It is two minutes of pure, unadulterated 1980s chaos. You probably remember the vibe. Neal Page, played by the legendarily high-strung Steve Martin, just wants to get home for Thanksgiving. Del Griffith, played by John Candy in what might be the most soulful comedic performance of that decade, is the literal "shower ring salesman" obstacle in his path. If you watch the original Planes Trains and Automobiles trailer today, you aren't just looking at a promo for a movie; you are looking at a masterclass in how Paramount sold a "buddy comedy" that was actually a secret drama about loneliness and the holiday spirit.
Marketing a John Hughes movie in 1987 was a specific science. Hughes was the king of the teens—The Breakfast Club, Sixteen Candles, Ferris Bueller. But this was different. This was grown-ups. The trailer had to convince audiences that the guy from The Jerk and the guy from SCTV could carry a R-rated road trip movie that wasn't just slapstick. And man, did it work.
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The Anatomy of the Planes Trains and Automobiles Trailer
Most modern trailers give away the entire plot, including the third-act twist. Honestly, it’s annoying. But the 1987 teaser and theatrical trailer for this film did something smarter. It focused almost entirely on the friction. It established the "Odd Couple" dynamic within the first thirty seconds. You see the briefcase mishap. You see the frantic running through the terminal. You see the polar opposites: Neal’s sharp suit and Del’s overstuffed trunk.
What’s wild is what the trailer leaves out. It doesn't show you the heartbreaking moments in the motel room where Del defends his dignity. It doesn't show the "Those aren't pillows!" scene in its entirety—just enough of a tease to make you curious. It sells the comedy of errors. It promises a disaster movie where the disaster is just being stuck with a guy who talks too much.
The pacing of the Planes Trains and Automobiles trailer is surprisingly frantic. It uses a lot of quick cuts set to a synth-heavy score that screams late-80s production. You get the sense of constant motion, which is ironic because the whole point of the movie is that they are constantly stuck. Whether it’s the burning rental car or the broken-down train in a field, the trailer uses these "stuck" moments to build a rhythm of escalating frustration.
Why the Marketing Focused on the F-Bomb (And Why It Mattered)
There is a legendary story about the "Car Rental Desk" scene. You know the one. Steve Martin lets out a barrage of F-words—eighteen of them in about a minute. When the movie was being marketed, the studio had a bit of a dilemma. John Hughes was a "family name" to some degree, but this was a hard R-rated comedy.
The Planes Trains and Automobiles trailer had to walk a very fine line. It couldn't show the profanity, obviously. Instead, it showed Neal Page’s face turning a shade of purple that only Steve Martin can achieve. By focusing on his visible, silent rage in the trailer, they signaled to the audience that this wasn't Home Alone. This was for the adults who were stressed out by their own commutes and their own annoying relatives.
Key Elements That Sold the Film:
- The Contrast: Neal is the "Straight Man" to the extreme. Del is the "Chaos Agent." The trailer highlights this by showing Neal’s organized planner versus Del’s literal trunk of junk.
- The Music: It uses a lot of the "Power to Believe" track by The Dream Academy, which gives it that classic Hughes "sentimental but cool" atmosphere.
- The Visual Gags: The scene with the car driving between the two semi-trucks. It’s a terrifying stunt, but in the trailer, it’s cut to look like the ultimate "bad luck" punchline.
The Lost Footage Mystery
Here is something most people don't know about when they go back to watch the Planes Trains and Automobiles trailer. There are snippets of footage in the promotional materials that never made it into the final 92-minute theatrical cut.
John Hughes famously shot a massive amount of film. Rumor has it the first cut was over three hours long. If you look closely at some of the early TV spots and the theatrical trailer, you see extra beats of the duo on the bus and slightly different takes of the motel room arguments. Fans have been clamoring for the "Hughes Cut" for years. While we got some deleted scenes on the recent 4K "Blueberry" release, the trailer remains a primary source of evidence for just how much comedy was left on the cutting room floor.
There’s a specific bit in the trailer involving a meal on the plane—Neal looking disgusted at the "food"—that is way shorter in the movie than the promo suggested. It’s a reminder that trailers are often cut while the director is still in the editing bay hacking away at his favorite jokes.
The Enduring Legacy of the "Two-Hander"
We don't really get movies like this anymore. Mid-budget comedies are a dying breed, usually relegated to streaming services with zero marketing budget. But in 1987, the Planes Trains and Automobiles trailer was a major event. It positioned Steve Martin and John Candy as the ultimate comedic duo.
Interestingly, the trailer doesn't lean heavily on the "Thanksgiving" aspect until the very end. It sells it as a travel nightmare first, and a holiday movie second. This was a tactical move. If you brand it too strictly as a holiday movie, it has a shelf life of exactly three weeks. By branding it as a "buddy road trip" movie, Paramount ensured it stayed in theaters well into the winter.
The chemistry is the real star here. You can't fake the look on Steve Martin's face when John Candy starts playing the "dashboard drums" to Mess Around by Ray Charles. The trailer captures that brief moment of levity in a sea of misery, and that is exactly why people bought tickets. It’s relatable. Everyone has had a "Del Griffith" in their life. Everyone has felt like Neal Page, standing in the rain, wondering why the universe hates them.
Watching it Through a 2026 Lens
Looking back at the Planes Trains and Automobiles trailer from a modern perspective, it’s a time capsule. There are no cell phones. No Uber. No GPS. The entire plot relies on the fact that once you leave your house, you are essentially off the grid. If your plane is diverted to Wichita, you are at the mercy of the payphone and the kindness of strangers.
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The trailer reminds us of a time when travel was a shared social experience, for better or worse. It also highlights the physical comedy that both actors were so good at. Steve Martin’s body language—the way he carries his overcoat, the way he grips his suitcase—tells a story before he even opens his mouth.
Actionable Insights for Film Buffs and Rewatchers
If you are planning to revisit this classic or you’re diving into the history of its production, keep these things in mind:
- Watch the "Blueberry" 4K Release: If you want to see the footage hinted at in the trailers, the 2022/2023 physical releases include over an hour of never-before-seen deleted scenes. It’s the closest we will ever get to the legendary "Long Cut."
- Analyze the Editing: Notice how the trailer uses "Mickey Mousing" (matching the music to the physical actions). When Neal trips or a door slams, the score often hits a beat. It’s a classic editing technique that modern trailers have largely replaced with "The Bwah" sound effect.
- Contextualize the R-Rating: Remember that this movie was a pivot for Hughes. Compare the trailer for this to The Breakfast Club. You’ll see how the marketing shifted from "rebellious youth" to "frustrated middle-class worker."
- Identify the Trailer-Only Shots: Challenge yourself to find the three or four shots in the original theatrical trailer that didn't make the final edit. It's a fun scavenger hunt for cinema nerds.
The Planes Trains and Automobiles trailer did its job perfectly. It promised a comedy, delivered a masterpiece, and left us with two of the most iconic characters in film history. It wasn't just about the laughs; it was about the journey. And as Del Griffith famously said, he’s a "easy target," but the trailer made him a star.
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To get the most out of your next viewing, watch the original trailer first. It sets the stakes. It reminds you of the era. And most importantly, it prepares you for the sheer, chaotic joy of watching two men try to get home for a turkey dinner.