The Best Movies To Watch On A Plane, Ranked By Frequent Flyers
Don't believe the movies - unless someone travels business or first class, flying on a plane isn't all it's cut out to be. Not only do people need to cram into their seats, but it also appears like the general population forgoes personal hygiene a month before any trip. So, what's there to do to kill time? Watch movies, of course.
Now, it might not be a good idea to watch provocative movies like Showgirls or Eyes Wide Shut on a long plane ride filled with other people, but there are a number of perfect features to savor that are engaging over a single flight yet not so risqué that your fellow passengers will cast judgments on you.
- 123 VOTESPhoto: Warner Bros. Pictures
Runtime: 116 minutes
The Plot: After being released from prison, thief Danny Ocean (George Clooney) meets up with his pal, Rusty Ryan (Brad Pitt), to assemble a superstar team to pull off an outrageous heist on three big casinos. Despite the meticulous planning, it doesn't all go according to plan.
What It's Great For: Ocean's Eleven moves at an entertaining and fast pace. It's impossible to take the eyes off the screen as Danny and his team pull off genius moves and adapt when disaster strikes. No viewer will think of the flight they're on, as they'll feel like they're at the casinos along with the heist crew.
What Other Passengers Will Think: Featuring an all-star cast and a number of high-profile cameos, don't be surprised if the other passengers start commenting on who appears on screen throughout the film. For some reason, the Ocean's films also seem to blur all into one, so there might be a lot of questions about which installment this is.
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- 238 VOTESPhoto: Lionsgate
Runtime: 130 minutes
The Plot: Best-selling author Harlan Thrombey (Christopher Plummer) dies, and the police say it's a suicide. However, super-sleuth Benoit Blanc (Daniel Craig) deduces it to be a murder. Blanc takes a closer look at all the suspects, determining that a number of these individuals had specific motives for wanting Thrombey dead.
What It's Great For: Knives Out keeps the attention for the entire runtime, since it doesn't give away the ending early on. The Rian Johnson-directed whodunit lures the viewer into the web of mystery, making them forget all about the plane ride as they focus solely on uncovering Thrombey's murderer.
What Other Passengers Will Think: There will be two kinds of responses to this movie. One, either the person next to you becomes intrigued by the plot and begins debating who killed Thrombey. Or two, the person has seen the movie and spoils it by pointing out the murderer.
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- 329 VOTESPhoto: DreamWorks Pictures
Runtime: 141 minutes
The Plot: Based on the true (thought often disputed) story of Frank Abagnale Jr., Catch Me If You Can follows the story of the real-life con artist (Leonardo DiCaprio) who pretends to be a pilot, doctor, and lawyer while siphoning millions of dollars before he turns 21. Hot on his tail is the FBI, but Abagnale appears to always be one step ahead of everyone else.
What It's Great For: It's entertaining to see the different cons that Abagnale pulls off, including being a pilot. There's also a thrill of the chase. He's never safe from the authorities, but he's always able to slip through their fingers. It is also the one Steven Spielberg movie that many people might have missed watching in the past but can catch up with.
What Other Passengers Will Think: They might start panicking as they wonder if the current pilot is also a con artist like Abagnale. Watch them squirm for the laughs, though.
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- #200 of 769 onThe Most Rewatchable Movies
- 429 VOTESPhoto: Paramount Pictures
Runtime: 110 minutes
The Plot: Pete "Maverick" Mitchell (Tom Cruise) dances to the beat of his own drum as a hotshot pilot. The loss of his friend and wingman, however, forces him to reconsider how he approaches the skies and handles other rival pilots like Tom "Iceman" Kazansky (Val Kilmer). At the same time, he falls in love with his instructor at Top Gun, Charlie Blackwood (Kelly McGillis).
What It's Great For: Top Gun gets the blood pumping. It's an adrenaline rush and action movie that stands the test of time. If it doesn't make the viewer want to become a pilot and pump Kenny Loggins's "Danger Zone" on full blast, check the person's pulse to make sure they're still alive.
What Other Passengers Will Think: They'll probably put on their aviator sunglasses and fist pump the air during the thrilling flight scenes. In addition, everyone might want to play volleyball when the plane lands.
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- 515 VOTESPhoto: Sony Pictures Releasing
Runtime: 133 minutes
The Plot: Based on a true story, Moneyball sees Billy Beane (Brad Pitt) attempt to build a great baseball team at Oakland Athletics without the access to serious money for players. Consequently, Beane teams up with his assistant and young Yale graduate Peter Brand (Jonah Hill) to use the sabermetric method as a means to identify new and undiscovered talent.
