Summary
Movies about the military, and especially the Air Force, tend to excite audiences by providing thrilling action scenes, feats of bravery, and cutting-edge special effects. The best films in the genre also feature compelling storylines, character depth, and, of course, flight scenes, among many other factors that go into making an excellent movie.
When movie fans think of classic flying films, theTop Gunfranchise may come to mind, especially with the fairly recent release ofTop Gun: Maverick. However, Maverick and his comrades are part of the Navy rather than the Air Force. Still, focusing solely onmovies about the Air Forcebranch of the military offers plenty of options for entertaining watches.
15Iron Eagle (1986)
Style, But A Slight Lack Of Substance
Sidney J. Furie’sIron Eagleis an Air Force movie that centers around Doug Masters (Jason Gedrick), a mediocre pilot who needs to listen to music to fly well. He embarks on a daring mission to rescue his father, a veteran who has been shot down in the Middle East.Iron Eaglecertainly has itsfair share of excellent action sequences, particularly as Doug attacks a base while listening to “One Vision” by Queen. However, its mediocre dialogue and lack of real characterization prevent it from reaching its full potential.
Iron Eagle
Cast
Iron Eagle is a 1986 action film centered around a young pilot, Doug Masters, who seeks the assistance of Colonel Chappy Sinclair to execute a daring mission. Together, they endeavor to rescue Doug’s father, an Air Force pilot, from captivity in a hostile Middle Eastern country.
14Firefox (1982)
Groundbreaking Special Effects
Firefoxis directed by Clint Eastwood, who also stars in the movie as Mitchell Gant, a veteran Air Force pilot who is tasked with stealing a high-tech Soviet fighter plane.Firefoxhad an estimated budget of $21 million, of which$20 million was reportedly spent on special effects(viaGoSocial). The result is a movie about the Air Force that looks amazing, especially the sequences involving the titular “Firefox” fighter. Nevertheless, it suffers a similar fate toIron Eagle, creating a movie that is largely devoid of any real soul but is awesome to look at.
The movie was based off of Craig Thomas' 1977 thriller novel of the same name.
Firefox
Firefox is a 1982 action thriller directed by Clint Eastwood, featuring Eastwood as Mitchell Gant, a former Vietnam War pilot. Tasked with a covert mission, Gant must infiltrate the Soviet Union and steal a highly advanced jet fighter, Firefox, rumored to be undetectable by radar.
13The Shamrock Spitfire (2024)
Heartwarming And Grounded
The Shamrock Spitfirefocuses on the life of Brendan “Paddy” Finucane, a real-life pilot for the British Royal Air Force (RAF) who became the youngest Wing Commander in its history at 21, the age at which he was also killed in action. This movieprovides a heartfelt narrative about the Air Forceand Paddy that is respectful to the true history of the pilot and World War II. However, the low budget means that the CGI on display often leaves a lot to be desired, with the film also heavily using archive footage from fellow WW2 movieBattle of Britain.
12Hot Shots! (1991)
Airplane! With Jet Fighters
Utterly ridiculous but undoubtedly hilarious at times,Hot Shots!is an Air Force movie that acts as a direct parody ofTop Gun. Charlie Sheen plays Sean “Topper” Harley, a pilot who is grappling with the ghost of his father. He is sent on a mission that sees him attack an Iraqi power plant and drop a bomb directly onto a sunbathing Saddam Hussein. With gags including roasting hot dogs on jet engines, using a valet service for fighters, and a pilot being mistaken for a deer,Hot Shots!is funny and outrageous, if slightly bland in its execution.
Hot Shots!
Hot Shots! is a 1991 comedic parody focusing on a renegade pilot recruited by the Air Force for a top-secret mission. As he navigates the challenges of military life, he deals with an incompetent admiral and a squadron of quirky, inept pilots.
11The Dam Busters (1955)
Iconic, If A Bit Dated
A staple of British Air Force cinema,The Dam Busterstells the real-life story of Operation Chastise, a 1943 mission that saw the RAF attack multiple German dams using the brand-new bouncing bomb technology.The movie isundoubtedly iconicand is heavily credited with influencing the trench run sequence inStar Wars.At the time of its release,The Dam Busterswas unlike any Air Force movie ever seen. By today’s standards, the effects and flight scenes are heavily dated, but this does not detract from the legendary storytelling and historical detail on display in the movie.
