8 Best Aviation Movies of All Time

By Vlad Zakh · February 8, 2026

The cockpit captures cinema’s love of speed and danger. Top Gun: Maverick has a veteran pilot training a new generation for a nearly impossible mission, Sully has a pilot’s river landing scrutinised, and Devotion has Navy pilots forging a friendship during the Korean War. Flight, Flyboys, The Aviator, Top Gun and The Right Stuff round out the eight.

Devotion (2022)

TMDB ★ 6.9

Two Navy fighter pilots forge an unlikely friendship during the dangerous air battles of the Korean War.

Directed by J.D. Dillard · 2h 19m · Rated PG-13

Where to watch

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

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

Top Gun: Maverick (2022)

IMDb ★ 8.2 RT 96% Metacritic 78

A legendary fighter pilot trains a new generation for a nearly impossible, dangerous mission.

Directed by Joseph Kosinski · 2h 11m · Rated PG-13

Won 1 Oscar114 wins & 237 nominations

Where to watch

Stream: Netflix, Paramount Plus Premium, Paramount Plus Essential, Paramount+ Amazon Channel, YouTube TV, Paramount+ Roku Premium Channel · Rent: JustWatch TV, Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home · Buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

Sully (2016)

IMDb ★ 7.4 RT 85% Metacritic 74

A pilot's emergency river landing saves every passenger, then triggers an investigation questioning his judgement.

Directed by Clint Eastwood · 1h 36m · Rated PG-13

Nominated for 1 Oscar14 wins & 36 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

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

Flight (2012)

TMDB ★ 7.3

A troubled airline pilot's heroic emergency landing is overshadowed by an investigation into his substance abuse.

Directed by Robert Zemeckis · 2h 18m · Rated R

Where to watch

Stream: Paramount Plus Essential, Starz Apple TV channel · 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

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

Flyboys (2006)

TMDB ★ 6.7

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

The Aviator (2004)

TMDB ★ 7.5

Howard Hughes's aviation ambitions and Hollywood career are gradually eaten away by his own mental illness.

Directed by Martin Scorsese · 2h 50m · Rated PG-13

Where to watch

Stream: fuboTV, Paramount Plus Premium, Paramount Plus Essential, Paramount+ Amazon Channel, Paramount+ Roku Premium Channel · Rent: Fandango At Home · Buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

Top Gun (1986)

TMDB ★ 6.9

An elite Navy fighter pilot competes to be the best in an advanced aerial combat training programme.

Directed by Tony Scott · 1h 50m · Rated PG

Where to watch

Stream: fuboTV, Paramount Plus Premium, Paramount Plus Essential, Paramount+ Amazon Channel, YouTube TV, Paramount+ 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 Right Stuff (1983)

IMDb ★ 7.8 RT 96% Metacritic 91

The original Mercury Seven astronauts and the test pilots who paved the way for them.

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

▶ 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.

8 Best Aviation Movies of All Time

Devotion (2022)

Top Gun: Maverick (2022)

Sully (2016)

Flight (2012)

Flyboys (2006)

The Aviator (2004)

Top Gun (1986)

The Right Stuff (1983)

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