Airplane! (1980)
The disaster-spoof that changed comedy forever — relentless, irreverent, and still hilarious after more than four decades.
Airplane! - Movie Information
- Original Title: Airplane!
- Release Year: 1980
- Directed by: Jim Abrahams, David Zucker et al.
- Type: Movie
- Genres: Comedy
- Age Rating (US): PG
- Runtime: 1h 28m
- Original Language: English
- Spoken Languages: English
- Release Date (Theatrical): June 27, 1980 (Canada - A), June 27, 1980 (United States - PG), July 2, 1980 (United Kingdom - 15), November 13, 1980 (Germany - 12), September 23, 1980 (France - TP), December 12, 1980 (Australia - PG), December 12, 1980 (Brazil - 12), October 30, 1980 (Italy), December 18, 1980 (Spain - A)
- Alternative Titles: Aterriza como puedas (ES), 空前絕後滿天飛 (HK), Titta vi flyger (SE), 空前絕後滿天飛 (TW), Flying High (AU), طائرة (IQ), Μια Απίθανη... Απίθανη Πτήση (GR), Airplane (US)
- Production Companies: Paramount Pictures, Howard W. Koch Productions
- Production Countries: United States of America
Airplane! - Plot
An ex-fighter pilot forced to take over the controls of an airliner when the flight crew succumbs to food poisoning.
Airplane! - Trailer
Watch the official trailer and see the chaos unfold at 30,000 feet:
What's slower than a speeding bullet, and able to hit tall buildings at a single bound?
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Airplane! - Cast & Crew
Director(s)
- Jim Abrahams
- David Zucker
- Jerry Zucker
Main Cast
- Robert Hays
- Julie Hagerty
- Leslie Nielsen
- Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
- Lloyd Bridges
- Peter Graves
- Robert Stack
- Lorna Patterson
- Jill Whelan
- Ann Nelson
Writers
- Jim Abrahams
- David Zucker
- Jerry Zucker
Producers
- Jon Davison
Airplane! - FAQs
Is Airplane! based on a true story?
Airplane! is not based on a true story, but it is a direct parody of the 1957 disaster drama Zero Hour! — sharing nearly identical plot points and even some dialogue. The filmmakers bought the rights to Zero Hour! specifically to spoof it, giving the comedy its surprisingly coherent narrative backbone.
Who are the main actors in Airplane!?
The cast is a brilliant mix of straight-faced comedic talent. Robert Hays plays the anxious ex-pilot Ted Striker, Julie Hagerty is his flight-attendant love interest Elaine, and Leslie Nielsen delivers his career-defining turn as the deadpan Dr. Rumack. NBA legend Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Lloyd Bridges, Peter Graves, and Robert Stack round out the ensemble.
What is Airplane! about?
Airplane! follows Ted Striker, a traumatized ex-fighter pilot who boards a commercial flight to win back his girlfriend Elaine. When the crew and passengers fall ill from food poisoning, Ted must conquer his crippling fear of flying and land the plane. The film skewers every disaster-movie cliché with relentless, rapid-fire gags.
Why is Airplane! considered a comedy classic?
Airplane! revolutionized screen comedy by cramming visual gags, wordplay, and absurdist non-sequiturs into nearly every frame. Its deadpan delivery — especially from Leslie Nielsen — made it feel fresh and subversive. Critics and audiences adored it on release, and it consistently ranks among the funniest films ever made, influencing countless parody movies that followed.
Where can I stream Airplane! right now?
You can stream Airplane! on AMC+, Philo, BBC America, MGM Plus, and Kanopy (free with a library card) or Hoopla (free). If you prefer to own or rent it, it's available on Amazon Video, Apple TV, Google Play Movies, YouTube, and Fandango At Home.
What is the famous "Don't call me Shirley" line about?
It's one of cinema's most quoted gags. When Dr. Rumack tells Ted "Surely you can't be serious," Ted replies "I am serious — and don't call me Shirley." The joke works because Leslie Nielsen delivers it with complete sincerity. The line has become shorthand for deadpan comedy and remains the film's most iconic moment.
How long is Airplane! and what is its age rating?
Airplane! runs 88 minutes — lean, fast, and packed with jokes from start to finish. It carries a PG rating in the United States, though some of its humor is decidedly adult in nature. By today's standards it would likely earn a PG-13, so parents of younger children may want to preview it first.
How much did Airplane! make at the box office?
Made on a modest budget of around $3.5 million, Airplane! became a massive financial success, grossing over $83 million worldwide. That extraordinary return on investment — more than 23 times its budget — cemented it as one of the most profitable comedies of its era and launched the careers of its three writer-directors.
More About Airplane!
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