Airplane!

"Airplane!" is a classic comedy that centers on Ted Striker, an ex-fighter pilot grappling with fear of flying, who must heroically take control of a commercial airliner after the crew falls ill due to food poisoning. The film parodies the disaster genre with a rapid-fire sequence of gags, slapstick humor, and absurd characters, including Michael Laurence as the newscaster and Gregory Itzin as Religious Zealot #1, adding to its quirky charm.

Trivia:
1. The writers and directors, Jim Abrahams, David Zucker, and Jerry Zucker, were inspired by the 1957 film "Zero Hour!" and used its script as a structural template, injecting comedic twists.
2. The iconic line "Surely you can't be serious" followed by "I am serious... and don't call me Shirley" was improvised by Leslie Nielsen, who was previously known for dramatic roles.
3. Many background gags and visual jokes are embedded throughout the film, inviting multiple viewings to catch all the humor, establishing "Airplane!" as a cult classic for comedy enthusiasts.

Full Cast of Airplane!

Crew of Airplane!