Movies About Airplane Disasters

From Directors: Jim Abrahams, David Zucker, Jerry Zucker, starring Robert Hays, Julie Hagerty, Leslie Nielsen, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
Rated PG

Airplane! is a classic screwball comedy centered around ex-pilot Ted Striker (Robert Hays) who is trying to overcome his fear of flying in order to save the lives of everyone on board a passenger jet. The plane has been struck by a mysterious food poisoning, rendering all of the crew and passengers incapacitated. With the help of the eccentric Dr. Rumack (Leslie Nielsen) and his wise-cracking stewardess friend, Elaine (Julie Hagerty), Striker must land the plane safely despite the chaos that ensues. Along the way, they must face an array of hilarious obstacles, including a cranky air traffic controller, a singing nun, and a pesky little boy who won't stop talking. With its irreverent gags, clever dialogue, and larger-than-life characters, Airplane! is sure to leave you laughing long after the credits roll.

From Paul Greengrass, starring David Alan Basche, Olivia Thirlby, Liza Colón-Zayas, J.J. Johnson
Rated R

United 93 is a 2006 American docudrama film directed and co-produced by Paul Greengrass recounting events aboard United Airlines Flight 93, which was hijacked during the September 11 attacks. The film takes place in real-time and follows passengers and crew as they attempt to take back control of the aircraft from the hijackers. The film ultimately ends with the plane crashing into a field in rural Shanksville, Pennsylvania. The film has been considered one of the most accurate and respectful portrayals of the events of 9/11, with characters based on actual passengers, crew members, and air traffic controllers. It was also a critical and box office success, earning numerous accolades including two Academy Award nominations for Best Director and Best Editing.

From Clint Eastwood, starring Tom Hanks, Aaron Eckhart, Laura Linney, Valerie Mahaffey
Rated PG-13

From Robert Zemeckis, starring Denzel Washington, Nadine Velazquez, Don Cheadle, John Goodman
Rated R

From Renny Harlin, starring Bruce Willis, William Atherton, Bonnie Bedelia, Reginald VelJohnson
Rated R

From Simon West, starring Nicolas Cage, John Cusack, John Malkovich, Colm Meaney
Rated R

From Jaume Collet-Serra, starring Liam Neeson, Julianne Moore, Scoot McNairy, Michelle Dockery
Rated PG-13

From Directors: George Seaton, Henry Hathaway, starring Burt Lancaster, Dean Martin, George Kennedy, Jean Seberg
Rated G

From Wolfgang Petersen, starring Harrison Ford, Gary Oldman, Glenn Close, Wendy Crewson
Rated R

From Wes Craven, starring Rachel McAdams, Cillian Murphy, Brian Cox, Laura Johnson
Rated PG-13

From Stuart Baird, starring Kurt Russell, Halle Berry, John Leguizamo, Oliver Platt
Rated R

From Directors: Joe Dante, John Landis, George Miller, Steven Spielberg, starring Dan Aykroyd, Albert Brooks, Vic Morrow, Doug McGrath
Rated PG

From Robert Schwentke, starring Jodie Foster, Peter Sarsgaard, Sean Bean, Kate Beahan
Rated PG-13

From Patrick Vollrath, starring Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Omid Memar, Aylin Tezel, Carlo Kitzlinger
Rated R

From John Moore, starring Dennis Quaid, Miranda Otto, Giovanni Ribisi, Tyrese Gibson
Rated PG-13

From Ken Finkleman, starring Robert Hays, Julie Hagerty, Lloyd Bridges, Raymond Burr
Rated PG

From Peter Thorwarth, starring Peri Baumeister, Carl Anton Koch, Alexander Scheer, Kais Setti
Rated TV-MA

From Kevin Hooks, starring Wesley Snipes, Bruce Payne, Tom Sizemore, Alex Datcher
Rated R

From José Padilha, starring Batsheva Dance Company, Zina Zinchenko, Ben Schnetzer, Daniel Brühl
Rated PG-13

From Jack Smight, starring Charlton Heston, Karen Black, George Kennedy, Efrem Zimbalist Jr.
Rated PG

From Jerry Jameson, starring Jack Lemmon, Lee Grant, Joseph Cotten, Olivia de Havilland
Rated PG

From David R. Ellis, starring Samuel L. Jackson, Julianna Margulies, Nathan Phillips, Rachel Blanchard
Rated R

From Jessy Terrero, starring Dwayne Adway, Snoop Dogg, Tom Arnold, Kevin Hart
Rated R

From David Lowell Rich, starring Alain Delon, Susan Blakely, Robert Wagner, George Kennedy
Rated PG

From Vic Armstrong, starring Nicolas Cage, Lea Thompson, Cassi Thomson, Chad Michael Murray
Rated PG-13