Movie Night or Movie Flight

A guide to what movies to watch during that 5 or 15 hour flight 

by Angela Parinas

Josie Zevin

How long is the flight? How far can I recline my chair? Are there meals included? These are all important questions everyone asks themselves when boarding their plane. But, one crucial question remains: “What movie should I watch?” 

Many already have an answer – Crazy Rich Asians. However, for those who don’t, or those looking for something new, here is a list of my recommendations across a variety of genres. 

“Isn’t everything we do in life a way to be loved a little more?” - Before Sunrise

Romance and RomComs are by far the most popular choices for movie nights, so why shouldn’t they be for flights? Movies like Little Women and Pride and Prejudice are classic slow-burn romances that give you a deeper look into the emotions and personalities of each character, gradually building their relationships along with your own attachment. 

A more modern take on the slow-burn is Before Sunrise. The film guides its viewers through the streets of Vienna with two young adults—down alleys with thoughtful conversations, into cafes with fleeting moments, and toward a connection that feels both spontaneous and inevitable. The heart of the film lies in its simplicity and focus on romance found in shared words, glances and connections, not grand gestures. Before Sunrise is a movie that portrays romance in a youthfully idealistic yet oddly realistic way, leaving its viewers touched and wanting more. Luckily, there are two sequels that follow!   

“DJANGO! You uppity son of a b…” - Django Unchained 

If you are looking for something more exciting to keep you awake until meal time comes around, what better than a western action film? Django Unchained is a Quentin Tarantino film, making it not only dynamic and engaging but also comedic and witty. It’s almost three hours long—making it the perfect film to eat away at time—and it keeps you engaged from the first minute to the last. 

In short, the movie is set in the 1850’s, following Django, an enslaved man, looking to reunite with his wife. Put as simply as that, the film may not sound like one with striking visuals, sharp dialogue and bold storytelling, but rest assured, it delivers all that and more. The movie takes its viewers through a fast-paced, action-heavy, sarcasm-stricken adventure focused on revenge, justice and the criticism of slavery—leaving the audience captivated long after the credits roll. 

“No matter what anyone tells you, words and ideas can change the world” - Dead Poets Society

Coming-of-age dramas are the kind of gut-wrenching films that hit you right in the heart and leave you tearing up—perfect for those 5-to-15 hours at 30,000 feet, squeezed arm-to-arm between your seatmates. Dead Poets Society is just that kind of movie; it explores themes of freedom, self-expression, independent thought, and the clash between tradition and passion. The film follows a group of school boys in a private boarding school learning to find inspiration and independence away from the suffocating predetermined destinies that have been imposed on them since childhood. 

During the film, you can’t help but grow an attachment to each of the characters through their failures and triumphs, learning alongside them through each lesson and message, and laughing with them through each memory and adventure. It is truly a story that pulls at the strings of your heart and one that had me tearing up by the end of it.  

Romance, action, comedy, drama—a long flight is the perfect time to explore cinema’s abundance of genres and timeless stories. My recommendations could go on for pages, but at the risk of overwhelming you, it is best kept to my three top choices. 

Whichever it is you choose to watch, I hope you enjoy each as much as I did!