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Having recently gotten into watching a lot of aviation / airport movies, and I must say it’s getting difficult to choose a favourite, so instead, I’ll just combine a list of my all-time favourite airport-based / aviation movies which I think have gotta be one of the best of all time, obviously not everyone might agree with me as to why I chose to put those ones on the list but id definitely love to hear your favourite movies as well down below in the comments, so without further ado, and in no order at all, here goes nothing:
- Passenger 57 – Although the ratings of this movie might not be as excellent as some of the others, I can’t help but think when someone mentions a good old classic, this movie somehow always comes to mind for me; the storyline goes as follows: “John Cutter (Wesley Snipes) is a former policeman flying to Los Angeles to start his new job working for the anti-terrorist unit of a major airline. However, apprehended terrorist Charles Rane (Bruce Payne) is on the flight, too, being transported by the FBI. After Rane’s accomplices kill the FBI agents and free him, Cutter realizes the entire flight is in danger. With the help of flight attendant Marti Slayton (Alex Datcher), Cutter tries to capture Rane and free the passengers.”
- Die Hard 2 – you cannot have a list of favourites without a bit of John McClane “A year after his heroics in L.A, detective John McClane (Bruce Willis) is mixed up in another terrorist plot, this time at Washington Dulles International Airport, where he is waiting for his wife (Bonnie Bedelia). That same night, South American politico and drug profiteer Ramon Esperanza (Franco Nero) is arriving in U.S. custody. McClane takes action when a treasonous ex-colonel (William Sadler) seizes control of the airport, threatening to crash every inbound flight unless Esperanza is freed.”
- The Terminal – this movie deserves a spot on the list as it’s hands down a classic. “When Viktor Navorski (Tom Hanks), an Eastern European tourist, arrives at JFK in New York, war breaks out in his country, and he finds himself caught up in international politics. Because of the war, the Department of Homeland Security won’t let him enter or exit the United States. He’s trapped at JFK — indefinitely. While living at the airport, Viktor falls for a flight attendant (Catherine Zeta-Jones). She may have feelings for him too. But what good is love if Viktor can’t leave the Terminal?”
- Carry-On – a bit of a newer release in 2024- is right up there, too: “A young airline security guard is blackmailed by a mysterious passenger who threatens to smuggle a dangerous package onto a plane on Christmas Eve.”
- Neerja – is by far one of my all-time favourite movies based on a true story in Pakistan in 1986: “A flight attendant boards Pan Am flight 73. When the flight is hijacked by terrorists, she does all she can to stall the terrorists from attacking the passengers on board.”
And there you have it—my personal runway of top aviation flicks that have taken me on more emotional rollercoasters than actual turbulence ever could. Whether it’s Wesley Snipes showing us why you always bet on black in Passenger 57, Bruce Willis redefining bad luck in Die Hard 2, or Tom Hanks proving you really can make an airport feel like home in The Terminal, these films have all earned their wings in my book. But hey, this is just my in-flight entertainment lineup—I’d love to hear your favourites, too. So, buckle up, hit the comments, and let me know your favourite aviation/airport movies of all time:
