The 30+ Best Airplane Movies

Ranker Film
Updated January 11, 2024 185.8K views 34 items
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5.2K votes
644 voters
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Voting Rules
Vote for your personal favorite Airplanes and airports films, regardless of how popular or successful they were at the box office.
Latest additions: Lift
Most divisive: Alive
Over 600 Ranker voters have come together to rank this list of Best Movies About Planes & Airports

A list of all the best airplanes movies ever made, many of which are streaming on Amazon Prime and Netflix.

This airplanes and airports movie list can be sorted by cast, year, director and more, and you can click on the movie titles for more information about the film. You can even copy this list of plane films to start your own. 

What's in your top 10? If Snakes on a Plane or 2001: A Space Odyssey is in there, vote for one of those, or both (or neither!). If you thought any of these were the worst airplane movies known to man, you can always vote them down, as well. If we missed any airplanes and airports movies on this list (we did), please add them yourself, as this is an open list, which means you can add any movies whenever you like (choices are subject to moderation and BETTER BE ABOUT AIRPLANES AND AIRPORTS!). The films on this list cover the most famous airplane and airport movies of all time and are voted on by people who really (really) care about airplane movie lists.

Examples of movies on this list include some of the greatest airplane movies ever made, like Only Angels Have Wings and Left Behind: The Movie and can also include movies about plane crashes.

Martin Scorsese and Stanley Kubrick are among the directors who have worked on Airplanes and airports movies in the past.

  • Air Force One
    1

    Air Force One

    Harrison Ford, Gary Oldman, Glenn Close
    229 votes
    Air Force One, a thrilling action-drama film, centers on President James Marshall (Harrison Ford), a leader committed to the war against terrorism. Onboard the presidential aircraft, Air Force One, after an international peacekeeping event, things take a dark turn. Russian extremists, led by Ivan Korshunov (Gary Oldman), hijack the flight, holding the president and his family hostage. The stakes are high as this isn't just any passenger - it's the President of the United States. Trapped aboard his own aircraft, President Marshall must rely on his courage and wits to reclaim control, protect his family, and save everyone onboard. The movie is noted for its intense action sequences and compelling performances from its lead actors.
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  • Airplane!
    2

    Airplane!

    Robert Hays, Julie Hagerty, Peter Graves
    229 votes
    In the 1980 comedy Airplane!, ex-fighter pilot Ted Striker (Robert Hays) finds himself thrust into an unexpected role. When food poisoning incapacitates the flight crew, including his ex-girlfriend Elaine Dickinson (Julie Hagerty), Striker must overcome his crippling fear of flying to land the plane safely. The film, directed by Jim Abrahams and the Zucker brothers, is renowned for its rapid-fire humor and satirical take on disaster films. Leslie Nielsen plays Dr. Rumack, a character whose deadpan delivery became iconic. Despite its comedic nature, Airplane! won a BAFTA award for Best Screenplay.
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  • Top Gun
    3

    Top Gun

    Tom Cruise, Kelly McGillis, Anthony Edwards
    209 votes
    In the high-octane film Top Gun, Pete Maverick Mitchell (Tom Cruise) is an audacious naval aviator with an insatiable need for speed. His reckless flying style lands him a spot at the prestigious Fighter Weapons School, known as Top Gun, where he competes against the best fighter pilots in the country. Here, Maverick meets his match in both the air and on ground - rival pilot Tom Iceman Kazansky (Val Kilmer) and astrophysics instructor Charlotte Charlie Blackwood (Kelly McGillis). This 1986 action drama directed by Tony Scott won an Academy Award for Best Original Song and is celebrated for its thrilling aerial sequences and iconic soundtrack.
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  • Sully
    4

    Sully

    Tom Hanks, Aaron Eckhart, Valerie Mahaffey
    83 votes
    On Jan. 15, 2009, Capt. Chesley "Sully" Sullenberger (Tom Hanks) tries to make an emergency landing in New York's Hudson River after US Airways Flight 1549 strikes a flock of geese. Miraculously, all of the 155 passengers and crew survive the harrowing ordeal, and Sullenberger becomes a national hero in the eyes of the public and the media. Despite the accolades, the famed pilot now faces an investigation that threatens to destroy his career and reputation.
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  • Die Hard 2
    5

