What’s most extraordinary, looking back, is that the vast majority of them are really good jokes -- not always clever, not always tasteful, but for the most part really damn funny.

| Original Score: 5/5 | Dec 12, 2024

The popcorn will probably stick with you longer than this silly saga but, if you need a few belly laughs, get a boarding pass. Airplane is the ultimate take-off.

| Apr 28, 2018

The level of humor is not always consistent, but the filmmakers have thrown almost everything in with a shotgun approach and the routines work more often than not.

| Jul 3, 2017

The really great thing about Airplane! is that the jokes undercut your expectations so deftly.

| Original Score: 5/5 | Jun 8, 2015

Airplane! is a splendidly tacky, totally tasteless, completely insignificant flight, a gooney bird of a movie that looks as if it could never get off the ground and then surprises and delights with its free-spirited aerobatics.

| Jun 8, 2015

Jim Abrahams, David Zucker and Jerry Zucker, who share both writing and directorial credits, become so desperate for laughs that the jokes descend to a much cruder level.

| Original Score: 2/4 | Apr 7, 2015

Surely as good as modern comedy gets?...and don't call me Shirley.

| Original Score: 5/5 | Apr 1, 2008

Surely, this is essential. Maybe, but don't call me Shirley, etc.

| Original Score: 4/5 | Apr 1, 2008

The gags aren't exactly clever, but there are a lot of them, and the cutting finds a fast, effective tempo.

| Apr 1, 2008

From the clever Jaws take-off opening to the final, irreverent title card, laughs come thick and fast.

| Apr 1, 2008

Psycho ground controllers (Stack and Bridges), laff-a-second pace, and bludgeoning innuendo make this the acceptable face of the locker-room satire.

| Feb 9, 2006

Full Review | Original Score: 88/100 | Dec 6, 2005

It is sophomoric, obvious, predictable, corny, and quite often very funny. And the reason it's funny is frequently because it's sophomoric, predictable, corny, etc.

| Original Score: 3/4 | Dec 6, 2005

Sustains a single premise for its entire running time, and does so without lagging or going limp.

| Original Score: 3/4 | Dec 5, 2005

Airplane! is more than a pleasant surprise, in the midst of this dim movie season. As a remedy for the bloated self-importance of too many other current efforts, it's just what the doctor ordered.

Full Review | May 20, 2003

The spoof that launched a thousand parodies -- this is the one that's 100% funny.

| Mar 10, 2003

A comedy classic!

Full Review | Original Score: 5/5 | Nov 24, 2002

It's now a familiar formula, but Airplane still retains an edge because the audience is credited with intelligence.

| Original Score: 4/5 | Apr 17, 2001