Stream the Hilarious 1980 Classic 'Airplane!' for Free – Ranked 3rd Best Comedy Ever
These days, it often seems like a comedy movie featuring even a handful of truly funny scenes can become hugely popular. However, one 1980 classic that is still hilarious today managed to pack a laugh into virtually every frame. That's why it is ranked among the "best comedy movies of all time." Fortunately for anyone hoping to enjoy some huge laughs, it can also be streamed at no cost to viewers.
What Makes the 1980 Film a Must-See All-Time Comedy Classic?
In April 2026, Time Out updated its list of the 100 "best comedy movies of all time." The list included beloved film titles that were released between 1923 and 2025 and featured several of the most popular movie stars of all time. One movie that surpassed almost all the competition in the ranking was 1980's Airplane!, which was ranked at No. 3. The only films to surpass it in the ranking were Borat: Cultural Learnings of America For Make Benefit Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan and This Is Spinal Tap. They were listed at No. 2 and No. 1, respectively.
The outlet described the classic comedy as a "playful and silly spoof of 1970s disaster movies" that is "overflowing with on-target visual gags and one-liners." It also noted that "Leslie Nielsen steals the film" in his role as a no-nonsense and yet supremely hilarious doctor onboard the doomed aircraft.
While Time Out did a great job describing some of what makes Airplane! so great, it left out several elements that deserve to be celebrated. For example, while Nielsen's performance is iconic, Robert Hays, Julie Hagerty, and Lloyd Bridges are all incredibly funny in the film too. Most notably, it may be the most perfectly crafted comedy ever produced. That's because it is so utterly crammed with funny jokes that it seems like every 5-second clip of it is bound to have a small collection of gags.
Perhaps the best indication of the movie's brilliance is that it is a spoof that is epically funny even when completely divorced from the style of films it was lampooning. Even though Airplane! was a direct take on the disaster movies that seemed to be everywhere during the late-1970s, many people who've never seen those films still love it.
Where You Can Stream the Comedy Classic for Free Right Now
Even though Airplane! is such a fantastic movie, many people have never had the pleasure of watching it. Additionally, there are fans who've seen the movie and recognized its brilliance who may want to watch it again. Thankfully, it is possible to stream the legendary comedy completely for free right now in America. Airplane! is available to watch on Pluto TV for free with commercial interruptions at this link.
Next: 1984 Classic Ranked ‘Best Comedy Movie of All Time' - And It's Still Hilarious
This story was originally published by Men's Journal on Jun 20, 2026, where it first appeared in the News section. Add Men's Journal as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
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This story was originally published June 20, 2026 at 4:15 AM.