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Movies that feel like Planes, Trains and Automobiles (1987)

If you loved Planes, Trains and Automobiles, the closest films we have are Clockwise (1986), Pieces of April (2003) and National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation (1989). All three share Planes, Trains and Automobiles' witty and playful feel, which is what we rank on before quality. 6 of the 12 picks below are included with a subscription right now on Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV and Paramount Plus Premium and others, checked against today's data.

An irritable marketing executive, Neal Page, is heading home to Chicago for Thanksgiving when a number of delays force him to travel with a well meaning but overbearing shower curtain ring salesman, Del Griffith.

πŸ… 93% Rotten Tomatoesβ˜… 7.6 IMDb β†—TMDB β†—dir. John Hugheswittyplayful

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If Planes, Trains and Automobiles hit the spot, these will too

Clockwise poster
Clockwise
1986 Β· dir. Christopher Morahan
πŸ… 83%β˜… 6.6comedy

Both are built on the same subject: train

School headmaster Brian Stimpson is obsessed with timeliness, order, and discipline. Brian misses his train after meticulously preparing a speech for an education conference. With no one else to turn to, he asks young former student Laura Wisely for a ride. Laura, upset over a break-up, agrees to drive him in her parents' car - which alarms her mother and father, who worry that she has run away with a married man and subsequently alert the police.

Feels alike?
Pieces of April poster
Pieces of April
2003 Β· dir. Peter Hedges
πŸ… 83%β˜… 7comedy Β· drama

Both rooted in New York City

The difference: Played as drama first

Quirky and rebellious April Burns lives with her boyfriend in a low-rent New York City apartment miles away from her emotionally distant family. But when she discovers that her mother has a fatal form of breast cancer, she invites the clan to her place for Thanksgiving. While her father struggles to drive her family into the city, April -- an inexperienced cook -- runs into kitchen trouble and must ask a neighbor for help.

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National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation poster
National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation
1989 Β· dir. Jeremiah S. Chechik
πŸ… 72%β˜… 7.5comedy

One thread runs through both: holiday

It's Christmastime, and the Griswolds are preparing for a family seasonal celebration. But things never run smoothly for Clark, his wife Ellen, and their two kids. Clark's continual bad luck is worsened by his obnoxious family guests, but he manages to keep going, knowing that his Christmas bonus is due soon.

Feels alike?
Dumb and Dumber poster
Dumb and Dumber
1994 Β· dir. Peter Farrelly
πŸ… 69%β˜… 7.3comedy

The same two preoccupations: road trip, and buddy

Lloyd and Harry are two men whose stupidity is really indescribable. When Mary, a beautiful woman, loses an important suitcase with money before she leaves for Aspen, the two friends (who have found the suitcase) decide to return it to her. After some "adventures" they finally get to Aspen where, using the lost money they live it up and fight for Mary's heart.

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Ferris Bueller's Day Off poster
Ferris Bueller's Day Off
1986 Β· dir. John Hughes
πŸ… 85%β˜… 7.8comedy

John Hughes working the same nerve twice

After high school slacker Ferris Bueller successfully fakes an illness in order to skip school for the day, he goes on a series of adventures throughout Chicago with his girlfriend Sloane and best friend Cameron, all the while trying to outwit his wily school principal and fed-up sister.

Feels alike?
The King of Comedy poster
The King of Comedy
1982 Β· dir. Martin Scorsese
πŸ… 89%β˜… 7.8drama Β· comedy

Both keep coming back to the same thing: receptionist

Aspiring comic Rupert Pupkin attempts to achieve success in show business by stalking his idol, a late night talk-show host who craves his own privacy.

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Airplane! poster
Airplane!
1980 Β· dir. Jerry Zucker
πŸ… 97%β˜… 7.7comedy

Common ground: chicago, illinois

An ex-fighter pilot forced to take over the controls of an airliner when the flight crew succumbs to food poisoning.

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French Fried Vacation 2 poster
French Fried Vacation 2
1979 Β· dir. Patrice Leconte
β˜… 7.4comedy

Witty where it counts, playful underneath

In this sequel to Les Bronzes (1978) summer has passed, but that doesn't mean the fun has to end for Bernard, Nathalie, Gigi, Jerome, Popeye, Jean-Claude, and Christiane.

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Me, Myself & Irene poster
Me, Myself & Irene
2000 Β· dir. Peter Farrelly
πŸ… 47%β˜… 6.6comedy

The same preoccupation in both: road trip

The difference: Critics were much harder on this one

Rhode Island State Trooper Charlie Baileygates has a multiple personality disorder. One personality is crazy and aggressive, while the other is more friendly and laid back. Both of these personalities fall in love with the same woman named Irene after Charlie loses his medication.

Feels alike?
Animal House poster
Animal House
1978 Β· dir. John Landis
πŸ… 89%β˜… 7.4comedy

Comedy with a pulse of wit, in both cases

At a 1962 College, Dean Vernon Wormer is determined to expel the entire Delta Tau Chi Fraternity, but those troublemakers have other plans for him.

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The Dinner Game poster
The Dinner Game
1998 Β· dir. Francis Veber
πŸ… 73%β˜… 7.6comedy

Playful comedy, and it commits to that

For Pierre Brochant and his friends, Wednesday is β€œIdiots' Day”. The idea is simple: each person has to bring along an idiot. The one who brings the most spectacular idiot wins the prize. Tonight, Brochant is ecstatic. He has found a gem. The ultimate idiot, β€œA world champion idiot!”. What Brochant doesn’t know is that Pignon is a real jinx, a past master in the art of bringing on catastrophes...

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Used Cars poster
Used Cars
1980 Β· dir. Robert Zemeckis
πŸ… 77%β˜… 6.7comedy

Witty comedy in both cases

When the owner of a struggling used car lot is killed, it's up to the lot's hot-shot salesman to save the property from falling into the hands of the owner's ruthless brother and used-car rival.

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