Highest-Rated Movies about 'Aviation'

Koyaanisqatsi (1982), The Right Stuff (1983), Empire of the Sun (1987), Kurenai no buta (1992), The Wind Rises (2013), The Castle (1997), Only Angels Have Wings (1939), Twelve O'Clock High (1949) ... Let's take a look at the ranked list of the best Aviation movies.

#1. Koyaanisqatsi (1982)

Storyline: This experimental film looks at the world and more specifically the effect man has had on the landscape and the environment. Without narration, the film shows the world in a pristine condition and untouched: blue skies, beautiful landscapes and endless vistas. The man-made world is much less appealing. Essentially a montage using a variety of film techniques to provide a visually stunning montage of images.—garykmcd

Plot Keywords: time lapse photography, independent film, rocket, desert, pollution, airplane, building ...

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#2. The Right Stuff (1983)

Storyline: Tom Wolfe's book on the history of the U.S. Space program reads like a novel, and the film has that same fictional quality. It covers the breaking of the sound barrier by Chuck Yeager to the Mercury 7 astronauts, showing that no one had a clue how to run a space program or how to select people to be in it. Thrilling, funny, charming and electrifying all at once.

Plot Keywords: astronaut, nasa, interview, hypodermic needle, houston texas, heroism, german american ...

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#3. Empire of the Sun (1987)

Storyline: Based on J. G. Ballard's autobiographical novel, tells the story of a boy, James Graham, whose privileged life is upturned by the Japanese invasion of Shanghai, December 8, 1941. Separated from his parents, he is eventually captured, and taken to Soo Chow confinement camp, next to a captured Chinese airfield. Amidst the sickness and food shortages in the camp, Jim attempts to reconstruct his former life, all the while bringing spirit and dignity to those around him.

Plot Keywords: betting, air raid, salute, separation from family, welding, race relations, survival ...

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#4. Kurenai no buta (1992)

Storyline: In Early 1930's era Italy air pirates, bounty hunters and high fliers of all sorts rule the skies. The most cunning and skilled of these pilots is Porco Rosso. A former Ace, he now makes a living flying contract jobs, such as rescuing those kidnapped by air pirates. Donald Curtis, Porco's rival in the air and in catching the affections of women, provides a constant challenge to the hero, culminating in a hilarious, action packed finale.

Plot Keywords: hero, mechanic, mission, rescue, transformation, villain, airplane ...

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#5. The Wind Rises (2013)

Storyline: Jiro dreams of flying and designing beautiful airplanes, inspired by the famous Italian aeronautical designer Caproni. Nearsighted from a young age and unable to be a pilot, Jiro joins a major Japanese engineering company in 1927 and becomes one of the world's most innovative and accomplished airplane designers. The film chronicles much of his life, depicting key historical events, including the Great Kanto Earthquake of 1923, the Great Depression, the tuberculosis epidemic and Japan's plunge into war. Jiro meets and falls in love with Nahoko, and grows and cherishes his friendship with his colleague Honjo.—Official site

Plot Keywords: earthquake, tuberculosis, 1930s, dream sequence, world war two, technology, wind ...

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#6. The Castle (1997)

Storyline: A Melbourne family is very happy living where they do, near the Melbourne airport (according to Jane Kennedy, it's "practically their back yard"). However, they are forced to leave their beloved home, by the Government and airport authorities. 'The Castle' is the story of how they fight to remain in their house, taking their case as far as the High Court.

Plot Keywords: justice, father son relationship, father in law son in law relationship, father daughter relationship, drink, drinking, dog ...

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#7. Only Angels Have Wings (1939)

Storyline: When the ship San Luis makes a stop at the port of Barranca, to deliver mailbags and load bananas, cabaret singer Bonnie Lee leaves the boat for some hours to look around. She meets a gang of American flyers, who works for a warm-hearted Dutchman. He is the owner of a scrubby hotel, but also of the shaky Barranca Airways, lead by the tough flyer Geoff Carter. The only way to fly out of Barranca is through a deep pass at 14.000 feet above the ground. As the weather is often stormy and foggy, the flights are extremely difficult, and several flyers have already lost their lives. Bonnie falls in love with Geoff, who reminds her of her father, a trapeze artist who worked without safety net. She decides to leave the boat and stay at the hotel. But Geoff is scared of being detained by a woman. He wants to continue his risky lifestyle uninterrupted. The situation is aggravated when a new flyer, Bat MacPherson, turns up with his wife Judy. He once caused the death of a young flyer, by leaving ...

