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Trailer

Planes, Trains and Automobiles

1987Movie1 h 32 minR

Comedy
80
GreatGoodWatch score
IMDb7.6Letterboxd3.8/5Metacritic727.7Rotten Tomatoes93%87%

A deeply moving, nostalgic comedy movie about everyday modern life and family, with standout performances and dialogue.

Good for date night · family movie night · friends night

Skip it if you want dark or edgy material

Where to watch

Fingerprint

Not for scares, brutality or big ideas.

Movies with

Story

What he really wanted was to spend Thanksgiving with his family. What he got was three days with the turkey.

An irritable marketing executive, Neal Page, is heading home to Chicago for Thanksgiving when a number of delays force him to travel with a well meaning but overbearing shower curtain ring salesman, Del Griffith.

Feels like

  • Classic Buddy Comedy
  • Thanksgiving Essential
  • John Candy & Steve Martin Chemistry
  • Heartbreaking Finale
  • Road Trip Misadventures
  • Warm & Fuzzy Humor
  • 1980s Nostalgia
  • Character-Driven Laughs
  • Emotional Payoff

Cast

24 of 28

Crew

Directed by
John Hughes
Written by
John Hughes
Produced by
John Hughes
Music by
Ira Newborn

Everyone

Pick a department, or search for a name or a job (“editor”, “stunt”).

Facts

November 26, 1987 · 1 h 32 min · R

Released
November 26, 1987
Runtime
1 h 32 min
Age rating
R
Content
Strong Language
Genres
Comedy
Original language
English
Made in
United States
Budget
$15 million
Box office
$50 million
Available in
81 countries

Tropes

Sanity Slippage, Rule of Symbolism, Have I Mentioned I Am Heterosexual Today? +9

  • Sanity Slippage
  • Rule of Symbolism
  • Have I Mentioned I Am Heterosexual Today?
  • The Bore
  • The Stinger
  • Mundane Made Awesome
  • Big Eater
  • I Want You to Meet an Old Friend of Mine
  • Amusing Injuries
  • Jerkass
  • Fisticuff-Provoking Comment
  • Gave Up Too Soon

12 of 122 tropes. From TV Tropes.

Q&A

7 questions, like "Where can I stream Planes, Trains and Automobiles?"

Questions about Planes, Trains and Automobiles

Quick answers from GoodWatch data.

Where can I stream Planes, Trains and Automobiles?

fuboTVParamount+KanopyYouTube TVPeacock Premium+

In the United States, Planes, Trains and Automobiles streams on fuboTV, Paramount+, YouTube TV, and Peacock, and it is free with ads on Kanopy. You can rent or buy it from Apple TV Store, JustWatch TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, and Fandango At Home. It also streams in 12 other countries.

Is Planes, Trains and Automobiles worth watching?

80
GreatGoodWatch score

Yes, it's widely acclaimed, with a GoodWatch score of 80 (IMDb 7.6, Letterboxd 3.8 out of 5, Rotten Tomatoes 93%, and Metacritic 72).

Is Planes, Trains and Automobiles okay for kids?

RStrong language

Yes: it's rated R in the United States for strong language, and the viewing guide lists it for family nights.

Will Planes, Trains and Automobiles make me laugh?

Funny

Yes: the humor is mostly situational comedy (9 of 10) and slapstick (8 of 10).

Is Planes, Trains and Automobiles plot-driven or character-driven?

CharactersPlot

Mostly character-driven: it leans on pathos (9 of 10) and dialogue centrality (9 of 10) more than on its plot.

Was Planes, Trains and Automobiles a box office hit?

Budget$15 million
Box office$50 million

Yes: it cost about $15 million to make and earned $50 million worldwide, 3.3 times its budget.

What tropes does Planes, Trains and Automobiles use?

Sanity SlippageRule of SymbolismHave I Mentioned I Am Heterosexual Today?The BoreThe StingerMundane Made AwesomeBig EaterI Want You to Meet an Old Friend of MineAmusing InjuriesJerkassFisticuff-Provoking CommentGave Up Too Soonand 110 more

TV Tropes lists 122 tropes for it, including Sanity Slippage, Rule of Symbolism, and Have I Mentioned I Am Heterosexual Today?.