, 2006 | author=John Hayes}}</ref>


The surviving passengers, who have made their way to the front of the plane, put up blockades of luggage in a desperate attempt to stop the snakes. Rick is attacked and the plane starts to dip downwards, causing a ] to crash through the luggage blockade. The passengers flee to the upstairs first-class cabin before blocking the stairwell with an inflatable ]. Flynn and flight attendant Claire regain control of the plane while Rick retakes the controls and has Flynn go into the cargo hold to restore the air conditioning/ventilation system. Flynn contacts FBI Special Agent Hank Harris on the ground, who gets in touch with ] Dr. Steven Price, Customs' main source for animal smuggling cases.
Dalessandro's third draft of "Venom" was turned down by all 30 Hollywood studios in 1995 and the ] administrator lamented "My big foray into Hollywood. They put it on a shelf." In 1999 though, a producer for ]/] followed up before NewLine took over.


Based on pictures of the reptiles emailed to him via a passenger's mobile phone, Price believes a snake dealer based in the Los Angeles outskirts known for illegally importing exotic and highly dangerous snakes to be responsible. After a shootout, the agents subject the dealer to tactical interrogation after the latter is injured by a snakebite; with Harris withholding the ], the dealer finally reveals that Kim hired him to obtain the snakes and exposes more of Kim's schemes of smuggling them onboard the flight. Price commands the dealer's supplies of antivenom for the victims on the plane based on the list given to him as he medicates the injured dealer while Harris orders Kim arrested and tried on multiple counts of murder and attempted murder, with the ] as an option.
The film's title and premise generated a lot of pre-release interest on the Internet. One journalist even wrote that ''Snakes on a Plane'' is "perhaps the most internet<!-- "internet" is lowercase in the source of the quote, so no need to uppercase it to "Internet" -->-hyped film of all time."<ref>{{cite news | author=Mark Brown | url=http://film.guardian.co.uk/news/story/0,,1852937,00.html | title=Snakes on a Plane leaves critics flying blind | publisher=The Guardian | date=August 18, 2006}}</ref> Much of the initial publicity came from a ] entry made by screenwriter ], who had been offered a chance to work on the script.<ref name="friedman">{{cite web| url=http://hucksblog.blogspot.com/2005/08/snakes-on-motherfucking-plane.html| title=I find your lack of faith disturbing: Snakes on a Motherfucking Plane| first=Josh| last=Friedman| month=August 17| year= 2005| accessdate=2006-03-18}}</ref> The casting of popular actor ] further increased anticipation. At one point, the film's working title was altered to ''Pacific Air Flight 121'', there was also a fake working titled called ''Anaconda 3''. In August 2005, a perturbed Samuel L. Jackson told an interviewer, "We're totally changing that back. That's the only reason I took the job: I read the title."<ref>{{cite web| url=http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0417148/news| title=Snakes on a Plane News at IMDB| | accessdate=2006-07-30}}</ref> In another interview in early 2006, Jackson claimed that once he learned about the movie title being changed he said: "What are you doing here? It's not '']''. It's not '']''. It's ''Snakes on a Plane''!"<ref>{{cite web| url=http://www.usatoday.com/life/movies/news/2006-04-17-snakes_x.htm| title='Snakes on a Plane' sssssssays it all| first=Susan| last=Wloszczyna| month=April 18| year=2006| accessdate=2006-04-18}}</ref> On ], ], the studio reverted the title to ''Snakes on a Plane''.


Harris contacts Flynn, telling him that antivenom will be ready for the passengers when they land. However, Flynn discovers that the cockpit is filled with snakes and Rick is dead. After a brief discussion, Troy, a bodyguard for rapper Three G's, agrees to land the plane based on his experience playing a flight simulator. After everyone gets prepared, Flynn shoots out two windows with his pistol, causing the plane to ]. The snakes are blown out of the cockpit and the lower floor of the plane. Despite his lack of real-world experience, Troy makes an emergency landing and the plane makes it to the terminal. The passengers exit the plane and antivenom is given to those who need it.
In recognition of the unprecedented Internet buzz for what had been a minor movie in their 2006 line-up, New Line Cinema ordered five days of additional shooting in early March 2006<ref name="Fan frenzy for 'Snakes' is on a different plane" /> (principal photography had wrapped in September 2005). While re-shoots normally imply problems with a film, the producers opted to add new scenes to the film to take the movie from ] into R-rated territory and bring the movie in line with growing fan expectations. Among the additions is a line that originated as an Internet parody of Samuel L. Jackson's traditional movie persona: .<ref name="Fan frenzy for 'Snakes' is on a different plane"/>


Just as Flynn and Sean are about to disembark, a remaining snake jumps out and bites Sean in the chest. Flynn draws his gun and shoots the snake, and paramedics rush to a traumatized Sean, who remains unharmed due to a ] he wore throughout the ordeal after his rescue from Kim's henchmen. As a token of gratitude, Sean later takes Flynn to ] and teaches him how to surf.
On ], ] while presenting the award for best movie at the ], Samuel L. Jackson said:
{{cquote|I'm here tonight to present the award everyone's been waiting for: best movie. Now, this award holds a special place in my heart because next year I'll be winning it for ''Snakes on a Plane''. Now I know, I know that sounds cocky, but I don't give a damn. I am guaranteeing that ''Snakes on a Plane'' will win best movie next year. Does not matter what else is coming out. The ]... no snakes in that! '']''... where my snakes at? '']''... green, but not a snake. No movie shall triumph over ''Snakes on a Plane''. Unless I happen to feel like making a movie called ''Mo' Muthafuckin' Snakes on Mo' Muthafuckin' Planes''.}}


==Cast==
Although New Line hired two additional writers to smooth out the screenplay, the original idea dating back to Dalessandro's 1992 version carries the entire middle of the movie. As he put it "...once they get on the plane, mine".<ref name="pg" />
<!-- Below are listed in the order of the opening credits. -->
{{Cast listing|
*] as Agent Neville Flynn, an ] agent assigned to protect Sean Jones on his flight to ].
*] as Claire Miller, a flight attendant.
*] as Sean Jones, a surfer and dirtbike racer who witnesses a brutal murder committed by Eddie Kim.
*] as Mercedes Harbont, a ] passenger who brings her pet ] Mary-Kate aboard.
*] as Clarence "Three G's" Dewey, a ] famous rapper.
*] as Troy, Clarence's bodyguard.
<!-- Below are not in the opening credits. -->
*Keith Dallas as Big Leroy, Clarence's bodyguard.
*] as Tiffany, a flight attendant who develops a crush on Sean.
*Bruce James as Ken, an eccentric flight attendant.
*] as Grace, a middle-aged flight attendant who acts as the flight's purser.
*] as Chen Leong, a professional kickboxer and a passenger.
*] as Maria, a passenger traveling with her infant daughter Isabella.
*Mark Houghton as Agent John Sanders, Flynn's colleague assigned to protect Sean Jones.
*] as Richard "Rick", Captain McKeon's co-pilot.
*] as Special Agent Henry "Hank" Harris, Flynn's colleague
*] as Dr. Steven Price, a snake venom expert assigned by the FBI to communicate with Flynn.
*] as Captain Samuel "Sam" McKeon, the captain of the plane.
*] as Emmett Bradley, an air traffic tower controller.
*Samantha McLeod as Kelly, a young woman who boards the plane with her boyfriend.
*] as Kyle, a young man who boards the plane with his girlfriend.
*] as Eddie Kim, a crime syndicate leader.
}}


==Synopsis== ==Production==
The story is credited to ], a ] administrator and first-time Hollywood writer. He developed the concept in 1992 after reading a nature magazine article about Indonesian ]s climbing onto planes in cargo during World War II. He originally wrote the screenplay about the brown tree snake loose on a plane, titling the film ''Venom''.<ref name="EWKickAsp" /> He soon revised it, expanding upon the premise to include a plague of assorted venomous snakes, then—crediting the film '']''—revised it once again to include "lots of them loose in the ] of a plane."<ref name="PostScares">{{cite news|last=Hayes|first=John|url=http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/06228/713732-254.stm |title='Snakes on a Plane' scares up a following based on Hollywood's frightful track record|newspaper=]|date=August 16, 2006|access-date=May 11, 2009 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20080205090848/http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/06228/713732-254.stm |archive-date = February 5, 2008}}</ref> Dalessandro's third draft of ''Venom'' was turned down by more than 30 Hollywood studios in 1995. In 1999, a producer for ]/] showed interest in the script, followed up by ], which took over the rights for production.
{{spoiler}}
After witnessing the brutal murder of a ] by gangster Eddie Kim (]) and his band of thugs, Sean Jones (]) is escorted by ] agents Neville Flynn (]) and John Sanders (]) to testify in a highly-publicized case in ]. Despite increased security for the flight, Kim arranges for time-release crates full of venomous snakes to be placed in the cargo hold of the plane, a ] ] (although the interior used features spiral stairs, typically found in the -100 and -200 models of the 747), on which Jones will be flying from ] to ]. The ] given to the passengers by airport staff upon their departure had been secretly sprayed with ] to make the snakes more aggressive in an attempt to bring down the plane before it reaches its destination.


Originally, the film, under the working title ''Snakes on a Plane'', was going to be directed by ] action director ].<ref name="EWKickAsp" /> Jackson, who had previously worked with Yu on '']'', learned about the announced project in the Hollywood trade newspapers and, after talking to Yu, agreed to sign on without reading the script, based on the director, storyline, and the title.<ref name="TimeSOAPTitle">{{cite magazine|last=Tyrangiel|first=Josh|title=Snakes on Samuel L. Jackson|magazine=]|url=http://www.time.com/time/nation/article/0,8599,1186739,00.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060615195615/http://www.time.com/time/nation/article/0,8599,1186739,00.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=June 15, 2006|date=April 24, 2006|access-date=May 10, 2009}}</ref> Initially New Line Cinema did not believe that Jackson had actually signed on to the project and had to call his agent to clarify.<ref name="cinemablendplane">{{cite web|last1=Topel|first1=Fred|title=Interview: Samuel L. Jackson|url=https://www.cinemablend.com/new/Interview-Samuel-L-Jackson-3189.html|website=Cinemablend|access-date=23 August 2016|date=2006-08-16|archive-date=2016-10-02|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161002180545/http://www.cinemablend.com/new/Interview-Samuel-L-Jackson-3189.html|url-status=live}}</ref> Jackson would later defend his choice of starring in the movie by stating "it was the kind of movie I would have gone to see when I was a kid",<ref name="cinemablendplane"/> further clarifying "I feel sorry for all those people that are going through that whole trip of 'Why would Samuel Jackson do something like this?' and 'It's lowbrow.' It's a movie. People go to movies on Saturday to get away from the ] and taxes and election news and pedophiles online and just go and have some fun and I like doing movies that are fun."<ref name="cinemablendplane"/><ref name="Telegraph">{{cite web|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/films/0/people-want-scared-online-hysteria-transformed-snakes-plane/|title='People want to be scared': how online hysteria transformed Snakes on a Plane – and cinema|work=]|first=Marianka |last=Swain| date= September 5, 2021|accessdate=July 30, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230523192301/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/films/0/people-want-scared-online-hysteria-transformed-snakes-plane/|archive-date=May 23, 2023|url-status=live}}</ref>
]


