<Tr> <Th> Budget </Th> <Td> $31 million </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> Box office </Th> <Td> $161.8 million </Td> </Tr> <P> Flight is a 2012 American drama film directed by Robert Zemeckis . The film stars Denzel Washington as William "Whip" Whitaker Sr., an airline pilot who miraculously crash - lands his plane after it suffers an in - flight mechanical failure, saving nearly everyone on board . Immediately following the crash, he is hailed a hero, but an investigation soon leads to questions that put the captain in a different light . </P> <P> Flight was the first live action film directed by Robert Zemeckis since Cast Away and What Lies Beneath, both released in 2000, and his first R - rated film since Used Cars in 1980 . It was also a box office success, grossing over $161 million worldwide and received mostly positive reviews . The film was nominated twice at the 85th Academy Awards, for Best Actor (Denzel Washington) and Best Original Screenplay (John Gatins). </P>

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