    Die Hard 2

    Bruce Willis, Bonnie Bedelia, William Atherton
    141 votes
    Die Hard 2, an action-packed thriller, sees the return of NYPD officer John McClane (Bruce Willis), who is waiting for his wife at Washington's Dulles Airport. Unbeknownst to him, a group of rogue military operatives led by Colonel Stuart (William Sadler) has seized control of the airport, holding the planes hostage in mid-air. As police and airport security scramble, it's up to McClane to take matters into his own hands. Director Renny Harlin masterfully escalates tension throughout this high-stakes sequel that blends suspense, action, and Willis's iconic one-liners.
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  • Airport
    6

    Airport

    Burt Lancaster, Dean Martin, Jacqueline Bisset
    137 votes
    In this large-ensemble disaster movie, Mel Bakersfeld (Burt Lancaster), the general manager of a Chicago-area airport, must contend with a massive snowstorm and other issues, both work-related and personal, while the troubled D.O. Guerrero (Van Heflin) threatens to blow up an airliner. As pilot Vernon Demerest (Dean Martin) attempts to calm Guerrero down and dissuade him from setting off explosives on the plane, tensions increase in the air and on the ground, and danger is imminent.
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  • Executive Decision
    7

    Executive Decision

    Kurt Russell, Halle Berry, John Leguizamo
    104 votes
    When terrorists hijack a plane traveling from Greece to Washington, D.C., U.S. Army specialist David Grant (Kurt Russell) and Lt. Colonel Austin Travis (Steven Seagal) join forces to bring the plane to safety. While terrorists on board the plane claim they hijacked the plane to force the U.S. government to release their leader, who was captured by military forces, David and Austin discover that the plane is carrying a bomb full of nerve gas to be released on Washington, D.C.
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  • Cast Away
    8

    Cast Away

    Tom Hanks, Helen Hunt, Nick Searcy
    127 votes
    In the gripping survival drama Cast Away, audiences are introduced to Chuck Noland (Tom Hanks), a FedEx executive whose life takes an unexpected turn when his plane crashes over the Pacific. Stranded on a deserted island, Chuck is forced to confront the harsh realities of survival. He battles isolation, despair, and the elements, with only a volleyball named Wilson for company. Directed by Robert Zemeckis, this film showcases Hanks in one of his most memorable roles, earning him an Academy Award nomination for Best Actor. With its stark portrayal of human resilience, Cast Away remains a powerful testament to the indomitable spirit of man against nature's unyielding forces.
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  • Planes, Trains and Automobiles
    9

    Planes, Trains and Automobiles

    Steve Martin, John Candy, Laila Robins
    77 votes
    In the comedic classic, Planes, Trains and Automobiles, Neal Page (Steve Martin), a high-strung marketing executive, finds himself paired with Del Griffith (John Candy), an eternally optimistic, overly talkative salesman. The mismatched duo embark on a two-day journey of chaotic travel mishaps attempting to get Neal home to his family for Thanksgiving. The trials they face include plane reroutes, train breakdowns, and automobile disasters. Directed by John Hughes, this film cleverly intertwines humor with heartwarming moments, revealing the unlikely friendship that forms amidst the chaos. Despite their contrasting personalities and constant setbacks, Neal and Del persist in their cross-country trek, offering viewers a hilarious look at the perils of holiday travel.
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  • The Flight of the Phoenix
    10

    The Flight of the Phoenix

    James Stewart, Richard Attenborough, Peter Finch
    113 votes
    Tense tale about a group of men who are left stranded in the middle of the Arabian desert after a plane crash. Their only hope of survival is to rebuild the craft so that, phoenix-like, she may fly again and carry them to safety, but can the captain and navigator calm the passengers as tension mounts and time starts to run out?
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  • Con Air
    11