The film's ] title generated a lot of pre-release interest on the Internet. One journalist wrote that ''Snakes on a Plane'' is "perhaps the most internet-hyped film of all time".<ref name="FlyingBlind">{{cite news|last=Brown|first=Mark|url=http://film.guardian.co.uk/news/story/0,,1852937,00.html|title=Snakes on a Plane leaves critics flying blind|newspaper=]|date=August 18, 2006|access-date=May 11, 2009|location=London|archive-date=February 5, 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080205113313/http://film.guardian.co.uk/news/story/0,,1852937,00.html|url-status=live}}</ref> Much of the initial publicity came from a ] entry made by screenwriter ], who had been offered a chance to work on the script.<ref name="friedman">{{cite web|url=http://hucksblog.blogspot.com/2005/08/snakes-on-motherfucking-plane.html|title=I find your lack of faith disturbing: Snakes on a Motherfucking Plane|first=Josh|last=Friedman|date=August 17, 2005|access-date=May 11, 2009|archive-date=June 28, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090628193647/http://hucksblog.blogspot.com/2005/08/snakes-on-motherfucking-plane.html|url-status=live}}</ref> The casting of Jackson further increased anticipation. At one point, the film was given the title ''Pacific Air Flight 121'', only to have it changed back to the working title at Jackson's request.<ref name="SaysItAll">{{cite news|last=Wloszczyna|first=Susan|url=https://www.usatoday.com/life/movies/news/2006-04-17-snakes_x.htm|title='Snakes on a Plane' sssssssays it all|date=April 18, 2006|access-date=May 11, 2009|work=USA Today|archive-date=April 22, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090422071033/http://www.usatoday.com/life/movies/news/2006-04-17-snakes_x.htm|url-status=live}}</ref> In August 2005, Jackson told an interviewer, "We're totally changing that back. That's the only reason I took the job: I read the title."<ref name="ChangingCultIMDB">{{cite news|url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0417148/news?year=2006|title='Snakes on a Plane': The Cult|publisher=]|date=April 12, 2006|access-date=May 11, 2009|archive-date=January 13, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160113035032/http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0417148/news?year=2006|url-status=live}}</ref> On March 2, 2006, the studio reverted the title to ''Snakes on a Plane''.<ref name="MTVRedBlack"/> New Line hired two additional writers to smooth out the screenplay.<ref name="PostScares"/>
The crate opens midway through the flight and the snakes make their way throughout the cabin due to a tampered-with ], killing numerous passengers, the pilot, and Agent Sanders. The surviving passengers flee first to the front of the airliner, putting up a blockade of luggage, but when the snakes break through due to turbulence caused by the co-pilot being attacked by a snake, they flee upstairs to the first class area. As they are making their way up the stairs, a ] in the lighting falls through and, after snacking on a passenger's dog, feasts on the British businessman who sacrificed said dog.


Taking advantage of the Internet buzz for what had been a minor film in their 2006 line-up, New Line Cinema ordered five days of additional shooting in early March 2006 (] had wrapped in September 2005).<ref name="FanFrenzy">{{cite news|last=Borys |first=Kit |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/thr/film/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1002234847 |title=Fan frenzy for 'Snakes' is on a different plane |work=] |date=March 24, 2006 |access-date=May 11, 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060831173213/http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/thr/film/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1002234847 |archive-date=August 31, 2006 }}</ref> While re-shoots normally imply problems with a film, the producers opted to add new scenes to the film to change the ] rating ] and bring it in line with growing fan expectations. The most notable addition was a revision of a catchphrase from the film that was parodied on the Internet by fans of the film, capitalizing on Jackson's typically foul-mouthed and violent film persona: "Enough is enough! I have had it with these motherfucking snakes on this motherfucking plane!".<ref name="EWKickAsp">{{cite magazine|last=Jensen |first=Jeff |url=https://www.ew.com/ew/report/0,6115,1219727_1_0_,00.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080719233726/http://www.ew.com/ew/report/0%2C6115%2C1219727_1_0_%2C00.html |archive-date=July 19, 2008 |title=Kicking Asp |magazine=] |date=August 4, 2006 |access-date=July 3, 2014 }}</ref> Subsequently, the public responded favorably to this creative change and marketing strategy, leading some members of the press to speculate that "the movie has grown from something of a joke into a phenomenon".<ref name="EWKickAsp"/><ref>{{cite news|last=Honeycutt|first=Kirk|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/hr/search/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1003019676|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070212160345/http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/hr/search/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1003019676|url-status=dead|archive-date=February 12, 2007|title=Snakes on a Plane|work=]|access-date=September 21, 2008|date=August 21, 2006}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=Loder|first=Kurt|url=http://www.mtv.com/movies/news/articles/1538874/08182006/story.jhtml|title=Snakes on a Plane: Wild Fang|publisher=MTV Movies|access-date=September 21, 2008|date=August 18, 2006 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20080505073424/http://www.mtv.com/movies/news/articles/1538874/08182006/story.jhtml |archive-date = May 5, 2008}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=Pearlman|first=Cindy|url=http://www.free-press-release.com/news/200608/1155699900.html|title=Kicking Asp: Jackson is fed up with snakes|newspaper=]|date=August 13, 2006|access-date=September 21, 2008|archive-date=January 11, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090111104122/http://www.free-press-release.com/news/200608/1155699900.html|url-status=live}}</ref> '']'' described this process as making the film "crowdsourced"<ref name="Telegraph"/> and '']'' described it as "the first ]-ised movie, created by the users themselves".<ref name="Guardianreview">{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/film/2006/aug/19/actionandadventure|title=Snakes on a Plane review – cheerfully ridiculous thriller that defies you not to laugh|first=Peter|last=Bradshaw|author-link=Peter Bradshaw|work=]|date=August 19, 2006|accessdate=July 30, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231226031258/https://www.theguardian.com/film/2006/aug/19/actionandadventure|archive-date=December 26, 2023|url-status=live}}</ref> Jackson told ] in 2024, "They were trying to make a PG-13 movie, and you can only have one 'fuck' or some shit like that in it. And I told them, 'Look, I gotta say motherfucker in this movie. There's motherfucking snakes all over this plane.'"<ref>{{Cite web |date=Sep 25, 2024 |title=Samuel L. Jackson Breaks Down His Most Iconic Characters |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l2-VmisepcE&t=631 |website=] |via=]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Garner |first=Glenn |date=2024-09-27 |title=Samuel L. Jackson Says ‘Snakes on a Plane’ Studio Gave Him More F-Bombs After Test Screenings |url=https://deadline.com/2024/09/samuel-l-jackson-snakes-on-a-plane-studio-gave-more-f-bombs-after-test-screenings-1236101157/ |access-date=2024-12-12 |website=Deadline |language=en-US |archive-date=2024-09-28 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240928011726/https://deadline.com/2024/09/samuel-l-jackson-snakes-on-a-plane-studio-gave-more-f-bombs-after-test-screenings-1236101157/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
Agent Flynn contacts FBI Special Agent Hank Harris (]) on the ground, who arranges for emergency crews to be waiting at ]. Agent Harris then calls ] Dr. Steven Price (]), who identifies the snakes based on pictures Agent Flynn sends him via a smartphone belonging to one of the passengers (the same one who loses her dog). It is learned that the deadly crate was full of exotic snakes from around the world, which leads the ], with Agent Harris and Dr. Price in command, to a man named Kraitler (Darren Moore), who is the only person in the ] area who would be capable of gathering the rare snakes found on the plane. Agent Harris extracts a confession from Kraitler, who says that he was the person who illegally obtained the snakes for Kim's use. He is then taken into custody, with his stock of ] being commandeered for the surviving snakebite victims aboard the plane.


More than 450 snakes were used for filming to represent 30 different species of snakes.<ref name="IGN3">{{cite web|last=Carle|first=Chris|url=http://movies.ign.com/articles/720/720471p1.html|date=2006-07-22|title=Comic-Con 2006: Snakes on a Plane Panel|access-date=September 21, 2008|archive-date=2008-12-07|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081207112355/http://movies.ign.com/articles/720/720471p1.html|url-status=live}}</ref> The different species include a {{convert|19|ft|m|adj=on}} ] named Kitty (which the crew called Kong for film purposes), ] (the non-venomous double for the ]), ], ]s, ]s, and ]s. The ] and ] stood in for coral snakes, while another species of milk snake and ] filled the role of the venomous Australian ] (which attacks the couple having sex and the man using a restroom respectively).<ref name=autogenerated1>{{cite magazine|last=Lovgren|first=Stefan|url=http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2006/07/060724-snakes-plane.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060812033208/http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2006/07/060724-snakes-plane.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=August 12, 2006|title="Snakes on a Plane": Behind the Scenes With the Movie's Snake Wrangler|magazine=National Geographic|access-date=September 21, 2008}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Case |first=Russ |date=2011-12-01 |title=Snakes On A Plane |url=https://reptilesmagazine.com/snakes-on-a-plane/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230203074743/https://reptilesmagazine.com/snakes-on-a-plane/ |archive-date=February 3, 2023 |access-date=2023-06-10 |website=Reptiles Magazine |language=en-US}}</ref> About two-thirds of the snakes seen throughout the film were either ] or ].<ref name="autogenerated1" /> The snakes that were real were mostly the non-venomous ones that are never seen attacking anyone. The scenes where someone is clearly bitten were often done with a mix of animatronic and animation. According to the DVD, all the snakes had production names, but only Scarface (an animated ]), Peanut (a ]), and Kong are mentioned by name in the audio commentary. During filming, Jackson did not interact with any live snakes, due to a contract clause preventing snakes from being within {{nowrap|8 m}} (25&nbsp;ft) of the actor.<ref name="EWKickAsp"/><ref name="Telegraph"/>
Meanwhile, Flynn goes into the bottom of the plane in order to restore the air conditioning/ventilation, without which the plane would overheat and plummet into the ocean. While searching for the switch, he discovers that a mechanical panel was intentionally left open to allow the snakes to reach the cabin where the passengers were located. Upon returning, he finds that the surviving copilot, Rick (]) has been killed by the snakes. That prompts the normally unflappable Flynn to finally lose his temper: "Enough is enough! I have had it with these motherfucking snakes on this motherfucking plane!" He orders all the passengers to strap into their seats, while he uses his ] to shoot out two windows, which causes the plane to ], blowing the snakes out of the plane. Flynn and another passenger, Troy (]), then take the controls and land the plane at Los Angeles International Airport, thanks to Troy's 2,000 logged hours on a ] ]. Once the plane lands, the passengers ride the yellow exit slides to safety. As Agent Flynn and Sean depart the plane, a final snake drops from overhead and bites Sean. Agent Flynn draws his gun and shoots the snake, causing Sean to tumble down the slide. Paramedics rip open Sean's shirt to reveal a ] with two slugs embedded in it. As the passengers and crew depart, Agent Flynn decides to repay a certain flight attendant by taking her out for dinner. Another flight attendant kisses Sean and gives him her phone number. The flight attendant who is assumed to be gay throughout the movie is seen kissing his girlfriend, and everyone reacts with surprise. The film's closing scene features Jones and Flynn ], presumably in ].
{{endspoiler}}


==Media coverage== ==Media coverage==
] in July 2006]]
In mid-July 2006, New Line Cinema revealed that it would not be showing any advance screenings for critics. Gitesh Pandya of BoxOfficeGuru.com stated that "These kind of movies are marketing-driven, not critic-driven. So the only thing the critics could do is hurt it. And even if the reviews are good, they wouldn't mean much." The film debuted on ], ] with some late-night screenings on ], ]. Despite the lack of advance screenings, the movie has garnered much publicity in various media.

