Airplane

Airplane is a 1980 American satirical comedy film directed by Jim Abrahams, David Zucker, and Jerry Zucker that parodies disaster films, particularly the 1957 film Zero Hour. The movie follows Ted Striker, an ex-fighter pilot with a traumatic past, who must land a commercial airliner after the crew and passengers fall ill from food poisoning. Known for its rapid-fire jokes, visual gags, and deadpan delivery of absurd dialogue, Airplane became one of the most successful comedy films of all time and is widely regarded as one of the greatest comedies ever made. The film launched Leslie Nielsen's career as a comedic actor and established the ZAZ directing team as masters of parody cinema. Its cultural impact extends beyond its initial release, with countless quotable lines and memorable scenes that remain part of popular culture decades later.

Discussion of an Airplane pinball machine has appeared in pinball community forums, with fans expressing enthusiasm for the theme's potential. In the Ultimate Pinball Theme Survey discussions on Pinside, players have suggested Airplane as a dream theme, with some considering it alongside other comedies like The Naked Gun or disaster films like the Airport series. Community members have proposed specific gameplay concepts including loop combos accompanied by the film's famous jive-talking dialogue, a Mayo Clinic multiball mode, mystery scoop rewards referencing the religious solicitor character, and even a crashing airplane toy similar to existing train mechanisms in other machines. The film's slapstick nature and nostalgia appeal have been cited as factors that could make it viable as a pinball theme, though discussions note it would represent a departure into comedy territory for manufacturers typically focused on horror or action properties.

An Airplane pinball machine would offer rich opportunities for both visual design and gameplay integration. The playfield could feature iconic elements like the white zone/red zone loading area, the cockpit interior, and the inflatable autopilot Otto. The film's numerous memorable quotes, from "I picked the wrong week to quit smoking" to "Don't call me Shirley," provide extensive audio callout possibilities, while Elmer Bernstein's disco-influenced score could accompany gameplay. Mode concepts could include a food poisoning crisis multiball, a drinking problem skill shot referencing Ted Striker's literal drinking problem, and a finale mode where players must talk down the airplane. The visual gags that define the film, such as the shit hitting the fan or the runway lights that are actually runway lights, translate naturally to pinball toys and playfield features, making Airplane a theme with substantial mechanical and comedic potential for the medium.