Airport Movies: Release Order
The Airport series defined the disaster movie genre of the 1970s, featuring spectacular airline catastrophes and star-studded ensemble casts in each film. These movies established many of the tropes that would become synonymous with disaster cinema, from dramatic personal subplots to large-scale destruction sequences.
While each film tells a standalone story with different characters and disasters, they're connected by tone, fictional airline companies, and most notably Joe Patroni (George Kennedy), who appears in all four films in various airline industry roles. The series was so influential that it directly inspired the classic parody Airplane! (1980), which lovingly mocked the genre's conventions.
Linear Timeline: Release Order = Story Order
Airport
During a severe snowstorm, an airport manager struggles to keep operations running while dealing with various crises, including a dangerous threat aboard a commercial airliner.
Airport 1975
When a mid-air collision leaves the pilots incapacitated, a stewardess must take control of a 747 jumbo jet with the help of her pilot boyfriend radioing instructions from the ground. As panic spreads among the passengers, she faces the daunting task of safely landing the massive aircraft.
Airport '77
When a luxury airliner is hijacked and crashes into the ocean, the surviving passengers find themselves trapped 200 feet underwater in the Bermuda Triangle. They must overcome panic, equipment failures, and dwindling oxygen supplies while attempting a desperate escape plan.
The Concorde... Airport '79
In this aviation disaster film, airline troubleshooter Joe Patroni faces his most dangerous challenge yet when a Concorde flight encounters multiple threats including nuclear missiles and the possibility of the aircraft breaking apart over the Alps.
Other Film Series
American Ninja
A cult martial arts action series from Cannon Films following American soldiers skilled in ninjutsu as they battle various criminal ninja organizations.
Dirty Harry
San Francisco Inspector Harry Callahan's uncompromising approach to justice across five iconic cop thrillers.
Jack Ryan
CIA analyst Jack Ryan becomes an unlikely action hero in this Cold War thriller trilogy based on Tom Clancy's novels.
Lone Wolf and Cub
A legendary samurai saga following Ogami Ittō and his son Daigoro as they travel Japan seeking vengeance and justice.
Michael Mann
A collection of standalone crime thrillers and character studies from the acclaimed director known for his distinctive visual style and procedural authenticity.
The Punisher
Three completely separate reboot films featuring Frank Castle's vigilante crusade, each with different actors, settings, and interpretations of the character.