During a ], ] panel discussion at the ] in ], a ten-minute clip from the film was shown to a crowd of more than 6,500 people. The panel included actors Samuel L. Jackson and Kenan Thompson, director David R. Ellis, and snake handler Jules Sylvester. Afterwards, fans were allowed to ask the panelists questions.<ref>{{cite web| url=http://blogs.usatoday.com/popcandy/2006/07/cant_stop_the_s.html | title=Can't stop the 'Snakes'| first=Whitney| last=Matheson| month=July 22| year=2006| accessdate=2006-07-22}}</ref>


===Print=== ===Print===
An illustrated book from Thunder's Mouth Press, ''Snakes on a Plane: The Guide to the Internet Ssssssensation'' by David Waldon, details the Internet phenomenon and was published July 28, 2006. Waldon details various ]s relating to the film's craze, and interviewed their producers to find out what about the film captured their attention.<ref>{{cite book|title=Snakes on a Plane: The Guide to the Internet Ssssssensation|publisher=Thunder's Mouth|year=2006|last=Waldon|first=David|isbn=1-56025-971-X}}</ref>
] has published the ] of the film, written by Christina Faust.<ref>{{cite book | title=Snakes on a Plane | publisher=Games Workshop | first=Christina | last=Faust | authorlink=Christine Faust | year=2006 | id=ISBN 1844163814}}</ref> On ], ], comic book writer ] announced on his web site that he would be writing the comic book adaptation of ''Snakes on a Plane''. ] has since announced that their ] imprint will release a two issue miniseries on ], ] and ], ]. In January 2006, '']'' featured the film as "The best worst film of 2006", based solely on the title and concept of the movie.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.wired.com/wired/archive/14.01/play.html | title=The Best Worst Movie of the Year] | publisher=Lycos | work=Wired, January 2006 | accessdate=2006-08-20}}</ref>


===Music===
An illustrated book from Thunder's Mouth Press, ''Snakes on a Plane: The Guide to the Internet Ssssssensation'' by David Waldon details the internet phenomenon and was published ], ].<ref>{{cite book | title=Snakes on a Plane: The Guide to the Internet Ssssssensation | publisher=Thunder's Mouth | year=2006 | last=Waldon | first=David | id=ISBN 156025971X}}</ref> Waldon details various ] relating to the ''SoaP'' craze, and interviewed their producers to find out what about the movie captured their attention.
On March 16, 2006, New Line Cinema announced a contest on TagWorld and a website promoting the film.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.pdfdownload.org/pdf2html/pdf2html.php?url=http%3A%2F%2Fweb.archive.org%2Fweb%2F20060822023104%2Fhttp%3A%2F%2Fwww.tagworld.com%2Fsnakesonaplane%2FMain%2FSnakes-Tagworld_Release.pdf&images=yes|title=TagWorld and New Line Cinema Team for ''Snakes on a Plane'' Soundtrack Contest|format=PDF|date=March 16, 2006|access-date=May 11, 2009|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110717232948/http://www.pdfdownload.org/pdf2html/pdf2html.php?url=http:%2F%2Fweb.archive.org%2Fweb%2F20060822023104%2Fhttp:%2F%2Fwww.tagworld.com%2Fsnakesonaplane%2FMain%2FSnakes-Tagworld_Release.pdf&images=yes|archive-date=July 17, 2011}}</ref><ref name="snake home">{{cite web|url=http://www.tagworld.com/snakesonaplane |title=TagWorld :: snakesonaplane's - Home|access-date=May 11, 2009 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20060325054903/http://www.tagworld.com/snakesonaplane |archive-date = March 25, 2006}}</ref> The contest allowed artists on TagWorld to have their music featured in the film. A flood of ''SoaP''-themed songs were submitted by artists such as ] (who ultimately won the contest), ], the Former Fat Boys, Nispy, and others. In addition, a ] for the film's theme song, "]" by ], was released on July 10, 2006, on ]'s ''Unleashed''. The song appeared on the film's soundtrack and the video appeared during the film's closing credits.


In October 2005, Nathanial Perry and Chris Rohan recorded an audio trailer ], which helped fuel the Internet buzz. Perry and Rohan recorded the "motherfucking snakes" line in the audio trailer which was added to the film during the week of re-shoots. In July 2006, New Line Cinema signed a worldwide licensing agreement with the Cutting Corporation to produce an ] of the film.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.graphicaudio.net/press/20060807press.asp |title=Snakes on a Plane in GraphicAudio|publisher=Graphic Audio|access-date=May 11, 2009 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20070517033240/http://www.graphicaudio.net/press/20060807press.asp |archive-date = May 17, 2007}}</ref>
Sterling Publishing released the tie-in ] book ''Snakes on a Sudoku'' on ], ]. According to the book description, the puzzles are standard sudoku puzzles, but with the 3x3 blocks of numbers replaced with "deadly snakes" (actually, snake-shaped groups of squares).<ref>{{cite book | title=Snakes on a Sudoku | publisher=Conceptis | first=Francis | last=Heaney | id=ISBN 1402743432 | year=2006}}</ref>


===Television===
] in ''Snakes on a Plane''. This scene was not used in the final movie.]]
On August 15, 2006, Samuel L. Jackson guest featured on ''The Daily Show'' with ], opening with the film's catchphrase. ] featured stories about the film and Internet buzz several times on his ] news program '']''. In addition, ]'s '']'' featured a semi-regular segment entitled "Snakes on a Plane: An Attack of the Show Investigation", and had a week dedicated to the film which included interviews and the appearance of hundreds of snakes on set.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.tv.com/attack-of-the-show!/snakes-on-a-plane-x-games/episode/979587/summary.html|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130204193927/http://www.tv.com/attack-of-the-show!/snakes-on-a-plane-x-games/episode/979587/summary.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=February 4, 2013|title=Snakes on a Plane, X-Games|publisher=]|access-date=May 11, 2009}}</ref>


===Music and audio=== ===Internet===
''Snakes on a Plane'' generated considerable buzz on the Internet after ]'s blog entry<ref name="friedman" /> and mentions on several Internet ]. The title inspired bloggers to create songs, apparel, poster art, pages of ], parody films, mock ], and short film parody competitions.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.originalalamo.com/sites/2blanks/about.aspx|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080506095702/http://www.originalalamo.com/sites/2blanks/about.aspx|archive-date=2008-05-06|title=(Blanks) on a (Blank): A Filmmaking Challenge Inspired by "Snakes on a Plane|access-date=October 19, 2009}}</ref><ref name="BelongSteak"/> On July 6, 2006, the official ''Snakes on a Plane'' website started a promotional ] called "The #1 Fan King Cobra Sweepstakes". The contest made innovative use of the publicity-generating potential of the Internet, requiring contestants to post links on forums, blogs, and websites and collecting votes from the users of those sites.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Mancuso |first=Vinnie |date=2021-08-18 |title=How 'Snakes on a Plane' Became More Meme Than Movie & Got Crushed By Its Own Hype Train |url=https://collider.com/why-is-snakes-on-a-plane-so-bad/ |access-date=2024-08-07 |website=Collider |language=en |archive-date=2023-05-19 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230519043955/https://collider.com/why-is-snakes-on-a-plane-so-bad/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
On ], ], New Line Cinema publicly announced a contest on ]<ref>{{cite web| url=http://www.tagworld.com/snakesonaplane/Main/Snakes-Tagworld_Release.pdf| title=TagWorld and New Line Cinema Team for ''Snakes on a Plane'' Soundtrack Contest| format=PDF| accessdate=2006-03-18}}</ref> and a website promoting the film.<ref name="snake home">{{cite web| url=http://www.tagworld.com/snakesonaplane| title=TagWorld :: snakesonaplane's - Home| accessdate=2006-03-18}}</ref> The contest allowed artists on TagWorld to have their music featured on the movie. A flood of ''S.O.A.P'' themed songs by artists like ], Louden Swain, the ], Nispy and others are now available because of the TagWorld contest. In addition, a music video for the film, released ], ] on ]'s ''Unleashed'', has also generated publicity for the movie. The video is for the first song on the soundtrack CD, ]'s "Snakes on a Plane (Bring It)". Additionally, the video appears during the beginning of the credits, after the movie.


Many of the early fan-made trailers and later other viral videos and commercials circulated via YouTube, and captured media attention there with such titles as: ''Cats on a Plane'' (which was featured in Joel Siegel's review of ''Snakes on a Plane'' on '']''),<ref>{{Cite web |last= |first= |title=Review: 'Snakes on a Plane' |url=https://abcnews.go.com/GMA/JoelSiegel/story?id=2329164 |access-date=2024-08-07 |website=ABC News |language=en |archive-date=2024-07-31 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240731024204/https://abcnews.go.com/GMA/JoelSiegel/story?id=2329164 |url-status=live }}</ref> ''Snakes Who Missed the Plane'', ''All Your Snakes Are Belong To Us'' (a spoof of the ] phenomenon), ''Steaks on a Train'',<ref name="BelongSteak">{{cite magazine|last=Robischon|first=Noah|url=http://news10now.com/content/sports/?ArID=21324&SecID=32|title="Snakes On A Plane" comes to life on the Internet|magazine=]|date=August 22, 2006|access-date=May 11, 2009|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130208140752/http://centralny.ynn.com/content/sports/21324/-snakes-on-a-plane--comes-to-life-on-the-internet/|archive-date=February 8, 2013|url-status=dead}}</ref> and ''Badgers on a Plane'' (a spoof of "]").<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.weebls-stuff.com/toons/trailer/ |title=trailer - Weebl's Stuff |publisher=Weebls-stuff.com |access-date=9 July 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090717001907/http://www.weebls-stuff.com/toons/trailer/ |archive-date=17 July 2009}}</ref> Several websites also held contests about the film in fan-submitted short films and posters.
In October of 2005, Nathanial Perry and Chris Rohan recorded an audio trailer spoof, which helped fuel the internet buzz. Perry and Rohan recorded the "motherfucking snakes" line in the audio trailer which was added to the film during the week of re-shoots.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/thr/film/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1002234847 | title=Fan frenzy for 'Snakes' is on a different plane | publisher=Hollywood Reporter | accessdate=2006-08-20}}</ref> In July 2006, New Line Cinema signed a worldwide licensing agreement with the Cutting Corporation to produce an audiobook of the film.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.graphicaudio.net/press/20060807press.asp | title=Snakes on a Plane in GraphicAudio | publisher=Graphic Audio | accessdate=2006-08-20}}</ref>


In August 2006, Varitalk launched an advertising campaign in which fans could send a semi-personalized message in Samuel Jackson's voice to telephone numbers of their choosing.<ref name="SLJCalled">{{cite news|last=Leo|first=Alexandra|url=https://abcnews.go.com/Business/story?id=2313405&page=1|title=If Samuel L. Jackson Called, Would You See His Movie?|date=August 15, 2006|access-date=May 11, 2009|archive-date=March 2, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100302085531/http://abcnews.go.com/Business/story?id=2313405&page=1|url-status=live}}</ref> Within the first week, over 1.5 million calls were sent to participants.<ref name="SLJCalled"/>
The soundtrack is currently available for streaming in its entirety on MTV's ''The Leak''.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.mtvu.com/music/the_leak/snakes_on_a_plane | title=The Leak: Snakes On A Plane - Original Soundtrack | publisher=MTV | work=The Leak | accessdate=2006-08-20}}</ref>


===Television and video=== ===Previews===
In June 2006, New Line commissioned famed UK audio-visual film ]ers and chop-up artists ] to cut and ] ''Snakes on a Plane'' to create trailers for the U.S. television networks. The official teaser trailer premiered before '']'', and the first official trailer appeared online on June 26, 2006.<ref name="BelongSteak"/> Another trailer circulated in July 2006, showing several of the snake attacks and a missing pilot and co-pilot. ] had video clips of the official trailers, as well as fan-made trailers.<ref name="tomatoes"/>
Beginning in May 2006, episodes of '']'' and its sister show '']'' contained references to ''Snakes on a Plane''’s title, famous line, and general premise. Colbert accompanies the references with an imitation of Samuel L. Jackson saying "I am tired of these muthafuckin' snakes on this muthafuckin' plane!". One notable example on '']'' occured just after the alleged terror plot in ], which resulted in a large number of items being banned from airplanes in the ] and ]. This story was accompanied by the satirical tagline "Snakes not allowed on a plane". On ], ], Samuel L. Jackson guest featured on ''The Daily Show'', opening with his already very famous line. ] has featured stories about the movie and Internet buzz several times on his ] news program '']''. In addition, ]'s '']'' features a semi-regular segment entitled "Snakes on a Plane: An Attack of the Show Investigation", and even had a week dedicated to the movie which included interviews - including a conversation with ] in a recreation of an airplane bathroom - and a day where hundreds of actual snakes were on set. Additionally, ]'s '']'' has made sketches of an eager man waiting in line for months to see ''Snakes on a Plane'' first.


