Top 20 Must-Watch Films About Aeroplanes: A Journey Through Aviation on Screen

Why do airplanes fascinate filmmakers and audiences alike? 

From the dawn of cinema, the sight of an aircraft slicing through the clouds has stirred something deep in us — a mix of wonder, ambition, and adrenaline. Planes symbolise freedom, innovation, and daring, making them perfect cinematic subjects. Whether it’s the roar of a WWII dogfight, the quiet determination of a lone aviator, or the claustrophobic tension of a mid-air thriller, aviation films capture the human spirit at its most ambitious. 

Classic Aviation Films (1930s–1970s) 

Wings (1927) 

This silent epic was the first-ever winner of the Academy Award for Best Picture, following two World War I pilots from rivalry to friendship. Its stunning aerial stunts, using aircraft like the SPADs and Curtis P-1 Hawks, set the standard for aviation cinema. 

The Spirit of St. Louis (1957) 

James Stewart embodies Charles Lindbergh’s historic 1927 solo flight across the Atlantic. The film captures not just the feat, but the meticulous preparation, frozen engines, and celestial navigation that made it legendary. 

Those Magnificent Men in Their Flying Machines (1965) 

A lighthearted race from London to Paris featuring early monoplanes, biplanes, and triplanes. Part comedy, part engineering marvel showcase, it celebrates the bold inventors of the early 1900s. 

The Great Waldo Pepper (1975) 

Robert Redford plays a daredevil barnstormer chasing aerial glory after missing out on WWI combat. Known for real stunt work without safety harnesses, it’s a love letter to the fearless pilots of aviation’s golden age. 

The Flight of the Phoenix (1965) 

When a transport plane crashes in the desert, survivors attempt to rebuild it from the wreckage. A gripping tale of ingenuity and survival. 

Blockbusters & Modern Hits 

Top Gun (1986) 

Tom Cruise’s Maverick redefined aerial cinematography with high-octane dogfights and military jets like the F-14 Tomcat. Equal parts romance, rivalry, and raw speed. 

Top Gun: Maverick (2022) 

A decades-later sequel that exceeds expectations with jaw-dropping practical flight sequences and emotional stakes for a new generation of pilots. 

Sully (2016) 

Tom Hanks brings to life Captain “Sully” Sullenberger’s split-second decision to land on the Hudson River, saving 155 souls. Both a survival story and an examination of heroism. 

Flight (2012) 

Denzel Washington delivers a complex performance as a pilot whose miraculous crash landing hides a troubling secret, blurring the lines between hero and human. 

Catch Me If You Can (2002) 

Not strictly an aviation film, but Leonardo DiCaprio’s Pan Am pilot disguise is an unforgettable symbol of 1960s jet-set glamour. 

Non-Stop (2014) 

Liam Neeson stars as an air marshal racing against the clock to stop an anonymous killer onboard a transatlantic flight. 

Air Force One (1997) 

Harrison Ford plays a president forced into action when terrorists hijack his aircraft. High-stakes political thriller meets airborne siege. 

Con Air (1997) 

A prison transport flight spirals into chaos when inmates take over, forcing Nicolas Cage’s ex-soldier to act. 

True Stories & Biopics 

The Aviator (2004) 

Martin Scorsese’s sweeping epic follows Howard Hughes’ rise as an aviation pioneer and filmmaker, chronicling the glamour and risk of early flight. 

Amelia (2009) 

Hilary Swank portrays Amelia Earhart, capturing her fearless solo flights and the mystery of her disappearance. 

The Wind Rises (2013) 

Hayao Miyazaki’s animated masterpiece about Jiro Horikoshi, designer of Japan’s WWII Zero fighter planes, blending romance and bittersweet ambition. 

American Made (2017) 

Tom Cruise plays a pilot-turned-smuggler in this fast-paced biopic based on the Iran–Contra scandal. 

Kandahar (2010) 

The true story of five Russian pilots captured by the Taliban, surviving 378 days in captivity before a daring escape. 

United 93 (2006) 

A real-time retelling of the passengers’ heroic stand aboard United Flight 93 on September 11, 2001. 

Military & Warplane Films 

Dunkirk (2017) 

Christopher Nolan’s WWII epic features some of the most immersive aerial combat scenes ever filmed, shot with real Spitfires mounted with IMAX cameras. 

Pearl Harbor (2001) 

Combining romance and history, it dramatizes the attack that drew America into WWII, with breathtaking aerial battle choreography. 

Der Rote Baron (2008) 

A German biopic on WWI ace Manfred von Richthofen, blending legend with human complexity. 

Red Tails (2012) 

The story of the Tuskegee Airmen, African-American pilots who fought prejudice and the enemy in equal measure. 

Flyboys (2006) 

James Franco stars in this tale of American volunteers flying for France before the U.S. entered WWI. 

Dark Blue World (2001) 

A Czech WWII drama about friendship, love, and sacrifice among RAF pilots in exile. 

Into the White (2012) 

British and German airmen stranded in Norway must cooperate to survive the harsh winter. 

(Skyart Tie-In: Our simulator experiences let you feel the same precision, skill, and perspective these films celebrate — from Spitfire cockpits to modern fighter jets.) 

Thrillers & Disasters in the Air 

Flightplan (2005) 

Jodie Foster stars as a mother whose daughter vanishes mid-flight, in a tense psychological puzzle at 30,000 feet. 

Flight Crew (2016) 

A disaster epic about an aircraft crew putting aside differences to save hundreds of passengers from a volcanic eruption. 

Capricorn One (1978) 

A Mars landing hoax spirals into a deadly conspiracy, with standout aircraft-versus-helicopter chases. 

Non-Stop (2014) 

Tense, claustrophobic, and relentless — proving even a modern airliner can be the perfect setting for a whodunit. 

Animated & Family-Friendly Aviation 

Planes (2013) 

Disney’s Cars spin-off follows a crop duster dreaming of becoming a racing champion, charming young audiences with colourful aerial action. 

Porco Rosso (1992) 

Hayao Miyazaki’s whimsical tale of a WWI flying ace cursed to look like a pig, set against stunning Mediterranean skies. 

The Little Prince (2015) 

A poetic reimagining of Saint-Exupéry’s novella, blending animation with aviation-inspired dreamscapes. 

The Wind Rises (2013) 

Also belongs here for its artistry and appeal to aviation dreamers of all ages. 

Cultural Impact & Aviation Aesthetics in Film 

From the sleek Pan Am uniforms in Catch Me If You Can to the military precision of Top Gun, aviation films shape our vision of flight. The cinematic allure of cockpit dials, cabin interiors, and airport lounges has even inspired real-world aviation décor — something Skyart embraces in its product designs and simulator setups. These details remind us that the romance of flight isn’t just in the air, but also in the spaces and style surrounding it. 

For aviation lovers, these films are more than stories — they’re invitations to experience the thrill, danger, and beauty of flight. Whether you’re watching a daring Spitfire chase in Dunkirk or the emotional triumph of Sully, each title on this list celebrates humanity’s relentless drive to take to the skies. And while most of us won’t star in an aviation blockbuster, Skyart’s simulators and aviation-inspired products let you live a little of that cinematic magic in the real world.