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25 Best Travel Movies Of All Time (Films That Will Inspire You To Travel)

Journey through the best travel movies ever made ........................................................................ You can watch these films over & over again, and never get sick get sick of them. Nothing gets me more excited to travel than a good travel film. It gives you the inspiration and the motivation to a new destination. So here is my personal list of the best travel movies of all time. Which ones are your favorites? I started to realize I had a travel obsession when all my favorite movies were based on crazy travel adventures. Once I’ve finished watching any of these films, I feel the instant urge to pack up everything and head out to explore the world. Great travel movies like these have inspired me a lot for my own personal travel goals over the years.

• Movies or TV
• IMDb Rating
• In Theaters
• Release Year

1. Into the Wild (2007)

R | 148 min | Adventure, Biography, Drama

After graduating from Emory University, top student and athlete Christopher McCandless abandons his possessions, gives his entire $24,000 savings account to charity and hitchhikes to Alaska to live in the wilderness. Along the way, Christopher encounters a series of characters that shape his life.

Director: Sean Penn | Stars: Emile Hirsch , Vince Vaughn , Catherine Keener , Marcia Gay Harden

Votes: 656,993 | Gross: $18.35M

Into The Wild is the true story of Christopher McCandless, a recent college graduate who gives away his live savings and hitchhikes to Alaska. He meets all kinds of people along the way, each with their own stories. In Alaska, he heads out into the wilderness to live on his own. His life is filled with random adventures and experiences while he makes his way up to “The Last Frontier”. This is what travel is all about to me. Experiences, good and bad, make you who you are. And long term travel is FULL of new experiences. The key is to not completely get in over your head (like Christopher did).

2. The Motorcycle Diaries (2004)

R | 126 min | Adventure, Biography, Drama

Ernesto Guevara de la Serna, popularly known as Che, along with his friend Alberto Granado, decides to take a road trip across South America. His experiences on the journey transform him.

Director: Walter Salles | Stars: Gael García Bernal , Rodrigo de la Serna , Mía Maestro , Mercedes Morán

Votes: 104,693 | Gross: $16.78M

Essential Visuals: Miramar, Buenos Aires, Argentia; Caracas, Venezuela; Patagonia; Nahuel Huapi Lake; Machu Picchu; Atacama Desert Where It Takes You: South America This awe-inspiring film is based on the memoirs of Che Guevara, from a time before he became an iconic Latin American revolutionary. Guevara (Gael Bernal) and his friend Alberto "Mial" Granado (Rodrigo De la Serna, Guevara’s real-life second cousin) climb atop a motorcycle and ride across South America for eight months and over 14,000 kilometers. The trip inspired the rest of Guevara's incredible life. The movie will inspire you to learn more about the incredibly beautiful continent.

3. The Beach (I) (2000)

R | 119 min | Adventure, Drama, Romance

On vacation in Thailand, Richard sets out for an island rumored to be a solitary beach paradise.

Director: Danny Boyle | Stars: Leonardo DiCaprio , Tilda Swinton , Daniel York , Patcharawan Patarakijjanon

Votes: 253,265 | Gross: $39.79M

Where It Takes You: Thailand Essential Visuals: Bangkok; Koh Samui Beaches; Gulf of Thailand; Ko Phi Phi Leh Want to see Leonardo DiCaprio before he had a dadbod? We hate to bust someone’s bubbles, but we’re not talking about Titanic here. For the ladies reading this post, the 2000 adventure film “The Beach” lets you feast your eyes on a shirtless young Leonardo DiCaprio, swimming on the fabulous crystal clear waters of Ko Phi Phi Lee.

4. The Way (I) (2010)

PG-13 | 123 min | Comedy, Drama

A father heads overseas to recover the body of his estranged son who died while traveling the "El camino de Santiago," and decides to take the pilgrimage himself.

Director: Emilio Estevez | Stars: Martin Sheen , Emilio Estevez , Deborah Kara Unger , Yorick van Wageningen

Votes: 35,263 | Gross: $4.43M

The Way is a beautiful and inspiring tale about a father walking Spain’s Camino de Santiago trail to honor his recently dead son. The experience is an eye-opening an emotional one for him, as he’s forced to make friends with complete strangers and examine his life during the 800km journey. It features a very eclectic mix of characters, all walking the path for their own personal reasons. The movie certainly made me more interested in traveling along the Camino at some point in my life. The Way is a heart-warming and beautiful story of a father who walked the Camino de Santiago trail in Spain, to honor his estranged son who recently died while trekking this trail. His experience was eye-opening and quite an emotional one, as he was compelled to make friends with total strangers as well as examine his life during his long 800 kilometer long journey. The film features a pretty eclectic blend of characters, all trekking the long trail for their own personal reasons.

5. 180° South (2010)

PG | 85 min | Documentary, Drama, Sport

The film follows adventurer Jeff Johnson as he retraces the epic 1968 journey of his heroes Yvon Chouinard and Doug Tompkins to Patagonia.

Director: Chris Malloy | Stars: Yvon Chouinard , Doug Tompkins , Keith Malloy , Alicia Salome Acuna Ika

Votes: 3,171 | Gross: $0.03M

180 Degrees South is a documentary that follows the adventure of a group of friends as they travel to Patagonia in the spirt of their heroes. They pack their surfboards and climbing gear as they sail and drive along the South American coast, learning about the losing battle against industrialization and the destruction of the natural world. Modern commercial interests fed by the growing human consumption of disposable goods is ruining our planet, and the film shows what some brave people are doing to try and stop it. The movie’s beautiful scenery and fantastic soundtrack mix together with a strong message and travel adventure to create a true work of art.

6. Wild (I) (2014)

R | 115 min | Adventure, Biography, Drama

A chronicle of one woman's 1,100-mile solo hike undertaken as a way to recover from a recent personal tragedy.

Director: Jean-Marc Vallée | Stars: Reese Witherspoon , Laura Dern , Gaby Hoffmann , Michiel Huisman

Votes: 138,574 | Gross: $37.88M

Reese Witherspoon donned a pair of ill-fitting hiking boots and a giant backpack for her role as Cheryl Strayed, a writer who trekked 1,100 miles on the Pacific Crest Trail after the devastating loss of her mother. (The film is based on Strayed’s best-selling 2012 book of the same name.) Strayed crosses the dusty Mojave, crazy forests, snowy fields, and muddy trails, losing toenails but gaining mental clarity—or at least self-acceptance—along the way.

7. One Week (I) (2008)

Not Rated | 94 min | Adventure, Drama

Chronicles the motorcycle trip of Ben Tyler as he rides from Toronto to Tofino, British Columbia. Ben stops at landmarks that are both iconic and idiosyncratic on his quest to find meaning in his life.

Director: Michael McGowan | Stars: Joshua Jackson , Peter Spence , Marc Strange , Gage Munroe

Votes: 12,040

Where It Takes You: Road Trip Across Canada This 2008 film chronicles the motorcycle escapade of Ben Tyler, a school teacher, as he takes a fascinating road trip from the city of Toronto to British Colombia’s Tofino. Along his quest’s route, he makes stops in a number of landmarks, to find the true meaning of life, before he gets married.

8. Tracks (I) (2013)

PG-13 | 112 min | Adventure, Biography, Drama

A young woman goes on a 1,700-mile trek across the deserts of West Australia with four camels and her faithful dog.

Director: John Curran | Stars: Mia Wasikowska , Adam Driver , Lily Pearl , Philip Dodd

Votes: 31,687 | Gross: $0.51M

Where It Takes You: Western Australia Standing in for real-life writer Robyn Davidson, Mia Wasikowska travels across the breathtaking landscape of Western Australia with only four camels and a beloved dog for company. Her occasional human visitors include a photographer for National Geographic (Adam Driver), an indigenous Australian elder named Mr. Eddy who guides her through sacred lands, and various tourists who come to gawk at the so-called Camel Lady. Davidson’s solo trip was beyond the pale for a woman in the '70s, but it's still incredibly inspiring today. We'll just leave the camel-training to someone else.

9. And Your Mother Too (2001)

R | 106 min | Drama

In Mexico, two teenage boys and an older woman embark on a road trip and learn a thing or two about life and each other.

Director: Alfonso Cuarón | Stars: Maribel Verdú , Gael García Bernal , Daniel Giménez Cacho , Ana López Mercado

Votes: 128,721 | Gross: $13.62M

Where It Takes You: Mexico Essential visuals: Mexico City; Puerto Escondido; Huatulco; Secluded Mexican beaches Julio and Tenoch are two teens ruled by raging hormones and a mission to consume exotic substances. But one summer, the boys learn more about life than they bargain for when they set off on a wild, cross-country road trip with seductive, 28-year-old Luisa. The temptress Luisa teaches them the finer points of passion, and they of course, both fall madly in love with her.

10. The Darjeeling Limited (2007)

R | 91 min | Adventure, Comedy, Drama

A year after their father's funeral, three brothers travel across India by train in an attempt to bond with each other.

Director: Wes Anderson | Stars: Owen Wilson , Adrien Brody , Jason Schwartzman , Amara Karan

Votes: 216,596 | Gross: $11.90M

Essential Visuals: The Himalayas; temples in Jodhpur; Indian railways Where It Takes You: India The Darjeeling Limited is a wacky film about three wealthy, spoiled brothers taking an overland train trip through India. They haven’t spoken in a year, and the trip is supposed to heal and bond them again. Initially it all goes wrong as they bicker and fight with each other. They are all suffering from depression, and pop pain killers like candy. When it seems like nothing is going right, their crazy experiences along the way finally put things into perspective. The ultimate goal of healing and rejuvenation starts to happen. They finally start to grow up and turn into men. The movie is hilarious, and beautifully shot too. It will make you want to visit India.

11. Encounters at the End of the World (2007)

G | 99 min | Documentary

Film-maker Werner Herzog travels to the McMurdo Station in Antarctica, looking to capture the continent's beauty and investigate the characters living there.

Director: Werner Herzog | Stars: Werner Herzog , Scott Rowland , Stefan Pashov , Doug MacAyeal

Votes: 19,217 | Gross: $0.94M

Encounters At The End Of The World is an incredibly beautiful and funny movie about the people and animals who live in Antarctica. The film is done by Werner Herzog, one of my favorite directors. The individuals that work at the National Science Foundation research station are full of character, and most are permanent world travelers. Even if you’ve seen Discovery channel shows about Antarctica, this is totally different and fresh. I liked it much more than I thought I would, and it has earned a spot on my best travel movies list because as soon as it was over I wanted to pack up and head down there for a bit!

12. The Bucket List (2007)

PG-13 | 97 min | Adventure, Comedy, Drama

Two terminally ill men escape from a cancer ward and head off on a road trip with a wish list of to-dos before they die.

Director: Rob Reiner | Stars: Jack Nicholson , Morgan Freeman , Sean Hayes , Beverly Todd

Votes: 259,461 | Gross: $93.47M

The Bucket List is a tearjerker, and more importantly, a heart-warming film that will inspire you to do all the things that you want to do before you kick the bucket, including traveling. To me, the film also reminds us that life is too short, and we should enjoy it to the fullest.

13. The Secret Life of Walter Mitty (2013)

PG | 114 min | Adventure, Comedy, Drama

When both he and a colleague are about to lose their job, Walter takes action by embarking on an adventure more extraordinary than anything he ever imagined.

Director: Ben Stiller | Stars: Ben Stiller , Kristen Wiig , Jon Daly , Kathryn Hahn

Votes: 340,249 | Gross: $58.24M

When Walter’s job along with that of his co-worker are threatened, Walter takes action in the real world embarking on a global journey that turns into an adventure more extraordinary than anything he could have ever imagined. This is a lighthearted look at the adventurous spirit with some awesome travel mixed in.

14. Out of Africa (1985)

PG | 161 min | Biography, Drama, Romance

In 20th-century colonial Kenya, a Danish baroness/plantation owner has a passionate love affair with a free-spirited big-game hunter.

Director: Sydney Pollack | Stars: Meryl Streep , Robert Redford , Klaus Maria Brandauer , Michael Kitchen

Votes: 86,134 | Gross: $87.10M

Where It Takes You: Kenya Essential Visuals: Ngong Hills; Shaba National Game Reserve; African savannas Meryl Streep and Robert Redford star in this tragic love story about a married baroness who falls for a big-game hunter, based on the autobiographical novel by Isak Dinesen. Filmed on location in the UK and Kenya, including the Shaba National Game Reserve, Out of Africa feels about as epic as the doomed love affair between two very different people.

15. Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara (2011)

Not Rated | 155 min | Comedy, Drama, Musical

Three friends decide to turn their fantasy vacation into reality after one of their friends gets engaged.

Director: Zoya Akhtar | Stars: Hrithik Roshan , Farhan Akhtar , Abhay Deol , Katrina Kaif

Votes: 85,647 | Gross: $3.11M

Where It Takes You: Spain Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara ( You Don't Get Life a Second Time ) - Two lifelong friends (Hrithik Roshan, Farhan Akhtar) take a third (Abhay Deol) on a road trip through Spain instead of throwing a traditional bachelor party.

17. The Endless Summer (1966)

Not Rated | 95 min | Documentary, Sport

The crown jewel to ten years of Bruce Brown surfing documentaries. Brown follows two young surfers around the world in search of the perfect wave, and ends up finding quite a few in addition to some colorful local characters.

Director: Bruce Brown | Stars: Robert August , Michael Hynson , Lord James Blears , Bruce Brown

Votes: 6,209

Catch a wave and you’re sitting on top of the world,” sang the Beach Boys; and if ever a film embodied that mindset, it’s Bruce Brown’s 1966 surfer documentary. Brown shadowed buddies Robert August and Mike Hynson on a round-the-world surfing trip, filming their travels to places like Hawaii, New Zealand, and South Africa as they crested waves and met like-minded surf obsessives. The film’s impact on surf culture and tourism was huge, thanks in no small part to Brown’s cinematography, as well as the subjects’ ability to make riding those impossibly large waves seem effortless This 1966 classic has a cult following, and deservedly so; it spiraled an entire surf and travel subculture, and has been inspiring travelers for the past 50 years. The film follows surfers around the globe as they search to continue summer surfing beyond the summer months. Their travels are what any traveler could wish on such a journey; exotic locations, cultural exchanges and lessons, and plenty of good stories along the way.

18. Easy Rider (1969)

R | 95 min | Adventure, Drama

Two bikers head from L.A. to New Orleans through the open country and desert lands, and along the way they meet a man who bridges a counter-culture gap of which they had been unaware.

Director: Dennis Hopper | Stars: Peter Fonda , Dennis Hopper , Jack Nicholson , Antonio Mendoza

Votes: 116,747 | Gross: $41.73M

Released the year of the Woodstock festival—perhaps the biggest event of the ’60s counterculture movement—Easy Rider couldn’t have come out at a better time in history. The film plays out like a motorcycle travelogue, following Wyatt (Peter Fonda) and Billy (Dennis Hopper) on their sojourn from Mexico to Los Angeles to New Orleans. Shot on a shoestring budget, the film is flush with desert landscapes and towns that the pair of nogoodniks (and co-stars, like a young Jack Nicholson) pass through on their drug-and-booze-fueled hippie adventure.

19. The Art of Travel (2008)

R | 100 min | Drama

Having called off his wedding, a high school graduate journeys alone to Central America, finding adventure with a ragtag group of foreigners who attempt to cross the Darien Gap in record time.

Director: Thomas Whelan | Stars: Christopher Masterson , Brooke Burns , Johnny Messner , James Duval

Votes: 2,620

Ever think of trading out the American dream of white picket fences and suburban houses for an adventure? The 2008 film The Art of Travel shows a man who does just that after finding out his long time sweetheart and fiancee is cheating on him. Abandoning the past and in an attempt to move forward, he takes his honeymoon alone. The result is an adventure of self discovery and the true meaning and mastering of wanderlust as he and a group of adventurers try to race across the Darien Gap. Travel lovers everywhere will be inspired by the cinematography as the hero travels through the miles of the South and Central American rainforest. The film also does a fantastic job of depicting the struggle every traveler feels in their soul at the thought of returning to what is familiar after having experienced the challenges the world has waiting for you.

20. A Map for Saturday (2007)

TV-PG | 90 min | Documentary

On a trip around the world, every day feels like Saturday. A MAP FOR SATURDAY reveals a world of long-term, solo travel through the stories of trekkers on four continents. The documentary ... See full summary  »

Director: Brook Silva-Braga | Stars: Scott Erikson , Rebecca Filmer , Sabrina Hezinger , Kate McNair

Votes: 1,214

A Map For Saturday is a travel documentary that follows one man as he quits his cushy job with HBO to travel around the world for a year and live out of his backpack. It shows the different ways people travel, and gives an accurate picture of what it is like to vagabond around the world long term. You get to experience both the ups and downs of his trip at a very personal level. If you ever thought of doing something like this, the movie will show you what the experience is really like. It also shows you that anyone can travel cheaply if they really want to. The only thing stopping you is, well, you.

21. Vicky Cristina Barcelona (2008)

PG-13 | 96 min | Comedy, Drama, Romance

Two friends on a summer holiday in Spain become enamored with the same painter, unaware that his ex-wife, with whom he has a tempestuous relationship, is about to re-enter the picture.

Director: Woody Allen | Stars: Rebecca Hall , Scarlett Johansson , Javier Bardem , Christopher Evan Welch

Votes: 268,537 | Gross: $23.22M

Where It Takes You: Spain Essential Visuals: Barcelona Harbor; Spanish countryside; Oviedo; Santa Maria del Mar Church

23. Away We Go (2009)

R | 98 min | Comedy, Drama, Romance

A couple expecting their first child travels the U.S. seeking the perfect "family home." They have misadventures and find fresh connections with relatives and old friends who help them discover "home" on their own terms for the first time.

Director: Sam Mendes | Stars: John Krasinski , Maya Rudolph , Allison Janney , Carmen Ejogo

Votes: 55,046 | Gross: $9.45M

A few months before their baby is due, Verona (Maya Rudolph) and Burt (John Krasinski) decide to take a road trip to find the perfect location to raise their family. Their journey takes them from Phoenix and Tucson to Madison and Montreal, a city that has never seemed more friendly or inviting. The movie is a wonderful tour of North America’s cities, as well as a touching tribute to love and family. John Krasinski and Maya Rudolph play expectant parents in director Sam Mendes's 2009 flick. Verona (Rudolph) and Burt (Krasinski) travel across the continent searching for where they should settle down to raise their unborn baby. They visit friends along the way, learning about the type of parents they'd like to be and despite Verona's hesitation to get married, pledge they'll always be there for each other. In his review of the film, Globe film critic Wesley Morris wrote that it "is a road movie for idealists. Away We Go is story of discovery and interaction with different lifestyles of people across the world, and a look into the different kind of lives we can choose to live. The story follows a couple who is expecting their first child; upon learning they are pregnant, they decide to travel across North America to try to find the kind of culture and life they wish their child to grow up in. The film does well at inspiring you to not settle to be like the people around you, but to make your own path.

24. Lost in Translation (2003)

R | 102 min | Comedy, Drama

A faded movie star and a neglected young woman form an unlikely bond after crossing paths in Tokyo.

Director: Sofia Coppola | Stars: Bill Murray , Scarlett Johansson , Giovanni Ribisi , Anna Faris

Votes: 487,335 | Gross: $44.59M

Where It Takes You: Japan Essential Visuals: Tokyo; Daikanyama; Shinjuku Park Tower; Heian Jingu Shrine in Kyoto; Nanzen-ji Temple’s Sanmon gate Lost In Translation is based on two separate travelers, Bob & Charlotte, visiting Tokyo at the same time. They meet each other and form a friendship as they experience confusion and hilarity in a strange and curious city. Bob is an aging actor starring in commercials, while Charlotte is the bored wife of a photographer there on business. They are an unlikely pair, experiencing a degree of loneliness in a foreign city filled with millions of people. This is another beautifully shot film that also shows how funny and interesting traveling in a new country can be. The many little random experiences that present themselves while traveling are often the most memorable.

25. Under the Tuscan Sun (2003)

PG-13 | 113 min | Comedy, Drama, Romance

Frances Mayes, a 35-year-old San Francisco writer, gets a divorce that leaves her with terminal writer's block and depression. Later, she decides to buy a house in Tuscany in order to change her life.

Director: Audrey Wells | Stars: Diane Lane , Raoul Bova , Sandra Oh , Lindsay Duncan

Votes: 59,305 | Gross: $43.61M

Where It Takes You: Tuscany, Italy Don’t want to give up your city life? A word of advice, please don’t watch the Under the Tuscan Sun. With all the delightful wines, mouthwatering food, remote cottages and scenic rolling hills shown in the film, this romantic flick will inspire to you to travel to this Italian paradise, as well as urge you to scrap your urban life, for a chance to harvest an awesome dream of living a life Under the Tuscan Sun.

26. Eat Pray Love (2010)

PG-13 | 133 min | Biography, Drama, Romance

A married woman realizes how unhappy her marriage really is, and that her life needs to go in a different direction. After a painful divorce, she takes off on a round-the-world journey to "find herself".

Director: Ryan Murphy | Stars: Julia Roberts , Javier Bardem , Richard Jenkins , Viola Davis

Votes: 105,667 | Gross: $80.57M

Where It Takes You: Italy, India, Indonesia The book-turned-movie Eat Pray Love, ever since it was released, has been inspiring people to travel, and seek a life or career outside the big buzzing cities. I have to admit that this was one of those rare occasions where I didn’t enjoy the book but I enjoyed the movie. Yet another one based on the real story and memoir by Liz Gilbert, Julia Roberts plays her and visually takes us through her transformational journey from a difficult divorce to a quest of self-discovery through eating in Italy, praying in India and loving in Bali. A movie for the senses.

27. The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert (1994)

R | 104 min | Comedy, Music

Two drag performers and a transgender woman travel across the desert to perform their unique style of cabaret.

Director: Stephan Elliott | Stars: Hugo Weaving , Guy Pearce , Terence Stamp , Rebel Penfold-Russell

Votes: 54,850 | Gross: $11.22M

Guy Pearce, Hugo Weaving, and Terence Stamp star as two drag performers and a transwoman who travel to Alice Springs, Australia, in a lavender-hued school bus they've named Priscilla. A road trip across the Outback serves as a dusty backdrop for personal revelations and general awesomeness, like a fireside lip-sync performance of Gloria Gaynor's "I Will Survive.

28. Seven Years in Tibet (1997)

PG-13 | 136 min | Adventure, Biography, Drama

Heinrich Harrer, an Austrian climber, breaks out of prison and travels to the holy city of Lhasa. He is employed as an instructor to the 14th Dalai Lama and soon becomes his close confidante.

Director: Jean-Jacques Annaud | Stars: Brad Pitt , David Thewlis , BD Wong , Mako

Votes: 155,623 | Gross: $37.96M

Seven Years In Tibet is about an Austrian mountaineer who heads out to conquer a Himalayan mountain in 1939. After getting captured and sent to a prison camp, he ends up breaking out with another man and sneaking into the holy Tibetan city of Lhasa. He befriends the young Dalai Lama just as the Chinese attempt to invade Tibet by force. Both men are from totally different worlds, yet become great friends and learn from each other. The character starts off as a selfish prick, but slowly changes his outlook on life when confronted with new experiences in a very foreign land. It’s a good movie that shows you how travel adventures can transform your life. Filled with scenic shots and views of The Himalayas, Potala Palace, and other sites, most of the filming actually took place in Argentina. However, two crews allegedly secretly shot footage in Tibet, providing authentic visuals.

29. The Way Back (I) (2010)

PG-13 | 133 min | Adventure, Drama, History

Siberian gulag escapees travel four thousand miles by foot to freedom in India.

Director: Peter Weir | Stars: Jim Sturgess , Ed Harris , Colin Farrell , Dragos Bucur

Votes: 121,861 | Gross: $2.70M

Inspired by an incredible true story, The Way Back follows seven prisoners from very different backgrounds as they attempt the impossible: escape from a Siberian prison in the dead of winter. Thus begins a treacherous 4,500-mile trek to freedom across the world’s most merciless landscapes – from Siberia to India. They have little food and few supplies. They don’t know or trust each other. But they know that to survive, they must withstand nature at its most extreme. A compelling testament to the code of trust among travelers, and our innate quality to seek survival and freedom at all costs

30. The Spanish Apartment (2002)

R | 122 min | Comedy, Drama, Romance

A strait-laced French student moves into an apartment in Barcelona with a cast of six other characters from all over Europe. Together, they speak the international language of love and friendship.

Director: Cédric Klapisch | Stars: Romain Duris , Judith Godrèche , Kelly Reilly , Audrey Tautou

Votes: 42,752 | Gross: $3.90M

I have met very few travelers who aren’t obsessed with L’Auberge Espagnole. While there are numerous reasons to love this movie—the romance of Barcelona, the potent sexual tension, etc.—the number one reason why travelers crave this movie is because it’s so incredibly real. Anyone who has ever lived or studied abroad can instantly relate to this film and the way in which it traces the subtle cultural differences and real-life situations experienced by University-aged travelers. Watching L’Auberge Espagnole makes you want to call up long lost travel acquaintances and reminisce and laugh over a stiff drink and focus on the lighter, more important side of life. A final sticking point is the way in which the main character, Xavier, realizes that life’s various experiences and the personal connections you forge are ultimately what really matter, not your salary, title, or career. As this is a mantra many free-spirited travelers hold so dear it’s no wonder the film has fostered such a devoted following.

31. Baraka (1992)

Not Rated | 96 min | Documentary

A collection of expertly photographed scenes of human life and religion.

Director: Ron Fricke | Star: Patrick Disanto

Votes: 40,931 | Gross: $1.33M

Baraka is a non-narrative documentary film, but this list wouldn’t be complete without mentioning Baraka. This movie explores themes via a kaleidoscopic compilation of natural events, life, human activities and technological phenomena shot in 24 countries on six continents over a 14-month period. Shot in 70mm film in 24 countries on six continents, Baraka (meaning “blessing” in several languages,) is more of a transcendent global tour – an exploration of extraordinary places, peoples and cultures that create the world’s pulse. A world beyond words, this story is almost an un-story, a narration of nature and of humankind’s chaotic and lovely relationship with it. A viewing experience truly awesome and like nothing you’ve seen or felt before. (2008 | Not Rated) If you loved Baraka,

32. Before Sunrise (1995)

R | 101 min | Drama, Romance

A young man and woman meet on a train in Europe, and wind up spending one evening together in Vienna. Unfortunately, both know that this will probably be their only night together.

Director: Richard Linklater | Stars: Ethan Hawke , Julie Delpy , Andrea Eckert , Hanno Pöschl

Votes: 338,426 | Gross: $5.54M

Takes You: Vienna, Austria Essential Visuals: Wiener Riesenrad Ferris Wheel; Hofburg Palace; the Donaukanal When traveling to a new city, chances are you spend a large part of the first few days just walking around and finding your bearings. Few films encapsulate that aimless walkabout feeling like Before Sunrise. Backpacking American Jesse (Ethan Hawke) gets to live every male traveler’s dream. He meets Celine, a gorgeous French woman (Julie Delpy), and the two have a 12-hour love affair while exploring Vienna for the day. No strings attached. Regarded as one of the most significative films of the 90s, and starring a young Ethan Hawke and Julie Delpy, the film tells the story of an American travelling by train around Europe, and a French girl travelling home from Budapest. After striking a conversation on the train and having an instant chemistry, they decide to get off together in Vienna. The couple establish an intense intimacy, share stories, opinions jokes and discover love, all surrounded by backlit buildings, racing against time before sunrise. The film’s success is proven by two sequels, Before Sunset and Before Midnight.

33. Central Station (1998)

R | 110 min | Drama

The emotive journey of a former schoolteacher who writes letters for illiterate people, and a young boy whose mother has just died, as they search for the father he never knew.

Director: Walter Salles | Stars: Fernanda Montenegro , Vinícius de Oliveira , Marília Pêra , Soia Lira

Votes: 42,205 | Gross: $5.60M

Where It Takes You: Brazil Central Station tells the story of a bitter old woman and an orphan who leave Rio de Janeiro’s outskirts to embark on a road trip the northeast of Brazil, in search for his father. Expect spectacular scenery of an arid, semi-desert part of Brazil, with traditional cultural insights, far from the flashy beaches of Ipanema and Copacabana.

34. In July (2000)

16+ | 99 min | Adventure, Comedy, Romance

A young, insecure teacher embarks on a journey through Europe to Turkey, where he wants to see a woman again whom he believes to be his fate.

Director: Fatih Akin | Stars: Moritz Bleibtreu , Christiane Paul , Mehmet Kurtulus , Idil Üner

Votes: 22,825

Where It Takes You: Eastern Europe In July (Im Juli) is a movie about a road trip through eastern Europe and all the adventure that goes along with it. Daniel is a shy & boring young school teacher who never really does anything fun & exciting. He decides to break out of his shell while chasing a girl from Germany to Turkey on a crazy road trip that will change his life forever. His travel partner shows him what he’s been missing as they drive, hitchhike, walk, swim, get robbed, steal a car, get in fights, escape from jail, and bribe border guards to get to their ultimate destination. By the end of the adventure, he’s a changed person.

35. The Road Within (2014)

R | 100 min | Adventure, Comedy, Drama

A young man with Tourette's Syndrome embarks on a road trip with his recently-deceased mother's ashes.

Director: Gren Wells | Stars: Robert Sheehan , Dev Patel , Zoë Kravitz , Robert Patrick

Votes: 16,246

36. Little Miss Sunshine (2006)

R | 101 min | Comedy, Drama

A family determined to get their young daughter into the finals of a beauty pageant take a cross-country trip in their VW bus.

Directors: Jonathan Dayton , Valerie Faris | Stars: Steve Carell , Toni Collette , Greg Kinnear , Abigail Breslin

Votes: 517,015 | Gross: $59.89M

Lovely, cute, inappropriate and hilarious, Little Miss Sunshine tells the story of a dysfunctional family that went on an unusually blissful and funny road trip to California, to fulfill the dream of their sweet little girl. Time to cross the country with the eccentric Hoover family on a hilarious ride in a VW bus to bring their Little Miss Sunshine to her beauty pageant finals in southern California… It’s a good thing this little girl has some serious sunshine – her family needs every ounce of it! And she spreads it liberally

37. Amélie (2001)

R | 122 min | Comedy, Romance

Despite being caught in her imaginative world, Amelie, a young waitress, decides to help people find happiness. Her quest to spread joy leads her on a journey where she finds true love.

Director: Jean-Pierre Jeunet | Stars: Audrey Tautou , Mathieu Kassovitz , Rufus , Lorella Cravotta

Votes: 793,094 | Gross: $33.23M

Where Its Take you :Paris If you haven't been to Paris before you'll want to plan a trip after stepping into Amelie's world. This whimsical, contemporary French classic shows the life of an imaginative waitress (played by Audrey Tautou) living in Montmartre as she goes on quite the personal adventure throughout the city. Scenes take place in a Parisian cafe, the metro, and the Basilica of the Sacré Cœur, and there's also beautiful landscapes shots and one of the loveliest moped scenes you'll ever watch. No list of the best travel movies would be complete without including this beautiful French film that is not only a heartfelt good-vibes story, but also an impressive display of cinematography. The film follows the life of Amelie – a young French woman in search of her purpose in life, and the lives of those around her. It’s about as good as it gets for Paris inspiration and wanderlust.

38. Into the Cold: A Journey of the Soul (2010)

TV-G | 85 min | Documentary, Action, Adventure

Into The Cold--A Journey of the Soul retraces the personal and harrowing expedition of two men on foot to the North Pole in sub-zero temperatures to commemorate the centennial of Admiral ... See full summary  »

Director: Sebastian Copeland | Stars: Sebastian Copeland , Keith Heger

39. Highway (I) (2014)

Not Rated | 133 min | Crime, Drama, Romance

Right before her wedding, a young woman finds herself abducted and held for ransom. As the initial days pass, she begins to develop a strange bond with her kidnapper.

Director: Imtiaz Ali | Stars: Alia Bhatt , Randeep Hooda , Durgesh Kumar , Pradeep Nagar

Votes: 30,384 | Gross: $0.53M

The movie went beyond the social message or the Stockholm Syndrome. More than a love story, it was about the sense of freedom that travel can introduce one to.

40. Hector and the Search for Happiness (2014)

R | 114 min | Adventure, Comedy, Drama

A psychiatrist searches the globe to find the secret of happiness.

Director: Peter Chelsom | Stars: Simon Pegg , Rosamund Pike , Tracy-Ann Oberman , Jean Reno

Votes: 50,446 | Gross: $1.12M

41. Two for the Road (1967)

Not Rated | 111 min | Comedy, Drama, Romance

A couple in the south of France non-sequentially spin down the highways of infidelity in their troubled ten-year marriage.

Director: Stanley Donen | Stars: Audrey Hepburn , Albert Finney , Eleanor Bron , William Daniels

Votes: 14,650 | Gross: $7.63M

Travel is a constant theme in this romantic dramedy about a married couple, played by Albert Finney and Aubrey Hepburn. The movie starts off with a road trip to Saint-Tropez, and as they drive through France, the audience is treated to flashbacks of previous trips that have affected their relationship.

42. Samsara (I) (2011)

PG-13 | 102 min | Documentary, Music

Filmed over nearly five years in twenty-five countries on five continents, and shot on seventy-millimetre film, Samsara transports us to the varied worlds of sacred grounds, disaster zones, industrial complexes, and natural wonders.

Director: Ron Fricke | Stars: Balinese Tari Legong Dancers , Ni Made Megahadi Pratiwi , Puti Sri Candra Dewi , Putu Dinda Pratika

Votes: 37,984 | Gross: $2.67M

SAMSARA is a Sanskrit word that means “the ever turning wheel of life” and is the point of departure for the filmmakers as they search for the elusive current of interconnection that runs through our lives. Filmed over a period of almost five years and in twenty-five countries, SAMSARA transports us to sacred grounds, disaster zones, industrial sites, and natural wonders. By dispensing with dialogue and descriptive text, SAMSARA subverts our expectations of a traditional documentary, instead encouraging our own inner interpretations inspired by images and musi

43. Blue Skies, Green Waters, Red Earth (2013)

137 min | Adventure, Drama, Romance

Kasi and Suni go for the ride from Kerala to Nagaland in search of Kasi's girlfriend. En route, they encounter different people who change their lives forever.

Director: Sameer Thahir | Stars: Dulquer Salmaan , Sunny Wayne , Bala Hijam Ningthoujam , Shane Nigam

Votes: 4,230

44. Touching the Void (2003)

R | 106 min | Documentary, Adventure, Drama

The true story of two climbers and their perilous journey up the west face of Siula Grande in the Peruvian Andes in 1985.

Director: Kevin Macdonald | Stars: Simon Yates , Joe Simpson , Brendan Mackey , Nicholas Aaron

Votes: 38,052 | Gross: $4.59M

Based on the dramatic true story of Simon Yates, who, with Joe Simpson, attempted to scale the never-before-climbed 21,000 foot Siula Grande in the Peruvian Andes. On the descent, a disastrous fall levels Yates, shattering his leg … mountaineering “alpine style,” (carrying gear and food on your back,) didn’t make the situation any easier. Now separated, Yates and Simpson must access every shred of strength and courage in their being to make their way home in this ruggedly real mountain voyage.

45. Midnight in Paris (2011)

PG-13 | 94 min | Comedy, Fantasy, Romance

While on a trip to Paris with his fiancée's family, a nostalgic screenwriter finds himself mysteriously going back to the 1920s every day at midnight.

Director: Woody Allen | Stars: Owen Wilson , Rachel McAdams , Kathy Bates , Kurt Fuller

Votes: 449,226 | Gross: $56.82M

Where Its Take you: France If you are into Woody Allen films, Paris and art, you will love this movie as I did. Owen Wilson as Gil Pender an aspiring novelist, travels to Paris with her fiancée’s family and somehow finds himself traveling back in time to the 1920’s and meets Jazz Age icons in art and literature like Cole Porter, F. Scott Fitzgerald and Ernest Hemingway. I absolutely fell in love with this movie.

46. On the Road (2012)

R | 124 min | Adventure, Drama, Romance

Young writer Sal Paradise has his life shaken by the arrival of free-spirited Dean Moriarty and his girl, Marylou. As they travel across the country, they encounter a mix of people who each impact their journey indelibly.

Director: Walter Salles | Stars: Sam Riley , Garrett Hedlund , Kristen Stewart , Amy Adams

Votes: 43,263 | Gross: $0.72M

47. Copenhagen (2014)

Not Rated | 98 min | Adventure, Drama, Romance

When the girl of your dreams is half your age, it's time to grow up.

Director: Mark Raso | Stars: Gethin Anthony , Frederikke Dahl Hansen , Sebastian Armesto , Olivia Grant

Votes: 13,844

Where Its Take you : Copenhagen, Denmark A thoughtful coming-of-age film that gets into the rather messy topic of a May-August romance; which in Copenhagen is between a stunted late twenty-something traveler and a grown-up teenager. The film also features the theme of searching for one's family, and has a number of beautiful and alluring shots of the city. The trailer alone wants to make you fly over and go on a bike ride.

48. Una noche (2012)

Not Rated | 90 min | Drama, Romance

In Havana, Raul dreams of escaping to Miami. Accused of assault, he appeals to Elio to help him reach the forbidden world 90 miles across the ocean. One night, full of hope, they face the biggest challenge of their lives.

Director: Lucy Mulloy | Stars: Dariel Arrechaga , Anailín de la Rúa de la Torre , Javier Núñez Florián , María Adelaida Méndez Bonet

Votes: 1,979 | Gross: $0.07M

Where Its Take you : Havana CUBA Giving you a gritty look of Cuba along with sun-kissed imagery, the energetic Una Noche follows a young man living in Havana who dreams of escaping to Miami.

49. The Trip to Italy (2014)

Not Rated | 108 min | Comedy, Drama

Two men, six meals in six different places on a road trip around Italy. Liguria, Tuscany, Rome, Amalfi and ending in Capri.

Director: Michael Winterbottom | Stars: Steve Coogan , Rob Brydon , Rosie Fellner , Claire Keelan

Votes: 16,165 | Gross: $2.87M

Where Its Take you : Liguria, Tuscany, Rome, Amalfi and ending in Capri. The fictional Steve Coogan and Rob Brydon team up again for a second restaurant tour, this time in Italy. The characters eat at some of the finest restaurants and beautiful hotels across the country from Piedmont to Capri—following the footsteps of romantic poets Percy Bysshe Shelley and Lord Byron.

50. Riding Solo to the Top of the World (2006)

94 min | Documentary

Riding Solo To The Top Of The World' is the unique experience of a lonesome traveler, who rides his motorcycle all the way from Mumbai to one of the remotest places in the World, the ... See full summary  »

Director: Gaurav Jani | Star: Gaurav Jani

51. In Bruges (2008)

R | 107 min | Comedy, Crime, Drama

After a job gone wrong, hitman Ray and his partner await orders from their ruthless boss in Bruges, Belgium, the last place in the world Ray wants to be.

Director: Martin McDonagh | Stars: Colin Farrell , Brendan Gleeson , Ciarán Hinds , Elizabeth Berrington

Votes: 460,713 | Gross: $7.76M

Where It Takes You: Bruges, Belgium Essential Visuals: Groeningemuseum; Belfry of Bruges; Bruges’ historic city center This is great because most people never have a reason to travel to Bruges, even though it's an impressive and historic city. Luckily, this film shows viewers enough to make them feel like locals. Two hit men, played by Colin Farrell and Brendan Gleeson, hide out from their gangster boss (Ralph Fiennes) in the city's storybook background. It's a sexy, violent, intriguing romp through the city and is amazingly well done to boot.

52. Thelma & Louise (1991)

R | 130 min | Adventure, Crime, Drama

Two best friends set out on an adventure, but it soon turns around to a terrifying escape from being hunted by the police, as these two women escape for the crimes they committed.

Director: Ridley Scott | Stars: Susan Sarandon , Geena Davis , Harvey Keitel , Michael Madsen

Votes: 172,383 | Gross: $45.36M

Thelma & Louise is indisputably the best American buddy road trip movie all time. Yes, even better than Dumb & Dumber. It’s also a rare popular feminist movie, so that’s an added plus.

53. Due Date (2010)

R | 95 min | Comedy, Drama

High-strung father-to-be Peter Highman is forced to hitch a ride with aspiring actor Ethan Tremblay on a road trip in order to make it to his child's birth on time.

Director: Todd Phillips | Stars: Robert Downey Jr. , Zach Galifianakis , Michelle Monaghan , Jamie Foxx

Votes: 357,565 | Gross: $100.54M

54. Italy: Love It, or Leave It (2011)

Not Rated | 75 min | Documentary, Adventure, Drama

After their award winning documentary, 'Suddenly, Last Winter', Luca and Gustav are back. This time they have to decide: should they stay in Italy, or leave it, like so many of their ... See full summary  »

Directors: Gustav Hofer , Luca Ragazzi | Star: Frank Dabell

55. Long Way Round (2004–2010)

TV-PG | 315 min | Documentary, Adventure

Ewan McGregor and Charley Boorman embark on a grueling quest to motorbike from London to New York. Going east through Europe, Asia and then to Alaska, they experience different cultures and have to overcome the elements and adversity.

Stars: Ewan McGregor , Charley Boorman , David Alexanian , Russ Malkin

Votes: 15,231

Keeping up with my travel bug, I decided to pick up watching a tv series called ‘Long Way Round’ where Ewan McGreggor and Charley Boorman decide to take a several month trip around the world on their motorcycles. Not only did it appeal to me because…well it’s an amazing journey, but the fact it was done on a motorcycle adds another bit of excitement. Immediately after watching the show, I found myself looking up sport touring or enduro style motorcycles. - See more at: http://www.adventureseeker.org/travel-inspiration/the-10-best-travel-films-of-all-time/#sthash.9Smq9YyT.dpuf

56. Sin Nombre (2009)

R | 96 min | Adventure, Crime, Drama

A young Honduran girl and a Mexican gangster are united in a journey across the U.S. border.

Director: Cary Joji Fukunaga | Stars: Paulina Gaitan , Marco Antonio Aguirre , Leonardo Alonso , Karla Cecilia Alvarado

Votes: 34,029 | Gross: $2.53M

57. The Grand Budapest Hotel (2014)

R | 99 min | Adventure, Comedy, Crime

A writer encounters the owner of an aging high-class hotel, who tells him of his early years serving as a lobby boy in the hotel's glorious years under an exceptional concierge.

Director: Wes Anderson | Stars: Ralph Fiennes , F. Murray Abraham , Mathieu Amalric , Adrien Brody

Votes: 884,492 | Gross: $59.10M

Where It Takes You: Germany Amazing, amazing film! It’s a black comedy narrating the adventures of Gustave H, a legendary concierge at a world-renowned hotel in the Republic of Zubrowka (which doesn’t exist in real life), and Zero Moustafa, the lobby boy who becomes his best friend. The Grand Budapest Hotel features the incredibly picturesque landscapes of Saxony and its beautiful capital Dresden.

58. The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel (2011)

PG-13 | 124 min | Comedy, Drama, Romance

British retirees travel to India to take up residence in what they believe is a newly restored hotel. Less luxurious than advertised, the Marigold Hotel nevertheless slowly begins to charm in unexpected ways.

Director: John Madden | Stars: Judi Dench , Bill Nighy , Maggie Smith , Tom Wilkinson

Votes: 99,337 | Gross: $46.41M

When a group of British retirees hit up a hotel in India and find it to be not quite what they expected, they get a great cultural lesson and immersion experience. It just goes to show you what expectations can do, and how much fun you can have when you have a great group of people.

59. The Darien Gap (1996)

Not Rated | 92 min | Comedy

A young man hitchhikes through Central America until he is faced with crossing an 80-mile gigantic swamp called the Darien Gap. This comedy adventure from Brad Anderson was a Grand Jury Prize nominee at Sundance.

Director: Brad Anderson | Stars: Sandi Carroll , Bob Druwing , D.W. Ferranti , Leech

60. Up & Away (2012)

97 min | Adventure, Drama

The story is about two brothers want to travel to america and the adventures that they face in the journey.

Director: Karzan Kader | Stars: Zamand Taha , Sarwar Fazil , Diya Mariwan , Suliman Karim Mohamad

Votes: 5,786

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34 Movies That Will Make You Want to Get Off the Couch and See the World

From "The Holiday" to "Romancing the Stone" to "Eat Pray Love," these travel movies will inspire some serious wanderlust.

There's nothing like an epic on-screen adventure to get you acquainted with some place new and dreaming up an enviable vacation itinerary. For me (and basically all my childhood friends), this first happened following a viewing of Disney's "The Lizzie McGuire Movie" back in 2003, when Hilary Duff's character traveled to Rome to live out every teen's parent-free European fantasy. Though I've graduated to more mature travel movies over the last 18 years, one thing hasn't changed: films with gorgeous backdrops give me an unruly case of wanderlust.

From classics like "Around the World in 80 Days" and "Roman Holiday" to modern masterpieces such as "Wild" and "Crazy Rich Asians," travel films tend to ignite a longing for freedom and excitement. Maybe it's the sight of beaches on your screen triggering a phenomenon known as Blue Mind , or maybe watching a couple of pals take to the open road for a life changing road trip just makes you want to feel unconfined. Whatever it is, sometimes a travel film is all you need to provoke that feeling. That's why we've rounded up, in no particular order, 34 of the best travel movies that inspire wanderlust. Maybe they'll be cause for a change of scenery — or maybe they'll incite the adventure of a lifetime.

'Thelma & Louise' (1991)

Widely regarded as one of the best road trip movies of all time, this buddy film follows best friends Thelma (Geena Davis) and Louise (Susan Sarandon) as they drive through the American Southwest after Louise kills a man in Arkansas.

'The Holiday' (2006)

A Hollywood movie trailer producer (Cameron Diaz) and a London reporter (Kate Winslet) decide to switch homes for a few weeks after finding out their respective boyfriends have been cheating on them. The results offer enough glamor shots of Los Angeles and cozy footage of England's countryside to make you want to pack up and head to either city immediately.

'Crazy Rich Asians' (2018)

Though this movie revolves around the conflict between New Yorker Rachel Chu (Constance Wu) and her boyfriend's wealthy family, "Crazy Rich Asians" could pass as a tourism film for Singapore . If the Southeast Asian country wasn't on your bucket list before, this film's dazzling shots of Singapore, specifically the acclaimed Marina Bay Sands Hotel , may convince you.

'Wild' (2014)

Based on a true story, "Wild" sees Cheryl Strayed (Reese Witherspoon) hike more than a thousand miles from California to Washington on the Pacific Crest Trail following her divorce and the death of her mother. On her journey, Cheryl treks through the Mojave Desert , the Sierra Nevada, and Mount Hood National Forest while reflecting on her life.

'Eat Pray Love' (2010)

After her divorce, Elizabeth (Julia Roberts) sets off to explore the world with hopes of finding herself in the process. Elizabeth's inspiring and uplifting journey takes her — and viewers — to Italy , India , and Indonesia where she discovers the pleasure of nourishment, prayer, and romance.

'La La Land' (2016)

Admittedly, this musical doesn't feature much traveling (save for a brief road trip to Mia's hometown in Nevada), but the dreamy, oversaturated shots of Los Angeles in nearly every scene are enough to make anyone want to book a flight to the City of Angels.

'Before Sunrise' (1995)

Two strangers meet aboard a train from Budapest. Jesse (Ethan Hawke) is hoping to catch a flight home to the United States while Céline (Julie Delpy) is en route to Paris . Instead of sticking to their plans, the two disembark in Vienna and spend the entire night exploring the city and falling in love. A viewing of this movie will leave you longing for an epic adventure in the picturesque Austrian capital .

'National Lampoon’s Vacation' (1983)

National Lampoon 's classic comedy series is now six films strong, but it was 1983's "Vacation" that started it all. Unlike the franchise's most famous film, "Christmas Vacation," the original movie sees the Griswolds actually hit the road for a trip to Walley World, an amusement park several states away. After you watch Chevy Chase's hilarious hijinks unfold in this film, let sequels "European Vacation" and "Vegas Vacation" inspire further travels.

'The Darjeeling Limited' (2007)

After the death of their father, three estranged brothers (Owen Wilson, Adrien Brody, and Jason Schwartzman) decide to hop aboard a train in India called The Darjeeling Limited to reconnect and experience spiritual self-discovery. Viewers catch glimpses of the Indian countryside, Hindu temples, and eventually the Himalayas — but not without a few jokes along the way.

'Up' (2009)

Arguably the most heart-wrenching animated film of all time, "Up" earns a spot on our list thanks to adorably grumpy widower Carl Fredricksen's determination to fulfill his own wanderlust. With the help of thousands of balloons and a young sidekick named Russell, Carl and his house soar across the world on an incredible journey that culminates at Paradise Falls (based on Angel Falls in Venezuela).

'Raiders of the Lost Ark' (1981)

"Raiders" kicks off the iconic Indiana Jones series with a quest to find the fabled Ark of the Covenant. On his journey, Indy (Harrison Ford) makes stops in Nepal , Egypt , and the Aegean Sea , and, of course, famously runs from a giant rolling boulder in a temple in Peru . Follow up this film with its sequels, "Temple of Doom" (1984), "Last Crusade" (1989), and "Kingdom of the Crystal Skull" (2008), to see Indy travel to Jordan , the Amazon jungle, and beyond.

'Mamma Mia!' (2008)

Few movies offer the kind of gorgeously colorful beach imagery "Mamma Mia!" and its 2018 sequel, "Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again" provide. If you haven't seen the films, you likely know them as "the movies with all the ABBA songs." But if you have seen them, you know they're actually about three men who travel to the impossibly beautiful, albeit fictional, Greek island of Kalokairi, each believing they're the father of a young bride-to-be.

'Nomadland' (2020)

After losing her job in the town of Empire, Nevada, Fern (Frances McDormand) decides to sell her belongings, buy a van, and drive across the country working odd jobs. Fern travels through deserts, small towns, and nomad communes where she works, makes new friends, and learns about life. If you've ever fantasized about dropping everything and taking to the open road, "Nomadland" will probably either convince or deter you.

'Romancing the Stone' (1984)

When New York City-based romance novelist Joan Wilder's sister is kidnapped in Cartagena , Joan (Kathleen Turner) ends up on a rescue-mission-turned-treasure-hunt with adventure-seeking Jack T. Colton (Michael Douglas). Don't be surprised if a viewing of this movie makes you want to trade in your annual beach vacation for a wild ride through the Colombian jungle .

'Paris, Je T’aime' (2006)

Paris, Je T'aime is different from the other films on this list in that it's not one film — it's 18 short films that all feature Paris as a central theme. Because the project is made up of 18 different stories in 18 different arrondissements around the city, viewers get a true, unfiltered sense of Paris, and may even find themselves inspired to visit lesser-known locales in the City of Light.

'The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert' (1994)

If you've ever longed to take a laughter-fueled road trip with your best friends, this film is worth a watch. In the flick, pals Tick (Hugo Weaving), Adam (Guy Pearce), and Bernadette (Terence Stamp) head out on a cross-country road trip through the Australian outback to perform their successful drag act in a new town. The trio takes up residence in an oversized tour bus called Priscilla, Queen of the Desert in this fun, ahead-of-its-time dramedy.

'RV' (2006)

While plenty of road trip movies have been made over the years, "RV" might be the only one that takes place in, well, an RV . Though the main characters in this movie face more bad luck than fun, family bonding, the film does feature generous desert , mountain , and wilderness scenery, as well as an all-star cast (Robin Williams, Kristin Chenoweth, Cheryl Hines, and Josh Hutcherson are just a few that appear).

'Point Break' (2015)

Yes, we're talking about the "Point Break" remake rather than the original film from 1991, but hear us out: the imagery in this movie inspires some serious wanderlust. The story takes viewers to several of the wildest places on Earth (Mexico's Cave of Swallows, Venezuela's Angel Falls, etc.) and though the plot is slightly different from the original (think eco-terrorism rather than bank robberies), it is quiet possibly the most visually stimulating travel movie ever made.

'Girls Trip' (2017)

When was the last time you took a trip with just your core group of girlfriends? A quick watch of this comedy will have you planning your next gal pal getaway faster than you can say "PTO." In the film, a group of friends (Queen Latifah, Tiffany Haddish, Regina Hall, and Jada Pinkett Smith) head to New Orleans , but you'll be ready to travel anywhere with your best buds after watching "Girls Trip" — even if it's just to the next town over.

'The Way' (2010)

After his son is killed walking the Camino de Santiago pilgrimage route to Galicia, Spain, Tom Avery (Martin Sheen) sets out on the trail himself to retrieve his son's body. Along the way, Tom meets several other travelers who are walking the trail in hopes of changing their own lives for one reason or another. This inspiring film may just persuade you to make the famed pilgrimage yourself, or to book a similarly reflective trip.

'The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants' (2005)

If you were a teen or pre-teen in 2005, you have likely seen this movie and its 2008 sequel, and can attest that both inspire major wanderlust. The first film follows best friends Carmen, Lena, Bridget, and Tibby (who share a magical pair of jeans that fits them all perfectly) as they spend a summer in different parts of the world. Lena (Alexis Bledel) travels to Santorini, Greece , which makes for some seriously dreamy backdrops. In the sequel, the whole gang heads to Greece, but not before Bridget (Blake Lively) spends some time in Turkey .

'Up in the Air' (2009)

This George Clooney-led comedy-drama makes business travel and airports look glamorous — hospitable, even. Boasting just as many cityscape shots as it does plane scenes, "Up in the Air" will have you longing to be in the skies, jet setting off to some place new. Anna Kendrick and Vera Farmiga also star in this critically-acclaimed film about a man who lives out of a suitcase.

'Around the World in 80 Days' (1956)

If this classic adventure film doesn't inspire daydreams of traveling somewhere new, we're not sure what will. In 1872, Englishman Phileas Fogg makes a bet with several members of his gentleman's club that he can travel around the globe in just 80 days. On his journey, he and sidekick Jean Passepartout bring viewers along as they travel by gas balloon to France , Spain , Italy , India, Hong Kong , the United States , and more.

'Home Alone 2: Lost in New York' (1992)

The Home Alone movies usually fall under the comedy or holiday categories, but if you think about it, the second installment in the series is totally a travel movie. The film does a fantastic job of showing off the glamorous side of New York City , the place young Kevin McCallister accidentally ends up while the rest of his family vacations in Florida. From shots of the Rockefeller Christmas tree to the Manhattan skyline , this film is sure to inspire a trip to the Big Apple.

'Under the Tuscan Sun' (2003)

You won't find shots of northern Italy as serene as the ones in this feel-good film about independence, love, and friendship. After losing everything in her divorce, American writer Frances Mayes (Diane Lane) suddenly finds herself beginning a new life in the small Tuscan town of Cortona. And if you're anything like us, Googling "Tuscan villas for sale" will become a regular part of your life after watching this film.

'Angels & Demons' (2009)

Though "Angels & Demons" is classified as a thriller, it'll definitely make you want to head to Rome and dig up some history, both figuratively and literally. Based on the Dan Brown novel of the same name, the story follows Robert Langdon (Tom Hanks) as he discovers secrets of the Vatican and faces off against the supposed Illuminati. If you're a fan, check out other Dan Brown adventure travel films, "The Da Vinci Code" (2006) and "Inferno" (2016).

'Easy Rider' (1969)

Our list features travel by plane, train , RV, and even hot air balloon , but "Easy Rider" is the only movie that follows a journey via motorcycle. In the film, drug smugglers Wyatt (Peter Fonda) and Billy (Dennis Hopper) ride from Los Angeles to New Orleans in hopes of reveling at Mardi Gras to celebrate their latest score. On their journey, they stop in several small towns, make a few friends, and unsuccessfully try to evade trouble.

'Out of Africa' (1985)

If Africa doesn't currently have a spot on your bucket list, this film might make you rethink that. Meryl Streep and Robert Redford star in this true story about Karen Blixen, a Danish woman who moves to Nairobi with her new husband, and builds a life there despite their many marital issues. "Out of Africa" features sweeping panoramic shots of Nairobi in nearly every scene, leaving it no wonder the drama won seven Academy Awards, including one for Best Cinematography.

'Johnson Family Vacation' (2004)

This family comedy starring Cedric the Entertainer, Vanessa Williams, and Solange Knowles follows the mildly dysfunctional Johnsons as they road trip to their family reunion in Missouri. On the drive, the family hilariously encounters just about every road trip cliché, from picking up a problematic hitchhiker to running out of gas, before making it to the reunion and performing a musical number to nab the coveted Family of the Year trophy.

'Midnight in Paris' (2011)

Set in present-day Paris , this Oscar-winning film is typically a favorite among art and literature lovers. At midnight each night, screenwriter Gil (Owen Wilson) is transported back in time through different eras of Paris, where he befriends Ernest Hemingway, F. Scott Fitzgerald, and Pablo Picasso, and even strikes up a romance with a 1920s woman named Adriana. The film offers plenty of inspiration for a culturally rich trip to France.

'The Parent Trap' (1998)

"The Parent Trap" is another film that may not immediately stand out as a travel flick, but once you take into account the film's many settings ( London , San Francisco, Napa Valley , and the northeastern U.S.), it's easy to see that this family classic has been a travel film all along. Plus, the main characters spend lots of time on planes, boats, and camping trips throughout the movie.

'The Talented Mr. Ripley' (1999)

Carefully spliced between disturbing revelations and suspenseful plot twists are luxurious shots of Italian beaches in this Matt Damon-led film. When Tom Ripley (Damon) is paid to travel to Italy and bring Dickie Greenleaf (Jude Law) back to the States by Dickie's father, Tom ends up befriending — and later becoming obsessed with — Dickie. Despite the plot quickly darkening, viewers are treated to bright, colorful scenes in Rome and glamorous seaside villages .

'Roman Holiday' (1953)

Romance? Check. Stunning visuals of Rome ? Check. Audrey Hepburn? Check. This classic travel comedy lands at the top of many movie buffs' all-time favorite lists, and for good reason. Bored with her mundane life as a European princess while on a trip to Rome, Ann (Hepburn) ditches her duties and hits the town with journalist Joe Bradley (Gregory Peck). The two take viewers on a tour of the Eternal City and fall in love in the process.

'Pee-wee’s Big Adventure' (1985)

Before you roll your eyes, take a moment to acknowledge that this film essentially sends happy-go-lucky Pee-wee Herman (Paul Reubens) on the great American road trip in search of his stolen bicycle. In this comedy for adults and children alike, Pee-wee stops at the Alamo, the Cabazon Dinosaur park in California , and Hollywood . Traveling by car, truck, and train, Pee-wee befriends a biker gang, competes in a rodeo, and of course, famously dances to "Tequila" before his journey is through.

Hillary Maglin is a digital editor who splits most of her time between New York City and Pittsburgh. You can find her on Instagram @hillarymaglin , where her DMs are always open to discuss travel gear, wine bars, and Taylor Swift's latest record.

60 Best Travel Movies to Inspire Wanderlust

Written By: The Planet D

Travel Movies

Updated On: February 14, 2024

What makes for great travel movies? We feel it is when the destination becomes the star. A movie that showcases beautiful cities , landscapes, and culture is a movie that inspires us to visit a destination or relive our time there when we get home. Dave and I love movies. We worked in the film business in our previous careers and lived for the cinema. So when we chose our list of the best travel movies, we took it seriously. 

Table of Contents

The Best Travel Movies

Our choices for the best travel movies are probably very different than yours, so leave a comment and let us know what you think the best travel movies are. We are always looking for new travel films to ignite our wanderlust. To rent or buy one of these travel films to inspire wanderlust right now, check out Amazon Instant Video

The Best Travel Movies to Inspire Wanderlust

1. in bruges.

This is by far the best travel movie. One of the characters actually carries around a guidebook! If you love a good caper set in an exotic location, you’ll love In Bruges. Collin Farrel and Brendan Gleeson star as two hit men who are sent to Bruges, Belgium to hide out after a job goes bad.

The more Colin Farrell’s character complained of hating Bruges (in Belgium), the more you took in the surroundings of Bruges and noticed just how picturesque the city is. While the film is primarily a crime drama and dark comedy it intertwines the city’s picturesque locations and cultural aspects with the narrative seamlessly.

Rent or Buy In Bruges on Amazon

2. banshees of inisherin trailer

I was so excited to see Colin Farrell and Brendan Gleeson reunite and this time, they share screen time in one of the newest travel films on our list, the Banshees of Inisherin. The movie takes place on the Aran Islands of Ireland and showcases the beauty of that destination as two friends go through some very dark times.

Gleessan’s character Colm decides he has wasted his life and cuts ties with his lifelong best friend Pádraic (Farrell) and all kinds of darkness begins. It had some of the best acting I’ve seen in years, and every one of the four main cast was nominated for Acadamy Awards.

3. One Week

One of our favorite travel movies of all time. And not because it is set in Canada. One Week follows a young man driving a motorcycle on a cross-country road trip across Canada after being diagnosed with terminal cancer. No movie has made me want to explore a country more than One Week. It showcases Canada beautifully.

I didn’t want to see this movie because of its morbid subject, but it ended up being an uplifting and enlightening film of self-discovery. It truly is the ultimate Canadian road trip movie. Rent One Week Here on Amazon

4. Secret Life of Walter Mitty

I had to watch this most popular of all travel films twice before deciding I liked The Secret Life of Walter Mitty and I can understand why it is at the top of most lists of best travel movies. This movie takes you from New York, to Iceland, Greenland and the Himalayas.

The Secret Life of Walter Mitty shows how taking a risk and getting out of your comfort zone can lead to great things. The ending was my favorite, but I won’t spoil it for you. Rent it now .

5. Before Sunrise Trilogy

We have three of our favorite travel movies in one package! And each showcases the destination they are in. The Before Sunrise movies are about love but they are also very much travel films. They were filmed 10 years apart and they take place in three different locations around Europe – Vienna , Paris , and Greece .

The Before Sunrise trilogies capture the essence of each destination. And here’s a cool fact – Dave and I stayed at  Costa Navarino  in Greece where After Midnight took place!

It is probably the best of all romantic travel movies out there that literally spans three decades. (They film a movie every 10 years). Watch Before Sunrise and Sunset on Amazon Prime

6. Planes Trains and Automobiles

John Candy and Steve Martin take an unexpected cross country road trip from New York City to Chicago. This is Dave’s pick for the best travel movie.

This is considered one of the great comedy travel movies, but I look at it as a drama. John Candy’s character breaks my heart. You may think of it as a holiday film but it is also one of the funniest travel films out there. If you’re in the mood for a good heartfelt comedy,  rent it today.

7. Julie & Julia

Not only does Julie and Julia star the great Meryl Streep but this travel movie is based on blogging. It’s like it was made for us! I was surprised by how much I loved this movie based on the true story of Julia Child and I didn’t go in expecting much.

Julie & Julia follows the life of Julia Child during her time in Paris and cuts throughout to the present day in New York . It makes you crave French cuisine and a life of decadence in France. When it comes to choosing a  favorite travel movie this one is right up there. Rent it now

8. The Big Year

The Big Year follows Jack Black (who doesn’t love Jack Black?), Owen Wilson, and Steve Martin traveling around the United States with hopes of becoming the number 1 bird watcher in the world. It ended up being one of the most surprising travel films I’ve seen.

They are obsessed with spotting more species of birds than any other person in 365 days. I related to this movie because it is more about the journey and how having a great adventure can change a life. Rent it Now

Best Travel Movies for Adventure Lovers

9. into the wild.

The real-life true story chronicles the journey of  Christopher McCandless who went on a cross country road trip through the US and ended up in Alaska .

I read Into the Wild years ago and was mesmerized trying to figure out how someone could give up everything to go and live off the grid. John Krakauer dug into the psyche of McCandless and what motivates people to take risks.

Things don’t turn out as he hoped, and it is a lesson learned for would-be adventurers. Enjoy it now !

Wild is an adaptation of Cheryl Strayed’s travel memoir, From Lost To Found On The Pacific Crest Trail. Based on a true story, it follows her journey about putting a life back together after it all falls apart.

Pushing the limits physically on the Pacific Crest Trail and stepping out of her comfort zone take her on a journey of self-discovery. A struggle and journey can change a life and Reese Witherspoon is excellant as usual. Check it out on Amazon

11. Everest

Everest by John Krakauer is the true story of the catastrophe that happened on Everest in 1996. It’s a first-hand account by Krakauer who was on Everest at the time. While the movie focuses on the events, it does showcase the psyche of why people climb mountains and it shows the culture and beauty of the Everest Region.

As far as travel movies go, even though it is based on a dark subject, it does make me want to go to Everest. So we did! Plus, it stars Jake Gyllenhaal and Josh Brolin, so how can you go wrong?

• You can rent this movie made in Hollywood
• You can also check out the documentary.

Tracks is another travel movie base on a true story and I really enjoyed it. It’s a film about a young woman who walks across Australia from Alice Springs to the Indian Ocean with four camels and her pet dog.

What I really liked is how the lead character Robyn Davidson learns the skills needed to survive. She is visited by a photographer from National Geographic who shared her story and was led through the sacred lands of the Outback by an Aboriginal elder. Watch this Amazing true story on Amazon ! 

13. World’s Fastest Indian 

From New Zealand to America, Anthony Hopkins takes his Indian Motorcycle to the salt flats to see how far he can go. The World’s Fastest Indian is one of my favorite performances by Hopkins and it is one of the great underrated travel movies.

He is vulnerable, lovable, and inspiring. This true story takes you on a fun road trip along the way until he reaches the Salt Flats of California and that is when you really start rooting for him to win! Rent it on Amazon Prime

14. Adventures of Pricilla Queen of the Desert

Adventures of Pricilla Queen of the Desert follows a group of drag queens taking a cross country road trip in a van named “Pricilla” from Sydney to Alice Springs where they are going to perform their drag show.

They meet a lot of characters along the way and this film introduced us to superstars Hugo Weaving and Guy Pearce who joined the already-established Terrence Stamp.

15. Motorcycle Diaries

Ever since watching one of the best travel movies about South America, (you guessed it, the Motorcycle Diaries) wanted to do a road trip through South America. (PS. I’m still dreaming of that road trip through South America one day)

Gael García Bernal stars as Che Guevera and it follows his journey on a motorcycle trip through South America before he became a part of the revolution. This movie is based on a true story where Che traveled through the continent and I believe it was traveling through South America that Che saw what people were going through and that is what sparked him to take action in his own way.

• Check it out for yourself
• Rent it on Amazon

16. The Way

Dave and I have always wanted to walk the Camino de Santiago in Spain. This movie is a bittersweet tribute to the epic hike. Acting legend Martin Sheen walks the trail to honor his son Emilio Estevez (also director) who died on the walk. This movie explores themes of grief, regret, and understanding.

Sheen’s character finishes what his son started helping him connect and understand his son while examining his own life and is one of the most moving travel movies on our list. You can watch it on Amazon

Best Classic Travel Movies

17. lawrence of arabia.

Lawrence of Arabia made us dream of the Arabian Desert and that is what travel films are meant to do. I would say that this is often considered one of the best travel movies of all time. It’s the original travel movie for sure and it really does capture the majesty of the Arabian Desert.

When we got the chance to visit Jordan and walk in the footsteps of the real Lawrence of Arabia, we couldn’t believe we were living our own travel movie. This will make you want to go on an adventure and spend the night in a Bedouin tent. Rent it on Amazon Prime Now

18. Out of Africa

If you want another Meryl Streep vehicle that is often considered one of the best travel movies, you should try  Out of Africa. Out of Africa takes place in a different time, but it captures the heart of Africa beautifully.

Based on a true story, Meryl Streep stars as a married baroness in love with big game hunter Robert Redford. Their chemistry is unmistakable. She falls in love with Africa and you will fall in love with it too.

The cinematography is outstanding. It won 7 Oscars including Best Picture and Best Cinematography. Rent Out of Africa

19. Romancing the Stone

Who didn’t fantasize about an adventure in Colombia after watching Kathleen Turner and Michael Douglas in Romancing the Stone? As a kid I always thought about the line “ I need to get to Cartagena ” and while I had no idea where Cartagena was,(It’s in South America by the way) I knew it was exciting.

In the most romanticly fun of travel movies, Kathleen Turner transformed from a scared writer who merely writes about adventure, to a woman encountering an adventure and meeting a rugged mysterious man in exotic Columbia. Watch Romancing the Stone today

20. The Bucket List

With two of my favorite actors and a message to live life to the fullest, the Bucket List is one amazing movie and one of the best travel movies. I think it actually invented the term, The Bucket List. The phrase has been overused in recent years, but the message never gets old. The Bucket List is the original “live your dreams now” travel movie.

It’s beautifully acted, heartfelt, and showcases how life should be lived to the fullest. Rent or buy it here!

Most people say that Amelie is one of the best travel movies of all time. So this list wouldn’t be complete without it. I did love the views of Paris and the everyday life showcased in Montmartre.

I also enjoyed the uplifting message of a quiet young woman named, Amelie helping the people around her in the lovely district of Montmartre in Paris. If you want to watch sweeping scenes through Paris streets and if you love Paris, you can’t help but like Amelie. So check it out !

22. Roman Holiday

This did not age well in our opinion. We watched it recently and it is just downright bad. Many people will probably disagree. But as far as travel movies go, it is fun to see a princess posing as a regular young Woman zipping around Rome.

They should remake Roman Holiday, it would be fun. Rent it on Prime

23. Sideways

I admit it. After this movie came out, I didn’t drink Merlot for years! Sideways takes us on a road trip through California wine country and it really is filled with amazing performances by Paul Giamatti, Sandra Oh, Virginia Madsen, and Thomas Hayden Church.

We have been to Santa Maria, California, and this movie captures the feel of wine country perfectly. Rent or buy on Amazon Prime 

24. Up in the Air

Up in the Air makes you love the idea of travel but it shows the emptiness that the life of a vagabond can lead to if you don’t stay grounded with your family and friends. It’s not in the genre of typical travel films out there, but travel is the main theme.

I cannot go through airport security anymore without thinking of George Clooney as his character has the art of travel down to a science.

This movie also has a great message that Dave and I can relate to. We all become so consumed with our careers and our lives that we forget about what is important. Get it on Amazon Instant Video

Best Travel Movies Highlighting Destinations

25. ticket to paradise.

Our newest addition to our travel movies is from two legends, George Clooney and Julia Roberts who take us to Bali for their daughter’s wedding. The two divorced years ago, but agree that their daughter is too young to get married and decide to sabotage the wedding.

This movie showcases the culture and beauty of Bali while showing us once again how travel can be transformational and can change your life.

I love these two together, George and Julia, and great friends in real life and have amazing on-screen chemistry.

26. The Beach – Thailand

The Beach is the original backpacker slacker travel film. The Beach captures what Thailand was like before tourists started flocking to it en-masse. At one time, it was an off-the-beaten-path backpacker destination. We enjoyed the book more, but you can never go wrong with Leo.

If you want to get a sense of what it was like to travel to Thailand before mass tourism, this is a good movie for you. Plus it is beautiful and as far as travel movies go, it will make you want to go to Thailand. Not only are the people beautiful, but the scenery of southern Thailand is also out of this world.

Take in the journey as they search for a hidden beach that is pure perfection.

27. Lost in Translation – Tokyo

Tokyo is a bit strange. It is unlike anywhere else on earth, and Lost in Translation showcases the culture shock that one feels when staying in a different city.

There are different customs in Japan and the culture is much different than anywhere else and this movie captures that odd feeling you get when traveling there. Lost in Translation highlights some of the best spots in Tokyo.

The hotel where the movie takes place still has one of the best views in the city! And who doesn’t love Bill Murray? He is priceless and it’s one of Scarlett Johanson’s best performances. Check it Out

28. Slumdog Millionaire – India

We traveled to India in 2010 and Slumdog Millionaire seemed to capture the true slums of India while showcasing the heart of the people. Many of the rich cities are modern, but when traveling through rural India and the poorer areas, this is what it’s like.

Dev Patel stars as a young Indian boy who gets on a game show that could change his life. It’s heartbreaking, raw, and sometimes uncomfortable which is exactly what travel can be too hence why it made the list of our favorite travel movies. Download it here on Amazon

If you are a fan of Dev Patel (as we are) you will love him in another of our favorite travel films, Lion. Lion is based on a true story and is an emotional journey that takes audiences across India and Australia spanning cultures, and decades.

Patel plays Saroo Brierley, a young Indian boy who gets lost on a train in India at the age of five. After surviving several challenges on the streets of Kolkata and eventually being adopted by an Australian family, Saroo, as an adult, uses Google Earth to find his birth mother and the journey begins. The movie also stars Nicol Kidman.

30. Vicky, Cristina Barcelona – Spain

Admit it, we all want to go to Spain and run into beautiful people like Penelope Cruz and Javier Barden. I think this movie did so well because it inspired everyone to go to Barcelona. (That’s our criteria for choosing the best travel movies, how they inspired travel)

Vicky Cristina Barcelona makes us dream of the cities in Spain , the passion of the Spanish people and getting away for a summer in Spain.

Vicky Cristina Barcelona definitely is an inspiring travel movie and one of the best travel films out there. It really captures the energy and passion of Spain in Barcelona . Rent Vicky Christina Barcelona on Amazon

31. Under the Tuscan Sun – Italy

For the romantics out there, Under the Tuscan Sun is one of the best travel movies. Wouldn’t you just love to buy a villa in Tuscany and fall in love with a stranger?

This is one of my favorite romantic travel films and Under the Tuscan Sun based on a true story. After a bad divorce, her character takes a trip to Italy courtesy of her best friend, (The incredible Sandra Oh!) and buys a house!

This travel movie is based on a true story where our star shares the trials and tribulations of renovating a Tuscan villa. You can rent Under the Tuscan Sun on Amazon

32. Best Exotic Marigold Hotel – India

We always preach that you are never too old to try something new and you are never too old to travel and that is the premise of one of the most beloved travel movies, Best Exotic Marigold Hotel. It’s chock full of great legendary actors including Dame Judi Dench, Bill Nighy, and Maggie Smith.

The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel follows a group of retirees who travel to India to live out their days at a crumbling retirement hotel. All mayhem and madness ensue as things can only in India. There’s romance, tragedy, and hope. Rent it now

33. A Good Year – Provence France

A Good Year made me want to go to Provence and live a simple life…on a multi-million dollar vineyard estate. That’s reasonable, right? And that’s what travel movies make you want to do…Pick up and go somewhere.

A Good Year makes life in Provence look like the Garden of Eden and I want a piece of it. Everyone is beautiful, everyone is a wine connoisseur, and everyone is pure and good. Who wouldn’t want to go to the south of France after seeing A Good Year? Rent it now.

34. Midnight in Paris – Paris

Looking for travel movies that combine time travel this movie night? Midnight in Paris captures the golden years of Paris as Owen Wilson walks through the streets at night in search of that romantic nostalgia of the city.

Blending time travel with traditional travel, this film showcases Paris’s rich history and examines how different eras appeal to different people.

He ends up meeting the famous patrons of the 1920s including Cole Porter, Ernest Hemingway, Gertrude Stein, and more! This travel movie makes me want to hop on a flight to Paris every time! Watch it on Amazon Prime or get it on DVD

35. Australia – Australia

This movie was crucified by the critics, but I loved it and its one of the best travel movies showcasing the beauty of Australia’s landscape. Nicole Kidman and Hugh Jackman take her cattle across the Outback.

It also touches on the injustices of how Australia treated the Aboriginal People, reminding me of what Canada did with residential schools to our own indigenous communities.

It’s beautifully shot and is a love letter to Australia while highlighting the true story of the Aboriginal struggles. I think it deserved more love than it got. Check it out on Amazon

36. The Impossible

It took me forever to finally watch the impossible because it is based on the true story of surviving the devastating Tsunami in Southeast Asia. It follows a family from England who are vacationing in Thailand and are impacted by the Tsunami.

It showcases the huge hearts that the Thai people have. Even while going through their own trauma, they play a huge role in helping this family get back together and survive.

The movie stars Naomi Watts, Ewan McGregor and Tom Holland and it is one of the best performances I think Naomi Watts has ever done.

Lighthearted Travel Movies

37. eurovision.

This is one of the funniest travel movies out there. The movie kicks off (after a brief flashback) in Iceland showcasing its beautiful landscapes and waterfalls with sweeping drone shots of the stars performing.

It has all the stereotypes and cliches of Iceland, but it is done with heart and fun. It really is a love letter to Iceland. Follow Lars and Sigrit as they try to fulfill their dream of competing in Eurovision in Edinburgh. The movie gives a nice showcase of that city too making it two travel movies in one. Rent it on Amazon

38. Darjeeling Limited

This quirkiest of travel movies takes Owen Wilson, Jason Schwartzman, and Adrian Brody across India one year after their father’s death starting on the Darjeeling Express train. It’s strange, heartbreaking, hilarious, and pure Wes Anderson.

When they visit their mother in an Ashram, it makes me think of the strange people that run away to India to find themselves. Oh yeah, he gets it. Check it out on Amazon Prime

39. Forgetting Sarah Marshall

Set in the very real Turtle Bay Resort in Oahu this pick on our travel movies list stars Jason Seigel as a Hollywood Writer who goes to Hawaii to heal his wounds after getting dumped by his girlfriend Kristen Bell. It turns out, she is there on vacation with her new boyfriend and shenanigans ensue.

This movie makes you want to book a plane to Hawaii and have your own stay at Turtle Bay which has now become very popular. Rent it on Prime

40. Last Holiday

If you are searching for comedy travel movies, this should be at the top of your list. This is the ultimate fairytale on how travel can change a life. And how we should all strive to live a better life. It’s too short to wait.

Queen Latifa is priceless as a woman who is diagnosed with a terminal disease, so she takes her life savings to enjoy her final holiday at a luxurious resort. She does everything from base jumping to snowboarding and indulging in decadent French cuisine.

If everyone took a holiday like this, we’d all live happier lives. Rent, Buy or Watch on Amazon Prime

41. The Holiday

It may be a Christmas movie, but The Holiday is one of the best travel movies out there. We watch it every year and it shows how travel is transformational. Starring Kate Winslett, Jack Black, Jude Law and Cameron Diaz, The Holiday flips back and forth between Los Angeles and England.

The two female stars have very different vacations as they house swap, but both have their lives changed through travel.

42. French Kiss

Meg Ryan plays a woman named Kate who is afraid to travel. When her fiance falls for another woman in France, she vows to win him back and travels there despite being terrified. Hilarity ensues when she meets con man Kevin Kline and they venture across the country together following the formula of travel movies galore.

My favorite scene is when she is indulging in cheese on the train. It’s that French moment that made me daydream about traveling by train across the French countryside. Watch French Kiss for yourself

43. My Life in Ruins

While not as good as My Big Fat Greek Wedding, My Life in Ruins is a nice comeback for Nia Vardalos in a fun-loving travel film.

She plays a tour leader taking stereotypical tourists through the sites of Greece. It’s fun, it’s romantic and the setting is beautiful. It’s not going to win any Academy Awards, but for a fun Saturday afternoon movie, this will transport you to Greece. Rent it or buy it on Amazon

44. The Hangover 2

The First Hangover was far better and it too is a travel movie taking you to Vegas. But when choosing travel movies from this trilogy, I had to choose the setting of Bangkok. It captures the crazy energy of the city.

My favorite scene is when Bradly Cooper has to go to the hospital and comes out with an absurdly low hospital bill. Dave and I have been to the hospital in Thailand and can attest, it is cheap. Rent it now! 

Blockbuster Travel Movies

45. star wars: the rise of skywalker & the last jedi.

One wouldn’t think of a movie based in outer space to be a travel movie that inspires wanderlust, but the last Star Wars Trilogy featured one of our favorite destinations on Earth, Skellig M ichael

This 6th-century monastery was a star unto itself as Luke trained Rey in the ways of the Force. It has now inspired many travelers and film buffs to take the hair-raising boat ride out to these rocky islands 12 km off the coast of Ireland. Check it out

46. Mama Mia

We actually learned where Mama Mia takes place while visiting the location where it was filmed, Pelion, Greece. The Greek islands are paradise, and Mama Mia follows the story of Meryl Streep who runs a hotel on the coast. We thought it was filmed somewhere like Santorini or Mykonos.

When her daughter becomes engaged, she invites three men who might be her father. It’s a rip-roaring good time of music, fun and beautiful scenery.

The Santorini blue and white houses, the crystal clear blue sea, and the music of Abba become those who watch to travel to Greece! Watch it on Prime today

47. Once Upon a Time in Mexico Trilogy

How sexy are Antonio Banderas and Salma Hayak together? You must watch the entire trilogy to really appreciate this series by Robert Rodrigues. Once Upon A Time In Mexico ends the trilogy with Antonio Banderas, Salma Hayek, and Cheech Marin. El Mariachi started it all starring Carlos Gallardo. My favorite of the 3 is Desperado , but they are all entertaining.

Once Upon A Time In Mexico is a fantasy and it is a stereotype of Mexico, but it makes you want to go to Mexico and have a great adventure. The scenery is gorgeous, the film is filled with cool style, and the music is fabulous. Watch the Trilogy today!

48. The Legend of Tarzan

The $180 million dollar budget makes sure to showcase the beauty of the African Savannah, the dense jungles, and the majestic wildlife. You feel as if you have entered the heart of Africa. Seriously, rent it, you’re going to like it a lot more than you think! Rent it on Amazon

49. The Tourist

It’s a little indulgent, and Angelina Jolie is a bit annoying to watch with how amazing she thinks she is in this, but it does capture taking an international trip to Europe beautifully.

It makes you want to have a romantic tryst in Venice . It makes you want to ride a train and have a mysterious encounter. It gives you a glimpse into how the rich live and travel the world.

50. The Thing

Recently we had someone write to us with a list of their favorite movies about travel. He mentioned the first Alien vs. Predator took place in Antarctica and I remember that being a pretty entertaining film. Then I thought about the classic Kurt Russel movie, The Thing .

This thriller takes place at a scientific base camp in the Antarctic and really lets you feel how claustrophobic and isolated researchers must feel when spending the winter at the bottom of the world. Watch it now!

51. Thelma and Louise

Who would have thought that Thelma and Louise would be heralded as one of the best travel films of all time, but it has. When researching this article, I saw that everyone had it on their list, so I had to include it. Besides, I love this film. I saw it at the theatre when it came out and it blew me away.

Brad Pitt makes his debut in this dark road trip adventure. Susan Sarandon and Geena Dave about female empowerment, friendship, and the transformative power of travel.

52. Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants

Yes, this was a blockbuster film for teenagers. I remember working at YTV and this movie was going mad in the teen realm so I had to add it to my best travel movies list. The premise of the story revolves around four friends—Lena, Tibby, Bridget, and Carmen—who find a pair of jeans that, despite their differing body types, fits each of them perfectly. They decide to share these “magical” pants as they embark on their separate summer adventures, thus maintaining their connection with each other.

Where does the traveling come in? Well, Lena travels to Greece , Bridget goes to Mexico , Carmen visits her father in South Carolina, and Tibby stays in Maryland.

While not a “travel movie” in the traditional sense—where the main characters are often journeying together or the narrative revolves solely around their travel experiences—”Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants” embodies elements of travel movies by incorporating different cultures, locations, and the concept of journeying (both physical and emotional) into its narrative.

53. Bourne Movies, James Bonds, Mission Impossible & Indiana Jones Movies

The Bourne movies, James Bond, Indian Jones, and Mission Impossible take us around the world with each movie and really are the best travel films to showcase the globe. These epic travel movies take audiences to a whole new level of taking an international trip with decadence, wealth, espionage, and romance.

I wanted to include them because if you are looking for some beautiful scenes from Europe and the Middle East, these travel films fit the bill. They are so good at taking you away to exotic places .

Our Favorites of These Epic Travel Movies are

54. the bourne identity.

The original takes us on an international trip from Switzerland through Paris. It’s the car scene in Paris that really captures the city but the entire movie is one big travel movie.

55. Casino Royal – James Bond

This makes us dream of living with the high rollers in Montenegro the beautiful people in the Bahamas. It’s as epic as epic travel movies get riding on trains, planes and yachts and it’s the best James Bond with Daniel Craig.

56. Mission Impossible – Ghost Protocol

It’s not often that sequels are better than the original, but when it comes to the Mission Impossible series, each one out does the other. Tom Cruise loves to travel and push the limits creating the most epic travel movies on the planet. I chose Ghost Protocol because of its setting in Dubai and Cruise scaling the walls of the Burj Khalifa. (The tallest structure in the world)

Best Travel Movies in Fictional Settings

57. grand budapest hotel.

I can’t help it, I love Wes Anderson movies. He is offbeat and quirky. Grand Budapest Hotel is one of the best travel movies that isn’t set in any real place. This is all in a fictional setting.

I like this for a travel movie because it reminds me of the grand old hotels from another era. Well, it should because it is set in another era. The hotel is fictional, but it does take you away to another world. Rent it on Prime

58. Black Panther

Wakanda may be a fictional place in Africa, but this movie captures the spirit of East and South Africa. It embraces the African culture and many of the movie’s scenes were filmed in Africa.

We have been to Africa numerous times and this movie transported us there again. It may be fictional, but Black Panther is one fo the best travel movies to make you want to discover the culture and beauty of Africa. watch it now!

59. Lord of the Rings and Hobbit

They may be set in Middle Earth, but the Lord of the Rings movies are a love letter to New Zealand. As far as setting go, the trilogy makes for epic travel movies! Lord of the Rings and the Hobbit Movies make us want to go to New Zealand and these films capture its beauty perfectly.

Rent the trilogy on Amazon today

60. Eat Pray Love

And let us end with the mother of all travel movies, Eat Pray Love. Who doesn’t love Julia Roberts? However, Eat Pray Love wasn’t my favorite travel movie at all. But The book was okay but the movie starring Julia Roberts is dreadful. If you liked it, let me know. Maybe I’ll give it another watch in case I missed something. Rent it on Amazon

We’ll be updating this list regularly and we love finding new travel movies to watch. So, if you have suggestions for your favorite travel movies, leave them in the comments below and we’ll be sure to give them a watch!

Tell me what you think are the best travel movies and we will compare notes.

You May Enjoy these other inspiring posts:

• 44 of the Best Road Trip Songs
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• Best Travel Books to Inspire Travel
• 60 of the Best Road Trip Songs to Rock the Long Drive
• 101 Best Travel Quotes in the World with Pictures

Disclosure:  The links above are affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. We receive affiliate commissions, but it’s no extra cost to you!

Travel Planning Resources

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Flights: Start planning your trip by finding the best flight deals on Skyscanner

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107 thoughts on “60 Best Travel Movies to Inspire Wanderlust”

Very interesting and thought-provoking list. Another film I think belongs in this company is “A Month by the Lake,” a 1995 work starring Vanessa Redgrave, Edward Fox, and Uma Thurman. Its setting, at the Villa del Balbianello on a peninsula in Lake Como, was used in scenes from a number of other movies, but here it gets starring role.

one of my favorite travel movies is “If it is Tuesday it must be Belgium”. it captures the travels and travails of some very uninformed American tourists on a guided tour. One of the wives, tired of the endless strings of cheese shops they visit heads back to their tour bus. The problem is it is the wrong tour bus. Hilarity ensues …

Thanks for the thoughtful list. Might I add a few more wanderlust-inducing movie recommendations/destinations that I have a hunch you will love?

Enchanted April (Italy) Shirley Valentine (Greece/Mykonos) Everything is Illuminated (Russia/Ukraine) Summer Lovers (Gene Siskel’s ‘guilty pleasure) (Greek Islands/Santorini) The Hundred Foot Journey (India/France) Local Hero (Scotland — and perfectly depicts how an enchanting location can change your view of what’s important in life) Anne of Green Gables — Kevin Sullivan version (Price Edward Island) Outsourced (India) Jean de Florette/Manon of the Spring (Provence France) The Quiet Man (Ireland) A Passage to India (India)

These are fantastic suggestions, thank sfor sharing! I’ve been wanting to see The Hundred Foot Journey. I think that will be my weekend watching!

Hi , thanks for sharing the best travel movies.

I love to watch 72 hours is my best travel movie all time.

Brilliant! Some of my teal favourites and now a list to watch. …many, many thanks. Allison

Great movies list all movies are best and all movies have a good rating on IMDb actually my favorite movie is LORD OF THE RINGS AND HOBBIT. and next, I would like to watch Star wars series.

Great choices of movies you have given a big list a great work

Great article! I will definitely choose a few movies that I haven’t seen yet. I could add a movie called “The Hundred-Foot Journey”. This film is about a Hindu family who moves to France, where they open a restaurant.

I’ve been meaning to watch that one. I think I will have to check it out this weekend and add it to the list! Thanks for the reminder.

Very comprehensive list! lots of great movies, and some of my favourites such as Seven Years inTibet and Walter Mitty.

I have to disagree with you about The Darjeeling Limited though: “When they visit their mother in an Ashram, it makes me think of the strange people that run away to India to find themselves. Oh yeah, he gets it.”

I felt the most important scene in the movie is when the guys rescue the boys in the river, and one doesn’t make it. They take part ion the family grieving and funeral, and have a very life-changing, profound experience. I felt the movie actually validates people “running away to India.”

In these difficult times especially, finding a sense of purpose, or meaning, or spirituality, or whatever you want to call it, is more important than ever. I think we will see a lot more people “running away to find themselves” and in fact, I am working on offering spiritual itineraries.

How about Red Eye and Flight Plan? I think they both portrait (fear of) commercial flying experience pretty good!

We have already watched quite a few of these ? gotta love a great movie night! Thanks for a great list, that we will start to work our way through ?

Great choices for movies! Others that come to mind are “Before Sunrise” and “Into the Wild.”

LORD OF THE RINGS AND HOBBIT is my favourite. i had watch so many times but always loved

This list couldn’t have come at a better time as we currently shelter in place and travel only through our TVs! Thank you.

All movies are great and my fav <3

great films..i watched some movie

OOH Julie and Julia is one of my all time favorites! And Eat Pray Love…It’s a good time for movies at home for sure!

Love the list. Thank you for sharing. As a classic movie buff, however, you are so wrong about Roman Holiday. This movie is a classic. I recently saw it on the big screen for the millionth time and it was amazing. How can you not love Gregory Peck and Audrey Hepburn?! His voice alone is worth a listen! And the old scenes of Rome are wonderful. Have to truly disagree about this one. LOVE this movie.

Anyway, thanks again!

SECRET LIFE OF WALTER MITTY movie motivates people to dare to make a decision.

I love this list!! You hit some of my favorite movies. I’ve watched a lot of these but I have a feeling I’ll be rewatching some of them in the coming weeks. Thanks for remind me!

GREAT list, thank you! I’ve seen some Bollywood films and loved them, and would love a best of list of them!

Great site for everything

Great list, guys — you really dug deep. If you love The Sounds of Music, you have to visit Salzburg, where you can see the actual places where they shot many of the scenes, including the palace in the middle of town. You can even stay in the Von Trapps’ house. And I may have missed it in your list, but The Year of Living Dangerously absolutely captures the exotic atmosphere and the beauty of Southeast Asia — the gamelan music stays in your head for days. Also, Gandhi for a virtual trip to India.

Very well collections, Really some of the names are not heard. This type of movies are oxygen for any traveler.

Great list of movie i like slumdog millionaire once upon a time in mexico

Secret Life of Walter Mitty for sure, this movie made me so pumped to travel while ‘into the wild’ made me a little depressed and not wishing to become a mentally ill person who goes eating dead animals and rejecting society

Lovely idea, great movies! Love your blog!

I really love this movies.

Each movie is an exciting adventure, felt from the film, emotions, as well as an impressive moment. Thanks for your collection!

Thank you for your list! Lawrence of Arabia for certain, but almost any film by Werner Herzog, especially Aguirre:The Wrath of God. But I am partial to “art” or “foreign” films over Hollywood.

I loved a movie I watched and I can’t remember the name and I can’t find it. It was about a woman, maybe in her 40’s maybe 50’s that traveled to India to meet up with her husband. Her husband was detained by work and sent his male Indian assistant to meet her. While waiting for her husband to arrive, the assistant showed her the sites of India. A romance developed with the assistant over many days, but never crossed the line. Would love to watch this again….

Maybe you’re thinking of the movie ‘Cairo Time’. It’s set in Egypt, not India, but has the exact plot you’re referring to.

All are attractive and I will watch each movie

I shared the movies I shared. The movie content is very interesting and interesting, I like it very much.

This is also a very good post which I really enjoy reading

For me Motorcycle diaries is best.Thanks for list. I will check other movies too.

Nice list, you got almost all of my favorite travel films! A couple additions I would make are “The Sheltering Sky”, and “Voyager”.

The Painted Veil – gorgeous!

I hope it will be show at CGV

Definitely a great list of movies that gets us thinking about travel. Everest was one that really took our breath away and told an amazing story. In Bruges is still one of my favorite. Thanks for sharing!

Loved the post and the films. I still didn’t see 9 films and already want see. Will try found they for this weekend. But the best is to see Indiana Jones in the list.. it’s my prefer film of life <3

the beauty of this movie list is that this in includes movies in Malayalam, Hindi English and believe me these movies are the very best travel movies I have seen . kudos?

Great Choices !

Always on the lookout for movies to watch on the plane!!! Thanks for the recos!!!!

Great choices for movies

I hate you after watching only 2 of these movies from your list i feel like travelling but unfortunately my my academics. By the way best list of travel movies I have seen on internet. Good going brother. wish to see more content in future.

Mr. Bean’s Holiday. A very ridiculous movie, but the cinematography is amazing, and it’s very inspiring.

Great article and awesome collection of movies. Red balloon is my favorite movie and it’s amazing storey

Film is called Before Midnight. Not after.

Thanks for the correction. I mixed up the Trilogy in my head, thinking “the one after Before Sunset.” – There is Before Sunrise, Before Sunset and Before Midnight.

Great article, many good informations

I love watching movies ahead of travelling and often find them inspirational. For Western Australia I found ‘Rabbitproof Fence’ a very good movie. You’ve chosen some good ones!

Great collection of movies to watch. I absolutely loved The Bucket List. As usual Morgan Freeman was awesome. Great movies about travel and for when traveling.

Can you believe that I never saw Stealing Beauty? Now I am going to have to check it out. I agree with Sideways too. Loved that show. It made me want to drink Pinot Noir.

Wild is a great book and the movie is pretty true to the book. Reece Witherspoon is really good in it. Based on true story of a troubled woman who decides to hike one of Americas longest trails with little money and not enough experience. Humbling and left me feeling the wanderlust pretty hard.

The Bucket List and The Secret Life of Walter Mitty are the best travel movies in my opinion. Iceland is on my travel bucket list, hope I can visit that place.

Best Movie Collection. my favorite movies also include in these. love to see the collection of movies thanks to sharing this information with us.

Nice article! inspiring people for Traveling

Thanks for compiling this list. It’s interesting to know the place where the movie was shot. I absolutely agree on what you said about James Bond movies.

Thanks for the post. Some I have seen and some I haven’t, and looking forward to (Especially ONE WEEK)

I’d like to add LOCAL HERO. There are some melancholic moments in the film accompanied by Mark Knopfler’s beautiful soundtrack. Would make anyone jump off the couch, dump all the COMFORTS OF CITY and visit rural Scotland and walk the beaches and witness the Aurora Borealis. One of my favourites alongwith The Motorcycle Diaries and Into the Wild.

Great choices

Excellent list, but Indiana Jones really is a wonderful trip. Note 1000.

Under a Tuscan sun is my favorite!!!! Been to Tuscany because of that movie!! 🙂 Jotted down a few to watch from your list! Thanks!

thank you guys. Into the wild is my favourite one on the list.

You named quite a few of my favorites but the two I’d like to recommend are Hector and the Pursuit of Happiness starring Simon Pegg, and The Way starring Martin Sheen and Emilio Estevez.

The Way inspired me to walk the Camino de Santiago which turned into an incredible trip.

Great list of best all time travel movies. I must admit that there are still so many movies I have not yet seen. I need to work on that sooner rather than later!

Great list but would certainly add :

– The way (with Martin Sheen) , very inspiring movie about Camino de Santiago – Motorcycle diaries, simply a great movie about travel and life

Fantastic films, thanks for making this kind of film! Many people should watch it! Thanks for sharing this list.

Wow! This list is great! I will surely add these in my playlist. Hopefully, I will be able to watch most of these travel movies. I plan to travel soon, I’m juts looking for more inspiration and travel tips. Glad I came by your blog!

Whoa! You gave me a completely new set of movies to add to my list here! Into the Wild is one of my favorites and the Everest is a spine-chilling movie. A great list Dave & Deb!

Check out Maindentrip, the story of the youngest girl to sail around the world, Laura Dekker. I think my wife finally believed we could do it if a 13 year old can.

Thanks for the recommendation!

These ultimate travel tips for when they have a desired of lust.

What about “Blue Hawaii” and any of the Jurassic Park videos for Hawaii?

Thank you for your list – I am constantly looking for good travel movies.

Till the date bucket list is one of my favourite movie 🙂 Thank you for the information about other movies too

Thank you for this great list. I see some old favorites on the list but also a number of movies I need to see. I’ve added them my list. You’re right about movies inspiring travel. After seeing, Under the Tuscan Sun, I’ve always wanted to visit Tuscany. I’m finally making it there soon.

What a fantastic list full of excellent movies! There’s no doubt that these titles can help to light the spark of wanderlust in anyone. I was actually lucky enough to stumble upon the making of Ridley Scott’s upcoming Alien Covenant movie in New Zealand’s Milford Sound. I’m very much looking forward to its release so I can see the spectacular panning shots of that breathtaking landscape. Movies are a great medium to translate the beauty of travel.

No way! That is so cool. I’m such a fan of Alien, it would be amazing to see them filming it. I love seeing landscapes of places I’ve been in movies.

Slumdog Millionaire and Secret Life of Walter Mitty are Good Movies

Nice list – a few of my favourites there: Everest, Into The Wild, Slumdog Millionaire, The Bucket List, Best Exotic Marigold Hotel. Nothing like a good movie for inspiring travel.

A few others to consider: The Beach, Midnight Express, Kundun, Seven Years in Tibet…

“Broad, wholesome, charitable views of men and things cannot be acquired by vegetating in one little corner of the earth all of one’s lifetime.” – Mark Twain

Hi, Oh wow I really love this list, seriously is so right! Holidays is another good one that invites you to discover surrey :), I enjoyed so much Amelie, unfortunately I cannot say the same of Paris, Je t’aime, which is other of the “must seen movies”, honestly… overrated… anyways, nice list I really enjoy it.

Great list… something a lot of people leave off the list is Julia and Julia. That movie is HUGE to foodies, chefs, etc… Makes me want to hop on a flight every time I see it! Julia Child was a machine, so glad you guys included that movie on this list!

I am a movie addict person, and I loved to travel. I enjoyed all of these films. Very Inspirational lists. Thank you, Dave, for this excellent Article. Loved it:)

A lots of movies that needed to add here. I watched a few of then not all and find very inspirational and heart touching. Slumdog millionaire is one of my favourite and very heart touching.

I love this list, but I’d add almost any movie filmed in San Francisco, even if they weren’t that good (like “The Wedding Planner” or the “The Rock”). They’d actually have to be filmed there and not just set there, like the last “Godzilla” movie 😉

Thanks for the additions. I loved the wedding planner. Although I just watched it again recently and realized what a schmuck Matthew Macoughnay’s character is. He totally led Jennifer Lopez’s character on and was a jerk to his fiancé. haha. But it’s a good lighthearted romantic comdey. They don’t make enough of those anymore..

I came to this article to ensure you had Romancing the Stone..and you didnt let me down. I used to love that movie growing up. I am totally with you, on thinking about Cartagena as some exotic far away place that I had to visit. I eventually found out the movie wasn’t actually filmed in Cartagena or Colombia because of the dire security situation at that time…but when i finally visited Cartagena, i found it even more magical and exotic than the film…love the film, and love the city even more now.

I am so glad we didn’t let you down! I am also so glad that you felt the same way about Cartagena. I always envision Kathleen Turner saying “come to Cartagena with me” It was such a grand adventure. We need more movies like that!

Cool list! I would add:

– Before Sunrise (Vienna) – Waking Ned Devine (Ireland, though filmed in the Isle of Man) – Lost in Translation (Tokyo)

Great additions. I loved Before Sunrise, I can’t believe I forgot about that one. I saw it in the 90s and then watched the whole trilogy. I haven’t seen Waking Ned Devine, I’m going to check that out and yes, Lost in Translation is a good one for Tokyo. I have to watch that again. I barely remember it, but I do remember loving Bill Murray

Just what I needed, thank you guys. Into the wild is my favourite one on the list.

I don’t think any movie has made us want to travel more than Amelie.

2 Days In Paris, on the other hand, was kind of a turn off.

Amelie celebrated Paris, but 2 Days kinda made fun of it. .-= The Jetpacker´s last blog .. UFO Hotspots — 11 Best Places To See UFOs In The World =-.

I don’t need a movie to inspire me to travel. I always want to travel, but some movies make me want to travel more I guess is how to put it. BTW. I thought Up in the Air stunk and don’t get why it was so popular. I loved In Burges which many people have never seen. Guess I’m just weird. .-= Gwen´s last blog ..Kids Grease Costumes =-.

You’re not weird at all! That is what makes watching movies so great. Everyone has different opinions on them all. We didn’t love Amelie and I have never met another person that didn’t like it. We were more into the quirkiness of Two Days in Paris and nobody liked that one:-)

Great choice, I never really fancied visiting Bruges until watching the hilarious In Bruges (and I agree the film also did Colin Farrell a huge favour). Tuscany is still on my must see list after the gorgeous ‘Stealing Beauty’ and being from the UK, Sideways and Swingers always made me want to go to California.

OK, I obviously need to get myself to the nearest pirated DVD place since I’ve only seen 3 of these movies! Thanks for the advice. .-= Audrey´s last blog ..Couch Surfing with KGB Agents =-.

Fantastic post, though most of these movies I haven’t seen (yet) but Vicky Christina Barcelona has really made me want to see Barcelona. I’m really bad for being easily suggestible when it comes to travel. If a place is featured on a movie or tv have a sudden desire to go there. Like I watch a John Waters movie and I wanna go to Baltimore, or the way Shirley Valentine made me really want to go to Greece. Even places that were never really on my travel to do list, like watching Dexter has made me want to visit Miami (even though most of the show is filmed around LA). .-= Alouise´s last blog ..List 9 – How To Have A Cheesy Time At West Edmonton Mall =-.

Wonderful list! I’ve seen a few of these and just loved them (Once Upon a Time in Mexico, Julie & Julia, In Bruges, Up in the Air, and Romancing the Stone)…..and I still dream of someday going to Cartagena, Columbia because of that movie! There are so many great movies that inspire travel that I’m sure it must have been hard to winnow it down to just eight. The rest of your list I’ll have to add to my Netflix queue! .-= Trisha´s last blog .. PR-Blogger Relations Manifesto =-.

I love that you think of Cartagena because of Romancing the stone. There were so many movies that I had on a list. I could have just listed about 50 and that could have been good enough. Maybe I will do that for a post one day when I am out of ideas:) It was very difficult to narrow it down to eight, we were trying to be a little unique in our choices, but then again, it is hard to be unique when it comes to choosing great travel movies. I guess, it was more of a reminder post. Everyone thinks of the choices like The Beach, The James Bond Movies and the Bourne Movies, but we haven’t thought about Romancing the Stone or Once Upon a Time in Mexico in a while.

Great list! We think movies and books add so much to travel that we brought a bunch with us on our open ended world tour. We’re in France now, so tend to watch French ones here and ones that are family friendly since we travel with a kid. 😉 I think we love the Red Balloon and Chocolate best for France.

Two that really stick out on our trip were Troy ( watched again and again through out Greece while reading Homer, including also while we were in Troy in Turkey) and “The Medici, Godfathers of the Renaissance” a thrilling PBS special series that we watched in Florence before we toured. .-= soultravelers3´s last blog .. Captivating Colliore- France on Bastille Day =-.

Thanks for the additions. I forgot about Chocolate. I loved that movie and Johnny Depp and Juliet Binoche were both so charming. I haven’t seen Red Balloon, I will check it out. It is wonderful to watch movies for inspiration before, after and while you are at that place.

Great choices for movies! Others that come to mind are “Before Sunrise” and “Into the Wild.”

21 Best Travel Movies That Will Inspire Your Wanderlust

By Author Jurga

Posted on Last updated: September 8, 2023

Are you looking for some good movies about travel to kindle your wanderlust? This article has some great suggestions and some of the best travel films of all time . Find out!

Have you ever found yourself inspired to travel to one or the other location just because you saw it in a movie? It happens to me all the time! So in this article, I share some of my favorite travel movies , the ones that got me googling the filming location and planning a trip before the movie was even over.

If you are looking for a good story or some travel inspiration, then you’ll definitely find it in these films. These are one by one great travel movies and stories that will get you out of the couch and booking a trip to discover new destinations.

Below is my personal selection of some of the best travel movies of all time. Take a look!

Click on the title of the movie to see reviews, get a DVD, or watch it on Amazon Prime . Some of these movies are also available on Netflix.

These are the best travel films:

Into The Wild

Into The Wild is an unbelievable true story of a top student and athlete who abandons everything he has and hitchhikes to Alaska to live in the wilderness. This movie will probably stay with you forever.

It’s an inspiring story taking place in the most incredible landscapes of Alaska. If you choose just a few movies to watch from this list, definitely include this one in your selection!

The Way is a heart-warming story of a father who heads overseas to retrace the last days of his son’s life who passed away while traveling the Camino de Santiago trail in the Pyrenees (France – Spain). Once he gets there, he decides to take the pilgrimage himself.

This movie is about family, friendships, and life choices. And of course, the beautiful places along Camino de Santiago. It’s a powerful story that will make you think deeper about the difference of the life we live and the life we choose.

Under The Tuscan Sun

Under The Tuscan Sun is a romantic story that takes place in rural Tuscany . Lovely landscapes, an Italian lifestyle, and a heart-warming life story make it a perfect choice for a relaxing evening.

This beautiful light-hearted movie will get you planning a trip to Tuscany in Italy sooner than you think.

The Secret Life Of Walter Mitty

The Secret Life Of Walter Mitty   is a light-hearted story for a movie night with friends. The movie features some of the most incredible travel destinations all over the world.

A lot of the scenes (even the ones from the Himalayas and Afghanistan) are filmed in Iceland and some in Greenland . The unbelievable adventures of Walter Mitty will leave you longing for an extraordinary adventure of your own.

This film is so good that it has inspired thousands and thousands of people to travel more and discover new places. If you watch just one movie from this list of the best travel films, make it ‘The Secret Life of Walter Mitty’. You’ll love it!

A Walk in the Woods

A Walk in the Woods movie is based on a true story and a book by Bill Bryson, A Walk in the Woods: Rediscovering America on the Appalachian Trail .

The famous writer who never hiked much sets on the Appalachian Trail. With a total length of about 2,200 miles (3,500 km), this famous American hiking trail stretches through 14 states along the east coast of the United States, from Georgia to Maine.

I haven’t read the book and the reviews are somewhat mixed (it seems that people either love or hate Bryson and his writing style). But I find that the movie is really funny, entertaining, and the scenery will definitely inspire you to get outdoors and take a hike of your own.

Out of Africa

Ok, I know it’s an old one, but Out of Africa definitely deserves a place in the all-time favorite travel movies list.

Filmed in Kenya and the UK, this classic that has won 7 Oscars and countless other prizes will definitely get you dreaming of Africa. It’s one of those movies that you can watch again and again.

The Motorcycle Diaries

The Motorcycle Diaries is an awe-inspiring film that is based on the memoirs of Che Guevara.

It will take you to the most beautiful places in South America. A beautiful story in an incredible setting.

In Bruges  is very different from all the rest of the travel movies on this list. But I just had to include this movie in the top-20 of the best travel films because it’s filmed in Belgium, where we live.

It’s a hilarious dark comedy and a great performance by all three main characters in the most fantastic setting in Belgium’s most beautiful fairytale town.

If you haven’t been to Bruges, you’ll definitely want to visit it after watching this movie! Here you can find some inspiration with our insider tips for the best things to do in Bruges .

Before Sunrise – Before Sunset – Before Midnight

If you like Europe and deep meaningful dialogues with a good dose of humor, you’ll love this trilogy called Before Sunrise, Before Sunset, and Before Midnight . We only discovered these films recently when we accidentally saw the first one, Before Sunrise, on TV. 

Regarded as one of the most significant films of the ’90s, Before Sunrise, was followed by two more sequels. We watched all three films and loved every second of it.

The first movie takes you to Vienna, Austria, the second one – to Paris, and the third – to the Greek Islands.

These travel films are probably not for everyone, but if you can appreciate this style, you’ll love them all!

Amélie

If you haven’t been to Paris yet, you will definitely want to plan a trip after watching this movie. If you have, you’ll want to return.

Amélie is a beautiful example of French cinema. It will also take you to the most inspiring locations in Paris. The film is set in the Montmartre neighborhood in Paris and shows you the more local side of living in this fascinating city.

This travel movie is based on a true story of a young woman who sets on a journey of over 1,000 miles hoping to recover after the passing of her mother.

Wild  is full of beautiful scenes throughout the Pacific Northwest in the U.S. This is one of those travel films that remind you that often the journey is more important than the destination.

Lost In Translation

A beautiful film that shows the fun and unexpected side of traveling in a new country. Lost In Translation is about the many little random travel experiences that stay with you long after you return back home.

The sights and the energy of Tokyo will get you planning a trip to Japan.

‘Lost in Translation’ is considered a real classic and one of the best travel films ever.

Midnight in Paris

Midnight in Paris is a bit different travel film than all the rest in this selection. And it’s probably not for everyone…

But if you like Woody Allen, Paris, and the artist lifestyle, then you’ll love this surreal story that takes you back to Paris of the 1920s.

A Good Year

A Good Year is a light-hearted romantic story that takes place in the most beautiful setting in the Provence region in the South of France.

This movie will not only inspire you to visit France but might also make you reconsider your life choices. It’s a story about leaving the rat race, getting back to your roots, and enjoying the simple things in life.

A truly great film!

The Way Back

The Way Back is inspired by an incredible true story of seven prisoners from very different backgrounds who try to escape from a Siberian prison in winter.

This movie is filmed in some amazing locations in India, Morocco, and Bulgaria and features some great actors.

The Beach is a great film from the ’90s that has a little bit of everything: good story, beautiful music, and amazing scenery from Thailand. Oh, and the young Leonardo DiCaprio, who once again proves that he deserves the Oscar he finally got recently.

For a while, Thailand even had to close Maya Beach on Koh Phi-Phi due to its increasing popularity which has been attributed mainly to this film. So if you feel inspired to visit Thailand after watching ‘The Beach’, you may want to look for some alternative beaches and beautiful islands.

You can find some inspiration in our Thailand island hopping itinerary .

Tracks is a beautiful adventure film of a young woman who crossed 1,700-miles over the deserts of West Australia with four camels and her faithful dog.

It’s based on a true story and featuring some amazing Australian landscapes. A beautiful film that will inspire you to visit the Australian Outback !

Encounters At The End Of The World

Encounters At The End Of The World is an incredibly beautiful and funny travel film about the people and animals who live in Antarctica.

If Antarctica was not on your travel list yet, it will be after watching this great documentary!

The Bucket List

The Bucket List is sentimental, predictable, and yet a very heart-warming story that will inspire you to tick off your bucket list sooner rather than later.

Filmed in various locations in India, China, Egypt, Tanzania, France, and the U.S., this movie will definitely give you some new ideas for the next trips.

Photos: IMDb

So, this is a list of some of my top travel films and favorite movies about travel. Have you seen any of these films? Which one is your favorite travel movie of all time?

If you found this post helpful, don’t forget to bookmark it and share it with your friends. Are you on Pinterest? Pin this image!

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Monday 18th of September 2023

When I’m always about to go on an adventure I keep coming back to this page to get inspired to travel to somewhere new

Thursday 21st of September 2023

What a great way to find some trip inspiration, Joshua. Happy travels!

Sunday 5th of March 2023

They aren’t travel movies, but The Lord of the Rings trilogy inspired me to go to New Zealand! How could those scenes in the mountains not inspire everyone?

Monday 6th of March 2023

Agree! (and New Zealand is absolutely stunning ;))

Thursday 2nd of March 2023

Thank you for sharing! This list is awesome!

Saturday 22nd of October 2022

If you wanna know one more... U can watch "Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara". It means "U won't have a second Life again". It's soo good and so inspiring...thank me later.

Sunday 23rd of October 2022

Thanks for the recommendation, Asif! Will see if we can find this movie.

Sunday 10th of April 2022

Thank you for the awesome movie recommendations

• International edition
• Australia edition
• Europe edition

20 of the best travel films

From Rome to the Amazon, in these 20 films stunning locations play a starring role – and they’re all on now at a laptop or TV near you

REAL-LIFE ADVENTURES

Wild (2014).

Cheryl Strayed decided to walk the Pacific Crest Trail to face her demons, and her memoirs were turned into this uplifting film starring Reese Witherspoon as the inexperienced hiker who turns her life around. Director Jean-Marc Vallée was adamant that the movie be shot entirely on location: the journey starts in the Mojave Desert, heads up to Mount Hood – the highest point in Oregon – and the magnificent Crater Lake, before culminating in the iconic Bridge of the Gods in Cascade Locks on the Oregon/Washington border. Netflix , Google Play , Sky Store . Read the Guardian review

Tracks (2013)

Another memoir adaptation, Tracks stars a young Mia Wasikowska as Robyn Davidson, who spent nine months trekking across the Australian desert on camels. Her journey begins in Alice Springs and takes her across scorching outback to the Indian Ocean, via sights such as Uluru and Coffin Bay. It’s an inspiration for would-be solo travellers, given that Robyn was only accompanied by her dog and, at some points, a photographer (Adam Driver). Amazon , Google Play , Sky Store Guardian review

Into The Wild (2007)

Graduate Christopher McCandless gave away all his possessions and money to charity and hitchhiked across Northern America to Alaska, where he attempted to live in the wild. This poignant account of his journey is directed by Sean Penn and stars Emile Hirsch in many of the real locations visited by Christopher, aka “Alexander Supertramp”. Feast your eyes on peaceful Lake Tahoe, camping at Beard’s Hollow, kayaking down the Colorado River and run with wild horses … There’s plenty to envy until things take a darker turn. Sky Cinema , NOW TV , Amazon Guardian review

Lion (2016)

If you fancy a good cry as well as a virtual trip to India, then Lion is for you. Based on a true story, it tells of a young Indian boy, Saroo (Sunny Pawar) who accidentally boards a train to Kolkata and becomes homeless. After being adopted by an Australian couple, the older Saroo (Dev Patel) searches his memory – and the evolving internet – in an attempt to locate his childhood home and find his family. This is a film with plenty of compassion as well as armchair travel, with locations including Tasmania as well as India. Netflix , YouTube , Google Play Guardian review

Under the Tuscan Sun (2003)

A cheerful comedy-drama about a divorcee rediscovering herself, this memoir adaptation features scenery as charming as the central performance from Diane Lane. Frances Mayes’ pals send her on a tour of Tuscany, where she ends up falling in love with a ramshackle house and buys it on a whim. She meets a plethora of interesting people, including Polish builders and an eccentric old British actor, and becomes a major fixer-upper. The film was shot in and around the town of Cortona, near Arezzo: think gorgeous little houses cut into the hillside overlooking glistening waters. Amazon , YouTube , Google Play , Sky Store Frances Mayes on writing Under the Tuscan Sun

HIKING TALES

Hunt for the wilderpeople (2016).

Go tramping in the New Zealand bush with this adorable comedy-drama directed by Oscar-winner Taika Waititi. A winning family adventure, it sees grumpy foster uncle Hec (Sam Neill) following his cheeky young charge Ricky (Julian Dennison) into the wilderness for a trek that turns into a gripping adventure – and an opportunity for the pair to try out their survival skills. Most of it was filmed around the Auckland area, and includes jaw-dropping scenery that Hec describes as “majestical”. BFI Player , Amazon , Google Play , Sky Store The landscapes behind Hunt for the Wilderpeople

The Way (2010)

Follow in the pilgrims’ footsteps with this touching, meditative drama starring Martin Sheen as a grieving father who decides to walk the ancient spiritual trail after the death of his son (played by Sheen’s son, Emilio Estevez, who also directs). The route to Santiago de Compostela in Galicia takes in sensational landscapes as well as a variety of entertaining characters, including James Nesbitt as an Irish travel writer. Amazon Prime Video , YouTube / Google Play , Sky Store Guardian review

On the Road (2012)

Based on Jack Kerouac’s novel set in the late 1940s/early 50s, literature’s most famous road trip did not make it onto the big screen until 55 years after the book was published. Sam Riley is the writer who heads to Denver, North Carolina, San Francisco and Mexico by car and occasionally bus. Head here to vicariously experience a hedonistic road trip with sexually fluid bohemians played by an array of Hollywood’s hottest, including Garrett Hedlund, Kristen Stewart, Amy Adams, Tom Sturridge and Kirsten Dunst. Amazon Prime Video , Sky Store Guardian review

Captain Fantastic (2016)

This film immediately plunges the viewer into the forests of the Pacific Northwest: you’re greeted by lush green trees, the sound of birdsong and the sight of a deer munching its way through the bush. Said deer is short-lived, however, as a pack of children led by Bodevan (George MacKay) slaughter it and take it home for tea with their father (Viggo Mortensen – who’s also in On the Road). It’s a chance to live out your off-grid fantasies, before the family are plunged back into society on a road trip with entertaining consequences. Netflix / Amazon , Sky Store Guardian review

TRAIN TRIPS

The darjeeling limited (2007).

Three brothers have madcap adventures on a train in this quirky, colourful film that could only have been made by Wes Anderson. Owen Wilson, Adrien Brody and Jason Schwartzman are the warring trio who bicker and bond their way through a scenic rail journey in India. Though the film was shot mainly in Rajasthan, the fictional route also convincingly takes in the Himalayas – and reminds you of the wonders of train travel abroad. Amazon , YouTube / Google Play , Sky Store Guardian review

Before Sunrise (1995)

A train to Vienna is the romantic setting for this cult drama starring Julie Delpy and Ethan Hawke. After meeting on the journey, they spend the night walking around the city together. Their frank, naturalistic exchanges are involving and funny, and it’s easy to fall in love with the Austrian capital as the pair jump on trams and ferris wheels along the banks of the Danube. Director Richard Linklater followed this with Before Sunset and Before Midnight, but this remains by far the most romantic in the series. Amazon , YouTube , Google Play , Sky Store Guardian review

LIFE-CHANGING ADVENTURES

The secret life of walter mitty (2013).

A daydreamer finally lives out his travel fantasies in this whimsical adventure based on James Thurber’s short story. Walter (Ben Stiller) works a dull desk job at Life magazine, and goes on a globe-trotting treasure hunt in search of a missing negative by legendary photojournalist Sean O’Connell (Sean Penn). Walter’s travels take him to Greenland, Iceland and the Himalayas, and although some of the locations are stand-ins, the film captures the wonder of globe-trotting in a cosy, feelgood format. Amazon , YouTube , Google Play , Sky Store Guardian review

Patagonia (2010)

The psychological benefits of travel are at the heart of this tender drama that explores the links between Wales and Argentina. A Cardiff couple travel to Patagonia where they are guided by a Welsh-Argentine guide (Matthew Rhys). Meanwhile, an older woman journeys from Argentina to Wales to discover her roots. It’s a moving watch with a fun backstory: Rhys found out about the production when travelling through Patagonia on horseback , where he bumped into the director, Marc Evans, who was scouting for locations. Amazon , iTunes , Google Play Guardian review

Black Mountain Poets (2015)

Rural south Wales provides a handsome setting for this con artist comedy from writer-director Jamie Adams. Alice Lowe and Dolly Wells star as sisters on the run who resort to posing as a pair of famous beat poets at a retreat in the Black Mountains – what could possibly go wrong? As they camp out in nature, the remote location forms a backdrop for their potential redemption, as well as plenty of improvised humour. YouTube , Google Play , BFI Player Guardian review

HISTORICAL TRAVELS

Meek’s cutoff (2010).

You wouldn’t want to re-live the journey these characters make, but the landscape looks remarkable from the safety of your sofa. Loosely inspired by an infamous incident in 1845, it sees a small group of settlers travelling across the Oregon High Desert and becoming increasingly less confident in their guide, Stephen Meek (Bruce Greenwood). Kelly Reichardt’s western shows the gender dynamic slowly shifting as the stakes get higher, and she’s assembled an excellent cast lead by Michelle Williams, Shirley Henderson and Zoe Kazan. Amazon Prime Guardian review

The Lost City of Z (2017)

Explorer Percy Fawcett had a compulsion to travel, undertaking hugely risky journeys in the Amazon in to prove his theories about a disappeared civilisation – theories that were ridiculed by his contemporaries in the early 20th century. James Gray’s film stars Charlie Hunnam as Fawcett, Sienna Miller as his wife, and Robert Pattinson as his right hand man, who helps him navigate the rainforest, which looks tantalisingly beautiful despite the dangers that unfold. Amazon , YouTube , Google Play , Sky Store . Also showing on BBC2 Friday 27 March at 11.05pm Guardian review

Fitzcarraldo (1982)

An ambitious adventurer makes an eventful jungle voyage in Werner Herzog’s German-language classic inspired by the life of Peruvian rubber baron Carlos Fitzcarrald. Notoriously volatile actor Klaus Kinski’s wild eyes glint with lunatic abandon as he dreams of building an opera house in Iquitos, in the Peruvian Amazon, and navigating the Pachitea river in a huge steamboat. The shoot (famously as troubled as the events it depicts) took place in the wilds of Brazil and Peru, where Herzog and cinematographer Thomas Mauch vividly captured the cast’s period costumes against the sights and sounds of the jungle. BFI Player , iTunes Guardian review

CITY BREAKS

2 days in paris (2007).

Julie Delpy writes, directs and stars in this whipsmart dramedy that puts a humorous spin on the notion of a romantic city break. She plays Marion, a photographer who lives in New York and decides to spend two days in the French capital with her neurotic boyfriend Jack (Adam Goldberg). It takes in plenty of famous spots, including the Père Lachaise cemetery, the Pasteur metro station and – should you be missing the Eurostar – the Gare du Nord. Amazon Prime Guardian review

In Bruges (2008)

Who knew a film about a couple of hitmen could showcase a city’s charms so beautifully? The Irish contract killers hiding out in Belgium have very different goals: while Ray (Colin Farrell) just wants to get drunk, Ken (Brendan Gleeson) would prefer to see the cultural sights. And so Martin McDonagh’s bitterly funny black comedy takes in architectural delights such as the Belfry of Bruges as well as canal trips through the medieval city. Amazon , YouTube , Google Play Sky Store Guardian review

Roman Holiday (1953)

Take a trip back in time to Rome, circa 1953, where a princess (Audrey Hepburn) is trying to stay incognito. After she’s befriended by an American reporter (Gregory Peck), he realises her identity, but keeps his a secret in an attempt to get a scoop. Romance follows, along with iconic black and white shots of the Eternal City. Look out for a meeting on the Spanish Steps, a tour of Colosseum and Vespa ride through the city traffic. Sky Cinema , YouTube , Google Play Guardian review

Rental prices generally between £1.99 and £3.49 depending on household subscription status. Netflix and BFI Player films are included in a monthly subscription and are subject to change. Most films also available on DVD/Blu-Ray

Anna Smith is a film critic and host of the podcast, Girls On Film

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25 Of The Best Travel Movies To Ignite Your Wanderlust

Looking for some great travel movies? We share some of our favorite adventure films.

Any list of the top travel movies is going to be a bit controversial. After all, opinions about what make the best travel movies are as diverse as the people watching.

However, there are some wanderlust movies that are so iconic that it’s hard to argue about their inclusion on our list.

The Best Travel Movies

Each of these movies is on our list for a different reason. Some bring back memories of carefree summer vacations, while others have characters that visit remote and undiscovered lands. Some of these movies are all about adventure, while others are more introspective, and about the inner journey. Still, others show off the filmmaker’s video editing capabilities, and their gorgeous cinematography.

The Secret Life of Walter Mitty (2013)

The Secret Life of Walter Mitty stars Ben Stiller as Walter. He spends his days daydreaming about an exciting existence, but spends day-after-day developing photos for Life magazine. His life turns around when he takes the chance to travel the world to find the perfect photo for the magazine’s final print issue.

It’s a funny and inspiring adventure movie, full of gorgeous scenery and grand adventures.

Where to watch. Stream: HBO Now, HBO Max. Buy or rent: YouTube, iTunes.

Hector and the Search for Happiness (2014)

Equally touching and funny, Hector and the Search for Happiness stars Simon Pegg as a middle aged psychiatrist who travels the world in his search for happiness.

One NSFW word of caution: You may find yourself saying: “ I want happiness ” in an over-the-top French accent over and over.

Where to watch. Stream: Amazon Prime . Buy or rent: Amazon , YouTube, iTunes.

Lost in Translation (2003)

Lost in Translation is a movie that I’ve watched over and over. It perfectly captures that sense of disconnect that I feel when I first visit a new destination where the language and customs are so different from my own.

Starring Bill Murray and a young Scarlett Johansson, Lost in Translation was directed by Sofia Coppola. The movie follows the relationship of an aging movie star (Murray) and a lonely, adrift young woman (Johansson) against the backdrop of Tokyo, Japan.

Where to watch. Stream: Crave, Starz. Rent or Buy: Amazon , YouTube.

Under the Tuscan Sun (2003)

Starring Diane Lane, Under the Tuscan Sun tells the story of a midlife woman who finds romance and a new purpose while renovating a run-town Italian villa. It’s equal parts romance, self discovery, wonderful food, and views of the stunning Tuscan landscape.

Where to watch. Stream: Amazon Prime Video . Rent or buy: Amazon , YouTube, Microsoft

Eat, Pray, Love (2010)

Based on the bestselling book by novelist Elizabeth Gilbert, Eat, Pray, Love follows Gilbert’s (Julia Roberts) journey of self discovery as she travels the globe.

Where to watch. Stream on Starz. Rent or buy on Amazon , YouTube, Microsoft .

In Bruges (2008)

Love it or hate it, the movie In Bruges captures the charms of Bruges, Belgium perfectly. It’s a grittier choice than many of the movies on this list as it follows the adventures of hit men Ray (Colin Farrell) and Ken (Brendan Gleeson) as they await new orders in Bruges however you can’t fault the Belgium ambience.

Where to watch. Stream on AMC+. Rent or buy: YouTube, Google, iTunes, Amazon.

Wild (2014)

Based on the real-live adventure of author Cheryl Strayed, Wild stars Reese Witherspoon. An inexperienced hiker, Strayed decided to walk the challenging Pacific Crest Trail to face her inner demons, and comes to the end of the hike with a newfound clarity about her life.

Where to watch. Stream: Disney+. Rent or buy: iTunes

Into the Wild (2007)

Into the Wild is a real-life true story of the journey of Christopher McCandless, who disappeared while exploring the wilderness in Alaska.

Because of the sad ending, I resisted seeing this for a couple of years, thinking it would be a sad movie to watch. Surprisingly, I found Christopher’s journey to be inspiring and uplifting. The scenery is gorgeous as well.

Where to watch. Rent or Buy: iTunes, YouTube, Amazon.

The Way (2010)

I’ve always wanted to walk the Camino de Santiago in Spain. This movie stars Martin Sheen, who undertakes the walk as a pilgrimage of sorts to his recently deceased son. It’s a sad premise, but the movie is ultimately a perfect showcase for the gorgeous Camino de Santiago journey.

Where to watch. Stream: Amazon Prime . Rent of Buy: YouTube, Amazon, iTunes.

Tracks (2014)

Tracks tells the real life story of Robyn Davidson, who spent nine months trekking across the Australian desert on camels. Starring Mia Wasikowska and Adam Driver, the movie is an inspiration for solo travelers in challenging terrain.

Where to watch. Stream: Amazon Prime . Rent or buy: YouTube, Cineplex.

Before Sunrise (1995) – Before Sunset (2004) – Before Midnight (2013)

I’ll watch anything starring the talented Ethan Hawke. That said, these movies hold their own as is.

I watched these out of order, seeing Before Sunset before the original, Before Sunrise. I think it was a mistake as the original was my favorite. The movie stars a very young Ethan Hawke and Julie Delpy flirting and talking philosophy among the charming streets of Vienna, Austria after hours.

There’s a lot of dialogue and relationship talk here, so this might not be the trilogy for you if you’re craving action and excitement.

Where to watch. Stream: Hoopla. Rent or buy: Amazon , YouTube, iTunes.

Out of Africa (1985)

Starring Meryl Streep and Robert Redford, Out of Africa is one of those iconic travel movies. The scenery is stunning, and Streep’s performance is wonderful. The movie itself won best picture and best cinematography the year it was relieased. The movie tells of the story of Danish author Karen Blixen, who moved to Africa to build a new life for herself.

Where to watch. Rent or buy: Amazon , YouTube, iTunes.

The Beach (2000)

Based on Alex Garland’s book of the same name, this movie tells the story of twenty-something Richard (Leonardo DiCaprio), who is in search of a lost paradise away from the backpacker trail. He finds a strange map, and makes his way to a hidden island.

The Beach was filmed on Maya Beach on Thailand’s Koh Phi Phi Le (or Ko Phi Phi Leh). After the film came out, the beach was overrun by visitors.

When we visited in 2003, once pristine Maya Bay was still beautiful, but covered in a film of oil from boats ferrying visitors like us to the island. It’s since been closed to allow it to recover, and is open in a limited capacity.

Where to watch. Stream on Disney+. Rent or buy: Amazon , YouTube, iTunes.

Roman Holiday (1953)

Starring Audrey Hepburn and Gregory Pick, this black-and-white classic is set in Rome. It’s a fun, quirky, love story where a princess (Hepburn) meets a reporter (Peck), and they spend a day exploring 1950’s Rome.

Where to watch. Rent or buy: Amazon , YouTube, iTunes, Microsoft Store.

Up in the Air (2009)

If you love airports and flying, then this is the movie for you. There’s not a lot of great scenery here, or adventures across the country though. It stars George Clooney as Ryan, who travels the USA firing people for other companies. He’s about to reach his life’s goal of a million frequent flyer miles, when technology threatens to make his travels obsolete.

Where to watch. Stream: FuboTV. Rent or Buy: Amazon , YouTube, iTunes, Microsoft Store.

The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel (2011)

A handful of older Brits decide to retire in the Marigold Hotel in Jaipur, India, rather than in sterile retirement homes back in the UK.

There’s a great cast with Judi Dench, Celia Imrie, and Bill Nighy, who struggle with day-to-day life in India.

Where to watch. Stream: Roku. Rent or Buy: Amazon , YouTube, iTunes, Microsoft Store.

Lawrence of Arabia (1962)

Starring a young Peter O’Toole, this epic historical drama based on the life of T. E. Lawrence, follows the plight of a British soldier who unites nomadic Arabian tribes to band against the Turks in the first World War. Set against the backdrop of the Arabian Desert, it’s a beautifully shot film and is often considered one of the best movies of all time. Whether you agree with the premise though is up to you.

Where to watch. Stream: Amazon Video . Rent or Buy: Apple TV, Google Play, YouTube

The Best Road Trip Movies

The road trip is gold for adventure, fun, and great scenery. These flicks run the gamut from funny road trip movies to more serious explorations of culture and living conditions on the road.

Sideways (2004)

If you’re a fan of California wine country, this is the travel movie for you. It’s the story of two middle aged men on a road trip through wine country.

Where to watch. Stream on Disney+, Crave, Starz. Rent or Buy: Amazon, YouTube, iTunes, Microsoft Store.

Planes, Trains, and Automobiles (1987)

Starring John Candy and Steve Martin, this is one of the all time classic road trip comedy movies. Trying to get home during a freak snowstorm, control freak Neil Page (Martin), keeps encountering bumbling and talkative Del (Candy). Out of necessity, the two pair up to try to get home on a cross country road trip from New York to Chicago.

I’ve watched this with the kids (beware the R rating if you have little kids), and they thought it was hilarious. Our favorite quote: “Those aren’t pillows!”

Eurotrip (2004)

Definitely the raunchiest of the movies on this list, the R rated Eurotrip is still one of our favorite travel movies. Crossing 8 countries while trying to get the girl of his dreams, a group of friends travel Europe together one summer vacation and fall into one funnier predicament after another. It’s light and fun however there are some iconic shots across Europe in there as well as a few places you likely won’t find on the beaten path. Also one of the most wrong and catchy (and funny once you’ve watched the movie) songs you’ll ever hear in a movie (Scotty doesn’t know.)

Where to watch. Rent or Buy: Apple TV, Google Play, YouTube

National Lampoon’s Vacation (1983)

One of the best movies about family vacations , this 1980s classic starts Chevy Chase as bumbling, but well-meaning Clark Griswold. It’s an over-the-top spoof of the classic American road trip, that incidentally takes them through the Grand Canyon and Death Valley.

Somehow, this movie always inspires me check my road trip packing list , grab a list of the best family audiobooks for road trips , and get on the road.

Where to watch. Stream: Starz, Crave. Rent or Buy: Amazon , YouTube, iTunes, Microsoft Store.

The Motorcycle Diaries (2004)

The Motorcycle Diaries is based on the journals of Che Guevara, leader of the Cuban Revolution. Starring Gael García Bernal, the movie shows Che and his pal Alberto Granado on a road trip from the Andes to Machu Picchu and other South American Landmarks.

Where to watch. Rent or Buy: Amazon , YouTube, iTunes, Microsoft Store.

Best Travel Movies on Netflix

Choosing the best travel movies on Netflix can be a bit tricky, since Netflix is constantly changing the movies in their catalogue and they can vary from country to country. That said, here are our picks for the best travel movies on Netflix right now.

Seven Years in Tibet (1997)

Brad Pitt is the lead in this epic film based on a true story. Pitt plays egocentric Austrian mountain climber, Heinrich Harrer, who escapes from a WWII prisoner of war camp in India. He makes his way to refuge in the sacred land of Tibet, where he meets the young Dalai Lama.

Where to watch. Stream: Netflix.

Holiday in the Wild (2019)

Ok, I’m fully aware of the incongruity of putting a fun, escapist movie like Holiday in the Wild directly after a classic like Seven Years in Tibet. That said, Holiday in the Wild is both a fun movie, and chock full of absolutely stunning images of South Africa and Zambia landscapes and wildlife.

The movie stars Rob Lowe and Kristin Davis (who played Charlotte York Goldenblatt in Sex in the City). Davis plays a woman who is Jilted by her husband on the eve of embarking on an African safari. She chooses to travel to Africa alone, where she meets Lowe, who plays an elephant conservationist.

IMDB rating: 6.1

Wine Country (2019)

Another lighthearted romp, Wine Country is produced and directed by Amy Poehler, with a great cast that includes Poehler herself, Maya Rudolph,  Kristen Wiig, and Melissa McCarthy.

It’s set in a girls-only vacation to Napa Valley, where a group of longtime friends reunite and revisit past choices.

Other articles you might like:

• The Best Travel Vloggers on YouTube in 2021
• The Best Songs about Adventure and Travel
• 25+ Best Travel Memories Quotes to Inspire Your Wanderlust
• Five Interesting and Offbeat Travel TV Shows
• Our Favorite Travel TV Shows

Want to see all of the trailers in one place?

Watching trailers for movies is one of my favorite things in the world. Check out our YouTube playlist with trailers for all of the top travel movies here: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLsfDUGOZ3UU8OxFOY5kxwxe374BOi_uoF

Do you have any personal picks for the best travel movies that we’ve forgotten? Share them in the comments!

Seven years in Tibet is one of my most favorite travel movies. Even the book is so hypnotizing.

These look like some classics. I’d have nothing to add. Nothing like a good travel movie to motivate one to hit the road.

Wow! What a fantastic list of travel movies! As an avid traveler, I’m always on the lookout for inspiring films that ignite my wanderlust, and this compilation delivers perfectly. It’s refreshing to see a mix of well-known classics and hidden gems, ensuring there’s something for everyone’s taste. I appreciate the brief descriptions provided, giving just enough insight without spoiling the magic. This list has definitely added a few titles to my must-watch list! Thank you for sharing such a captivating collection, it will surely keep me entertained on my upcoming adventures. Cheers! Gary Ford

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The 40 best travel movies

Hit the trail with some of cinema’s most magical destination films

There’s loads to be said for the transportive power of cinema – that magical ability to whisk us off to places we’d never otherwise go – but we’re often glad of its power to bring us back again. It’s fun to pay a visit to Mos Eisley or Twin Peaks but you probably wouldn’t want to linger too long. Occasionally, though, a movie will leave you with itchy feet and an urge to hit the trail (or at least, low-cost airline website) for real. Here are 40 films that’ll have you reaching for your passport.

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Sideways (2004)

Destination: Santa Ynez Valley, California, USA

They may be insufferable wine bores cursed in perpetuity by merlot producers the world over, but it’s hard not to kinda love pent-up Miles (Paul Giamatti) and laconic Jack (Thomas Haden Church) in Alexander Payne’s Oscar-winning comedy-drama. For one thing, the hapless roadtrippers are never dull; for another, they introduced the moviegoing world to California’s lush Santa Ynez Valley and its array of sun-kissed valleys, bountiful vineyards and roadside staging posts. If you’re ever following in their footsteps, be sure to stop in at Miles’s favourite restaurant, The Hitching Post II . PDS  

Into the Wild (2007)

• Action and adventure

Destination :  Denali National Park, Alaska, USA

Things go south when Christopher McCandless (Emile Hirsch) heads north in Sean Penn’s moving biopic of the young hiker’s journey from comfortable middle-class life to the vast Alaskan wilderness. This true-life adventure may have a heartbreaking ending but the journey there is pretty special, backdropped by unforgettable American landscapes and life-changing encounters in the spirit of all great road-trip movies. The vast solitude of Alaska’s Denali National Park, five hours’ drive from Anchorage and overshadowed by North America’s highest peak, Mount Denali (aka Mount McKinley), leaves a haunting impression. PDS

Wild (2014)

Destination: The Pacific Crest Trail, USA

There was a reason thousands of solo hikers set off on the Pacific Crest Trail IRL after seeing this movie. Based on Cheryl Strayed’s bestselling memoir of the same name and starring Reese Witherspoon, ‘Wild’ paints a vivid picture of life off-grid and on-foot on the PCT, an equal parts gruelling and stunning hiking route which weaves through the Cascade and Sierra Nevada mountain ranges on America’s west coast. The urge to pack up your water purifier and your emotional baggage and hit the trail as the credits roll is hard to ignore. EWA

The Sheltering Sky (1990)

Destination: Aït Benhaddou, Morocco

Paul Bowles’s bohemian account of post-war life in north Africa is hardly the greatest advertisement for tourism – the jaded American couple at its heart aren’t the most open-minded pair – but Bernardo Bertolucci’s visually rich adaptation makes it all seem well worth the trip anyway. It has Debra Winger and John Malkovich as the pair of slightly insufferable roamers (‘We’re travellers,’ they’re at pains to point out, ‘not tourists’) but the real stars of the show are the Saharan landscapes, Tangier souks and dusty villages. One of those villages, the ancient fort of Aït Benhaddou, is a film star in its own right, having appeared in ‘Gladiator’, ‘Babel’, ‘Kundun’ and ‘The Mummy’, among others. PDS  

Lost in Translation (2003)

Destination: Tokyo, Japan Sofia Coppola’s classic is one of the quintessential travel movies, not just for its Japanese locations, both postcard-famous and off-the-beaten-track, but in perfectly capturing that unmistakable sense of dislocation that can come with hitting the trail. Here, it’s magnified by deeper life crises for Scarlett Johansson and Bill Murray’s two lonely travellers, but their existential woes spark a powerful connection – and we’ve all been there. As far as the travelling goes, they’re doing it the luxe way, staying in the now-very-famous and expensive Park Hyatt Tokyo and taking day trips to Kyoto soundtracked by Air. Other hotels (and Spotify) are available. PDS

A United Kingdom (2016)

Destination: Serowe, Botswana

This true-life love story between Bechuanaland royal heir Seretse Khama (David Oyelowo) and Londoner Ruth Williams (Rosamund Pike) plays like a cross between a Disney fairy tale and a bracing slug of social realism. The couple are subjected to prejudice and disapproval in all its guises – straight-up racism in post-war Britain and prescriptive protocols in Africa – but coolly face it down to make history. The story is inspiring and the backdrops scarcely less so. Director Amma Asante filmed on location in Seretse’s home village of Serowe, so head there for a two-in-one cinematic and historical pilgrimage (and check out the rhinos while you’re there). PDS

The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert (1994)

Destination: Broken Hill, New South Wales, Australia

This comedy-drama is at once an Aussie classic, a road trip gem and a glorious celebration of difference – all crammed on to a bus called Priscilla and driven across Australia’s Outback to a gig in Alice Springs. The movie’s spiritual home – as its website proudly points out – is The Palace Hotel in hardscrabble Broken Hill, where a night in the tacky-flamboyant Priscilla Suite will set you back around A$200. It’s here that Bernadette Bassenger (Terence Stamp), Mitzi Del Bra (Hugo Weaving) and Felicia Jollygoodfellow (Guy Pearce) stay over en route to the Northern Territory. Or if you want to keep things strictly underground, head for the subterranean White Cliffs motel in the bizarre town of Coober Pedy– another port of call for the trio. PDS

A Room with a View (1985)

Destination: Florence, Italy

What’s most charming about this 1980s Merchant Ivory classic, which follows the  first visit to Italy of the young Lucy Honeychurch (Helena Bonham Carter)? It’s a tough call between the sun-soaked streets of Florence and all those becoming Edwardian ruffles. Though it does a very good job of capturing England’s bucolic countryside too, it’s the first half of the film, full of glorious views of the languid Arno river, the city’s terracotta rooftops and ochre-coloured landmarks that lingers in the memory. EWA

A Walk in the Woods (2015)

Destination: The Appalachian Trail, USA

According to the Bill Bryson memoir from which this warm-hearted outdoorsy adventure is adapted, 2,000 people attempt the 2,200-mile-long Appalachian Trail every year, but only 10 percent make it. Attempting to beat the stats are Robert Redford and Nick Nolte’s old-timers. The trail – the longest hiking-only path in the world – runs from Maine to Georgia, with glorious, Ansel Adams-esque scenery and killer hills all the way. Will our grizzled heroes make it? Do bears shit in the woods? Finally, a movie that can answer both questions. PDS

Monos (2019)

Destination: Chingaza National Natural Park, Colombia

The brilliant ‘Monos’ sometimes feels like a war film, sometimes like a sci-fi and sometimes like some new genre we’ve never encountered before. Its high-altitude locations are guaranteed to have intrepid types reaching for their passports. Rising to more than four kilometres above sea level, Colombia’s Chingaza National Natural Park, where it is filmed, feels like the roof of the world and director Alejandro Landes gives its cloud forests, waterfalls and rocky outcrops the full widescreen treatment. Within range of Bogotá, it’s catapulted straight on to our bucket list. PDS  

Journey to Italy (1954)

Destination: Naples, Italy

This influential Roberto Rossellini film follows discontented marrieds Katherine (Ingrid Bergman) and Alex Joyce (George Sanders) as they drive to Naples and bicker their way towards something that looks likely to involve eye-watering legal costs and a painful conversation about who gets to keep the Frank Sinatra LPs. Watching these sophisticated travellers slugging it out can be an emotionally arduous ride, but they find calm and beauty amid the city’s archaeological treasures. For her, it’s the volcanic Phlegraean Fields and the ancient artefacts of the Naples Museum; for him, a ferry ride to Capri. For us? A trip to the EasyJet website.  PDS

The Way (2010)

Destination: El Camino de Santiago, Spain 

Whether it’s to the football, the pub or just to Homebase for something to de-grease the barbecue, a father-and-son pilgrimage is a special thing. It’s arguably even more special when there’s an actual pilgrimage involved, as is the case in this touching 2010 drama directed by Emilio Estevez and starring his dad, Martin Sheen. The movie follows the path of Galicia’s Camino de Santiago, a UNESCO listed network of hiking trails that leads pilgrims to Santiago de Compostela. With its stunning landscapes and moments of footsore camaraderie, it’ll have you itching to follow in its footsteps. PDS

Forgetting Sarah Marshall (2008)

Destination: Oahu, Hawaii, USA Boy meets girl. Boy loses girl. Boy tracks down girl in far-flung corner of Hawaii. Boy discovers girl is now having mindblowing sex with a rockstar (Russell Brand). Major bummer. Still, on the upside for Jason Segel’s lovelorn musician – and everyone else in the film – this lol-some romantic-comedy unfolds on Oahu’s stunning north shore. Specifically, the Turtle Bay Resort , a honeymooners’ paradise that comes equal first with Bora Bora from ‘Couple’s Retreat’ in a list of dream destinations Kristen Bell has managed to visit for work . PDS

Midnight in Paris (2011)

Destination: Paris, France

Americans swooning over the City of Light is nothing new. But rarely are their chansons d’amour so persuasive as Woody Allen’s ‘Midnight in Paris’. Gil (Owen Wilson) is a jobbing Hollywood screenwriter on vacation in gay Paree with fiancée Inez (Rachel McAdams) and her parents. Each night he wanders off alone, and on midnight’s chime, is transported into a magical-realist time warp: first the 1920s (hello, Ernest, Zelda and Scott), then the Belle Époque of Degas, Gauguin and Toulouse-Lautrec. From Rodin’s hôtel particulier to abandoned fairground the Musée des Arts Forains , Gil is swept up by the city’s charms, and as he falls deeper in love, so do we. HO

The Passenger (1975)

Destination: Vera, Spain

From the nocturnal streets of Milan to the Aeolian Islands and even south-east  London, Michaelangelo Antonioni’s locations often got as much screen time as his actors. Even larger-than-life Jack Nicholson feels swallowed up by the epic sweep of southern Spain, the last stop for his journalist-gone-rogue David Locke after an almost 007-worthy itinerary (Algeria, London, Munich, Barcelona). The dusty Andalusian hilltop town of Vera, with its dilapidated bullring and now-demolished Hotel de la Gloria, is the filming location for the famous six-minute tracking shot in which Locke’s fate is sealed – in typically cryptic Antonioni style, naturalmente . JM

The Secret Life of Walter Mitty (2013)

Destination:  Seyðisfjörður,  Iceland Timid Life magazine staffer Walter Mitty (Ben Stiller) heads off to track down grizzled photojournalist Sean O’Connell (Sean Penn) and finds himself along the way. It’s basically a mega-budget version of that gap year your mate Charlie still goes on about. But if Walter’s fantastical daydreams of superpowered adventure and heart-stopping romance are eclipsed by the rugged Icelandic landscapes, what landscapes to be eclipsed by. If you want to recreate his high-speed longboard ride , just head for Seyðisfjörður on the eastern edge of Iceland. Just be sure to check the terms of your travel insurance first. PDS

Leap Year (2010)

Destination: Aran Islands, Ireland It may not be a great advertisement for filmmaking but this romcom is an excellent billboard for the Irish counties of Wicklow, Mayo and Galway. Matthew Goode plays Irish innkeeper Declan O’Callaghan and Amy Adams is Anna Brady, the American visitor looking to exploit an arcane tradition whereby a man proposed to on a Leap Day must accept (because no marriage is more likely to last than one you’ve been forced into by an ancient form of blackmail). Forget the plot contortions and focus instead on the glorious Irish vistas, especially those of the rocky Aran Islands where much of the movie was filmed. PDS

L'Avventura (1960)

Destination: Aeolian Islands, Italy In Michelangelo Antonioni’s languid classic, a young woman (Lea Massari) vanishes during a yachting trip to the rocky, mysterious Aeolian Islands and her boyfriend Sandro (Gabriele Ferzetti) and BFF Claudia (Monica Vitti) make a slightly half-hearted attempt to find her (think Tommy Lee Jones in ‘The Fugitive’, only on Xanax). The disappearance itself takes place on the tiny volcanic outcrop of Lisca Bianca, which can be visited only by private boat, but Sandro and Claudia’s ensuing wanderings will have you adding Sicily to your holiday wishlist too. Even in black and white, the Tyrrhenian Sea sparkles enticingly. PDS

Mamma Mia! (2008)

Destination: Skopelos, Greece Abba-inspired ‘Mamma Mia!’ is movie Marmite, but it’s impossible to watch the film, or it’s more recent sequel ‘Mamma Mia: Here We Go Again’, and not be left pining for Greece’s many paradise-like islands. And if you’re into tales of friendship, motherhood, a secret search to find a father figure and a dungare ed Meryl Streep singing ’70s hits, they are pure joy. Oh, to be skipping through a Greek orange grove, falling in love in an intimate taverna or diving off a boat into the clear waters that surround sunny Skopelos right now…  EWA

Tracks (2013)

Destination: Western Australia

Australia’s dusty town of Alice Springs is the jump-off point for an outback adventure that’s based on a true story. Mia Wasikowska plays Robyn Davidson who, in 1977, trekked 1,700 miles across the continent with only her dog, Diggity, and four dromedaries for company. At least, until National Geographic photographer Rick Smolan (Adam Driver) pitches up to cover her incredible undertaking. It’s a pure travel movie: a celebration of the dangers and majesty of the great outdoors that captures the spirituality of Aboriginal lands, the vastness of ever-shifting deserts and the spellbinding starscapes of the Australian night sky. PDS

The Two Faces of January (2014)

Destination: Crete, Greece Like ‘The Talented Mr Ripley’, this underrated thriller has everything you could possibly want from a Patricia Highsmith adaptation: gorgeous costumes, slippery characters and exotic European settings. Oh, and foul deeds – let’s not forget about them. Here the double-dealing and betrayals take place in Greece rather than Italy, but the soft Mediterranean light and shimmering seaside backdrops are equally to die for as Viggo Mortensen and Oscar Isaac’s vying tricksters, and Kirsten Dunst’s beautiful sorta-moll, journey from the tourist traps of Athens to Crete’s sun-baked hills and its Minoan ruins. PDS

Jeremiah Johnson (1972)

Destination: Zion National Park, Utah, USA In movie terms, Utah is most famous as home to Monument Valley, a landmark in all those great John Ford westerns. Head a few hours west, though, and you’ll find the even more remote dream destination for the hardcore western lover-cum-outdoors type: Utah’s mountainous Zion National Park, where Robert Redford western and handy gif generator ‘Jeremiah Johnson’ was partly filmed. The real-life Johnson was the nineteenth century’s answer to Bear Grylls and probably smelled badly of bison liver and fetid beard, but needless to say, Redford makes him a total thirst trap(per). PDS

Little Miss Sunshine (2006)

Destination :  Ventura, California, USA It may not be Big Sur or Malibu but Ventura is famous for a few things: its sandy beaches, long pier, surfing and – surely the topper – hosting the climactic moments of ‘Little Miss Sunshine’. It’s in this sun-kissed corner of California that the dysfunctional Hoover clan pull up in their yellow VW microbus and unleash comedy mayhem. In the film, the setting is actually Redondo Beach, 70-odd miles south, but Ventura was the real-life stand-in for the pier scene . If you really want to get close to the action, check in to the Crowne Plaza Hotel Ventura Beach where Olive Hoover (Abigail Breslin) unleashes her superbly inappropriate ‘Super Freak’ on that unsuspecting beauty pageant. PDS

The Motorcycle Diaries (2004)

Destination: Machu Picchu, Peru Before becoming a doctor, rebranding as ‘Che’ and becoming the last word in revolutionary chic, Ernesto Guevara (Gael García Bernal) embarked on a roadtrip across South America with his old friend Alberto Granado that is faithfully recorded in Walter Salles’s excellent 2004 biopic. The pair visit the spectacular Incan citadel of Machu Picchu without once referring to ‘Lonely Planet’ and set about exchanging revolutionary ideas and posing for snapshots. If they’d had Instagram back in 1952, @Che would have been lapping up the likes. PDS

Local Hero (1983)

Destination: Pennan, Scotland

Home, as they say, is where the heart is, and in this enduring delight that means Scotland’s unspoiled east coast, with its tiny fishing villages, crystal-clear skies and mystical vibes. It’s here – the fictional seaside village of Ferness, specifically – that oil company exec (Peter Riegert) is sent with a brief to buy the place so it can be turned into a refinery. Unexpectedly, the villagers like the idea because, well, fishing is hard work. It’s a lovely comic twist that throws the whole film winningly off its axis. Any ‘Local Hero’ pilgrims should head for the village of Pennan in Aberdeenshire, Ferness’s real-life stand-in, and grab a selfie by that famous phonebox. PDS

Patagonia (2010)

Destination: Trelew, Patagonia, Argentina This gentle travelogue has Welsh photographer Rhys and his partner Gwen discovering the charms of Patagonia, where their guide (Matthew Rhys) introduces them to the region’s Welsh heritage and the chapels built by Welsh settlers. If you’re intrepid – or Welsh and fancy undertaking a similar pilgrimage – head for the Welsh town of Trelew in Argentina and saddle up for a horse ride into the dusty desert. Bizarrely, it’s exactly what Rhys was doing when he bumped into ‘Patagonia’ director Marc Evans location-scouting the film. PDS

Spring, Summer, Autumn, Winter… and Spring (2003)

Destination: Juwangsan National Park , South Korea This lushly located Korean masterpiece exudes seriously serene vibes as it charts a young Buddhist monk’s rocky spiritual journey under the tutelage of his master across 40 or so years. Since the film came out in 2003, its location – a purpose-built floating monastery on Jusanji Lake in Juwangsan National Park – has gone from hidden secret to national treasure, with visitors making the trek to sit in the shade of its willow trees and get zen by its tranquil waters. It’s a tricky trek to get there, though: Juwangsan is one of Korea’s most inaccessible national parks and the hike to the lake is a real glute-burner. PDS

Roman Holiday (1953)

Destination: Rome, Italy Sly but chivalrous American journo Joe Bradley (Gregory Peck) shows Audrey Hepburn’s royal fugitive, Princess Ann, around the Eternal City in a classic romance that’s fizzier than a flute of prosecco. He takes her on a whirlwind Vespa tour of Rome’s famous tourist attractions – Joe isn’t one for the hipster haunts – taking in the Spanish Steps, the Mouth of Truth and the Colosseum. Other films have majored on the city’s jaded hedonism (‘La Dolce Vita’, ‘The Great Beauty’) and social ills (‘Bicycle Thieves’); this one just makes Rome feel like a dream. PDS

Seven Years in Tibet (1997)

Destination: Lhasa, Tibet

A Sun-In blond Brad Pitt plays Heinrich Harrer, an Austrian mountaineer who sets out to climb the Himalayan peak of Nanga Parbat in 1939 only to end up in a POW camp. He escapes, crosses the border into Tibet and becomes tutor to the Dalai Lama in Lhasa – then the Chinese plan an invasion and things get complicated. The film faced a couple of problems: Harrer turned out to be a Nazi IRL and Tibet itself was off-limits to the production. Scorsese had the same issue on ‘Kundun’ and recreated it in Morocco; here, it is Argentina and the Canadian Rockies. But director Jean-Jacques Annaud’s time in Tibet recce-ing the country pays off and he does a fine job capturing its rugged beauty on screen. PDS

The Piano (1993)

Destination: Karekare Beach, New Zealand If you’re looking for a beach holiday with a movie pilgrimage thrown in, head for New Zealand’s west coast where Jane Campion’s period drama is set. The gripping emotional journeys of Holly Hunter’s mute immigrant and her young daughter (Anna Paquin) as they deal with the harshness of nineteenth-century life steered the film to eight Oscar nominations. It was all filmed on the black sands of Karekare Beach, only 30 minutes’ drive from Auckland but stretched out at the foot of rugged cliffs in splendid isolation. If there was an Oscar for beaches, it’d be a shoo-in. PDS

Australia (2008)

Destination: East Kimberley, Western Australia

With its glorious shots of the outback and Hugh Jackman taking his kit off, Baz Luhrmann’s ‘Australia’ celebrates the continent’s rugged natural phenomena in all its forms. Sure, the film – an homage to the old westerns of John Ford – is a mite corny, but it showcases the scenery of Western Australia so beautifully, you’d think the tourist board funded it. And sure enough, they did: to the tune of $1 million. Luhrmann also filmed in Sydney and Queensland, but if you want the proper ‘Australia’ experience, head for Kununurra and from there the Kimberley, approximately a bazillion square miles of canyons, cattle stations and beaches. Saddle up. PDS

Vicky Cristina Barcelona (2008)

Destination: Barcelona, Spain

Set in a world full of beautiful people doing impossibly bohemian things at extreme short notice, ‘Vicky Cristina Barcelona’ is the life we’d all lead if we weren’t at home worrying about loo roll. It’s a seductive love letter to Catalonia and, in particular, a billboard for the beauties of Barcelona: as the title implies, the city itself shares top billing with Vicky (Rebecca Hall) and Cristina (Scarlett Johansson), two friends who fall under the spell of Javier Bardem’s artist while visiting. Needless to say, the movie is full of Barca landmarks, including Park Güell, the Miró Museum, Parc de la Ciutadella and the Sagrada Família, and they all look utterly dreamy. PDS

The World's Fastest Indian (2005)

Destination: Bonneville Salt Flats, Utah, USA

This feelgood yarn has rough-around-the-edges Kiwi biker Burt Munro (Anthony Hopkins) travelling from New Zealand to Utah’s Bonneville Salt Flats, aiming to beat the land speed record (just north of 200mph) on his trusty 1920 Indian Scout motorbike. A true story, it was filmed on location on an expansive salt pan in northwestern Utah that attracts petrolhead pilgrims to the annual Bonneville Speedway every summer. It also pops up in ‘Mad Men’, when a sweat-mottled Don Draper manages to blag a drive in a 1970 Chevelle SS, and ‘Independence Day’ . It’s another reason why anyone embarking on a movie-themed road trip should head straight for Utah. PDS

The Lost City Of Z (2016)

Destination: Tayrona National Park, Colombia Colombia has been South America’s go-to country for big-screen adventure since the days of ‘ Romancing the Stone’ and ‘The Mission’ in the ’80s. It offers a suitably mysterious landscape in James Grey’s dazzling epic about a British explorer (Charlie Hunnam) trying to find an undiscovered civilisation in the early twentieth century. Robert Pattinson joins him as a fellow military man with Ray Mears-like knowledge of the Amazon jungle. Grey and his crew used the Colombian Caribbean town of Santa Marta as a base, but you’ll need to head into the Tayrona National Park – the film’s Amazon scenes were filmed on the nearby Don Diego River – to follow in R-Patz’s and co’s boot prints. PDS  

Skyfall (2012)

Destination: Istanbul, Turkey There’s not many desirable locations that 007 hasn’t passed through over his 25 film outings. The Caribbean has been a popular pitstop, right from his first film outing in ‘Dr No’, while he’s ticked off more European capitals than a 19-year-old Interrailer. One of them, Istanbul, has hosted the big man three times and just about emerged unscathed. In ‘Skyfall’, Daniel Craig’s Bond takes us on a high-speed tour of the city’s vast and labyrinthine Grand Bazaar in pursuit of a mercenary with a vital hard drive. One day, he’ll go back and just have a nice browse instead. PDS

Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason (2004)

Destination: Lech, Austria Beyond James Bond, ski resorts are a rare sight in movies. After all, there’s only so much drama to be juiced from fondue evenings and teenagers necking pints, right? Wrong! Bridget Jones (Renée Zellweger), who could ring drama from an empty packet of ready salted, delivers her own inimitable brand when Mark Darcy (Colin Firth) whisks her off to the Austrian Alps, hurricaning down the slopes and into a pharmacy to request a pregnancy test in strangled German, worried that she is ‘mitt baby’. Hosting the mayhem is Lech, a resort that promises ‘200km of high alpine powder’ and at least one skiable chemist. PDS

Unrelated (2007)

Destination: Tuscany, Italy  A spiritual cousin to ‘The Green Ray’, another movie that sets a woman’s personal crisis against a woozy summer holiday backdrop, Joanna Hogg’s debut film has fortysomething Anna (Kathryn Worth) joining some friends at their villa in Tuscany where she finds herself gravitating towards their young public school-y offspring – led by Tom Hiddleston in his first film role. It’s all surprisingly edgy stuff and culminates in a barney for the ages but the setting is to die for: the holidaying families staying in villa on the San Fabiano Estate just outside Siena, a world of rolling hills and olive groves. It’s a real B&B so you can check in any time; you just might not want to leave. PDS

Out of Africa (1985)

Destination:   Chyulu Hills, Kenya

Your grandma’s favourite film has Danish farmer Karen Blixen (Meryl Streep) and Tiger Moth-flying big-game hunter Denys Finch Hatton (Robert Redford) falling in love on the Kenyan savannah, despite the presence of hungry lions and (irksomely) an actual Mr Blixen (the astonishing  Klaus Maria Brandauer). It all goes on for ages which allows for plenty of time to take in the sweeping African landscapes, replete with watering holes, green hills and the vast, sunbaked expanse of the Great Rift Valley. If you’re looking for the ‘Out of Africa’ experience, head for Kenya’s Chyulu Hills where the film was shot. PDS

The Lord of the Rings trilogy (2001-2003)

Destination: New Zealand 

The action is plentiful in the big-screen adaptation of JRR Tolkien’s magical ’Lord of the Rings’ epic, but the setting is jaw-dropping enough to still be a distraction. While Frodo and his fellowship battle their way across Middle-earth to return the One Ring to Mordor, the only place where it can be destroyed, New Zealand’s sweeping plains, lush forests and snowcapped mountains are in the background like an 11-hour advert for Tourism New Zealand. A one-way ticket to Rivendell via Auckland International, please. EWA

The Green Ray (1986)

Destination: St Jean-de-Luz, France

Sometimes a holiday isn’t enough. Secretary Delphine (played by director Éric Rohmer’s muse Marie Rivière) finds herself dumped and facing the prospect of being stuck in sweltering Paris for the summer ( quelle horreur! ). But trips to Cherbourg, the Alps and Biarritz only serve to make her feel more alienated – from smug couples, flirtatious singles, clueless tourists and the whole seething mass of humanity. Then, she finds a transcendent sunset in the Basque beach town of St Jean-de-Luz. Rohmer’s classic is not only a funny, magical exploration of human connection but a snapshot of a French summer – complete with dodgy holiday fashion. JM  

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75+ Best Travel Movies To Inspire Your Wanderlust

This post may contain affiliate links. Please read the disclaimer here .

The best travel movies have the ability to shift our mindset, give us permission to dream bigger and inspire our wanderlust for adventure . For me, watching movies about travel is the next best thing to actually travelling.

Travel movies can do more than inspire, they can also inform. The best movies on travel open our eyes to different cultures, alternative life paths that challenge society’s accepted norms and status quo . I didn’t know the Camino de Santiago existed until I watched The Way  (2010). Now it’s on my bucket list. Watching  Brooklyn  (2015) helped me understand that even though moving abroad is painful, the payoff is worth it.

I’m a cinephile and a travel lover and every week (literally) I watch new and favourite world travel movies. I know my stuff. These movies will inspire you to hike that mountain, kiss the beautiful French girl, jump on the Vespa… Whatever you want to do! No matter your age or social background, travel is for you. And sometimes we just need wanderlust-inspiring movies to show us how.

So, enjoy this travel movies list full of hiking, road-tripping, comedic, romantic and adventurous films set around the world. And then  watch  them!

Best Travel Movies That Will Make You WANT to Travel

1. 2  days in paris (2007).

Director:  Julie Delpy  Languages:  English, French  Run time: 101m 88% Rotten Tomatoes

Read more: 84 Films set in Paris to Inspire you to Visit

Cultures clash in Julie Delpy’s exploration of a romantic relationship on the brink of ruin. American Jack and French Marion hope to solve their communication issues by returning to Marion’s hometown of Paris, France and visiting her parents for a weekend. Hence 2 Days in Paris. It’s an existential travel comedy that is less in-your-face, American-style comedy and more cocksure French comedy.

2. A Bigger Splash  (2015)

Director:  Luca Guadagnino Languages: English, Italian, French Run time: 124m 90% Rotten Tomatoes

Read more:  13 Great Films set in Sicily to Inspire you to Visit

Ever wondered what Tilda Swinton would look like as a David Bowie-esque performer? Wonder no more as that’s exactly what she stars as in Guadagnino’s erotic thriller A Bigger Splash . Pal Ralph Fiennes and estranged daughter Dakota Johnson crash her and her partner Mattias Schoenart’s respite on the island of Pantelleria, Sicily . The raw volcanic landscape and pool vibes would make this a dreamy holiday flick if it weren’t for the matter of murder…

3. A Good Year  (2006)

Director:  Ridley Scott  Languages:  English, French, Russian  Run time: 118m 25% Rotten Tomatoes

Read more: 23 Films set in France to Inspire you to Visit

So it’s not one of the  best  films, but it’s one of the best  travel  films if you love French countryside/chateaus and wine. And who doesn’t, right?! I love  A Good Year regardless. Russell Crowe’s English financier is having a midlife crisis when he inherits a vineyard in Provence, France from a recently deceased relative. Now, where can I get me a rich elderly relative with a holiday home in Tuscany?

4. A United Kingdom  (2016)

Director:  Amma Asante  Languages:  English, Tswana  Run time: 111m 84% Rotten Tomatoes

A lot of the top travel movies star primarily privileged white people. I’m not getting on my soapbox. Just take a quick look down this list and you’ll see, they generally all feature white people on an internal and physical journey. So, I love it when a travel movie breaks the mould! Based on a true story, Seretse Khama is the heir to the throne in Bechuanaland (later Botswana) who falls in love with a white English lady in London.  A United Kingdom  is a story of prejudice, identity and gorgeous Bostwana landscapes.

5. The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert  (1994)

Director:  Stephan Elliot  Language:  English  Run time: 103m 96% Rotten Tomatoes

One of the best LBGTQ+ travel movies,  The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert  is the story of three drag performers travelling from Sydney to Alice Springs in Australia for a show. Along the way, there are tensions with the locals, tensions between the travellers and tensions within themselves. There’s nothing like a physical journey to trigger an internal one! Plus, epic costumes with many, many feathers.

6. The Beach  (2000)

Director:  Danny Boyle  Language:  English  Run time: 119m 20% Rotten Tomatoes

Read more: The Beach Filming Locations in Thailand

This is not one of the best travel movies, I’ll admit that, but it’s a fan favourite and one of my guilty pleasures.  The Beach  follows Leonardo DiCaprio’s American tourist in search of a secluded island in Thailand with promises of paradise. And when he finds that island , things are not as he thought they would be. Sometimes travel might not turn out as you expected, but there are still lessons to be learned from every experience .

7. Before Trilogy (1995, 2004 & 2013)

Director:  Richard Linklater  Language:  English  Run times:  101m, 80m, 109m 95-100% Rotten Tomatoes 

Read more: Before Sunset Filming Locations in Paris, France

Hands down, three of the best travelling movies. In my humble opinion. The Before  trilogy consists of  Before Sunrise  (1995) set in Vienna, Austria , Before Sunset  (2004) set in Paris, France and  Before Midnight  (2013) set in Greece . Each film documents how American Jesse and French Celine’s relationship develops in nine-year intervals. With beautiful European backdrops! The dialogue is incredibly articulate and relatable and there’s no way you won’t fantasise about falling in love with someone you meet on a train after watching these movies.

8. The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel  (2011) &  The Second Best Exotic Marigold Hotel  (2015)

Director:  John Madden  Language:  English  Run times:  124m, 122m 65-78% Rotten Tomatoes

I love travel films that prove that you can travel and find adventure at any age! The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel  and it’s sequel follow a group of Brits that plan to retire in Ravla Khempur near Udaipur in India  where there is a low cost of living. They think they’ve found an amazing deal, but once the oldies arrive at the hotel it’s a little worse for wear. Featuring some of the best British actors, the OAPs in this movie make lemonade out of life’s lemons.

9. Brooklyn  (2015)

Director:  John Crowley  Language:  English  Run time: 112m 97% Rotten Tomatoes

Read more: Brooklyn Filming Locations in Ireland, New York & Canada

Armed with everything she owns in one suitcase, sweet Eilis boards a ferry to Brooklyn, New York  leaving her hometown of Enniscorthy in Ireland behind. Brooklyn faithfully interprets the feeling and challenges of belonging to two places. There’s the place where you grew up , where your friends and family are and your culture, and the second place where you find belonging and purpose. Just an incredibly beautiful film and surely one of the best travel movies of all time.

10. Call Me By Your Name  (2017)

Director:  Luca Guadagnino  Languages:  English, Italian, French  Run time: 132m 94% Rotten Tomatoes

Read more: Call Me By Your Name Filming Locations in Sirmione

One of my favourite travel romance movies, actually one of my favourite movies of all time, is  Call Me By Your Name.  It follows the summer romance between 17-year-old Elio and 24-year-old Grad student Oliver who joins Elio’s academic family at their villa in Lombardy, Italy . You can feel the tepid water of their daily swims on your skin, taste the juicy apricots that grow in the garden and hear the upbeat 1980s pop music. Is there anything more idyllic than an endless summer?

11. Chalet Girl  (2011)

Director: Phil Traill  Languages:  English, German  Run time: 96m 77% Rotten Tomatoes

If you’ve ever thought about seasonal work abroad,  Chalet Girl  is one of the best travel movies for you! Felicity Jones plays Kim, a former skateboarding star who works a ski season at a luxury ski resort in Tyrol, Austria where she discovers her knack for snowboarding. For a teen-focused, light-hearted drama, Chalet Girl  is surprisingly watchable and very wanderlust inspiring, especially if you’re a winter-lover.

12. Chasing Liberty  (2004)

Director:  Andy Kadiff  Language:  English  Run time: 111m 18% Rotten Tomatoes

Read more:  17 Best Films set in Venice, Italy to Inspire Your Trip

Speaking of teen-focused, light-hearted dramas… Here’s another one for you! As a woman around the age of 30, I  loved  the Mary-Kate and Ashely travel movies and  Chasing Liberty  is of the same ilk. Mandy Moore plays an 18-year-old President’s daughter who gives her security detail the slip while travelling in Prague, Czechia . She then travels onto Venice, Italy and Berlin, Germany with a cute British boy who isn’t all he seems.

13. Cites of Love Series (2006 – 2019)

Creator:  Emmanuel Benbihy  Languages:  Various  Run times:  93-120m 8-86% Rotten Tomatoes

Read more: 16 Brilliant Films set in Berlin to Watch Before Your Trip

The Cities of Love series includes  Paris, Je T’aime  (2006),  New York, I Love You  (2008),  Tbilisi, I Love You (2014), Rio, I Love You  (2014) and Berlin, I Love You  (2019). Upcoming cities include Shanghai, Jerusalem, Venice, Delhi, Marseille and New Orleans. These travel inspiring movies are cinematic love letters to each focus city , with wild variations in the quality. Each film is built up of vignettes with different casts and directors for each section, and they’re a must-watch if you’re visiting any of the cities in the series listed so far!

14. Copenhagen  (2014)

Director:  Mark Raso  Languages:  English, Danish  Run time: 98m 88% Rotten Tomatoes

In this movie, a twenty-something Canadian takes a trip to Copenhagen, Denmark (who’d have thunk with a film title like Copenhagen , right?) to track down his Danish Grandfather. He meets a young waitress who essentially becomes his guide and friend. And while the huge age difference between our two leads is unnecessarily gross, it’s a great travel movie that successfully intertwines internal and external journeys.

15. Crazy Rich Asians  (2018)

Director:  John M. Chu  Language:  English  Run time: 121m 91% Rotten Tomatoes

Getting rich and moving to  Singapore  never looked so appealing. When working-class student Rachel is invited to a wedding with her Singaporean boyfriend back in his home country, she learns he is crazy  rich as well as being  crazy  gorgeous.  Crazy Rich Asians  is one of my favourite comedy travel movies and I have a very strong urge to watch it right now.

16. The Darjeeling Limited  (2007)

Director:  Wes Anderson  Language:  English  Run time: 98m 69% Rotten Tomatoes

The Darjeeling Limited is one of the best travel films set on a train and it’s steeped in travel-related irony. After the death of their father, three estranged brothers travel through Jodhpur, India to visit their mother who is now a Nun. Owen Wilson’s brother is so obsessed with the brothers having a “spiritual” and “healing” journey so much so that he has meticulously planned every detail so that can happen. Like I said: the irony.

17. The Da Vinci Code / Robert Langdon Series (2006, 2009 & 2016)

Director:  Ron Howard  Language:  English  Run times: 149m, 138m, 121m 23-37% Rotten Tomatoes

Read more: Angels and Demons Filming Locations in Rome, Italy

Now, these  are guilty-pleasure travel movies . The Da Vinci Code  (2006),  Angels and Demons  (2009) and  Inferno  (2016) all make up the Robert Langdon series. They star Tom Hanks as everyone’s favourite symbologist thrown into the deep end of religious conspiracy theories taking everything way too seriously. The Da Vinci Code primarily takes place in Paris, France as well as London and Edinburgh , Angels and Demons  is set almost entirely in Rome and  Inferno  hops around Florence, Venice and Istanbul .

18. Easy Rider  (1969)

Director:  Dennis Hopper  Language:  English  Run time: 96m 83% Rotten Tomatoes

Read more: 50 Best American Movies to Inspire a Trip to Every State

The quintessential American road trip movie. Two hippies successfully complete a drug deal and take their new wealth on the back roads (including the historic Route 66) in search of meaning and truth. In Easy Rider, the pair meet several colourful characters along their journey as they ride through smalltown America to New Orleans, Lousiana .

19. Eat Pray Love  (2010)

Director:  Ryan Murphy  Languages:  English, Italian, Portuguese  Run time: 133m 36% Rotten Tomatoes

Read more: Eat Pray Love Filming Locations in Rome (and Naples)

If  Easy Rider  was the quintessential American road movie,  Eay Pray Love  is the quintessential “find yourself” movie. Based on Elizabeth Gilbert’s best-selling memoir, she escapes her post-breakup messy New York life for four months in Rome, Italy in pursuit of pleasure, four months at an Ashram in India in pursuit of devotion and four months in Bali, Indonesia pursuing balance.

20. The English Patient  (1996)

Director:  Anthony Minghella  Languages:  English, German, Italian, Arabic  Run time: 162m 85% Rotten Tomatoes

Read more: 22 Amazing Films set in Italy to Inspire you to Visit

On the surface,  The English Patient  doesn’t appear to be one of the best wanderlust movies out there. However, it’s still a story of adventure, loss and heartache that spans continents so it still seems fitting. Primarily told in flashbacks, this WWII Oscar-winning drama takes place in a monastery in Tuscany, Italy and the Sahara Desert in Africa .

21. Edie  (2017)

Director:  Simon Hunter  Language:  English Run time: 102m 62% Rotten Tomatoes

Read more:  22 Fantastic Films set in Scotland to Inspire you to Visit

Another film demonstrating that you’re never too old, Edie  stars Sheila Hancock as the titular character. After her controlling husband passes on, Edie finds her old hiking backpack in the attic which reignites her dream of climbing Suilven, a mountain in Scotland . She ignores her naysaying daughters and finds help in a young guide , proving that listening to your gut and seeking help when you need it is the best way to live.

22. EuroTrip (2004)

Director:  Jeff Schaffer  Language:  English  Run time: 92m 47% Rotten Tomatoes

Admit it, who else watched the American Pie  movies growing up?  EuroTrip  is a slightly watered down  American Pie  that’s set in Europe. Four teens take a trip around Europe the summer before college to see the sights and so one of them can meet up with his attractive German pen pal. They travel to London, Paris, Amsterdam, Bratislava, Berlin and Rome . If you’re planning a European interrail trip, this is one of the best travel inspiration movies you could watch.

23. Falling Inn Love  (2019)

Director:  Roger Kumble  Language:  English  Run time: 98m 65% Rotten Tomatoes

This is one of the best travelling movies on Netflix, for sure! Though if you loath Hallmark-style movies, then  Falling Inn Love  may not be your cup of tea. Christina Milian plays a high-powered San Francisco career woman who unexpectantly wins an Inn somewhere in the countryside outside of Auckland, New Zealand . She, of course, meets a cute local who helps her renovate her dilapidated B&B. One of the best travel movies on Netflix to melt your cold, northern hemisphere heart.

24. Forrest Gump  (1994)

Director:  Robert Zemeckis  Language:  English  Run time: 142m 71% Rotten Tomatoes

The unbelievable life of  Forrest Gump  has become one of the best adventure travel movies without meaning to be. Forrest (played by Tom Hanks) didn’t have a lot going for him as a youngster, but his heart of gold and lack of shame got him far in life. Literally. The most wanderlust-inspiring part of this Oscar-winning epic is Forrest’s multi-year run around the USA from Alabama , through Mississippi , to Santa Monica Pier in California and even Monument Valley . Want to travel more? If we’ve learnt anything from the great Sage Forrest Gump, just go!

25. The Grand Budapest Hotel  (2014)

Director:  Wes Anderson  Language:  English  Run time: 100m 92% Rotten Tomatoes

Read more: 13 Great Movies set in Germany to Inspire you to Visit

This is the first film on this best travel movies list set in a fictional location, and it won’t be the last. And doesn’t mean it’s any less wanderlust-inspiring. The titular ski resort in The Grand Budapest Hotel  is located in Zubrowka where the concierge Gustav H. is framed for murdering one of his guests. It’s the 1930s and a turbulent time, so he befriends the new lobby boy to help clear his name. One of the best adventure travel movies if you like swanky hotels and pastel-coloured European architecture. Oh, and most of the film was shot in Görlitz, Germany if you want to visit the real place.

26. Hector and the Search for Happiness  (2014)

Director:  Peter Chelsom  Language:  English  Run time: 120m 37% Rotten Tomatoes

Though quite a contrived, simplistic film which doesn’t offer a profound solution,  Hector and the Search for Happiness  might just be the catalyst you need to put yourself first and find what makes you  happy. Starring Simon Pegg as a psychiatrist, he leaves his girlfriend behind to travel the world and find happiness. He visits Tibet, Shanghai, South Africa and California .

27. Hideous Kinky  (1998)

Director:  Gillies MacKinnon  Languages:  English, French, Arabic  Run time: 98m 65% Rotten Tomatoes

Hideous Kinky  is something of a hidden gem, and there was another film released in 1998 starring Kate Winslet which overshadowed this one slightly. She plays a recently divorced young mother with two children living in Marrakech, Morocco . Though they are struggling to make ends meet, the kindness of their community helps them pull through.

28. The Holiday  (2003)

Director:  Nancy Meyers  Language:  English  Run time: 136m 50% Rotten Tomatoes

Read more: The Holiday Filming Locations in England & USA

One of the best travel movies to watch around Christmastime, The Holiday stars Kate Winslet and Cameron Diaz as unhappy single women who seek a change of scenery for the holidays. After listing their homes in Surrey, England and Los Angeles on a Home Exchange website, they swap houses and lives for the holidays. Now for a serious question. Would you rather live in a quaint cottage in Surrey or a mega-mansion in LA?

29. Holiday In The Wild  (2019)

Director:  Ernie Barbarash  Language:  English  Run time: 86m 38% Rotten Tomatoes

Looking for Christmas/holiday-themed travel movies on Netflix? Luckily, there is one that fits the bill!  Holiday in the Wild  follows a recently-divorced, middle-aged woman who travels to South Africa on Safari. There, she succeeds in rescuing a baby elephant and falls in love with her new lifestyle. That’s the dream, right? To travel somewhere that you love  so  much and aligns with your values  so  well that you never want to leave!

30. Hunt for the Wilderpeople (2016)

Director:  Taika Waititi Language:  English  Run time: 101m 97% Rotten Tomatoes

Trees. Birds. Rivers. Sky. Running with my Uncle Hec. Living forever.  The haiku that Ricky Baker wrote in  Hunt for the Wilderpeople  basically sums up the whole film in those three lines. 13-year-old Ricky and his foster father (played by Sam Neill) accidentally become the targets of a manhunt in the Central Plateau and Waitākere Ranges in New Zealand.  It’s hilarious, one of the best travel comedy movies and adventure films. I LOVE unlikely pairings. I’d recommend it to anyone.

31. In Bruges  (2008)

Director:  Martin McDonagh  Language:  English  Run time: 107m 84% Rotten Tomatoes

Read more: In Bruges Filming Locations in Bruges, Belgium

This highly quotable, black comedy is set in the very unlikely medieval city of Bruges, Belgium . Two Irish hitmen are sent to hide out and enjoy the sights after a job gone wrong. One is happy for the break, the other is not effing happy at all. In Bruges  is one part-travelogue and one part-crime film. It’s unlike any other movie I’ve ever seen. If you don’t like romantic, wistful travel movies, this film is for you.

32. If It’s Tuesday, This Must Be Belgium  (1969)

Director:  Mel Stuart  Language:  99m  Run time: 99m 60% Rotten Tomatoes

COMING SOON: Films set in Belgium to Inspire you to Visit

Isn’t it so weird to think that  this  is how many Americans used to take a trip around Europe? Travelling by bus to five main cities then flying back home? Wild! If It’s Tuesday, This Must Be Belgium  creates a comedy out of the type of characters you’d expect on a coach trip like that. And their charming, scammy tour guide, of course. The group visits London, the Netherlands, Switzerland, Brussels and Bastogne in Belgium, a boat trip from Koblenz to Wiesbaden, Germany and finally Venice and Rome, Italy.

33. The Inbetweeners Movie  (2011) &  The Inbetweeners 2  (2014)

Directors:  Ben Palmer, Damon Beesley, Iain Morris  Language:  English  Run times:  97m, 96m 53-68% Rotten Tomatoes

The Inbetweeners  TV show was a HUGE hit in the UK, it’s no wonder that two equally-successful films followed. The Inbetweeners Movie  is the lesser of the two, following the four lads as they head to Crete on a typical lads package holiday. But The Inbetweeners 2  is my personal favourite, as Simon, Neil and Will travel to Australia to surprise Jay on his working holiday there. Hilarious, entertaining and brilliant at poking fun at gap year stereotypes.

34. Indiana Jones Series (1981, 1984, 1989 & 2008)

Director: Steven Spielberg  Languages:  English, German  Run times:  115-128m 78-95% Rotten Tomatoes

You knew this entry was coming. These are the best travel adventure movies, hands down.  Raiders of the Lost Ark  (1981),  Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom  (1984),  Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade  (2008) and  Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull  (2008) make up one heck of a film series. Harrison Ford plays the titular whip-cracking archaeologist as his vocation takes him to Peru, India, Venice, Berlin and  so  many other places in the USA and around the world.

35. Into The Wild  (2007)

Director:  Sean Penn  Language:  English Run time: 83m 83% Rotten Tomatoes

Into The Wild  is a travel movie based on a true story of Christopher McCandless. He was a well-off college graduate who decided to leave his cushy life behind without telling his family. He donates and burns his money to live on the road and off the land throughout the USA and Mexico with his sights set on Alaska . The film asks viewers to reach their own conclusions regarding Chris’ actions. Was he a selfish, arrogant man with no care for his family or others less fortunate, or was he a courageous free-thinker who dared to challenge the status quo?

36. Italian For Beginners  (2000)

Director:  Lone Scherfig Languages:  Danish, Italian, English  Run time: 118m 88% Rotten Tomatoes

Italian For Beginners  proves that you don’t have to leave your hometown to experience another culture and meet interesting, like-minded people. Six people living in Copenhagen , all at personal crossroads, sign up for Italian lessons to fill the void in their unhappy lives. They each take steps to work out their issues and take a group trip to Venice, Italy to try out their new language skills.

37. Julie and Julia  (2009)

Director:  Nora Ephron  Language:  English  Run time: 123m 77% Rotten Tomatoes

The film Julie and Julia  tells the story of two women living in two separate eras and two separate countries. The first is famous chef and cookbook writer Julia Childs (played by Meryl Streep) as she attempts to bring French cooking to the American masses from her kitchen in Paris, France. Julie is a stuck-in-a-rut New Yorker who starts a blog to document on her personal challenge to cook everything in Julia’s seminal cookbook “Mastering the Art of French Cooking.” A wanderlust movie about travelling through your tastebuds!

38. Lawrence of Arabia  (1962)

Director:  David Lean  Language:  English  Run time:  227m 97% Rotten Tomatoes

Though the eye-wateringly long run time would put some people off,  Lawrence of Arabia  is a classic film that documents a long, perilous journey and a clash of cultures. Based on a memoir, the film follows an army lieutenant tasked with communicating with the Bedouin tribes in North Africa so they can join forces in their fights against the Turks. Cinematic, intrepid and impressive.

39. Last Holiday  (2006)

Director:  Wayne Wang  Language:  English  Run time: 112m 56% Rotten Tomatoes

What would you do if you were diagnosed with a terminal illness and had weeks to live? Georgia Byrd in Last Holiday  had to answer this question. She decides to spend every last cent she has on a luxury trip to Europe, specifically a lavish hotel in Karlovy Vary, Czechia . It’s an endearing, light-hearted film (given the subject matter) about not delaying your life until it’s too late.

40. Letters to Juliet  (2010)

Director:  Gary Winick  Languages:  English, Italian  Run time: 105m 42% Rotten Tomatoes

Read more: Letters to Juliet Filming Locations in Verona and Tuscany

Letters to Juliet  is about a wannabe writer who takes a pre-wedding trip with her fiancé to Verona, Italy . After finding a 50-year-old love letter, she helps reunite an English woman with her Italian boyfriend that she loved when they were teenagers in  Tuscany.  This is one of the best travel movies for you soppy romantic types out there. And did you know you can actually volunteer to be a secretary of Juliet for a week or so? Yup, it’s a real thing!

41. Little Miss Sunshine  (2006)

Directors:  Jonathan Dayton, Valerie Faris  Language:  English  Run time: 102m 91% Rotten Tomatoes

Are you a winner? You’d have to be if you’re part of the Hoover family where losing is not an option. When young Olive is accepted into the Little Miss Sunshine  beauty pageant in  Redondo Beach, California,  the whole dysfunctional family packs up their beat-up yellow VW van in  Albuquerque, New Mexico  and hits the road. One of the best trip movies where you’ll learn that being yourself and losing is  much  better than fitting in and winning.

42. Living is Easy with Eyes Closed  (2013)

Directors:  David Trueba  Language:  Spanish  Run time: 105m 94% Rotten Tomatoes

Read more: 23 Incredible Films set in Spain to Inspire you to Visit

America seems to get all the best road movies, but Living is Easy with Eyes Closed  proves Spain ain’t a bad country for a road trip, either. Set in the 1960s, an unremarkable teacher decides to travel from Madrid to Almería so he can meet his hero, John Lennon. Of course, we know that half the fun is getting there and the journey is often more important than the destination.

43. The Lizzie McGuire Movie  (2003)

Director:  Jim Fall  Languages:  English, Italian  Run time: 94m 41% Rotten Tomatoes

Read more: 19 Films set in Rome to Watch Before Your Trip

Joining a school trip to Rome , meeting a cute Italian pop star and performing live on stage? This is what dreams are made of. And it’s also  exactly  what happens to Lizzie in  The Lizzie McGuire Movie,  the film based on the hit Disney Channel TV show. You might not love this travel movie if you weren’t 10-years-old in 2003, but I love all the nostalgia feels.

44. The Lord of the Rings Series (2001, 2002 & 2003)

Director:  Peter Jackson  Language:  English  Run time:  178m, 179m, 201m 91-95% Rotten Tomatoes

C’mon, we all know and love this film series.  The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring  (2001),  The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers  (2002) and  The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King  (2003) are modern classics and brilliant adventure movies. Set all around  Middle Earth  and filmed in  New Zealand, throwing the ring into the fires of Mount Doom may have saved man (or hobbit)kind, but the journey changed the young hobbits for the better. We can only hope travel does the same for us!

45. Lost in Translation  (2003)

Director:  Sofia Coppola  Language:  English  Run time:  102m 95% Rotten Tomatoes

A sell-out, ageing movie star and an unhappily married 20-something form an unlikely friendship whilst staying in the same hotel in  Tokyo, Japan .  Lost in Translation  eases the pain that any solo traveller knows all too well of finding friendship or simply someone to talk to on the road. All it takes is one kind smile and suddenly you’re running around Tokyo performing karaoke, eating sushi and drinking cheap whisky.

46. Monsoon Wedding  (2001)

Director:  Mira Nair  Languages:  Hindi, English  Run time: 113m 95% Rotten Tomatoes

Monsoon Wedding  might not be a travel movie in the strictest sense, but it’s about the clashing of cultures and traditional values wrestling with modern sensibilities. Set in  New Delhi, India during monsoon season, Aditi is promised to a young man whose family live in Texas. It’s their arranged marriage and lavish wedding that forms the main setting for the film.

47. Mamma Mia!  (2008) &  Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again  (2018)

Directors:  Phyllida Lloyd, Ol Parker  Language:  English  Run times:  108m, 114m 55-79% Rotten Tomatoes

Mamma Mia!  (2008) and  Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again  (2018) are two of the most joyous films I have ever seen and the world would be a brighter place if they were compulsory viewing. The first film stars Meryl Streep as Donna, a single mother running a rundown B&B in Greece trying to plan her 20-year-old daughter’s wedding. Little does she know Sophie has invited her three possible fathers to the nuptials… The sequel is half present-day in Greece, half flashback to Donna’s carefree days in Paris, France and Greece. I mentioned they were ABBA musical comedy films too, yes?

48. Midnight in Paris  (2011)

Director:  Woody Allen  Language:  English  Run time: 94m 93% Rotten Tomatoes

Read next:  Midnight in Paris Filming Locations in Paris

Many people would choose 1920s Paris if a time machine allowed them to live in any time period in any city. Unfortunately, that’s impossible. But Owen Wilson’s screenwriter Gil gets to do just that at the stroke of midnight while enjoying a city break in Paris, France . He meets Ernest Hemingway, F. Scott Fitzgerald and Gertrude Stein reviews his work-in-progress novel. Midnight in Paris  teaches us to live with what we  can’t  control and change what we  can. 

49. The Motorcycle Diaries  (2004)

Director: Walter Salles  Languages:  Spanish, Quechua  Run time:  126m 83% Rotten Tomatoes

This biographical film is definitely one of the best travel movies out there. It combines amazing South American locations, a physical and internal journey and using your knowledge/experience/travels for good.  The Motorcycle Diaries  documents the journey Che Guevara took before his last semester of medical school, one that would ultimately change his viewpoint forever. He travels from Brazil to Peru on a motorcycle, also visiting Argentina and Chile .

50. National Lampoon’s Vacation Film Series (1983, 1985, 1989, 1997 & 2015)

Directors:  Various  Language:  English  Run time:  93-99m 13-93% Rotten Tomatoes

Off the back of a first successful film, National Lampoon’s Vacation  (1983) was followed by  National Lampoon’s European Vacation  (1985),  National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation  (1989),  Vegas Vacation  (1997) and  Vacation  (2015). The movies all follow this basic premise: family embarks on a trip, things go awry. And it’s comedy gold! Most of the films are set across the USA , but  European Vacation  is set in London, Stonehenge, Paris  and  Rome.  Though they vary in quality, these are some of the best travel comedy movies. And are ideal if you want to watch family travel movies!

51. Night Train to Lisbon  (2013)

Director:  Bille August  Language:  English  Run time: 111m 41% Rotten Tomatoes

Read more: 11 BestPortuguese Movies to Inspire you to Visit Portugal

Though it can feel like you’re watching a long, drawn-out obituary,  Night Train to Lisbon  does have some good qualities if you’re looking for an intellectual film set almost entirely in Lisbon. A teacher from Bern, Switzerland spontaneously hops on a train to Lisbon, Portugal (funny that) after a chance encounter with a woman on a bridge and a book he finds in her coat pocket. His curiosity leads him to have the most meaningful experience he’s had in his entire life. It never hurts to  escape the humdrum every now and again.

52. Out Of Africa  (1985)

Director:  Sydney Pollack  Languages:  English, Swahili  Run time:  161m 59% Rotten Tomatoes

Another sweeping travel romance drama in the same vein as The English Patient.  But instead of Italy and the Sahara, the two countries that feature in  Out Of Africa  are  Denmark  and  Kenya.  Meryl Streep plays a wealthy, upper-class Dane in the 1910s who marries for convenience. She moves to Kenya to run a coffee plantation and there she falls in love with a hunter who enjoys the simple things.

53. Paris Can Wait  (2016)

Director:  Eleanor Coppola  Language:  English  Run time: 92m 47% Rotten Tomatoes

Paris receives a lot of love in English-language travel films but anywhere else rarely gets a look in.  Paris Can Wait  highlights how gorgeous the French countryside is featuring Cannes, Vienna, Lyon, Vezelay as well as Paris, France . Diane Lane stars as a woman abandoned in Cannes by her inattentive movie producer husband and is forced to travel with his business partner up to Paris. What should be a 7-hour road trip takes two days as the pair stop to smell the roses, picnic next to lakes and sample local wineries.

54. P.S. I Love You  (2007)

Director:  Richard LaGravenese  Language:  English  Run time:  125m 25% Rotten Tomatoes

Read more: P.S. I Love You Filming Locations in Ireland

While I don’t understand why people love this film so much, they really, really do. So it had to be featured on the best travel movies list. P.S. I Love You  is about a young widow who attempts to rebuild her life with the help of some letters that her late Irish husband left for her. Though the film is primarily set in New York, the young woman visits Ireland both in the present day and via flashback.

55. Roman Holiday  (1953)

Director:  William Wyler  Languages:  English, Italian  Run time: 118m 97% Rotten Tomatoes

Read more: Roman Holiday Filming Locations in Rome, Italy

Roman Holiday  was one of the first, real wanderlust movies. It featured a charming storyline, an amazing cast and dreamy real-life filming locations all around the eternal city. Hollywood movies were largely studio-based before then. Audrey Hepburn stars as a European princess who escapes her palace to experience the “real” Rome, Italy . Gregory Peck is her willing tour guide who is secretly an American journalist hoping for an exclusive. An utterly delightful, timeless classic film proving it’s possible to have a  lot of fun in Rome with just one day.

56. The Secret Life of Walter Mitty  (2013)

Director:  Ben Stiller  Language:  English  Run time: 114m 51% Rotten Tomatoes

Sometimes you need a push to seek adventure, like Walter Mitty, but it’s always worth it when you do. In  The Secret Life of Walter Mitty,  a search for a lost file negative takes the titular protagonist on a quest through Greenland, Iceland and the Himalayas . It’s one of the best adventure travel movies from recent years, and anyone who has worked in an office can relate to Walter’s proclivity for daydreaming.

57. Seven Years in Tibet  (1997)

Director:  Jean-Jacques Annaud  Languages:  English, German, Nepali & More  Run time: 136m 60% Rotten Tomatoes

Brad Pitt’s dodgy accent aside, Seven Years in Tibet  is a story of perseverance and resistance in the face of adversity. Before China occupied Tibet, an Austrian climber began ascending a mountain in the Himalayas only to be interrupted by WWII. His displacement in Tibet allowed him to meet the Dalai Lama and gain perspective by being immersed in another culture for so long.

58. Sideways  (2004)

Director:  Alexander Payne  Language:  English  Run time: 127m 97% Rotten Tomatoes

Who says you need to travel abroad to satiate your wanderlust? A quick trip across the country is sometimes all the respite you need! In  Sideways,  a writer takes his engaged best friend on a trip to California’s wine country for a pre-wedding getaway. There, they drink lots of good wine, see some incredible scenery and get into trouble with women.

59. The Spanish Apartment  (2003)

Director:  Cédric Klapisch  Languages:  French, Spanish, English & More  Run time: 122m 76% Rotten Tomatoes

Read more: 11 Films set in Barcelona, Spain to Watch Before Your Trip

A truly international film, and a must-watch for any exchange student studying abroad.  The Spanish Apartment  focuses on a flat full of international students studying in  Barcelona, Spain.  Being away from home gives the students mental space to think about what they really want from life and whether certain partners/relationships are right for them.

60. Spider-Man: Far From Home  (2019)

Director:  Jon Watts  Language:  English  Run time: 129m 91% Rotten Tomatoes

Read more: Spider-Man: Far From Home Filming Locations in Europe

National Lampoon’s European Vacation  has already made an appearance on this list, but this is essentially Spider-Man’s European Vacation . Peter Parker gets around a bit in this MCU sequel! Actually titled Spider-Man: Far From Home,  our friendly neighbourhood arachnid travels with his classmates to Venice, Austria, Prague, Berlin, Netherlands and finally London on a field trip that’s hijacked by a mysterious, vengeful villain.

61. Summertime  (1955)

Director:  David Lean  Language:  English  Run time: 100m 88% Rotten Tomatoes

It’s interesting how many “women travel to Italy to escape their desperately lonely lives” films there are. Summertime,  starring Katherine Hepburn, is one. She appears as an unmarried secretary from Ohio who embarks on her dream trip to Venice, Italy . She proves that it’s never too late to cross items off your bucket list, even if you wish you’d done it earlier. The past is the past.

62. The Talented Mr Ripley  (1999)

Director:  Anthony Minghella  Language:  English  Run time: 139m 83% Rotten Tomatoes

Read more: The Talented Mr Ripley Filming Locations in Italy

There aren’t many wanderlust-inspiring thrillers out there. Probably because the words “wanderlust” and “murder” don’t pair too well together. But they do in The Talented Mr Ripley  where Matt Damon’s Tom Ripley cons and lies his way around the Italian islands, Rome and Venice . This is the third film in a row that mentions Venice! Best book a trip there sharpish. I hear it’s sinking, too.

63. Thelma & Louise  (1991)

Director:  Ridley Scott  Language:  English  Run time: 129m 84% Rotten Tomatoes

Thelma & Louise  is a badass road trip film filled with such badassery that it practically invented the word. This film shows us just how awesome (and dangerous) it is to travel with our best gal pals. Starring Susan Sarandon and Geena Davis, the pair head off on an innocent fishing trip until one bad night in a bar turns them into wanted women. Suddenly, they’re on the run driving between Arkansas and the Grand Canyon in Arizona, USA with their sights set on Mexico.

64. To Catch A Thief  (1955)

Director:  Alfred Hitchcock  Languages:  English, French  Run time: 106m 96% Rotten Tomatoes

Read more: To Catch a Thief Filming Locations in the South of France

Cary Grant and the incomparable Grace Kelly star in Alfred Hitchcock’s crime film about a retired cat burglar who has to clear his name when a copycat starts operating in the area. The film is set in the glamourous South of France, particularly Nice, Monaco and Cannes .  To Catch a Thief  shows us that… Actually, I’m not sure. That there’s always time for sightseeing even when you’re trying to thwart a thief? Maybe?

65. To Rome With Love  (2012)

Director:  Woody Allen  Languages:  English, Italian  Run time: 112m 46% Rotten Tomatoes

Read more: To Rome With Love Filming Locations in Rome

Granted,  To Rome With Love  is not an amazing travel movie, nor is it even the best movie set in Rome, Italy . But it might be the most prolific, featuring hundreds of streets, monuments and fountains in less than two hours. It comprises of four separate narratives featuring characters either living or visiting Rome and their connection with the city.

66. Tracks  (2013)

Director:  John Curran  Language:  English  Run time: 113m 82% Rotten Tomatoes

Some want to run marathons, others want to sail huge oceans and many of us want to undertake a multi-day hike. I’m in the latter category, but I could never do anything so gruelling as what Robyn Davidson accomplishes in Tracks.  Based on a popular memoir, the movie follows Robyn as she treks four camels and one dog across the unforgiving Australian outback from Alice Springs to the Indian Ocean in Western Australia .

67. Under the Tuscan Sun  (2003)

Director:  Audrey Wells  Language:  English  Run time: 113m 62% Rotten Tomatoes

Though the movie version of Under the Tuscan Sun  is very different from the best-selling book, there’s a lot to love about this travel film. It’s about a newly-divorced American writer who goes on a trip to Italy and spontaneously buys a rundown villa in Tuscany . She has to navigate hiring workers, managing her finances and a new relationship with a handsome Italian man. It highlights the reality (and the huge benefits) of buying property abroad.

68. Up  (2009)

Director:  Pete Docter  Language:  English  Run time: 96m 98% Rotten Tomatoes

This is the only animation on this list of best travel movies! But a worthy selection. Up is the universally-loved Pixar film about a retired man who finally fulfils a lifelong dream of travelling to South America by tying hundreds of balloons to his house and taking flight in it. Yet another film that insists it’s never too late to travel. Adventure is out there!

69. Up in the Air  (2009)

Director:  Jason Reitman  Language:  English  Run time: 109m 91% Rotten Tomatoes

One area of travel that doesn’t get a lot of love: business travel. But so many of us have to do it, so why not embrace it and make travelling for work as enjoyable as possible? In  Up in the Air,  George Clooney plays a “downsizer”, meaning he travels around to different companies firing employees. Some of the places he travels to include Omaha in Nevada, Detroit, Miami, Las Vegas and Wisconsin . The film also tackles the impersonal nature of technology and how face-to-face connections are infinitely better than technological ones.

70. Vicky Cristina Barcelona  (2008)

Director:  Woody Allen  Languages:  English, Spanish  Run time: 97m 81% Rotten Tomatoes

Read more: Vicky Cristina Barcelona Film Locations in Barcelona and Oviedo, Spain

Everyone needs rich family friends with a nice house in Barcelona, Spain like Vicky and Cristina. The two women spend a summer in the Catalan capital tasting the local wine, admiring the local art and sampling the local men. With the arrival of Juan Antonio, their summer in Spain suddenly gets a lot more interesting. Vicky Cristina Barcelona  is a fantastic demonstration of how your holiday-self is unleashed while you’re abroad and caged when you return.

71. The Way  (2010)

Director:  Emilio Estevez  Language:  English  Run time: 123m 83% Rotten Tomatoes

The title of the film, The Way,  refers to The Way of St James or the Camino de Santiago. It’s a pilgrimage through the north of Spain to a city called Santiago de Compostela . Martin Sheen plays an ophthalmologist who learns his son (played by his real-life son Emilio Estevez) died while hiking over the Pyrenees on the Camino, and travels to France to collect his ashes and belongings. He spontaneously decides to walk the Camino in his place. As I said at the top of the post, this film has encouraged me to walk the Camino and all the best travel movies teach you something about the world you didn’t already know!

72. Wild  (2014)

Director:  Jean-Marc Vallée  Language:  English  Run time: 115m 88% Rotten Tomatoes

Speaking of hiking for a purpose,  Wild  is a film based on the best selling memoir about a woman who hikes the Pacific Crest Trail from the bottom of California to the top of Washington state. Cheryl Strayed is a newly divorced, ex-junkie who is triggered to hike after the devastating death of her mother. It’s a super encouraging film for solo female travellers and anyone who wants to start over.

73. The Wizard of Oz  (1939)

Director:  Victor Fleming  Language:  English  Run time: 101m 98% Rotten Tomatoes

Wait,  The Wizard of Oz ?! But it’s not set in a real place and all Dorothy wants to do is go home! How is this one of the best travel movies? Well, it makes sense if you think about it. Dorothy’s end destination might be home, but she goes on quite the adventure to get back there. She meets the locals, learns how to assert herself and acclimatises well in Munchkinland and Emerald City . She’s a traveller through and through and we could all learn something from Dorothy.

74.  Y Tu Mamá También  (2001)

Director:  Alfonso Cuarón  Language:  Spanish  Run time: 106m 92% Rotten Tomatoes

If you want a travel movie to help you reminisce about your carefree teenage years,  Y Tu Mamá También  is the perfect film for you. Julio and Tenoch are friends with different socio-economic backgrounds. While attending a family wedding, they manage to convince an older woman to join them on a road trip from Mexico City to a beach in Oaxaca . It’s a trip that changes all three of them forever.

75. Youth  (2015)

Director:  Paolo Sorrentino  Language:  English  Run time: 124m 71% Rotten Tomatoes

Fred (played by Michael Caine), a retired composer, and Mick (played by Harvey Keitel), an almost-retired screenplay writer, convalesce at a luxury Alpine spa resort in Switzerland . They are best friends who are unable to feel hopeful about their futures as they deal with grief, family dramas and the inevitable indignity of ageing.  Youth  is a picturesque, quiet film which teaches us that it doesn’t matter where you physically are, your internal problems will follow.

And those are the best travel movies and the best movies to watch while travelling! Have you seen any of these good travel movies? Have they inspired you to visit somewhere? Let me know in the comments below!

Read next: 75+ Famous Movie Locations You Can Actually Visit

Hey! I wrote this. And I'm the human (and hair) behind Almost Ginger. I live for visiting filming locations, attending top film festivals and binge-watching travel inspiring films. I'm here to inspire you to do the same! Get in touch by leaving a comment or contacting me directly: [email protected] .

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91+ Best Travel Movies of All Time: An Ultimate List | 2022 Updated

Great travel movies are priceless.  They can keep you motivated during those days of the cubicle cage and mundane routine. Unfortunately Googling, “Best Travel Movies” always churns out the same 10. Lucky for you, I’ve kept an ongoing list of the best travel movies that will inspire your next adventure and found a few you likely haven’t seen…yet.

Contents of this Best Travel Movies List

• The 11 Best Travel Movies That No One Mentions!!
• The Best Pure Travel Movies
• Best Destination Movies
• Adventure Travel
• Action and Spy Movies
• Romance And “Chick Flicks” (That Anyone Can Love)
• Nature And Documentaries
• Comedy And Pure Fun
• Classic Travel Movies
• Travel Tv Shows
• Food Travel Tv Shows
• Nature Travel Tv Shows

The 11 Best Travel Movies that No One Mentions

• Bella Vita (2014) 
• Life in a Day
• Alamar (2011)
• Happy People: A Year in the Taiga
• Point Break (2014) 
• The Before Trilogy: Before Sunrise
• The Before Trilogy: Before Sunset
• The Before Trilogy: Before Midnight
• Mile… Mile and Half

Each movie on this quick list of my 11 favorite movies for a travel and adventure mood captures the feeling of simply wandering the world, from South America to Asia, and creating and experiencing your own true story. Whether you’re romantic, adventurous, or a little of both, one of these 11 movies will scratch that travel itch.

If you don’t find a movie that perfectly satisfies your travel palet, keep scrolling our click here to jump to our full list of the 91+ best travel movies .

1.      Bella Vita

In the travel documentary Bela Vita, pro surfer Chris del Moror travels through Italy exploring the artisanal culture that fills the country in every way from culinary artists to the high skilled craftsmen, and even the surfers of the budding Italian surf scene. 

Watch the Bella Vita Trailer

This film simultaneously combines the high life experiences of travel with the calming adventure of outdoors sports accented by the loving warmth of Italian culture explored through a cross country road trip -making for a great vicarious experience whenever you’re in a travel mood.

Greatfor: When you’re feeling adventurous yet chill – perfect for a rainy day

Ratings: No rating on Rotten Tomatoes (which means we’ve found an unsung hero)

Where to watch it: Watch Bella Vita (2014) on Amazon

2.      Life in a Day

Why Watch: A pure view of cultures across the world and how we’re all connected by documenting the true story of millions of people’s life in a day

Watch the Life In A Day trailer

On July 24, 2010, thousands of people from every continent uploaded footage of a normal day in their lives as part of a project by Ridley Scott and Youtube.  The result is an astounding masterpiece, beautifully patched together into a very engaging story…of Life on earth, in a single day.

…or watch the entire Life In A Day movie

Why I love this movie: Some of my most adventurous and rewarding travels have been far from risky – more often just making my way into a very foreign place, like Laos, or Vietnam, or Egypt, or Iraq, and then experiencing the culture by simply observing how they live. You would be surprised how rich an experience like this could be, and Life in a Day captures that experience perfectly.  There is no narration, no spin, and no analysis, just normal people and average cultures presenting themselves.  Its beautiful.

If you come away from watching this without feeling like the world is smaller, I’d be surprised.

• Great for: The feeling exploring the world and other cultures, all from your couch
• Rating: 80% on Rotten Tomatoes
• Where to Watch it: WatchLife in a Day free on Youtube

Don’t forget to follow up this movie with Life in a Day (2020) which was recorded exactly 10 years later. The updated sequel movie explores themes all travelers can relate to, life across cultures, and feelings across the world during the confusing times of the pandemic.

3.      180 South

In 1968, Yvon Chouinard (founder of the clothing brand Patagonia) and Doug Tompkins drove a van, some surfboards, and some climbing gear from Ventura, California to the southernmost regions of Patagonia, in Chile and Argentina – and they recorded the entire journey. Present day adventurer, wanderer, surfer, and climber Jeff Johnson found the footage and decided to remake the journey in pursuit of a quintessential Patagonia experience and self discovery.

The movie 180 South follows Jeff Johnson as retraces the footsteps while creating a new adventure, sailing south, hitchhiking, exploring, climbing, and picking up friends along the way.  At points, Jeff even connects with Yvon Chouinard to talk about travel and the outdoors in a way that could enliven even the most downtrodden wanderluster. 

watch the 180 South trailer

If your brand of travels includes time spent outdoors, as far as possible from civilization, 180 South will be like having a nice conversation about the adventures you live for.

• Great for: Wanderers, trekkers, and travelers of all breeds
• Rating: 83% on RottenTomatoes
• Whereto Watch: Watch 180 South onAmazon or on Netflix

4.      Alamar (“To the Sea”)

Why Watch: To recreate that feeling of discovery

A documentary and true story of how a small boy is about to make the move to the big city of Rome with his Italian mother, but first takes one last “adventure” with his father “alamar” (“To the Sea”). The boy, his father, and his grandfather spend time connecting and living as traditional fishermen and divers so that the boy always remembers his roots and his heritage of the sea.

watch the trailer for Alamar

Why I love this movie: Though the film isn’t in English, you don’t need to understand a word.  You can feel the adventure that the boy is going through, under the loving watch of his father, and how he grows to feel his connection to the ocean.  The experience of watching is partlyentertaining, with the beautiful views, and partly reminiscent of the feeling of discovery that comes when you go into the vast unknown (the world or the sea) and learn to know you had more in common with the “unknown” than you thought – all with the rift of the occasional Spanish guitar in the backdrop

• Great for: Water lovers and ocean views
• Rating& Awards: 91% on Rotten Tomatoes
• Whereto Watch it: Watch Alamar  on Amazon

Why Watch: The feeling of travels started by loss, but ending in gain

Many travelers’ ventures started with a loss, a searching, or a desire for experience that would provide answers or guidance.  That  is exactly what The Way is about – father who lost his son and decides to fulfill his son’s last standing wish, to walk the Camino de Santiago through Spain.

The Way is often recommended as an excellent travel movie because of its feel. There is no big budget, the big name actor in the movie (Martin Sheen) doesn’t take himself seriously, and the characters are remarkably human, flawed, and charming – just like the characters you would likely meet on the road.

The Way, and the journey along the Camino de Santiago within, perfectly captures the blend of emotions and the ultimately positive feel that backpacking the world brings.

• Great for: Just great for the feeling of travel
• Rating: 83% on Rotten TomatoesWatch The Way onAmazon or on Netflix

6.      Happy People: A Year in the Taiga

Why watch: Transports you to a different place as a welcomed observer of a very different way of life

Though Happy People isn’t exactly about travelers, the epic adventure of following those who live in the “Taiga” of Siberia is such a journey that it feels as though you’ve traveled to Russia and followed them thousands of miles between home and the frozen frontier where they live for months on end.

watch the trailer for Happy People

If you have travel experiences on your bucket list like “go to Mongolia” or “visit a tribe in the Amazon”, Happy People is a documentary for you.  The filmmaker follows the tough people of the Taiga region, in Siberian Russia, for an entire year.  The result is an interesting portrayal of a tough yet balanced people living in, thriving in, and enjoying one of the harshest environments in the world.

• Great for: Recreating the immersive cultural education that comes with adventurous travel
• Rating: 87% on RottenTomatoes
• Whereto Watch: Watch Happy People: AYear in the Taiga on Amazon or on Netflix

The “Before” Trilogy

(Before Sunrise, Before Sunset, Before Midnight)

Why Watch: Sums up the romantic experiences of travel – which is a one of a kind adventure

No, I didn’t trick you with the title of this article.  At the risk of being misunderstood, I’ll go all in on this one – the experience of love, regardless of how shallow or deep, is an adventure in its own right. 

You have the chance to gain something undefined yet priceless or lose everything (including your sanity). Even more, romance on the road has higher stakes – you know there’s a looming end date, too many unspoken thoughts, and as much pleasure as you’re willing to let yourself have.

Though this kind of pressure could create unimaginable chaos, given how complicated humans are, it usually results in a nothing to lose and “bare all” situation that is refreshing, irreplaceable, and addictive.  If that’s not a risky adventure, I don’t know what is – and the Before Trilogy captures this sentiment perfectly.

7.      Before Sunrise (1995)

In the first chapter, a young Celine and Jesse meet on a train from eastern European to western Europe, where Celine lives and Jesse is supposed to take aplane home, back to the US.  As theteasing sparks and smiles are exchanged, Jesse has to decide whether to stay,or go…Before Sunrise

Rating:100% on Rotten Tomatoes

8.      Before Sunset (2004)

In the second movie, 10 years after initially meeting, Celine and Jesse are presented to the audience again in the familiar (to most) state of unfinished love, divided by continents.  Through clarified miscommunications and trickled honesty the two finally get to the thing that really connects them…all with Jesse’s depart looming as he flies out at sunset.

Rating: 95% on Rotten Tomatoes

9. Before Midnight (2013)

In the conclusion to the trilogy, like all natural things, love goes through seasons and shades.  20 years after the start (in the storyline and after the release of the actual movies), Celine and Jesse are forced to explore this idea – all against the backdrop of wanderlust and travel

An interesting and artful film project about travel and love that now spans 3 decades in a way that makes you question love, culture, what matters, and (more importantly) what doesn’t matter in just enjoying and being happy.  Each movie takes place at a casual place, using dialogue and though as its hook.  Each movie also takes place 10 years after the preceding movie, and was released 10 years after the preceding movie.

Rating: 98% on Rotten Tomatoes

Great for:  Re-experiencing the rich conversations and interactions that happen while traveling…with your guard down

Where to Watch the Before Trilogy:

• Watch Before Sunrise on Amazon or Netflix
• Watch Before Sunset on Amazon or Netflix
• Watch Before Midnight on Amazon or Netflix

10.      Point Break (2015)

Why Watch: The Feeling of Adventure and a Tribe Culture

A remake on the old 1980’s Point Break, but with a touch of adrenaline and travel that makes it more reminiscent of Redbull TV with a story line.

A group of extremely  adventurous travelers and criminals chain a string of heists into a”game” to honor the forces of nature, and an undercover FBI agent is sent in to investigate.  The story that ensues is a showcase of extreme sports underlined with that hard to replace tribal  feeling that happens when you travel with a likeminded and equally adventurous group.

Though this movie has low ratings and a storyline most will deem illogical, I love it for the adrenaline infused experiences it recreates, focus on the tribe culture that happens on the road, and the idea of finding your “line”.  The “ Ozaki 8 ” extreme sports feats seem like a nice bucket list to recreate as well.  If you like Redbull TV and wandering then this remake is right up your alley.

• Great for: Adrenaline chasers and adventurous travelers
• Rotten Tomatoes: 9% (Meaning this is a love it or hate it movie – don’t worry, I’m prepared for the sneers)
• Whereto Watch: Watch Point Break 2015 on Amazon or on Netflix

11. Mile, Mile and a Half

Why watch : For hikers and trekkers to appreciate a beautiful view from the couch

If you love to hike but can’t get outside, this is the documentary for you.  “Mile, Mile and a Half” is a project by photographers, videographers, artists, and hikers to capture the experience of hiking 219 miles of the John Muir Trail.  The result is a visually pleasing and peaceful movie that takes you outside when you can’t be.

• Great for: Hikers and trekkers that are stuck inside
• Rating: 80% on Rotten Tomatoes (rated by audience)
• Where to Watch: Watch Mile, Mile and a Half on Amazon or on Netflix

More of my favorite Best Travel Movies

The secret life of walter mitty.

A daydreaming, introverted, and endearing office worker, played by Ben Stiller, spends part of his days doing what he is told, and most of his days daydreaming about…the secret life of Walter Mitty, the lives inside his mind.

As all wanderlusters do, he daydreams, day in and day out, about the adventures he could have, until one day he’s pushed over the edge to take on that adventure of a lifetime,

• Wild (2014)

Inspired by a novel and true story, Wild follows the journey of a young woman as she hikes the Pacific Crest Trail and along the way climbs a mountain of self discovery, eventually using the wild to understand the wild in her

FULL LIST OF THE 91 BEST TRAVEL MOVIES OF ALL TIME

Beyond my 11 favorites, there are hundreds of other travel movie options that inspire wanderlust, trigger that desire for self-discovery and exploration that comes with a good travel film.

In this section, we’ll go even further, sharing the the 91 best movies and TV shows for travel lovers by genre. Whether you’re in the mood for a Rom Com, an action adventure flick, beautiful scenery provided courtesy of nature, a timeless classic, we’ll share great movies from every genre to fill your needs.

Click to jump to your genre of choice

THE BEST PURE TRAVEL MOVIES

• The Beach (2000)
• The Way (2010)
• The Secret Life of Walter Mitty (2013)
• Life in a Day (2010)
• Life in a Day (2020)
• The Motorcycle Diaries
• The Bucket List (2007)
• Into The Wild (2007)
• 180 South (2010)
• Seven Years in Tibet (1997)
• Endless Summer (1966)
• Expedition Happiness (2017)
• The Darjeeling Limited (2007)
• Catch Me If You Can (2002)

BEST DESTINATION MOVIES

• The Beach – Thailand (2000)
• Slumdog Millionaire – India (2008)
• Vicky, Cristina Barcelona – Spain (2008)
• Under the Tuscan Sun – Italy (2003)
• Best Exotic Marigold Hotel – India (2011)
• Grand Budapest Hotel
• A Good Year – France (2006)
• The Last Samurai – Japan (2003)
• Memoirs of a Geisha – Japan (2005)

ADVENTURE TRAVEL

• 14 Peaks: Nothing is Impossible (2021)
• Point Break (2015)
• The Way Back (2010)
• Wild (2014) (88% on Rotten Tomatoes)
• Lord of the Rings Trilogy (2001 – 2003)

ACTION AND SPY MOVIES

• Skyfall (2012)
• Casino Royale (2006)
• The Bourne Supremacy (2004)
• The Bourne Ultimatum (2007)
• Indiana Jones Movies
• Captain America – Civil War (2016)
• Black Panther (2018)
• Fast Five (2011)
• The Tourist (2010)

ROMANCE AND “CHICK FLICKS” (THAT ANYONE CAN LOVE)

• Under The Tuscan Sun (2003)
• A Good Year (2006)
• Before Sunrise (1995)
• Before Sunset (2004)
• Before Midnight (2013)
• Vicky Christina Barcelona (2008)
• Under the Tuscan Sun (2003)
• Eat Pray Love (2010)
• Crazy Rich Asians (2018)
• ‘The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants’ (2005) 

NATURE AND DOCUMENTARIES

• Chasing Ice (2012)
• Mission Blue (2014)
• Chasing Coral (2017)
• Captain Fantastic (2016)
• Encounters at the End Of The World (2007)
• A Walk in the Woods (2015)
• Mile… Mile and a Half (2013)

COMEDY AND PURE FUN

• Eurotrip (2004)
• Eurovision Song Contest: The Story of Fire Saga (2020)
• The Hangover Part II (2011)
• National Lampoon’s Vacation (1983)
• ‘Pee-wee’s Big Adventure’ (1985)
• Uncharted: Drake’s Fortune (2022)
• All is Lost (2013)
• Adrift (2018)
• Maiden Voyage (2004)
• Ratatouille (2007)

CLASSIC TRAVEL MOVIES

• Lawrence of Arabia (1962)
• Casablanca (1942)
• Roman Holiday (1953)

TRAVEL TV SHOWS

• Parts Unknown (12 Seasons, 2001-2013)
• No Reservations (9 Seasons)
• A Cook’s Tour (2 Seasons, 2002-2004)
• Departures (3 Seasons, 2008-2011)
• Long Way Up (1 Season, 2020)
• Long Way Down (1 Season, 2007)
• Long Way Round (1 Season, 2004)

FOOD TRAVEL TV SHOWS

• Somebody Feed Phil (Netflix) (5 Seasons, 2018)
• Street Food – Asia (Netflix) (1 Season, 2019)
• Street Food – Latin America (Netflix) (1 Season, 2020)
• Eat the World with Emeril Lagasse (Amazon Prime) (1 Season, 2016)

NATURE TRAVEL TV SHOWS

• Planet Earth (2 Seasons, 2006)
• Planet Earth II (1 Season, 2016)
• Human Planet (1 Season, 2011)
• Win the Wilderness (1 Season, 2020)
• Our Greatest National Parks (Narrated by Barack Obama) (1 Season, 2022)

BONUS!!! My personal list of 95 MORE well rated travel movies to watch (and rate)

• 2 Days In Paris (2007)
• 7 Days in Havana (2012)
• A Map For Saturday
• Adventures of Pricilla Queen of the Desert
• Amélie
• Around the World in 80 Days (1956)
• Away We Go (2009)
• Baraka (1992)
• Black Mountain Poets (2015)
• Brooklyn (2015)
• Call Me By Your Name (2017)
• Carol (2015)
• City of God (2002)
• Doctor Zhivago (1965)
• Duma (2005)
• Easy Rider (1969)
• Eight Below (2008)
• Encounters at the End of the World (2007)
• Fitzcarraldo (1982)
• French Kiss
• Girls Trip (2017)
• Gorillas in the Mist (1988)
• Hector and The Search for Happiness (2014)
• Hit the Road: India
• Hunt for the Wilderpeople (2016)
• In Bruges (2008)
• Into the Cold (2013)
• Julie & Julia
• Kundun (1997)
• L’Auberge Espagnole (2002)
• La La Land (2016)
• Last Holiday
• Lion (2016)
• Little Miss Sunshine (2006)
• Lost in Translation – Tokyo
• Meek’s Cutoff (2010)
• Midnight in Paris
• Midsommar (2019)
• Monsoon Wedding
• Murder on the Orient Express (1974)
• My Life in Ruins
• Nomadland’ (2020)
• Not Without My Daughter (1991)
• Nowhere in Africa
• On the Road (2012)
• One Week (2008)
• Out of Africa (1985)
• Paris, Je T’aime (2006)
• Patagonia (2010)
• Planes, Trains and Automobiles (1987)
• Queen of Katwe (2016)
• Riding Solo to the Top of the World
• Roma (2018)
• Romancing the Stone
• Salmon Fishing in the Yemen (2012)
• The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert (1994)
• The Art of Travel (2008)
• The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel (2011)
• The Big Year
• The Endurance (2000)
• The English Patient (1996)
• The Farewell (2019)
• The Good Lie (2014)
• The Grand Budapest Hotel (2014)
• The Kite Runner (2007)
• The Lost City of Z (2017)
• The Road Within
• The Talented Mr. Ripley (1999)
• The Terminal (2004)
• The Tourist
• The Trip (2010)
• The Trip to Italy
• Thelma & Louise (1991)
• Tracks (2013)
• Tracks (2014)
• Up in the Air
• Wadjda (2013)
• Whale Rider
• Withnail & I (1987)
• World’s Fastest Indian 
• Y Tu Mamá También (2001)

Like the thoughts you’ve seen here?  Then share them with friends..

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Carlos is a nomad, slow traveler, and writer dedicated to helping others live abroad and travel better by using his 7+ years of experience living abroad and background as a management consultant and financial advisor to help other nomad and expats plot better paths for an international lifestyle. Click here to learn more about Carlos's story.

47 Thrilling Adventure Movies for Travelers & Thrill Seekers

Are you eager to add some adventure to your life? First, use this list to find vicarious inspiration from the best adventure movies out there. I’ve gathered films and documentaries that are travel- and outdoor-themed adventures, to fit with the spirit of this blog.

We’ll kick off this list with movies spanning everything from decades-old classics to modern treasures. And if real-life stories are more your jam, check out the second half of our list, which covers several of our favorite new and exciting documentaries.

You’ll find options similar to my all-time favorites: The Grand Budapest Hotel for its charming world-building, Cloudburst for adventures not bound by age, and Free Solo for staggering real-world accomplishments.

If you’re a traveler or thrill seeker, my list of the best adventure movies definitely has something for your next movie night. It may even inspire you to get off the couch and hit the road running on an adventure of your own.

Best Adventure Movies

This first section of our list will take you through a mix of original screenplays, novel adaptations, and artistic retellings of real-life events. Regardless of your cinematic preferences, you’ll find an adventure movie here that suits your tastes.

Into the Wild (2007)

Based on the real-life story of Christoper McCandless, Into the Wild chronicles his solo attempts to live off the land in the Alaskan wilderness. With this flick, you’re in for an accurate and thoughtful depiction of the joys, sorrows, and costs of trying to make that dream a reality.

Starring : Vince Vaughn, Katerine Keener, Emilie Hirsch Director : Sean Penn Runtime : 2h 28m

Motorcycle Diaries (2004)

The stereotypical idyllic motorcycle trip through South America becomes so much more in this film as it covers the formative early years of Che Guevara through a mix of joyful road-tripping and exploration of social injustices that formed the ethos of the revolutionary figure.

Pro Tip : Read about our founder, Noel’s motorbike adventures through Vietnam to get you primed and ready for a viewing of Motorcycle Diaries.

Starring : Gael García Bernal, Rodrigo de la Serna, Mía Maestro Director : Walter Salles Runtime : 2h 6m

Stand by Me (1986)

Stephen King fans look no further; this adaptation of his novella is a coming-of-age story of four young boys who traverse through forests and over railroad bridges to find a missing boy’s body, but also find themselves on a journey of self-discovery.

Full of whimsy and nostalgia, Stand by Me captures a bygone era of kids striking out to make their own adventures in sleepy American towns. It gets bonus points from this Oregonian for being set in the fictional town of Castlerock, Oregon.

Starring : Will Wheaton, River Phoenix, Corey Feldman Director : Rob Reiner Runtime : 1h 29m

Hunt for the Wilderpeople (2016)

Taika Waititi’s ability to make quirky, heart-warming movies is on full display in this story about a misfit boy and his reluctant foster uncle traversing through the New Zealand bush while being part of a national manhunt. You might laugh and cry while watching this hidden indie gem.

Starring : Sam Neill, Julian Dennison, Rima te Wiata Director : Taika Waititi Runtime : 1h 41m

Wild (2014)

It’s no secret that hiking and backpacking are big themes on this blog, and Wild is one of Hollywood’s rare depictions of trail life. Reese Witherspoon stars as Cheryl, who, after having her life fall apart, turns to the Pacific Crest Trail to try and pick up the pieces of her life.

This story will resonate strongly for any reader who has turned to nature for healing and free therapy. It might just motivate you to start planning your own through-hike. If you need further inspiration, check out our guides to both the Appalachian Trail and the Inca Trail .

Starring : Reese Witherspoon, Laura Dern, Gaby Hoffmann Director : Jean-Marc Vallée Runtime : 1h 55m

Deliverance (1972)

Our first aquatic entry is a ’70s thriller about the efforts of four friends to canoe down the Cahulawassee River before it’s dammed. The adventure quickly goes awry and would easily rank #1 on our list of real-life worst travel stories .

Starring : Jon Voight, Burt Reynolds, Ned Beatty Director : John Boorman Runtime : 1h 49m

O Brother, Where Art Thou? (2000)

O Brother, Where Art Thou  is worth watching for the soundtrack alone, as it has the rare distinction of being one of the few original movie soundtracks to win an Album of the Year Grammy award.

Beyond the music, this Coen brother’s film is one of the strongest entries in their filmography. The comedy-drama follows three escaped convicts and their pursuit of freedom and buried treasure on a journey full of escapades and quirky characters.

Starring : George Clooney, John Turturro, Tim Blake Nelson Directors : Joel Coen, Ethan Coan Runtime : 1h 47m

On the Road (2012)

Jack Keruoac’s 1957 novel inspired an entire generation and captured the essence of the longing for the road, going West, and finding purpose in non-conformity. Though the 2012 adaptation is by no means perfect, it’s worth seeing such an iconic piece of American literature adapted to the big screen.

Starring : Sam Riley, Garrett Hedlund, Kristen Stewart Director : Walter Salles Runtime : 2h 4m

The Revenant (2015)

If a bear fights Leonardo DiCaprio in the woods and no one is there to see it, does he still finally win an Oscar? The answer to that is yes, although the stunning cinematography of the 1820s frontier is just as pivotal to The Revenant’s magic as Leo’s award-winning performance in a brutal story of survival and revenge.

Starring : Leonardo DiCaprio, Tom Hardy, Will Poulter Director : Alejandro G. Iñárritu Runtime : 2h 36m

A Walk in the Woods (2015)

The second thru-hiking entry on our list jumps cross country to cover an adventure on the other great north-to-south American trek: the Appalachian Trail. Robert Redford and Nick Nolte delight in this buddy comedy-drama of two older and wholly unprepared friends biting off more than they can chew.

Starring : Robert Redford, Nick Nolte, Emma Thompson Director : Ken Kwapis Runtime : 1h 44m

Touching the Void (2003)

Based on the actual ascent of the Silua Grande by Joe Simpson and Simon Yates, this docudrama captures the terrifying struggle to survive in harsh mountain conditions when things go terribly wrong.

Though climbing documentaries are plentiful nowadays, this film remains a rare Hollywood entry focused on mountain climbers and the dangers they face in pursuing peaks and glory.

Starring : Simon Yates, Joe Simpson, Brendan Makey Director : Kevin Macdonald Runtime : 1h 46m

The Way (2011)

A grieving father, Tom, takes up the banner of his late son and attempts to complete the Camino de Santiago pilgrimage in his honor. Full of beautiful vistas of France and Spain, The Way skillfully captures the camaraderie one can find even amongst strangers when walking together for days on end.

Starring : Martin Sheen, Emilio Estevez, Deborah Kara Unger Director : Emilio Estevez Runtime : 2h 3m

Y Tu Mamá También (2001)

This seminal entry into Mexican cinema is a raunchy Spanish language coming-of-age story of two teenage boys who embark on a road trip with an older woman. The second foreign language film on our list is well worth brushing off your freshman-year Spanish or throwing on the subtitles.

Starring : Maribel Verdú, Gael García Bernal, Daniel Giménez Cacho Director : Alfonso Cuarón Runtime : 1h 46m

One Week (2008)

After being diagnosed with cancer and facing his own mortality, Ben Tyler decides to take a motorcycle trip across Canada. For those who love to travel, long voyages are often reflective and transformative. One Week poignantly explores those themes against the beautiful backdrop of the Canadian wilderness.

Starring : Joshua Jackson, Peter Spence, Marc Strange Director : Michael McGowan Runtime : 1h 34m

Everest (2015)

The unfortunate nature of disasters makes for compelling stories, and Everest is the second entry on our list to recount a mountaineering expedition gone terribly awry.

Based on the 1996 climbing season, the movie dramatizes the tale of two expedition groups and the fateful May day that immortalized the unforgiving brutality of the Himalayan mountains.

Starring : Jason Clarke, Ang Phula Sherpa, Thomas M. Wright Director : Baltasar Kormákur Runtime : 2h 1m

The Bucket List (2007)

Be ready for both laughs and tears in this film about two elderly gentlemen diagnosed with terminal cancer. Morgan Freeman and Jack Nicholson star as an oddball duo who set off for one hell of a final ride. They’re sure to inspire you to start checking off items on your own bucket list.

Starring : Jack Nicholson, Morgan Freeman, Sean Hayes Director : Rob Reiner Runtime : 1h 37m

Cast Away (2000)

What would you name your pet volleyball after being stranded on an island and coming close to losing your mind? If your answer is anything besides Wilson, prioritize watching this Tom Hanks classic about a FedEx analyst who is the lone survivor of a plane wreck in the middle of the ocean.

Starring : Tom Hanks, Helen Hunt, Paul Sanchez Director : Robert Zemeckis Runtime : 2h 23m

The Beach (2000)

Take a break from the countless forests and mountains covered in our list with this thriller about a young man named Richard, played by Leonardo DiCaprio, who sets off to find a hidden paradise on an uninhabited island off the coast of Thailand.

Starring : Leonardo DiCaprio, Tilda Swinton, Daniel York Director : Danny Boyle Runtime : 1h 59m

The Secret Life of Walter Mitty (2013)

Ben Stiller will enchant you with a wonderfully bizarre blend of real adventures and daydreaming in his role as Walter Mitty. If you’re feeling bogged down by the constant drone of office life, throw on this movie for just the right amount of surreal escapism.

Starring : Ben Stiller, Kristen Wiig, Jon Daly Director : Ben Stiller Runtime : 1h 54m

Midnight in Paris (2011)

Paris has long been a classic adventure destination, but what would you do with the chance to explore the city more than a century ago? Woody Allen’s prodigious filmmaking career is highlighted by this delightful tribute to a writer’s (literally) magical journey through Paris in both the past and present.

Starring : Owen Wilson, Rachel McAdams, Kathy Bates Director : Woody Allen Runtime : 1h 34m

Cloudburst (2011)

Getting older doesn’t mean you have to give up adventuring. Cloudburst is a hilarious and lovely entry about an elderly lesbian couple going to Canada to get married after escaping from their nursing home.

Along the way, they pick up a young male hitchhiker, and all three bond as plenty of hijinks ensue. As far as indie films go, they don’t get much better than this, and it’s a personal favorite of mine.

Starring : Olympia Dukakis, Brenda Fricker, Kristin Booth Director : Thom Fitzgerald Runtime : 1h 33m

Little Miss Sunshine (2006)

Van life presents all sorts of unexpected challenges that are only magnified when you try to shove several generations of dysfunctional families into a yellow Volkswagen bus for a cross-country journey to take your daughter to a beauty pageant.

A great ensemble cast captures the frenetic nature of family road trips and all the ways it can cause squabbles while ultimately bringing the family closer together.

Starring : Steve Carell, Toni Collette, Greg Kinnear Directors : Jonathan Dayton, Valerie Faris Runtime : 1h 41m

Slumdog Millionaire (2008)

One of the finest rag-to-riches stories about a young man from Mumbai trying to make his fortunes on the Indian version of “Who Wants to be a Millionaire.” Told through flashbacks, the film expertly weaves multiple timelines toward a satisfying payoff.

Starring : Dev Patel, Freida Pinto, Saurabh Shukla Directors : Danny Boyle, Loveleen Tandan Runtime : 2h

The Darjeeling Limited (2007)

One of the early entries in Wes Anderson’s career follows three estranged brothers who go on a train journey through India in an attempt to reconnect after their father’s death. Wes Anderson’s distinct visual style will have you itching to book your own train ticket.

Starring : Owen Wilson, Adrien Brody, Jason Schwartzman Director : Wes Anderson Runtime : 1h 31m

Thelma & Louise (1991)

A simple fishing weekend getaway for two women becomes far more complicated when they stop midway at a roadside bar. The film is iconic for its feminism and delves into dark, complex issues in a rare way for the often lighthearted travel genre.

Starring : Susan Sarandon, Geena Davis, Harvey Keitel Director : Ridley Scott Runtime : 2h 10m

Lion (2016)

We’ve all used Google Maps to daydream about our next adventure, but Lion takes it one step further as it tells the real-life story of a young Indian boy named Saroo, who gets lost and adopted at the age of five and 20 years later tries to find his home village by hunting for clues on Google Earth.

Starring : Dev Patel, Nicole Kidman, Rooney Mara Director : Garth Davis Runtime : 1h 58m

Grand Budapest Hotel (2014)

Our second Wes Anderson entry also takes my personal award as his finest film to date. Set in a fictional luxury hotel in 1930s Europe, the story follows a flamboyant concierge and his young protege who get embroiled in a case of a stolen painting and a family inheritance.

The world-building in the Grand Budapest Hotel is impeccable, and the star-studded cast delivers on all fronts for an eminently rewatchable tale. I can’t recommend this film enough as an intro to Wes Anderson’s unique library of work.

Starring : Ralph Fiennes, F. Murray Abraham, Mathieu Amalric Director : Wes Anderson Runtime : 1h 39m

Out of Africa (1985)

Winner of seven Academy Awards, including Best Picture, Meryl Streep stars in a slow burn that is as much a love story with Africa as it is a romance. With the stunning backdrop of Kenya, the film rewards nature lovers just as much as enjoyers of a dramatic, simmering romance.

Starring : Meryl Streep, Robert Redford, Klaus Maria Brandauer Director : Sydney Pollack Runtime : 2h 41m

The Way Back (2010)

As a first-generation refugee immigrant from Russia, The Way Back resonates particularly strongly for me as it chronicles the escape of a group of prisoners from a Siberian gulag who traverse thousands of miles to find freedom and safety in India.

Starring : Jim Sturgess, Ed Harris, Colin Farrell Director : Peter Weir Runtime : 2h 13m

Tracks (2013)

Harsh terrain can play host to some of the world’s most incredible adventures as it innately provides an element of risk and danger, and nowhere does this hold true as much as the desolate stretches of Australia.

The true life story of Robyn Davidson’s solo trek across the Australian desert alongside her camels and dog is both moving and full of phenomenal cinematography that will leave you with a newfound appreciation of desert beauty.

Starring : Mia Wasikowska, Adam Driver, Lily Pearl Director : John Curran Runtime : 1h 52m

7 Years in Tibet (1997)

A movie about a mountain climber that doesn’t focus on mountain climbing may seem odd, but this true story of Austrian mountaineer Heinrich Harrer and his unlikely friendship with the Dalai Lama is a fascinating historical snapshot.

Starring : Brad Pitt, David Thewlis, BD Wong Director : Jean-Jacques Annaud Runtime : 2h 16m

Lawrence of Arabia (1962)

Take a journey to the Middle East with a film often lauded as one of the most remarkable pieces of filmmaking. Follow along with T.E. Lawrence’s journey through the Ottoman Empire and his conflicting allegiances between his native Britain and the friends he’s made in the Arabian desert tribes.

Starring : Peter O’Toole, Alec Guinness, Anthony Quinn Director : David Lean Runtime : 3h 38m

The Goonies (1985)

Being raised in Oregon, it didn’t take long until I was swept up by the cult following of The Goonies , set in the little coastal town of Astoria in my home state.

If you’ve enjoyed the global phenomena of the ’80s nostalgia of Stranger Things , watch one of its inspirations that tells the story of four young boys, an old pirate treasure map, and their quest to find gold and save their neighborhood.

Starring : Sean Astin, Josh Brolin, Jeff Cohen Director : Richard Donner Runtime : 1h 54m

Jumanji (1995)

Fantasy and adventure come together in the first Jumanji entry about a magical board game that pits two siblings against wild creatures and challenges in the real world. With so many “serious” adventures highlighted on our list, this classic Robin Williams portrayal provides some very welcome levity as a contrast.

Starring : Robin Williams, Kirsten Dunst, Bonnie Hunt Director : Joe Johnston Runtime : 1h 44m

Life of Pi (2012)

A second entry with heavy overtones of fantasy tells the story of Pi Patel, a young boy stranded at sea after a shipwreck, along with a Bengal tiger named Richard Parker. Is it fantasy? Is it real? Perhaps the answer doesn’t matter nearly as much as the spiritual and emotional journey.

Starring : Suraj Sharma, Irrfan Khan, Adil Hussain Director : Ang Lee Runtime : 2h 7m

Nomadland (2020)

What does it mean to be a nomad? Explore the essence of a community that strives to live outside convention through Fern’s eyes, a woman who distills her life to its simplest form by traveling the American West in her van after her hometown goes under during the recession.

Starring : Frances McDormand, David Strathairn, Linda May Director : Chloé Zhao Runtime : 1h 47m

Indiana Jones Series (1981 – 2023)

With five entries spanning 40+ years, the Indiana Jones movies are quintessential entries in the adventure genre.

Regardless of which film in the series you pick, you’ll get plenty of Harrison Ford starring in globe-trotting quests for ancient artifacts. Newcomers should start where it all began: The Raiders of the Lost Ark.

Starring : Harrison Ford and others Director : Steven Spielberg and others Runtime : Varies by movie

Best Adventure Documentaries

Fictional or dramatized adventures have their own place, but sometimes you’d prefer to see some real-life footage of the crazy, mind-blowing, first-of-their-kind adventures we humans are capable of. Here are some of the very best to get you started.

Free Solo (2018)

Alex Honnold is the rare climber who has become a household name alongside such sport greats as Messi, Jordan, and Brady. But what Alex achieved had never been done before: climbing the 3,000-foot face of El Capitan in Yosemite without any safety equipment.

One of the best climbing documentaries ever made has a bit of everything: a gripping narrative, a mind-boggling achievement, and some of the finest cinematography of Yosemite National Park you can find anywhere.

Starring : Alex Honnold, Tommy Caldwell, Jimmy Chin Directors : Jimmy Chin, Elizabeth Chai Vasarhelyi Runtime : 1h 40m

The Endurance (2000)

The 1914 attempt by Ernest Shackleton to be the first man to cross the Antarctic continent on foot would be hard to believe if not for the fantastic stories and footage that he brought back and are on full display in this documentary.

If you’re curious about what it takes to survive in one of the coldest and most desolate areas on Earth, or simply love historical accounts of early explorers, The Endurance is the place to start.

Starring : Liam Neeson, Julian Ayer, John Blackborow Director : George Butler Runtime : 1h 37m

180° South (2010)

Part road trip, part mountain climbing, and part meditation on environmental responsibility, 180° South documents Jeff Johnson’s attempt to recreate the 1968 journey of Yvon Chouinard (founder of Patagonia) and Doug Tompkins to climb the Fitz Roy, in Patagonia.

Rather than glorifying the act of adventuring itself, the documentary dives into the philosophical nature of why we crave adventure and how to make it meaningful on an individual level.

Starring : Yvon Chouinard, Doug Tompkins, Keith Malloy Director : Chris Malloy Runtime : 1h 25m

The Barkley Marathons: The Race That Eats Its Young (2015)

At one point, medical professionals claimed that even a marathon was too long to be safe. Then came the era of the ultra marathon, which could only be upstaged by the crazed creation of a man named Lazarus Lake: an ultra race that aims to have no finishers.

You probably won’t want to run the Barkleys after watching this documentary (if you’re sane), but you’ll definitely enjoy a deep dive into one of the most daunting American foot races, set in Tennessee’s Frozen Head State Park.

Starring : Lazarus Lake Directors : Annika Iltis, Timothy James Kane Runtime : 1h 29m

Grizzly Man (2005)

Documentary fans have undoubtedly heard the name Werner Herzog, but if you haven’t, Grizzly Man is one of his crowning accomplishments and a must-watch. The documentary looks at the life of Timothy Treadwell, a bear enthusiast obsessed with living alongside grizzly bears in the Alaskan wilderness.

Starring : Timothy Treadwell, Amie Huguenard, Werner Herzog Director : Werner Herzog Runtime : 1h 43m

Encounters at the End of the World (2008)

Herzog is so iconic he gets back-to-back entries on this list. Rather than focusing on the landscape or wildlife of Antarctica, he takes a deep dive into the people living and working at McMurdo Station.

A focus on the eccentric population highlights Herzog’s love of people and his intrinsic ability to draw out and dissect the tendrils of their life stories. All of this is juxtaposed against the stark beauty of Antarctica’s desolate surroundings.

Starring : Werner Herzog, Scott Rowland, Stefan, Pashov Director : Werner Herzog Runtime : 1h 39m

Meru (2015)

Jimmy Chin is a master of filming outdoor adventures, including leading the creative team behind Free Solo. Meru provides an intimate look into his attempts, along with world-renowned climbers Conrad Anker and Renan Ozturk, to be the first humans to scale the Shark’s Fin route up Meru Peak in the Himalayas.

Starring : Conrad Anker, Grace Chin, Jimmy Chin Director : Jimmy Chin, Elizabeth Chai, Vasarhelyi Runtime : 1h 30m

Long Way Round (Miniseries) (2004)

With so many documentaries providing only a short snapshot into their subject matter, it’s refreshing to dive into the sprawling, in-depth look at the 20,000-mile motorcycle journey taken by Ewan McGregor and Charley Boorman.

Covering Europe, Asia, and North America, their journey and first-hand footage will take you to rarely-seen places like the wilds of Mongolia and Siberia.

Starring : Ewan McGregor, Charley Boorman, David Alexanian Creators : David Alexanian, Charley Boorman, Russ Malkin Runtime : 5h 15m

A Map for Saturday (2007)

Could you give up your entire life and travel the world full-time? For many of us, that’s not completely desirable or realistic, but this documentary by Brook Silva Braga captures his year of globe-trotting.

Whether you use his experiences to plan your own grand worldly adventure or vicariously enjoy his nomadic lifestyle, you’ll enjoy this dive into the “why” of long-term travel and backpacking.

Starring : Scott Erikson, Rebecca Filmer, Sabrina Hezinger Director : Brook Silva-Braga Runtime : 1h 30m

14 Peaks: Nothing is Impossible (2021)

Climbing a single 8,000-meter peak would be a monumental lifetime achievement for the average person, but Nirmal Purja set out to climb all fourteen of the world’s tallest peaks in just seven months.

Beyond celebrating one of mountaineering’s most challenging and prized achievements, the documentary is a thoughtful look into the pivotal role of Nepalese Sherpas who so often get overlooked by Western media.

Starring : Nirmal Purja, Suchi Purja, Klára Kolouchová Director : Torquil Jones Runtime : 1h 41m

Time to Make Your Own Adventure Movie

We here at The Packable Life are all about exploration and discovery, so we encourage you to take inspiration from these vivid travel- and outdoor-themed adventure movies. From classic travel journeys to heart-pounding nature documentaries, I hope this list motivates you to schedule your next quest.

Now you know a few of my favorite adventure movies, but your list will likely look very different. By all means, let’s share — use the Comments section, below, to add your own must-sees or to tell me how misguided I am for some of my picks.

Happy trails to you, and may you never stop exploring!

Last Updated on March 19, 2024

Maks Durayev

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25 best travel movies to inspire your own adventures

A list of our favorite travel movies, from classics to lesser-known films, plus tips to live your own real-life adventures.

Worldpackers Worldpackers

Nov 23, 2023

Feel like going on an incredible excursion without leaving the house? That's the magic of travel movies. Picture this: one moment you're exploring sun-soaked vineyards in Italy, then you're navigating bustling markets in Morocco. All without leaving home!

Travel movies let us experience cultures around the globe. They inspire our wanderlust and help plan real-life adventures . And sometimes they offer an escape when we need it most. Ready to dive into cinematic journeys that span continents?

In this article we'll remind you of iconic films that have shaped this genre and discover more recent gems . So, grab some popcorn as we embark on a reel-world adventure.

25 best travel movies that will inspire you

Here’s a list of Worldpackers team’s favorite travel movies, which make us feel like we’re out and about without leaving our couch. Some films take this experience up a notch, offering more than just beautiful locales - they shape our understanding of travel itself.

The Motorcycle Diaries (2004)

We start this list of travel movies with a great example of that power of broadening perspectives: The Motorcycle Diaries isn't simply about two friends exploring South America on a motorcycle. It's the story of Che Guevara, discovering social injustices that would later ignite his revolutionary spirit. It has inspired many travelers who crave authentic experiences over typical tourist attractions.

As Ernesto Guevara and his friend Alberto Granado travel through various countries, the film portrays their interactions with diverse cultures, people, and landscapes. They witness the disparities in wealth and healthcare, which ignite Ernesto's desire to bring about social change. 

The Motorcycle Diaries is a coming-of-age story that traces the evolution of Guevara from a carefree medical student to a passionate advocate for the oppressed. It's an inspiring story combined with beautiful cinematography that encourages us not just to see new places but also understand different cultures better.

Around the World in 80 Days (1956)

Feel like going for a classic? This film is based on the novel by Jules Verne and follows the journey of Phileas Fogg, an eccentric and wealthy Englishman who bets that he can circumnavigate the globe in just 80 days.

The plot of the movie revolves around Fogg's race against time as he embarks on an adventure across the globe, accompanied by his loyal French servant, Passepartout. They go on a daring journey using various means of transport - from hot air balloons to elephants - and encounter a series of comedic and sometimes perilous situations.

Eat Pray Love (2010)

You've probably heard of Eat Pray Love, a romantic drama film based on Elizabeth Gilbert's memoir of the same name. The movie follows the life-changing journey of the protagonist, Liz Gilbert, played by Julia Roberts, after going through a divorce.

She sets out on an expedition to find herself through food, spirituality, and love while traveling through Italy, India, and Bali respectively. This film emphasizes the healing power of travel and how it can help you find your inner self.

Into The Wild (2007)

Another book turned into film, this biographical drama directed by Sean Penn is based on the non-fiction book by Jon Krakauer. It tells the true story of Christopher McCandless , a young man from a well-to-do family who decides to abandon his conventional life and venture into the wilderness of North America in pursuit of a more meaningful existence.

He renames himself “Alexander Supertramp”, cuts ties with his family and embarks on a journey across the USA, eventually reaching Alaska . Throughout his journey, Christopher encounters various people who impact his life.

Wild (2014)

For those who love biographical tales, here’s another one: Wild is based on Cheryl Strayed's memoir, which chronicles her 1100-mile solo hike along the Pacific Crest Trail. 

It’s not just about stunning landscapes but also self-discovery and healing, since the character starts the hike after a series of destructive behaviors and the loss of her mother to cancer.

Throughout her journey, Cheryl encounters many challenges, including harsh weather, injuries, and the weight of her emotional baggage . Her journey becomes a test of her inner strength, determination, and resilience.

The Secret Life of Walter Mitty (2013)

A modern classic, this film follows the life of Walter Mitty, a man who escapes his mundane existence through elaborate daydreams. He works as a photo negative manager at Life magazine, a job that involves processing photographs for publication.

One day he misplaces a crucial photograph negative taken by a renowned photographer and sets off to find the missing negative. This journey takes him on an adventure around the world, from Greenland to Iceland , going far beyond his comfort zone.

The Way (2010)

Dream of doing the Camino de Santiago, in Spain? The Way portrays one man’s pilgrimage along the Camino after his son's death.  

The main character is Tom (played by Martin Sheen), who encounters a diverse group of fellow travelers, each with their own reasons for walking the pilgrimage. Together, they share stories, hopes, and struggles.

As Tom travels through picturesque landscapes and faces physical challenges, he not only learns to honor his son's memory but also discovers profound insights about life, faith, and the power of human connections.

Thelma and Louise (1991)

A road trip movie classic, Thelma & Louise tells the story of two women who set out on a weekend getaway but find themselves on the run from the law after a traumatic incident. Their journey becomes a symbolic escape from societal constraints, leading to a series of events that challenge the roles they've been assigned as women.

With every scene, more beauty unfolds as they drive amidst vast American landscapes in their iconic convertible. The film is a thrilling and thought-provoking exploration of friendship, empowerment, and the consequences of defying societal norms.

Roman Holiday (1953)

Another classic, Roman Holiday transports viewers back in time while offering picturesque views around Rome's historic cityscape - perfect for those wanting both cultural immersion and vintage vibes.

The film revolves around the story of a young European princess named Princess Ann (Audrey Hepburn), who is on a diplomatic tour of Europe and becomes overwhelmed by the constraints of her royal duties and her sheltered life. 

It’s a love story that captures the magic of a whirlwind romance against the backdrop of the Italian capital.

The Darjeeling Limited (2007)

Directed by Wes Anderson, the movie follows the journey of three estranged brothers who reunite for a train trip through India . They board the Darjeeling Limited, a luxury train, each dealing with his own personal struggles and unresolved issues.

As the train journey progresses through the picturesque Indian landscape, the brothers encounter many  challenges and quirky situations . Along the way, they engage in both humorous and poignant interactions with fellow passengers and locals, leading to moments of self-discovery and reflection.

The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel (2011)

Another treat for those longing to visit India, this heartwarming film tells the story of a group of British retirees who decide to spend their retirement years in a hotel in Jaipur . They face a variety of personal challenges and cultural adjustments as they settle into the vibrant and colorful environment of India.

The hotel is far from the luxurious paradise the retirees were expecting, but through their shared experiences and interactions with the local community, they find renewal, purpose , and unexpected opportunities for love and personal growth.

Lost in Translation (2003) Loneliness, connection, and cultural dislocation are the main themes of this drama-comedy directed by Sofia Coppola, which takes place in Japan. The story revolves around Bob Harris, a middle-aged American actor who is in Tokyo to shoot a whiskey commercial, and Charlotte, a young college graduate accompanying her photographer husband. Both Bob and Charlotte are feeling adrift in their lives and marriages , grappling with feelings of isolation and purposelessness in the bustling and culturally unfamiliar capital of Japan. Their chance encounter leads to a deep and platonic connection. The Holiday (2006)

This romantic comedy follows the intertwining stories of two women, Iris (Kate Winslet) and Amanda (Cameron Diaz), who are experiencing relationship troubles during the Christmas holiday season.

Iris is British and Amanda is American. Feeling the need for a break from their lives, they discover each other through a house-swapping website and decide to exchange homes for the holiday season . While their lives take unexpected turns, we feel like we're exploring the English countryside and sunny California along with them.

Under the Tuscan Sun (2003)

This travel movie follows the story of Frances (played by Diane Lane), a recently divorced writer who impulsively purchases a villa in Tuscany, Italy , in an attempt to start anew.

As Frances attempts to restore the villa to its former glory, she forms connections with the local community and undergoes a personal transformation , rediscovering her passion for life, writing, and love. The picturesque landscapes of Tuscany provide a stunning backdrop to the story.

Tracks (2013)

Based on the true story of Robyn Davidson, this travel movie chronicles her remarkable journey across the vast Australian desert with a dog and four camels . She went on a solo trek of over 1,700 miles from Alice Springs to the west coast of Australia, motivated by a desire for solitude and a deep connection with the land.

Along the way, she faces various obstacles, including encounters with curious locals, harsh weather conditions, and the emotional toll of isolation . The film is a visually stunning and introspective portrayal of an extraordinary real-life adventure.

Before Sunrise (1995), Before Sunset (2004), Before Midnight (2013)

The "Before" trilogy, directed by Richard Linklater and starred by Ethan Hawke and Julie Delpy, starts with the movie Before Sunrise , which follows the chance encounter of two strangers on a train traveling through Europe. They strike up a conversation and decide to spend the night together in Vienna, Austria, before Jesse's departure the next morning.

Before Sunset , its sequel, takes place in Paris, where Jesse and Celine meet again 10 years later. Finally, Before Midnight takes the same characters to Greece, almost two decades before their first encounter.

The trilogy is celebrated for its realistic and emotionally charged dialogue . Each film captures a different stage in Jesse and Céline's lives, offering insights into the complexities of love and human relationships, while they walk around beautiful cities.

Hunt for the Wilderpeople (2016)

This New Zealand adventure-comedy film follows the unlikely friendship between a rebellious young boy and his reluctant foster uncle as they become the subjects of a nationwide manhunt in the New Zealand wilderness.

As they navigate the rugged terrain, their relationship grows stronger, and they become unlikely partners in a wild adventure to evade capture by the authorities. Along the way, they encounter various colorful characters and face numerous challenges.

Patagonia (2010)

Probably one of the lesser-known films in this list of travel movies, Patagonia interweaves two distinct but interconnected stories that take place in different parts of the world, both involving characters on personal journeys of self-discovery.

One storyline follows Gwen and Rhys, a Welsh couple who travel to Patagonia in Argentina as part of a photography project. Their journey becomes a catalyst for Gwen's personal exploration as she grapples with her desires and the changing dynamics of her relationship with Rhys.

The second storyline follows Cerys, an elderly Welsh woman who embarks on a pilgrimage to visit her family's ancestral homeland in Patagonia, where there is a Welsh-speaking community. Along the way, she meets a young Argentine named Alejandro who is searching for his Welsh roots.

The Bucket List (2007)

This movie tells the story of two terminally ill men , Edward Cole (played by Jack Nicholson) and Carter Chambers (played by Morgan Freeman), who meet while sharing a hospital room. Both men have been diagnosed with advanced stages of cancer and are given limited time to live.

As they grapple with their mortality and impending deaths, Edward and Carter decide to create a list of things they want to do before they "kick the bucket." The two men embark on a global journey to check off the items on their list, forming a deep friendship along the way.

A Good Year (2006)

Directed by Ridley Scott, this movie follows the story of Max Skinner (played by Russell Crowe), a successful and ruthless London-based investment banker who inherits a vineyard in Provence , France, upon the death of his estranged uncle.

Max reluctantly travels to the vineyard with the intention of selling it quickly and making a profit. However, as he spends time in the picturesque countryside and reconnects with his childhood memories, he begins to reconsider his priorities and values.

A Walk in the Woods (2015)

This film is based on the memoir of the same name by the well-known travel writer and author Bill Bryson. After living abroad for many years, Bryson returns to the United States and decides to hike the Appalachian Trail , one of the longest continuous footpaths in the world, together with an old acquaintance, Stephen Katz.

As Bryson and Katz traverse the Appalachian Trail, they face a series of humorous and challenging situations, including encounters with fellow hikers and with wildlife, and the physical demands of the trail itself. Along the way, they also engage in conversations about life, friendship, and the beauty of the natural world .

This list of travel movies wouldn’t be complete without some heartwarming animations . Starting with Up, a Pixar and Walt Disney film centered on the story of Carl Fredricksen, a widowed elderly man who embarks on a remarkable adventure using balloons to fly his house to South America.

It all starts when Carl finds himself facing eviction from his beloved home and missing his late wife, Ellie, who had shared his childhood dreams of adventure, so he decides to fulfill their lifelong dream of visiting the remote Paradise Falls . 

During the trip, he learns to let go of the past, embrace new experiences, and find joy in unexpected places.

Coco (2017)

There are also plenty of animations that take us on a deep dive in foreign cultures. One of the best travel movies of this kind is Coco, an animated musical film which is also produced by Pixar and released by Walt Disney. The movie is set in Mexico and revolves around the Day of the Dead (Día de los Muertos) holiday , a celebration of deceased loved ones.

The plot follows Miguel Rivera, a young boy with a deep passion for music, despite his family's long-standing ban on music due to a past family tragedy. On Día de los Muertos, Miguel accidentally finds himself transported to the Land of the Dead, a vibrant and colorful afterlife realm where deceased family members reside.

The impact of travel movies on tourism

Besides being great entertainment, travel movies can wield a remarkable influence over tourism. They can kindle wanderlust, highlight unique cultures, and even steer the course of travel trends.

Movies often inspire personal journeys by portraying transformative experiences tied to specific locales. Take Eat Pray Love, which ignited a Bali tourism boom as fans flocked there hoping for self-discovery adventures akin to Julia Roberts' character.

Into The Wild, based on a true story, was another influential film. Despite its tragic ending, the movie encouraged many to seek their own version of an Alaskan wilderness experience.

Sometimes movies can create entirely new tourism trends. After Peter Jackson's Lord of The Rings, fans began traveling to New Zealand just to see the stunning landscapes that brought Middle-earth to life . This trend even led to unique travel experiences like Hobbiton tours and “Middle-earth” packages designed specifically for Tolkien enthusiasts.

However, this popularity has its drawbacks. When travel movies gain too much traction, they can cause stress on the locations they showcase. One example is the Maya Bay beach, in Thailand, which was made famous in the movie "The Beach”, starring Leonardo DiCaprio, and had to be closed to tourists due to the damages caused by overtourism.

Tips for enjoying your favorite travel movies

We hope you enjoyed our list of travel movies, but luckily there’s much more to watch after you’re done with those films! Unearthing cinematic gems that inspire wanderlust and fuel the desire to explore is an adventure in itself. Here are a few suggestions to keep that habit going:

Talking to other travelers

One surefire way to discover great travel movies is by connecting with fellow globetrotters. They often have a treasure trove of film recommendations based on their own experiences and personal tastes.

You could start these conversations on platforms like Worldpackers , where you'll find a vibrant community of seasoned and newbie travelers alike.

Keeping a travel movie journal

Maintaining a journal dedicated solely for recording memorable travel films can be rewarding too. As you note down details about each movie , it becomes more than just keeping track; it turns into an immersive activity that lets you savor each film long after the credits roll. This method also helps when sharing recommendations with friends or social media followers.

Planning themed movie nights

A fun twist is organizing themed movie nights around different countries or regions. Not only does this make for an entertaining evening but watching several related films in one go might highlight your next dream destination.

For instance, if South American culture piques your interest, consider watching films such as 'The Motorcycle Diaries' and other movies that take place in the continent, whether they’re actually travel-related or not. This is a great way to dive into the richness of this vibrant region. And why not making a themed dinner as well?

Traveling to your dream movie destinations

What about visiting some of the destinations portrayed in your favorite travel movies and living your own amazing adventures? It’s easy to do so with Worldpackers , a platform that connects travelers to hosts from all over the world for volunteer and work exchange programs.

In exchange for a few hours of help, you’ll get free accommodation and other perk s, like meals and tours. Besides saving a lot of money, you’ll get to meet other travelers and locals who can give you tips and insights into local culture, while living r eal-life adventures that might as well be turned into film someday.

Keep reading to understand how it works:

• Our step-by-step guide on how Worldpackers works
• Traveling with Worldpackers: your top questions answered
• Collaborative tourism: what are collaborative travel relationships?

If you liked our list of travel movies, keep reading our blog and follow our social media accounts for more travel tips and inspiration! We’re on TikTok and Instagram .

Join the community!

Create a free Worldpackers account to discover volunteer experiences perfect for you and get access to exclusive travel discounts!

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101 Best Travel Movies That’ll Inspire and Transport You

If you’re searching for the best travel movies to watch, you’ve landed in the right spot! 

Not only can the best movies about travel inspire you to travel to new places, but they’re also great when you’re stuck at home with a serious case of wanderlust yet unable to travel.

This ultimate list of best travel films has done just that for me! I’ve traveled to places that I’ve seen or learned about in movies plenty of times. But also when I wanted to travel but couldn’t because of my strict teacher schedule, these travel movies have transported me across the world from the comfort of my living room.

So, whether you’re looking for backpacking movies, adventure travel movies, movies that take you on a journey in search of love or self-exploration, or the best travel documentaries, you’re sure to find movies that inspire you to dream about the world and, of course, plan another travel adventure for when the time is right.

1.  Eat, Pray, Love

Location – Italy India Indonesia 

Based on a best-selling memoir, Julia Roberts stars as Elizabeth Gilbert, as a newly divorced woman looking to step out of her comfort zone by embarking on a journey around the world.  Her travels include mouth-watering meals in Italy, the power of prayer and silence in India & finding inner peace in Indonesia.

This classic favorite is a must-see for anyone afflicted with the travel bug. I can’t watch this movie without ordering pizza and searching for flights to Bali.

• English, French, Spanish (Subtitles)
• Audience Rating: PG-13 (Parents Strongly Cautioned)

2.  Midnight in Paris

Location -Paris 

Woody Allen’s opening 3-minute montage of  Paris  will have you booking a flight before the movie has even begun! Owen Wilson plays Gil Pender, a successful yet uninspired Hollywood screenwriter, who finds the gift of time travel and inspiration at midnight.

Going back to the Roaring 20s, he parties with the likes of Scott and Zelda Fitzgerald, Ernest Hemingway, Gertrude Stein, and Josephine Baker. Hemingway looked like such a blast to hang out with!

This is one of my favorite travel movies and I put it on any time I wish I was in Paris…which is a lot!

• Midnight In Paris – DVD Brand New
• Kathy Bates, Adrien Brody, Carla Bruni (Actors)
• Woody Allen (Director) – Letty Aronson (Producer)

3.  Out of Africa

Location – Kenya 

Filmed on location in Kenya including the Shaba National Game Reserve, Out of Africa was nominated for 11 Academy Awards and won 7 of them for this autobiographical novel by Isak Dinesen with Meryl Streep and Robert Redford in the starring roles. 

Karen Blixen is a Danish woman who comes to Kenya with her husband to farm cattle. Her marriage doesn’t work out, but she falls in love with Kenya and its people, connecting with the locals as she helps with education and medical needs.

The movie tells the story of love, heartbreak, and having the strength to stay true to yourself. You had me at Africa…and of course, Meryl Streep.

• Meryl Streep, Robert Redford, Klaus Maria Brandauer (Actors)
• Sydney Pollack (Director)
• Audience Rating: PG (Parental Guidance Suggested)

4.  The English Patient

Location – Tunisia & Italy

Set in Italy during the final days of World War II, this beautiful film combines romance and adventure to tell a classic story after a man is badly burned. The movie flashes back and forth from the perspective of the patient as he shares about his life.

It was nominated for 12 Oscars, winning 9. Directed by Anthony Minghella (who also directed The Talented Mr. Ripley), the movie was shot on location in Tunisia and Italy. The scenery and cinematography are breathtaking!

• Factory sealed DVD
• Ralph Fiennes, Juliette Binoche, Willem Dafoe (Actors)
• Peter Markham (Director) – Saul Zaentz (Producer)

5.  The Talented Mr. Ripley

Location – Italy

Two years after Good Will Hunting launched Matt Damon’s career, he showed off his acting chops by playing the diabolical and talented Tom Ripley who is impersonating another character in the movie.

The film’s talented cast includes Gwyneth Paltrow, Jude Law, and Cate Blanchette. Aside from a few opening minutes in New York, the film is shot on location, entirely in Italy, including stunning shots of Positano, Ischia, Procida, and Anzio.

Famous locations included the Piazza Navona, the Spanish Steps, and the Piazza di Spagna in Rome, and Cafe Florian in Piazza San Marco in Venice. I liked Matt Damon as Will Hunting much, much better but I can’t resist gorgeous Italy!

• Various (Actor)
• Various (Director)

6.  Lost in Translation

  Location – Japan

This 2003 romantic comedy-drama starring Bill Murray and Scarlett Johannson in Tokyo provides glimpses of local Japanese spots from Temples to karaoke bars. The movie was nominated for four Academy Awards. Director Sophia Coppola won the Oscar for best original screenplay. 

This relatively low-budget movie is about being lonely and the stress of trying to interact with others who are culturally different from what you’re used to. Bill Murray’s performance is understated, skilled acting but the city of Tokyo stole the show for me. Anyone up for some sushi?

• Bill Murray, Scarlett Johansson (Actors)
• Sofia Coppola (Director) – Sofia Coppola (Writer)
• French, Spanish (Subtitles)

7.  Sideways

Location – Santa Ynez Valley – Wine Country 

Paul Giamatti (who I still think of as John Adams after starring in the HBO series ) stars in this black comedy-drama along with Thomas Hayden Church. Two men in their forties take a weeklong trip to Santa Barbara wine country for a quasi-bachelor party. Giamatti is a depressed writer dealing with his own personal issues while his buddy is looking for one last fling.

Even if you don’t know Pinot Noirs from Merlots, you’ll still have that yearning to see vineyards with rows of grapes, while sipping new vintages on a wine tour.

• SIDEWAYS (WIDESCREEN EDITION) MOVIE
• Paul Giamatti, Thomas Haden Church, Virginia Madsen (Actors)
• Alexander Payne (Director)

8.  The Grand Budapest Hotel

Location – Fictional Country of Zubrowka

This brilliant Wes Anderson film features a great ensemble cast and won 4 Oscars from Best Costume Design to Best Original Score.

I’m a big fan of Wes Anderson films and if you’re a movie lover you know them when you see them. Anderson captures the feel perfectly of the glory days of grand luxury hotel life during the early 20th century. The owner of the hotel is falsely accused of murder and what follows is a funny series of events as others are out to get him.

P.S. When you see the movie, just try and resist your sweet tooth calling for that bakery box from Mendl’s!

• Audience Rating: R (Restricted)

9.  Into the Wild

Location – Alaska

Thinking of planning some off-the-grid travel? This is the movie for you.

This 2007 non-fiction survival film co-produced and directed by Sean Penn is based on the story of Christopher McCandless, a guy who leaves everything behind to travel and live in the Alaskan wilderness in the early 1990s.  Although it has a tragic end, this story captures the essence of travel and the lessons learned only by experiences gained from a true adventure.

Without a doubt, this is one of the top travel movies ever.

• Multiple Formats, Color, Dolby
• English (Unknown)

10.  The Bond Movies

Location – All over the World 

Do you have a favorite James Bond? Mine is Roger Moore.

From 7 different actors and 26 movies, James Bond has been all over the world fighting bad guys. From the moon to Morrocco, 007 has inspired travel to just about everywhere. With so many Bond movies to choose from, start with Skyfall, The Spy Who Loved Me, From Russia with Love, Casino Royale, and Spectre. And, by the way, I’ll take that martini shaken, not stirred.

11.  Amelie

Location –  Paris 

Amelie is a 2001 French film that was nominated for 5 Academy Awards. After spending her childhood in isolation, she becomes a waitress at a Paris cafe. Her childhood experience leaves her searching for love, but also trying to help others who want to find love, as well.

The film was a critical success, and to date, it’s the highest-grossing French-language film released in the US. It’s spoken in French, so subtitles are vital here unless you’re fluent in French. It’s also a great way to practice your French language skills…or just sit back, listen, and remember how it feels to enjoy a Paris cafe.

• Audrey Tautou, Mathieu Kassovitz, Lorella Cravotta (Actors)
• Jean-Pierre Jeunet (Director)
• English (Subtitle)

12.  Almost Famous

Location – USA Road Trip

What’s better than a road trip? A road trip with a rock band, of course!

Written and directed by Cameron Crowe, this movie is a semi-autobiography about Crowe himself. As a teenage writer for Rolling Stone, Crowe toured with the Eagles, Allman Brothers, Lynyrd Skynyrd, and Led Zeppelin. Kate Hudson also stars as a groupie who travels with the band, although, by the end of the movie we learn she’s much more than that.

Even though this movie didn’t do well at the box office, it received Academy Awards nominations and won for Best Original Screenplay. 

• Billy Crudup, Kate Hudson, Patrick Fugit (Actors)
• Cameron Crowe (Director)

13.  Cast Away

Location – Deserted Tropical Island in the Pacific

Ever wish you could just get away from the world and spend time on a deserted island? What would you take? Could you build a raft out of palm trees or fish with a spear? Could you get a fire lit on a beach with just sticks? Tom Hanks teaches all the skills you need should you find yourself in a similar situation.

Shot in paradise, the ocean views and island scenes are gorgeous. As much as I like this movie and Tom Hanks, I’d much rather land on a tropical island with some lounge chairs and cocktails.

14.  Chocolat

Location –  Fictional French village of Lansquenet-sous-Tannes 

This film proves my longstanding theory. Chocolate makes everything better. That and hanging out in a lovely French village. Chocolat is the story of a woman who is new to town and sells the chocolates she makes in her shop.

Along the way, she changes the hearts and minds of the little town, although not without some drama which includes the arrival of Johnny Depp’s character. This part drama part romantic film was nominated for five Academy Awards including Best Picture. The acting from Juliette Binoche and Judi Dench are stellar.

• Juliette Binoche, Johnny Depp, Lena Olin (Actors)
• Lasse Hallstr m (Director) – Kit Golden (Producer)

15.  Vicki Cristina Barcelona  

Location – Barcelona

This Woody Allen-directed romantic comedy stars Javier Bardem, Scarlett Johansson, Rebecca Hall, and Penelope Cruz.  I felt a deep connection to this film because I love the city of Barcelona.

In the movie, you see Barcelona through the eyes of 2 American students, who both have an affair with the same Spanish artist. The artist’s ex-wife re-enters the picture for a full look at love, the institution of marriage, and the roles society expects of us…should we decide to conform. Throughout the movie, the city of Barcelona shines through its architecture, food, and culture.

• Multiple Formats, Color, NTSC
• Spanish (Subtitled), English (Subtitled), English (Original Language)

16.  Lord of the Rings Trilogy

Location – New Zealand 

Is there anything better than spending a winter or rainy Saturday watching the Lord of the Rings Trilogy pretending you’re Frodo and Sam trekking through the New Zealand landscape?

Based on the books by J.R.R. Tolkien, Middle Earth’s only hope to avoid the shadow of darkness is in the hands of Frodo Baggins, a Hobbit from the Shire. Along the way on his quest, the sweeping New Zealand landscapes will leave you in awe. Load up on snacks for 9 hours of adventure…Minus the orcs. 

• Elijah Wood, Ian McKellen, Viggo Mortensen (Actors)
• Peter Jackson (Director)
• English, Spanish, Portuguese (Subtitles)

17.  Secret Life of Walter Mitty

Location – Iceland to the Himalayas

A feel-good movie about a man who works in an office and dreams of adventures, which ultimately takes him from Scandinavia to Central Asia in search of his destiny.

Ben Stiller’s character is on a journey of courage, whether it’s to finally ask out the co-worker he likes or to discover what the world can offer. The story is all about turning your dreams into reality. As any traveler will tell you, actual voyages usually come with an internal voyage, too. This movie will inspire all of us to find out more about ourselves as we dare to explore the world.

• Multiple Formats, AC-3, Color
• English (Subtitled), French (Subtitled), Spanish (Subtitled)

18.  Far and Away

Location – Oklahoma 

Far and Away is directed by Ron Howard and stars Tom Cruise and Nicole Kidman. The two play Irish immigrants in the 1890s who’ve come to America for a better life. Arriving in Boston hoping for the promise of land in America, life is not as easy as imagined.

With little to no money and family drama, their dream of owning land and being together seems nearly impossible. The movie’s Land Run of 1893 scene shows the fight and spirit the American Midwest is known for. The movie was actually shot in Billings, Montana, not Oklahoma and the Land Run scene included nearly 800 hundred extras, plus hundreds of horses and wagons!

This movie will leave you longing for a horseback ride across the Midwest to discover the spirit of the American frontier.

• Tom Cruise, Nicole Kidman, Thomas Gibson (Actors)
• Ron Howard (Director) – Bob Dolman (Writer) – Brian Grazer (Producer)
• English, Spanish (Subtitles)

19.  Up in the Air

Location – Airports / Planes 

Up in the Air was one of 2009’s best films and was nominated for 6 Academy Awards. George Clooney and Anna Kendrick star in this comedy-drama. Clooney’s character is training Kendrick’s character on how to fire people from their jobs as they both work for a downsizing company. They’re constantly flying to new places for work and along the way, Kendrick realizes this is not the path for her.

For points and miles aficionados, George Clooney’s character hits 10 million miles on his frequent flyer account. Is anyone else thinking upgrades?

• Anna Kendrick, Vera Farmiga, George Clooney (Actors)
• Portuguese, English, French, Spanish (Subtitles)

20.  The Motorcycle Diaries

Location – South America

The trip that made Che Guevara, Che Guevara. Traveling through South America on a trip that started as a fun adventure, ultimately made Guevara the revolutionary we know today.

The movie is a dramatization of Che Guevara’s memoirs as he traveled from the Andes in Chile to the Amazon in Peru on an 8,700-mile journey. Along the way, he discovers life in Latin America, particularly the poverty so many of the indigenous population is rooted in. What he sees inspires him to fight against unfair class systems and economic hardships.

Today, tons of travelers inquire about how to follow the same trail that turned Che into a revolutionary icon.

• Gael Garcia Bernal, Rodrigo De la Serna, Mia Maestro (Actors)
• Walter Salles (Director) – Jose Rivera (Writer) – Michael Nozik (Producer)

21.  Planes, Trains & Automobiles

Location –  NYC to Chicago to Wichita

If I ever end up in a nightmare travel situation I would totally want to be with these two characters. 

This 1980s classic directed by John Hughes and starring Steve Martin and the late great John Candy play two men trying to get home to Chicago from New York City for the Thanksgiving holiday. After Martin’s flight gets canceled due to bad weather, all means of transport become an option. He meets John Candy who plays a shower curtain salesman full of bad jokes and, as you can imagine, hysterics follow.

• Michael McKean, John Candy, Laila Robins (Actors)
• John Hughes (Director)
• English, Spanish, French, Portuguese (Subtitles)

22.  Catch Me If You Can

Location – Airports and Airplanes

Any movie directed by Steven Speilberg, starring Leonardo DiCaprio and Tom Hanks is already a keeper.

DiCaprio plays Frank Abagnale, Jr. who by the age of 19 was already a cunning con man pretending to be a doctor, a prosecutor, and my personal favorite, a Pan American World Airways pilot. Hanks plays an FBI agent pursuing him the entire movie. 

The movie is based on a true story, which is mind-blowing to think about someone impersonating a pilot.  

• Leonardo DiCaprio, Tom Hanks, Candice Azzara (Actors)

23.  National Lampoon’s Vacation Movies

Location – U.S. Road Trip, European Vacation

How can you not love the Griswolds? They are an American family who likes to take vacations, from a U.S. road trip to a European vacation. However, every one of them goes hysterically wrong!

From 1983-2015, the Vacation movies grossed nearly $300,000,000 and I loved every minute of the nonsense that would eventually accompany every trip.

The series is based on a John Hughes short story called “Vacation 58” that was originally published for National Lampoon magazine. 

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24.  Slumdog Millionaire

Location – India 

Slumdog Millionaire was a sleeper hit of 2008.

The movie stars Dev Patel in the role of Jamal Malik who’s from a Mumbai slum. Jamal had quite the journey from childhood to adulthood. He ends up being a contestant on the Indian version of “Who Wants to Be a Millionaire” with a chance to win 20 million Rupee (=$280k)!

His experiences, as well as the love of his life, serve to help him answer the questions on the show.  

• Multiple Formats, NTSC, Widescreen
• English (Subtitled), Spanish (Subtitled), French (Subtitled)

25.  Wild

Location – Oregon – California

Starring Reese Witherspoon & Laura Dern, the film is based on a biographical memoir by Cheryl Strayed and is considered one of the best travel adventure movies of all time.

In June of 1995, Strayed left Minnesota after losing her mother and the breakdown of her marriage to hike 1,100 miles of the Pacific Crest Trail. The trail stretches from British Columbia in Canada through Southern California. It’s known to be one of the most difficult hiking trails in North America.

Strayed (played by Witherspoon) does this despite a lack of hiking experience. At some point, we can all use a journey of self-discovery & healing. Just bring enough water and the right boots.

• Wild – DVD Brand New
• Reese Witherspoon, Laura Dern, Thomas Sadoski (Actors)
• Jean-Marc Vallee (Director) – Nick Hornby (Writer)

26.  Under the Tuscan Sun

Location – Tuscany, Italy 

We all can relate to things not going as planned in life and needing a complete change to find a new path.

Frances Mayes, played by Diane Lane, discovers her husband is cheating and loses everything in the divorce. A friend convinces her to take a trip to Italy. While there, she buys and fixes up a Tuscan villa on a whim, to start again. Along the way, she gains friends and a new life in Italy.

You’ll swoon over the beautiful shots of Tuscany. They had me dreaming of Chianti and burrata.

• Under The Tuscan Sun – DVD Brand New
• Diane Lane, Sandra Oh, Lindsay Duncan (Actors)
• Audrey Wells (Director) – Audrey Wells (Writer)

27.  Everest

Location – Nepal – Himalayas

Based on real events from the 1996 Mt. Everest disaster, this 2015 film tells the true story of 2 groups trying to summit Mt. Everest. From blizzards to high-altitude sicknesses, the story quickly becomes a fight for survival. Injuries, lack of oxygen, and exhaustion become obstacles that ultimately determine who makes it back to Everest Base Camp and who does not.

The movie’s cast is a true ensemble with actors that include Josh Brolin, Jason Clarke, Robin Wright, Emily Watson, and Jake Gyllenhaal. 

Of all the films like Into the Wild, this one had me at the edge of my seat!

• Josh Brolin, Keira Knightley, Jake Gyllenhaal (Actors)
• Baltasar Kormakur (Director)
• Spanish, French (Subtitles)

28.  Midnight in the Garden of Good & Evil

Location – Savannah, Georgia 

The 1997 crime-drama is based on the novel, Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil by John Berendt, which spent a record-breaking 216 weeks on the New York Times Bestseller list.

Clint Eastwood directs while Kevin Spacey and John Cusack star alongside the city of Savannah itself. With its beautiful architecture and all of its eccentricities, the city becomes the real attraction. An antique dealer, played by Spacey, has been arrested for the murder of a male prostitute and faces a trial. 

John Cusack’s character is a writer for a magazine and is partially based on the book’s author himself, John Berendt.

• Kevin Spacey, John Cusack, Jack Thompson (Actors)
• Clint Eastwood (Director)

29.  Thelma & Louise

Location – Ultimate U.S. Road Trip

This 1991 classic directed by Ridley Scott stars Geena Davis and Susan Sarandon. It’s considered one of the best road trip movies of all time. It was nominated for six Academy Awards and it won for Best Original Screenplay. It also launched the career of someone named Brad Pitt.

Two best friends set off for a weekend trip that quickly becomes an escape as they try to avoid the police. The authorities eventually corner them at the Grand Canyon and the 2 women are faced with a decision about what to do.

Most of the filming was done entirely in the states of California and Utah, with the primary filming locations in rural areas around Bakersfield, CA and Moab, UT. The film was met with mostly positive reviews and uncanny curiosity about a then-unknown Brad Pitt and his diet and workout routine!

• 20th Anniversary Edition.
• Commentary by Director Ridley Scott.
• Commentary by Susan Sarandon, Geena Davis and Writer Callie Khouri.

30.  French Kiss

Location – Paris and the South of France

This 1995 romantic comedy stars 90s darling, Meg Ryan, and Kevin Kline. 

Ryan’s character flies to France to get back her cheating fiance, only to be swindled by a smuggler, played by Kline. Ryan and Kline follow her cheating fiance to the south of France only to have her realize she no longer wants him. 

Along the way, she learns more about Kline’s character, Luc, and the poor choices he’s made in life, only to ultimately help him in the end.

• Condition: New
• Format: DVD
• Meg Ryan, Kevin Kline, Timothy Hutton (Actors)

31.  The Bucket List

Location – Around the World 

Any movie that stars Morgan Freeman & Jack Nicholson has to be good. 

The Bucket List is about 2 men who are terminally ill who meet in the hospital. They decide to hit the road and travel around the world before they die. They skydive, visit the Taj Mahal, fly over the North Pole, see Mt. Everest, go on Safari in Tanzania, motorcycle-ride on the Great Wall, and have a legendary dinner in France. 

On their travels, each man opens up and shares about his personal life struggles as the two become good friends.

• Multiple Formats, AC-3, Blu-ray

32.  P.S. I Love You

Location – Irish Countryside 

Based on Cecelia Ahern’s 2004 novel, this romance film stars Hilary Swank and Gerard Butler. They play Holly and Gerry, a couple who lives in New York City. Sadly, Gerry dies of a brain tumor. 

Before his death, Gerry plans a series of messages, which Holly starts getting after his death. The messages set her on an adventure to help get her through her grief. Each message ends with P.S. I Love You.

The messages end up taking her to the beautiful Irish countryside, where Gerry is from. By the end of the movie, you’ll be crying in your Guinness.

• P.S. I LOVE YOU MOVIE
• Hilary Swank, Gerard Butler, Lisa Kudrow (Actors)
• Richard LaGravenese (Director) – Richard LaGravenese (Writer) – James Hollond (Producer) – Cecilia Ahern (Author)

33.  Before Sunrise

Location – Vienna 

Written and directed by Richard Linklater, Before Sunrise is actually based on a real-life encounter that Linklater had with a woman he met in Philadelphia while traveling.

The movie stars Ethan Hawke as Jesse and Julie Delpy as Celine, who strike up a conversation on a train bound for Vienna from Budapest. They end up walking the city all night because Jesse, who’s due to fly back to the United States in the morning, can’t afford a hotel for the night. They visit some of Vienna’s landmarks and end in a Viennese cafe, which is exactly what you need to do when you’re in Vienna. 

As they talk, Jesse and Celine talk openly about their heartbreaks and their lives. The chemistry between the two is undeniable. But, you’ll have to watch to find out what happens…before sunrise.

• Ethan Hawke, Julie Delpy (Actors)
• Richard Linklater (Director) – Richard Linklater (Writer) – John Sloss (Producer)
• English, French (Subtitles)

34.  Before Sunset  

Location – Paris 

Before Sunset is the sequel to Before Sunrise. It’s 9 years later and Ethan Hawke and Julie Delpy reprise their roles as Jesse and Celine. This time they meet in Paris, where Celine lives and works as an environmental advocate and Jesse has come for the launch of his new book.

Celine goes to a bookstore where Jesse is holding a book event. Afterward, they spend the time they have walking, talking, and reconnecting. Back at Celine’s apartment, time runs short and Celine worries Jesse will miss the flight he’s supposed to take.

• Before Sunset – DVD Brand New
• Richard Linklater (Director) – Richard Linklater (Writer) – Anne Walker-McBay (Producer) – Kim Krizan (Author)

35.  Before Midnight 

Location –  Greece

Before Midnight is the 3rd movie in the series with Jesse and Celine. Another 9 years have gone by.

Richard Linklater, Ethan Hawke, and Julie Delpy have taken us on a long journey through beautiful Vienna, Paris, and now, Greece. The movie realistically highlights love and life and doesn’t avoid the struggles that come with loving another person while still wanting to remain true to who you are.

The ending may not be as storybook as you’ve come to expect from Hollywood but it does leave you hoping for a possible 4th movie.

• Multiple Formats, AC-3, Closed-captioned
• French (Subtitled), English (Subtitled), English (Original Language)

36.  Baraka

Location –  24 Countries and 6 Continents

This 1992 travel documentary highlights life, human activities, and natural events on 6 continents. With no dialogue, this film is a journey around the globe showing the planet and all of us on it from Lake Natron in Tanzania to the chanting monks in Dip Tse Chok Ling Monastery to a busy city subway terminal.

Baraka will be unlike any other film you’ve watched but one that will inspire realizations about other cultures, the world, and even yourself. Movies with beautiful scenery make you want to see the world…or transport you when you can’t travel.

• n/a (Actor)
• Ron Fricke (Director)

37.  Samsara 

Location – 25 Countries

Samsara is the follow-up to Baraka, as director Ron Fricke builds on the themes of the first movie with another visually stunning film.

Samsara was shot over 5 years in 25 countries. Again with no dialogue, the filmmakers spotlight human life and the wonders of the planet. This time, though, we see the consequences of human desires quite plainly for a more somber reflection of the planet and our role as people on it.

• English (Publication Language)

38.  A Room with a View

Location – England – Italy 

This film is set in Florence, Italy, and Surrey, England. It stars Maggie Smith, Helena Bonham Carter, Rupert Graves, Simon Callow, Judi Dench, and Daniel Day-Lewis.   

While in Florence, Bonham-Carter’s character, Lucy, meets George Emerson played by Julian Sands. They share a connection and a kiss before Lucy returns home to England with her cousin. Lucy is expected to marry a man named Cecil, played by Daniel Day-Lewis. However, George Emerson resurfaces and puts Lucy’s engagement to Cecil in doubt.

This Academy Award-winning film came out in 1985 and still holds a 100% rating on Rotten Tomatoes. 

• Maggie Smith, Helena Bonham Carter, Daniel Day-Lewis (Actors)
• James Ivory (Director)

39.  The Last Emperor

Location – China 

The Last Emperor has several achievements. Director Bernardo Bertolucci was allowed by the Chinese government the right to shoot the first Western movie about China in The Forbidden City. That alone makes it a must-see. After all, The Forbidden City is a UNESCO World Heritage Site all on its own.

The movie was also nominated for 9 Academy Awards and won ALL 9. The story is biographical about a man named Puyi who was chosen to be Emperor as a child. The movie begins later in life, after he’s been captured by the Red Army, and flashes back to tell the story of his life.

A fun fact about the making of The Last Emperor was the need for 19,000 extras that were played by the Chinese army.

• John Lone, Joan Chen, Peter O’Toole (Actors)
• Bernardo Bertolucci (Director)
• Korean (Subtitle)

40.  Forrest Gump

Location – USA, Vietnam, China

One of the all-time classics, Forrest Gump is the winner of 6 Academy Awards including Best Picture.

Forrest Gump is a simple man who lives an extraordinary life that takes him to foreign countries and across the United States.

The movie includes one of my favorite scenes in movie history. It’s when Forrest describes to Jenny the different places he’s been to on his run across the country, and she says that she wishes she could’ve been there with him. He replies, that she  was  there. I need a tissue.

• Screen Tests
• Photo Gallery
• Seeing is Believing 11 Visual Effects (Including 2 Never-Before-Seen Sequences)

41.  Encounters at the End of the World

Location – Antarctica

The wild, frontier of the 7th continent is on full display in this Werner Herzog travel documentary. The stunning snow and ice landscapes steal the spotlight, along with the underwater footage of the marine life below the ice.

The documentary also shows some of the people who are living and working in Antarctica as they figure out how to survive in the harsh Antarctic environment. If you’re an explorer at heart, how could you not want to uncover the beauty of Antarctica…even if only on the big screen? 

• David Ainley, Samuel S. Bowser, Regina Eisert (Actors)
• Werner Herzog (Director) – Werner Herzog (Writer)

42.  Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants

Location – Bethesda, Maryland – Greece – Mexico – South Carolina 

Based on the 2001 novel, this movie is about 4 teenage girlfriends who are about to spend the summer apart. Before they go, the girls go shopping and find a pair of jeans that fits them all, despite their different shapes and sizes.

During their time away, the girls share the pants and their experiences with one another as they learn about life. The jeans are the symbolic bond that keeps them connected. 

• Amber Tamblyn, America Ferrera, Blake Lively (Actors)
• Ken Kwapis (Director) – Delia Ephron (Writer) – Debra Martin Chase (Producer) – Ann Brashares (Author)

43.  In Bruges

Location – In Bruges 

This 2008 dark comedy starring Colin Farrel, Brendan Gleeson, and Ralph Fiennes is set in the gorgeous city of Bruges, Belgium. Located in the northwest of the country with its many canals, Bruges is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and called the Venice of the North.

Farrel and Gleeson are 2 Irish hitmen who are hiding in Bruges because they botched a murder and also killed a young boy. Now, the 2 men have been told to wait in the city of Bruges posing as tourists. The debauchery that follows is dark and funny. 

• AC-3; Color; Dolby; Dubbed; DVD; Subtitled; Widescreen; NTSC

44.  The Godfather

Location – Italy – New York – Las Vegas

Godfather I and II follows the epic tale of the Corleone crime family from Sicily to New York. Both movies are directed by Francis Ford Coppola. The movie stars legendary actors like Marlon Brando, Al Pacino, and Robert De Niro.

 While the crime story is the central plot, Italian culture is heavily interwoven throughout the movie’s narrative from life in Sicily to a big, Italian wedding in New York City. You’ll surely be craving homemade pasta and meatballs every time you watch!

• Al Pacino, Abe Vigoda, Marlon Brando (Actors)
• Francis Ford Coppola (Director)
• Spanish, French, English (Subtitles)

45.  The Descendants

Location – Hawaii

George Clooney plays an attorney and land baron who’s the trustee of a family trust that owns 25,000 acres on the Hawaiian Island of Kauai. During these family discussions, Clooney’s wife has a boating accident and ends up on life support. This tragedy brings to light his wife’s affair, as well as brings him closer to his 2 daughters.

Because of Clooney’s role as a land baron, Hawaii takes center stage. Its beaches and sweeping natural beauty transport you to the middle of the Pacific and help viewers understand Clooney’s ultimate decision about what should happen with the land trust.

• The Descendants – DVD Brand New
• George Clooney, Judy Greer (Actors)

46.  The Holiday

Location – LA / UK

Have you ever considered the idea of home exchange to spur your travels and escape life? The Holiday is about 2 women played by Kate Winslet and Cameron Diaz who do just that over the Christmas holiday.

Amanda, played by Diaz heads to a quaint cottage in Surrey, England, and Iris, played by Winslet, heads to a large and luxurious home in Los Angeles. The swaps end up being lucky for both women who meet men who also fall for them and treat them as they should be treated.

• The Holiday – DVD Brand New
• Cameron Diaz, Kate Winslet, Jude Law (Actors)
• Nancy Meyers (Director) – Nancy Meyers (Producer)

47.  Murder on the Orient Express

Location – Paris to Istanbul

Based on Agatha Christie’s 1934 novel about a murder mystery that happens on the Orient Express, a luxury train travel trip. The story is a classic who-done-it after one of the passengers is found murdered. As the story progresses, it appears as though several passengers could be suspects.

The latest version sports a star-studded cast that includes Kenneth Branagh (who also directed the film) Johnny Depp, Penelope Cruz, Judy Dench, Willem Dafoe, and Michele Pfeiffer. 

• Murder On The Orient Express – DVD + Digital Brand New
• Paapa Essiedu, Yassine Zeroual, Asan N’Jie (Actors)
• Kenneth Branagh (Director) – Michael Green (Writer)

48.  Mama Mia

Location – Greek Islands 

This movie transports you to the Greek island of Skopelos, although in the movie the island is called Kalokairi. Sounds pretty good right there, no?!

This movie-musical is about a soon-to-be-married girl who invites 3 different men who could be her father to her wedding. Meryl Streep plays the girl’s mother and doesn’t know her daughter has invited the men until she sees them as guests start to arrive for the wedding.

The movie score features classic, singable ABBA favorites like Mama Mia, Dancing Queen, and Take a Chance on Me.

• Meryl Streep, Pierce Brosnan, Colin Firth (Actors)
• Phyllida Lloyd (Director)

49.  The Art of Travel

Location  – Central America and South America

What happens when your wedding goes south? You want to get away…which is what Connor Layne, played by Christopher Masterson, does after he discovers his high school sweetheart’s unfaithfulness. 

Connor heads to Nicaragua as an inexperienced traveler and is almost immediately robbed. Thinking he should go home, he decides otherwise and his confidence slowly grows. Weeks later in Panama, he meets a group of people who want to trek through the jungle and set the world record for crossing the Darien Gap, a swath of dangerous land between Panama and Colombia.

• AC-3, Color, Dolby
• Spanish (Subtitled), English (Original Language), Spanish (Unknown)

50.  Sleepless in Seattle

Location –  Seattle – New York City 

This 1990s romantic classic stars Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan. The screenplay was co-written and directed by the late great Nora Ephron, who also brought us the classic movie When Harry Met Sally.

Hanks plays a widower with a young son who relocates to Seattle after his wife dies. He’s heartbroken and his son calls into a radio show and persuades his father to talk about his feelings and his late wife.

Upon listening to the show, millions of women send letters hoping to be the one to fix his broken heart, one of them being Ryan’s character. What follows is one of the most romantic endings in movie history at the Empire State Building on Valentine’s Day.

• Tom Hanks, Meg Ryan, Bill Pullman (Actors)
• Nora Ephron (Director) – Gary Foster (Producer)

51.  The Darjeeling Limited

Location – India

What would it be like to take a trip with your adult siblings? Comedy is the first thing that comes to my mind when I think of traveling with my sister.

In The Darjeeling Limited, 3 brothers have drifted apart after their father’s death. They come together for a train trip through India to rebuild their relationship as brothers and friends. Each of them is also going through some personal struggles. The older brother, Francis, played by Owen Wilson, has ulterior motives for the trip. He hopes they can locate their mother who’s left them for a life of solitude.

When they get thrown off the train for disturbing other passengers, they’re forced to walk through rural India. Along the way, the brothers reconnect as friends and learn to trust each other.

• Hotel Chevalier
• Deleted Scene

52.  Six Days Seven Nights

Location – South Pacific

Are you the kind of traveler who loves movies about exploration and adventure?

In this Ivan Reitman-directed adventure comedy, Harrison Ford and Anne Heche crash land on a deserted island in the South Pacific. Heche had been vacationing with her fiance on a nearby island when she was called away for work.

Stranded and having to survive everything from the elements to Pirates, Ford and Heche initially don’t get along but grow to have feelings for each other. 

• Harrison Ford, Anne Heche, David Schwimmer (Actors)
• Ivan Reitman (Director) – Michael Browning (Writer)

53.  Big Fish

Location – Southern United States

Do you have someone in your life who travels a lot for business? Have you ever heard any of their travel stories?

Tim Burton directed this fantasy comedy flick. It’s not your typical Burton darkness but instead, a story that takes us on an incredible adventure where the main character’s travels include encounters with even more interesting people.

On his deathbed, Ed Bloom begins telling his son, Will, played by Billy Crudup, extraordinary tales from his adventures as a traveling salesman. The stories are so out-of-this-world it’s difficult for Will to believe they are true. After his father passes, Will comes to realize his father’s stories weren’t as outlandish as he first thought.

• Billy Crudup, Hailey Anne Nelson, Ewan McGregor (Actors)
• Tim Burton (Director) – Bruce Cohen (Producer)

54.  The Beach

Location – Thailand  

This quintessential travel movie set on the beaches of Thailand has inspired countless young travelers to visit Southeast Asia whether with a travel buddy or solo. In fact, one of the beaches featured in the movie has been closed to tourists to allow the eco-system to repair itself.

The Beach stars a young DiCaprio, who learns of a secret beach where other travelers are living. He and a French couple use a map left by a friend who killed himself to find the beach. The community of travelers living there abide by a set of rules that allow them to be self-sufficient. However, what initially appears to be a utopian paradise ends up quite the opposite.

• Leonardo DiCaprio, Virginie Ledoyen, Guillaume Canet (Actors)
• Danny Boyle (Director)

55.  The Bourne Movies

Location – The World 

Matt Damon takes us all over the globe through several installments of action-filled movie adventures. Damon plays Jason Bourne, a man who’s a secret assassin, part of an unknown government agency.

Starting in the first movie, Bourne Identity, Damon’s character has suffered memory loss but soon realizes he has physical skills that surprise him. When his life is threatened, he’s forced onto a path of discovery to learn who he is and where he comes from.

Each sequel holds its own because of the continuing coherent storyline. The Bourne movies grossed over $1.5 billion worldwide.

• Multiple Formats, AC-3, Box set
• English (Published), French (Subtitled), Spanish (Subtitled)

56.  Paris, je t’aime 

Location – Paris

This film will make you fall in love with Paris…if you haven’t already been struck by this beautiful city. 

Paris Je t’aime,  meaning Paris,  I Love You,  is a collection of 18 short films brought to you by 18 famous directors. The film represents stories that take place in 18 of the 20 arrondissements of Paris. Each story has its own cast and is seamlessly sequenced to the ones before and after it.

If you love Paris or dream of visiting the City of Lights, Paris, je t’aime will take you on an exploration of Paris and love. 

• Juliette Binoche, Leonor Watling, Ludivine Sagnier (Actors)
• Bruno Podalydès (Director)

57.  Lion

Based on the non-fiction book  A Long Way Home  by Saroo Brierley, this amazing true story stars Dev Patel, Rooney Mara, and Nicole Kidman. 

Lion tells the story of Saroo Brierley who at age 5 became separated from his family in India. Arriving in Calcutta not knowing where he is or how to get back home, he eventually lands in an orphanage. An Australian couple adopts him.

However, as an adult, Saroo is haunted by the memories of his brother calling his name and sets off on a return to India to find his biological family.

Lion received 6 Oscar nominations and grossed $140 million worldwide.

• Nicole Kidman, David Wenham, Dev Patel (Actors)
• Garth Davis (Director) – Iain Canning (Producer)

58.  Given

Location – Kauai + 15 other countries

Given lets us see and experience the world through the eyes of a 6-year-old boy named Given. His parents are Aamion & Daize Goodwin, famous surfers from Kauai. Aamion traveled with his father as a young boy and sees it as a generational tradition to set off with his son and family. 

Learning about the natural world and experiencing the daily lives of people around the world, Given gets an education that only travel can teach.

If you’re dreaming of traveling the world or haven’t traveled in a while, Given shows and reminds us how incredible the world is. 

59.  The Hundred-Foot Journey

Location – France

This light-hearted drama is based on the novel, The Hundred-Foot Journey about dueling restaurants in a small French village.

The Kadam family moves from India to a village in southern France and opens up an Indian restaurant directly across the road from Helen Mirren’s Michelin Star Rated French restaurant. There are several attempts to sabotage the new restaurant by Mirren and her chefs. The family also faces some discrimination as they settle into their new town.

Hassan, the Kadam’s second-oldest son is an up-and-coming chef, who attempts to impress Mirren. The resulting fusion of the 2 cuisines symbolizes how the 2 sides eventually learn to live and dine together. 

60.  An American in Paris

Dreaming of being an ex-pat in Paris? In this 1951 classic movie-musical, you can live vicariously through Jerry, played by Gene Kelly, who is an American living in Paris and trying to make it as a painter. 

Interwoven with Gershwin music and choreography by Gene Kelly himself, Jerry falls head over heels for Lise Bouvier who initially rebuffs his advances but eventually reciprocates the feelings. However, Lise is supposed to marry Henri, a French singer moving to America, even though she and Jerry love each other. 

An American in Paris won 6 Academy Awards including Best Picture and is considered one of the best movie-musicals of all time.

• Gene Kelly, Leslie Caron, Oscar Levant (Actors)
• Vincente Minnelli (Director) – Alan Jay Lerner (Writer) – Arthur Freed (Producer)

61.  Sex and the City

Location – New York City

The plot of Sex and the City may be all about Carrie Bradshaw and her wedding to the love of her life, John James Preston (aka Big). But, in actuality, the movie is much  bigger  than that. It’s a love letter all about  New York City . <3

From sweeping pre-war apartments to the New York Public Library, Central Park, and the Brooklyn Bridge, you can transport yourself to the Big Apple through the eyes of the 4 female characters who love and live (except Samantha temporarily) there.

62.  One Week

Location – Canada

What would you do if you had just been diagnosed with Stage 4 Cancer?

Ben Tyler, played by Joshua Jackson, finds himself in this exact position. Needing treatment, he instead chooses to set off on a cross-Canadian road trip. On his motorcycle, he travels from Toronto to Vancouver Island. On the journey, Ben reflects on his life, his relationship, his career, and his dreams. 

The Canadian landscape is what has inspired me to visit parts of Canada like Banff or British Columbia. A drive across Canada is still on the bucket list!

• Emm Gryner, Fiona Reid, Joshua Jackson (Actors)
• Michael McGowan (Director) – Jane Tattersall (Producer)

63.  Couples Retreat

Location – Bora Bora

Need some time at an island resort in French Polynesia? Who doesn’t!

Couples Retreat isn’t a cinematic classic, but it allows you to follow 4 couples on their vacation to Bora Bora for a “couples retreat” complete with overwater bungalows, fine food, and…couples therapy!

What follows as each couple spends time  exploring their relationships  is entertaining and funny. Roles are played by Vince Vaughn (as himself, lol), Jason Bateman, Kristen Bell, Jon Favreau, and Faizon Love.

Couples therapy or not, you say Bora Bora, and I’m in!

• COUPLES RETREAT MOVIE
• Vince Vaughn, Jason Bateman, Jon Favreau (Actors)
• Peter Billingsley (Director) – Jon Favreau (Writer) – Vince Vaughn (Producer)

64.  Only You

Location – Pittsburgh – Venice – Positano – Rome 

In the romantic comedy from the 1990s, Marisa Tomei stars as Faith, a girl who has grown up believing her soul mate is someone named Damon Bradley. Days before her wedding to someone not named Damon Bradley, she gets a tip she might find him in Italy. 

As she chases the elusive Damon Bradley from Venice to Rome, and finally to Positano, Faith gets help from a man she met named Peter, played by Robert Downey, Jr.

The film oozes romance from the storyline to Italy’s gorgeous scenery as a backdrop. 

• Marisa Tomei, Robert Downey Jr., Bonnie Hunt (Actors)
• Norman Jewison (Director) – Norman Jewison (Producer)

65.  The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel  

With an ensemble cast of greats like Dame Judi Dench, Tom Wilkinson, and Maggie Smith, The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel tells the story of 7 Brits who are wooed by a brochure to retire at the opulent Marigold Hotel in the beautiful Pink City of Jaipur, India. 

Comedy and drama follow when the hotel isn’t what it appeared to be. You have an inept building manager, culture shock, relationship drama, hip surgeries, and a heart attack. But you also have characters who are coming to terms with their past in the hope of living their golden years happy and fulfilled.

• The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel -DVD Brand New
• Judi Dench, Bill Nighy, Penelope Wilton (Actors)
• John Madden (Director) – Ol Parker (Writer)

66.  7 Years in Tibet

Location – Tibet 

This 1997 biographical drama is based on the 1952 book, 7 Years in Tibet. Brad Pitt plays Heinrich Harrer, an Austrian mountaineer and adventurer. Despite his wife being pregnant, Heinrich leaves her behind to join a climbing buddy for a trek.

However, they are captured by the British while mountaineering in present-day Pakistan, in a wrong-place-wrong-time situation because World War II has started and they have German citizenship. The 2 men escape prison and make it to the mysterious country of Tibet where they have life-changing experiences. 

• Brad Pitt, David Thewlis, Lhapka Tsamchoe (Actors)
• Jean-Jacques Annaud (Director) – Jean-Jacques Annaud (Producer)
• English, Spanish, French (Subtitles)

67.  The Sound of Music

Location – Austria

This 1965 classic musical movie, with songs by Rodgers & Hammerstein and starring the legendary Julie Andrews and Christopher Plummer, takes place in the mountains of Austria in 1938.

Andrew’s character, Maria is a novice nun, who knows in her heart that she is not right for the nunnery. The Mother Abbess sends Maria to be a caretaker for Captain Von Trapp’s 7 children, whose mother has previously passed away. Maria brings music and joy back to the house, which is initially not welcomed by the Captain.

As time passes, Maria and the Captain grow closer and eventually have to flee with the children to avoid the Nazis.

• MUSICAL FEATURES
• Run Time: 176
• Release Date: 2015/03/10

68.  The Way

Location – Spain 

Is walking the Camino de Santiago on your bucket list? This historic Catholic pilgrimage has several routes that all lead to the Cathedral of the Santiago de Compostela in Galicia, Spain.

Camino Frances is one such route that begins in southern France and travels through northern Spain. It takes center stage in The Way when Martin Sheen’s character, Dr. Thomas Avery, must go to Spain after his son Daniel was killed during a storm while walking the Camino de Santiago. 

He decides to walk the pilgrimage to honor his son. The journey and the people he meets along the way help as he works through his grief.

• Emilio Estevez, Martin Sheen (Actors)
• Emilio Estevez (Director)

69.  Lawrence of Arabia

Location – Middle East

Based on the life of T.E. Lawrence, this 1962 classic was nominated for 10 Oscars and won 7, including Best Picture and Best Director. The movie is considered to be one of the best of all time.

T.E. Lawrence was a British army officer who worked as a liaison between the British and Arabs during a revolt against the Ottoman Empire in World War I. Lawrence disobeys the orders of his commanding officer and suggests Prince Faisal plan a surprise attack on the city of Aqaba in present-day Jordan.

The movie was largely filmed in Jordan and Morocco. However, the city of Seville in Spain was also used because of the city’s Moorish influence and architecture.

The movie has inspired the likes of George Lucas, Stanley Kubrick, Martin Scorsese, and Steven Spielberg. It’ll also undoubtedly inspire you to want to visit places like the Sahara and see the ancient historic sights in Jordan, Egypt, Morocco, and Israel.

• Peter O’Toole, Alec Guinness, Anthony Quinn (Actors)
• David Lean (Director) – Sam Spiegel (Producer)

70.  Indiana Jones Movies  

Location –  Sri Lanka – Kauai – Tunisia – France – Macau – Petra – Mexico – Spain

The Indiana Jones adventure movie series is one of the most popular of all time. The series was created in 1981 by George Lucas and directed by Steven Spielberg, with a new movie scheduled to be released in 2021.

Indiana Jones is formally known as Dr. Henry Walton Jones, Jr, an archeology professor. The role in the movies has been played by Harrison Ford. Indiana Jones travels the globe in search of important artifacts to make sure they don’t end up in the wrong hands. As you can imagine, not everyone wants him to find these powerful and important relics. 

The adventures of Indiana Jones will take you to locations around the world, from Sri Lanka to France to Mexico. His adventures rival any travel bucket list out there.

• Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Ark – DVD Brand New
• Harrison Ford, Denholm Elliott, John Rhys-Davies (Actors)
• Steven Spielberg (Director)

71.  Chasing Liberty

Location – Washington D.C. – Prague  – Venice – Austria – Berlin – London

Mandy Moore plays the first daughter of the President of the United States. She wants to be free and live like a normal teenager. The reality is that she must be followed by Secret Service agents wherever she goes.

On a State visit to Prague, Moore’s character Anna rebels by getting away from her Secret Service detail. She desperately wants her independence and ends up on an exciting escapade, first in Prague and then across Europe. 

Ultimately, she is recognized, rescued, and brought back to the United States but not before finding the passion she’s been looking for.

• Closed-captioned; Color; DVD; Fullscreen; NTSC

72.  The Fall  

Location –  India – Europe – South Africa – Indonesia – Namibia and more…

The Fall is a passion project of filmmaker Tarsem Singh. It took 4 years to make and was shot across 20 countries. The result is a visual stunner with backdrops from the Charles Bridge in Prague to the Taj Mahal to a Botanical Garden in Argentina.

Lee Pace plays stuntman Roy Walker who is injured while making a movie. As he recovers in the hospital he meets a young Romanian girl named Alexandria to whom he starts to tell a fantastical story. Alexandria’s vivid imagination has her living the story while Roy has ulterior motives. 

If you’re stuck at home and need an escape, this one-of-a-kind movie will take you across the globe with its cinematography and storytelling.

• Lee Pace (Actor)
• Tarsem Singh (Director)

73.  Casablanca

Location –  Casablanca 

Casablanca is an absolute classic and considered one of the best movies of all time. Humphrey Bogart plays an ex-pat living in Casablanca, Morocco during World War II. He owns a club where you can listen to music and gamble. 

Ingrid Bergman plays his former lover who suddenly shows up with her husband. Her husband is being tracked by the Germans because he’s part of a resistance group. She thinks Bogart’s character, Rick Blaine can help them escape the country. They also have unresolved feelings for each other that play out during the movie despite the need for safety.

The movie won Best Picture in 1942.

• Interactive Menus
• Scene Access

74.  Around the World in 80 Days  (1956 Version) 

This adventure story is about a man named Phileas Fogg who bets a few other men that he can make it around the globe in 80 days. They don’t believe he can do it and happily make the wager. 

Using every form of transportation available at the time from hot air balloons to steamships and trains, Fogg globe-trots around the world from Europe to the Far East to America.

Along the way, his many adventures include ending up in a bullfight in Spain, rescuing a Princess in India, experiencing the Wild West on the American Frontier, and fleeing from a Scotland Yard Inspector who mistakenly thinks he has robbed a bank.

If you’d like to circumnavigate the globe on a true adventure, grab your passport and stick with the original 1956 classic version, winner of the Academy Award for Best Picture.

• Dutch, English, French, Romanian, Arabic (Subtitles)

75.  Coco  

Location – Mexico  

Not many animated films make this list but Coco is a must! It spotlights Mexican culture and particularly the traditions surrounding Dia de Los Muertos, the Mexican Day of the Dead holiday.

A 12-year-old Miguel dreams of being a musician but this is not allowed in his family. Miguel’s great-great-grandfather who was a musician left Miguel’s great-great-grandmother to care for their young daughter, Coco, all alone. However, young Miguel is determined. After teaching himself to play the guitar in secret, he enters the Day of the Dead Talent Show. 

The family-friendly movie goes on to tell the emotional story of Miguel’s family while teaching about the respect Mexican families have for their ancestors. It also won for Best Animated Movie.

• Lee Unkrich (Director) – Adrian Molina (Writer) – Darla K. Anderson (Producer)

76.  Life of Pi

Location – India – Pacific Ocean – Canada

Young Piscine Molitor Patel, or Pi Patel, spent most of his childhood in India, where his family owns a zoo. At 16, Pi’s father says the family will move to Canada. He arranges for the family to travel with the animals on a freight ship. 

One night a terrible storm hits, sinking the ship and killing his entire family. Pi winds up in a lifeboat with a few of the family’s animals, including a zebra, a hyena, an orangutan, and a Bengal tiger who Pi had named Richard Parker. Pi drifts for 227 days until he finally reaches the Mexican coast and is rescued. 

The film is absolutely stunning, and when you watch, you’ll find yourself asking questions about fate, destiny, faith, courage, and survival to understand the lessons the journey teaches.

• English (Subtitled), Spanish (Subtitled), Spanish (Dubbed)

77.  Serendipity  

Location – New York City 

Do you believe in fate or having a destiny? Or do things happen just by chance?

Serendipity is a romantic film starring John Cusack and Kate Beckinsale. Their characters, Jonathan and Sara meet at Bloomingdales in New York City while Christmas shopping and there is instant chemistry. They’re both in other relationships, yet spend the day together.

At the end of the night, Sara writes her name and number inside a used book and Jonathan writes his info on the back of a $5 bill. Sara is confident fate will bring them back together if it’s meant to be.

Years later Jonathan is planning to marry but can’t get Sara out of his mind. He and his best man Dean set off on a quest to find out who Sara is and how to contact her.

Along the way, viewers can tour New York City from Central Park to the Waldorf Astoria Hotel to the famed cafe, Serendipity!

• John Cusack, Kate Beckinsale, Jeremy Piven (Actors)
• Peter Chelsom (Director) – Robert L. Levy (Producer)

78.  Titanic

Location –  UK / North Atlantic 

Sailing from the United Kingdom to New York City, Titanic was the world’s largest and grandest ship of its day. Being on its maiden voyage was supposed to be the voyage of a lifetime. 

Leonardo DiCaprio and Kate Winslet star in this romantic drama, and even though their story is fictionalized, the movie is based on the real-life history and people aboard the ship. Winslet is engaged to be married to a wealthy businessman. DiCaprio is an artist and drifter who won a steerage class ticket just minutes before the ship set sail.

Fate brings them together as they speed across the Atlantic Ocean and as the ship tragically sinks in the frigid North Atlantic Waters.

Titanic was nominated for 14 Academy Awards and won 11, including Best Picture and Best Director for James Cameron. It was the first film ever to hit the billion-dollar mark, grossing a whopping $1.84 billion worldwide, the most ever for any movie.

• Genre: Drama
• Rated PG-13

79.  Leap Year

Location – Ireland

Have you dreamed of a trip to Ireland? Then, you won’t want to miss the beautiful Irish landscapes that only add to the romance in this playful comedy with Amy Adams and Matthew Goode. 

Per the Irish tradition, a woman can propose to her boyfriend on February 29th and he must accept. So, Adam’s character follows her boyfriend to Dublin. But her travels land her in Wales, instead. She’s forced to hire a ride to get her to a ferry that will take her to Cork in Ireland.

Goode’s character agrees to drive her for a price. But along the way, their adventures bring them closer. When they arrive in Dublin, though, Adam’s character has a choice to make between her boyfriend and her surprising feelings for Goode’s character, Declan.

• Amy Adams, Matthew Goode, Adam Scott (Actors)
• Anand Tucker (Director)

80.   The Tourist

Location – Paris – Venice 

Angelina Jolie plays Elise Clifton-Ward whose husband is wanted by both the police and the mob. In a plan to help him get away from both, she heads to Venice and looks to set up an unsuspecting target, who’s played by Johnny Depp. The strategy is to have the police and the mob believe this man is actually her husband.

The Tourist is a thriller taking you from Paris to Venice as you try to figure out the plot’s twists and turns. Travel lovers who watch will want to book their luxury stays at Venice’s 5-star Hotel Danieli, which dates back to the 14th century.

• Johnny Depp, Angelina Jolie (Actors)
• Florian Henckel von Donnersmarck (Director)

81.  Crazy Rich Asians

Location – Singapore

If you’re dreaming of everything Southeast Asia, Crazy Rich Asians takes you there in first class and tempts you with the city’s extravagant architecture, culture, and delicious food.

Nick Young, the heir to a huge family fortune, brings his Chinese-American and native New Yorker girlfriend, Rachel Chu, home for his best friend’s wedding and to meet his mother and family. But, Nick has left out many details about his family’s wealth and his status as one of the best-catch bachelors on the island. 

This comedy-drama will have you laughing, as well as fighting for Rachel who has to figure out how to win the respect of Nick’s family. You’ll also be searching for flights to Singapore by the time the movie’s done!

• Constance Wu, Henry Golding, Gemma Chan (Actors)
• Jon M. Chu (Director) – Peter Chiarelli (Writer) – Tim Coddington (Producer) – Kevin Kwan (Author)

82.  Ferngully

Location – Australian Rain Forest

Travel down under to Australia and one of its rain forests located in New South Wales, near Mount Warning. 

In this animated film, the fairies who inhabit the rainforest are trying to save it from human logging and a dark pollution spirit. A fairy accidentally shrinks a human logger down to fairy-size. Together, with the other fairies and the rain forest animals, they try to save the forest ecosystem.

Ferngully was Robin Williams’s first animated voiceover role. And although Ferngully may not be as well known as some of his other animated roles, Ferngully sends an important message about how important it is to protect the planet’s natural spaces.

• Kroyer, Bill (Director)
• Audience Rating: G (General Audience)

83.  The Way Back

Location – Siberia – Central Asia – Himalayas

This movie is based on the real-life events of a man accused of being a spy in the Soviet Union during World War II. He gets sentenced to hard labor in Siberia. 

After some time, he and a few other prisoners plan a prison escape. Using a blizzard for cover, the group takes their chance to be free and sets off through the wilderness on foot for what ultimately becomes a 4,000-mile trek through Central Asia and the Himalayas.

If you’re looking for a similar movie to Into the Wild, The Way Back should be at the top of your list.

• Colin Farrell, Ed Harris, Jim Sturgess (Actors)
• Peter Weir (Director) – Peter Weir (Producer)

84.  How Stella Got Her Groove Back

Location – Montego Bay, Jamaica  

Stella Payne sets off to vacation in Montego Bay with her best friend Delilah on the beautiful island of Jamaica. Stella is a single mother with a stressful stock market job who hasn’t refreshed and recharged in a long time. 

She meets a good-looking guy 20 years younger than her who lives on the island. Flirtations turn to passion and romance but Stella has doubts about this vacation fling. She questions whether their age difference is a problem and whether it’s just a fling or something more.

Not only were the hotel and beach scenes refreshing, but so was the storyline of an older woman-younger guy relationship.

• Angela Bassett, Taye Diggs, Whoopi Goldberg (Actors)
• Kevin Rodney Sullivan (Director) – Ronald Bass (Writer) – Deborah Schindler (Producer)

85.  Les Miserables

Les Miserables transports you back in time to the 19th century in the years leading up to and during the French Revolution in France. The classic story has been told by book, on the stage, and in this movie musical.

The story centers around Jean Valjean who is put in jail for 19 years for stealing a loaf of bread. Finally out, he realizes he’ll need to break the terms of his parole to find work and make a new life for himself.

However, Javert is a police officer who never stops looking for him, believing once a thief always a thief. These encounters with Javert threaten Valjean’s new life and the daughter he is raising after satisfying the dying wish of Fantine, a former employee of Valjean’s who was forced into prostitution.

Whether you’re a fan of movie musicals or not, director Tom Hooper made the right decision to record live vocals on set so the acting matched the singing for a more realistic production. Les Miserables was nominated for 8 Oscars and won 4 of them.

• Hugh Jackman, Russell Crowe, Anne Hathaway (Actors)
• Tom Hooper (Director) – William Nicholson (Writer) – Tim Bevan (Producer)

86.  Love Actually  

Location – England…and a few minutes in Wisconsin 

Love Actually is a lighthearted movie set mostly in  London . As the title suggests, it’s all about love…in all of its glory and grief. 

The movie cleverly intertwines several storylines where the ensemble cast is experiencing everything from new love, devoted love, and love lost from infidelity and death. Hugh Grant is comical as the Prime Minister of England who’s looking for love. Liam Neeson plays a widower struggling to get over the loss of his wife.

Alan Rickman is the classic middle-aged husband who’s bored in his marriage and is tempted by a co-worker’s advances. His wife, played by Emma Thompson, is devoted as a wife and mother. And, Laura Linney’s character wants love but struggles with family responsibilities.

Love Actually is a feel-good movie that’ll give you the warm fuzzies over love and your London fix, too!

• Hugh Grant, Liam Neeson, Colin Firth (Actors)
• Richard Curtis (Director) – Richard Curtis (Writer) – Duncan Kenworthy (Producer)

87.  The Hangover

Location  – Las Vegas

If ever there was a movie where the location was the star, it would be The Hangover. Las Vegas takes center stage…the antics of the guys in the movie wouldn’t have been possible anywhere else!

Four friends travel to Las Vegas for their buddy Doug’s bachelor party. We only get to see the remnants of what’s gone on when they wake up the next morning in their trashed hotel room. 

A missing tooth, a random baby, a tiger in the bathroom, a stolen cop car, and their friend and groom-to-be missing is only just the start.

Of all the comedy travel movies on the list, this one had me dying! If you need a good laugh or a Vegas weekend of partying, gambling, and drinking, put on The Hangover to get your fix.

• The Hangover – DVD Used Like New
• Bradley Cooper, Ed Helms, Zach Galifianakis (Actors)
• Todd Phillips (Director) – Jon Lucas (Writer) – Todd Phillips (Producer)

88.  Hector and the Search for Happiness

Location – China – Africa – Los Angeles

Hector is a psychiatrist who’s feeling a bit stuck. He realizes his patients are asking him how to be happy and he doesn’t know the answer for himself. He sets off on a journey hoping to find answers to his questions about what happiness is.

He travels from China to Africa to Los Angeles meeting people along the way and learning about their happiness or lack thereof. His voyages and experiences show him it’s not the pursuit of happiness, but rather the happiness of the pursuit that’s important.

The movie is based on the best-selling novel, Hector and the Search for Happiness. Travel lovers everywhere will easily relate to the lessons Hector learns from his pursuit.

• English (Subtitled), Spanish (Subtitled), English (Original Language)

89.  Shirley Valentine

Location –  England – Mykonos, Greece

Ever considered taking a solo trip? Shirley Valentine may be just the inspiration you need.

Shirly Valentine is a 40-something housewife who lives in Liverpool, England with her husband. Things have grown quite stale between them and Shirley professes that all she wants is to travel and drink wine near the sea.

When a neighbor wins a trip for 2 to Greece, Shirley accepts, ready and willing to travel for a fantastic girls’ trip. But when Jane, her neighbor, ditches her at the airport after running off with someone she met on the flight, Shirley embraces her solo status determined to make her travel dreams come true.

This 1989 British comedy is a must-watch for anyone who wants to travel but is nervous about going solo or needs a reminder about any unfulfilled travel dreams.

• Warner Archive Collection On Demand DVD-R
• Collins, Pauline, Conti, Tom, Steadman, Alison (Actors)
• Gilbert, Lewis (Director)

90.  127 Hours

Location – Canyonlands National Park, Utah, USA

Inspired by Aron Ralston’s memoir, Between a Rock and a Hard Place, 127 Hours tells the story of a hike that goes terribly wrong.

While hiking in Canyonlands National Park, Ralston parts ways with a couple of other hikers he met on the trail and sets off on his own. He falls into a slot canyon where his arm is trapped by a large rock. Unable to get free, Ralston starts recording his attempts to survive, which as the days pass he realizes will take every ounce of his courage.

• James Franco, Kate Mara (Actors)
• Danny Boyle (Director) – Danny Boyle (Writer)

91.  Il Postino  

Location – Italy 

This 1994 film takes place on a tiny Italian island in 1950. The local postman, Mario, gets to know Pablo Neruda the famous Chilean poet who’s been driven out of his country and has settled on the island.

Mario has always loved a woman named, Beatrice, who works at a local cafe. But, he’s never known how to tell her or express his feelings. Through his friendship with Pablo and Pablo’s poetry, he is able to win the heart of Beatrice. 

Several islands including Procida in the Bay of Naples and a small island off the coast of Sicily were used for filming. Il Postino is a layered story of travel, love, and politics that’ll stay with you long after the movie is over.

• Massimo Troisi, Poesie, Poems

92.  Letters to Juliet

Location –  Verona, Italy

What could be more beautiful than traveling through Italy for amore?!

Amanda Seyfried plays Sophie, an American traveling with her fiance Victor. The couple visits Verona, the place where Shakespeare’s romantic heroine waited on her balcony for her Romeo. 

She discovers that thousands of letters have been left for Juliet, where visitors have asked for guidance on or confessed their romantic woes. Sophie finds one she has to answer and it sets her on a quest with the woman who wrote the letter many years ago. Each of them finds the answers about the love they’re looking for.

If you’re looking for movies similar to Eat Pray Love, give Letters to Juliet a watch. 

• Amanda Seyfried, Gael García Bernal (Actors)
• Gary Winick (Director)

93.  A Walk in the Woods

Location – The Appalachian Trail 

There’s nothing like hiking when you want to reflect and feel restored, right?

Robert Redford plays the author Bill Bryson who decides to hike the Appalachian Trail after attending a funeral. And lucky for us, we get to hike along with him through all the natural beauty along the trail.

Bill enlists a long-lost buddy played by Nick Nolte to make the trek with him. They gear up with backpacks, tents, and sleeping bags and set off.

The 2,200-mile journey forces the pair to reconnect and plow on despite challenges along the way from bears to bad weather to their physical limitations. For anyone who’s done a long trek or dreamed of doing one, the movie shows the journey is a metaphor for life and doing the best you can is all you can expect, even when things don’t go as planned.