During a July 21, 2006 panel discussion at ], a preview clip from the film was shown to a crowd of more than 6,500 people. The panel included actors Samuel L. Jackson and ], director David R. Ellis, and snake-handler ].<ref>{{cite news|url=http://blogs.usatoday.com/popcandy/2006/07/cant_stop_the_s.html|archive-url=https://archive.today/20060828135030/http://blogs.usatoday.com/popcandy/2006/07/cant_stop_the_s.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=August 28, 2006|title=Can't stop the 'Snakes'|first=Whitney|last=Matheson|newspaper=]|date=July 22, 2006|access-date=May 11, 2009}}</ref>
In June 2006, New Line Cinema commissioned famed UK audio-visual film ]ers and chop-up artists ] to cut and ] ''Snakes on a Plane'' to create trailers for the US television networks.


===Merchandising=== ==Release==
{{quote box|width=25em|quote="No movie shall triumph over ''Snakes on a Plane''. Unless I happen to feel like making a movie called ''More Motherfucking Snakes on More Motherfucking Planes''."|source=—Samuel L. Jackson, joking that the film would win the ] for "Best Film" in 2007<ref name="MTVRedBlack">{{cite news|last=Homer|first=Chris|url=http://media.www.redandblack.com/media/storage/paper871/news/2006/08/17/OutAbout/snakes.Inspires.Laughs.Not.Fear-2567540.shtml|title='Snakes' inspires laughs, not fear|work=]|date=August 17, 2006|access-date=May 11, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090518012314/http://media.www.redandblack.com/media/storage/paper871/news/2006/08/17/OutAbout/snakes.Inspires.Laughs.Not.Fear-2567540.shtml|archive-date=May 18, 2009|url-status=dead}}</ref>}}
]
Several independent ] manufacturers have made T-shirts with graphics illustrating various humorous representations of the film. One, created by ], depicts a frontal exterior view of a plane ], with the pilot and copilot depicted as snakes. Another uses vintage road signs to formulate "Snakes + Plane = ''Snakes on a Plane''". A third showed a cartoon representation of Jackson's ] character from the '']'' series cutting down snakes with a lightsaber. It was pulled, presumably for copyright reasons.


''Snakes on a Plane'' had its ] on August 17, 2006 at ].<ref>{{Cite web |date=2006-08-18 |title='Snakes on a Plane' flies first class in Hollywood |url=https://www.today.com/popculture/snakes-plane-flies-first-class-hollywood-wbna14409993 |access-date=2024-08-07 |website=TODAY.com |language=en |archive-date=2024-07-31 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240731030425/https://www.today.com/popculture/snakes-plane-flies-first-class-hollywood-wbna14409993 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2006-08-18 |title='Snakes On A Plane' |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/pictures/snakes-on-a-plane/ |access-date=2024-08-07 |website=www.cbsnews.com |language=en-US |archive-date=2024-07-31 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240731030422/https://www.cbsnews.com/pictures/snakes-on-a-plane/ |url-status=live }}</ref> The film debuted on August 18, 2006. It opened in 3,555 theaters and had some late-night screenings on August 17. In a move meant to exploit the attention from the film, a straight-to-DVD ] horror film with a supernatural twist, '']'', was released on August 15, 2006, three days before the film's theatrical release.<ref name="SnakesTrain">{{cite magazine|url=https://variety.com/2006/film/markets-festivals/snakes-on-a-train-1200514085/|title=Snakes on a Train|first=Joe|last=Leydon|magazine=]|date=August 18, 2006|access-date=July 30, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230417061841/https://variety.com/2006/film/markets-festivals/snakes-on-a-train-1200514085/|archive-date=April 17, 2023|url-status=live}}</ref>
A ''Snakes on a Plane'' t-shirt is also now available at ] retail stores. Samuel L. Jackson was dressed in the snakes in cockpit fanshirt in the official music video ''Snakes on a Plane'', though this is only readily obvious from still photos from the day of the shoot, and only a fraction of the shirt is visible in the video. The shirt he is wearing is from ; it is unknown if he chose the shirt himself, or if someone working on wardrobe selected it. On the ] ] edition of '']'', wrestler ] was the latest person to sport the "road sign" t-shirt.


===Critical response===
In a move which goes against usual movie merchandise practices, New Line Cinema partnered with CafePress.com to permit fans of ''Snakes on a Plane'' to become official licensees of ''Snakes on a Plane'' merchandise. This opened the door for millions to design and sell not only t-shirts, but other gift items such as mugs. Designers are restricted from using any copyrighted images or content created by New Line Cinema (e.g. images from the film), or images/depictions of the individual actors in the film. Fans have already responded by creating hundreds of designs including those using the full title of the film, something allowed by the New Line Cinema/CafePress partnership.
New Line Cinema did not screen the film for critics.<ref name="FlyingBlind"/><ref name="NoAdvance">{{cite news|last=Arnold|first=William|url=http://www.seattlepi.com/movies/281456_snakes17.html|title=Fewer movies are being prescreened for critics — and that's a good thing|newspaper=]|date=August 17, 2006|access-date=May 11, 2009}}{{Dead link|date=October 2022 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> {{As of|January 2022}}, review aggregation website ] gives the film a score of 69% based on 178 reviews, with an average score of 6.20/10. The consensus reads: "''Snakes on a Plane'' lives up to its title, featuring snakes on a plane. It isn't perfect, but then again, it doesn't need to be."<ref name="tomatoes">{{cite web |url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/snakes_on_a_plane/ |title=Snakes on a Plane |publisher=] |work=] |date=18 August 2006 |access-date=January 10, 2022 |archive-date=2 February 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220202052304/https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/snakes_on_a_plane |url-status=live }}</ref> On ], which uses a ] rating system out of 100, the film earned a score of 58 based on 31&nbsp;reviews, indicating "mixed or average reviews".<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.metacritic.com/film/titles/snakesonaplane|title=Snakes on a Plane|publisher=]|work=]|access-date=July 20, 2021|archive-date=April 19, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090419182001/http://www.metacritic.com/film/titles/snakesonaplane|url-status=live}}</ref> Reviewers reported audiences cheering, applauding, and engaging in "]", noting that ] was an important part of the film's appeal.<ref>{{cite web|last=Gonsalves|first=Rob|url=http://efilmcritic.com/review.php?movie=15043&reviewer=416|title=Snakes on a Plane|publisher=EFilm Critic|date=August 18, 2006|access-date=May 11, 2009|archive-date=January 12, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090112051901/http://efilmcritic.com/review.php?movie=15043&reviewer=416|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=Seymour |first=Gene |url=http://www.newsday.com/entertainment/movies/ny-etmovsnakesaug19,0,983553.story?coll=ny-moviereview-headlines |title=Snakes on a Plane |access-date=October 19, 2009 |newspaper=] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080205102628/http://www.newsday.com/entertainment/movies/ny-etmovsnakesaug19%2C0%2C983553.story?coll=ny-moviereview-headlines |archive-date=February 5, 2008 |url-status=dead }}</ref> Audiences surveyed by ] gave the film a grade of "B−" on scale of A to F.<ref>{{cite web |url= https://www.cinemascore.com/publicsearch/index/title/ |title=SNAKES ON A PLANE (2006) B- |work= ] |url-status= dead |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20181220122629/https://www.cinemascore.com/publicsearch/index/title/ |archive-date= 2018-12-20 }}</ref>


'']'''s Randy Cordova gave the film a positive review, calling the film "... an exploitation flick that knows what it wants to do, and it gets the job done expertly." and a "... Mecca for ] lovers".<ref>{{cite news|last=Cordova|first=Randy|url=https://www.azcentral.com/ent/movies/articles/0819snakes0819.html|title=Snakes on a Plane|date=August 19, 2006|newspaper=]|access-date=May 11, 2009|archive-date=August 17, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230817151707/https://help.azcentral.com/|url-status=live}}</ref> Mick LaSalle of the '']'' enjoyed the film, asking his readers "... if you can find a better time at the movies this year than this wild comic thriller, let me in on it."<ref>{{cite news|last=LaSalle|first=Mick|url=http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2006/08/18/DDSNAKES.DTL&type=movies|title=Get ready for a wild ride with 'Snakes on a Plane'|date=August 18, 2006|newspaper=]|accessdate=July 30, 2024|archive-date=February 12, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090212080751/http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2006/08/18/DDSNAKES.DTL&type=movies|url-status=live}}</ref> '']'' reviewer Ty Burr reacted to Samuel L. Jackson's performance by saying he "... bestrides this film with the authority of someone who knows the value of honest bilge. He's as much the auteur of this baby as the director and screenwriters, and that fierce glimmer in his eye is partly joy."<ref>{{cite news|last=Burr|first=Ty|url=https://www.boston.com/movies/display?display=movie&id=8383|title="Snakes" as bad as it wants to be, and that's good|date=August 18, 2006|newspaper=]|access-date=May 11, 2009|archive-date=February 12, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090212174007/http://www.boston.com/movies/display?display=movie&id=8383|url-status=dead}}</ref>
==Internet==
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''Snakes on a Plane'' became an ] soon after Josh Friedman's blog entry <ref name="friedman" /> and mentions on several Internet portals. The title inspired bloggers to create songs, apparel, poster art, pages of ], parody films, mock ] and even short film parody competitions.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.originalalamo.com/sites/2blanks/about.aspx| title=(Blanks) on a (Blank): A Filmmaking Challenge Inspired by "Snakes on a Plane| accessdate=2006-08-24}}</ref> ''Snakes on a Plane'' has also inspired the creation of graphics for fictional movies about other animals in odd settings, such as "Bears on a Submarine" and "Sharks on a Roller Coaster" (Tagline: ''You must be this tall...to DIE!'').