Plot Keywords: pilot, airplane, ex boyfriend ex girlfriend relationship, redemption, airplane accident, eavesdropping, doctor ...

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#8. Twelve O'Clock High (1949)

Storyline: In this story of the early days of daylight bombing raids over Nazi Germany, General Frank Savage must take command of a "hard luck" bomber group. Much of the story deals with his struggle to whip his group into a disciplined fighting unit in spite of heavy losses, and withering attacks by German fighters over their targets. Actual combat footage is used in this tense war drama.

Plot Keywords: american abroad, reminiscence, world war two, airplane shot down, leadership, exhaustion, fighter plane ...

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#9. Airplane! (1980)

Storyline: Still craving for the love of his life, Ted Striker follows Elaine onto the flight that she is working on as a member of the cabin crew. Elaine doesn't want to be with Ted anymore, but when the crew and passengers fall ill from food poisoning, all eyes are on Ted.

Plot Keywords: spoof, airplane, absurd humor, satire, parody, female nudity, pedophilia ...

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#10. United 93 (2006)

Storyline: On September 11, 2001, two American Airlines and two United Airlines domestic U.S. flights are hijacked by terrorists. After the collision of two planes against the World Trade Center and one against the Pentagon, the passengers and crew of United Flight 93 decide to struggle against the four terrorists to take back the control of the airplane.

Plot Keywords: september 11 2001, hijacker, terrorist, flight, plane, passenger, virginia ...

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#11. The Flight of the Phoenix (1965)

Storyline: A cargo plane goes down in a sandstorm in the Sahara with less than a dozen men on board. One of the passengers is an airplane designer who comes up with the idea of ripping off the undamaged wing and using it as the basis for an airplane they will build to escape before their food and water run out.

Plot Keywords: survival, airplane accident, engineer, pilot, crash landing, arab, belly dancer ...

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#12. The Aviator (2004)

Storyline: Biopic of billionaire Howard Hughes, starting with his early filmmaking years as owner of R.K.O. Pictures, but mostly focusing on his role in designing and promoting new aircraft. Hughes was a risk-taker spending several fortunes on designing experimental aircraft and eventually founding TWA as a rival to Pan Am airlines owned by his great rival Juan Trippe. When Trippe's politico Senator Ralph Owen Brewster accuses Hughes of being a war profiteer, it's Hughes who gains the upper hand. Hughes also had many women in his life including a long relationship with Katharine Hepburn. From an early age, however, Hughes was also germophobic and would have severe bouts of mental illness.

Plot Keywords: obsessive compulsive disorder, film producer, test pilot, connecticut, california, world war two, playboy ...

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#13. The Dawn Patrol (1938)

Storyline: In 1915 France, Major Brand commands the 39th Squadron of the Royal Flying Corps. The young airmen go up in bullet-riddled "crates" and the casualty rate is appalling, but Brand can't make the "brass hats" at headquarters see reason. Insubordinate air ace Captain Courtney is another thorn in Brand's side...but finds the smile wiped from his face when he rises to command the squadron himself. Everyone keeps a stiff upper lip.—Rod Crawford <puffinus@u.washington.edu>

Plot Keywords: death of friend, explosion, german, great britain, gunfire, letter, mechanic ...

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#14. Sully (2016)

Storyline: On Thursday, January 15, 2009, the world witnessed the "Miracle on the Hudson" when pilot Chesley"Sully" Sullenberger (Tom Hanks) glided his disabled plane onto the frigid waters of the Hudson River, saving the lives of all one hundred fifty-five aboard. However, even as Sully was being heralded by the public and the media for his unprecedented feat of aviation skill, an investigation was unfolding that threatened to destroy his reputation and his career.

Plot Keywords: aviation, investigation, pilot, airplane accident, diver, airplane, husband wife relationship ...

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#15. Arizona Dream (1993)

Storyline: An Innuit hunter races his sled home with a fresh-caught halibut. This fish pervades the entire film, in real and imaginary form. Meanwhile, Axel tags fish in New York as a naturalist's gofer. He's happy there, but a messenger arrives to bring him to Arizona for his uncle's wedding. It's a ruse to get Axel into the family business. In Arizona, Axel meets two odd women: vivacious, needy, and plagued by neuroses and familial discord. He gets romantically involved with one, while the other, rich but depressed, plays accordion tunes to a gaggle of pet turtles.

Plot Keywords: magical realism, pantyhose, surrealism, older woman younger man relationship, seduction, acting, turtle ...

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