What It's Great For: Fantasy sports players will eat up every moment of Moneyball. There's a bit of wish fulfillment here for every armchair coach, as they'll believe they could probably do something similar to what happens on screen. As a result, the rest of the flight could be consumed by thoughts about how they will change the way they play fantasy sports when they land.
What Other Passengers Will Think: Baseball lovers will inevitably have watched it at some point, so there could be a cheer or interesting conversation about the film. Perhaps there might even be a few invites to join other people's fantasy leagues.
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- 632 VOTESPhoto: Warner Bros. Pictures
Runtime: 121 minutes
The Plot: Based on Kevin Kwan's novel Crazy Rich Asians, this romantic comedy follows professor Rachel Chu (Constance Wu) who falls in love with Nick Young (Henry Golding). She heads off with him to Singapore to meet his family, only to discover they're filthy rich and living the high life.
What It's Great For: Crazy Rich Asians doesn't shy away from the laughs or feels. It's a delightful film that never proves to be too intense or heavy for someone who wants to just kick back and enjoy a simple-to-follow story. There's a comforting quality to it.
What Other Passengers Will Think: Once they see Michelle Yeoh on screen, they will realize the person who picked the film has exquisite and impeccable taste. After all, how can any rational human being turn down a movie starring Yeoh?
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- 720 VOTESPhoto: Universal Pictures
Runtime: 112 minutes
The Plot: College freshman Beca Mitchell (Anna Kendrick) joins Barden University. It doesn't take too long for the all-girls a cappella group, the Barden Bellas, to enlist Beca's services as they want to avenge their loss to the all-male a cappella group, Barden Treblemakers. Lights. Camera. Sing!
What It's Great For: It's Step Up for a cappella fans. Lighthearted and whimsical, this is the type of film where it's okay to snooze off and wake up in time for the finale since the story isn't too difficult to follow. This isn't Inception; it's about teens wanting to win an a cappella competition.
What Other Passengers Will Think: It's impossible to hate on Pitch Perfect. It's a comfort film that most people will be okay with being on in the background. Just don't start singing or else all hell will break.
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- 813 VOTESPhoto: 20th Century Fox
Runtime: 142 minutes
Plot: Astronaut Mark Watney (Matt Damon) is presumed dead after a space accident on Mars; But he survives. Knowing the next mission to the planet is only in four years' time, he creates the means for his survival on Mars despite the odds being stacked against him. At the same time, his pals at NASA figure out that he may be alive and do everything possible to get him home.
What It's Great For: The Martian is one of those movies that everyone has heard about but maybe not watched before. It's also the right kind of escapism for a long flight as it takes the viewer into an enthralling space adventure meticulously crafted and directed by the master of sci-fi himself, Ridley Scott.
What Other Passengers Will Think: They might get entranced by the visuals on screen. Even if they can't follow the story's plot, the depiction of space, and Mars in particular, is enough to have someone gawking in amazement. In fact, it might even inspire other passengers to watch the movie on the flight too.
More The Martian - 910 VOTESPhoto: IFC Films
Runtime: 95 minutes
The Plot: Toula Portokalos (Nia Vardalos) comes from a big Greek family who's heavy on tradition and culture. When she falls in love with a non-Greek man, Ian Miller (John Corbett), she struggles to get her family to accept them as they plan to tie the knot.
What It's Great For: For shorter flights, My Big Fat Greek Wedding proves to be the ideal film. Running in at just over an hour and a half, it's a terrific way to kill time with a lovable movie.
What Other Passengers Will Think: People might burst with excitement about seeing such an old-school and beloved comedy in the background. While the sequels and television show were about as riveting as a toilet brush, the original film still holds a special place in many people's hearts. At the end of the day, it's a heartwarming and charming story.
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- 1016 VOTESPhoto: Universal Pictures
Runtime: 125 minutes
The Plot: Lillian Donovan (Maya Rudolph) is getting married, so she makes her best friend, Annie Walker (Kristen Wiig), her maid of honor. As Annie prepares for Lillian's wedding, she deals with her own crises while also having to keep a close eye on the bridesmaid Helen Harris III (Rose Byrne), who seems intent on outshining her in the lead-up to the big day.
What It's Great For: Bridesmaids makes a person laugh until they sound like a seal. It's outrageously funny and refuses to let up for a single second. Nervous travelers will love how this film settles any anxiety while up in the air.