10Good Kill (2014)
Chilling, Gritty, and Human
Ethan Hawke plays Thomas Egan inGood Kill, a former pilot for the U.S. Air Force who is currently assigned to fly unmanned drones during the War on Terror, a job that begins to take its toll on his mental well-being.A nuanced look at the brutal realities of modern warfareand indiscriminate killing,Good Killis an Air Force movie that explores morality quite unlike any other. However, its slightly repetitive nature, monotonous pace, and heavy plotline have the potential to make it a difficult watch for many audiences.
Good Kill
Good Kill is a 2015 film directed by Andrew Niccol, focusing on Major Thomas Egan, played by Ethan Hawke. The narrative explores the ethical and personal dilemmas faced by a drone pilot carrying out remote missions from a base in Nevada while experiencing increasing psychological strain. The film also features January Jones and Zoë Kravitz, addressing the complexities of modern warfare and its impact on those involved.
9The Tuskegee Airmen (1995)
A Tale That Needed Telling
Focusing on the titular real-life group of the first African-American pilots in the U.S. Air Force,The Tuskegee Airmenis a film centered around the pilots' mission for equal respect and dignity from their white counterparts. While its historical accuracy and pacing are questionable, it is a movie that was groundbreaking when it was released. At a time when many war movies, and Air Force movies in particular, had very few Black characters,The Tuskegee Airmenarguably broke the mold of movie-making forever.
The Tuskegee Airmen
The Tuskegee Airmen is a historical drama directed by Robert Markowitz, recounting the story of the first African American fighter squadron in World War II. The film stars Laurence Fishburne, Cuba Gooding Jr., and Andre Braugher, and follows the pilots' journey from training to combat, highlighting their struggles against racial discrimination and their contributions to the war effort.
The True Story Of The Tuskegee Airmen & Why They’re Called “Red Tails” Explained
The Tuskegee Airmen were a group of Black fighter pilots and bombers who made a distinct impact on the fight against the Axis during World War II.
8Independence Day (1996)
Massive In Scale (And At The Box Office)
Potentially the most iconic alien invasion movie ever made,Independence Dayfocuses on the response of the U.S. Air Force to an extraterrestrial invasion of Earth. A watershed moment for Hollywood blockbusters and Air Force movies alike,Independence Day’s use of large-scale spectacle to demonstrate the size of the invasion is a thrilling rollercoaster of a story. However, it is full of lackluster dialogue, with the President’s speech in particular failing to register any true emotional reaction, instead being labeled “cheesy” by many.
Independence Daygrossed over $800 million worldwide, becoming the highest-earning film of 1996 (viaBoxOfficeMojo).
Independence Day
Roland Emmerich’s iconic 1996 sci-fi disaster movie Independence Day chronicles the attack of a hostile race of aliens against planet Earth. When extraterrestrial aircraft occupy Earth without warning, the forces of humanity quickly band together to stop them. At the behest of President Thomas J. Whitmore (Bill Pullman), US Marine pilot Captain Steven Hiller (Will Smith) and satellite engineer David Levinson (Jeff Goldblum) organize humanity’s last-ditch counterattack against the technologically-advanced alien mothership.
7Wings (1927)
The Start Of Something Incredible
Wingsnot only earned the first-ever Academy Award For Best Picture but can also be considered asthe first Air Force movie ever. While understandably dated considering its age, it holds an important place in Hollywood history. Set against the backdrop of World War I, the movie presents a realistic depiction of biplane dogfights as well as a crash landing, two types of action that were unthinkable to put to screen beforeWingswas released. This movie is nothing short of a legendary tale of boldness.
Wings
Wings is a silent war film directed by William A. Wellman, notable for its technical achievements in aerial combat sequences. Released in 1927, the film stars Clara Bow, Charles “Buddy” Rogers, and Richard Arlen, focusing on the rivalry and camaraderie of two World War I fighter pilots. Renowned for its dynamic portrayal of airborne battles and its emotional depth, Wings won the first Academy Award for Best Picture.
6Memphis Belle (1990)
A Real Flying Fortress Of A Movie
Based upon the true story of the real B-17 Flying Fortress of the same name,Memphis Belleis an epic tale of the airplane’s role in the U.S. Air Force during WWII.Heroism, bravery, and hopeare on full display in this movie, albeit with a lack of individual characterization. However, this merely adds to the idea of the Memphis Belle’s crew, not as a group of individuals, but as a real team. It may be cliché, but the movie is no less deserving of recognition.
Memphis Belle
During World War II, the young crew of the B-17 bomber “Memphis Belle” is tasked with one final mission before they can return home: bomb a heavily defended German city. As they face the terrifying reality of aerial combat, the crew is tested by the imminent danger of their objective.
