Top 10 Comedy Disaster Films About Airplane Mishaps

Description: This film is the granddaddy of all airplane disaster comedies, where a former fighter pilot must land a commercial airliner after the crew becomes incapacitated by food poisoning. It's a non-stop barrage of gags, puns, and slapstick humor.

Fact: The movie was initially conceived as a parody of the 1957 film "Zero Hour!" and its sequel "Airport '77". The directors, Zucker, Abrahams, and Zucker, used the same plot but filled it with comedic elements.

Description: While not about a plane crash, this comedy showcases the chaos of travel, including a memorable plane scene where John Candy's character causes a ruckus, leading to a series of comedic events.

Fact: The film was originally titled "Do You Want to Go Home?"

Description: This film combines action, adventure, and comedy, focusing on two pilots flying missions in Laos during the Vietnam War. While not strictly a disaster film, it includes several comedic plane-related incidents.

Fact: The movie was inspired by the real-life CIA-backed airline of the same name.

Description: A direct parody of "Top Gun" and other action films, "Hot Shots!" includes a sequence where the protagonist must land a plane in a comedic fashion, making it a must-watch for fans of airplane disaster comedies.

Fact: The film was directed by Jim Abrahams, one of the creators of "Airplane!"

Description: In this sequel, Detective Frank Drebin finds himself in a plane that's been hijacked, leading to a series of slapstick and absurd events, making it a perfect fit for our list.

Fact: The film features a cameo by Zsa Zsa Gabor, who slaps Leslie Nielsen, a reference to her real-life incident.

Description: Although not a disaster film per se, "The Terminal" involves a man stuck in an airport due to a political crisis in his home country. The humor arises from his attempts to navigate life in the airport, including a comedic subplot involving a plane.

Fact: The film was loosely based on the true story of Mehran Karimi Nasseri, who lived in Charles de Gaulle Airport for 18 years.

Description: While the film isn't centered around an airplane disaster, it includes a comedic sequence where the characters wake up on a plane after a wild night in Bangkok, leading to a series of hilarious events.

Fact: The film was shot in Thailand, and the plane scene was filmed on a real Boeing

Description: In this family comedy, a dog named Buddy helps rescue a plane full of passengers, turning a potential disaster into a heartwarming and humorous adventure.

Fact: This was the fifth installment in the "Air Bud" series, focusing on different sports each time.

Description: While not exclusively about an airplane disaster, this comedy features a plane crash as a pivotal moment, leading to a wild race across the country. The humor comes from the absurd situations the characters find themselves in post-crash.

Fact: The film was inspired by the 1963 comedy "It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World."

Description: This animated short from the "Looney Tunes" series features Daffy Duck as a pilot who must navigate through a series of hilarious mishaps to land his plane safely. It's a classic example of how even the most dire situations can be turned into comedy.

Fact: This cartoon was one of the last directed by Chuck Jones for Warner Bros. before he moved to MGM.