] of '']'' gave the film one and a half stars out of four, saying that "after all the Internet hype about those motherfuckin' snakes on that motherfuckin' plane, the flick itself is a murky stew of shock effects repeated so often that the suspense quickly droops along with your eyelids."<ref>{{cite magazine|last=Travers|first=Peter|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/movies/reviews/snakes-on-a-plane-20060818|title=Snakes on a Plane|date=August 18, 2006|magazine=]|accessdate=July 30, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230423214508/https://www.rollingstone.com/tv-movies/tv-movie-reviews/snakes-on-a-plane-252903/|archive-date=April 23, 2023|url-status=live}}</ref> David Denby of '']'' claimed that the film "... may mark a new participatory style in marketing, but it still gulls an allegedly knowing audience with the pseudo-morality of yesteryear."<ref>{{cite magazine|last=Denby|first=David|url=https://www.newyorker.com/archive/2006/09/04/060904crci_cinema?currentPage=2|title=Disasters|date=August 18, 2006|magazine=]|accessdate=July 30, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230424044929/https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2006/09/04/disasters|archive-date=April 24, 2023|url-status=live}}</ref>
Some fans have taken to attending the movie wearing black suits and afro wigs.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.laweekly.com/film+tv/film/who-let-the-mother-ing-snakes-out/14266/ | publisher=LA Weekly | title=Who Let the Mother #!%@ing Snakes Out? | author=Scott Foundas | accessdate=2006-08-20}}</ref>


Film critic and ] ] criticized ] for agreeing to re-shoot scenes so that the film would receive an R rating from the ] to match fan expectations.<ref>{{cite news|last=Medved|first=Michael|url=http://townhall.com/talkradio/michaelmedved/92015|title=Bomb on a plane|date=August 22, 2006|publisher=Townhall.com|access-date=August 23, 2013|archive-date=November 9, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141109022944/http://townhall.com/talkradio/michaelmedved/92015|url-status=live}}</ref> He argued that the film would have grossed more revenue at the box office with a PG-13 rating, stating that the demographic most likely to be drawn to a movie titled ''Snakes on a Plane'' is males between the ages of 12 and 15. "My fourteen-year-old son, Danny, for instance, felt a powerful inclination to go out and see the movie with his two sleep-over friends this Sunday night," he explained, "but I wouldn't permit it. It's rated R for good reason."<ref>{{cite news|last=Medved|first=Michael|url=http://townhall.com/tipsheet/michaelmedved/2006/08/22/why_snakes_on_a_plane_crashed|title=Why "Snakes on a Plane" crashed|date=August 22, 2006|publisher=]|access-date=August 24, 2011|archive-date=October 25, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121025073516/http://townhall.com/tipsheet/michaelmedved/2006/08/22/why_snakes_on_a_plane_crashed|url-status=dead}}</ref> Medved ultimately awarded the film 2 1/2 stars out of 4 in a radio review, but said that he did so "grudgingly".<ref>{{cite news|last=Medved|first=Michael|url=http://townhall.com/talkradio/michaelmedved/164127|title=Snakes on a Plane|date=August 18, 2006|publisher=Townhall.com|access-date=November 11, 2014|archive-date=November 9, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141109023405/http://townhall.com/talkradio/michaelmedved/164127|url-status=live}}</ref> ], in a three star review for '']'', described the film as a "cheerfully ridiculous thriller" and defied anyone not to laugh.<ref name="Guardianreview"/> Justin Chang for '']'' described the film as a "tasteless, utterly depraved, no-nonsense sluts-and-guts extravaganza".<ref name="varietyreview">{{cite web|url=https://variety.com/2006/film/markets-festivals/snakes-on-a-plane-1200514087/|title=Snakes on a Plane|first=Justin|last=Chang|work=]|date=August 18, 2006|accessdate=July 30, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230130091401/https://variety.com/2006/film/markets-festivals/snakes-on-a-plane-1200514087/|archive-date=January 30, 2023|url-status=live}}</ref>
''Snakes on a Plane'' was promoted highly on the Pod-cast '']'', formerly known as '']''.


===Box office===
A ] entitled "Snakes on a Plane Early Auditions" features comedian Dave Coyne doing impressions of actors ], ], ], and ], and muppet ], doing casting auditions for the movie.<ref>"" YouTube. Retrieved July 22, 2006.</ref> The film has been featured on ], ], and ], and was included as enhanced content on ]. Dave's voice acting talent can be heard in the audiobook dramatization of ''Snakes on a Plane''.
Due to the Internet hype surrounding the film, industry analysts estimated that the film's opening box office would be between ]20-30 million.<ref name="EW-nobite"/> ''Snakes on a Plane'' did not meet its estimates and grossed $15.25 million over its opening weekend, a disappointment for ].<ref name="NYT-letdown"/> In its second weekend, the film fell to sixth place with $6.4 million, a more than fifty percent drop from its opening weekend revenue.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/news/comments/?entryid=357860 |title=Box Office Wrapup: "Invincible" Scores #1 Opening|date=August 27, 2006|last=Ngo|first=Binh|website=]|access-date=October 19, 2009 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20080205052632/http://www.rottentomatoes.com/news/comments/?entryid=357860 |archive-date = February 5, 2008}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://boxofficemojo.com/movies/?page=weekend&id=snakesonaplane.htm|title=Snakes on a Plane (2006)|website=]|date=August 27, 2006|access-date=May 11, 2009|archive-date=April 18, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090418043144/http://boxofficemojo.com/movies/?page=weekend&id=snakesonaplane.htm|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://ew.com/article/2006/08/27/touchdown-invincible/|last=Rich|first=Joshua|title=Box Office Report: Touchdown!|date=August 28, 2006|magazine=]|access-date=May 11, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110607003816/http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,1376206,00.html|archive-date=June 7, 2011|url-status=live}}</ref> By the end of its theatrical run, the film grossed $62,022,014 worldwide.<ref name="GrossTotal">{{cite web|url=https://boxofficemojo.com/movies/?page=main&id=snakesonaplane.htm|title=Snakes on a Plane (2006)|website=]|access-date=May 11, 2009|archive-date=August 24, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100824122917/http://boxofficemojo.com/movies/?page=main&id=snakesonaplane.htm|url-status=live}}</ref>


], the founder of New Line, stated that he was "disappointed" that ''Snakes on a Plane'' was a "dud" despite "higher expectations".<ref name="IdentityCrisis">{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2007/02/19/business/media/19new.html|title=For New Line, an Identity Crisis|first=Sharon|last=Waxman|newspaper=]|date=February 19, 2007|access-date=May 11, 2009|archive-date=January 15, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120115085732/http://www.nytimes.com/2007/02/19/business/media/19new.html|url-status=live}}</ref> The press declared that ''Snakes on a Plane'' was a "box office disappointment",<ref name="NYT-letdown"/><ref name="EW-nobite" /> with '']'' reporting that after all the "hype online, ''Snakes on a Plane'' is letdown at box office"<ref name="NYT-letdown"/> and '']'' reporting that the film was an "internet-only phenomenon".<ref name="EW-nobite"/> Box office analysts have subsequently referred to substantial internet discourse failing to materialize into box office as "the ''Snakes on a Plane'' effect".<ref>{{Cite web |title=Weekend predictions: Cocaine Bear and Jesus Revolution battle for second place |url=https://www.the-numbers.com/news/253650830-Weekend-predictions-Cocaine-Bear-and-Jesus-Revolution-battle-for-second-place |access-date=2023-02-25 |website=The Numbers |archive-date=2023-02-25 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230225180553/https://www.the-numbers.com/news/253650830-Weekend-predictions-Cocaine-Bear-and-Jesus-Revolution-battle-for-second-place |url-status=live }}. "The risk with a movie like this is that buzz around its trailer won’t translate into people actually going to a movie theater to watch the whole thing—the ''Snakes on a Plane'' effect, as it’s known."</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Brady |first=Erin |date=2022-06-04 |title=Morbius Adds Just 85,000 Morbucks To Its Total Gross In First Day Of Re-Release |url=https://www.slashfilm.com/884874/morbius-adds-just-85000-morbucks-to-its-total-gross-in-first-day-of-rerelease/ |access-date=2023-02-25 |website=/Film |language=en-US |archive-date=2023-02-25 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230225180554/https://www.slashfilm.com/884874/morbius-adds-just-85000-morbucks-to-its-total-gross-in-first-day-of-rerelease/ |url-status=live }}. "It's something we can probably refer to as the ''Snakes on a Plane'' effect, wherein a movie's meme potential does not guarantee that it will turn a profit."</ref>
In March of 2006, the ] comedy group produced the first ever ''Snakes on a Plane'' music video contest. Contestants were told to write and record original songs inspired by the movie and then make them into music videos. The top 3 videos were produced by Zebro itself, including the rap song "Snakes on an MP3" which has been featured on Extra, MTV, CNN, and MSNBC after being put on ]. Another song entitled "100%: A Tribute to SoaP" is a ] video dedicated to the film. The videos are in discussion to be put on the official DVD produced by Automat Pictures.<ref>"" Email. Retrieved August 18, 2006.</ref>


===Home media===
The ], ] installment of the anthology webcomic ] depicts a parody of the film named "Sapiens on a Planet"; specifically, it shows a movie theatre headlining this movie, in a world where the roles of people and snakes are reversed.<ref>"" Joy of Tech: "Sapiens on a Planet". Retrieved August 20, 2006.</ref>
''Snakes on a Plane'' released on ] December 26, 2006 in Region 2; December 28, 2006 in Region 4; and January 2, 2007, in Region 1. The DVD features ], ], several featurettes, ]'s music video, and ].<ref>{{Cite web |title=BBC - Movies - review - Snakes On A Plane DVD |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/films/2007/01/01/snakes_on_a_plane_dvd_2007_review.shtml |access-date=2024-08-07 |website=www.bbc.co.uk |archive-date=2024-07-31 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240731010759/https://www.bbc.co.uk/films/2007/01/01/snakes_on_a_plane_dvd_2007_review.shtml |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Carle |first=Chris |date=2007-01-02 |title=Snakes on a Plane |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2007/01/02/snakes-on-a-plane |access-date=2024-08-07 |website=IGN |language=en |archive-date=2024-07-31 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240731010758/https://www.ign.com/articles/2007/01/02/snakes-on-a-plane |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.slantmagazine.com/dvd/snakes-on-a-plane-dvd/ | title=DVD Review: David R. Ellis's Snakes on a Plane on New Line Home Entertainment | website=] | date=29 December 2006 | access-date=31 July 2024 | archive-date=31 July 2024 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240731010758/https://www.slantmagazine.com/dvd/snakes-on-a-plane-dvd/ | url-status=live }}</ref> The U.S. ] was released on September 29, 2009.<ref>{{cite web|last=McCutcheon|first=David|url=http://bluray.ign.com/articles/101/1019093p1.html|title=Snakes on a Delayed Flight|website=IGN|access-date=July 22, 2009|archive-date=December 17, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101217162838/http://bluray.ign.com/articles/101/1019093p1.html|url-status=live}}</ref>


===TV version===
Many of the early false trailers and other viral videos circulated via ], and captured media attention there, such as:
The film received further attention when fans noticed the U.S. TV edit of the film ] over profane language, replacing it with ] words for family audiences. An example is Samuel L. Jackson's line toward the end of the film, "I have had it with these motherfuckin' snakes on this motherfuckin' plane!", which is replaced with "I have had it with these monkey-fighting snakes on this Monday-to-Friday plane!".<ref>{{cite web | date = April 25, 2009 | author = Dr. Winston O'Boogie | title = Video: Snakes on a Plane (The TV Edit) | url = http://www.agonybooth.com/agonizer/Snakes_on_a_Plane___The_TV_Edit.aspx | access-date = June 4, 2011 | archive-date = September 28, 2011 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110928100756/http://www.agonybooth.com/agonizer/Snakes_on_a_Plane___The_TV_Edit.aspx | url-status = live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.slashfilm.com/lol-snakes-on-a-plane-the-television-edit/ |title=LOL: Snakes on a Plane - The Television Edit – /Film |publisher=Slashfilm.com |date=2009-04-20 |access-date=2018-04-27 |archive-date=2018-04-28 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180428011646/http://www.slashfilm.com/lol-snakes-on-a-plane-the-television-edit/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.movietome.com/infocus/show_blog_entry.php?topic_id=783447 |title=MovieTome: Movie Reviews - DVD Releases - Movie Trailers |access-date=2018-04-27 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090422000255/http://www.movietome.com/infocus/show_blog_entry.php?topic_id=783447 |archive-date=2009-04-22 }}</ref>
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=== Adaptations ===
On ], ], the official ''Snakes on a Plane'' website started a promotional sweepstakes called the "The #1 Fan King Cobra Sweepstakes". The contest makes innovative use of the publicity-generating potential of the Internet, requiring contestants to post links on forums, blogs, and websites and collecting votes from the users of those sites.
] published the ] of the film, written by ].<ref name="ChristaInterview">{{cite magazine|url=http://www.accessmylibrary.com/coms2/summary_0286-33572497_ITM|url-access=registration|title=PW talks with Christa Faust: smoking in the boys' room|first=Donna|last=Chavez|magazine=]|date=December 3, 2007|access-date=May 11, 2009|archive-date=March 8, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120308081418/http://www.accessmylibrary.com/coms2/summary_0286-33572497_ITM|url-status=live}}</ref> The 405&ndash;page novel contains significant backstories for the characters and introduces other characters that were not featured in the film.<ref name="BlackFlameBook">{{cite book|title=Snakes on a Plane|publisher=Black Flame|first=Christa|last=Faust|author-link=Christa Faust|year=2006|isbn=1-84416-381-4|url-access=registration|url=https://archive.org/details/snakesonplane00chri}}</ref> It won a Scirbe Award in 2007 from the International Association of Media Tie-In Writers.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2008-03-28 |title=Novelization Of "Snakes On A Plane" Wins Award |url=https://www.huffpost.com/entry/novelization-of-snakes-on_n_58511 |access-date=2024-08-07 |website=HuffPost |language=en |archive-date=2024-07-31 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240731021430/https://www.huffpost.com/entry/novelization-of-snakes-on_n_58511 |url-status=live }}</ref>


