The One Condition Samuel L. Jackson Insisted on for ‘Snakes on a Plane’
Samuel L. Jackson once shared a story on the podcast Pardon My Take about the making of the 2006 action thriller Snakes on a Plane.
He revealed that when the original director was fired, New Line Cinema tried to rename the movie to Pacific Flight 121. Jackson was not having it.
“The first day I got there, they were passing out new pages, and they gave me this script that said Pacific Flight 121, and I’m like, ‘The f** is this?’”he recalled.
Jackson explained that the title change completely undermined the film’s appeal. “You exactly want to do that! I’m not here to do Pacific Flight 121, I’m here to do Snakes on a Plane, and if that’s the name of the movie, I quit,” he said.
Snakes on a Plane tells the story of dozens of venomous snakes released on a passenger plane in an attempt to kill a trial witness.
The movie stars Jackson and was directed by David R. Ellis. The film became an internet phenomenon even before its release, thanks to its unusual title and over-the-top premise. Fans online helped shape the production, which led to five extra days of reshoots.
Despite all the hype, the movie had mixed reviews and was considered a box office disappointment. It made $15.25 million in its opening weekend and $62 million worldwide. New Line Cinema famously did not screen the film for critics before release.
On Rotten Tomatoes, the movie holds a 69% rating based on 178 reviews, with the consensus stating, “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.” Metacritic gives it a 58 out of 100, indicating “mixed or average reviews.”
Audience reactions were unique, with many viewers cheering, applauding, and participating in “call and response” during screenings. CinemaScore reported that audiences gave it a B−.
Some critics enjoyed the film for its fun, over-the-top style. Randy Cordova of The Arizona Republic called it “an exploitation flick that knows what it wants to do, and it gets the job done expertly,” while Mick LaSalle of the San Francisco Chronicle said, “…if you can find a better time at the movies this year than this wild comic thriller, let me in on it.” Ty Burr of the Boston Globe praised Jackson, noting that 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.”
It’s clear that for Jackson, the title wasn’t just marketing, it was the essence of the movie. Without it, he wasn’t interested.
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