6 Best Hot Air Balloon Movies

By Vlad Zakh · September 13, 2026

From two families racing to escape East Germany in a homemade balloon to a doomed 19th-century polar expedition, these are the best movies that take flight in a hot air balloon. In The Flight of the Eagle (1982): A Swedish engineer sets out to become the first man to reach the North Pole by hydrogen balloon, with tragic consequences. Don’t overlook Turbulence (2025): A young couple’s hot air balloon trip across the Italian Dolomites takes an unimaginable turn when a mysterious third passenger joins them.

Five Weeks in a Balloon (1962)

TMDB ★ 5.5

A determined professor attempts to make aviation history by charting uncharted African territory from the basket of a hot air balloon.

Directed by Irwin Allen · 1h 41m · Rated NR

Where to watch

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

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

Flight of the Lost Balloon (1961)

TMDB ★ 5.8

A top-hatted Englishman and his fiancée set off on a perilous balloon adventure to rescue a colleague along the Nile.

Directed by Nathan Juran · 1h 31m

Where to watch

Rent or buy: Amazon Video

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

Enduring Love (2004)

TMDB ★ 5.8

A hot air balloon accident brings two strangers into a dangerously close and obsessive relationship.

Directed by Roger Michell · 1h 40m · Rated R

Where to watch

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

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

Turbulence (2025)

TMDB ★ 6.5

A young couple's hot air balloon trip across the Italian Dolomites takes an unimaginable turn when a mysterious third passenger joins them.

Directed by Claudio Fäh · 1h 31m · Rated R

Where to watch

Stream: Starz Amazon Channel, Starz, Starz Apple TV channel, Starz Roku Premium Channel · Rent: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home, FlixFling · Buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

The Flight of the Eagle (1982)

TMDB ★ 7.0

A Swedish engineer sets out to become the first man to reach the North Pole by hydrogen balloon, with tragic consequences.

Directed by Jan Troell · 2h 20m

Where to watch

Stream: Netflix, Netflix Standard with Ads

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

Balloon (2018)

TMDB ★ 7.5

Two families attempt a daring escape from East Germany in a homemade hot air balloon, racing the Stasi in a nerve-wracking pursuit.

Directed by Michael Herbig · 2h 05m

Where to watch

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, built to fix a specific annoyance: most recommendation sites are just algorithm-driven noise. Our lists are researched and organized by who's in a film, where it's from, and the mood you're actually in tonight.

6 Best Hot Air Balloon Movies

Five Weeks in a Balloon (1962)

Flight of the Lost Balloon (1961)

Enduring Love (2004)

Turbulence (2025)

The Flight of the Eagle (1982)

Balloon (2018)

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