How To Watch Ben Affleck's Air At Home
The combination of Ben Affleck and Matt Damon proved to be a winning formula for "Air," and the film's theatrical success proved that moviegoers are still interested in more adult-centric storylines that don't involve people with superpowers (read our review here). Granted, Michael Jordan is about as close to a superhero as you can get in the sports world and his global brand appeal certainly didn't hurt the film's impressive box office. Marking the first project from Affleck and Damon's new production company Artists Equity, "Air" was initially going to be released exclusively on Prime Video before Amazon made a late call to release the film theatrically, a gamble that mostly paid off. So far, "Air" has made just a hair under $80 million globally with a premiere on streaming still on the horizon. That kind of coin should make Amazon even more confident in its decision to make a larger commitment to theatrical in the next few years.
For all the sneakerheads who didn't make it to the theater to watch "Air" and show off their latest kicks, the wait to see one of the best sports movies of the year is almost over. The film is arriving on digital later this month after it hits its 6-week window in theaters. Currently, "Air" is sitting pretty over on Rotten Tomatoes at 92% "Certified Fresh" with an "A" CinemaScore and an even higher audience score of 98%. That's not bad for Affleck, the Oscar-winning director of "Argo" who is enjoying yet another Hollywood comeback, proving once again that he's one of the best filmmakers working today.
Air hits Prime Video on May 12
From Amazon Studios, Skydance Sports and Mandalay Pictures, "Air" will be available to stream on Prime Video beginning Friday, May 12 in more than 240 countries and territories worldwide. For anyone on the planet that doesn't have Amazon Prime quite yet, it may be worth a free trial just to be able to see the true story of how Nike managed to convince Michael Jordan to sign with them when the basketball world was still run by Adidas and Converse. The power moves behind the scenes are all documented alongside a surprisingly touching depiction of the strong bond that existed with the Jordon family. For a clearer picture of what "Air" is about, check out the synopsis:
'Air reveals the unbelievable game-changing partnership between a then-rookie Michael Jordan and Nike's fledgling basketball division, which revolutionized the world of sports and contemporary culture with the Air Jordan brand. This moving story follows the career-defining gamble of an unconventional team with everything on the line, the uncompromising vision of a mother who knows the worth of her son's immense talent, and the basketball phenom who would become the greatest of all time.
Remember, "Air" will exclusively be available on Prime Video, with no current plan to have a physical DVD or Blu-Ray, for those of you that still collect physical media along with your ever-expanding shoe collection that's threatening to take over your closet completely.
What about that killer '80s soundtrack?
The main focus of "Air" spotlights the ingenuity and determination of rogue Nike executive Sonny Vaccaro, played by Damon doing his best impression of Jerry Maguire. Also highlighted are the backroom dealings of Nike co-founder Phil Knight (Affleck) and marketing pioneer Rob Strasser (Jason Bateman). But this is also an unabashed love letter to the 1980s with a soundtrack filled with some of the biggest hits of the era that were such a crucial part of what made the decade of excess so special.
Featuring tracks from Bruce Springsteen, Cyndi Lauper, REO Speedwagon, The Clash, Night Ranger, Dire Straits, The Alan Parsons Project and Squeeze, the full soundtrack is available to purchase now digitally thanks to Legacy Recordings, a division of Sony Music Entertainment.
There will also be an exclusive look at the making of "Air" with the full cast for Fire TV customers beginning this Friday, May 5. In addition to Damon, Bateman and Affleck, the all-star cast includes Chris Messina, Matthew Maher, Marlon Wayans, Chris Tucker, Gustaf Skarsgård, and Viola Davis as Deloris Jordan.
Just don't expect Michael Jordan himself to make a surprise cameo.