Airplane!
Paramount Pictures | Release Date: July 2, 1980
7.9
USER SCORE
Generally favorable reviews based on 104 Ratings
USER RATING DISTRIBUTION
Positive:
86
Mixed:
15
Negative:
3
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User Reviews

User scoreBy dateMost helpful
10
mrdr4gonNov 15, 2017
There needs to be a scientific study into how this film stays so consistently funny for so long. It's actually baffling that a film like this can even exist.
5 of 5 users found this helpful50
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10
JPKJan 26, 2020
One Of The Best Parody Films
Airplane! is clever, funny, excellently written, and very memorable.
2 of 2 users found this helpful20
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9
gracjanskiNov 13, 2019
Great humour with a lot of hints to so many things. Classic movie, that never gets old.
1 of 1 users found this helpful10
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8
alejandro970Dec 4, 2021
According to Superman, flying is the safest means of travel. Or not? This parody of the catastrophe movies that were trending in the increasingly distant 70s, is the pioneer of slapstick comedies from which many imitations would emerge.According to Superman, flying is the safest means of travel. Or not? This parody of the catastrophe movies that were trending in the increasingly distant 70s, is the pioneer of slapstick comedies from which many imitations would emerge. Despite the years it's been around, some jokes are still effective.… Expand
1 of 1 users found this helpful10
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9
Eaj6Oct 8, 2019
One of THE funniest movies I have ever seen. The perfect marriage of comedy and suspense. Oh, by the way, stop calling me Shirley!
1 of 1 users found this helpful10
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8
DawdlingPoetNov 21, 2021
This film is a bit of a classic, well known for being quite over the top but in a comic sort of a way - from the very start, it has the visual look and feel (music and visually speaking, with large, blocky text appearing boldly on screen) ofThis film is a bit of a classic, well known for being quite over the top but in a comic sort of a way - from the very start, it has the visual look and feel (music and visually speaking, with large, blocky text appearing boldly on screen) of an impending disaster film - indeed it could be thought of as a satire on disaster films but most certainly a comedy based one. It features very wacky, somewhat eccentric comedy and its certainly one of my favourite comedy films. The comedy is so random at times, I can't help but laugh at it - Its one of quite a few films that I've seen on more than one ocassion, mostly I just stick to watching new films but when my TiVo box recorded this film as I'd stated that I like Leslie Neilson films, I decided to keep the recording and watch it again - I think I saw it some years back. I try my best not to be too biased - it takes quite a lot to not have any criticisms at all or to give a film a full 5 star rating.

From early on, I noticed there were some potentially offensive stereotypes - I knew it was a little cliched, after all it dates back to 1980 but there was one scene featuring a couple of presumably African Americans talking in a somewhat strong dialect, with subtitles providing an upper class/aristocratic version of what they were saying, which I didn't find one of the more amusing moments, as I, personally, could understand most of what was being said and it felt perhaps a little too sneary. There are also moments features women which some may find somewhat distasteful, although I wasn't too bothered about them personally. The air stewardesses are portrayed as dolly birds - pretty much all of the characters are made fun of in one way or another, so we're encouraged to laugh at them, more than with them and in a sense that made it seem somewhat less offensive in the few moments that were a little close to the bone perhaps. It is very much an absurdist style film - perhaps slightly like Sacha Baron Cohen's films, also featuring very exaggerated comic people, although with his films he tends to mock people who perhaps don't seem to be best keen on it, shall we say. Its also somewhat like the Police Academy films, in terms of the slapstick comedy used, although I personally find it funnier than most of the Police Academy films.

The comedy is present both in terms of the sometimes witty dialogue and its also conveyed via some surreal visual elements. There is also narration present at times and it varies from time to time, in terms of which character is voicing the narration. Cast wise, the film stars Lloyd Bridges as Steve McCroskey (the head of air control), Robert Hayes as Ted Striker and, of course, Leslie Nielson as Dr. Rumack. Leslie is at his quick witted best, although he seems a little more straight faced compared to other actors who have acted in similar films (for example Jim Carrey or maybe Adam Sandler). The fact that he appears so serious when dealing with frankly ludicrously surreal scenarios seemed to make it more funny. Other cast members present include Peter Graves as Captain Clarence Oveur, a very laidback, professional seeming pilot and Julie Heggerty as Elaine Dickinson. Content wise, this film features partial nudity, sex references and implied sex scenes, plus a character who asks sexually suggestive questions to a young boy (presumably a paedophile?), which some may find offensive. There is (mostly comedic styled) violence, nothing especially graphic but it does include various characters attempting suicide to get out of a certain apparently intolerable situation and there are some fist fight type scenes, although there is nothing particularly graphic or overly bloody shown. There are also drug references and a scene featuring someone snorting illegal drugs. There are some mild profanities uttered but no especially graphic language as such. The film was originally given a 15 rating due to the content but I believe it now carries a 12a rating.

