Planes, Trains & Automobiles
Paramount Pictures | Release Date: November 25, 1987
7.9
USER SCORE
Generally favorable reviews based on 58 Ratings
USER RATING DISTRIBUTION
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50
Mixed:
7
Negative:
1
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User Reviews

User scoreBy dateMost helpful
10
Nicholas-RenniAug 23, 2017
Astonishing film. Incredible moving story, with amazing characters written. You truly care about them and the positions they put themselves in throughout the film is very humorous. Comedy mixed with tense drama scenes. John candy best film inAstonishing film. Incredible moving story, with amazing characters written. You truly care about them and the positions they put themselves in throughout the film is very humorous. Comedy mixed with tense drama scenes. John candy best film in my opinion, acting was amazing. The music score for this movie was amazing. John Hughes has created many timeless classics, and this was one of them.… Expand
1 of 1 users found this helpful10
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10
kyle20ellisMar 14, 2022
Planes, Trains and Automobiles for me is nothing short of a classic. It is sentimental yes, but it is also very funny, heartwarming and touching. John Hughes does a great job with the direction, and the film looks beautiful with thePlanes, Trains and Automobiles for me is nothing short of a classic. It is sentimental yes, but it is also very funny, heartwarming and touching. John Hughes does a great job with the direction, and the film looks beautiful with the cinematography truly lovely especially. The music is a nice touch, while the story is a beautiful and I think heartwarming one and the script is full of funny and poignant parts. Then there is the chemistry between Steve Martin and John Candy. These two are outstanding together, and individually both are wonderful, particularly Candy- to be honest I can imagine very few who can play the role as well as Candy did, he was well and truly one of a kind. Overall, wonderful and a classic. 10/10 Bethany Cox… Expand
1 of 1 users found this helpful10
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10
The3AcademySinsNov 23, 2017
One of John Hughes greatest comedies, Planes, Trains and Automobiles is as heartwarming and awe-inspiring as it is hilarious. This is the best Thanksgiving movie ever made, and the dramatic sequences nicely balance the humorous scenes. You'llOne of John Hughes greatest comedies, Planes, Trains and Automobiles is as heartwarming and awe-inspiring as it is hilarious. This is the best Thanksgiving movie ever made, and the dramatic sequences nicely balance the humorous scenes. You'll fall in love with Dell Griffith and Neil Page, and their romp trying to get home for the holidays will stick with you long after the credits roll. This is not one to miss.… Expand
1 of 1 users found this helpful10
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10
Compi24Nov 16, 2018
Let's be clear here -- "Planes, Trains, And Automobiles" isn't just the best Thanksgiving movie of all time. It's John Hughes's best film and one of the greatest buddy movies ever made. Let's parse through some of that a bit. First, there isLet's be clear here -- "Planes, Trains, And Automobiles" isn't just the best Thanksgiving movie of all time. It's John Hughes's best film and one of the greatest buddy movies ever made. Let's parse through some of that a bit. First, there is not one other Thanksgiving movie (if you could even call that a sub-genre) that's as honest, meaningful, and as heartfelt as it is in its dealings of thematics, specifically those of what family truly means. Hell, there's barely a better movie in general that deals with family, regardless of the Thanksgiving identifier. It's an inarguably masterful study on what it means to belong, the primacy of interpersonal connection, and -- the crowd-pleasingest of all thematic underpinnings -- the triumph of the human spirit. Second, it's Hughes's best film simply because it's the funniest and most meaningful without me having to apologize for any element/scene/joke that wouldn't fly too well today because "I guess it was just a different time for humor, man." This is timeless. Full stop. No question. And it's one of the best buddy movies of all time because of the fact that the movie starts and even plays out -- until the end, that is -- with the two protagonistic characters being at each other's throats for most of the duration of the narrative. But it doesn't matter. Because it's the resolution that resonates most in the audience's hearts. It's not about where the characters are going or where they started. It's about the journey towards the eventual friendship therein. As far as holiday movies go, this is pure, unmitigated cream and an absolute masterpiece.… Expand
0 of 0 users found this helpful00
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4
gracjanskiJan 12, 2021
entertaining movie with simple humour, so a movie for the masses. In addition some of the story elements are unrealistic. John Candy is sympathetic, but I dont like Steve Martin.
0 of 0 users found this helpful00
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6
Voodoo123Dec 6, 2022
Heartwarming dramedy tests the ability of a modern city worker to connect with a stranger in the midst of a significant delay in his commute. The casting is exceptional, but the heavy edits and leaning from the director towards improv scenesHeartwarming dramedy tests the ability of a modern city worker to connect with a stranger in the midst of a significant delay in his commute. The casting is exceptional, but the heavy edits and leaning from the director towards improv scenes and 'big comedy set pieces' really only drags things along from telling the far more interesting human story that was here all along. The heart of the film is intact and well worth a watch.… Expand
0 of 0 users found this helpful00
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10
evokingsMay 31, 2018
This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. This is an amazing movie, I especially like the way that Neal comes to the realization that del's wife had passed away... Neal was perceived by viewers, earlier in the movie as someone that was; self centered, judgmental, closed minded, somewhat stressed out, on the outside, but somewhere deep in his mind, you can tell that he wants to be a good natured person again, but he lacks the ability to see it on his own, by contrast Del is perceived by the viewer to be; non-judgmental, unassuming, and has a positive outlook on his life, but on the inside Del is really in emotional pain, and he is trying to cope with his life, and they both are hiding their own issues, Del clearly does a better job, and his positive outlook rubs off on Neal, if you think about it, the old Neal likely never would have thought about someone else's feelings, what he does in the movie, at the end, inviting Del over to his house, would never have happened, if he never met him to begin with, and thats part of what makes the movie unique, both Neal and Del save each other from there own flaws, and basically end up bettering themselves by the end of the movie.… Expand
0 of 0 users found this helpful00
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5
amheretojudgeDec 3, 2018
Planes, Trains And Automobiles is not looking for a home run, it doesn't need it to win its viewers, this family holiday card has got the traditional sweet recipe.

