There are two things we all look for in a good fighter jet movie: fighter jets and non-stop action. Some movies that claim to be fighter jet movies contain a lot of the latter, but surprisingly few of the former. I’m not giving any names here, but *cough* firefox *cough*. If you only have two hours of free time, you have one chance to pick the right movie. The following five movies are the best of the best in the genre. They must be the first movies you look for on the DVD shelf.

#5. inside the sun

A fighter pilot on active duty overseas has to put up with an annoying movie star who follows him everywhere, even into combat, as research for his new movie role.

Released: 1992 by Trimark Pictures
Starring: Michael Paré, Anthony Michael Hall
Featured Aircraft: F-16 Fighting Falcons

Few people have heard of (or can find a copy of) inside the sun, which is a shame, because it’s one of the wittiest and funniest movies in the genre. It’s not a parody, like hot shotsbut it manages to poke fun at stereotypes while still hitting all the story points we need in a fighter jet movie.

#4. flying kids

A World War I fighter pilot stationed in the notorious Lafayette squadron in France fights to fend off the Germans and protect the French woman he’s falling in love with.

Released: 2006 by 20th Century Fox
Starring: James Franco, Jean Reno
Featured Aircraft: Nieuport 17s

This is a must see for anyone who thinks biplanes are boring. The greater danger these pilots faced due to the fragility of their equipment makes the aerial combat sequences in flying kids some of the most tense and heartbreaking in the genre.

#3. battle of britain

In the summer of 1940, a small group of British pilots desperately fight to prevent the Nazi Luftwaffe from bombing their country and paving the way for a ground invasion.

Released: 1969 by MGM/United Artists
Starring: Michael Caine Lawrence Olivier
Featured Aircraft: Spitfires, Hurricanes, Heinkel 111, ME-109, etc.

There is only one word for aerial sequences in battle of britain: incredible. With so many planes in the air, it looks like a nest of angry hornets, and the best part is that they are all real. There was no CGI in 1969. The story is a bit confusing for people who don’t know its history, but the massive dogfights more than make up for it.

#two. top gun

A cocky young fighter pilot gets a chance to take on the best pilots in the Navy when he is chosen for the combat weapons school dubbed “Top Gun”.

Released: 1986 by Paramount Pictures
Starring: Tom CruiseVal Kilmet
Featured Aircraft: F-14 Tomcats, A-4 Skyhawks, Mig-28s (currently F-5 Tiger IIs)

top gun is the seminal film of the genre. It spawned numerous popular quotes (“I have a need, a need for speed!”) and sparked a resurgence of interest in the fighter aircraft genre. It’s very ’80s, especially on the soundtrack, but hardly a minute goes by without us reveling in heart-stopping aerial action. Always a solid choice.

#1. stealth

A fighter pilot is forced to come face to face with his own wingman: a futuristic AI-powered fighter jet gone rogue.

Released: 2005 by Columbia Pictures
Starring: Josh Lucas Jessica Biel
Featured Aircraft: futuristic fighters

There is a considerable element of science fiction in stealth, which only serves to make it all the more impressive. All the impossible feats you ever dreamed of doing as a fighter are here and the sprawling story even manages to be unpredictable. stealth It’s underrated, and comes highly recommended…by me.