8 Best Aviation Movies of All Time

By Vlad Zakh · February 8, 2026

Few settings capture cinema’s love of speed and danger like the cockpit, and these films turn flight itself into pure spectacle. In Top Gun: Maverick (2022): A veteran fighter pilot trains a new generation for a nearly impossible high-risk mission. Equally memorable is The Right Stuff (1983): Test pilots and astronauts compete for glory during the earliest days of the American space program.

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 veteran fighter pilot trains a new generation for a nearly impossible high-risk 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 veteran pilot's miraculous emergency river landing is scrutinized by a skeptical safety investigation.

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 skilled airline pilot's heroic emergency landing is complicated by his hidden 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 legendary French fighter squadron during World War I.

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

Eccentric billionaire Howard Hughes pushes the limits of aviation while his mental health deteriorates.

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 program.

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

Test pilots and astronauts compete for glory during the earliest days of the American 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

▶ 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.

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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