The Theory of Flight (1999): cast, story & where to watch
1999 · Film · ★ 6.2
Released in 1999, The Theory of Flight is a comedy, drama and romance film directed by Paul Greengrass, running about 101 minutes.
What it’s about. A dreamer who aspires to human flight is assigned public service after one of his attempts off a public building. This leads him to meeting a young woman, who is dying of motor neuron disease. The strong-willed woman admits her wish to be de-flowered before her death. The man, struggling to maintain his relationship with his girl friend, declines but offers to help pay for a gigolo to do the deed. The following events play off the inherent comedy and drama of the circumstances.
Who’s in it. The Theory of Flight stars Helena Bonham Carter as Jane Hatchard, Kenneth Branagh as Richard, Gemma Jones as Anne and Holly Aird as Julie, among others.
How it landed. With an audience score of 6.2/10, The Theory of Flight has drawn a solid, mixed-to-positive response.
Where to watch. In US you can rent or buy it from Amazon Video and Apple TV Store. See the full, country-by-country breakdown on our where to watch The Theory of Flight page.
If you liked it. Fans of The Theory of Flight tend to enjoy Forrest Gump, Parasite, Life Is Beautiful and Fight Club.
Frequently asked
- Where can I watch The Theory of Flight (1999)?
- In US, The Theory of Flight is available to rent or buy from Amazon Video and Apple TV Store. Availability varies by country — check our where-to-watch page for every region.
- Is The Theory of Flight worth watching?
- The Theory of Flight holds an audience score of 6.2 out of 10, and is a strong pick if you enjoy comedy, drama and romance. Reactions are mixed, so it may depend on taste.
- Who stars in The Theory of Flight?
- The Theory of Flight stars Helena Bonham Carter, Kenneth Branagh, Gemma Jones, Holly Aird and Ray Stevenson.
- When was The Theory of Flight released?
- The Theory of Flight was released in 1999, with a runtime of about 101 minutes.