What makes a great in-flight movie? Best films to watch on Emirates and Etihad this summer
But thousands of metres in the air, something shifts. Tastes change. We become more emotional (possibly due to lower air pressure), less cynical and far more likely to hit play on something we might have ignored on the ground. Air travel creates a unique mental space – half boredom, half vulnerability – and cinema becomes both an escape and a comfort.
A great plane movie is built for that head space. It's not just about quality – it's about mood. It needs to be immersive enough to distract from the armrest battle unfolding beside you, yet undemanding enough to pause mid-flight. It should feel like a reliable companion, not a chore.
With that in mind, here's a breakdown of the types of movies that thrive in the sky – and several recommendations currently flying with Emirates and Etihad.
Tear-jerkers
Yes, it's true – people cry more on planes. Blame the altitude, the cabin pressure, or the fact they're emotionally raw after three hours in an airport queue. A good cry can feel oddly cathartic in the clouds, especially with the right film to trigger it. These picks deliver the gut punch with heart to spare.
Flow
The animals in this Academy Award-winning animated film never speak, and that realistic characterisation makes them burrow into the heart even more.
Available on Emirates
Betterman
If you'd told us a year ago that a biopic about British singer Robbie Williams would be a tear-jerker, we'd never have believed you. But give it a try to you'll be pleasantly surprised.
Emirates
Field of Dreams
You don't need to know baseball to be moved by this deeply earnest tale of fathers, sons and second chances.
Emirates
Sleepless in Seattle
Rainy nights, lonely hearts and Tom Hanks at his most Hanksian. One of the great comfort films.
Emirates
The Iron Giant
Still one of the greatest animated films ever made. Brad Bird's breakout classic is as funny as it is devastating.
Emirates
How to Make Millions Before Grandma Dies
A Thai box-office sensation and TikTok favourite. Balances humour and heartbreak with remarkable ease.
Etihad
Rewatchables
There are films that feel like old friends – endlessly rewatchable, oddly reassuring and perfect for watching when tired, bored or mildly sedated at 30,000 feet. They don't just pass the time – they make the flight fly by.
Conclave
While less than a year old, this suspenseful political thriller among cardinals picking the next Catholic priest is just as good on return visits.
Emirates
A Few Good Men
That courtroom scene is iconic, but the rest holds up brilliantly. Peak-era Tom Cruise and writer Aaron Sorkin (The Social Network, The West Wing).
Emirates
A murder mystery viewed through a window. Director Alfred Hitchcock makes voyeurism feel like comfort viewing.
Emirates
The Social Network
Razor-sharp writing, brilliant performances and still oddly thrilling even when you know how it ends.
Emirate s
Moneyball
Another baseball film for people who don't like baseball. Brad Pitt and Jonah Hill sell the underdog magic.
Emirates
Over-the-top action
The constant buzz of a plane – the whirr of engines, the clatter of trolleys, the wails of overtired toddlers – can make even the best film hard to focus on. The solution? Loud, fast, gloriously over-the-top action.
These are high-stakes, low-subtlety thrill rides. Explosive visuals, simple plots and non-stop momentum make them perfect in-flight entertainment. Just plug in and let the chaos wash over you.
Den of Thieves 2: Pantera
After the first film became an under-the-radar dad movie classic, Gerard Butler is back as Big Nick for more heist-movie goodness.
Emirates
Die Hard
Still the gold standard for single-location action. Unmatched pacing, wisecracks, and villainy.
Emirates
G20
Viola Davis saves the world. No, really. She plays the US President rescuing world leaders from terrorists.
Emirates
The Fugitive
A wrongly accused man, a relentless pursuer, and a perfect 90s thriller that's aged like fine wine.
Emirates
Novocaine
Jack Quaid stars as a man who literally can't feel pain – a useful condition when he's forced to become a reluctant hero.
Etihad
Three-star dramas
Not every plane film needs to be a classic. Some of the best in-flight discoveries are the ones you missed in cinemas or never bothered to stream. These mid-tier dramas don't demand full attention, but they deliver just enough emotional pay-off to feel worth it.
The Amateur
The inimitable Rami Malek gets the eminently-watchable plane action-thriller he's always deserved.
Emirates
The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants
A charming, surprisingly affecting coming-of-age tale about friendship and growing up apart.
Etihad
Juror #2
Thanks to Superman, Nicholas Hoult is having a moment. This overlooked courtroom drama directed by Clint Eastwood features one of his best performances.
Emirates
Under the Tuscan Sun
A post-divorce Italian villa fantasy. Exactly the kind of wish-fulfilment that hits differently mid-flight.
