Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Measured
- Intensity
- Strong
- Complexity
- Easy to follow
- Violence
- Mild
- tense
- heightened
- suspenseful
- classic disaster movie night
- aviation thriller marathon
What critics said
Critics broadly regarded the film as slick but formulaic and implausible, with some appreciation for its U.S. Navy rescue procedures.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
The submerged 747 and the planned U.S. Navy operation drive the latter half through practical rescue procedures.
The aircraft carries invited VIP guests and art-world figures whose survival unfolds alongside the crew's efforts.
The crashed underwater 747, oil-rig collision, aviation equipment, and Navy recovery operation provide the film's central spectacle.
The hijackers target priceless paintings and art treasures, turning a collection-opening flight into an aviation disaster.
Films like Airport '77, and why
The Poseidon Adventure
shared 1970s disaster-film spectacle, ensemble survival drama, and high-stakes transportation crisis
Airport
shared airport-disaster formula, aviation suspense, ensemble cast, and procedural rescue elements
Airport 1975
shared airplane peril, hijacking thriller mechanics, and heroic emergency response
Movie Details
- Director
- Jerry Jameson
- Release Date
- 1977-03-11
- Runtime
- 114 min
- Rating
- 5.6 / 10 (342)
Cast
- Jack Lemmon
- Lee Grant
- Brenda Vaccaro
- Joseph Cotten
- Olivia de Havilland
- Darren McGavin
- Christopher Lee
- George Kennedy
- James Stewart
- Maidie Norman
Where to watch in United States
- Rent
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
- 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 Airport '77 about?
- A hijacked VIP airliner crashes into the Bermuda Triangle, forcing its passengers and rescuers into a tense underwater survival operation.
- What is Airport '77 like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Airport '77 as measured, its intensity as strong and its storytelling as easy to follow.
- Is Airport '77 violent?
- Only mildly. Ember rates the violence in Airport '77 as mild.
- What did critics think of Airport '77?
- Critics broadly regarded the film as slick but formulaic and implausible, with some appreciation for its U.S. Navy rescue procedures.
- Which films are like Airport '77?
- Films with a similar feel include The Poseidon Adventure, Airport, and Airport 1975.
- How long is Airport '77?
- Airport '77 runs 114 minutes.
- Where can I watch Airport '77?
- In United States, Airport '77 is available to rent or buy from Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home.
