Dickens & Rumi
Cover of Airplane!

film

Airplane!

1980

An ex-fighter pilot is forced to take over the controls of an airliner when the flight crew succumbs to food poisoning.

Ages 13+Source checked

Why this age? Frequent adult-oriented innuendo, sexual jokes, alcohol humor, comic peril, wartime trauma, and a suicide gag make it better suited to teens than young children, despite the PG rating. This is guidance, not a safety guarantee; reading level and family context may differ.

Quick view

At a glance

Recommended age13+

Strongest cautions

  • Alcohol or drugs3/5
  • Frightening scenes3/5
  • Sexual content & nudity3/5

Strongest positives

  • Creativity & curiosity4/5
  • Courage & resilience3/5
  • Positive messages3/5

What’s in it?

Death of a character1/5
Why this rating?

Characters are shown committing suicide out of boredom during a monologue, a darkly comedic bit.

Graphic injury1/5
Why this rating?

Minimal; brief scenes related to the food poisoning or accident aftermath are played for laughs.

Strong language2/5
Why this rating?

Contains some mild profanity and suggestive verbal wordplay.

Religious themes1/5
Why this rating?

Brief appearance of a nun as a background joke element.

Romance2/5
Why this rating?

A former couple's breakup and reconciliation frame the story, ending with an embrace and kiss, but romance is secondary to the parody.

Frightening scenes3/5
Why this rating?

A poisoned flight crew, possible crash, worsening weather, wartime flashbacks, and a dog attack create repeated peril, but slapstick parody keeps the tone more tense than frightening.

Sexual content & nudity3/5
Why this rating?

Includes several suggestive puns, sexual double entendres, and a scene involving an inflatable doll.

Alcohol or drugs3/5
Why this rating?

Alcohol and drinking problems are prominent comedic elements, including Ted's history of drinking and alcohol-related behavior.

Violence3/5
Why this rating?

Frequent slapstick and disaster peril include a dog mauling, cockpit emergencies, wartime flashbacks, and a dangerous landing, mostly played for absurd comedy.

What’s good in it?

Courage & resilience3/5
Why this rating?

Ted courageously takes control of the plane despite fear and wartime trauma, with support from Elaine, Rumack, and Kramer.

Creativity & curiosity4/5
Why this rating?

Inventive visual puns, surreal sight gags, running jokes, parody, and fast comic escalation make creativity central to the film's style.

Diverse representation1/5
Why this rating?

Minor representation in the cast for the era, but limited focus on identity.

Kindness & empathy2/5
Why this rating?

Characters cooperate to save the passengers and encourage Ted, though the film frequently undercuts compassion with irreverent gags.

Positive messages3/5
Why this rating?

The story emphasizes responsibility, perseverance, teamwork, and confronting trauma, while presenting some harmful behavior as deliberately absurd comedy.

Good role models2/5
Why this rating?

Ted overcomes fear and trauma to help passengers; Elaine, Rumack, and Kramer provide practical support, though adults also behave irresponsibly for jokes.

Family discussion

Talk about it

Conversation starters based on this title’s published content notes.

  1. What was the most imaginative idea in the story, and what would you add to it?
  2. How were alcohol or drugs portrayed, and what consequences did the story show?
  3. Which choice in Airplane! would you have made differently, and why?
  4. Who changed the most in Airplane!, and what caused that change?
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