Etihad
BlackBerry
A tech-world biopic that charts the dizzying rise and fall of a once-ubiquitous device.
Emirates
Crazy Rich Asians
Glamour, romance and family drama set in Singapore. A modern romcom with the heart of a classic.
Emirates and Etihad
Engrossing documentaries
On some flights, our boredom can't be satiated by fictional stories. In those moments, documentaries that teach us things about the world or peel off the layers of a mind-bending mystery are the only thing that can scratch that itch.
Sugarcane
A heartbreaking film that investigates the dark history of a residential school in Canada. With testimonies from some of its former students, it's a fascinating true crime story you won't soon forget.
Emirates
Senna
If F1 The Movie was your introduction to the world of Formula One, your next step should undoubtedly be director Asif Kapadia's masterful film about the life and death of Brazilian driver Ayrton Senna.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The National
a day ago
- The National
What makes a great in-flight movie? Best films to watch on Emirates and Etihad in August
Many have said it: 'I'll watch it on a plane.' Whether it's a recommendation from a friend or something you missed in cinemas, a long-haul flight is the place many people finally cross things off their seemingly endless lists. But thousands of metres in the air, something shifts. Tastes change. We become more emotional (possibly due to lower air pressure), less cynical and far more likely to hit play on something we might have ignored on the ground. Air travel creates a unique mental space – half boredom, half vulnerability – and cinema becomes both an escape and a comfort. A great plane movie is built for that headspace. It's not just about quality – it's about mood. It needs to be immersive enough to distract from the armrest battle unfolding beside you, yet undemanding enough to pause mid-flight. It should feel like a reliable companion, not a chore. With that in mind, here's a breakdown of the types of movies that thrive in the sky – and several recommendations currently flying with Emirates and Etihad. Tear-jerkers Yes, it's true – people cry more on planes. Blame the altitude, the cabin pressure, or the fact they're emotionally raw after three hours in an airport queue. A good cry can feel oddly cathartic in the clouds, especially with the right film to trigger it. These picks deliver the gut punch with heart to spare. Flow The animals in this Academy Award-winning animated film never speak, and that realistic characterisation makes them burrow into the heart even more. Available on Emirates and Etihad Betterman If you'd told us a year ago that a biopic about British singer Robbie Williams would be a tear-jerker, we'd never have believed you. But give it a try and you'll be pleasantly surprised. Emirates Before Sunset One of the most romantic films ever made, the sequel to 1995's Before Sunrise (also available) elevates the overall series, following two missed connections who reunite nine years after they met for one unforgettable day and then never spoke again. Etihad Field of Dreams You don't need to know baseball to be moved by this deeply earnest tale of fathers, sons and second chances. Emirates Sleepless in Seattle Rainy nights, lonely hearts and Tom Hanks at his most Hanksian. One of the great comfort films. Emirates The Iron Giant Still one of the greatest animated films ever made. Brad Bird's breakout classic is as funny as it is devastating. Emirates How to Make Millions Before Grandma Dies A Thai box-office sensation and TikTok favourite. Balances humour and heartbreak with remarkable ease. Etihad Rewatchable nostalgia Some films feel like old friends – endlessly rewatchable, oddly reassuring and perfect for watching when tired, bored or mildly sedated at 30,000 feet. They don't just pass the time – they make the flight fly by. Breakfast at Tiffany's Ignore Mickey Rooney's outdated character – easier said than done, I know – and Breakfast at Tiffany's hasn't aged a day. Audrey Hepburn's defining role is fittingly still the avatar for lost souls everywhere. Etihad Conclave While less than a year old, this suspenseful political thriller among cardinals picking the next Catholic priest is just as good on return visits. Emirates A Few Good Men That courtroom scene is iconic, but the rest holds up brilliantly. Peak-era Tom Cruise and writer Aaron Sorkin (The Social Network, The West Wing). Emirates A murder mystery viewed through a window. Director Alfred Hitchcock makes voyeurism feel like comfort viewing. Emirates The Social Network Razor-sharp writing, brilliant performances and still oddly thrilling even when you know how it ends. Emirate s Moneyball Another baseball film for people who don't like baseball. Brad Pitt and Jonah Hill sell the underdog magic. Emirates Over-the-top action The constant buzz of a plane – the whirr of engines, the clatter of trolleys, the wails of overtired toddlers – can make even the best film hard to focus on. The solution? Loud, fast, gloriously over-the-top action. These are high-stakes, low-subtlety thrill rides. Explosive visuals, simple plots and non-stop momentum make them perfect in-flight entertainment. Just plug in and let the chaos wash over