Airplane! (1980): 10 Mind-Blowing Facts

Airplane! (1980): 10 Mind-Blowing Facts

Airplane! (1980) is a fast-paced parody that spoofs disaster movies and airline dramas, especially Zero Hour!, following ex–fighter pilot Ted Striker as he boards a commercial flight to win back his ex-girlfriend Elaine, a flight attendant. When the entire flight crew and several passengers fall ill from food poisoning, Ted—who is haunted by a traumatic war experience—must overcome his fear of flying to land the plane safely with help from Elaine, an eccentric air-traffic controller, and an increasingly overwhelmed group of authorities. Packed with nonstop visual gags, absurd dialogue, and deadpan performances, the film became a classic for its relentless humor and its influence on modern comedy.

Directed by Jim Abrahams, David Zucker, & Jerry Zucker
Written by Jim Abrahams, David Zucker, & Jerry Zucker
Based on Zero Hour! by Arthur Hailey, Hall Bartlett, & John Champion
Produced by Jon Davison
Robert Hays as Ted Striker
Julie Hagerty as Elaine Dickinson
Cinematography by Joseph Biroc
Edited by Patrick Kennedy
Music by Elmer Bernstein
Production companies: Paramount Pictures & Howard W. Koch Productions
Distributed by Paramount Pictures