

The Airship
1983, German. Directed by Rainer Simon.
Franz Xavier Stannebein, a young boy at the turn of the 20th century, wants to do nothing more than fly. He carries this dream through his years at an orphanage and into adulthood as a merchant in Spain. He eventually invests everything he has into building his own version of an airship. He later meets some industrialists in Germany who want to support his idea, and they ask him to build an airfield in Spain. When he sees the Nazis use the field during the Spanish Civil War, however, he feels betrayed and goes to Germany to protest. There he is thrown into an insane asylum in Leipzig. After WWII, his grandson and other survivors of the family searches for him, only to find the empty asylum... Based on the novel Das Luft-Schiff. Biografische Nachlasse zu den Fantasien meines Grossvaters (1974) by Fritz Rudolf Fries. The non-camera animation in the film was created by internationally known director Lutz Dammbeck.
- Runtime
- 1h 57m
- Post-credits
- None listed
- Language
- German
- Rated
- Check local
Start now and it ends at ….
Too new to call
Not enough people have rated it yet for a verdict.
Seen it? Give your verdict.
Saved privately on this device.
Where to watch The Airship
The Airship isn’t on a subscription OTT platform in India, but you can watch it free online.
Free
Availability in India as of 9 November 2026. Streaming data by JustWatch.
Cast & crew
Details
- Released
- 17 March 1983
- Original title
- Das Luftschiff
- Country
- Germany, East Germany
- Written by
- Rainer Simon, Fritz Rudolf Fries
Check ratings elsewhere
News & fan talk
If you liked The Airship

Mindwalk
1991 · 6.9/10
Popcorn FlickRecommended by TMDB viewers

The Carpetbaggers
1964 · 6.0/10
Popcorn FlickRecommended by TMDB viewers

Gigi & Nate
2022 · 7.6/10
Worth the HypeRecommended by TMDB viewers

Won't Back Down
2012 · 6.2/10
Popcorn FlickRecommended by TMDB viewers

Hardball
2001 · 6.5/10
Popcorn FlickRecommended by TMDB viewers

Skin
2009 · 6.4/10
Popcorn FlickRecommended by TMDB viewers

Someday We'll Tell Each Other Everything
2023 · 5.8/10
SnoozefestRecommended by TMDB viewers

The Nest
2020 · 6.1/10
Popcorn FlickRecommended by TMDB viewers

What Maisie Knew
2013 · 7.1/10
Worth the HypeRecommended by TMDB viewers

Adopt a Highway
2019 · 6.9/10
Popcorn FlickRecommended by TMDB viewers
The Airship: quick answers
Is The Airship worth watching?
The Airship doesn’t have enough ratings for a verdict yet.
How long is The Airship?
The Airship runs 117 minutes (1h 57m).
Does The Airship have a post-credits scene?
None is listed for The Airship. Viewers tag these on TMDB, so a brand-new film may not be tagged yet.
The Airship parents guide: is it suitable for kids?
No age rating is listed for The Airship yet.
Which OTT platform is The Airship on?
The Airship isn’t on a subscription OTT platform in India, but you can watch it free online. (Checked 9 November 2026.)
What movies are like The Airship?
If you liked The Airship, try Mindwalk, The Carpetbaggers, Gigi & Nate.
Who directed The Airship?
The Airship (1983) was directed by Rainer Simon and stars Jörg Gudzuhn, Hermann Beyer, Kurt Böwe.