What Other Passengers Will Think: There's a risqué element to Bridesmaids. There are a couple of scenes that might raise a few eyebrows and receive side eyes. It's nothing too outrageous or X-rated, but some people might take offense to seeing the classic bathroom scene splash across the screen.
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- 1120 VOTESPhoto: Warner Bros. Pictures
Runtime: 123 minutes
The Plot: Ford Brody (Aaron Taylor-Johnson) travels to Japan to help his father (Bryan Cranston) after an event unleashes Massive Unidentified Terrestrial Organism (MUTO). At the same time, Godzilla awakens. While dangerous in his own right, the King of Monsters might be the key to stopping the other kaiju as they leave a trail of destruction that threatens humankind.
What It's Great For: Who doesn't want to watch creatures running wild on screen?! No one cares about the humans in this story or their problems. This is all about the kaiju mayhem and seeing how destructive the MUTO can be for two solid hours of CGI entertainment.
What Other Passengers Will Think: It will give them an opportunity to catch up on the MonsterVerse. Most people are more familiar with the films where Godzilla and Kong throw hands at each other. As a result, 2014's Godzilla often goes under the radar compared to the rest of the cinematic universe, but it deserves its time too.
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- 1214 VOTESPhoto: Netflix
Runtime: 209 minutes
The Plot: Based on a true story, The Irishman starts off in the 1950s as truck driver Frank Sheeran (Robert De Niro) becomes a hitman for Russell Bufalino's (Joe Pesci) crime family. Sheeran's reputation grows and he begins to work with labor union leader Jimmy Hoffa (Al Pacino). But life in organized crime is never easy and conflicts arise throughout the decades.
What It's Great For: Coming in at three and a half hours, it's tough to find the time to sit down and watch The Irishman in a single sitting. On a flight, however, where there's not much else to do, this could be the best time to knuckle down and enjoy the mobster drama. It's an excellent - albeit long - film.
What Other Passengers Will Think: Likely not much. They will fall into a deep sleep, wake up hours later, and the movie will still be in the first act. It's like a never-ending case of déjà vu for observers.
- 138 VOTESPhoto: Warner Bros. Pictures
Runtime: 100 minutes
Plot: Married couple Max (Jason Bateman) and Annie Davis (Rachel McAdams) get invited to a murder-mystery game night at Max's brother Brooks's (Kyle Chandler) rental house, along with a few other of Brooks's friends. Brooks raises the stakes and says this is an interactive role-playing game where someone will win his Corvette, but the "game" turns out to be more intense than what everyone else expected.
What It's Great For: Game Night sucks the viewer into the mystery of what is real and isn't. It's a fun ride for just over an hour and a half that will have everyone forgetting about any possible turbulence in the air and, instead, worried about the nonstop danger on screen.
What Other Passengers Will Think: Considering all the unexpected twists and turns the movie takes, other passengers might be watching over your shoulder to see what happens next. Game Night is easily one of the most unpredictable films around and it isn't afraid to get zany and wacky when it wants to.
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- 1410 VOTESPhoto: Paramount Pictures
Runtime: 130 minutes
The Plot: Told through three different but interconnected stories, The Big Short examines the events that led to the 2007/'08 recession after the crash of the US housing market. The film also breaks down complex financial terms courtesy of guest appearances from the likes of Margot Robbie and Anthony Bourdain.
What It's Great For: The Big Short proves to be an engrossing watch that shows how deep the roots of corruption and greed extend in the world. It's infuriating, yes, but it's also highly educational.
What Other Passengers Will Think: A conversation is likely to erupt whereby people discuss their own thoughts on the matter. A few choice cuss words might be used by those who lost a lot during the 2007/'08 recession due to all the chicanery and fraud.
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- 1510 VOTESPhoto: Universal Pictures
Runtime: 109 minutes
The Plot: Based on the musical featuring ABBA songs, Mamma Mia! centers on 20-year-old Sophie Sheridan (Amanda Seyfried) as she is about to get married. Not knowing who her father is but still wanting him to walk her down the aisle, she invites three men from her mother's past, hoping to find out who her father is after spending time with each of them.
What It's Great For: Imagine drifting off on a long flight but having ABBA songs playing in the background. That's exactly what Mamma Mia! allows. No one needs to pay attention to this movie's plot, as the story is secondary to the music.
What Other Passengers Will Think: If the flight doesn't turn into a flash mob where everyone starts singing ABBA, the world is coming to an end. It's impossible to see this film and not start humming along to the tunes. It's ABBA for heaven's sake!
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