Airplane! is the iconic film that established Robert Hays and Julie Hagerty as household names. The movie was so bold and innovative that it forever changed how spoof films were made. Grounded in deadpan reactions to absurdity, ridiculous slapstick, and a blitzkrieg of multi-layered verbal and visual gags, Airplane! is considered the Citizen Kane of comedy.

Thanks to Mills Entertainment, a live entertainment content studio that collaborates with top talent and property holders to create unforgettable live experiences, you can re-live the joy of your first time by attending the Airplane Live tour with Robert Hays and Julie Hagerty. Under the guidance of Dan Pasternack, moderator extraordinaire, you will see clips you’ve never seen before, hear anecdotes that you’ve never heard before, and walk away with an even greater love for this long-cherished film.

What to expect at Airplane Live! 2026

If you’ve never been to an event like Airplane! Live, you might not know what makes it so special. Here are the essentials, so you know what to expect.

  • The format: Guests arrive, watch the movie, and have a brief chance to stretch their legs before an in-depth Q&A with Robert Hays and Julie Hagerty, led by Dan Pasternack.
  • The Q&A: Dan Pasternack, the moderator, runs the Q&A part of the night, offering a mix of live comedy bits, rare footage, pre-selected audience questions, and fun facts in a fluid dynamic that adapts to audience response — no two shows are exactly the same.
  • Show length: Between the movie and the Q&A, Airplane! Live 2026 is roughly three hours long.
  • VIP experience: Guests who upgrade to the “First Class” VIP experience get a flourish of extras after the other audience members leave the theater. The VIP treatment includes a meet & greet with Robert and Julie, a professionally shot photo, and an autographed tour poster. 
Julie Hagerty and Dan Pasternack at the Miller Theater in Philadelphia.

Is the Airplane! Live tour woth it?

Tours featuring a nostalgic movie paired with a Q&A with one or more of the stars are becoming more and more popular. These experience-driven forms of entertainment offer fans a chance to revisit childhood memories and enjoy them with some of the people who made the original moments so magical.

Airplane! Live 2026 features comedy’s leading man, Robert Hays, as Ted Striker and his romantic interest, the wonderfully versatile and accomplished Julie Hagerty, as Elaine Dickinson. Both actors sparkle with an abundance of charisma and chemistry, and either could easily create a resplendently magical evening of nostalgic bliss on their own. But Mills Entertainment isn’t content with simply doing what’s expected. Moderator Dan Pasternack takes Airplane! Live to remarkable heights, making it one of the best-produced events of its kind. And that’s because Dan is so passionate about his role.

Dan Pasternack at the Miller Theater in Philadelphia.

Portlandia’s producer Dan Pasternack is the perfect moderator for Airplane! Live

A great moderator considers both the panel members and the audience. They listen and guide the experience to make it the best it can be for everyone involved. A moderator must be knowledgeable, quick on their feet, and charismatic, but humble — the stars need to shine the brightest. It takes a special combination of skills and talents to do this.

“I like to say that I’m a producer, a professor and a preservationist,” Pasternack told Entertaining Options. “And that’s not just because I love alliteration.”

While he was at IFC, Dan led the development and production of the Peabody Award-winning series Portlandia. He has written for entertainment outlets, moderated panels, been featured on the Vice TV series The Dark Side of Comedy, and teaches at New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts.

“The producer in me always wants to make sure the audience gets a great show,” he continued. “Bob and Julie love coming up with bits to do. So that’s fun for everyone.”

Dan moved on to discuss the second of his trinity of talents. “The professor in me wants the audience to walk away knowing more than they knew before they came. Which is challenging with films like Airplane! or Stand By Me that people have held dear their whole lives. [Yes, Pasternack also moderates a panel featuring Corey Feldman, Jerry O’Connell, and Wil Wheaton for the classic Stephen King film.] I don’t want it to ever feel academic, but I think everyone enjoys learning new information about stuff they are into.”

Pasternack concluded with the element that Entertaining Options enjoyed the most. “The preservationist in me wants to curate these shows in a way that feels expansive and dynamic. So I bring lots of additional video for show and tell. David Letterman’s screen test. Clips from Zero Hour and Since You Went Away. Outtakes and even a few Easter eggs within the film that have been hiding in plain sight.”

With so much to cover at every tour stop, Dan admitted that most shows do not include everything. “Every show has a life of its own,” he explained. “But for me, it’s exciting to just go with the flow.”

Robert Hays and Julie Hagerty at the Miller Theater in Philadelphia.

Airplane! Live 2026 tour dates and ticket links

Currently, there are only 4 more shows booked for the remainder of 2026. However, when you sign up for the mailing list at the Airplane! Live website, you will be the first to know when new dates are added. Additionally, you can follow Mills Entertainment (leaders in innovative, fan-forward live entertainment) on Instagram and Facebook for all the latest news and events.

Remaining 2026 tour dates (ticket link):
June 19, 2026: Curran Theater in San Francisco, CA
October 8, 2026: The Oncenter in Syracuse, NY
October 9, 2026: Count Basie Center for the Arts in Red Bank, NJ
October 10, 2026: Hanover Theatre in Worcester, MA