    Con Air

    Nicolas Cage, John Cusack, John Malkovich
    85 votes
    In Con Air, Cameron Poe (Nicolas Cage), a newly released ex-con and former U.S. Ranger, finds himself trapped on a prisoner transport plane when the passengers seize control. Among them is Cyrus 'The Virus' Grissom (John Malkovich), a cunning and ruthless criminal mastermind. With help from U.S. Marshal Vince Larkin (John Cusack), Poe must thwart their deadly plans, save his friend Baby-O (Mykelti Williamson) and get home to his daughter. This action-packed thriller, directed by Simon West, blends high-stakes tension with explosive spectacle, delivering a wild ride in the sky.
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  • Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Ark
    12

    Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Ark

    Harrison Ford, Karen Allen, Paul Freeman
    163 votes
    In the adventurous roller-coaster ride, Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Ark, we follow Dr. Indiana Jones (Harrison Ford), a renowned archaeologist and obtainer of rare antiquities. Set in 1936, Jones is thrust into a perilous mission to outwit his Nazi competitors who are bent on harnessing the power of the mystical Ark of the Covenant. Alongside former lover Marion Ravenwood (Karen Allen), Jones navigates treacherous terrains and relentless enemies. Directed by Steven Spielberg, this movie bagged four Academy Awards, solidifying its status as a classic action-adventure film that combines history, mysticism, and heart-stopping sequences with aplomb.
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  • Memphis Belle
    13

    Memphis Belle

    Matthew Modine, Eric Stoltz, Tate Donovan
    107 votes
    At a U.S. Army Air Force base in England, the crew members of B-17 bomber Memphis Belle prepare for their 25th and final sortie into enemy German territory. Bomber Capt. Dennis Dearborn (Matthew Modine) knows the mission is a dangerous one, but he's under pressure from Army public relations man Lt. Col. Bruce Derringer (John Lithgow) to earn a decisive victory for the Allies. Now, the Memphis Belle prepares to take flight as apprehension and dissention grow among Dearborn's crew.
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  • Pearl Harbor
    14

    Pearl Harbor

    Ben Affleck, Josh Hartnett, Kate Beckinsale
    123 votes
    Pearl Harbor (2001) is an epic war film that masterfully blends romance and action. Rafe McCawley (Ben Affleck) and Danny Walker (Josh Hartnett), are childhood friends turned Army Air Corps pilots, who find themselves in a love triangle with the beautiful nurse Evelyn Johnson (Kate Beckinsale). As their personal drama unfolds, the harrowing events of December 7, 1941 - the infamous attack on Pearl Harbor - catapult our protagonists into the throes of World War II. Directed by Michael Bay, this film won an Academy Award for Best Sound Editing.
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  • Flight 93
    15

    Flight 93

    Jeffrey Nordling, Ty Olsson, Colin Glazer
    74 votes
    In this dramatization, unsuspecting passengers of United Airlines Flight 93 board the aircraft on the fateful morning of Sept. 11, 2001. After three other planes strike their intended targets, al-Qaida terrorists on Flight 93 make their move, threatening the passengers into submission by claiming to have an explosive onboard. But calls to loved ones reveal the truth, and the passengers -- including Todd Beamer (Brennan Elliott) and Tom Burnett (Jeffrey Nordling) -- plan to take back the flight.
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  • Airport 1975
    16

    Airport 1975

    Charlton Heston, Karen Black, George Kennedy
    127 votes
    When an in-flight collision incapacitates the pilots of an airplane bound for Los Angeles, stewardess Nancy Pryor (Karen Black) is forced to take over the controls. From the ground, her boyfriend Alan Murdock (Charlton Heston), a retired test pilot, tries to talk her through piloting and landing the 747 aircraft. Worse yet, the anxious passengers -- among which are a noisy nun (Helen Reddy) and a cranky man (Sid Caesar) -- are aggravating the already tense atmosphere.
  • The Spirit of St. Louis
    17

    The Spirit of St. Louis

    James Stewart, Patricia Smith, Murray Hamilton
    67 votes
    This lauded biopic follows legendary pilot Charles Lindbergh (James Stewart) as he makes his historic solo transatlantic flight from New York to Paris. The film details earlier events in Lindbergh's aerial career, including his stints as a stunt pilot and a flight instructor, but it focuses largely on his dangerous journey over the Atlantic Ocean in his signature monoplane, the Spirit of St. Louis. Battling the elements and sleep deprivation, Lindbergh struggles to make a safe landing in France.
  • Tora! Tora! Tora!
    18

    Tora! Tora! Tora!

