The Aviator

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The Aviator

PG-13

2004

2h 46m

Biography

History

Drama

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Popcornmeter

86%

Tomatometer

227 Reviews

79%

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100,000+ Ratings

Billionaire and aviation tycoon Howard Hughes (Leonardo DiCaprio) is a successful public figure: a director of big-budget Hollywood films such as "Hell's Angels," a passionate lover of Hollywood leading ladies Katharine Hepburn (Cate Blanchett) and Ava Gardner (Kate Beckinsale), and an aviation pioneer who helps build TWA into a major airline. But in private, Hughes remains tormented, suffering from paralyzing phobias and depression. The higher he rises, the farther has to fall.

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Critics Consensus

With a rich sense of period detail, The Aviator succeeds thanks to typically assured direction from Martin Scorsese and a strong performance from Leonardo DiCaprio, who charts Howard Hughes' descent from eccentric billionaire to reclusive madman.

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Namrata Joshi

Outlook

01/08/2019

2/4

The Aviator does make for a rather fascinating and compelling stand-alone story about an industrious, fastidious, obsessive man...

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Nell Minow

Common Sense Media

12/28/2010

3/5

Good but not great, and not for younger kids.

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Richard Corliss

TIME Magazine

02/03/2010

This handsome movie is an oddly well-behaved one to come from the preternaturally energetic Scorsese.

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Matt Brunson

Film Frenzy

Nov 22

3.5/4

At its best, the movie is a stirring tale about a man whose inner drive allowed him to climb ever higher, grazing the heavens before his inner demons seized the controls and forced the inevitable, dreary descent.

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Dave Giannini

InSession Film

02/20/2024

Leonardo DiCaprio and Cate Blanchett respectively light up the screen when they are together.

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KT Mahe

For Your Reference Podcast

02/15/2024

3/5

The Aviator is an adequate biopic lead by capable performers but the exhilaration sped to puberty level sensuality and hollow thrills.

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Jerod S

@jeroduptown Apr 18

Scorsese captures the time and the madness of Hughes. You travel with the man from billions to bonkers.

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Matt W

@Matt09 Apr 13

This film is Brilliant, anyone can watch this anytime it will still be good in 2100 lol

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Findley S

@findleygsmith Apr 6

An excellent film by Scorsese! Historical attention to detail, soundtrack mastery, incredible colors and visuals. The vibe of this movie is carried strongly throughout, especially thanks to Leonardo DiCaprio’s awe-inspiring performance as Howard Hughes. The minutiae of his acting is what brings the character to life in a believable way that really honors the man Hughes really was. Highly intelligent, self-aware, charismatic, yet tormented by his own mind. This movie is an artistic masterpiece and despite its lengthy run-time, fast-paced and worth a watch.

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Hilarion A

@H0kv5 Apr 2

A powerful portrait of Howard Hughes as a visionary driven to reshape aviation and film, only to be consumed by obsession, control, and the heavy psychological cost of his ambition.

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Christian K

@ckacar Mar 19

Just not a huge fan of the production design here. Leo is solid but the movie does lose a lot when Blanchett's Hepburn fades to the background in the 2nd half of the movie.

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Leto N.

@letoneto Feb 26

One of the best things that I have watched

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Martin Scorsese

Director

Leonardo DiCaprio

Howard Hughes

Cate Blanchett

Katharine Hepburn

Kate Beckinsale

Ava Gardner

John C. Reilly

Noah Dietrich

Alec Baldwin

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The Aviator: Trailer 1

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Synopsis

Billionaire and aviation tycoon Howard Hughes (Leonardo DiCaprio) is a successful public figure: a director of big-budget Hollywood films such as "Hell's Angels," a passionate lover of Hollywood leading ladies Katharine Hepburn (Cate Blanchett) and Ava Gardner (Kate Beckinsale), and an aviation pioneer who helps build TWA into a major airline. But in private, Hughes remains tormented, suffering from paralyzing phobias and depression. The higher he rises, the farther has to fall.

Director: Martin Scorsese
Producer: Michael Mann, Chris Brigham, Sandy Climan, Leonardo DiCaprio, Charles Evans Jr., Graham King
Screenwriter: John Logan
Distributor: Miramax Films
Production Co: Initial Entertainment Group, Warner Brothers, Appian Way, Miramax Films, Forward Pass, Cappa Productions
Rating: PG-13 (Language|Crash Sequence|Nudity|Sexual Content|Thematic Elements)
Genre: Biography, History, Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Dec 25, 2004, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Apr 19, 2016
Box Office (Gross USA): $102.6M
Runtime: 2h 46m
Sound Mix: Surround, Dolby SRD, DTS, SDDS
Aspect Ratio: Scope (2.35:1)