Plane Passengers Trapped Watching Dakota Johnson’s R-Rated ‘Daddio’

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The movie played during the flight serves as a small indulgence for passengers, allowing them to pass the time when they’re stuck in the middle of an aisle or squeezed next to someone else in a crowded plane. It’s rare to find your all-time favorite film playing on a plane; instead, the selection is typically bland, family-friendly choices designed to keep everyone entertained while waiting for their journey to end.

Despite some people’s delight and possibly others’ discomfort, the airline Qantas surprised its passengers by playing the controversial film “Daddio” as their in-flight movie. Due to a technical issue, only this movie was available, playing on every screen without any option for passengers to turn it off or dim it. The shocked expressions of some passengers made this flight, typically uneventful in travel history, quite memorable. However, the 2024 film “Daddio” differs significantly from typical in-flight entertainment, making the nine-and-a-half-hour Qantas flight from Sydney to Tokyo an uncomfortable journey for many passengers.

Dakota Johnson & Sean Penn’s ‘Daddio’ Shocked Passengers

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Instead of being suitable for an in-flight movie, the film “Daddio” features a narrative set during a prolonged taxi ride between a passenger, Girlie (played by Dakota Johnson), and her driver, Clark (portrayed by Sean Penn). In this unusual situation, they engage in an open and personal dialogue about topics such as relationships, sexual experiences, power dynamics, and grief. The movie carries an R rating for its use of strong language, explicit content, and graphic nudity.

The film Daddio, which shares its title with the stage play, served as Christy Hall’s first directorial effort. This production showcases its roots in theater, with a single setting and dialogue that significantly contribute to the narrative. Its secluded environment, encapsulated by the concept of being stranded in a vehicle following an accident, adds to the potential for audiences to find it pretentious. The film delves into some awkward conversations, although brief nudity — a displayed image of a penis and bare breasts on a phone screen — is minimal. However, it’s the dialogue that carries the greatest impact in Daddio, as it tackles in-depth discussions about sexual encounters, affairs, infidelities, and the exploration of “Daddy Issues” in relation to partner choices.

It’s likely that Little Timmy would have chosen “Transformers: The Last Knight” over having an uncomfortable chat with his parents during a lengthy flight. However, even the adults on board found the movie’s content problematic and voiced their disapproval. It might have been even more awkward if the airline had mixed up Paul Haggis’ “Crash” with David Cronenberg’s controversial film of the same name, which focuses on car crashes and eroticism.

Airline Apologizes for Showing ‘Daddio’

A representative from Qantas Airlines acknowledged an apology was necessary after the screening of the film “Daddio” on one of their flights, stating in a statement to USA Today that “Our flight attendants expressed their regrets to passengers during the flight, especially those who had expressed concerns about the content.” They further explained, “The movie was not appropriate for the entire flight duration and we deeply apologize to our customers for this inconvenience.

Following some dissatisfaction expressed during the flight, the crew eventually adjusted the movie selection to a more family-friendly option after roughly an hour. Interestingly, a number of passengers chose the film via a vote, making it the sole viewing choice for all plane passengers. Although this isn’t considered a prank, one might question the reasoning behind so many people voting for it initially (perhaps it was due to Sean Penn’s popularity). The reason the movie was part of the rotation in the first place wasn’t explained, but it seems likely that Qantas reevaluated its film selection process following this incident. If you aren’t traveling with Qantas, you can stream Daddio on Netflix via the link provided below, and take a look at the trailer as well:

Watch Daddio

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2025-02-15 07:03