1980s Classic: Airplane!

Airplane 1980 Movie: Remembered as the 4^th highest-grossing movie in 1980, Airplane! is a slapstick comedy classic film starring Robert Hays, Julie Hagerty, Peter Graves, Lloyd Bridges, and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar.

Not only was it a successful movie in the 80s, but it was also the highest-grossing comedy film in history. It was eventually unseated by Ghostbusters.

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Breaking Down the Airplane! Plot

After a failed flight mission in a war, former fighter pilot Ted Stryker returns home with a deep fear of flying and extensive trauma. However, he still has not gotten over the love of his life from before the war, Elaine Dickinson, and he vows to get her back. There’s just one catch – she’s a flight attendant now!

Battling through his fear of flying, he boards a flight to Chicago that she’s servicing to try and win her back.

Unfortunately, Elaine turns down Ted’s advances, but this is only the start of his problems.

Once the flight reaches cruising altitude, things begin to go incredibly awry.

Many of the passengers and flight crew fall ill after eating the seafood meal on the plane, including the pilot.

As he watches people around him get sicker and sicker, the flight crew get taken out by the food-borne illness and are unable to man the plane any longer.

Elaine is instructed by the supervisor of the Chicago control tower to activate autopilot, which is a large blow-up doll named “Otto.” Otto is able to fly the plane but won’t be able to land it when necessary.

More Airplane 1980 Movie Facts:

Desperate to find someone to land the plane, Elaine nominated Ted to do it because of his experience as a fighter pilot.

Ted, however, is paralyzed with fear about being in the cockpit again, and it is tough to discern whether he will be successful.

The clock is quickly running out as people begin to get sicker, and Ted eventually lands the plane successfully.

His heroism and bravery win back his true love, giving a happy ending to audiences.

Airplane! is a Classic

If you haven’t seen Airplane!, you can still enjoy it. Its funny script entertained audiences for years, and many lines are still popular today.

When Dr. Rumack asks if he can fly the plane, Ted replies, “surely you can’t be serious,” and Rumack says, “I am serious and don’t call me Shirley.”

If you’ve heard this quote without knowing its source, now you know!

This is just one of the many classic one-liners still used today.

5 Fun Facts About Airplane!

• Airplane! is a remake of a movie called “Zero Hour!” that was made in 1957. Many of the lines and humor used in Airplane! were taken directly from Zero Hour!
• Kareem Abdul-Jabbar played Roger Murdock in the movie, but in real life is the highest-scoring basketball player of all time.
• The three directors from Airplane! all make cameos in the movie.
• Leslie Nielsen was a master of mirth on set, always ready to spark laughter with his trusty whoopee cushion, ensuring even the most serious line readings had a side-splitting soundtrack!
• Air Mexico is the only airline that has used Airplane! as an in-flight film.