Planes, Trains And Automobiles Hughes's humorous adventure is a one big gagPlanes, Trains And Automobiles is not looking for a home run, it doesn't need it to win its viewers, this family holiday card has got the traditional sweet recipe.

Planes, Trains And Automobiles

Hughes's humorous adventure is a one big gag that thrives upon nothing but the good old brotherhood of the lead cast. A sketch after sketch, this is basically a culmination of a Saturday Night Live episode where the characters are the only constant aspect of it. Unfortunately, not every gag works as the makers anticipated. Few are either outdated or over chewed to keep the crisp alive. But what steals the show are the tiny notions of Candy's eerie methods and habits that are undeniably irritating which with the help of the performance does communicate to the viewers, at a certain point you too are annoyed.

The nights spend by these two stereotypical characters are the best among all the bits of the feature. The first night is flat out hilarious and immensely entertaining where it sets the bar pretty high that it never is able to touch after that. And the other night is a bit mellow and low on humor, but it is a bit dramatic and depicts the bonding of these completely opposite characters, in fact it has an uncanny resemblance with one of the clips of Tom And Jerry. And similar to them, they fight and bicker with each other on both rational and irrational topics that genuinely is effective and funny. Aforementioned, the goofy performance is what the feature walks on.

Martin's job is to walk parallel-y along the line of "normal" civilized businessman who waits for none, not the lifts, not the business meetings, not a long line of queue. Whilst Candy taps on his own beats and is thoroughly satisfied in his light merry bubble that is intolerable as much as fun he is. Planes, Trains And Automobiles is not looking for a home run, it doesn't need it to win its viewers, this family holiday card has got the traditional sweet recipe.… Expand
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10
YesterJan 18, 2020
Few movies can be so funny and moving. Frankly, I don't think I can think of one that did it better.
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5
BenWomackMar 14, 2020
Not true- a scenario. What is: See whether two people (Steve Martin, John Candy) are humorous for one and a half hours.
Description: Tale of travel delays- return from New York to Wichita, Kansas for Thanksgiving, via St Louis as Chicago isNot true- a scenario. What is: See whether two people (Steve Martin, John Candy) are humorous for one and a half hours.
Description: Tale of travel delays- return from New York to Wichita, Kansas for Thanksgiving, via St Louis as Chicago is closed (1,826m, 27h car journey).

Reaction: Amusing for one and half hours bit is a tall order. I did laugh. It's quite a comforting image, actually, seeing people asleep at an airport. Overall no. I liked the first twenty minutes, but it’s an incoherent energy, sorry.

Thank you.… Expand
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9
geewahJan 20, 2021
John Hughes road trip comedy is a movie full of heart and laughs.
Martin and Candy are two of the finest comedic actors of their generation and together form one of the more memorable comedy duo's seen on the big screen.
0 of 0 users found this helpful00
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