Is the R rating just for the language?

Yes. Aside from the infamous car rental scene and some very brief rear nudity, the movie is largely harmless. There is no graphic violence or drug use.

Can I skip the car rental scene without missing the plot?

Absolutely. It's a self-contained rant. If you skip from the moment Neal walks up to the counter until he walks away, you won't lose any story beats.

Is it too slow for kids used to modern pacing?

Surprisingly, no. The physical comedy—like the car fire and the trunk falling off—keeps it moving faster than most 80s dramas.

Why is this considered a Thanksgiving movie?

The entire plot is driven by Neal's desperate attempt to get home to Chicago in time for Thanksgiving dinner. It's the ultimate 'holiday travel' film.

Planes, Trains and Automobiles – WISE Score & Parent Review | Screenwise

Planes, Trains and Automobiles

Name: Screenwise
Author: Screenwise

movie1987

86%

WISE Score

Avg. Tomatometer

A masterclass in travel-induced rage and unexpected friendship that proves John Candy was a national treasure.

93%

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Planes, Trains and Automobiles

movie

R, 1987

86%

WISE Score

Avg. Tomatometer

A masterclass in travel-induced rage and unexpected friendship that proves John Candy was a national treasure.

93%

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93%

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Screenwise Verdict

This is the gold standard for holiday road-trip movies. It’s hilarious, frustrating, and ultimately gut-wrenching in the best way possible. If you can get past the one infamously foul-mouthed scene at the car rental counter, it’s a deeply human story about loneliness and the masks people wear.

Even though it's from 1987, the themes of travel frustration and social friction are timeless. It’s one of the few 'classics' that doesn't feel like a chore to watch with a modern audience because the pacing is tight and the jokes actually land.

Age Fit

While the slapstick is fun for ages 10+, the R-rating is strictly due to the 'f-bomb' scene. If you skip that one minute, it's a solid PG-13 vibe that teens and adults will appreciate most.

WISE Breakdown

Wholesome

Beneath the layers of travel-induced rage and sarcasm, this is a deeply moving story about empathy, loneliness, and the realization that everyone is fighting a battle you know nothing about.

Imaginative

It's a grounded road-trip comedy. While the writing is clever and the scenarios are creative, it doesn't aim for the 'imaginative' heights of fantasy or world-building.

Safe

The film is famous for a single, one-minute scene at a car rental counter containing nearly 20 f-bombs. Beyond that, there is some brief rear nudity and dangerous driving stunts played for laughs.

Enriching

It offers a masterclass in character development and emotional intelligence, teaching viewers to look past annoying surface traits to find the human being underneath.

Parent Info

✓

Why It Might Be Great

John Candy’s performance as Del Griffith is arguably his best, balancing high-energy annoyance with a heartbreaking vulnerability.
It is the quintessential Thanksgiving movie, capturing the specific, frantic energy of trying to get home for the holidays.
The chemistry between Martin and Candy is legendary, turning a standard 'odd couple' trope into something much more substantial.
It manages to be genuinely hilarious and physically comedic without losing its emotional soul.

⚠

What to Watch For

The car rental counter scene is a legendary R-rated outburst. Neal Page drops the f-word about 18 times in 60 seconds. If you're watching with younger kids, you'll want to have the remote ready to skip or mute.
There is a brief scene involving rear nudity when the two characters are sharing a bed and Neal mistakenly thinks Del's hand is a 'six-fingered glove.'
The driving stunts, including driving the wrong way on a highway and a car catching fire, are played for slapstick but represent genuine danger.

Conversation Starters

"Why do you think Neal was so mean to Del at the beginning of the trip?"
"Have you ever met someone who was 'too much' or annoying, only to find out they were actually going through something hard?"
"How would our family handle it if we got stuck in a different state with no money and no flight home?"
"What does Del mean when he says, 'I'm the easy target'?"

Deep Dive

Why it still works in 2026

John Hughes is mostly remembered for his teen angst movies, but Planes, Trains and Automobiles is his most mature work. It takes the very adult frustration of a delayed commute and turns it into a crucible for character growth. Steve Martin plays Neal Page with a stiff, repressed suburban energy that many parents will recognize in themselves during a stressful week.

Then there’s John Candy. Del Griffith could have been a one-dimensional cartoon, but Candy imbues him with a desperate, lonely kindness that makes the final reveal one of the most emotional moments in 80s cinema.

"You want to hurt me? Go ahead if it makes you any feel any better. I'm an easy target. I'm a person, and I'm a human being."

For families, this is a great 'bridge' movie. It introduces kids to a different era of comedy that isn't just about superheroes or animated sidekicks. Yes, the technology is dated—they use payphones and paper tickets—but the feeling of being stuck in a terminal while the world collapses around you? That's forever. If you're watching with younger teens, just be prepared for that car rental scene. It's a lot of profanity in a very short window, but in the context of Neal’s absolute mental breakdown, it’s also one of the funniest things ever filmed.

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