you. Mad Max: Fury Road Full of genuinely breathtaking stunt work, intricately choreographed set pieces and unforgettable post-apocalyptic world-building, Australian director George Miller's Mad Max: Fury Road has a case for being the best action film ever made. And its prequel, Furiosa, is available for plane-watching too. Etihad Edge of Tomorrow One of Tom Cruise's most enjoyable starring performances – funny, thrilling and thoughtful – is unfortunately one of his most forgettable titles. If that the movie's bland name scared you off before, now's the time to watch. Etihad Den of Thieves 2: Pantera After the first film became an under-the-radar dad movie classic, Gerard Butler is back as Big Nick for more heist-movie goodness. Emirates Die Hard Still the gold standard for single-location action. Unmatched pacing, wisecracks, and villainy. Emirates G20 Viola Davis saves the world. No, really. She plays the US President rescuing world leaders from terrorists. Emirates The Fugitive A wrongly accused man, a relentless pursuer, and a perfect 90s thriller that's aged like fine wine. Emirates Novocaine Jack Quaid stars as a man who literally can't feel pain – a useful condition when he's forced to become a reluctant hero. Etihad Three-star dramas Not every plane film needs to be a classic. Some of the best in-flight discoveries are the ones you missed in cinemas or never bothered to stream. These mid-tier dramas don't demand full attention, but they deliver just enough emotional pay-off to feel worth it. Trap M Night Shyamalan is the current master of simple "what happens next?" storytelling, even if they go off the rails in the third act. In Trap, a man at a concert with his daughter learns that the entire event is a trap for the world's most wanted serial killer – and he's the serial killer. Etihad The Amateur The inimitable Rami Malek gets the eminently watchable plane action-thriller he's always deserved. Emirates and Etihad The Sisterhood of the Travelling Pants A charming, surprisingly affecting coming-of-age tale about friendship and growing up apart. Etihad Juror #2 Thanks to Superman, Nicholas Hoult is having a moment. This overlooked courtroom drama directed by Clint Eastwood features one of his best performances. Emirates Under the Tuscan Sun A post-divorce Italian villa fantasy. Exactly the kind of wish-fulfilment that hits differently mid-flight. Etihad BlackBerry A tech-world biopic that charts the dizzying rise and fall of a once-ubiquitous device. Emirates Crazy Rich Asians Glamour, romance and family drama set in Singapore. A modern romcom with the heart of a classic. Emirates and Etihad Engrossing documentaries On some flights, our boredom can't be satiated by fictional stories. In those moments, documentaries that teach us things about the world or peel off the layers of a mind-bending mystery are the only thing that can scratch that itch. Sugarcane A heartbreaking film that investigates the dark history of a residential school in Canada. With testimonies from some of its former students, it's a fascinating true crime story you won't soon forget. Emirates Senna If F1 The Movie was your introduction to the world of Formula One, your next step should undoubtedly be director Asif Kapadia's masterful film about the life and death of Brazilian driver Ayrton Senna. An uplifting look at the lives of two men who refused to let their physical disabilities dictate the paths of their lives.
The National
2 days ago
- The National
How Ahaan Panday and Aneet Padda's Saiyaara became one of biggest Bollywood films of the year
A Bollywood love story with a moderate budget and two fresh faces is taking the Indian box office by storm, becoming one of the year's top-grossing films in just two weeks. Saiyaara, directed by Mohit Suri, features debutant Ahaan Panday and Aneet Padda in the lead. The film, which was released on July 18, was made on a budget of approximately 60 crore (600 million) rupees, according to Financial Express. It has already collected more than 327 crore (3.2 billion) rupees at the box office, making it the second-highest grossing Indian film of the year, behind the blockbuster Chhaava, which was released in February. What is Saiyaara about? Saiyaara centres around an emotionally-unstable rising musician Krish (Panday) who forms a deep connection with a shy poet Vaani, played by Padda. It is loosely based on the 2004 South Korean film A Moment to Remember, about a couple whose relationship is tested after marriage. Director Suri is known his emotionally-charged romantic films, from Aashiqui 2 and Ek Villain. What are critics and audiences saying about the film? Saiyaara has received generally positive reviews from film critics, many praising Panday and Padda's performances. The film seems to have struck a chord with Gen Z audiences with many of them sharing clips of themselves on social media crying and cheering in the cinema. One viral clip even showed a fan watching the film with an IV drip hooked to his hand. Film trade analyst Komal Nahta even called Saiyaara a 'modern-day DDLJ ', comparing it to the 1995 love story, Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge, a massive box office success considered one of the greatest romantic Bollywood films. 