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Carry-On is a high-stakes thriller that unfolds over the course of a tense Christmas Eve at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX). The film centers on Ethan Kopek (Taron Egerton), a Transportation Security Administration (TSA) officer grappling with personal and professional setbacks. Having previously failed the police academy due to concealing his father’s criminal history, Ethan’s aspirations have dimmed, leaving him in a state of cynicism and complacency. His pregnant girlfriend, Nora (Sofia Carson), encourages him to reignite his ambitions, but Ethan remains hesitant.
Seeking to prove his worth, Ethan requests an assignment managing a baggage-scanning lane, hoping it might lead to a promotion. During his shift, he unexpectedly receives an earbud through which a mysterious figure known as the Traveler (Jason Bateman) contacts him. The Traveler coldly informs Ethan that he must allow a specific carry-on bag to pass through security unchecked, threatening Nora’s life to ensure compliance.
Ethan’s attempts to discreetly alert his colleagues are thwarted by the Traveler’s accomplice, the Watcher, who monitors his every move. In a desperate bid to communicate the danger, Ethan writes a message in invisible ink to his coworker, Lionel. However, before Lionel can act, the Traveler poisons him, causing a fatal heart attack. This incident heightens the tension, and Ethan’s erratic behavior draws attention, leading to his temporary removal from the post.
Determined to protect Nora and prevent a potential catastrophe, Ethan maneuvers to regain his position. He identifies the passenger carrying the suspicious bag as Mateo Flores, who is unknowingly transporting a lethal nerve agent, Novichok. Los Angeles Police Department detective Elena Cole (Danielle Deadwyler) becomes involved after linking a double homicide to the smuggling of Novichok, connecting the threat to Ethan’s aborted 911 call.
As the situation escalates, Ethan confronts the Traveler, seizing a plastic gun but inadvertently triggering the activation of the Novichok bomb. In a tense standoff, Mateo reveals he is also being coerced, with his husband held hostage by the Watcher. Amid the chaos, Ethan manages to reset the bomb’s timer, but Mateo is killed during the struggle.
Detective Cole uncovers that the Traveler’s ultimate target is Congresswoman Grace Suarez Turner, a passenger on a flight to Washington, D.C., who advocates for increased weapons funding. The planned attack aims to implicate Russia, thereby securing congressional approval for substantial defense spending, benefiting weapons manufacturers.
In a climactic sequence, Ethan boards the plane to thwart the Traveler’s plan. A confrontation ensues in the cargo hold, where Ethan locks the Traveler inside an airtight refrigeration unit with the armed nerve agent, neutralizing the threat. The plane returns safely to the airport, averting disaster.
One year later, Ethan, now a police officer, is seen traveling with Nora and their infant son, symbolizing a new beginning. The film concludes with a sense of closure and hope, reflecting Ethan’s journey from disillusionment to heroism.
Carry-On combines intense action sequences with character-driven storytelling, delivering a suspenseful narrative that keeps viewers on the edge of their seats. The film explores themes of redemption, courage, and the complexities of moral choices under pressure, solidifying its place as a standout thriller in contemporary cinema.
