10 Best 'Airplane Movie Quotes

People still quote the ten best "Airplane" movie quotes from the greatest comedy movies of all time. The original spoof was based on the yearly offering by Hollywood about airplane disasters. I wouldn’t doubt that the aviation industry might have secretly funded these wonderful offerings in an effort to fight back. What the “Airplane” movies gave audiences were ten of the most wonderful movie lines, many still quoted today.

1. “I am serious, and don’t call me Shirley,” Leslie Nielson as Dr. Rumack. He was the psychiatrist brought in to talk the traumatized pilot into landing the plane. This is quite possibly the funniest movie line of all time.
2. “Looks like I picked the wrong week to quit amphetamines,” Steve McCroskey, played by Lloyd Bridges. With supervisors like him in the towers, no wonder Hollywood made movies about disasters.
3. “Looks like I picked the wrong week to quit smoking,” Steve McCroskey again. Don’t you just hate it when cravings hit? Leslie Nielson gets the best lines in the movies.
4. “Looks like I picked the wrong week to quit drinking," you guessed it Steve McCroskey. Workplace stress really takes its toll. Many have heard this quote for years!
5. “Looks like I picked the wrong week to quit sniffing glue,” Steve McCroskey again. Boy, the Betty Ford Clinic would love to get their hands on this guy.
6. “There's no reason to become alarmed and we hope you'll enjoy the rest of your flight - by the way, is there anyone on board who knows how to fly a plane?” Elaine Dickenson, played by Julie Hagerty. The FCC made a big thing about honest advertising. Wouldn’t you like your flight crew to be this honest?
7. “Jim never has a second cup of coffee at home,” Mrs. Hammen. This was a small part played by Lee Bryant, as a spoof on Folgers coffee commercials. In the middle of a disaster, this was on her mind.
8. “Striker, listen, and you listen close. Flying a plane is no different than riding a bicycle, just a lot harder to put baseball cards in the spokes,” Rex Kramer. Robert Stack made this movie character one of the funniest in the tower.
9. “The life of everyone on board depends upon just one thing, finding someone back there who can not only fly this plane, but who didn't have fish for dinner,” Dr. Rumack. How comforting.
10. “Shanna, they bought their tickets, they knew what they were getting into. I say, let 'em crash,” Jack Kirkpatrick, played by William Tregoe. This was a spoof of the television show, “Counterpoint,” where reporters argued both sides of the issue. It didn’t last long.
11. “It's coming right at us!” Steve. As he dove out of the window, Steve let everyone know that withdrawals should be handled under supervision. Trouble was, he was the supervisor. This movie quote is one the best.