Fighter Pilot Film Devotion Opens This Week: 4 Things To Know

Korean War biopic is packed with aerial footage and human drama.

Jonathan Welsh

Wednesday, November 23, 2022 at 06:05 PM ET

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Jonathan Majors, left, and Glen Powell on the set of "Devotion." [Courtesy: Black Label Media]

Key Takeaways:

Devotion is a new aviation film centered on Jesse Brown, the U.S. Navy’s first Black fighter pilot, and his wingman Thomas Hudner during the Korean War, contributing to a landmark year for aviation films alongside Top Gun: Maverick.
The film features shared production personnel with Top Gun: Maverick, ensuring compelling flight sequences, and delves into themes of prejudice and isolation, drawing on director J.D. Dillard's father's experiences as an African American naval flight officer.
Set during the Korean War, the movie highlights the challenging transition from propeller-driven aircraft like the notoriously difficult-to-land F4U Corsair to the emerging jet age, showcasing the period's aviation advancements and operational difficulties.

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Aviation films are rare. Good ones that emphasize the pilots’ perspective and properly showcase the hardware are extremely rare.

With the opening this week of Devotion, a movie about the relationship between Jesse Brown, the U.S. Navy’s first black fighter pilot, and Thomas Hudner, his wingman, 2022 becomes a landmark year for airplane fans. The long-awaited release of Top Gun: Maverick last spring is still generating buzz among pilots. And the new film—based on a true story and set during the Korean War—promises to keep the conversation going.