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Movies / On DVD / Airplane!
Airplane!

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Airplane! (1980)

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Reviews Counted:48

Fresh:47

Rotten:1

Average Rating:8.4/10

Runtime: 88 mins

Genre: Comedies

Synopsis: The spoof comedy that set the gold standard for all that followed it, AIRPLANE takes shots at the slew of disaster movies that peppered cinemas in the 70s. When the passengers and crew of a jet are... The spoof comedy that set the gold standard for all that followed it, AIRPLANE takes shots at the slew of disaster movies that peppered cinemas in the 70s. When the passengers and crew of a jet are incapacitated due to food poisoning, a rogue pilot (who has a drinking problem and is afraid of flying) must cooperate with his ex-girlfriend turned stewardess to bring the plane to a safe landing. No disaster flick cliche is left unroasted, and the musical score itself takes a less than reverent look at overly melodramatic compositions. [More]

Starring: Robert Hays, Julie Hagerty, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Lloyd Bridges

Starring: Robert Hays, Julie Hagerty, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Lloyd Bridges, Leslie Nielsen, Peter Graves, Robert Stack, Cyril O'Reilly

Director: Jerry Zucker, Jim Abrahams, David Zucker

Director: Jerry Zucker, Jim Abrahams, David Zucker

[See More Credits]

Reviews for Airplane!

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1 - 20 (sorted by date; UK critics are listed first)
Text View | 1 2 3 >> >|
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Surely as good as modern comedy gets?…and don't call me Shirley.

Full Review Source: Empire Magazine | comment Comment
04/01/08
Adam Smith
Adam Smith
Empire Magazine
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

Surely, this is essential. Maybe, but don't call me Shirley, etc.

Full Review Source: Empire Magazine | comment Comment
04/01/08
Caroline Westbrook
Caroline Westbrook
Empire Magazine
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

Although the gags aren't entirely consistent, it's inspired stuff. And whatever you do don't switch off during the closing credits.

Full Review Source: Channel 4 Film | comment Comment
04/01/08
Channel 4 Film
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

Psycho ground controllers (Stack and Bridges), laff-a-second pace, and bludgeoning innuendo make this the acceptable face of the locker-room satire.

Full Review Source: Time Out | comment Comment
02/09/06
Time Out
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

No review available.

comment Comment
11/15/03
Rich Cline
Rich Cline
Shadows on the Wall

It's now a familiar formula, but Airplane still retains an edge because the audience is credited with intelligence.

Full Review Source: BBC | comment Comment
04/17/01
Almar Haflidason
Almar Haflidason
BBC
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

Entering imto Mel Brooks' turf, the first lampoon of the disaster-in-the-air subgenre (such as the prepoterously Oscar nominated Airport) is silly but funny, with many good sight gags, campy one-liners and slapstick comedy.

Full Review Source: EmanuelLevy.Com | comment Comment
03/15/09
Emanuel Levy
Emanuel Levy
EmanuelLevy.Com

Most of the jokes are groan-worthy, and some are downright racist.

Full Review Source: LarsenOnFilm | comment 21 Comments
09/22/08
Josh Larsen
Josh Larsen
LarsenOnFilm

Is it the best comedy ever made? I don't know, but it surely is the funniest.I stand by that. And don't call me Shirley.

Full Review Source: Seanax.com | comment Comment
07/20/08
Sean Axmaker
Sean Axmaker
Seanax.com

The gags aren't exactly clever, but there are a lot of them, and the cutting finds a fast, effective tempo.

Full Review Source: Chicago Reader | comment Comment
04/01/08
Dave Kehr
Dave Kehr
Chicago Reader

The fact that the movie doesn't work as well today as it did in 1980 in no way diminishes its importance in recent motion picture history.

Full Review Source: ReelViews | comment Comment
04/01/08
James Berardinelli
James Berardinelli
ReelViews

Loaded with slapstick silliness and schoolboy wordplay, featuring tongue-in-cheek performances by familiar television personalities, and mostly just plain goofy.

Full Review Source: TV Guide's Movie Guide | comment Comment
04/01/08
TV Guide's Movie Guide
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

From the clever Jaws take-off opening to the final, irreverent title card, laughs come thick and fast.

Full Review Source: Variety | comment Comment
04/01/08
Variety Staff
Variety Staff
Variety
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

Brilliant, still funny airplane disaster movie parody. Started new comedy career for Nielsen.

comment Comment
02/23/08
Steve Crum
Steve Crum
Video-Reviewmaster.com

No review available.

comment Comment
01/25/07
Jon Niccum
Jon Niccum
Lawrence Journal-World

Still the funniest and most inspired of the madcap genre spoofs. For every dumb or tasteless joke that doesn't fly, a dozen land directly at Laugh Central.

Full Review Source: Boulder Weekly | comment Comment
10/30/06
Thomas Delapa
Thomas Delapa
Boulder Weekly

Some of the humor has become very politically incorrect 25-plus years later. And God love it for that.

Full Review Source: FulvueDrive-in.com | comment Comment
02/20/06
Chuck O'Leary
Chuck O'Leary
FulvueDrive-in.com

The definition of 'deadpan' starts and ends with Jim Abrahams, David Zucker and Jerry Zucker's Airplane!.

Full Review Source: Combustible Celluloid | comment Comment
01/13/06
Jeffrey M. Anderson
Jeffrey M. Anderson
Combustible Celluloid

Unprecedented nonsense that--fashions aside--will remain timeless comedy cinema. [new DVD review]

Full Review Source: Groucho Reviews | comment Comment
12/19/05
Peter Canavese
Peter Canavese
Groucho Reviews

You'll laugh, you'll wish you didn't have to.

comment Comment
12/10/05
Cole Smithey
Cole Smithey
ColeSmithey.com
 
 
1 - 20 (sorted by date; UK critics are listed first)
Text View | 1 2 3 >> >|
all

Latest News for Airplane!

February 01, 2008: Trailer Bulletin: Superhero Movie
Judging from Meet the Spartans' box-office receipts, you guys just can't get enough of spoof films -- so what time like the present to unveil the trailer for March's helpfully... More...

April 14, 2006: "Scary Movie 4": Anna Faris and Craig Bierko Do Funny
In recent weeks RT talked with the cast and director of "Scary Movie 4," including David "Airplane!" Zucker and Regina Hall. Read on for the... More...

April 12, 2006: "Scary Movie 4": RT Talks With David Zucker
A few weekends ago RT got the inside scoop on "Scary Movie 4" from its director, legendary comic trailblazer David Zucker ("Airplane!," "The Naked... More...

February 01, 2006: Trailer Bulletin: Scary Movie 4
Think there's still some juice to be squeezed out of the "Scary Movie" concept? Those Weinstein brothers sure do, which is why we'll see more of Anna Faris bopping... More...

See All

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