7 Best Movies to Watch on a Plane

Watching a movie while flying may be one of the most underrated luxuries of the modern era. You are 30,000 feet above the earth watching a movie. This is objectively unbelievable. But with this privilege comes great responsibility: not picking a crappy movie.

With different airlines offering different flicks, it’s hard to know what to pick. On the other hand, it’s easy to spend your whole flight scrolling through the on-flight library (been there, done that).

So, you need to board the plane with a certain type of movie in mind. Funny, but not too funny (you don’t want to actually laugh out loud in front of all these strangers). Engaging but not inappropriate—you don’t want to ruin the innocence of a child sitting behind you by watching Wolf of Wall Street. And something that fits within the duration of the flight because there’s nothing worse than getting cut off when the wheels hit the ground.

There’s a sweet spot when it comes to the best movies to watch on a plane. And our airplanes movie list has got you covered.

Mission Impossible (any of them)

You cannot go wrong with any of these actors: Tom Cruise, Jason Statham, Daniel Craig (and all other James Bond actors), or Nicholas Cage. Just across the board, those guys crush airplane movies. But here’s what we love about Mission Impossible—the mission is…not impossible. Tom Cruise is going to get himself into a whole lot of trouble, but don’t you worry. He’ll figure it out before you land.

The Proposal

I mean, come on. Ryan Reynolds? Sandra Bullock? They’re the cutest couple to ever try not being a couple. Plus, The Proposal has the late great Betty White in what we would consider an all-time hilarious scene (if you’ve seen it, you know exactly what we’re talking about). Go ahead and slot this away as your go-to in-flight rom-com. This movie has the added bonus of being shot in Rockport, Massachusetts (though the movie is set in Alaska), which is lovely. Pretty people in a pretty place? Count us in.

Game Night

Jason Bateman and Rachel McAdams have an entirely different chemistry than Ryan Reynolds and Sandra Bullock, but both pairs are great at making a flight feel like it lasted just a few minutes. This movie is hilarious, engaging, and full of twists and turns. It’s the perfect blend of romance, action, and comedy, and while it does run the risk of making you laugh out loud, we think you can hold it together.

Planes, Trains, and Automobiles

Is this too on the nose? Maybe. But Planes, Trains, and Automobiles is a classic comedy. Who doesn’t love Steve Martin? Plus, if you’ve had a particularly harrowing travel day, it’s nice to laugh at someone who has it worse than you. And boy do these guys have it worse than you.

H2: The Lost Leonardo

Ok, nerd. Just kidding. A good documentary is a great way to pass time on a plane and learn something new. The Lost Leonardo is like if The Da Vinci Code was a documentary (sidenote: The Da Vinci Code is also a great plane movie). It’s got art, intrigue, and a whole cast of fascinating characters. Plus, it’s a great talking point because everyone has a different opinion on this movie.

Toy Story

We had to include an animated film, and while a lot of votes went toward Inside Out as Pixar’s greatest work, we’re not going to make you cry on a plane (Bing Bong?). Toy Story is an absolute classic that, yes, you’ve seen before. But if you want to settle into the feeling of childhood comfort for a few hours, fire this up. You’ve got a friend in this movie.

Moneyball

Brad Pitt is bringing this list home. This is one of the best sports movies ever made, with a fantastic cast and an amazing soundtrack. It’ll hit ya right in the feels while also making you laugh and it provides some interesting insight into the inner workings of professional baseball. It’s inspiring, encouraging, and did we mention Brad Pitt is in it? Yeah. He’s not too bad on the eyes.

That’s it. The 7 best movies to watch on a plane. We would ask for your input here, but we know that we’ve nailed it. Feel free to email us, tag us, or do whatever you want to do to get your suggestions in front of us, but we’re happy with what we’ve got.

And while you’re thinking about jet-setting, check out our for clothing that is perfect for keeping you comfortable while you’re on the go.