Hold on to your seats, movie lovers—because we’re embarking on a flight of cinematic proportions through some of the most harrowing, emotional, and action-packed aviation flicks out there. If you’re captivated by true survival tales, attracted to dogfighting military action, or just have a fascination with airport dramas, this list has it all. Among them are the ones that recreate mid-air disasters’ hellish chaos and the others that delve into the softer, more human experiences that occur on the fringes of aviation. From animated heroes to great true stories, these are 10 not-to-forget plane crash and aviation films that have made an impact.
10. Planes (2013)
Let’s start on a lighthearted note. “Planes” doesn’t have its action scenes in razzle-dazzle crashes or nail-biting rescues, but it does capture the thrill of flight to a family-friendly degree. Based on a small-town crop-duster named Dusty Crophopper who dreams of racing stardom, this Disney movie is a warm one. Fearful of heights, Dusty signs up for an international air race and learns what it means to fly higher than the odds. With bright imagery, friendly characters, and lessons in bravery and confidence, it’s a gentle aviation primer for children.
9. The Terminal (2004)
Flight delays are bad enough, but being trapped in an airport for months? That’s turbulence of a different sort. In “The Terminal,” Tom Hanks stars as Viktor Navorski, a man stuck in a political quagmire that finds him stranded at JFK Airport—not allowed to go home, and not permitted to enter the U.S. Based on a true story, this movie is less about the planes and more about the human experience in the world of aviation. It blends humor with tender moments and illustrates how individuals can discover kindness and friendship in the unlikeliest of places.
8. The Aviator (2004)
Leonardo DiCaprio portrays Howard Hughes, the famous airplane innovator and movie producer, in this epic biographical drama. Following the life of Hughes from the late 1920s through the 1940s, the film delves into his innovative ambitions in airplane design and his spiral into mental illness. It’s not so much a movie about flying—it’s about obsession, genius, and the desire to push boundaries. The film presents vivid imagery of a man who contributed to the history of aviation fighting against his demons.
7. Top Gun: Maverick (2022)
Tom Cruise took to the skies once again in a big way with this highly anticipated sequel. “Top Gun: Maverick” is not so much a throwback as it is an action-packed thrill ride that exceeds expectations at every turn. Cruise’s Pete “Maverick” Mitchell returns in the pilot’s seat, now responsible for training the next group of elite pilots. With mind-bending in-camera flight action, bittersweet callbacks, and genuine emotional consequences, the film is both a tribute and an evolution. It reminds us why we first fell in love with high-octane aerial melodrama.
6. Alive (1993)
Few survival movies pack as much punch as “Alive.” This film, based on the real-life tragedy of the 1972 Uruguayan rugby team plane crash, does not flinch from revealing the harsh realities endured by the survivors. From initial shock at the crash through to the unthinkable choices they had to make, it’s a compelling and frequently harrowing account of human resilience. What begins as an offhand crew adventure soon becomes a frantic struggle to stay alive, and thus one of the most claustrophobic aviation-themed films ever.
5. Flight (2012)
Denzel Washington adds depth and unvarnished emotion to the part of Captain Whip Whitaker, who is a commercial airline pilot who executes a miraculous crash landing—but whose personal life is rapidly careening out of control. “Flight” kicks off with one of the most nail-biting air scenes ever committed to celluloid, but it’s what comes next that hits home. When Whip becomes the target of public examination and struggles with addiction, the movie delves into the razor’s edge between heroism and responsibility. It’s a gripping and introspective examination of what happens when a person who saves lives has to deal with his demons.
4. Executive Decision (1996)
For those who enjoy their flight movies loaded with suspense and action, “Executive Decision” delivers in spades. When terrorists commandeer a commercial airliner, a clandestine team—a civilian expert played by Kurt Russell—is dispatched mid-flight to stop them. With death in the air, nothing about the mission goes smoothly. The climactic, frenetic crash landing attempt is pure adrenaline. It’s that kind of movie that makes your hands sweat from beginning to end, all while presenting the high-stakes world of air security.
3. Air Force One (1997)
One word: iconic. “Air Force One” combines political thriller with turbo-powered action as Harrison Ford’s President Marshall battles to reclaim his hijacked plane from terrorists. With its catchphrase—”Get off my plane! —and constant tension, it’s no surprise this film is still a favorite decades on. Ford brings just the right amount of grit and heart to the role of making the President a believable action hero. The film isn’t shy with the spectacle but does maintain a focus on family, leadership, and loyalty in pressure situations.
2. Final Destination (2000)
It is not necessarily a conventional aerial movie, but “Final Destination” definitely made its mark. The franchise’s first entry opens on a chilling flash-forward image of an ill-fated plane exploding moments after liftoff. The twist? It’s all a vision—somewhere, a series of unnerving, destiny-stamped events are set into motion. That initial plane crash is still seared into the minds of most viewers, and it’s perhaps one of the most indelible on-screen representations of in-flight terror ever witnessed. It made the flight feel uneasy in an entirely different way.
1. Sully (2016)
The number one selection is a movie that took a true flying miracle and made it a powerful testament to staying calm when the going gets tough. “Sully,” featuring Tom Hanks as Captain Chesley Sullenberger, chronicles US Airways Flight 1549 and its miraculous landing on the Hudson River. After a bird collision knocks out both engines, Sully and his copilot have to move quickly. The landing rescued all 155 individuals on board, but the movie also looks at the emotional and legal fallout that ensued.
It’s a low-key, intense movie about grace in crisis—and how instinct, experience, and bravery can preserve lives in seconds. These movies remind us how strong flight stories can be—whether they’re sentimental, frightening, thrilling, or based on stoic heroism. All of them carry us to a different location in the air, and sometimes deep within the human experience. So the next time you get on an airplane or see one flying by above, remember these tales and how they affected you.