The Handbook Team Shares Their Plane Movie Picks To Save For Your Next Flight
It’s become an essential part of flying these days: what the hell do I watch to pass the time? Whether you happily browse the inflight menu or prefer to studiously download stuff on your iPad, The Handbook team has chosen their picks for perfect plane movies. Pass the time with these suggestions:
Harry Potter
“For me, it’s typically a toss-up between The Harry Potter movies or any new rom-coms, i.e., Materialists. I tried to do Dune, but it put me to sleep – suppose that’s a good thing for a plane.”
“Perfect for long hauls with 8 entries in the series (plus Fantastic Beasts), there’s no better time to revisit the Potter films with the new HBO series premiering this Christmas.” – Mallory Legg, Junior Food & Lifestyle Editor
Where to watch: HBO Max
One Battle After Another
“I second the Harry Potters- but the next one on my plane watch list is One Battle After Another – it cleaned up at awards season, so I’m very late to the party.”
“Sometimes you need something really absorbing to pass the time rather than sleep to- and Leonardo DiCaprio’s One Battle After Another is 2 and a half hours of Best Picture-winning drama.” – Natasha Harding, Digital Editor
Where to watch: HBO Max
The Devil Wears Prada 2
“I like to use a long-haul flight to catch up on new films that I didn’t get to see in the cinema! This summer I am hoping to watch The Devil Wears Prada 2– I think a romcom always makes for a good plane watch and it’s one that I missed when it came out earlier this year.” – Amelia Morgan, Culture & Lifestyle Writer/Creator
The Devil Wears Prada 2 came out earlier this year to low expectations, coming out so long after the sequel, but was generally received positively by critics. A film with some genuine heart and a message on AI, it’s a chance to revisit Andy, Emily and Miranda Priestly. Gird your loins at 30,000 ft.
Where to watch: Apple TV
Dead Poets Society
“Despite watching films for a living, I spent my last flight watching Louis Theroux and old episodes of The Simpsons… but my pick from another recent flight is Dead Poets Society, which I hadn’t seen before.”
“A passionate new teacher tries to inspire his students to rebel against the status quo and take an interest in poetry. It’s got that more old-school warm feel to its look and mood, breakout performances and, of course, Robin Williams. Carpe diem!” – Rufus Punt, Contributing Entertainment Writer
Where to watch: Disney+
Shrek and Monsters, Inc
“I always go for comfort: Monsters, Inc, Shrek. Anything that feels nostalgic and is animated.” – Elle Dymond, Senior Venue Partnerships Manager
Familiarity means comfort, and comfort means an easier flight- once Oscar rivals, animated faves Shrek and Monsters, Inc both stand the test of time 25 years later.
Blackberry
“From memory of my last flight: Blackberry, and Source Code.” – Yan Prabhu, Senior Brand Partnerships Executive
Remember Blackberries? A movie about starting up the once ubiquitous phone company might sound like one to go to sleep to, but Blackberry is a genuinely very good dramedy about the tech world, and worth the watch.
Where to watch: Apple TV
Mission Impossible
“I love a dumb action movie on a plane – any Mission: Impossible is perfect.” – Flora Pick, Senior Brand Partnership Executive
The Tom Cruise-led action franchise is abundant in loud explosions to block out surrounding noise, and there are a lot of them, too.
Where to watch: Paramount+
Hoppers
“I love catching up on animated movies I’ve missed with the kids when we fly – we sync our screens, and it’s like being at the cinema, plus it makes the whole long-haul experience a little more social. GOAT and Hoppers are on my list!” – Robyn Upton, Managing Directer
Pixar returned to form this year with Hoppers, telling the story of an animal lover who finds away to transfer her mind into a robot beaver, while GOAT follows a world in which animals play their own version of basketball. Perfect if you’ve got kids.
Where to watch: Disney+
