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