On a Wing and a Prayer

Name: Screenwise
Author: Screenwise

movie2023

38%

WISE Score

Avg. Tomatometer

True story of an emergency plane landing gets the faith-film treatment—sincere message, forgettable execution.

5.5/10

16%

57%

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On a Wing and a Prayer

movie

PG, 2023

38%

WISE Score

Avg. Tomatometer

True story of an emergency plane landing gets the faith-film treatment—sincere message, forgettable execution.

5.5

16%

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5.5/10

16%

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Screenwise Verdict

Here's the thing: the true story is genuinely incredible. A guy with zero flight training landed a twin-engine plane after the pilot died. That's Hollywood gold.

But this movie? It's a textbook example of how faith films often prioritize message over craft. The 16% critic score and 19 Metacritic aren't just critics being mean—the film is genuinely poorly made, with flat performances, on-the-nose dialogue, and zero visual interest.

If your family is deeply invested in faith-based entertainment and can overlook mediocre filmmaking for a sincere Christian message, you might find value here. The 57% audience score shows there's an audience for it.

For everyone else? This is a hard pass. There are better survival films, better faith films, and definitely better ways to spend 102 minutes. Even kids who love plane movies will likely tune out during the melodramatic prayer sequences.

It's not offensive or harmful—just forgettable and kind of boring, which might be worse.

Age Fit

Common Sense Media's age 10+ recommendation feels right—younger kids will find the sustained crash tension too scary, while teens and adults will likely find the film too simplistic and preachy unless they're specifically seeking faith-based content.

WISE Breakdown

Wholesome

Faith-based family drama centered on courage, prayer, and pulling together in crisis. Models family unity and perseverance under extreme stress. The religious messaging is earnest and heavy-handed, which will resonate with some families and feel preachy to others. Tone is sincere but melodramatic.

Imaginative

Based on a true story from 2009, told in a straightforward, by-the-numbers way. No creative risks, no visual flair, no fresh perspective on the survival genre. It's a paint-by-numbers faith film that hits every expected beat without surprise or artistry. Letterboxd's 2.2/5 and RT's 16% critic score reflect the formulaic execution.

Safe

Common Sense Media rates it for age 10+, likely for intense peril and crash tension. No gore, sex, or inappropriate content—just sustained aviation emergency stress. The religious themes are overt but not manipulative. Main safety concern is the sustained tension of potential plane crash, which could frighten younger or anxious kids.

Enriching

Offers a message about faith under pressure and ordinary people rising to extraordinary challenges. However, the execution is so heavy-handed and the craft so mediocre (19 Metacritic, 16% RT critics) that any potential enrichment gets buried under clichés. Could spark conversations about courage and faith, but won't teach much about aviation, problem-solving, or nuanced character growth.

Parent Info

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Why It Might Be Great

Based on a genuinely remarkable true story of Doug White landing a twin-engine plane with zero flight training after the pilot died mid-flight
Straightforward message about faith, family, and courage under pressure that will resonate with Christian audiences
No inappropriate content—just a clean family drama about overcoming impossible odds
Could spark meaningful conversations about staying calm in emergencies and what faith means to your family

⚠

What to Watch For

Sustained tension of potential plane crash throughout—not great for anxious kids or those scared of flying
Heavy-handed religious messaging that feels more like a sermon than a story (your mileage will vary based on your family's beliefs)
The pilot's sudden death mid-flight could be upsetting for younger viewers
Critically savaged for a reason—this is not a well-made film, so expect melodrama and wooden dialogue

Conversation Starters

"What would you do if you had to do something you'd never been trained for in an emergency?"
"The family prayed a lot during the crisis—what helps you feel calm when you're scared?"
"Do you think Doug made the right decisions? What would you have done differently?"
"How do you think the air traffic controllers felt trying to help someone land a plane over the radio?"

Deep Dive

The "Faith-Film Tax" and the critic gap

If you look at the 16% critic score alongside the 57% audience score, you’re seeing the classic divide of the faith-based genre. Critics generally hammer these films for being clunky, while the intended audience is often willing to forgive wooden acting if the message hits home.

The problem here isn't the message; it's that the actual event was so cinematic on its own that the movie's low-budget feel actually distracts from the miracle. When you have a 19 on Metacritic, you aren't just looking at "mean critics"—you're looking at a film that struggles with basic pacing. If your family usually watches high-gloss blockbusters, the transition to this will feel like moving from 4K back to a grainy VHS. It’s functional, but it isn't pretty.

The Dennis Quaid pivot

Seeing the star of The Parent Trap in a cockpit might feel like a safe bet for a Friday night, but his recent filmography is a bit of a wildcard. He has carved out a specific niche in these "inspirational true story" projects, often leaning into a very specific, weathered gravitas.

Before you commit to a full marathon of his work based on this movie, it’s worth checking out our guide on Dennis Quaid: From 'Parent Trap' Nostalgia to Edgy Modern Roles. He’s moved into a phase where he fluctuates between these wholesome faith dramas and much darker, R-rated material. Knowing which Quaid you're getting is the difference between a wholesome family night and a very awkward conversation with your ten-year-old.

Where the friction actually lives

The "scary" parts of this movie aren't about monsters or villains; they are about the suffocating reality of being stuck in a machine you don't understand. For a kid who is already a nervous flyer, this movie will be a nightmare. It dwells on the technical failure and the silence of the cockpit after the pilot passes away.

If your kid is obsessed with flight simulators or "how it works" videos, they might actually enjoy the procedural elements of Doug White trying to figure out the controls. But for the average viewer, the movie stalls out whenever it leaves the cockpit. The subplots involving people on the ground feel like filler designed to stretch a thirty-minute incident into a feature-length film.

If you want a better "impossible landing" story

If your family is looking for that specific "ordinary person does the extraordinary" high, there are better ways to get it.

Sully: If you want the gold standard of "landing the plane" movies with actual tension and top-tier acting, this is it.
Apollo 13: For the "math and science will save us" vibe that On a Wing and a Prayer tries to capture but misses.
The Pilot’s actual story: Honestly, the YouTube interviews with the real Doug White are often more compelling than the dramatized version.

This movie is essentially "Flight Simulator: The Sermon." If that sounds like a win for your Sunday afternoon, go for it. If you’re looking for a gripping thriller, you’ll likely find yourself checking your phone by the second act.

Stills