Gear Up for the Top Aviation Movies That Really Soar

Remember when you dreamed of becoming a pilot when you were a kid? Well, airplanes are not just a simple children’s dream – interest in aviation is real, and so is the love for such movies! From regular documentaries to thrilling action flicks, aviation films will take you on a flight without leaving your seat. Whether you’re an avid airplane fan or simply looking for an entertaining title, this list has the best aviation movies for a cinematic ride!

The Top Aviation Movies That Take Flight

The Aviator and Sully

The Aviator is an incredible aviation story chronicling Howard Hughes’s insatiable desire to build the fastest plane. This movie title is similar to the famous casino crash game Aviator Game. If you’re into playing casino games, visit this page and learn more about this aviation-themed entertainment.

Sully is a similar film depicting the story of Chesley Sullenberger, who is nicknamed “Sully”. The movie revolves around the emergency landing of US Airways Flight 1549 on the Hudson River. Undoubtedly, those two titles are best when it comes to aviator drama!

Top Gun and Air Force One

If you love good old action films from the 80s and 90s, watching Top Gun and Air Force One is a must. While Top Gun features Tom Cruise, Air Force One has Harrison Ford in the leading role. The first depicts the main character as a hotshot Navy pilot who has to prove himself at the elite Fighter Weapons School. In Air Force One, Harrison Ford plays the President of the United States, trying to reclaim control of the plane after terrorists hijack it. 

Flight and Airport

For those looking for less stunts and more suspense, Flight and Airport might just be at the top of your list. In Flight, Denzel Washington plays an airline pilot with a substance abuse problem who has to land a damaged plane. Airport depicts the story of airport personnel trying to cope with operations during a snowstorm. 

Cult Classics and Hidden Gems for Aviation Enthusiasts

Porco Rosso

For the gem-hunters, the 1992 Porco Rosso is a whimsical fare bound to stun you with its animations. The Hayao Miyazaki movie is set in 1920s Italy and follows the story of a pig pilot named Porco Rosso. The latter is a bounty hunter who takes down air pirates in thrilling aerial battle scenes paired with stunning visuals.

The Right Stuff

NASA’s legendary status has been achieved mainly due to its omnipresence in aviation movies. The 1983 The Right Stuff is just that, following the early days of the Mercury 7 astronauts. Even though it’s a bit longer than expected, the film takes a broader view of the early space race. While it relishes some historical details, it offers thrilling flight sequences that will pin you to your seat! 

Airplane!

If you’re looking for pure laughs, look no further than Airplane!. This 80s comedy stars Lenslie Nielsen and Lloyd Bridges and is a slapstick spoof of disaster movies. The plot is simple yet hilarious – the traumatized former war pilot Ted Striker tries to land a passenger jet when the crew is incapacitated by food poisoning. The movie is full of silly puns and sight gags, making it a cult classic in the comedy genre! 

Interesting Facts About Aviation Movies

Airplane! – A parody of the 1957 movie Zero Hour!

The 1980 comedy classic Airplane! was inspired by a largely forgotten disaster film from 1957 called Zero Hour!. Airplane! creators Jim Abrahams, David Zucker, and Jerry Zucker bought the rights to Zero Hour! so they could lift its plot and some of its dialog directly, turning the original film’s drama into laughs. Many of the characters, situations, and lines of dialog in Airplane! are near replicas of Zero Hour!.

The fascinating details in The Aviator

In The Aviator, Leonardo DiCaprio plays the main character, Howard Hughes, who has an OCD about perfection. Over time, this obsession leads to insane attention to detail. Spoiler alert – his state develops into a mental illness, which mirrors his professional career as a film director. He spends years and goes through many directors trying to make Hell’s Angels. Filming the famous dogfight scenes leads to several extremely dangerous crashes that make his condition even more evident.

Final Thoughts

Undoubtedly, aviation movies are not the most popular titles among the masses. Still, they impress with unmatchable drama, bravery, and action plot lines! If you love planes, you’d certainly enjoy one of those gripping stories of danger and heroism. Alternatively, you can take pleasure in watching all the aerial stunts and dogfights of one of those good old action movies. And if you’re still not a fan of flights, these exciting aviation movies might just spark a new passion in you!