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Airplane!

  • 19801980
  • PGPG
  • 1h 28m
IMDb RATING
7.7/10
234K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
585
128
  • Cast & crew
  • User reviews
  • Trivia
  • IMDbPro
Airplane! (1980)
Watch {VideoTitle}
Play trailer3:30
1 Video
99+ Photos
  • Comedy

A man afraid to fly must ensure that a plane lands safely after the pilots become sick.A man afraid to fly must ensure that a plane lands safely after the pilots become sick.A man afraid to fly must ensure that a plane lands safely after the pilots become sick.

IMDb RATING
7.7/10
234K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
585
128
  • Directors
    • Jim Abrahams
    • David Zucker
    • Jerry Zucker
  • Writers
    • Jim Abrahams(written for the screen by)
    • David Zucker(written for the screen by)
    • Jerry Zucker(written for the screen by)
  • Stars
    • Robert Hays
    • Julie Hagerty
    • Leslie Nielsen
Top credits
  • Directors
    • Jim Abrahams
    • David Zucker
    • Jerry Zucker
  • Writers
    • Jim Abrahams(written for the screen by)
    • David Zucker(written for the screen by)
    • Jerry Zucker(written for the screen by)
  • Stars
    • Robert Hays
    • Julie Hagerty
    • Leslie Nielsen
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 573User reviews
    • 140Critic reviews
    • 78Metascore
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Nominated for 1 BAFTA Award
      • 3 wins & 7 nominations total

    Videos1

    Trailer
    Trailer 3:30
    Trailer

    Photos172

    Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Peter Graves in Airplane! (1980)
    Robert Hays in Airplane! (1980)
    Lloyd Bridges and Robert Stack in Airplane! (1980)
    Kareem Abdul-Jabbar in Airplane! (1980)
    Robert Hays and Otto in Airplane! (1980)
    Airplane! (1980)
    Maureen McGovern in Airplane! (1980)
    Robert Hays in Airplane! (1980)
    Leslie Nielsen, Julie Hagerty, Howard Honig, and Mary Mercier in Airplane! (1980)
    Robert Hays in Airplane! (1980)
    Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Julie Hagerty in Airplane! (1980)
    Robert Hays in Airplane! (1980)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Robert Hays
    Robert Hays
    • Ted Strikeras Ted Striker
    Julie Hagerty
    Julie Hagerty
    • Elaine Dickinsonas Elaine Dickinson
    Leslie Nielsen
    Leslie Nielsen
    • Dr. Rumackas Dr. Rumack
    Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
    Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
    • Roger Murdockas Roger Murdock
    Lloyd Bridges
    Lloyd Bridges
    • Steve McCroskeyas Steve McCroskey
    Peter Graves
    Peter Graves
    • Captain Clarence Oveuras Captain Clarence Oveur
    Lorna Patterson
    Lorna Patterson
    • Randyas Randy
    Robert Stack
    Robert Stack
    • Captain Rex Krameras Captain Rex Kramer
    Stephen Stucker
    • Johnny Henshaw-Jacobsas Johnny Henshaw-Jacobs
    Otto
    Otto
    • Ottoas Otto
    Jim Abrahams
    Jim Abrahams
    • Religious Zealot #6as Religious Zealot #6
    Frank Ashmore
    Frank Ashmore
    • Victor Bastaas Victor Basta
    Jonathan Banks
    Jonathan Banks
    • Gundersonas Gunderson
    Craig Berenson
    • Paul Careyas Paul Carey
    Barbara Billingsley
    Barbara Billingsley
    • Jive Ladyas Jive Lady
    Lee Bryant
    Lee Bryant
    • Mrs. Hammenas Mrs. Hammen
    Joyce Bulifant
    Joyce Bulifant
    • Mrs. Davisas Mrs. Davis
    Mae E. Campbell
    • Security Ladyas Security Lady
    • Directors
      • Jim Abrahams
      • David Zucker
      • Jerry Zucker
    • Writers
      • Jim Abrahams(written for the screen by)
      • David Zucker(written for the screen by)
      • Jerry Zucker(written for the screen by)
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
    • All cast & crew

