All Of It – "The Best 'Plane Ride Movies'"

Host: Alison Stewart (WNYC)
Guest: David Mack (Writer, Slate)
Air Date: February 21, 2024

Episode Overview

In this lively edition of the segment "Small Stakes, Big Opinions," host Alison Stewart and guest David Mack dive into the culture of watching movies while flying. They discuss what makes a perfect "plane movie," why certain films hit differently at 35,000 feet, and hear from listeners about their favorite airborne film discoveries.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. What Defines a "Plane Movie"?

• Predictability and Comfort:
  David Mack explains that the best plane movies are comfortable, predictable, and undemanding. You want something you can "lean back" into, not a film that requires your full attention or that ends with a jarring twist.

  • "We're drawn to these movies... because it is predictable, it's comforting... I want to know that, you know, at the end of the movie, the hot people are gonna get together and kiss and the bad guys are gonna be defeated. And that's nice to me." – David Mack (07:35)

• Run Time:
  Ideally, a plane movie is under two hours—short enough to hold your attention and perhaps fit in a nap or meal around it.

  • "For a perfect flight movie I think is under two hours." – David Mack (02:09)

• Setting:
  The best picks often have some element of travel, airports, or exotic destinations, helping passengers feel a sense of vicarious adventure.

  • "There should be something perhaps exotic about where the characters are going... it should feel like they’re going on a trip. And we’re going on a trip, too.” – David Mack (08:26)

• Genre:
  Lightweight romantic comedies, blockbusters, and “lean back” action films are common favorites. Anything too heavy, slow, or complex is usually avoided.

2. Emotional Responses While Flying

• Heightened Emotions:
  Multiple listeners and David discuss how flying can make people more emotional during movies, perhaps due to stress, altitude, or the unique liminal environment.
  • "I have a propensity to cry during movies on airplanes in ways that I rarely experience on the ground... Perhaps it has something to do with the cabin pressure or oxygen level..." – Felix, caller (05:37)
  • "There's definitely been a lot written about that before... I think more than anything it's the stress of air travel." – David Mack (07:00)

3. The David Mack Formula for Plane Movies

• Case Study: "Anyone But You"
  This rom-com, inspired by Shakespeare’s "Much Ado About Nothing," is set at a destination wedding in Australia—predictable romance, attractive stars, and a scenic locale. Mack notes these factors made it feel "destined" for in-flight entertainment.

  • "Just the poster alone of these two attractive people on a boat in Sydney harbor... I knew I was going to watch this on a plane one day." – David Mack (03:11)

• Ticket to Paradise
  Another example: a Julia Roberts and George Clooney rom-com with an airport/plane scene, short timeline, and exotic setting – the "plane movie" formula in action.
  (10:04–12:21 features a snippet from the trailer.)

  • "As you heard from that trailer... the trailer opens with them on a plane, right? It’s telling us right from the get go that this is [a] movie associated with planes." – David Mack (11:33)

4. Audience Input & Recommendations

Listeners called in to share their experiences and picks:

• Documentaries:
  Ken and Nicole prefer catching up on non-fiction films they’d never watch at home, especially those unavailable in the US (15:11, 25:40).

  • "[I] usually do documentaries. On occasion I do the mindless thing just to zone out..." – Ken, caller (15:11)
  • "[I] watched... a documentary on Stanley Kubrick... not released in the US." – Nicole, caller (25:51)

• Foreign & Regional Films:
  Angelo suggests watching movies from the country you’re flying to for extra context and enjoyment (15:46).

  • "When people travel internationally, they should pay attention to the movies... where you're going to..." – Angelo, caller (15:46)

• Genre Preferences & Social Viewing:
  Mark recommends picking films directed by women to guarantee substance over spectacle (08:47). Others admit to choosing "geezer pleasers": safe, mature-cast films (23:56) or Disney/animation their family won’t watch with them.

• Risk of Overly Emotional or Embarrassing Choices:
  Viewers warn against highly emotional movies (like "The Art of Racing in the Rain" or "Beautiful Boy") unless you want to sob in public (22:45, 05:37).

• Audience Awareness:
  Mack notes that, since people can see your screen, it's best to avoid anything risqué or visually graphic:

  • "What you’re watching is probably going to be seen by whoever's next to you or sitting behind you..." – David Mack (14:38)

5. More Mack Favorites & Notable Plane Movies

• "Last Holiday" (starring Queen Latifah):
  An uplifting destination movie involving romance, stunts on skis, and food. Checks every box for comfort fare.

  • "It's charming, it has an appreciation of food and romance, and I think it's a perfect... short time span film." – David Mack (17:41)

• "Crazy Rich Asians":
  Repeatedly cited by both Mack and listeners as the “definitive plane movie” of the last decade.

  • "This is a movie that people love to re-watch on a plane... maybe the definitive plane movie of the last 10 years..." – David Mack (21:02)

• Blockbusters & Action Franchises:
  For those not into romance, Mack recommends the "Mission: Impossible" and Bond movies—light on plot, heavy on action, easy to jump in and out of (24:04).

  • "Mission Impossible films are great plane movies. I think the Bond movies are great plane movies." – David Mack (24:04)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On the Ideal Vibe:
  "There's something that you can have on in front of you while you've perhaps got a glass of bad wine from the flight attendant... It's a popcorn piece of entertainment for 35,000 feet." – David Mack (13:18)

• On Predictability as Comfort:
  "I'm drawn to these pieces of entertainment that make me feel comforted, that make me feel nurtured; not being too surprised by what's gonna happen..." – David Mack (18:53)

• On the Social Aspect of Watching:
  "I think you have to be aware in a plane movie that what you’re watching is probably going to be seen by whoever’s next to you or sitting behind you..." – David Mack (14:38)

Highlighted Listener Stories

• Felix from Durham, NC (05:23):
  Shares the phenomenon of crying more readily at films during flights.

• Kip from Brooklyn (13:30):
  Chose to enhance flight-induced claustrophobia by watching "The Lighthouse," a famously stifling movie.

• Stephanie from Long Island (19:36):
  Warns against watching anything too funny, like "Flight of the Conchords," lest you disturb your neighbors with laughter.

• Ellen from Westchester (22:06):
  Watched "Barbie" on a plane—otherwise wouldn’t have—and was pleased with the discovery.

Timestamps – Key Segments

• [01:37] - David Mack’s frequent flyer status and expertise
• [03:37] - Why "Anyone But You" sparked his Slate article
• [05:23] - Emotional impact of movies on flights (caller Felix)
• [10:04] - Ticket to Paradise trailer; analysis as prime plane movie
• [11:33] - Discussion on "lean back" vs. "lean in" movies
• [14:38] - Choosing films with consideration for seatmates
• [17:41] - "Last Holiday" and the appeal of destination comedies
• [21:01] - "Crazy Rich Asians" as the quintessential plane movie
• [24:04] - Alternatives to romances: action movies as solid choices
• [26:39] - Mack’s final tip: binge a trashy series for long-hauls

Final Thoughts

David Mack thoughtfully positions "plane movies" not as lesser entertainment, but as an essential comfort for travelers—a means to de-stress, pass the time, and escape in a gentle or familiar narrative. The audience’s wide-ranging picks—from tearjerkers to documentaries to nostalgia-fueled re-watches—highlight the deeply personal and communal nature of in-flight movie culture.

“For a very, very long haul flight, consider watching one trashy series and just watching a bunch of episodes of it. It'll make the flight go in like no time at all.”
– David Mack (26:39)

For more cultural conversations, catch "All Of It" with Alison Stewart weekdays on WNYC.