When is the American Skyjacker documentary releasing in theaters?

A True Crime Tale Beyond D.B. Cooper

Between 1967 and 1972, more than 300 planes were hijacked worldwide, and America accounted for over 130 of those incidents. The most famous of these was D.B. Cooper’s daring 1971 leap with $200,000, a crime that became folklore because of its unresolved ending. Cooper’s tale is epic, but what about the life lived outside the law after?

That is where Martin McNally’s story comes in. Just six months after Cooper’s jump, McNally hijacked an American Airlines 727 out of St. Louis and leapt from the back with $500,000 in hand. Unlike Cooper, McNally survived, was caught, escaped, and lived to tell the tale. His story is wilder, more expansive, and until now, relatively unknown.

Related: The Flashback Interview: Tyffany Million

The new documentary American Skyjacker captures McNally’s extraordinary biography in his own words. Combining cinematic reenactments with archival footage, the film positions McNally not as myth but as a flawed man who sought infamy and paid the price.

From Podcast to Film

The project began with journalist Danny Wicentowski’s long-form article The Final Flight of Martin McNally in the Riverfront Times. That piece sparked interest from filmmakers Eli Kooris and Joshua Shaffer, who first envisioned a scripted adaptation before discovering that McNally was alive and willing to speak. Their interviews with him eventually became the foundation for a podcast that drew more than 1.6 million listeners.

The success of the podcast opened the door to a full documentary adaptation. With McNally’s voice as its spine, the directors began weaving interviews, reenactments, and period-specific details into a propulsive feature-length story. The filmmakers also faced unique production challenges: sourcing a 1970s 727 airplane, staging skydiving sequences, and even acquiring a period-correct Cadillac to recreate the escape.

Despite budget constraints, Kooris and Shaffer embraced the challenge. They transformed the material into a 97-minute feature that condenses the scope of McNally’s life without losing its intensity. Their approach ensures the film feels cinematic while staying rooted in documentary authenticity.

A Stranger-Than-Fiction Biography

Unlike Cooper’s legend, McNally’s saga has multiple layers: repeated hijackings, attempted prison breaks, and turbulent relationships that veered between loyalty and betrayal. His story embodies the unpredictability of the hijacking era, when aviation security was minimal, and individuals could turn airliners into bargaining chips.

What sets American Skyjacker apart is McNally’s own presence. He narrates his exploits without mythologizing himself, creating an unvarnished portrait of a man chasing notoriety and facing the consequences. The directors’ choice to let McNally guide the narrative makes the film a hybrid of confession, spectacle, and social history.

Composer Jasha Klebe, known for his work on Planet Earth II and Our Planet II, heightens the drama with a score that blends tension with melancholy. Combined with sharp editing from David Tillman, the result is a documentary that moves with the urgency of a thriller.

Context and Legacy

The film also serves as a window into a volatile moment in U.S. history. The late 1960s and early 1970s were marked by unrest, political radicalism, and technological shifts that criminals exploited. McNally’s hijacking highlights the vulnerability of aviation before modern security protocols.

Produced independently by Pegalo Pictures, American Skyjacker continues the company’s track record of blending entertainment with journalism. Their previous work includes the award-winning short Nothingman and the podcast American Coyote. With this film, they again explore how real-life crime can be stranger than fiction.

Audiences will be able to see American Skyjacker in select theaters from October 10-30, 2025, before its digital and VOD release on November 17, 2025. See if it’s playing in your area and get tickets on the American Skyjacker website.

Next: Discuss American Skyjacker on our Film and TV forums

Key Takeaways

• American Skyjacker tells the true story of Martin McNally, a hijacker who leapt with $500,000.
• The film contrasts his tale with the unresolved D.B. Cooper legend.
• It originated as a hit podcast before being adapted into a feature documentary.
• Directors Eli Kooris and Joshua Shaffer embraced indie production challenges.
• McNally narrates his own story, giving authenticity to reenactments and interviews.
• The documentary highlights the hijacking epidemic of the late 1960s and early 1970s.
• The film will be in select theaters in October 2025 and on VOD in November 2025.