Let’s be honest, airplane movies just land differently. Whether it’s the rumble of jet fuel, the urgency of a midair crisis, or the thrill of seeing brazen pilots defy gravity, these movies have a certain ability to suck us into the cockpit. From high-flying thrill rides to sentimental war flicks and even sidesplitting send-ups, the best ones remind us why flying and watching someone else do it never gets old. So fasten your seatbelts, put away the tray tables, and prepare to fly back through the 10 greatest airplane films ever created, ranked in reverse order, because a good countdown always takes off.
10. Wings (1927)
Let’s begin where it all started. Wings isn’t an old movie; it’s the first ever aviation blockbuster. This silent wonder, which took home the first-ever Best Picture Academy Award, pioneered aerial cinematography with actual biplanes, kill-or-be-killed stunts, and a love story that only 1920s Hollywood could deliver. Almost a century later, its aerial battle scenes still awe, showing that even without any sound, flight can be stunning.
9. The Right Stuff (1983)
Space exploration had yet to grab the imagination of the world, but test pilots were the sky’s rock stars. The Right Stuff tells the bold beginnings of the U.S. space program, tracing the Mercury Seven and the gung-ho men who put both plane and themselves on the line. Using acid wit, bravado, and a dusting of existential wonder, it’s an epic tribute to ambition, bravery, and the fine line between heroism and madness.
8. The Great Waldo Pepper (1975)
Ever ask yourself what happened to pilots after the war? The Great Waldo Pepper has the answer, and it’s full of peril. Robert Redford stars as a post–World War I stunt pilot pursuing fame via barnstorming airshows and mid-air stunts. It’s half adventure, half elegy, and all heart, a tribute to the early thrill-lovers who risked everything just to stay aloft.
7. Airplane! (1980)
When it comes to airplane movies, few have reached cruising altitude quite like this comedy classic. Airplane!Turned the disaster genre on its head with nonstop gags, quotable one-liners, and Leslie Nielsen’s perfectly serious delivery. It’s utterly ridiculous, endlessly rewatchable, and still one of the funniest movies ever made, whether you’re a pilot, a passenger, or just someone who enjoys absurd humor. (And yes, we’re serious. Don’t call us Shirley.)
6. Battle of Britain (1969)
Few movies have ever done justice to the magnitude and bedlam of air war as the Battle of Britain. Tracing the RAF’s desperate struggle to keep Nazi air attacks at bay in 1940, the film marries historical accuracy with some of the most realistic aerial combat ever brought to the screen, employing actual Spitfires and Messerschmitts rather than special effects. It’s half war epic, half flight documentary, and a lasting tribute to the pilots who changed history.
5. Sully (2016)
Not every hero has a cape; some have captain’s stripes. Sully sensationalizes the “Miracle on the Hudson,” where Captain Chesley Sullenberger glided a disabled jetliner onto the river following a bird hit. Tom Hanks delivers one of his most realistic (pun intended) performances, depicting the serene concentration and soft-spoken integrity of a man who defied the impossible. It’s a contemporary classic that makes professionalism into sheer movie tension.
4. Memphis Belle (1990)
During World War II, Memphis Belle depicts the final and most perilous mission of a B-17 bomber crew. Half action, half camaraderie, it dramatizes the fear and bravery, as well as the unbreakable brotherhood, that characterized bomber crews. With its charismatic ensemble and ample heart, it’s a rousing salute to men who flew into harm’s way in the hope of not coming back home.
3. Top Gun: Maverick (2022)
Who says lightning will never strike twice? Top Gun: Maverick didn’t just meet the original; it flew higher. Tom Cruise is back as the veteran pilot still pushing boundaries and bending rules, along with a new crop of flyers. The aerial action in the movie is simply stunning, filmed with actual jets, actual speed, and actual gallons of sweat. It’s the exception to the rule that brings nostalgia without stifling creativity, redefining what blockbusters can be.
2. Dunkirk (2017)
Christopher Nolan’s Dunkirk is not a war movie; it’s a sensory experience. With heart-racing sound design and grand IMAX cinematography, you can practically sense the gale force wind shear on Tom Hardy’s Spitfire as he guards the evacuation skies. The tension in the film is unrelenting, its visuals breathtaking, and its depiction of air battles gut-wrenchingly real. It’s less dialogue and more about survival’s beating heart, pure cinema in action.
1. Top Gun (1986)
Own up, you guessed this was coming. Top Gun isn’t merely an airplane film; it’s a cultural touchstone. From its legendary soundtrack to its mythical dogfights, Tony Scott’s adrenaline-fueled classic made military flight seem irresistibly hip. Tom Cruise’s Maverick is reckless, good-looking, and indelible, the personification of 1980s machismo. It’s the movie that made generations of pilots (and many a leather jacket purchase) possible. Even after years have gone by, it still flies higher than the competition.
And there you have it, ten airplane movies that cover every type of flight: heroic, tragic, funny, and awe-inspiring. Whether you are re-watching these classics or seeing them for the first time, each one is a reminder of why the charm of the sky never gets old. So the next time you hear the rumble of engines above, perhaps cue up one of these films, and let your imagination soar.