Comic book writer ] wrote a comic book adaptation of the film. ] released the two-issue miniseries on August 16, 2006, and September 27, 2006, under their ] imprint.<ref name="DixconComicSOAP">{{cite web|title=Wildstorm/Chuck Dixon do "Snakes On A Plane" Comic|website=Comic Book Resources|first=Johan|last=Weiland|url=http://www.comicbookresources.com/?page=article&id=7308|date=June 14, 2006|access-date=May 11, 2009|archive-date=June 17, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110617002757/http://www.comicbookresources.com/?page=article&id=7308|url-status=live}}</ref>
Recently, Varitalk has started an advertising campaign in which fans can send an amusing semi-personalized message in the voice of Samuel L. Jackson to telephone numbers of their choosing.

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== Trailers ==
The official ] premiered before '']'', and the first official trailer appeared online on ], ].<ref>. ] Movies. Retrieved July 22, 2006.</ref> Another trailer circulated in July 2006, showing several of the snake attacks and a missing pilot and co-pilot.<ref>"." Alliance Atlantis & Odeon Films. Retrieved July 22, 2006.]</ref> In addition, New Line Cinema commissioned famed UK audio-visual film ]ers and chop-up artists ] to cut and ] the film to create trailers for the US television networks. ] has video clips of the official trailers, as well as fan-made trailers.<ref>"". RottenTomatoes.com. Retrieved July 22, 2006.</ref>

==Critical reaction==
''Snakes On A Plane'' received an 68% favorable rating among the consensus of critics tracked by ].<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/snakes_on_a_plane/?page=1 | title=Snakes on a Plane | publisher=IGN | work=Rotten Tomatoes | accessdate=2006-08-20}}</ref>
Reviewers reported audiences cheering, applauding and engaging in "]", noting that audience participation was an important part of the film's appeal.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://efilmcritic.com/review.php?movie=15043&reviewer=416 |title=Snakes on a Plane | publisher=EFilm Critic | author=Rob Gonsalves | accessdate=2006-08-22}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.newsday.com/entertainment/movies/ny-etmovsnakesaug19,0,983553.story?coll=ny-moviereview-headlines | title='Snakes on a Plane' | author=Gene Seymour | accessdate=2006-08-22 | publisher=Newsday}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=http://ae.philly.com/entertainment/ui/philly/movie.html?id=666924&reviewId=21342&startDate=NEXT7 | publisher=philly.com | title='Snakes' is a concept in need of a story | author=David Hiltbrand | accessdate=2006-08-22}}</ref>

==Box office==
Due to the amount of Internet hype surrounding the film, the consensus of industry analysts estimated the movie's opening box office to be between ]20 million to US$30 million.<ref>{{cite web | title=Oh Sssssnap! | url=http://www.ew.com/ew/report/0,6115,1229136_1_0_,00.html | accessdate=2006-08-24 }}</ref> While ''Snakes on a Plane'' did narrowly beat '']'' for #1 its opening weekend, it failed to meet these estimates and grossed only US$15.25 million in its opening days, a disappointment for New Line Cinema.<ref>{{cite web | title= After Hype Online, ‘Snakes on a Plane’ Is Letdown at Box Office | url= http://www.nytimes.com/2006/08/21/movies/21box.html?ex=1313812800&en=ddffb8b2c0395003&ei=5088&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss | accessdate=2006-08-23 }}</ref>


==Soundtrack== ==Soundtrack==
{{Infobox album
{{main|Snakes on a Plane: The Album}}
| name = Snakes on a Plane: The Album
The soundtrack was released on ], ] as a joint project between ] and ]. <ref name="soundtrack">. Retrieved July 21, 2006.</ref>
| type = soundtrack

| artist = Various artists
==Trivia==
| cover =
* The title image is a reference to the ], the staff belonging to the ] ].
| alt =
* The phrase "snakes in the cockpit," which is said in the film, is used by pilots in reference to the high number of complex tasks they have to accomplish.
| released = August 15, 2006
* One of the snakes seen on the plane (specifically, the one that is blown up in the microwave) is a ], an unpoisonous snake that is often confused with the deadly ]. Although they will bite humans, their bite is not deadly.
| recorded =
* A rip-off horror B-movie, '']'', was released straight to DVD on ], ], only 3 days prior to ''Snakes on a Plane'''s theatrical release.
| venue =
* In the Internet flash "]," Samuel L. Jackson is shown for a brief moment, and then attacked by small green snakes. The ] made another movie based on ''Snakes on a Plane''.
| studio =
* The initial ] for the film was 122 pages long when director David Ellis signed on to direct the film. After reworking the script along with his producing director and Samuel L. Jackson for more than four months, the script was narrowed down to 103 pages.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://joblo.com/index.php?id=12370 | title=Interview with David R. Ellis | publisher=JoBlo | accessdate=2006-08-20}}</ref>
| genre = ]
* Some radio stations have noted the hype associated with the movie in their broadcasts, creating fake promos for supposed sequels such as "Dinosaurs in a Cab" and "Trouser Snakes on a Plane." Many have also been using the voice message of Samuel L. Jackson, which is found on the film's official site, for promoting their stations.
| length =
* The film includes several ]s including: ] and ] in the opening scenes, ] Trucks driven by Eddie Kim, ] videogame devices, ] hand sanitizer, a Nintendo DS and ] products on the plane.
| label = ]<br />]
* In August 2006, during a screening of the film, two live ] were found at a theater in ], ].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/5277238.stm |accessdate= 2006-08-24| title= Real snakes found at film showing| publisher = BBC News}}</ref>
| producer = Jason Linn

| prev_title =
== Cast ==
| prev_year =
]
| next_title =
{| class="wikitable"
| next_year =
|- bgcolor="#CCCCCC"
}}
! Actor !! Role
{{Music ratings|title=Soundtrack
|-
| rev1 = ]
| ]
| rev1Score = {{Rating|3|5}}<ref>{{cite web|last=Apar|first=Corey|url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/r847279|title=Snakes on a Plane: The Album|website=]|access-date=July 22, 2009|archive-date=August 17, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230817151706/https://www.allmusic.com/album/snakes-on-a-plane-the-album-mw0000575882|url-status=live}}</ref>
| Neville Flynn
|rev2= RapReviews|rev2Score= {{Rating|6.5|10}}<ref>{{cite web|last=Juon|first=Steve|url=http://www.rapreviews.com/archive/2006_09_snakesonaplane.html|title=Snakes on a Plane: The Album|publisher=RapReviews|access-date=April 7, 2010|archive-date=January 30, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100130210646/http://rapreviews.com//archive/2006_09_snakesonaplane.html|url-status=live}}</ref>
|-
}}
| ]
The soundtrack for the film was released on August 15, 2006. The ] portion of the CD contains what was considered the "best of the best" of the amateur Internet creations inspired by the film, including the songs "Snakes on the Brain" by ] and "Here Come the Snakes (Seeing Is Believing)" by ]. The single "]" peaked at the 32nd position of ''Billboard'''s ] in 2006.<ref name="Billboard32">{{cite magazine|url=http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/esearch/chart_display.jsp?cfi=377&cfgn=Singles&cfn=Hot+Modern+Rock+Tracks&ci=3077857&cdi=9037231&cid=09%2F09%2F2006 |magazine=]|title=Hot Modern Rock Tracks|access-date=May 11, 2009}}{{dead link|date=July 2024|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref>
| Sean Jones
# "]" by ], ], ], ]
|-
# "]" (] Brooklyn Fire Remix) by ]
| ]
# "Black Mamba" (] Remix) by ]
| John Sanders
# "]" by ]
|-
# "Can't Take It" (] "El Camino Prom Wagon" Remix) by ]
| ]
# "Queen of Apology" (] Remix) by ]
| Claire Miller
# "Of All the Gin Joints in All the World" (]'s Brooklyn Fire Retouch) by ]
|-
# "New Friend Request" (] Remix) by ]
| ]
# "Around the Horn" (Louis XIV Remix) by ]
| Eddie Kim
# "Remember to Feel Real" (] Remix) by ]
|-
# "Wine Red" (]'s Brooklyn Fire Retouch) by ]
| ]
# "Bruised" (Remix) by ]
| Tiffany
# "Final Snakes" by Shranky Drank
|-
# "Wake Up" (Acoustic) by ]
| ]
# "Lovely Day" by ]
| Price
# "Hey Now Now" by ]
|-
# "Snakes on a Plane - The Theme" (Score) by ]
| ]
| Troy
|-
| ]
| Tim
|-
| ]
| Ken
|-
| ]
| Rick
|-
| ]
| Mercedes Harbont
|-
| ]
| Hank Harris
|}


==Ratings== ==See also==
{{Portal|Film}}
*] (USA): Rated R for language, a scene of sexuality and drug use, and intense sequences of terror and violence.
*]
*] (Britain): 15 (Consumer advice: Contains strong language, sex and bloody violence)
*'']'', a 2006 direct-to-video film inspired by ''Snakes on a Plane''
*] (Canada): 14A
*] (Australia): M for moderate horror violence, moderate coarse language, sex scene and incidental drug use.
*] (Ireland): 15A (Strong violence and language, moderate sex/nudity, mild drug references)


==References== ==References==
{{Reflist}}
<div class="references-small" style="-moz-column-count:2; column-count:2;">
<references />
</div>


== External links == ==External links==
<!-- DO NOT INSERT FAN SITES, STORES, AND/OR PARODY FILMS. In general, interviews and official information releases are OK, for any further discussion please ask on talk page or your links will likely be removed. --> <!-- DO NOT INSERT FAN SITES, STORES, AND/OR PARODY FILMS. In general, interviews and official information releases are OK, for any further discussion please ask on talk page or your links will likely be removed. -->
{{wikiquote}} {{wikiquote}}
* {{Official website|https://web.archive.org/web/20080424042529/http://www.newline.com/properties/snakesonaplane.html}} (archived version)
*
*{{imdb title|id=0417148|title=Snakes on a Plane}} * {{IMDb title|0417148}}
*{{ymovies title|1808718760}} * {{mojo title|snakesonaplane}}
*{{rotten-tomatoes|id=snakes_on_a_plane|title=Snakes on a Plane}}
*{{metacritic film|id=snakesonaplane|title=Snakes on a Plane}}
*{{mojo title|id=snakesonaplane|title=Snakes on a Plane}}
* at yourMovies.com.au
*
*
*
*
* at Salon.com
*Slang definition of at Urban Dictionary
*Mythology and Unconscious Symbolism behind at Monomyth.org
* - a photoshop parody combining GIJoe & SoaP at Sigma6Central.com


<!-- DO NOT INSERT FAN SITES, STORIES, AND/OR PARODY FILMS. In general, interviews and official information releases are acceptable. For any further discussion please ask on talk page or your links will likely be removed. -->

{{David R. Ellis}}
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Latest revision as of 01:44, 25 December 2024

2006 film by David R. Ellis

Snakes on a Plane
Text at the center of the image says "Snakes on a Plane". Behind it is an overhead view of a jet passenger airplane with two snakes coiled around it. Towards the cockpit of the image the snakes' heads face each other with their mouths open and fangs and teeth shown. The background is all black.Theatrical release poster
Directed byDavid R. Ellis
Screenplay by
Story by
Produced by
Starring
CinematographyAdam Greenberg
Edited byHoward E. Smith
Music byTrevor Rabin
Production
company
Mutual Film Company
Distributed byNew Line Cinema
Warner Bros. Pictures
Release dates
  • August 17, 2006 (2006-08-17) (Puerto Rico)
  • August 18, 2006 (2006-08-18) (United States)
Running time106 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish
Budget$33 million
Box office$62 million

Snakes on a Plane is a 2006 American action thriller film directed by David R. Ellis and starring Samuel L. Jackson. It was released by New Line Cinema on August 18, 2006, in North America. The film was written by David Dalessandro, John Heffernan, and Sebastian Gutierrez and follows the events of dozens of venomous snakes being released on a passenger plane in an attempt to kill a trial witness.

