Long flights pair well with films that are mindlessly fun, deeply engrossing, or travel-themed to distract and comfort passengers. Crazy Rich Asians offers repeated rewatchability, Michelle Yeoh's commanding matriarch performance, lavish Singapore scenery, evocative night-market food shots, and on-screen airplane moments that amplify wanderlust while spotlighting the downsides of economy travel. The Dark Knight Rises matches heightened in-flight emotions by aligning cinematic intensity with passengers' vulnerability at cruising altitude. Short, absorbing, or emotionally resonant films help passengers forget cramped conditions, tolerate variable sleep, and transform long flight time into an entertaining or cathartic experience.
First, the obvious: I look for anything that is mindlessly fun or otherwise engrossing enough to help me forget that I am hurtling through the air in a bus with wings. I probably will not watch anything worthy of the Criterion Collection. Provided that I am entertained, the movie's length is no issue. And it doesn't hurt if there are scenes involving airports or travel, to help me romanticize the experience of crying children and cramped seats.
These are among the many boxes that Crazy Rich Asians ticks. I've spaced out my rewatches of this movie enough that it still feels fresh and captivating every time. Michelle Yeoh's performance as an icy, formidable matriarch is hard to look away from. The lavish scenery and shots of Singapore's night-market food strengthen my travel urge. Plus, those sweet airplane scenes (no spoilers!). The only downside is that it makes me wish I no longer had to travel in economy.
The Dark Knight Rises (streaming on HBO Max) - Stephanie Bai, associate editor Moviegoing in an airplane may not elicit the same cinematic thrill as sitting in an IMAX theater, but it can bring a different emotional vulnerability. Perhaps you've just said goodbye to a lover you will never see again, or you're flying home to fix a fraught situation with your parents. Feelings, too, can be heightened at cruising altitude.
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