Music wise, I felt that, at times, the incidental music was a bit too loud, in that it made it a bit difficult to fully follow the dialogue on screen at the time. It does feature quite a heavy use of tense sounding instrumental incidental music (try saying instrumental incidental multiple times in a row(!!) at times, which I found to be a bit distracting at times.

All in all, I still enjoyed watching this film again overall but I concede that it has some elements which will put off some people, or otherwise that it won't suit everyone. It is quite witty in parts but other parts I felt were perhaps poorly judged, certainly by todays standards anyway. To be fair, its certainly not a film that takes itself too seriously, or even seriously at all I suppose - as a parody of disaster films, it does well, poking fun at some of the relevant cliches and I liked the mix of dialogue based comedy and visual comedy but it won't appeal to everyone, hence my overall rating.… Expand
1 of 1 users found this helpful10
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10
RobwinzApr 19, 2020
Honestly right, this has to be one of my favourite comedy movies, the reasons on why it's so good is because of the actors, they always give a good performance in this movie and every character made me laugh in some way or another. Also, thisHonestly right, this has to be one of my favourite comedy movies, the reasons on why it's so good is because of the actors, they always give a good performance in this movie and every character made me laugh in some way or another. Also, this movies got some great gags and it passed the time, its worth the watch if you haven't already watched this hilarious movie before.… Expand
1 of 1 users found this helpful10
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10
geewahJan 22, 2021
A classic and a go to for all spoof movies till this day.
Laugh out loud jokes, memorable characters and sound bites that are still quoted today.
1 of 1 users found this helpful10
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10
eva3si0nMar 6, 2022
Airplane! perhaps one of the best comedies in cinema. The film is a standard in which the abserd is brought to the level of farce. First of all, this is a chamber film, and this is not a simple genre that puts screenwriters in a not simpleAirplane! perhaps one of the best comedies in cinema. The film is a standard in which the abserd is brought to the level of farce. First of all, this is a chamber film, and this is not a simple genre that puts screenwriters in a not simple position. But the Zucker brothers will really mix the viewer in a childish way. The film is still relevant for more than 40 years.… Expand
0 of 0 users found this helpful00
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10
harvdog03Nov 1, 2018
This film never get old. It's just as funny as it was the first time I watched it.
0 of 0 users found this helpful00
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10
DerekReideMar 11, 2019
Say what you want about how offensive this movie can get today, just realize that it was made in 1980. This film is by far the funniest I've seen and it just seems unnatural to how funny it can stay every time you watch it.
0 of 0 users found this helpful00
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8
superrevFeb 13, 2021
It's a really funny movie only in english, the story it's trash but they want it like this. -BETTER TO WATCH IT OVER THE AGE OF 8y-
Trama:8/10
kids:6/10
adults:10/10
0 of 0 users found this helpful00
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8
FidelGastroJan 24, 2022
A film from the golden era of American comedies. It's almost unbelievable, but the film is made in such a way that you can't find anyone who wouldn't laugh at the humour in this film.

The film is built on people taking everything tooA film from the golden era of American comedies. It's almost unbelievable, but the film is made in such a way that you can't find anyone who wouldn't laugh at the humour in this film.

The film is built on people taking everything too literally. Simple, cute and above all funny.

I'm not going to pick out the funniest moments of the film here, because I'd have to retell the whole movie, and I don't want to. Please find an hour and a half of free time some evening to devote to this gem from a bygone era. 8/10… Expand
0 of 0 users found this helpful00
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8
Craftnight405Mar 21, 2023
Der Star des Films ist eindeutig der Autopilot. Gefolgt von Johnny (Stephen Stucker). Durch diesen Film ist Leslie Nielsen bekannt geworden und führte dazu das Die nackte Kanone zu stande gekommen ist. Bei solchen Art von Filmen ist die StoryDer Star des Films ist eindeutig der Autopilot. Gefolgt von Johnny (Stephen Stucker). Durch diesen Film ist Leslie Nielsen bekannt geworden und führte dazu das Die nackte Kanone zu stande gekommen ist. Bei solchen Art von Filmen ist die Story absolut egal das wichtigste ist der Humor und die Unterhaltung. Es ist einer der witzigsten Filme die ich gesehen habe. Leider gibt es heutzutage nicht mehr gut gemachte Filme dieser Art. Für einige ist der Humor garnichts, weil die Momente zu rendom sind oder zu Flach. Die Hauptfigur Ted (Robert Hays) fande ich nicht so interessant da waren die Nebenfiguren viel interessanter. Es gibt viele Gags die sich wiederholen, die sich leicht unterscheiden. 8,5/10… Expand
0 of 0 users found this helpful00
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