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    Storyline

    Edit
    Drowning his sorrows after that botched mission during WWII, the traumatised former fighter pilot with a fear of flying, Ted Striker, still hasn't got over his old flame and flight attendant, Elaine Dickinson. Determined to win her back, Ted boards a domestic flight from Los Angeles to Chicago, only to come face-to-face with a severe case of in-flight food poisoning that is threatening everyone's lives. Now, with most of the passengers and the entire cockpit crew down with the food-borne illness, Striker has no other choice but to confront his inner demons and take over the control of the ungovernable aircraft with the help of a gruff air-traffic controller and his former commander. Can Ted land the plane and save them all? —Nick Riganas
    • spoof
    • airplane
    • food poisoning
    • color remake of black and white film
    • deadpan
    • 319 more
    • Plot summary
    • Plot synopsis
    • Taglines
      • You've read the ad, now see the movie!
    • Genre
      • Comedy
    • Certificate
      • PG
    • Parents guide

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      For the argument between announcers concerning the white and red zones at the airport, the producers hired the same voice artists who had made the real-world announcements at Los Angeles International Airport. At the real airport, the white zone is for loading and unloading of passengers only, and there's no stopping in the red zone (except for transit buses). They were also married to each other in real life.
    • Goofs
      At the airport, Oveur gets a call about the "transplantation girl" with the white/red/black phones. After he picks up the wrong phone, (script supervisor) Nancy Hansen can be clearly heard laughing in the background.
    • Quotes

      Rumack: You'd better tell the Captain we've got to land as soon as we can. This woman has to be gotten to a hospital.

      Elaine Dickinson: A hospital? What is it?

      Rumack: It's a big building with patients, but that's not important right now.

    • Crazy credits
      Author of A Tale of Two Cities ... Charles Dickens
    • Alternate versions
      Some versions do not have subtitles on a part where the Jive Dudes are talking. The original theatrical release had subtitles.
    • Connections
      Edited into The A-Team: The Beast from the Belly of a Boeing (1983)
    • Soundtracks
      Stayin' Alive
      Written by Barry Gibb, Robin Gibb and Maurice Gibb

      Performed by The Bee Gees

      Courtesy of RSO Records

      Published by Stigwood Music, Inc.

    User reviews573

    Review
    Top review
    10/10
    the greatest comedy of all time
    Airplane is simply the funniest movie of all time. It handles the broad range of parody, satire, and plain silliness expertly, and has some of the greatest one-liners and sight gags ever put in a movie. Sure some of the jokes are dated, but great comedies (especially parodies) exist in the moment, and you have to expect that. The fact is, enough jokes hit the bullseye that it really is one of those rare movies where you are laughing constantly. I am, at least. This movie launched Leslie Nielsen's career as a comedy actor, although he still hasn't made anything this good (Naked Gun comes closest, but it's still light years away from this). Do any movies come close to hitting the zenith that this one does? "Young Frankenstein" comes close, but even the best Mel Brooks film doesn't top this. There has simply never been a funnier movie than "Airplane!" and for that, it deserves to be considered one of the greatest MOVIES of all time (I know for many people that's a stretch, but I stand by it; I've been watching it my whole life and there's still nothing I flat-out enjoy watching more).
    helpful•134
    35
    • the-jerk
    • Mar 30, 2005

    FAQ1

    • What is the movie based on?

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • July 2, 1980 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Official site
      • Official Facebook
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Kentucky Fried Airplane
    • Filming locations
      • Los Angeles International Airport - 1 World Way, Los Angeles, California, USA
    • Production companies
      • Paramount Pictures
      • Howard W. Koch Productions
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • $3,500,000 (estimated)
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $83,453,539
    • Gross worldwide
      • $83,453,539
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 28 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Mono
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.85 : 1

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