Air

Air follows a bold, behind-the-scenes push to land a game-changing sneaker deal in the early days of Nike. Sonny Vaccaro, a veteran marketer with a hunger to shake up the sports world, spots a raw basketball prodigy who has yet to be shaped into a brand. He convinces Nike's small, ambitious basketball division to bet big on a rookie named Michael Jordan, despite skepticism from executives and the limited resources of a startup company. The story threads through late-night negotiations, boardroom gambles, and a culture war within a company trying to prove it can compete with the giants. It blends business strategy with personal loyalty and ambition. As numbers crunch and logos clash with street culture, Vaccaro's faith is tested.

Directed by Ben Affleck from a script by Alex Convery, Air portrays the early Nike era as a high-stakes gamble that reshaped sports marketing. The 2023 drama features Matt Damon and Affleck in lead roles, reuniting the duo after earlier collaborations such as The Town.

The film grossed $90,100,000 worldwide against a budget of $80,000,000, delivering a solid, if modest, return. It resonated with audiences who remember the Air Jordan era and sparked conversations about marketing and sport culture. Its box office suggests appetite for thoughtful, character driven sports stories.

Air spotlights how Air Jordan reshaped sneaker culture and athletic endorsements, turning a shoe into a cultural phenomenon. The film ties branding to identity, music, and fashion, illustrating how a partnership in a market became an icon in sport. Period styling grounds the era with Viola Davis as Deloris Jordan.

Critics generally praised the performances and the measured look at ambition, mentorship, and the uneasy balance between commerce and culture. The film digs into risk and loyalty, and it presents how a draft idea turned into a global phenomenon, without overromanticizing the deal.