The film gained a considerable amount of attention before its release, forming large fanbases online and becoming an Internet phenomenon, due to the film's title, casting, and premise. In response to the Internet fan base, New Line Cinema incorporated feedback from online users into its production, and added five days of reshooting. Before and after the film was released, it was parodied and alluded to on television shows and films, fan-made videos, video games, and various forms of literature.

Released in the US and UK on August 18, 2006, the film received mixed reviews and was a "box office disappointment". Despite the immense Internet buzz, the film's gross revenue did not live up to expectations; it earned US$15.25 million in its opening weekend. The film grossed US$62 million worldwide before its release on home video on January 2, 2007.

Plot

After witnessing crime lord Eddie Kim brutally murder prosecutor Daniel Hayes in a secluded forest in Hawaii, Sean Jones is escorted by FBI agents Neville Flynn and John Sanders on a Boeing 747-400 to testify in a trial against Kim in Los Angeles. Kim arranges for a time-release crate full of venomous snakes to be placed in the cargo hold in an attempt to bring down the plane before it reaches Los Angeles International Airport (LAX). To ensure the snakes indiscriminately attack everybody without the need for provocation, he has one of his henchmen disguised as an airport ground employee spray the passengers' leis with a special pheromone which makes the snakes highly aggressive.

The crate opens midway through the flight and the snakes make their way through the cabin, with a viper attacking an electric panel in the process, thus shutting down the power. A cat in the cargo bay, a couple having sex in a bathroom, and a man using another bathroom are the first ones killed. The plane's captain, Sam McKeon, investigates the power outage and fixes an electrical short, but is killed by the viper that caused it. Co-pilot Rick, unaware of the snakes, believes Sam has suffered a heart attack and continues toward LAX. Some snakes attack Rick, and while fending them off he accidentally releases the oxygen masks throughout the plane, causing most of the snakes to drop into the cabin with them. Numerous passengers, including Agent Sanders, are killed when the snakes invade the cabin.

The surviving passengers, who have made their way to the front of the plane, put up blockades of luggage in a desperate attempt to stop the snakes. Rick is attacked and the plane starts to dip downwards, causing a food trolley to crash through the luggage blockade. The passengers flee to the upstairs first-class cabin before blocking the stairwell with an inflatable life raft. Flynn and flight attendant Claire regain control of the plane while Rick retakes the controls and has Flynn go into the cargo hold to restore the air conditioning/ventilation system. Flynn contacts FBI Special Agent Hank Harris on the ground, who gets in touch with ophiologist Dr. Steven Price, Customs' main source for animal smuggling cases.

Based on pictures of the reptiles emailed to him via a passenger's mobile phone, Price believes a snake dealer based in the Los Angeles outskirts known for illegally importing exotic and highly dangerous snakes to be responsible. After a shootout, the agents subject the dealer to tactical interrogation after the latter is injured by a snakebite; with Harris withholding the antivenom, the dealer finally reveals that Kim hired him to obtain the snakes and exposes more of Kim's schemes of smuggling them onboard the flight. Price commands the dealer's supplies of antivenom for the victims on the plane based on the list given to him as he medicates the injured dealer while Harris orders Kim arrested and tried on multiple counts of murder and attempted murder, with the death penalty as an option.

Harris contacts Flynn, telling him that antivenom will be ready for the passengers when they land. However, Flynn discovers that the cockpit is filled with snakes and Rick is dead. After a brief discussion, Troy, a bodyguard for rapper Three G's, agrees to land the plane based on his experience playing a flight simulator. After everyone gets prepared, Flynn shoots out two windows with his pistol, causing the plane to depressurize. The snakes are blown out of the cockpit and the lower floor of the plane. Despite his lack of real-world experience, Troy makes an emergency landing and the plane makes it to the terminal. The passengers exit the plane and antivenom is given to those who need it.

Just as Flynn and Sean are about to disembark, a remaining snake jumps out and bites Sean in the chest. Flynn draws his gun and shoots the snake, and paramedics rush to a traumatized Sean, who remains unharmed due to a ballistic vest he wore throughout the ordeal after his rescue from Kim's henchmen. As a token of gratitude, Sean later takes Flynn to Bali and teaches him how to surf.

Cast

  • Samuel L. Jackson as Agent Neville Flynn, an FBI agent assigned to protect Sean Jones on his flight to Los Angeles.
  • Julianna Margulies as Claire Miller, a flight attendant.
  • Nathan Phillips as Sean Jones, a surfer and dirtbike racer who witnesses a brutal murder committed by Eddie Kim.
  • Rachel Blanchard as Mercedes Harbont, a socialite passenger who brings her pet Chihuahua Mary-Kate aboard.
  • Flex Alexander as Clarence "Three G's" Dewey, a germophobic famous rapper.
  • Kenan Thompson as Troy, Clarence's bodyguard.
  • Keith Dallas as Big Leroy, Clarence's bodyguard.
  • Sunny Mabrey as Tiffany, a flight attendant who develops a crush on Sean.
  • Bruce James as Ken, an eccentric flight attendant.
  • Lin Shaye as Grace, a middle-aged flight attendant who acts as the flight's purser.
  • Terry Chen as Chen Leong, a professional kickboxer and a passenger.
  • Elsa Pataky as Maria, a passenger traveling with her infant daughter Isabella.
  • Mark Houghton as Agent John Sanders, Flynn's colleague assigned to protect Sean Jones.
  • David Koechner as Richard "Rick", Captain McKeon's co-pilot.
  • Bobby Cannavale as Special Agent Henry "Hank" Harris, Flynn's colleague
  • Todd Louiso as Dr. Steven Price, a snake venom expert assigned by the FBI to communicate with Flynn.
  • Tom Butler as Captain Samuel "Sam" McKeon, the captain of the plane.
  • Kevin McNulty as Emmett Bradley, an air traffic tower controller.
  • Samantha McLeod as Kelly, a young woman who boards the plane with her boyfriend.
  • Taylor Kitsch as Kyle, a young man who boards the plane with his girlfriend.
  • Byron Lawson as Eddie Kim, a crime syndicate leader.

Production

The story is credited to David Dalessandro, a University of Pittsburgh administrator and first-time Hollywood writer. He developed the concept in 1992 after reading a nature magazine article about Indonesian brown tree snakes climbing onto planes in cargo during World War II. He originally wrote the screenplay about the brown tree snake loose on a plane, titling the film Venom. He soon revised it, expanding upon the premise to include a plague of assorted venomous snakes, then—crediting the film Aliens—revised it once again to include "lots of them loose in the fuselage of a plane." Dalessandro's third draft of Venom was turned down by more than 30 Hollywood studios in 1995. In 1999, a producer for MTV/Paramount showed interest in the script, followed up by New Line Cinema, which took over the rights for production.

Originally, the film, under the working title Snakes on a Plane, was going to be directed by Hong Kong action director Ronny Yu. Jackson, who had previously worked with Yu on The 51st State, learned about the announced project in the Hollywood trade newspapers and, after talking to Yu, agreed to sign on without reading the script, based on the director, storyline, and the title. Initially New Line Cinema did not believe that Jackson had actually signed on to the project and had to call his agent to clarify. Jackson would later defend his choice of starring in the movie by stating "it was the kind of movie I would have gone to see when I was a kid", further clarifying "I feel sorry for all those people that are going through that whole trip of 'Why would Samuel Jackson do something like this?' and 'It's lowbrow.' It's a movie. People go to movies on Saturday to get away from the war in Iraq and taxes and election news and pedophiles online and just go and have some fun and I like doing movies that are fun."

The film's B movie-esque title generated a lot of pre-release interest on the Internet. One journalist wrote that Snakes on a Plane is "perhaps the most internet-hyped film of all time". Much of the initial publicity came from a blog entry made by screenwriter Josh Friedman, who had been offered a chance to work on the script. The casting of Jackson further increased anticipation. At one point, the film was given the title Pacific Air Flight 121, only to have it changed back to the working title at Jackson's request. In August 2005, Jackson told an interviewer, "We're totally changing that back. That's the only reason I took the job: I read the title." On March 2, 2006, the studio reverted the title to Snakes on a Plane. New Line hired two additional writers to smooth out the screenplay.

Taking advantage of the Internet buzz for what had been a minor film in their 2006 line-up, New Line Cinema ordered five days of additional shooting in early March 2006 (principal photography had wrapped in September 2005). While re-shoots normally imply problems with a film, the producers opted to add new scenes to the film to change the MPAA rating from PG-13 to R and bring it in line with growing fan expectations. The most notable addition was a revision of a catchphrase from the film that was parodied on the Internet by fans of the film, capitalizing on Jackson's typically foul-mouthed and violent film persona: "Enough is enough! I have had it with these motherfucking snakes on this motherfucking plane!". Subsequently, the public responded favorably to this creative change and marketing strategy, leading some members of the press to speculate that "the movie has grown from something of a joke into a phenomenon". The Daily Telegraph described this process as making the film "crowdsourced" and The Guardian described it as "the first Misplaced Pages-ised movie, created by the users themselves". Jackson told GQ in 2024, "They were trying to make a PG-13 movie, and you can only have one 'fuck' or some shit like that in it. And I told them, 'Look, I gotta say motherfucker in this movie. There's motherfucking snakes all over this plane.'"

More than 450 snakes were used for filming to represent 30 different species of snakes. The different species include a 19-foot (5.8 m) Burmese python named Kitty (which the crew called Kong for film purposes), scarlet kingsnake (the non-venomous double for the eastern coral snake), milk snake, corn snakes, rattlesnakes, and mangrove snakes. The scarlet kingsnake and Pueblan milk snake stood in for coral snakes, while another species of milk snake and Florida kingsnake filled the role of the venomous Australian taipan (which attacks the couple having sex and the man using a restroom respectively). About two-thirds of the snakes seen throughout the film were either animatronic or CGI. The snakes that were real were mostly the non-venomous ones that are never seen attacking anyone. The scenes where someone is clearly bitten were often done with a mix of animatronic and animation. According to the DVD, all the snakes had production names, but only Scarface (an animated pit viper), Peanut (a cobra), and Kong are mentioned by name in the audio commentary. During filming, Jackson did not interact with any live snakes, due to a contract clause preventing snakes from being within 8 m (25 ft) of the actor.

