We’re about to take off on a wild ride through the most epic airplane clashes in movies. These aren’t your run-of-the-mill turbulence scenes; we’re talking full-on, white-knuckle, “is this plane gonna make it?”
moments that’ll have you gripping your armrests tighter than a toddler with a lollipop. So, let’s taxi down the runway and take flight into the world of cinematic aerial mayhem!
Mission: Impossible – Rogue Nation
Kicking off our list is the insane cargo plane sequence from the fifth installment of the Mission: Impossible franchise. Tom Cruise, being Tom Cruise, actually clung to the outside of a real plane during takeoff.
It’s like watching a middle-aged man try to catch a bus, except the bus is a massive A400M aircraft. The tension is real, the stunts are jaw-dropping, and it sets the bar high for airplane action scenes.
Sully
While not an action-packed clash per se, the recreation of the “Miracle on the Hudson” in Clint Eastwood’s “Sully” is a masterclass in aviation drama. Watching Tom Hanks navigate a failing
plane into the Hudson River is like seeing a master chef turn a kitchen disaster into a gourmet meal. It’s tense, it’s inspiring, and it’ll make you appreciate pilots (and geese safety measures) a whole lot more.
Spider-Man: Homecoming
Who needs in-flight entertainment when you’ve got Spider-Man battling the Vulture on the outside of a plane? This scene is like watching a very dangerous game of tag played at 30,000 feet.
Between the web-slinging, the dodging of debris, and the constant threat of falling to a splat-tastic doom, it’s a sequence that’ll have you saying, “I hope they don’t charge extra for this kind of turbulence.”
The Mummy
Tom Cruise makes our list again (seriously, does this guy have a frequent flyer program for movie stunts?) with the insane zero-gravity plane crash sequence in “The Mummy.” It’s like someone took a
haunted house, strapped it to a plane, and then said, “You know what? Let’s flip it upside down.” The result is a dizzying, terrifying rollercoaster of a scene that’ll make you grateful for boring flights.
Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle
Who knew that video game logic and airplanes could mix so hilariously? The scene where our heroes have to jump from one helicopter to another
is like watching a group of cats try to navigate a slip ‘n slide. It’s ridiculous, it’s over-the-top, and it’s exactly the kind of air-based shenanigans you’d expect from a movie about a magical video game.
Mission: Impossible – Fallout
Because apparently Tom Cruise didn’t get enough of defying death in airplanes, he’s back at it again in “Fallout.” This time, we’ve got a HALO jump sequence that’s so intense, it’ll make skydiving look
about as thrilling as a trip to the post office. It’s like someone looked at regular skydiving and said, “You know what this needs? More lightning and near-misses with other aircraft.”
Captain Marvel
Brie Larson takes to the skies in this superhero flick, giving us some good old-fashioned dogfighting action. Watching Captain Marvel weave through the air, blasting alien ships, is like seeing
the love child of “Top Gun” and “Star Wars.” It’s fast, it’s furious, and it’ll have you cheering for the good guys faster than you can say “higher, further, faster.”
Tenet
Leave it to Christopher Nolan to make a plane scene that’s both thrilling and utterly confusing. The Boeing 747 crash sequence in “Tenet” is like watching someone play with very expensive toy
planes, except the toys are real, and they’re actually crashing them. It’s a mind-bending, time-twisting spectacle that’ll leave you saying, “Wait, what just happened?” in the best possible way.
Wonder Woman 1984
Wonder Woman lassoing a plane might not be the most realistic airplane scene, but boy, is it fun to watch. It’s like seeing someone try to wrangle a very large, very angry metal bull at 30,000 feet.
The physics might be questionable, but the entertainment value is through the roof (or should we say, through the clouds?).
Top Gun: Maverick
You can’t have a list of airplane clashes without mentioning “Top Gun: Maverick.” The aerial sequences in this long-awaited sequel are like watching the world’s most expensive, most dangerous dance choreography.
It’s fast, it’s furious, and it’ll have you believing that Tom Cruise is actually immortal. The dogfights are so intense, you’ll feel like you need a pilot’s license just to watch them.
Uncharted
Tom Holland proves he can do more than just swing from buildings in the crazy cargo plane sequence from “Uncharted.” Watching our heroes
climb, jump, and fight their way through falling cargo is like seeing a very dangerous, very high-stakes game of “The Floor is Lava.” It’s ridiculous, it’s implausible, and it’s exactly the kind of over-the-top action we love.
Plane
With a title like “Plane,” you know you’re in for some serious aviation action. Gerard Butler’s latest outing gives us a tense, gritty take on airplane emergencies.
It’s like “Die Hard” on a plane, if “Die Hard” involved crash landings in hostile territory. The initial crash sequence is so intense, you’ll be checking your own seatbelt even if you’re sitting on your couch.
65
Okay, so technically this is more of a spaceship than an airplane, but the crash sequence that kicks off “65” is too good to leave off this list. Watching Adam Driver navigate a failing spacecraft is like
seeing a very angry, very capable man try to parallel park a building. The tension is palpable, the effects are stunning, and it sets up the rest of the movie’s prehistoric adventure perfectly.
Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One
Because apparently Tom Cruise has made it his life’s mission to do increasingly dangerous things with aircraft, “Dead Reckoning Part One” gives us yet another jaw-dropping plane sequence. Without spoiling too much, let’s just say it involves a
motorcycle, a cliff, and a mid-air plane catch that’ll have you questioning both physics and sanity. It’s like watching someone play the world’s most dangerous game of “catch,” and it’s absolutely thrilling.
Blue Beetle
Rounding out our list is the airplane battle from DC’s “Blue Beetle.” Watching our hero navigate his new powers while trying to save a crashing plane is like seeing a teenager try to parallel park for the
first time, except the car is a massive aircraft and failure means fiery death for everyone involved. It’s a great showcase of Blue Beetle’s powers and a fittingly explosive way to cap off our list.
These airplane clashes in movies represent the cream of the crop when it comes to aerial action in recent years. They push the boundaries of what’s possible with practical effects and CGI, giving us
spectacles that would have been unimaginable just a few decades ago. From Tom Cruise’s death-defying stunts to superheroes saving the day, these scenes tap into our fascination with flight and our fear of it going wrong.
So the next time you’re on a flight and experiencing some turbulence, just be grateful that you’re not in a Tom Cruise movie. Your flight might be bumpy, but at least you’re not battling supervillains or trying
to land a plane with no engines. And hey, if things do go wrong, maybe you’ll get lucky and have a superhero on board. Just don’t count on it – and maybe keep that seatbelt fastened, just in case.
