The Atlas Obscura Podcast AO Mailbag: Best Movie to Watch on an Airplane?
Apr 6, 2026
A lively mailbag exploring whether some trips are best shared or tackled solo. A fun debate about safety, etiquette, and whether to tell friends you’re visiting. Playful recommendations for the perfect in-flight movie, from cartoons to tearjerkers and dialogue-heavy picks. Practical tips on staying with friends versus booking a hotel.
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Go Alone If It Gets You There Sooner
- Do go solo to places like the Grand Canyon if it gets you there sooner and you avoid risky activities alone.
- Avoid soloing rugged rim-to-rim hikes or poorly traveled routes where footing and safety are real concerns.
Skip Visually Dense Films On Small Screens
- Avoid extremely complex, rapid‑cut films on small screens because they can become nonsensical and frustrating in the air.
- Kelly stopped Everything Everywhere All At Once midflight because the small screen made it incomprehensible.
Pick Plane Movies By Mood Not Prestige
- Try cartoons, light comedies, or dialogue‑heavy period dramas for long flights depending on your mood and attention needs.
- Johanna likes cartoons or horror to manage anxiety; Kelly prefers melodramatic tearjerkers or attention‑demanding films like Blue Moon.