01 A team of test pilots and their families cope with the extreme danger of flying an experimental rocket plane.
Directed by Richard Donner · 1h 47m · Rated NR
Where to watch
Rent or buy: Amazon Video
6 Best Test Pilot Movies
By Vlad Zakh · May 4, 2026
Drama intensethought provoking
The daring courage and mortal risk of pushing experimental aircraft to their limits has powered some of cinema’s most thrilling aviation dramas. In The Right Stuff (1983): A group of daring test pilots and astronauts push the limits of speed and space during America’s early space program. Another standout is The Sound Barrier (1952): An aircraft manufacturer’s obsession with breaking the sound barrier endangers the test pilots who fly for him.
01 
02 A group of daring test pilots and astronauts push the limits of speed and space during America's early space program.
Directed by Philip Kaufman · 3h 13m · Rated PG
Won 4 Oscars14 wins & 18 nominations
Where to watch
Rent: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home, Spectrum On Demand · Buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
Rent: Apple TV Store, Amazon Video · Buy: Apple TV Store, Amazon Video, Sky Store
Rent or buy: Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, CosmoGo, YouTube, Amazon Video
Rent or buy: Apple TV Store, Amazon Video, Fetch TV
Rent: Amazon Video
03 An aircraft manufacturer's obsession with breaking the sound barrier endangers the test pilots who fly for him.
Directed by David Lean · 1h 57m
Where to watch
Stream: fuboTV, History Vault, Xive TV Documentaries Amazon Channel · Rent: Amazon Video · Buy: Amazon Video, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
Rent or buy: Apple TV Store, Amazon Video
04 An Air Force pilot falls for a Soviet defector while investigating whether she is truly a spy.
Directed by Josef von Sternberg · 1h 52m · Rated G
Where to watch
Stream: YouTube TV · Rent or buy: Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
Stream: Foxtel Now
05 A former POW test pilot fights to rebuild his reputation while pushing an experimental jet to its limits.
Directed by Mervyn LeRoy · 1h 55m · Rated NR
Where to watch
Rent or buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Fandango At Home
Rent or buy: Apple TV Store
Rent or buy: Amazon Video
06 A reckless test pilot's dangerous career strains his marriage and his friendship with his devoted mechanic.
Directed by Victor Fleming · 1h 58m · Rated NR
Streaming availability data from JustWatch, via TMDB. Availability changes often, so check the service before you plan a movie night.
You might also like
