Planes, Trains and Automobiles
A tightly wound businessman and an endlessly chatty salesman endure a disastrous Thanksgiving journey that turns travel chaos into an unlikely friendship.
Overview
A frantic journey home for Thanksgiving turns into a hilarious misadventure with an unlikely travel companion.
Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Brisk
- Intensity
- Moderate
- Complexity
- Simple
- Violence
- Mild
- witty
- breezy
- warm
- thanksgiving
- holiday viewing
What critics said
Critics broadly regard it as a hilarious, heartfelt holiday classic elevated by the impeccable chemistry between Steve Martin and John Candy.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
Neal's canceled flight leads to a chain of increasingly chaotic plane, train, and automobile problems on the journey home.
Impatient marketing executive Neal Page is repeatedly paired with talkative salesman Del Griffith until their antagonism becomes genuine companionship.
Neal's urgent attempt to reach his family for Thanksgiving gives every delay heightened personal and seasonal stakes.
The film moves from outrageous travel disasters and Del's blunders toward candid, humane moments between the two leads.
Films like Planes, Trains and Automobiles, and why
Midnight Run
shares a warm buddy-comedy structure, escalating travel mishaps, and an opposites-attract friendship
Due Date
shares holiday travel chaos, fish-out-of-water humor, and heartfelt comic companionship
The Odd Couple
shares a road movie framework, mismatched companions, and a balance of slapstick with emotional sincerity
Movie Details
- Director
- John Hughes
- Release Date
- 1987-11-26
- Runtime
- 92 min
- Rating
- 7.3 / 10 (2325)
Cast
- Steve Martin
- John Candy
- Laila Robins
- Michael McKean
- Dylan Baker
- Kevin Bacon
- Olivia Burnette
- Carol Bruce
- Diana Douglas
- Martin Ferrero
Where to watch in United States
- Streaming
- Philo, YouTube TV
- Rent
- JustWatch TV, Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home, Plex
- Buy
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is Planes, Trains and Automobiles about?
- A tightly wound businessman and an endlessly chatty salesman endure a disastrous Thanksgiving journey that turns travel chaos into an unlikely friendship.
- What is Planes, Trains and Automobiles like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Planes, Trains and Automobiles as brisk, its intensity as moderate and its storytelling as simple.
- Is Planes, Trains and Automobiles violent?
- Only mildly. Ember rates the violence in Planes, Trains and Automobiles as mild.
- What did critics think of Planes, Trains and Automobiles?
- Critics broadly regard it as a hilarious, heartfelt holiday classic elevated by the impeccable chemistry between Steve Martin and John Candy.
- Which films are like Planes, Trains and Automobiles?
- Films with a similar feel include Midnight Run, Due Date, and The Odd Couple.
- How long is Planes, Trains and Automobiles?
- Planes, Trains and Automobiles runs 92 minutes.
- Where can I watch Planes, Trains and Automobiles?
- In United States, Planes, Trains and Automobiles streams on Philo, YouTube TV.
