Airplane! (1980) Airplane! (1980)Airplane! redefined movie comedy with its relentless barrage of visual gags, wordplay, and deadpan absurdity. Created by Jim Abrahams and the Zucker brothers, it parodies 1950s disaster films—especially Zero Hour!—by following a neurotic ex-pilot who must land a plane full of sick passengers. Leslie Nielsen’s stone-faced performance as Dr. Rumack became legendary, launching his second career in comedy. The film throws jokes at lightning speed, many layered so viewers catch new ones on repeat viewings. From the “drinking problem” horse to the inflatable autopilot, its surreal humor broke every rule of traditional narrative comedy. Made on a modest $3.5 million budget, it earned nearly $85 million and influenced generations of comedians and filmmakers. Critics initially dismissed it as juvenile, but time has cemented Airplane! as a masterclass in satire and timing. Its fearless commitment to silliness—without irony or winking at the audience—makes it eternally fresh and universally funny.
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