Planes, Trains & Automobiles

1987
R
1h 33m

IMDb RATING

7.6/10

164K

YOUR RATING

POPULARITY

Play trailer1:26

Buddy Comedy Farce Holiday Comedy Road Trip Comedy Drama Holiday

A Chicago advertising man must struggle to travel home from New York for Thanksgiving, with a lovable oaf of a shower-curtain-ring salesman as his only companion.A Chicago advertising man must struggle to travel home from New York for Thanksgiving, with a lovable oaf of a shower-curtain-ring salesman as his only companion.A Chicago advertising man must struggle to travel home from New York for Thanksgiving, with a lovable oaf of a shower-curtain-ring salesman as his only companion.

See production info at IMDbPro

IMDb RATING

7.6/10

164K

YOUR RATING

POPULARITY

634

547

See production info at IMDbPro

Awards
- 1 nomination

Videos4

Trailer 1:26

Official Trailer

Trailer 0:31

Planes, Trains and Automobiles [Planes, Trains & Automobiles]

Trailer 0:31

Planes, Trains and Automobiles [Planes, Trains & Automobiles]

Clip 3:51

The Perfect Movies to Watch This Thanksgiving

Video 2:37

Dates in Movie & TV History: Nov. 24, 1987 - When Neal Met Del

Photos237

230

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Storyline

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Did you know

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Trivia
John Hughes, in an interview on the "Those Aren't Pillows" DVD, said he was inspired to write the film's story after an actual flight he was on from New York to Chicago. The flight was diverted to Wichita, Kansas, taking him five days to get home.

Goofs
When the L train is coming back to the station at the end of the movie there is an aerial view of the actual train which uses reversed footage. On the ground below you see (very quickly) a person walking backwards.

Quotes
Car Rental Agent: [cheerfully] Welcome to Marathon, may I help you?
Neal: Yes.
Car Rental Agent: How may I help you?
Neal: You can start by wiping that fucking dumb-ass smile off your rosy fucking cheeks! Then you can give me a fucking automobile! A fucking Datsun, a fucking Toyota, a fucking Mustang, a fucking Buick! Four fucking wheels and a seat!
Car Rental Agent: I really don't care for the way you're speaking to me.
Neal: And I really don't care for the way your company left me in the middle of fucking nowhere with fucking keys to a fucking car that isn't fucking there. And I really didn't care to fucking walk down a fucking highway and across a fucking runway to get back here to have you smile in my fucking face. I want a fucking car... right... fucking... now.
[pause]
Car Rental Agent: May I see your rental agreement?
Neal: I threw it away.
Car Rental Agent: Oh, boy.
Neal: Oh, boy, what?
Car Rental Agent: [narrows her eyes] You're fucked.

Crazy credits
After all the end credits, there's a shot of advertising executive William Windom in the office as in the scene in the beginning of the movie, still examining the pictures Neal Page was waiting for him to finish perusing at the staff meeting.

Alternate versions
The theatrical and VHS releases have the closing Paramount logo after the post-credits scene. On further releases including the DVD, the logo is edited out, and the movie ends immediately.

Connections
Edited into The Paul Behragam Talk Show: "Where's God When I'm Scared?" R&T Part 2 (2014)

Soundtracks
Ba-Na-Na-Bam-Boo
Written by Elizabeth Westwood, Nick Burton & Robert Andrews
Performed by Westworld
Produced by Mark Ferda
Westworld performs courtesy of BMG Records (UK) Ltd.

User reviews544

Review

Featured review

8/10

How To Drive Someone Crazy

Steve Martin and John Candy do a wonderful job playing off each other in this memorable comedy. Of friends of mine I know who have seen this movie, they all vividly remember this movie and their favorite scenes.

Martin and Candy are stuck without plane rides home and wind up trying all modes of transportation to reach their destination. Both run into unbelievable obstacles, most of them the fault of Candy, who drives Martin almost insane. Candy was the funnier of the two in this story but both comedians were at the top of their game here. Too bad there was so much profanity for a film that could have been enjoyed by everyone but some it is almost appropriate, especially with Martin's character. Candy's role would have made anyone swear. Martin's profane tirade with the rental car woman at the airport is hilarious.

In addition to the wacky story, I enjoyed the soundtrack. Critics didn't like it, but I found the sudden bursts of rock 'n roll interesting and it added to the enjoyment of watching this almost-modern day classic.

After all the aggravation, there was a nice sentimental touch at the end which somehow made the whole disastrous trip worthwhile for the two leading characters.