6 Best Barnstorming and Wing-Walking Movies

By Vlad Zakh · April 15, 2026

Barnstorming pilots and wing-walkers performed for crowds below, and the films about them are romantic and dangerous in equal parts. Porco Rosso has a cursed pilot turned pig hunting sky pirates over the Adriatic, Flyboys sends American volunteers to a French fighter squadron in the First World War, and Amelia follows the life and disappearance of Amelia Earhart. Men with Wings, The Rocketeer and The Great Waldo Pepper finish the six.

Men with Wings (1938)

TMDB ★ 6.0

Two lifelong friends and rivals pursue aviation glory from the barnstorming era through the birth of commercial flight.

Directed by William A. Wellman · 1h 45m · Rated NR

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

Porco Rosso (1992)

TMDB ★ 7.6

A cursed Italian pilot transformed into a pig hunts sky pirates over the Adriatic Sea.

Directed by Hayao Miyazaki · 1h 33m · Rated PG

Where to watch

Stream: HBO Max Amazon Channel, HBO Max · Rent or buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

Flyboys (2006)

TMDB ★ 6.5

American volunteer pilots join a French fighter squadron during the dogfights of the First World War.

Directed by Tony Bill · 2h 18m · Rated PG-13

Where to watch

Stream: Philo · Rent or buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

Amelia (2009)

TMDB ★ 5.5

A dramatisation of the life and disappearance of pioneering aviator Amelia Earhart.

Directed by Mira Nair · 1h 51m · Rated PG

Where to watch

Rent or buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

The Rocketeer (1991)

TMDB ★ 6.8

A daring young stunt pilot discovers a mysterious jetpack and becomes an unlikely hero.

Directed by Joe Johnston · 1h 48m · Rated PG

Where to watch

Stream: Disney Plus · Rent or buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

The Great Waldo Pepper (1975)

TMDB ★ 6.6

A restless First World War flying ace turns to daring barnstorming stunts to recapture past glory.

Directed by George Roy Hill · 1h 48m · Rated PG

Where to watch

Stream: YouTube TV · Rent or buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

Streaming availability data from JustWatch, via TMDB. Availability changes often, so check the service before you plan a movie night.

Vlad Zakh

Founder, Movieix

Founder of Movieix. He started the site because most recommendation pages felt like noise. Here, lists are sorted by who's in the film, where it's from and what mood you're in tonight.

6 Best Barnstorming and Wing-Walking Movies

Men with Wings (1938)

Porco Rosso (1992)

Flyboys (2006)

Amelia (2009)

The Rocketeer (1991)

The Great Waldo Pepper (1975)

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