'Some may find what I'm going to say here outrageous,' Nahta posted on X the week of Saiyaara 's release. 'But I've always spoken business, and so here I am: Looking to the fact that today's collections would surpass Friday's record-smashing collections and today's footfalls will be more than Saturday's, I feel inclined to say that YRF and Mohit Suri's Saiyaara is turning out to be Aditya Chopra and YRF's modern-day DDLJ.' The film's soundtrack, featuring songs by hitmakers Mithoon and Tanishk Bagchi among others, have also become massive hits. As of Monday afternoon, the film's title song, Saiyaara, has garnered more than 150 million views on YouTube. Many have also credited the film's success to its deliberately low-key marketing by producer and distributor Yash Raj Films, foregoing conventional promotional routes or using star power to hype up interest in the film – instead using word of mouth and social media reactions to create buzz. Who are Ahaan Panday and Aneet Padda? The cousin of actress Ananya Panday and the nephew of actor Chunky Ahaan Panday, has acting pedigree. His sister, Alanna Panday, is a YouTube star, while his mother Deanne Panday, is a known wellness coach, having author several popular health books. His father, Chikki Panday, is a businessman and Chunky's brother. Padda, meanwhile, is a former model, best known for her role in the 2024 Prime Video series Big Girls Don't Cry. Originally from Punjab, Padda is also a singer and songwriter. Saiyaara is her first major film role.
The National
23-07-2025
- The National
Ozzy Osbourne: When the Prince of Darkness lit up Abu Dhabi
It was on a sweltering May evening in 2014 when heavy metal's Prince of Darkness lit up Abu Dhabi. Ozzy Osbourne' s sole performance in the Middle East came when Black Sabbath took the stage at Etihad Park (then du Arena) as part of a world tour promoting the album 13. Everything about that period suggested a band rejuvenated. The album – their first with Osbourne in 35 years since 1978's Never Say Die! – was praised for pairing the group's monstrous riffs with sharper songwriting. And on stage, despite the well-documented tensions behind the scenes, the band delivered a spirited and muscular performance. Osbourne, who died on Tuesday at the age of 76, will be remembered by many for his final live appearance – an emotional hometown show in Birmingham earlier this month where he sang from a wheelchair. In Abu Dhabi, however, we remember him stalking the stage, clad in signature black, his circular shades masking what must have been a glint in his eye. The performance was greeted with a mix of awe and curiosity. While Black Sabbath's music had long permeated the region through record stores, radio stations and guitar tabs passed around in bedrooms, this was the first time many fans had experienced the sound live – direct, unrelenting and anchored by Osbourne's presence. As The National noted in its review, the evening was 'part event, part musical education'. From the band's maiden regional visit, fans got what they wanted. The 16-song setlist featured many vintage hits, from the stomping War Pigs with its anti-war message underscored by projected footage of military conflicts, followed by Into the Void and Iron Man, with Tony Iommi's sludgy and walloping riffs. 'Go … crazy!' Osbourne shouted before Paranoid, and the crowd obeyed. As our review noted, their time away from stage didn't diminish the band's ferocious sound: 'Osbourne sounded stronger than ever on the classics. The most pertinent case in point arrived after he announced that Sabbath were about to 'take you back', right to the very beginning, to the title track of the debut album Black Sabbath, heralded by a cascade of haunting church bells and a riff heavier than an overladen 16-wheeler lorry.' In a pre-show interview with The National, Osbourne described the tour as a kind of renewal. 'We have sold out every gig and had a No 1 album in 15 countries. It just feels like a regeneration for us,' he said, adding the Abu Dhabi show was part of a wider effort to reach new audiences. 'There is a whole market out there that we didn't know about,' he said. 'I have still never seen any of the Arab countries … and I understand that in India we have a lot of Black Sabbath fans. That's amazing!' The concert also reflected a quieter shift in the band's internal dynamics. 'We also don't do drugs and we don't do alcohol,' Osbourne said. 'The music is what we are about now. We have matured and we have families and responsibilities, and I am just having a great time playing with the boys all over again.' That maturity translated to a performance that was less about chaos and more about connection. The crowd was a mix of long-time fans, younger listeners and the kind of families Osbourne described as 'grandfathers coming in with their children and they are bringing their kids as well'. With Osbourne's death this week, the Abu Dhabi show feels more pointed than ever. While it never felt like a farewell, we knew how privileged it was to witness this most unexpected of reunions. Black Sabbath never returned to the region on future tours, but their sole gig is fondly remembered for all the right reasons: it was loud, unrelenting and oddly tender – exactly as it should have been.