    Martin Balsam, Sô Yamamura, Joseph Cotten
    115 votes
    This dramatic retelling of the Pearl Harbor attack details everything in the days that led up to that tragic moment in American history. As United States and Japanese relations strain over the U.S. embargo of raw materials, Air Staff Officer Minoru Genda (Tatsuya Mihashi) plans the preemptive strike against the United States. Although American intelligence agencies intercept Japanese communications hinting at the attack, they are unwilling to believe such a strike could ever occur on U.S. soil.
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  • The Aviator
    19

    The Aviator

    Leonardo DiCaprio, Cate Blanchett, Kate Beckinsale
    89 votes
    In The Aviator, we journey through the life of Howard Hughes (Leonardo DiCaprio), an ambitious industrialist and film tycoon. Struggling with obsessive-compulsive disorder, he nonetheless achieves enormous success in aviation and Hollywood. The award-winning movie, directed by Martin Scorsese, showcases Hughes' achievements, including creating a world-class airline and producing big-budget films. Cate Blanchett plays Katharine Hepburn, Hughes's love interest and one of several starlets in his life. A drama based on true events, The Aviator is a testament to one man's triumphs and tribulations in the face of adversity.
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  • United 93
    20

    United 93

    David Alan Basche, Richard Bekins, Susan Blommaert
    49 votes
    On Sept. 11, 2001, terrorists seize control of United Airlines Flight 93 and three other planes. As realization of the imminent horror dawns on passengers, crew and loved ones on the ground, the courageous acts by those held hostage in the air count down in actual time.
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  • Flightplan
    21

    Flightplan

    Jodie Foster, Peter Sarsgaard, Erika Christensen
    127 votes
    Airplane engineer Kyle Pratt (Jodie Foster) is heading home from Germany to New York on a double-decker Elgin 474 to bury her husband. But three hours into the flight, she awakens to find her young daughter missing -- and the entire flight crew, including Capt. Rich (Sean Bean) and Air Marshal Gene Carson (Peter Sarsgaard), claims that the child was never on board. Determined to find her daughter, Kyle searches the limited space of the plane, all the while trying to maintain her sanity.
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  • Casablanca
    22

    Casablanca

    Humphrey Bogart, Ingrid Bergman, Paul Henreid
    120 votes
    In the classic 1942 film, Casablanca, Rick Blaine (Humphrey Bogart), an American expatriate and nightclub owner, navigates a complex web of love and politics in Vichy-controlled Casablanca. His life takes a dramatic turn when Ilsa Lund (Ingrid Bergman), his former lover, walks into his club seeking help for her husband, Victor Laszlo (Paul Henreid), a Czech Resistance leader. As they grapple with their past and face harsh realities, the trio becomes entangled in a high-stakes struggle against time and tyranny. This timeless drama, which won three Academy Awards including Best Picture, is renowned for its unforgettable characters and iconic dialogues.
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  • 2001: A Space Odyssey
    23

    2001: A Space Odyssey

    Keir Dullea, Gary Lockwood, William Sylvester
    116 votes
    In Stanley Kubrick's groundbreaking film 2001: A Space Odyssey, Dr. Dave Bowman (Keir Dullea) and his crew embark on a mysterious journey to Jupiter, guided by their ship's artificially intelligent computer, HAL 9000 (voiced by Douglas Rain). This epic science fiction masterpiece, which won an Academy Award for Best Visual Effects, explores themes of evolution, technology, artificial intelligence and the unknown. The movie is renowned for its realistic depiction of space travel and innovative special effects, providing a visually stunning cinematic experience that captivated audiences worldwide.
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  • Wings
    24

