Hijack (2023)

Mangan calls the series brilliant, bingeable nonsense and says it is enjoyable wholeheartedly. She praises Idris Elba’s commanding charisma and the tightly paced suspense, while faulting one jarring outbreak of violence.

Hilton finds the series instantly enthralling and highly entertaining. He especially praises Idris Elba’s poised performance and the tightly controlled real-time storytelling.

Mussen finds the series a highly watchable binge, despite its occasional slide into the ridiculous. She singles out Idris Elba’s magnetic performance, while noting the hijackers lack a truly unpredictable character.

Han finds the series an unpretentious, entertaining thriller that delivers exactly the kind of fun it promises. She particularly praises Idris Elba’s convincing, steady performance and the show’s skill at sustaining tension through shifting relationships.

The review calls the series a ridiculous, amusing mess and essentially background television. It praises Idris Elba’s magnetic presence and expressive performance, while criticizing the weak plot and thin supporting characters.

Cormack frames the series as a far-fetched thriller that feels markedly like Luther, rather than offering an unqualified endorsement. The accessible headline singles out that Luther-like resemblance and the story’s implausibility.

The review finds the thriller uneven, with Elba’s charisma just about keeping it engaging. It praises the claustrophobic tension aboard the plane but criticizes the dim hijackers and tedious, underdeveloped storylines on the ground.

The review finds the series an ineffective thriller that struggles to sustain its tension. It faults the real-time format for stretching the story and disrupting the build of suspense.

Doherty finds the series entertaining and well executed, though its stretched-out runtime dulls the impact. He praises its clever, high-stakes problem-solving and the ensemble’s work under pressure.

Charity finds the series a lively return to form for Idris Elba as a thriller lead. He praises Elba’s engrossing performance and the tense battle of wits, though the hijackers’ motives are less convincing.

The review finds Hijack captivating and entertaining, though it becomes less plausible and more dramatically muddled as it progresses. It praises Idris Elba’s charismatic lead performance, supported by a strong cast and twisty plot.

Cook finds Hijack highly watchable and charmingly silly despite its clichés and thin characterisation. She particularly praises Idris Elba’s charisma and the sturdy supporting cast for keeping the drama engaging.

The critic finds the series tedious and overextended, despite its promising opening and more compelling finale. Idris Elba’s performance is singled out as the strongest element, bringing the story to life whenever he appears.