Media coverage

A man is sitting in a director's chair on a stage with two partially cropped out people sitting in the same type of chair on his left and right. The man is speaking into a microphone he is holding and is wearing tennis shoes, blue jeans, a black T-shirt with the film's poster image on it, sunglasses, and a white hat. In the background is a patterned design with the logo for Comic-Con.
Samuel L. Jackson promoting the film at Comic-Con in July 2006

Print

An illustrated book from Thunder's Mouth Press, Snakes on a Plane: The Guide to the Internet Ssssssensation by David Waldon, details the Internet phenomenon and was published July 28, 2006. Waldon details various viral videos relating to the film's craze, and interviewed their producers to find out what about the film captured their attention.

Music

On March 16, 2006, New Line Cinema announced a contest on TagWorld and a website promoting the film. The contest allowed artists on TagWorld to have their music featured in the film. A flood of SoaP-themed songs were submitted by artists such as Captain Ahab (who ultimately won the contest), Louden Swain, the Former Fat Boys, Nispy, and others. In addition, a music video for the film's theme song, "Snakes on a Plane (Bring It)" by Cobra Starship, was released on July 10, 2006, on MTV2's Unleashed. The song appeared on the film's soundtrack and the video appeared during the film's closing credits.

In October 2005, Nathanial Perry and Chris Rohan recorded an audio trailer spoof, which helped fuel the Internet buzz. Perry and Rohan recorded the "motherfucking snakes" line in the audio trailer which was added to the film during the week of re-shoots. In July 2006, New Line Cinema signed a worldwide licensing agreement with the Cutting Corporation to produce an audiobook of the film.

Television

On August 15, 2006, Samuel L. Jackson guest featured on The Daily Show with Jon Stewart, opening with the film's catchphrase. Keith Olbermann featured stories about the film and Internet buzz several times on his MSNBC news program Countdown. In addition, G4's Attack of the Show! featured a semi-regular segment entitled "Snakes on a Plane: An Attack of the Show Investigation", and had a week dedicated to the film which included interviews and the appearance of hundreds of snakes on set.

Internet

Snakes on a Plane generated considerable buzz on the Internet after Josh Friedman's blog entry and mentions on several Internet portals. The title inspired bloggers to create songs, apparel, poster art, pages of fan fiction, parody films, mock movie trailers, and short film parody competitions. On July 6, 2006, the official Snakes on a Plane website started a promotional sweepstakes called "The #1 Fan King Cobra Sweepstakes". The contest made innovative use of the publicity-generating potential of the Internet, requiring contestants to post links on forums, blogs, and websites and collecting votes from the users of those sites.

Many of the early fan-made trailers and later other viral videos and commercials circulated via YouTube, and captured media attention there with such titles as: Cats on a Plane (which was featured in Joel Siegel's review of Snakes on a Plane on Good Morning America), Snakes Who Missed the Plane, All Your Snakes Are Belong To Us (a spoof of the All your base are belong to us phenomenon), Steaks on a Train, and Badgers on a Plane (a spoof of "Badger Badger Badger"). Several websites also held contests about the film in fan-submitted short films and posters.

In August 2006, Varitalk launched an advertising campaign in which fans could send a semi-personalized message in Samuel Jackson's voice to telephone numbers of their choosing. Within the first week, over 1.5 million calls were sent to participants.

Previews

In June 2006, New Line commissioned famed UK audio-visual film remixers and chop-up artists Addictive TV to cut and sample Snakes on a Plane to create trailers for the U.S. television networks. The official teaser trailer premiered before X-Men: The Last Stand, and the first official trailer appeared online on June 26, 2006. Another trailer circulated in July 2006, showing several of the snake attacks and a missing pilot and co-pilot. Rotten Tomatoes had video clips of the official trailers, as well as fan-made trailers.

During a July 21, 2006 panel discussion at San Diego Comic-Con, a preview clip from the film was shown to a crowd of more than 6,500 people. The panel included actors Samuel L. Jackson and Kenan Thompson, director David R. Ellis, and snake-handler Jules Sylvester.

Release

"No movie shall triumph over Snakes on a Plane. Unless I happen to feel like making a movie called More Motherfucking Snakes on More Motherfucking Planes."

—Samuel L. Jackson, joking that the film would win the MTV Movie Award for "Best Film" in 2007

Snakes on a Plane had its premiere on August 17, 2006 at Grauman's Chinese Theatre. The film debuted on August 18, 2006. It opened in 3,555 theaters and had some late-night screenings on August 17. In a move meant to exploit the attention from the film, a straight-to-DVD Z-movie horror film with a supernatural twist, Snakes on a Train, was released on August 15, 2006, three days before the film's theatrical release.

Critical response

New Line Cinema did not screen the film for critics. As of January 2022, review aggregation website Rotten Tomatoes gives the film a score of 69% based on 178 reviews, with an average score of 6.20/10. The consensus reads: "Snakes on a Plane lives up to its title, featuring snakes on a plane. It isn't perfect, but then again, it doesn't need to be." On Metacritic, which uses a weighted average rating system out of 100, the film earned a score of 58 based on 31 reviews, indicating "mixed or average reviews". Reviewers reported audiences cheering, applauding, and engaging in "call and response", noting that audience participation was an important part of the film's appeal. Audiences surveyed by CinemaScore gave the film a grade of "B−" on scale of A to F.

The Arizona Republic's Randy Cordova gave the film a positive review, calling the film "... an exploitation flick that knows what it wants to do, and it gets the job done expertly." and a "... Mecca for B-movie lovers". Mick LaSalle of the San Francisco Chronicle enjoyed the film, asking his readers "... if you can find a better time at the movies this year than this wild comic thriller, let me in on it." Boston Globe reviewer Ty Burr reacted to Samuel L. Jackson's performance by saying he "... bestrides this film with the authority of someone who knows the value of honest bilge. He's as much the auteur of this baby as the director and screenwriters, and that fierce glimmer in his eye is partly joy."

Peter Travers of Rolling Stone gave the film one and a half stars out of four, saying that "after all the Internet hype about those motherfuckin' snakes on that motherfuckin' plane, the flick itself is a murky stew of shock effects repeated so often that the suspense quickly droops along with your eyelids." David Denby of The New Yorker claimed that the film "... may mark a new participatory style in marketing, but it still gulls an allegedly knowing audience with the pseudo-morality of yesteryear."

Film critic and radio host Michael Medved criticized New Line Cinema for agreeing to re-shoot scenes so that the film would receive an R rating from the Motion Picture Association of America to match fan expectations. He argued that the film would have grossed more revenue at the box office with a PG-13 rating, stating that the demographic most likely to be drawn to a movie titled Snakes on a Plane is males between the ages of 12 and 15. "My fourteen-year-old son, Danny, for instance, felt a powerful inclination to go out and see the movie with his two sleep-over friends this Sunday night," he explained, "but I wouldn't permit it. It's rated R for good reason." Medved ultimately awarded the film 2 1/2 stars out of 4 in a radio review, but said that he did so "grudgingly". Peter Bradshaw, in a three star review for The Guardian, described the film as a "cheerfully ridiculous thriller" and defied anyone not to laugh. Justin Chang for Variety described the film as a "tasteless, utterly depraved, no-nonsense sluts-and-guts extravaganza".

Box office

Due to the Internet hype surrounding the film, industry analysts estimated that the film's opening box office would be between US$20-30 million. Snakes on a Plane did not meet its estimates and grossed $15.25 million over its opening weekend, a disappointment for New Line Cinema. In its second weekend, the film fell to sixth place with $6.4 million, a more than fifty percent drop from its opening weekend revenue. By the end of its theatrical run, the film grossed $62,022,014 worldwide.

Robert K. Shaye, the founder of New Line, stated that he was "disappointed" that Snakes on a Plane was a "dud" despite "higher expectations". The press declared that Snakes on a Plane was a "box office disappointment", with The New York Times reporting that after all the "hype online, Snakes on a Plane is letdown at box office" and Entertainment Weekly reporting that the film was an "internet-only phenomenon". Box office analysts have subsequently referred to substantial internet discourse failing to materialize into box office as "the Snakes on a Plane effect".

Home media

Snakes on a Plane released on DVD December 26, 2006 in Region 2; December 28, 2006 in Region 4; and January 2, 2007, in Region 1. The DVD features commentaries, deleted and extended scenes, several featurettes, Cobra Starship's music video, and trailers. The U.S. Blu-ray was released on September 29, 2009.

TV version

The film received further attention when fans noticed the U.S. TV edit of the film purposely dubbed over profane language, replacing it with bowdlerized words for family audiences. An example is Samuel L. Jackson's line toward the end of the film, "I have had it with these motherfuckin' snakes on this motherfuckin' plane!", which is replaced with "I have had it with these monkey-fighting snakes on this Monday-to-Friday plane!".

Adaptations

Black Flame published the novelization of the film, written by Christa Faust. The 405–page novel contains significant backstories for the characters and introduces other characters that were not featured in the film. It won a Scirbe Award in 2007 from the International Association of Media Tie-In Writers.

Comic book writer Chuck Dixon wrote a comic book adaptation of the film. DC Comics released the two-issue miniseries on August 16, 2006, and September 27, 2006, under their Wildstorm imprint.

Soundtrack

Snakes on a Plane: The Album
Soundtrack album by Various artists
ReleasedAugust 15, 2006
GenreSoundtrack
LabelDecaydance Records
New Line Records
ProducerJason Linn
Soundtrack
Review scores
SourceRating
Allmusic
RapReviews

The soundtrack for the film was released on August 15, 2006. The enhanced portion of the CD contains what was considered the "best of the best" of the amateur Internet creations inspired by the film, including the songs "Snakes on the Brain" by Captain Ahab and "Here Come the Snakes (Seeing Is Believing)" by Louden Swain. The single "Snakes on a Plane (Bring It)" peaked at the 32nd position of Billboard's Hot Modern Rock Tracks in 2006.

  1. "Snakes on a Plane (Bring It)" by Cobra Starship, William Beckett, Maja Ivarsson, Travie McCoy
  2. "The Only Difference Between Martyrdom and Suicide Is Press Coverage" (Tommie Sunshine Brooklyn Fire Remix) by Panic! at the Disco
  3. "Black Mamba" (Teddybears Remix) by The Academy Is...
  4. "Ophidiophobia" by Cee-Lo Green
  5. "Can't Take It" (The Baldwin Brothers "El Camino Prom Wagon" Remix) by The All-American Rejects
  6. "Queen of Apology" (Patrick Stump Remix) by The Sounds
  7. "Of All the Gin Joints in All the World" (Tommie Sunshine's Brooklyn Fire Retouch) by Fall Out Boy
  8. "New Friend Request" (Hi-Tek Remix) by Gym Class Heroes
  9. "Around the Horn" (Louis XIV Remix) by The Bronx
  10. "Remember to Feel Real" (Machine Shop Remix) by Armor for Sleep
  11. "Wine Red" (Tommie Sunshine's Brooklyn Fire Retouch) by The Hush Sound
  12. "Bruised" (Remix) by Jack's Mannequin
  13. "Final Snakes" by Shranky Drank
  14. "Wake Up" (Acoustic) by Coheed and Cambria
  15. "Lovely Day" by Donavon Frankenreiter
  16. "Hey Now Now" by Michael Franti & Spearhead
  17. "Snakes on a Plane - The Theme" (Score) by Trevor Rabin

See also

References

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External links


Films directed by David R. Ellis
Categories: