The Aviator is a 2004 American epic biographical drama film directed by Martin Scorsese and written by John Logan. It stars Leonardo DiCaprio as Howard Hughes, Cate Blanchett as Katharine Hepburn, and Kate Beckinsale as Ava Gardner. The supporting cast features Ian Holm, John C. Reilly, Alec Baldwin, Jude Law, Gwen Stefani, Kelli Garner, Matt Ross, Willem Dafoe, Alan Alda, and Edward Herrmann.

Based on the 1993 non-fiction book Howard Hughes: The Secret Life by Charles Higham, the film depicts the life of Howard Hughes, an aviation pioneer and director of the film Hell's Angels. The film portrays his life from 1927 to 1947 during which time Hughes became a successful film producer and an aviation magnate while simultaneously growing more unstable due to severe obsessive–compulsive disorder (OCD).

Shot in Montreal, The Aviator was released in the United States on December 25, 2004, to positive reviews with critics praising Scorsese's direction, its cinematography and the performances by DiCaprio and Blanchett. It grossed $214 million on a budget of $110 million, thus emerging as a moderate commercial success at the box-office.

The Aviator received a leading 11 nominations at the 77th Academy Awards, including Best Picture, Best Director (for Scorsese), Best Actor (for DiCaprio), and Best Supporting Actor (for Alda), and won a leading 5 awards, including Best Supporting Actress (for Blanchett). At the 58th British Academy Film Awards, it received a leading 14 nominations, including Best Director, Best Actor in a Leading Role (for DiCaprio) and Best Actor in a Supporting Role (for Alda), and won a leading 4 awards, including Best Film and Best Actress in a Supporting Role (for Blanchett). It received 6 nominations at the 62nd Golden Globe Awards, including Best Director and Best Supporting Actress – Motion Picture (for Blanchett), and won a leading 3 awards, including Best Motion Picture – Drama and Best Actor – Motion Picture Drama (for DiCaprio). The film also received 3 nominations at the 11th Screen Actors Guild Awards, including Outstanding Male Actor in a Leading Role (for DiCaprio), winning Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Supporting Role (for Blanchett).