Airplane! (1980): Cast, Ratings, Box Office & Plot
Airplane! is a 1980 comedy directed by David Zucker and Jerry Zucker, starring Robert Hays, Julie Hagerty and Leslie Nielsen. It runs 1 hour 28 minutes and earned $83.5 million worldwide on a $3.5 million budget. It earned 2 award nominations, including Best Screenplay at the BAFTA 1981. Critics gave it 78 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 7.7/10.
- Released
- Runtime
- 1h 28m (88 min)
- Directors
- David Zucker , Jerry Zucker and Jim Abrahams
- Genre
- Comedy
- Original language
-
English - Studio
- Paramount Pictures
- Budget
- $3.5M
- After the credits
- Yes Extra scene during or after the credits
What Is Airplane! About?
The premise of Airplane! without spoilers. The whole story is in the plot summary further down.
A hilarious spoof of disaster films, the story follows a former fighter pilot battling his demons who must take control of a commercial airliner when the pilots and crew are struck by food poisoning. With the help of an ex-girlfriend who’s now a stewardess, he struggles to land the plane safely, encountering quirky passengers and increasingly absurd situations along the way.
Airplane! Themes & Keywords
· 50 tags- airplane
- food poisoning
- pilot
- airport
- cockpit
- panic
- autopilot
- aviophobia
- airplane crash
- vomit bag
- substitute pilot
- air traffic control
+38 more Show fewer
- emergency landing
- air crew
- surrealism
- flashback
- talking a pilot through a landing
- taxi driver
- flight attendant
- doctor
- aviation
- famous line
- scene after end credits
- implied fellatio
- national film registry
- color remake of black and white film
- blockbuster
- sweating
- female nudity
- disaster
- chicago illinois
- absurd comedy
- vomiting
- breaking the fourth wall
- extending nose
- haunted by the past
- afi
- female topless nudity
- coffee
- spoof comedy
- absurdism
- self referential
- los angeles california
- drugs
- dating
- stock footage
- catfight
- precocious child
- naval officer
- love at first sight
Airplane! Cast
Robert Hays leads the cast, with Julie Hagerty and Leslie Nielsen. Directed by David Zucker, Jerry Zucker and Jim Abrahams.
-
Co-director David Zucker -
Co-director Jerry Zucker -
Co-director Jim Abrahams
More from the Directors of Airplane!
More films directed by the directors of Airplane!, best-rated first: Ruthless People, The Naked Gun: From the Files of Police Squad!, Top Secret! and Hot Shots!.
Airplane! Reviews & Ratings
Critics gave Airplane! 78 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 7.7/10.
-
IMDb 7.7 /10
See on IMDb -
Metacritic 78 Metascore
User score 7.8
See on Metacritic -
TMDB 73% User score
See on TMDB
Airplane! Plot Summary
What happens in Airplane! from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 15 key events. The opening is below; the full summary is a 2-minute read.
Spoilers ahead
Ex-fighter pilot Ted Striker (Robert Hays) is a troubled war veteran who now drives a taxi, burdened by his intense fear of flying and a problematic relationship with alcohol — he tends to spill drinks everywhere except his mouth. His ex-girlfriend, Elaine Dickinson (Julie Hagerty), works as a stewardess for Trans American Airlines and decides to end their relationship right before her flight from Los Angeles to Chicago. Determined to win her back, Ted confronts his phobia, steps away from his cab, and purchases a ticket for the same flight. However, things take a turn when Elaine continues to rebuff his attempts to reconnect, leading him to grapple with feelings of sorrow and regret, which inadvertently push some fellow passengers to the brink.
Full summary
The whole story of Airplane!, scene by scene
Airplane! Box Office & Budget
Airplane! grossed $83.5 million worldwide on a $3.5 million budget, 24 times what it cost. $83.5 million came from the US and Canada and $765 (0%) from the rest of the world.
Worldwide gross
$83.5M
24× its budget
- US & Canada
- $83.5M
- International
- $765
- Budget
- $3.5M
Airplane! Awards & Nominations
Airplane! earned 2 award nominations, including Best Screenplay at the BAFTA 1981. The 2 nominations come from 2 ceremonies.
2 nominations2 ceremonies
-
BAFTA 1981 1 nomination- Nominated Best Screenplay
-
Golden Globes 1981 1 nomination- Nominated Best Motion Picture – Comedy or Musical
Airplane! Trailers & Videos
2 videos: 2 trailers.
- Trailer Airplane! (1980) Original Trailer [FHD]
How Well Do You Know Airplane!?
10 questions about the story, each with a hint if you get stuck. Pick an answer to see whether you were right.
Question 1 of 10
- Question 1: not answered
- Question 2: not answered
- Question 3: not answered
- Question 4: not answered
- Question 5: not answered
- Question 6: not answered
- Question 7: not answered
- Question 8: not answered
- Question 9: not answered
- Question 10: not answered
What was Ted Striker's profession before he became a taxi driver?
Airplane! Also Known As
35 alternative titles, including “Flying High” and “Apertem os Cintos, o Piloto Sumiu”.
- Also known as
-
- Flying High
- Apertem os Cintos, o Piloto Sumiu
- Titta vi flyger
- L'aereo più pazzo del mondo
- Y a-t-il un pilote dans l'avion ?
- Μια Απίθανη... Απίθανη Πτήση
- Flying High!
- Kentucky Fried Airplane!
- 空前絕後滿天飛
- Aterriza como puedas
- 에어플레인
- طائرة
+23 more Show fewer
- Die unglaubliche Reise in einem verrückten Flugzeug
- Uçak
- Aeroplano!
- Аэроплан
- Czy leci z nami pilot?
- Připoutejte se, prosím!
- Има ли пилота у авиону?
- 空前绝后满天飞
- Højt at flyve
- Pripútajte sa, prosím!
- フライング・ハイ
- טיסה נעימה
- Hei me lennetään!
- Има ли пилот в самолета?
- Аероплан
- Y
- ¿dónde está el piloto?
- Hjelp vi flyr
- Avionul buclucaș
- Ima li pilota u avionu?
- Aeroplanas
- Chuyến Bay Tình Yêu
- บินเลอะมั่วแหลก
Seen Airplane!?
Movies Like Airplane!
Films with a similar story, tone or audience, including Airplane Mode, Air Fright and Terror in the Sky.
Airplane! FAQ: Cast, Box Office & Awards
Runtime, release date, director, cast, box office, ratings, awards and post-credit scenes of Airplane!, each answered in a sentence.
How long is Airplane!?
Airplane! runs 1 hour 28 minutes (88 minutes).
When was Airplane! released?
Airplane! was released on July 2, 1980.
Who directed Airplane!?
Airplane! was directed by David Zucker, Jerry Zucker and Jim Abrahams.
More films by David Zucker Who is in the cast of Airplane!?
Airplane! stars Robert Hays, Julie Hagerty and Leslie Nielsen.
How much did Airplane! make at the box office?
Airplane! grossed $83.5 million worldwide ($83.5 million domestic, $765 international) on a budget of $3.5 million.
How is Airplane! rated?
Airplane! has 7.7/10 on IMDb, 78 on Metacritic and 73% on TMDB.
Was Airplane! nominated for any awards?
Airplane! received 2 nominations across 2 ceremonies.
Does Airplane! have a post-credit scene?
Yes. Airplane! has an extra scene during or after the credits, so it is worth staying seated.
Coming soon to your phone
The Plot Explained Movie Summary App
From blockbusters to hidden gems: plot summaries, endings explained and timelines on your phone. Save your favorites and never miss a twist again.
Be the first to know when it launches. Your email stays private, always. Learn more about the app
