Check out my five picks for airport/airplane drama movies.
According to many movies made about airports and airplanes, a disaster is always waiting in the wings. Thankfully, day-to-day workings in the airlines are far less dramatic. Here are a few of my favorite picks covering airports and airplanes for those interested in the drama or thriller genres.
Edited by Benet Wilson
After surviving a horrific plane crash Max Klein, played by Academy Award winner Jeff Bridges, is changed. The journey to his recovery from the trauma and aftermath of surviving is shared when he meets another survivor, played by Academy Award nominee Rosie Perez, of the same air disaster.
The movie was based on United Airlines Flight 232, from Chicago to Denver. The plane had an uncontained engine failure that damaged the hydraulic system on the McDonnell Douglas DC-10 tri-jet. The jet made an emergency landing at Sioux Gateway Airport in Sioux City, Iowa, where 185 of the plane's 296 passengers survived.The crash scenes were so realistic that US Airways used the film to show the devastation of aircraft accidents and helped employees to plan accordingly.More »
My avgeek friends go crazy over all the aviation errors in this 1990 movie, but for me, it's pure enjoyment. Bruce Willis reprises his role as New York City cop John McClain, who stumbles on a rogue military plot at Washington Dulles International Airport during the busy Christmas season as he waited to pick up his wife, played by Bonnie Bedelia, who was aboard a flight. The mercenaries hijack the air traffic control system at Dulles, putting planes in danger of running out of fuel and crashing. More »
This is the original air disaster movie. The plot included storylines on a paralyzing snowstorm, environmental concerns over noise pollution, and an attempt to blow up a plane. It made a surprising $100 million on a $10 million budget. Star Helen Hayes won a best supporting actress Academy Award playing a stowaway, and other actors in the movie included Burt Lancaster, Dean Martin, Jean Seberg, Jacqueline Bisset, George Kennedy and Van Heflin. This is the movie that helped spawn sequels -- Airport 1975, Airport 77 and The Concorde: Airport '79 -- along with the spoof 'Airplane' series. More »
Leonardo DiCaprio stars as Frank Abignale, a forgery expert who flew the world pretending to be a Pan Am pilot and cashing fraudulent checks. He is eventually caught by an FBI agent played by Tom Hanks and ended up working for the FBI, then for himself by creating unforgeable checks. The film also starred Martin Sheen, Christopher Walken and Amy Adams.More »
This movie, starring Samuel L. Jackson and Julianna Margulies, was so bad it actually became good to watch. No need to explain the plot, because the title says it all. What makes this one special is that the movie was popular even before it was released in 2006, thanks to the studio including suggestions from fans in the film.More »
Edited by Benet Wilson
1. Fearless
After surviving a horrific plane crash Max Klein, played by Academy Award winner Jeff Bridges, is changed. The journey to his recovery from the trauma and aftermath of surviving is shared when he meets another survivor, played by Academy Award nominee Rosie Perez, of the same air disaster.
The movie was based on United Airlines Flight 232, from Chicago to Denver. The plane had an uncontained engine failure that damaged the hydraulic system on the McDonnell Douglas DC-10 tri-jet. The jet made an emergency landing at Sioux Gateway Airport in Sioux City, Iowa, where 185 of the plane's 296 passengers survived.The crash scenes were so realistic that US Airways used the film to show the devastation of aircraft accidents and helped employees to plan accordingly.More »
2. Die Hard 2
My avgeek friends go crazy over all the aviation errors in this 1990 movie, but for me, it's pure enjoyment. Bruce Willis reprises his role as New York City cop John McClain, who stumbles on a rogue military plot at Washington Dulles International Airport during the busy Christmas season as he waited to pick up his wife, played by Bonnie Bedelia, who was aboard a flight. The mercenaries hijack the air traffic control system at Dulles, putting planes in danger of running out of fuel and crashing. More »
3. Airport
This is the original air disaster movie. The plot included storylines on a paralyzing snowstorm, environmental concerns over noise pollution, and an attempt to blow up a plane. It made a surprising $100 million on a $10 million budget. Star Helen Hayes won a best supporting actress Academy Award playing a stowaway, and other actors in the movie included Burt Lancaster, Dean Martin, Jean Seberg, Jacqueline Bisset, George Kennedy and Van Heflin. This is the movie that helped spawn sequels -- Airport 1975, Airport 77 and The Concorde: Airport '79 -- along with the spoof 'Airplane' series. More »
4. Catch Me If You Can
Leonardo DiCaprio stars as Frank Abignale, a forgery expert who flew the world pretending to be a Pan Am pilot and cashing fraudulent checks. He is eventually caught by an FBI agent played by Tom Hanks and ended up working for the FBI, then for himself by creating unforgeable checks. The film also starred Martin Sheen, Christopher Walken and Amy Adams.More »
5. Snakes on a Plane
This movie, starring Samuel L. Jackson and Julianna Margulies, was so bad it actually became good to watch. No need to explain the plot, because the title says it all. What makes this one special is that the movie was popular even before it was released in 2006, thanks to the studio including suggestions from fans in the film.More »
