Is there anything better than taking your seat on a long-haul flight and getting settled in for a movie marathon? Okay, to be fair, a movie-watching session is better when you’re curled up on your couch rather than trapped in the cramped confines of economy seating and surrounded by strangers who continually invade your personal space. But, I digress!
I think we can all agree that getting to binge-watch films is one of the biggest perks — if not the only perk — about flying. And some movies were just made for watching at 30,000 feet. You know, the ones that are so engrossing they make you forget where you are, and the ones that have been on your “must watch” list for months but you still haven’t gotten around to watching.
Without further ado, here they are: seven of the best movies to watch on a plane.
- My Best Friend’s Wedding
- Toy Story
- Argo
- Bridesmaids
- The Devil Wears Prada
- The Lord of the Rings trilogy
- National Lampoon’s Vacation
1. My Best Friend’s Wedding
I don’t know about you, but by the time I board a flight, I’m usually feeling one of two ways: stressed from standing in a ridiculously long security line and having to run to my gate, or utterly exhausted and ready to catch some shut-eye.
In either of these fragile states, I only have the emotional capacity to watch a classic, stand-the-test-of-time rom-com — something like My Best Friend’s Wedding. It’s the kind of comfort-food-style movie that you can watch again and again — and it’s guaranteed to make you feel good.
Can’t find My Best Friend’s Wedding on your flight? Notting Hill, How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days, You’ve Got Mail, and Love Actually are all strong contenders in this category, too.
2. Toy Story
This movie is the cinematic equivalent of a soft, cosy blanket or a really good hug — it just has a way of making you feel all warm and fuzzy inside. So, if you get on the plane and you’re feeling sad or stressed — or you’re in the mood for an easy watch that you’ve seen before — this is the one to pick.
Toy Story also seems to be one of those films you can easily find on most airlines’ in-flight entertainment systems, making it a go-to choice for your next plane journey.
3. Argo
Now, if you’re absolutely dreading a flight — whether it’s a painful long-haul journey or you’re stuck in the abomination that is the middle seat — you’ll want a riveting flick that will transport you to another world and make the hours pass by in the blink of an eye. That’s where a smart, suspenseful thriller like Argo comes in.
Based on events that took place during the Iran hostage crisis in 1979, this movie centres around an outlandish plot cooked up by the CIA to rescue Americans trapped in Tehran. It’ll keep you glued to the screen from the get-go, and the ending delivers a hefty dose of suspense.
4. Bridesmaids
Are you an anxious flyer? Getting stuck into a hilarious, feel-good film is the best way to distract yourself from the fact that you’re hurtling through the sky in a pressurised metal tube travelling at twenty million miles per hour.
Naturally, you’ll want to choose something like Bridesmaids to keep your flight-induced anxiety at bay. This movie is laugh-out-loud funny — and it’ll keep you from looking over at the flight attendants to see whether they’ve secretly signalled to one another that something is terribly wrong with the plane.
5. The Devil Wears Prada
The Devil Wears Prada might just be the ultimate plane movie. Not only does it feature Meryl Streep as an icy, tyrannical Anna Wintour-esque character, but it somehow gets better with every viewing.
Plus, the dialogue is witty and the film offers viewers a glimpse into the inner workings of the fashion industry (albeit one that’s rife with stereotypes).
6. The Lord of the Rings trilogy
If you want to kill some serious time on a long-haul flight, you can’t go wrong with The Lord of the Rings trilogy. Following Frodo (Elijah Wood) and several companions as they embark on an epic journey to destroy the One Ring and save Middle-earth, this fantasy series will keep you preoccupied for roughly nine hours.
Just remember to brace yourself for those tragic and emotional moments: it turns out you’re more likely to cry on planes due to the combination of oxygen deprivation, dehydration, and stress that comes with flying.
7. National Lampoon’s Vacation
Missed flights, food poisoning, lost luggage — so many things can go wrong on holiday. If you’re the type of person whose mind automatically goes to those worst-case travel scenarios, National Lampoon’s Vacation might be just the antidote you need.
You can’t help but laugh as Chevy Chase and Beverly D’Angelo deal with a whole slew of disasters on their cross-country road trip, from car problems to the death of a family member. Despite all the mishaps and ridiculousness, this movie serves as a humorous reminder to go with the flow and enjoy the journey (for better or worse) as much as the destination.
What else would you add to this list? What are your favourite movies to watch on a plane? Share your top picks in the comments!
