Living in the Age of Airplanes

Living in the Age of Airplanes
Theatrical release poster
Directed byBrian J. Terwilliger
Written by
  • Brian J. Terwilliger
  • Jessica Grogan
  • Daniel Oppenheimer
Produced by
Narrated byHarrison Ford
CinematographyAndrew Waruszewski
Edited byBrad Besser
Music byJames Horner
Production
company
Terwilliger Productions
Distributed byNational Geographic Films
Release dates
  • April 6, 2015 (2015-04-06) (Emirates)
  • April 8, 2015 (2015-04-08) (NASM)
  • April 10, 2015 (2015-04-10) (theatrical)
Running time
47 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish
Box officeUS$8,011 (Australia and United Kingdom)

Living in the Age of Airplanes is a 2015 American epic documentary film written, directed, and produced by Brian J. Terwilliger. Narrated by Harrison Ford, it explores the way commercial aviation has revolutionized transportation and the many ways it affects everyday lives, and it concludes with a positive endorsement of flying. The film's themes include connections and perspectives, using several cinematographic styles to convey its message.

Terwilliger conceived the idea of the film in 2007, two years after releasing his feature directorial debut One Six Right. He intended it as a reliving of the feeling of flying for the first time and a celebration of the aviation industry. Production began independently in 2009, with filming taking place a year later in eighteen countries across all seven continents, becoming the first IMAX film to be made on such a scale. It used the first entry of the Arri Alexa digital camera. Filming took over 100 days. Post-production took place between 2013 and 2014. James Horner, who died in 2015, composed the score later released in 2016. Despite having 260 hours of raw footage, the film's becomes only 47 minutes long when edited, and divided to five chapters.

Living in the Age of Airplanes was initially planned to be released as Aviation: The Invisible Highway before National Geographic Films acquired it for distribution. It premiered on April 6, 2015, on a special Emirates flight, before being released in select IMAX and museum theaters on April 8. Ford's accident in his airplane during the time of its premiere attracted more interest in the film. It was released for streaming and on home video in 2016. Critics praised its technical and narrative aspects but some felt it lacked comprehensiveness on the history and disadvantages of aviation; fans of One Six Right were disappointed by its difference. Terwilliger disagreed with most of the criticisms. The film won three awards, two of which in regards to Horner's score.