    Wings

    Clara Bow, Charles "Buddy" Rogers, Richard Arlen
    48 votes
    With World War I afoot, David Armstrong (Richard Arlen) and Jack Powell (Charles "Buddy" Rogers) join the military with an eye toward flying American fighter planes. They leave behind Mary Preston (Clara Bow), a local girl who's in love with David but committed to Jack. Dispatched to France as newly minted pilots, the men take to the skies in one of the war's climactic air battles, and as frantic Mary longs for the safe return of both men, one pays the ultimate price for his bravery.
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  • Firefox
    25

    Firefox

    Clint Eastwood, Freddie Jones, David Huffman
    64 votes
    Mitchell Gant (Clint Eastwood) is a veteran American pilot who becomes involved in a top-secret mission to steal a high-tech Russian fighter plane known as "Firefox." Covertly entering the Soviet Union, Gant receives help from dissidents within the country, most notably a group of scientists who have been working on the plane. As Gant reaches his goal of heisting the aircraft, enemy pilots are quick to follow, leading to a sequence of soaring dogfights as he attempts to elude Soviet jets.
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  • Alive
    26

    Alive

    Ethan Hawke, Vincent Spano, Josh Hamilton
    59 votes
    Stranded after a plane crash in the Andes mountains, individual members of Uruguay's rugby team respond differently. Group leader Nando (Ethan Hawke) tries to keep everyone's spirits up; medical student Roberto (Josh Hamilton) diligently treats cases of frostbite and gangrene; loose cannon Antonio (Vincent Spano) gradually loses his composure. Once all available food stuffs run out, the group faces a terrible dilemma: eat one or more of their deceased teammates, or die.
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  • The Dam Busters
    27

    The Dam Busters

    Robert Shaw, Patrick McGoohan, Michael Redgrave
    29 votes
    The Dam Busters is a British Second World War war film starring Michael Redgrave and Richard Todd and directed by Michael Anderson. The film recreates the true story of Operation Chastise when in 1943 the RAF's 617 Squadron attacked the Möhne, Eder and Sorpe dams in Germany with Barnes Wallis's "bouncing bomb". The film was based on the books The Dam Busters by Paul Brickhill and Enemy Coast Ahead by Guy Gibson. The film's reflective last minutes convey the poignant mix of emotions felt by the characters – triumph over striking a successful blow against the enemy's industrial base is greatly tempered by the sobering knowledge that many died in the process of delivering it.
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  • The Blue Max
    28

    The Blue Max

    George Peppard, James Mason, Ursula Andress
    28 votes
    Lt. Bruno Stachel (George Peppard), a brash German World War I fighter pilot, is driven to shoot down 20 enemy planes, thus garnering him the Blue Max, a coveted medal. His superior, Count von Klugermann (James Mason), is aware that Bruno will stop at nothing to receive the honor, and admires his tenacity. The count's nephew, Willi (Jeremy Kemp), is Bruno's main competition for the prize, but Bruno is determined to eliminate his adversary and secure the honor for himself.
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  • 7500
    29

    7500

    Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Omid Memar, Aylin Tezel
    6 votes
    7500 is a 2019 American action-thriller film directed by Patrick Vollrath. American Co-pilot Tobias Ellis (Joseph Gordon-Levitt) must thwart a group of terrorists who take over his plane mid-flight from Berlin to Paris.
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  • Always
    30

    Always

    Richard Dreyfuss, Holly Hunter, Brad Johnson
    61 votes
    Aerial firefighter Pete (Richard Dreyfuss) risks himself and his vintage World War II airplane in a constant and death-defying quest to fight forest wildfires, much to the dismay of his girlfriend, Dorinda (Holly Hunter). His love for Dorinda and the advice of fellow pilot Al (John Goodman) convince Pete to give up his perilous career, but he flies one last mission. Pete heroically saves Al's plane from certain destruction, but with supernatural consequences.
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