• Robert Redford, Nick Nolte, Nick Offerman (Actors)
• Ken Kwapis (Director)

94.  Romancing the Stone

Location – Columbian Jungle 

Romancing the Stone will have you pining for a jungle adventure!

Joan is a writer whose sister, Elaine, is kidnapped. She gets a map and is told to go to Cartagena for her sister’s ransom. However, things go wrong when Joan is duped into getting on the wrong bus by a man named Colonel Zolo, who also wants the map.

After the bus crashes, Joan meets Jack, an American who agrees to get her out of the jungle for a price. All the while, Ralph, one of Elaine’s kidnappers is following Joan, too.

Throughout the movie, Jack and Joan have to avoid Zolo as they journey through the jungle.

Directed by Robert Zemeckis and starring Michael Douglas and Kathleen Turner, Romancing the Stone is a thrill for all adventure lovers.

• Michael Douglas, Kathleen Turner, Danny DeVito (Actors)
• Robert Zemeckis (Director) – Diane Thomas (Writer)

95.  The Davinci Code  

Location – France – England  

This popular thriller is based on Dan Brown’s book, The Davinci Code. The first scenes include a murder at the Louvre in Paris. The crime scene is full of symbolism, riddles, and codes that the murdered Jacques Sauniere left to be deciphered.

Tom Hanks stars as Robert Langdon, a symbol expert who’s called to the crime scene unaware that he is the prime suspect. With the help of Jacques Sauniere’s granddaughter, he escapes and the two of them set off across Paris, the French countryside, and onto London and the English countryside in the hopes of solving the mystery of the murder while avoiding the police.

Along the way, travel lovers watching will visit famous landmarks in both Paris and London.

• Tom Hanks, Audrey Tautou, Ian McKellen (Actors)
• Ron Howard (Director) – John Calley (Producer)

96.  Tracks

Location – Australian

Based on a memoir by Robyn Davidson, Tracks tells the true story of her journey across the Australian desert. She plans to walk 1,700 miles with 4 camels and her dog from Alice Springs to the Indian Ocean. A National Geographic photographer played by Adam Driver accompanies her to document the trek.

Not only does this movie show the harsh landscape that sprawls across Australia, but Tracks will also inspire anyone watching with a love for travel and adventure. Robyn’s test of self-courage is a similar voyage of survival and perseverance as Cheryl Strayed’s Wild.

• Mia Wasikowska, Adam Driver (Actors)
• John Curran (Director) – Marion Nelson (Writer) – Emile Sherman (Producer)

97.  The Impossible

Location – Thailand

The Impossible is based on the real-life events of a husband and wife and their 3 sons who were vacationing on the beaches of Thailand when the devastating 2004 tsunami hit.

Naomi Watts was nominated for an Academy Award for her performance as Maria, a wife and mother, who gets swept away by the waters. She finds her eldest son in the water, too, and fights for both of them to survive. 

The family’s story is unforgettable. And as horrible as the situation is, you’ll be inspired by the kindness of strangers and the strength of the human spirit to overcome such a great natural disaster. 

• Watts, Naomi, McGregor, Ewan, Holland, Tom (Actors)
• Spanish (Subtitle)

98.  Blue Hawaii

Who would have thought an Elvis Presley movie would make this list of top travel movies?!

The award-winning Blue Hawaii stars the King himself as a guy named Chad who lives in Hawaii. Chad doesn’t want to work at his father’s fruit company and decides to become a tour guide for Hawaii tourists. Naturally, his first group of visitors are all pretty girls, which doesn’t exactly thrill his longtime girlfriend.

The tropical Hawaiian scenery combined with the recognizable sound of Elvis’ songs makes this movie classic travel fun!

99.  A Good Year

Location – London – Provence, in the south of France

This romantic comedy had me at Provence. The south of France is on many a traveler’s bucket list! And if you’re looking for movies like Under the Tuscan Sun, A Good Year is worth a watch.

Max Skinner, played by Russel Crowe, is a financial trader in London who inherits his Uncles’ vineyard in Provence. He travels there, planning to sell the house and quickly return to London. 

But, a series of mishaps delay his return to London and, at the same time, a potential love interest unexpectedly enters his life. Another woman enters the scene claiming to be the daughter of his Uncle, throwing the sale of the vineyard into question. 

Max ultimately has to decide whether to return to his high-powered job in London or stay in Provence.

100.  View from the Top

Location – Nevada – Cleveland – Paris

Travel lovers all over the globe can relate to the urge to travel and wanting to see the world. That’s what Donna Jensen a girl from a town in Nevada, played by Gwyneth Paltrow, wants to do with her life.

While watching TV, she’s inspired by Sally Weston, a flight attendant who has written a memoir about her travels. Donna goes after her dream by starting at a commuter airline and, throughout the movie, works hard to get assigned to the route she’s dreaming of, Paris in first class.

In the end, Donna has to figure out how to balance her happiness with her love for travel and the sky.

• Paltrow, Gwyneth, Applegate, Christina, Ruffalo, Mark (Actors)

101.  Nowhere in Africa

Location – Kenya

This autobiographical movie tells about the Redlich family who leaves Germany in 1938 to avoid Nazi persecution. Walter Redlich goes first to Kenya and then sends for his wife, Jettel, and daughter Regina shortly afterward. 

Their new life in East Africa is very different from their life in Germany. The cinematography shows us what life in Kenya is like through its landscapes and people. During the movie, each member of the Redlich family faces challenges that come with their new life and we get to see how each one handled them.

When you watch, you’ll understand why this travel movie gem deserved its Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film. 

• Kohler, Juliane, Zimmermann, Regine, Ninidze, Merab (Actors)
• Link, Caroline (Director)

Have These Travel Movies Inspired You?

So, there you have it! More than 100 of the best travel movies ready to transport you around the globe…all from the comfort of your own home.

I hope you’ll feel inspired to plan a trip after seeing one of these movies or you’ll reminisce or dream about a trip, past or future!

What are your favorite travel inspiration movies?

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60 Essential Adventure Movies

The adventure is one of the hardest kinds of movie to define, but like certain other genres:  “ You know it when you see it.” Adventures are grand, exciting, and often epic tales, usually focused on people on a mission, whose purposes include fame, fortune, and glory. The best adventure movies can run on the thrill of exploration and discovery, treading deep into jungles, stalking across arid deserts, or sailing across open oceans. The casts of characters feature rambunctious pirates, lordly counts, mercenaries and bounty hunters, big whales, and even bigger apes. And adventure movies can invite their other genre buddies along for the ride, too, including fantasy and science-fiction.

Now we’re embarking on our own journey, plundering gem after gem for a guide to what we’re calling the essential adventure movies if you love the genre. Listing these best adventure movies in chronological order, we begin a century in the past, when the adventure genre was defined by the swashbucklers of  Captain Blood and The Three Musketeers . At the same time, the fantastical elements introduced in King Kong and Wizard of Oz marked adventure movies as the spot to introduce the latest in dazzling special effects.

After World War II, the adventure genre entered its prestige era, with historical epics like Lawrence of Arabia and The Man Who Would Be King , and tales of derring-do in The African Queen and The Great Escape . Here it should be said there is a certain Western-centric viewpoint that cannot be denied as inherent to many adventure movies, one that ‘others’ different countries and cultures. And hopefully what elevates these movies above that are their swaggering sense of playful optimism and lighthearted fun.

That’s certainly evident in Raiders of the Lost Ark , whose retro serial action and intrigue established the adventure formula for a new generation, which marched on through Indiana Jones’ sequels, Romancing the Stone , National Treasure , and The Mummy . During the same ’80s Indy decade, the adventure genre opened itself back up to sci-fi and fantasy, along with spotlighting younger protagonists, leading to The Goonies , The NeverEnding Story , Labyrinth , and more.

Around the turn of the century, the adventure movie successfully aided the resurrection of other genres that common Hollywood wisdom had deemed box office poison: swashbucklers ( The Mask of Zorro ), high fantasy ( The Lord of the Rings ), and even the pirate movie ( Pirates of the Caribbean ), which had been sent to Davy Jones’ Locker after Cutthroat Island sank Carolco Pictures.

And since 2012’s Life of Pi , there’s been another adventure resurgence with The Jungle Book and more Kong and Jumanji movies.

The Three Musketeers (1921) 92%

King Kong (1933) 97%

Captain Blood (1935) 100%

The Adventures of Robin Hood (1938) 100%

The Wizard of Oz (1939) 98%

Gunga Din (1939) 93%

The Treasure of the Sierra Madre (1948) 100%

The Three Musketeers (1948) 75%

The African Queen (1951) 96%

20,000 Leagues Under the Sea (1954) 91%

Moby Dick (1956) 81%

The Hidden Fortress (1958) 96%

Journey to the Center of the Earth (1959) 84%

Lawrence of Arabia (1962) 94%

The Great Escape (1963) 94%

The Three Musketeers (1973) 88%

The Man Who Would Be King (1975) 97%

Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981) 93%

Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom (1984) 77%

Romancing the Stone (1984) 86%

The Neverending Story (1984) 83%

The Goonies (1985) 77%

Return to Oz (1985) 58%

Flight of the Navigator (1986) 84%

Labyrinth (1986) 77%

The Princess Bride (1987) 96%

Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade (1989) 84%

Honey, I Shrunk the Kids (1989) 76%

The Armour of God (1986) 71%

Hook (1991) 29%

White Fang (1991) 67%

Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves (1991) 51%

The Last of the Mohicans (1992) 88%

Rudyard Kipling's The Jungle Book (1994) 80%

Jumanji (1995) 51%

The Mask of Zorro (1998) 84%

The Mummy (1999) 61%

The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (2001) 91%

Lara Croft: Tomb Raider (2001) 20%

The Count of Monte Cristo (2002) 73%

Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl (2003) 80%

Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World (2003) 85%

Big Fish (2003) 75%

National Treasure (2004) 46%

King Kong (2005) 84%

Zathura (2005) 76%

Duma (2005) 95%

Stardust (2007) 77%

Journey to the Center of the Earth (2008) 60%

Nim's Island (2008) 53%

City of Ember (2008) 53%

Alice in Wonderland (2010) 51%

Life of Pi (2012) 86%

The Jungle Book (2016) 94%

Kong: Skull Island (2017) 75%

Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle (2017) 76%

The Lost City of Z (2016) 86%

A Wrinkle in Time (2018) 43%

Dora and the Lost City of Gold (2019) 85%

The Kid Who Would Be King (2019) 90%

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23 Best Travel Movies That Will inspire your next adventure

We all love to travel and explore new places, and sometimes the best way to get inspired is to watch one of the best travel movies of all time! From classic films like The Motorcycle Diaries to modern favorites like Into the Wild, there are plenty of inspiring travel movies out there.

So let’s take a look at some of the best travel movies to inspire your next big adventure!

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The Best Travel Movies to Watch in 2023:

Eat pray love.

Eat Pray Love is a 2010 American biographical romantic drama film starring Julia Roberts as Elizabeth Gilbert. It is based on Gilbert’s best-selling memoir of the same name. The film chronicles Gilbert’s journey as she embarks on a year-long journey of self-discovery. She travels across Italy, India, and Bali. Along the way, Elisabeth meets a variety of people who help her find balance in her life and learn to love herself again.

Travel guides to:

Seven Years in Tibet

Seven Years in Tibet is a 1997 film starring Brad Pitt and David Thewlis. It is based on the true story of Austrian mountaineer Heinrich Harrer. Heinrich, after escaping a British internment camp in India during World War II, makes his way to Tibet, where he becomes close friends with the Dalai Lama. The film follows Harrer’s journey as he learns about Tibetan culture and religion and befriends the young Dalai Lama. In addition, it explores the difficult situation faced by Tibetans under Chinese occupation.

Your travel guide to Tibet:

Nowhere in Africa

Nowhere in Africa is a 2001 German-language period drama film. Caroline Link wrote and directed it based on the 1995 autobiographical novel of the same name by Stefanie Zweig. It tells the story of a German-Jewish family. They emigrate to Kenya to escape persecution in Nazi Germany, and adjust to their new lives in Africa. The family’s daughter, Regina narrates the story and focuses on her relationship with her father, Walter Redlich. The film won the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film in 2003.

Your travel guide to Kenya:

The Bucket List

The Bucket List is a 2007 American comedy-drama film starring Jack Nicholson and Morgan Freeman. The film follows two terminally ill men on their road trip with a wish list of things to do before they “kick the bucket.” As the pair develop a bond, they come to understand the true meaning of friendship and life.

Tracks is a 2013 Australian drama film starring Mia Wasikowska. It is based on Robyn Davidson’s memoir of the same name. The film follows Davidson’s real-life journey of 1,700 miles across the Australian outback. From Alice Springs to the Indian Ocean with her four camels and a dog. Along the way, she meets various characters who challenge her in different ways, ultimately leading her to confront her past and discover her true self.

Travel to Australia:

The Beach is a 2000 adventure drama film. It is based on the 1996 novel of the same name by Alex Garland . It stars Leonardo DiCaprio as Richard, a young backpacker who travels to Thailand in search of a legendary, isolated beach paradise. Along the way, he meets a strange group of travelers and joins them in their search for the beach. The film follows Richard as he deals with the dangers of both the jungle and the dark secrets of his companions. The Beach is an exciting and suspenseful journey into a world of adventure, discovery, and danger.

Your guide in Thailand:

The Way Back

The Way Back is a 2020 American survival drama film inspired by an incredible true story. The film stars Colin Farrell, Ed Harris, and Saoirse Ronan. It tells the story of a group of soldiers who escape from a Siberian gulag during World War II and embark on an epic 4,000-mile journey across the Eurasian continent to freedom in India. Along the way, they battle the elements, face dangerous enemies, and ultimately discover what it means to be truly free.

Lost in Translation

Written and directed by Sofia Coppola, Lost in Translation is a 2003 American romantic comedy-drama film. The film follows an aging American movie star, Bob Harris (Bill Murray), stranded in Tokyo while on a promotional tour. Here, he meets Charlotte (Scarlett Johansson), a young college graduate newly arrived in the city. The two form a bond as they find solace in their mutual isolation and explore the city together.

As their relationship deepens, they become aware of the difference in their respective ages and cultural backgrounds. Yet find comfort and understanding in each other’s company.

Wild is a biographical drama film based on the memoir of the same name written by Cheryl Strayed . The film follows Cheryl (played by Reese Witherspoon) as she embarks on a 1,100-mile solo hike along the Pacific Crest Trail in order to recover from her troubled past. Along the way, she deals with a variety of obstacles, such as extreme weather conditions, wild animals, and her own personal demons.

Midnight in Paris

Midnight in Paris is a romantic comedy-fantasy film by Woody Allen. It follows the story of a screenwriter, Gil Pender, who is visiting Paris with his fiancée. During his stay, he begins to wander around the city at night. Gil soon discovers that he can travel back in time to the 1920s.

As he continues to explore the city during the midnight hours, Gil meets some of the most influential figures of the era. Such as Ernest Hemingway, F. Scott Fitzgerald, and Salvador Dalí. Through his interactions with these iconic figures, Gil discovers an appreciation for the beauty and romance of the past and begins to question his life and choices.

Encounters at the End of the World

Encounters at the End of the World is a 2007 documentary film directed by Werner Herzog. The film follows Herzog as he travels to Antarctica to explore the landscape, wildlife, and human inhabitants of the continent.

The film features interviews with a variety of Antarctic researchers and adventurers who have chosen to make the continent their home. Through these interviews and his exploration of Antarctica, Herzog paints a picture of a place that is both inhospitable and awe-inspiring, full of beauty and mystery.

A Good Year

A Good Year is a 2006 romantic comedy-drama film directed and produced by Ridley Scott. The film stars Russell Crowe, Marion Cotillard, Didier Bourdon, and Abbie Cornish. The film is about Max Skinner (Russell Crowe), an investment broker living in London who inherits a vineyard in Provence, France from his late uncle.

With the help of a local café owner (Marion Cotillard), Max learns to appreciate the simpler things in life and discovers love.

Bruges is a 2008 black comedy-crime film written and directed by Martin McDonagh. The film stars Brendan Gleeson and Colin Farrell as two Irish hitmen in hiding, with Ralph Fiennes as their gangster boss. The film takes place in the Belgian city of Bruges, after a job in London goes wrong.

The two hitmen are left with orders to await further instructions while exploring the city, leading to a series of comedic adventures. The film received critical acclaim, and has been praised for its dark humor and complex characters.

A Walk in the Woods

A Walk in the Woods is a 2015 adventure comedy-drama film directed by Ken Kwapis and starring Robert Redford, Nick Nolte and Emma Thompson. The movie follows two old friends, Redford and Nolte, as they attempt to hike the 2,100-mile Appalachian Trail.

Along the way, they encounter various obstacles such as getting lost in the wilderness, wild animals and personal conflicts. The film is a comedic look at the struggles of growing old and the struggles of modern life.

The Secret Life of Walter Mitty

The Secret Life of Walter Mitty is a 2013 American fantasy comedy-drama film directed and produced by Ben Stiller. The film stars Stiller as the eponymous character, a photographic negative assets manager at Life magazine. He daydreams of adventures and embarks on a global journey to find a missing photograph negative. Along the way, Walter discovers his courage, true love, and a newfound zest for life.

Under the Tuscan Sun

Under the Tuscan Sun is a 2003 romantic comedy-drama film written, produced, and directed by Audrey Wells. It stars Diane Lane as a recently divorced San Francisco writer who impulsively buys a villa in Tuscany on a trip to Italy.

While she’s there, she meets an array of vibrant characters that help her discover the beauty of life and learn to take risks in order to find true happiness. The film also stars Sandra Oh, Lindsay Duncan, Vincent Riotta, and Raoul Bova.

The Way is a 2010 American drama film directed, produced and written by Emilio Estevez. The film follows the story of an American doctor (played by Martin Sheen). He comes to France after his son (played by Estevez) dies while walking the “El Camino de Santiago,” a pilgrimage route in Spain.

He decides to take his son’s ashes with him and complete the pilgrimage in his son’s memory. Along the way, he meets other travelers who help him to heal his grief and find new meaning in life.

Into the Wild

Into the Wild is a 2007 biographical adventure drama film written, co-produced, and directed by Sean Penn. It is an adaptation of the 1996 non-fiction book of the same name by Jon Krakauer. It tells the true story of Christopher McCandless (Emile Hirsch), a young man who hiked across North America into the Alaskan wilderness in the early 1990s.

The film depicts McCandless’s adventures as he gives away his life savings, rejects his conventional life and sets out on a journey to experience life in the wilderness. The film explores themes of freedom, adventure, and self-discovery.

Out of Africa

Out of Africa is a 1985 romantic drama film. It is based on the autobiographical book Out of Africa written by Isak Dinesen. It tells the story of Danish aristocrat Karen Blixen (played by Meryl Streep) as she and her husband (Robert Redford) move to British East Africa and start a coffee plantation in the early 1900s.

Blixen soon develops a close relationship with the African landscape and its people. This eventually leads to a tragic love story when she meets a charming adventurer, played by Klaus Maria Brandauer.

The Motorcycle Diaries

The Motorcycle Diaries is a 2004 biopic about the formative, life-changing journey undertaken by the young Ernesto ‘Che’ Guevara and his best friend Alberto Granado. The two 23-year-olds travel 8,000 kilometres (5,000 miles) on a 1939 Norton 500 motorcycle. From Buenos Aires, across the Andes and through Chile, Peru, Columbia and Venezuela.

Along the way they experience the poverty of Latin America, witness the effects of US imperialism, and discover their own revolutionary spirit.

Amélie is a 2001 romantic comedy film directed by Jean-Pierre Jeunet. The film is a whimsical depiction of contemporary Parisian life, set in Montmartre. It stars Audrey Tautou as the title character, an innocent, naive girl in Paris with her own sense of justice. She decides to help those around her and, along the way, discovers love.

Your guide to Paris:

Monsoon Wedding

The Monsoon Wedding is a 2001 Indian drama film directed by Mira Nair. It is set in Delhi and centered around an extended Punjabi family preparing for an arranged marriage. The film follows the story of Aditi and her cousin. They are both caught up in a whirlwind of emotions as they prepare for the wedding.

The film details the preparations for the wedding and the various issues that arise among the family members in their journey to make this union successful. The movie features a large ensemble cast, with Naseeruddin Shah, Lillete Dubey, and Shefali Shah in the lead roles.

Samsara is a non-narrative documentary film that takes viewers on a journey around the world, exploring the wonders of humanity and the connectedness of all life. The film travels to 25 countries and offers stunning visuals of ancient spiritual practices, modern industrial landscapes, and breathtaking natural wonders. It examines the link between the physical and spiritual worlds, and explores humanity’s relationship to the ever-changing environment. Samsara serves as a reminder that our actions have consequences beyond what we can see.

Watching the best travel movies can be an exciting and inspiring way to get a taste of the world without ever leaving your couch. From adventure to comedy, these films have something to offer everyone. So, whether you’re looking for an entertaining way to pass the time or some fuel for your wanderlust, these are the best travel movies worth checking out. So, what are you waiting for? Grab some popcorn and start your journey now!

Know some great travel movies that deserve to be on the list of the best travel movies? Share in the comments below!

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The 20 Best Adventure Movies of All Time, Ranked According to IMDb

Take the adventure of a lifetime from your couch.

Recently released blockbusters like Dune: Part Two underscore the enduring popularity of the adventure genre, which is one that intersects with numerous other categories. Fans of films that depict epic journeys and thrilling encounters will be happy to learn that it’s easier than ever to discover the best adventure movies, thanks to IMDb .

Users’ votes on the platform have determined the highest-rated adventure films, which are often award-winning classics that represent the best that the genre has to offer. The top 10 adventure movies on the platform rightly include several entries from the Star Wars and The Lord of the Rings franchise (as well as the Avengers movies), which are essential films from the genre.

20 'Coco' (2017)

Imdb rating: 8.4/10.

There is a solid reason why many people consider Coco to be one of the best films that Pixar has ever produced . Fans have grown to anticipate exceptionally clear and stunning graphics from the studio, and the film delivers on those expectations. Also, the film tells an extraordinary tale about a little boy who has adventures in the Land of the Dead.

In the film, an unexplained ban on music is revealed to have been motivated by a tragic backstory, which will almost certainly move viewers to shed at least a few tears. Stunning and grandiose moments in the animated film are brilliantly accompanied by scenes that are more personal and moving – all of these work well and make up the engrossing and unforgettable trip of a lifetime for the film's lovable protagonist.

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19 'Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse' (2018)

Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse is a critically acclaimed animated film that introduced the Marvel hero to the concept of the multiverse before it became mainstream. It follows the likable Miles Morales ( Shameik Moore ) as he attempts to juggle superhero responsibilities with schoolwork, a task that quickly gets more complex as he encounters other Spider-Man characters from all over the universe. Before it's too late, they have to work together to put a stop to the nefarious Kingpin and his "super collider."

The film's stunning visuals steal the show, overshadowing even its well-written characters in impact. It seems as if pages from a comic book have come to life in order to convey Miles' amazing experience thanks to the vivid colors and wild transitions that are used. It's an incredible animated movie that stands up remarkably well to more recent entries in the genre.

Spider-Man: Into The Spider-Verse

Watch on Fubo

18 'Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Ark' (1981)

In Raiders of the Lost Ark , the courageous archaeologist Indiana Jones ( Harrison Ford ) embarks on an incredible journey. Alongside his brave love interest Marion Ravenwood ( Karen Allen ), the characters find themselves entangled in a race against villains who are searching for the lost artifact for their own nefarious purposes. What comes next is a treacherous adventure that is full of twists and traps, both of which the protagonist needs to overcome.

The thrilling Indiana Jones movie is packed with unexpected turns that shed light on the individuals and their motivations for the actions they do. As the audience becomes increasingly attached to Jones and Marion, the story focuses less on the artifact itself and more on the adventurous journey that they go on.

Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Ark

17 'avengers: infinity war' (2018).

The stakes are higher than ever before in Avengers: Infinity War , where the group of familiar heroes faces off against a truly terrible antagonist, Thanos ( Josh Brolin ), an intergalactic Titan warlord who's on a quest to collect all six Infinity Stones. His goal? To destroy half of all life across the universe to "restore balance."

For MCU fans, Infinity War left a sinking feeling in their stomachs that would only be resolved by the even more iconic sequel . It showed the world that the Avengers could lose in a spectacular fashion, and gave audiences a legendary antagonist with a twisted goal that changes everything for the mighty heroes.

Avengers: Infinity War

16 'avengers: endgame' (2019).

Following the devastating deaths caused by Thanos’ snap in Avengers: Infinity War , the survivors are left to pick up the pieces in Endgame . The events of Phase Three come to a head in the box office hit, which sees the remaining Avengers banding together for one final attempt at reversing the chaos and destruction all over the universe.

The Russo brothers manage to depict a complicated story with numerous moving parts in a cohesive and exhilarating way in one of the best adventure movies from Hollywood. With wild portrayals of time travel, tear-jerking final goodbyes, and visually stunning epic battles on a scale never before seen in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

Avengers: Endgame

15 'aliens' (1986).

In this terrific sequel to Alien , Sigourney Weaver reprises her now-iconic role as Ellen Ripley, who is finally rescued after spending decades asleep in cryo. She quickly becomes a member of a team that is sent to a settlement of colonists on a planet that may be inhabited by extraterrestrial beings, and she is disheartened to discover that everyone around her appears to be underestimating the monsters.

James Cameron 's Aliens is able to successfully present audiences with a more extensive storyline since it has much improved special effects, expanded approaches for world-building, and even a more intimate look into Ellen's backstory. Widely regarded as one of the most iconic sci-fi movies , Aliens will keep audiences glued to their screens as Ellen survives one horrific encounter after another .

14 'The Lion King' (1994)

Imdb rating: 8.5/10.

The Lion King is an animated Disney classic that tells the story of Simba (voiced by Matthew Broderick ), a cub and successor to King Mufasa ( James Earl Jones ) in the Circle of Life. When Simba’s scheming uncle Scar ( Jeremy Irons ) murders Mufasa and manipulates the lion cub that it’s his fault, however, he finds comfort far away from home among new carefree friends, Timon ( Nathan Lane ) and Pumbaa ( Ernie Sabella ). It takes a childhood friend, Nala ( Moira Kelly ), and a shaman, Rafiki ( Robert Guillaume ), to get Simba back on the right path.

Among the greatest movies to come out during the Disney Renaissance , the touching story of Simba’s adventure is an important part of numerous audiences’ childhoods. The well-written film is still worth revisiting today, as adults may find new perspectives on Simba’s journey.

The Lion King (1994)

13 'back to the future' (1985).

Back to the Future is a film that needs no introduction. The critically acclaimed classic directed by Robert Zemeckis follows the misadventures of Marty McFly ( Michael J. Fox ), who accidentally uses Doc Brown’s ( Christopher Lloyd ) modified DeLorean to travel back in time . He’s soon in a messy situation when he ruins the early stages of his parents’ relationship, which threatens Marty’s existence.

Campy, wacky, and surprisingly heartfelt, it’s not hard to see why Back to the Future is beloved by fans. Any disturbing challenges Marty encounters are never too troubling thanks to the comedic tone and light atmosphere throughout the film.

Back to the Future

12 'gladiator' (2000).

Director Ridley Scott ’s Gladiator is a historical drama centered on the Roman general, Maximus Decimus Meridius ( Russell Crowe ). Maximus is betrayed, and his family is murdered by the treacherous Commodus ( Joaquin Phoenix ), who wanted to claim Emperor Marcus Aurelius’ ( Richard Harris ) throne. Maximus is sent away and into slavery, but he soon becomes a gladiator and climbs the ranks to seek revenge.

Anyone who has seen the hard-hitting yet spectacular movie knows that Maximus’ adventure isn’t a happy one. He repeatedly risks his life to get right back to where he was and confront his family’s murderer. One of Ridley Scott's very best works , it's an inspiring and heartbreaking tale of a courageous soldier who never stops fighting.

11 'Spirited Away' (2001)

Imdb rating: 8.6/10.

Director Hayao Miyazaki ’s Spirited Away is centered on ten-year-old Chihiro Ogino’s ( Rumi Hiiragi ) tale as she ventures deeper into the world of the Kami to find a way to rescue her parents. She has to learn to muster up the courage to survive in Yubaba’s ( Mari Natsuki ) bathhouse, deal with creatures like No-Face, and rely on her inner strength to keep going.

Still considered Studio Ghibli’s most popular film , the animated masterpiece has gorgeous visuals, imaginative character design, and a touching narrative of independence and hope. Chihiro’s adventure is unlike any other and will take viewers along for an awe-inspiring ride through the spirit world.

Spirited Away

Watch on Max

10 'Star Wars: Episode IV - A New Hope' (1977)

The film that birth the iconic franchise that's still thriving today, A New Hope transported viewers to a galaxy far, far away. It introduced iconic characters like Luke Skywalker ( Mark Hamill ) and Han Solo (Harrison Ford), who join forces to rescue Princess Leia Organa ( Carrie Fisher ) from the villainous Darth Vader ( David Prowse / James Earl Jones ).

Depicting the struggle between the Rebel Alliance and the Galactic Empire, the legendary classic redefined the sci-fi genre, and provided an adventure of a lifetime for an entire generation (and perhaps, for generations to come). It has cemented its place in cinematic history as one of the greats, and will forever be part of annual viewing traditions for countless fans.

Star Wars: Episode IV - A New Hope

9 'spider-man: across the spider-verse' (2023).

After the stunning premiere of Into the Spider-Verse , critics and fans alike were understandably skeptical about the sequel's ability to surpass the original . Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse didn't just manage to surpass the original, it soared and exceeded all expectations , cementing itself as an instant classic in the animation, sci-fi, and adventure genres.

Miles Morales is back and reunites with Gwen Stacy ( Hailee Steinfeld ), who accidentally leads him to discover the Multiverse where numerous Spider-People exist. Why has this been hidden from him the entire time? The complex and surprisingly emotional story unfolds over wildly beautiful scenes showcasing a variety of art styles. It's like watching art come to life, with heart-pounding action, well-written characters, and a fascinating world as added an bonus.

Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse

8 'star wars: episode v - the empire strikes back' (1980), imdb rating: 8.7/10.

Set three years after the events of 1977’s Star Wars , director Irvin Kershner ’s The Empire Strikes Back depicts the ongoing battle between the tyrannical Galactic Empire and the fearless Rebel Alliance . The beloved continuation of the Skywalker Saga also sees Luke (Mark Hamill) training with Master Yoda ( Frank Oz ), as part of his preparation to face the ruthless Sith lord, Darth Vader (David Prowse / James Earl Jones).

The blockbuster is considered the best from the original trilogy and gives audiences some much-needed answers about Luke’s past and potential future. It also brings back the heroic Princess Leia Organa (Carrie Fisher), and continues her arc alongside other fan favorites like Han Solo (Harrison Ford) and Chewbacca ( Peter Mayhew ).

Star Wars: Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back

7 'interstellar' (2014).

Interstellar is a must-see sci-fi film that’s set in a world suffering from the effects of the climate crisis. With blight threatening humanity’s survival, ex-NASA pilot Cooper ( Matthew McConaughey ) agrees to lead a risky trip through a wormhole that could lead to the species’ last hope for a new home. He never imagines what kind of dangers and wonders are on the other side.

Directed by Christopher Nolan , the movie has won numerous accolades and is widely regarded as a scientifically accurate adventure that (mostly) conforms to established physical laws. This accuracy makes Cooper’s journey even more exciting, knowing that the wild things viewers see could be possible somewhere in the known universe.

Interstellar

6 'the good, the bad and the ugly' (1966), imdb rating: 8.8/10.

Known as the ultimate spaghetti Western , director Sergio Leone ’s The Good, the Bad and the Ugly follows the three titular characters and their relentless quest to find a buried cache of gold . Nothing will stop the men from locating and claiming their bounty, not even the chaos from the ongoing American Civil War.

The creative and sometimes campy adventure depicted in the film takes the three characters to some strange and violent places. The genre and director’s signature style is obvious through intense close-ups, long shots, and stylized gun fights, which build up throughout the movie all the way to its explosive conclusion.

The Good, the Bad and the Ugly

5 'the lord of the rings: the two towers' (2002).

Based on J. R. R. Tolkien 's renowned novels, director Peter Jackson's iconic Lord of the Rings trilogy depicts a fantastical sprawling world where magic, evil, and heroism combine, often from the most unexpected places . The second entry in the trilogy, The Two Towers , continues Frodo Baggins' dangerous journey to Mordor ( Elijah Wood ) alongside Samwise Gamgee ( Sean Astin ). On the other side, preparations for the Battle of Helm's Deep begin to sow doubt into Men's hearts, who have just been forced out of their homes.

It's impossible to call any of the three films in Jackson's trilogy bad, but The Two Towers is the weakest among them (at least based on IMDb scores). That said, it serves as a perfectly exhilarating bridge that continues the epic stories in exciting and tear-jerking ways.

The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers

4 'inception' (2010).

Nolan’s Inception is often cited alongside some of the best sci-fi movies of all time and is rightly among IMDb's top adventure films. It follows a group of professional thieves led by Dom Cobb ( Leonardo DiCaprio ), who is an “extractor.” They go on a never-before-seen mission into a victim’s subconscious, not to steal information, but to plant an idea. Along the way, Cobb fails to let his team know that something from his past could complicate their already challenging mission.

An unprecedented adventure into the layers of the mind, Inception became a box office hit lauded by fans and critics alike for its stunning visual effects and novel concept. Its exciting sequences are set in large (often moving) set pieces that add to the fantastical and exhilarating atmosphere of the film.

3 'Dune: Part Two' (2024)

Following the successful premiere of 2021's Dune , it seemed to most that Frank Herbert 's notoriously unadaptable novels have found their match. Director Denis Villeneuve proves this with the recently released Dune: Part Two , which continues Paul Atreides' ( Timothée Chalamet ) journey further into the unforgiving deserts of the planet Arrakis, where he takes advantage of a prophecy to motivate the local population to fight.

Dune: Part Two is bigger, bolder, and better in every way, expanding on the already intriguing lore laid out by the first movie. It also introduces new characters and elements with ease, with the film benefitting from Villeneuve's direction in telling its tricky yet compelling story – not to mention its impeccably cast supporting characters. Fans and critics alike are hoping he can stick the landing with the potential final installment in the film series.

Dune: Part Two

Watch in Cinemas

2 'The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring' (2001)

Imdb rating: 8.9/10.

The widely beloved first movie in director Peter Jackson's legendary trilogy , The Fellowship of the Ring portrays the start of the perilous path the humble Hobbit Frodo Baggins (Wood) must take as the bearer of the One Ring . Alongside loyal friends, new allies, and a powerful wizard, the Fellowship is formed in Rivendell and pushes onward to face whatever may come their way.

The 2001 award-winning movie showcased the magical beauty of Middle-earth for the first time, building up anticipation for the sequels for years to come. Its far-reaching influence is still felt in the continuation of the saga today, though none can compare to the original trilogy that set a high standard for any future adaptation of Tolkien's work.

The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring

1 'the lord of the rings: the return of the king' (2003), imdb rating: 9.0/10.

Director Peter Jackson’s final entry in the legendary The Lord of the Rings trilogy, The Return of the King portrays the events in J. R. R. Tolkien’s eponymous 1955 novel. The renowned LotR film masterfully weaves the main storylines explored in the first two movies and delivers an epic conclusion that wraps up the trilogy in a satisfying way.

From the last leg of Frodo Baggins’ (Wood) journey to the heart of Mount Doom alongside Samwise Gamgee (Astin) and Gollum ( Andy Serkis ), to preparations for battles by well-loved characters like Gandalf ( Ian McKellen ), Aragorn ( Viggo Mortensen ), Legolas ( Orlando Bloom ), and Gimli ( John Rhys-Davies ), the film combines and completes the grand adventures and arcs that have enthralled and captivated audiences for years.

The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King

NEXT: The Best Thriller Movies of All Time, Ranked According to IMDb

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The 195+ Greatest Adventure Movies

If you're an adrenaline junkie or an avid cinephile who craves the thrill of the chase, buckle up because we're taking you on an exhilarating ride through the best adventure movies that Hollywood. These films blend excitement, danger, and the unknown into action-packed narratives that have captivated audiences for decades. Critically lauded, crowd-pleasing, and packed with timeless charm, these cinematic gems are the pinnacle of the adventure genre.

From Indiana Jones' daring exploits to the mystical lands of the Lord of the Rings trilogy, this collection of top adventure movies spans a wide array of themes including exploration, thrilling expeditions, and daring quests that continually push the limits. These films are not about the destination, but rather, the journey; an audacious exploration enriched by visually dazzling landscapes, intricate plots, and often, catastrophic dangers.

But an adventure film's success isn't solely hinged on the magnitude of its breathtaking scenes. These are, above all, narratives—deep-seated reflections of our desire for discovery, imbued with elements of fantasy, drama, and often romance, expertly crafted by some of the most prodigious minds in film history. Whether it's the nail-biting suspense of Star Wars, the innovative journey in Back to The Future, or the heart-racing excitement of Jurassic Park, these films distill the essence of human curiosity and the thrill of the unknown into narratives that resonate with audiences of all ages.

And the good news is, you don't have to dig through your dusty DVD collection or scour shady corners of the internet to watch these films. We've conveniently added handy streaming buttons for platforms like Netflix, Amazon Prime, Disney+, HBO Max, Hulu, and Paramount+, so you can start watching instantly. From modern masterpieces to classic epics, these movies are just a click away.

Don't just take our word for it, though. Down the list, you'll find a variety of adventure-packed narratives ready for consumption. If you've seen any of them, we encourage you to vote up your favorite adventures. After all, the ultimate adventure is a journey best shared.

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Lists about real explorers and expeditions and fictional depictions of fast-paced, dangerous adventures in film, TV, anime, literature, and other media.

98 Best Adventure Movies All Time Ranked

Of all the stories humans tell, there's just something about a fantastic adventure that speaks to our souls time and time again, whether it's an ancient text like "The Epic of Gilgamesh" or a more modern-tale like George Lucas' "Star Wars." The fact that we've always been drawn to stories of quests and derring-do proves the power of a good adventure to reach deep into the human spirit. 

When a great adventure comes alive on the big or small screen, it gives viewers a chance to step outside of their world and experience the potential of a transformative journey. Whether it's a journey across the sea or across all of space and time, there's nothing like sitting down with a tub of popcorn and stepping into a new world. Next time you're looking for adventure, we've got you covered with the 98 best adventure movies ever made. 

Updated on May 23, 2022: Great new adventure movies are released all the time! We'll be updating this list every so often to include the best new adventure films, so be sure to check back soon for more fantastic quests! 

98. The Count of Monte Cristo

Based on the 1844 Alexandre Dumas novel, "The Count of Monte Cristo" follows the adventures of Edmond Dantès, a man on the verge of having the perfect life ... until he's betrayed and tossed into prison by jealous enemies. From there, we watch as Edmond survives imprisonment, escapes from the notorious Château d'If, pursues treasure, and goes through the ultimate glow-up as he presents himself as the "Count of Monte Cristo" to Parisian society. And, oh yeah, the whole time, he's plotting some serious revenge. From pirates to secret tunnels, this film is brimming with equal parts swashbuckling adventure and neoclassical pomp. 

• Starring: Jim Caviezel, Guy Pearce, Richard Harris
• Director: Kevin Reynolds
• Runtime: 131 minutes
• Rating: PG-13
• Rotten Tomatoes Score: 73%

97. Ready Player One

In "Ready Player One," teen orphan Wade Watts lives in a miserable dystopian world where RVs are stacked like the world's saddest LEGOs. But lucky for Wade, the wi-fi is fantastic. Our hero — and most everyone else — spends their days inside the OASIS, a video game reality that's the ultimate form of escapism. But when the OASIS creator leaves his vast fortune and company ownership hidden inside his VR world in an Easter egg, Wade embarks on the ultimate virtual adventure to find it, traveling through a world populated with Gen-X pop culture references and baddies for hire. 

• Starring: Tye Sheridan, Olivia Cooke, Ben Mendelsohn
• Director: Steven Spielberg
• Runtime: 140 minutes
• Rotten Tomatoes Score: 72%

96. Dora and the Lost City of Gold

In this live-action adaptation of the classic animated children's series, second-generation explorer Dora embarks on an adventure with her monkey friend Boots and cousin Diego after her parents go missing while on a hunt for a lost city filled with treasure.  A whimsical, teenage reimagining of the beloved show, "Dora and the Lost City of Gold" is a fitting tribute that offers a fair share of family-friendly comedy, whimsy, and adventure.

• Starring:  Isabela Moner, Eugenio Derbez, Michael Peña
• Director:  James Bobin
• Year:  2019
• Runtime:  102 minutes
• Rating:  PG
• Rotten Tomatoes Score:  85%

95. Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World

Adapted from Patrick O'Brian's series of historical novels, "Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World" is a seafaring naval adventure set during the Napoleonic Wars. Like the novels, the film follows the adventures of Royal Navy captain Jack Aubrey and his ship surgeon, Dr. Stephen Maturin. In pursuit of French privateers, Captain Aubrey leads the HMS Surprise around Cape Horn to the Galápagos Islands, where they encounter a host of maritime adventures from eerily becalmed waters to strange new species to hand-to-hand combat with unsavory mariners. 

• Starring:  Russell Crowe, Paul Bettany, James D'Arcy
• Director:  Peter Weir
• Year:  2003
• Runtime:  138 minutes
• Rating:  PG-13

94. Fantastic Voyage

Long before "Honey I Shrunk the Kids" and "Innerspace," "Fantastic Voyage" would imagine a world where miniaturization technology was the latest front in the Cold War. Aboard the microscopic submarine Proteus, a crew of medical scientists must journey through a scientist's body in order to save him and his top-secret intelligence from a blood clot in the span of an hour. While the science probably won't help anyone through Biology 101, "Fantastic Voyage" is a fun ride through the human circulatory system with a fair share of peak Red Scare antics sprinkled throughout. 

• Starring: Donald Pleasance, Raquel Welch, Stephen Boyd 
• Director:  Richard Fleischer
• Runtime:  100 minutes
• Rotten Tomatoes Score : 91%

93. The Hidden Fortress

Set in feudal Japan, "The Hidden Fortress" finds hard-luck peasants Tahei and Matashichi setting a course for adventure by joining the powerful Yamana clan of soldiers and eventually escorting a princess and her family gold through enemy territory. Imperfect heroes that they are, Tahei and Matashichi are hardly up to the challenge of facing off with warring samurai. But with the help of a few brave allies, they manage to scrape through by the skin of their teeth. One of the biggest influences on 1977's "Star Wars," "The Hidden Fortress" is a true classic of Japanese cinema.

• Starring:  Toshiro Mifune, Misa Uehara, Minoru Chiaki
• Director:  Akira Kurosawa
• Year:  1958
• Runtime:  139 minutes
• Rating:  NR
• Rotten Tomatoes Score : 97%

92. Stagecoach

Adapted from the 1937 Ernest Haycox short story "The Stage to Lordsburg," "Stagecoach" is a Western adventure story set in 1880, where a motley group of strangers — from a drunken doctor and a dangerous gambler to a kindly outlaw and a gold-hearted saloon girl — come together aboard a stagecoach traveling from Arizona Territory to New Mexico. The journey takes place in a world where the American frontier still seems vast and dangerous, forcing the group to work together as they make their epic journey through the Wild West. One of John Ford's finest films, "Stagecoach" is the movie that launched John Wayne to superstardom.

• Starring:  Claire Trevor, John Wayne, Andy Devine
• Director:  John Ford
• Year:  1939
• Runtime:  96 minutes
• Rotten Tomatoes Score:  100%

91. Captain Blood

 "Captain Blood" is a seafaring adventure set in the Golden Age of Piracy, and when it comes to adventure, no one did it better than 17th-century pirates. This high-seas adventure finds Irish physician Peter Blood sold into slavery in the West Indies. After Blood is purchased by the lovely Arabella Bishop, he later escapes Port Royal during a Spanish man-o-war attack, taking up a new life as a Caribbean buccaneer where swashbuckling adventures and romance on the high seas are the order of the day. For those not familiar with old-timey actors, Blood is played by Errol Flynn, the greatest action star of his day, and "Captain Blood" finds him at his adventurous, charming best.

• Starring:  Errol Flynn, Olivia de Havilland, Basil Rathbone
• Director:  Michael Curtiz
• Runtime:  119 minutes

Rotten Tomatoes Score: 100%

90. The French Connection

Directed by the legendary William Friedkin, "The French Connection" recounts the true story of two NYC detectives investigating a large-scale heroin operation, one that spans from Brooklyn to Marseille. At the heart of the story, we've got Detective "Popeye" Doyle, the ultimate dirty cop who never met a rule he couldn't break. Played to ferocious perfection by Gene Hackman, Doyle and his partner find themselves going down a mafia rabbit hole that eventually leads to one of the greatest chase sequences of all time — one filmed guerrilla style by Friedkin, resulting in accidental real-life collisions and the feeling of actual danger.

• Starring:  Gene Hackman, Roy Scheider, Fernando Rey
• Director:  William Friedkin
• Year:  1971
• Runtime:  104 minutes
• Rotten Tomatoes Score:  97%

89. Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon

"Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon" is widely considered one of the best and most influential wuxia films of all time, thanks in large part to its gorgeous cinematography and unique martial arts scenes. The story is set in 19th-century China during the Qing dynasty and follows the adventures of female machete warrior Yu Shu Lien and her wudang swordsman friend Mu Bai as they battle other warriors over the 400-year-old sword Green Destiny. Come for the flying duels amongst bamboo, stay for the sweeping romance and epic adventure.

• Starring:  Chow Yun-fat, Michelle Yeoh, Zhang Ziyi
• Director:  Ang Lee
• Year:  2001
• Runtime:  120 minutes

88. Moonrise Kingdom

"Moonrise Kingdom" is a love story and adventure about two lonely adolescents who decide to run away together on a New England island after a year of sharing romantic love letters. Suzy and Sam's plan to meet up and live off the land in a hidden cove they call "Moonrise Kingdom" doesn't go quite as planned, and they find themselves on the run from Social Services and Suzy's parents as a violent storm bears down. A charming coming-of-age story set in the mid-1960s, "Moonrise Kingdom" is a nostalgic tale of first love without the baggage of adulthood.

• Starring:  Bruce Willis , Edward Norton, Frances McDormand
• Director:  Wes Anderson
• Year:  2012
• Runtime:  94 minutes
• Rotten Tomatoes Score:  93%

87. National Lampoon's Vacation

The ultimate American road comedy, "National Lampoon's Vacation" is the first film in the "Vacation" series and follows the Griswold family's adventures as they embark on a cross-country road trip from suburban Chicago to the beloved theme park Walley World. Partly due to patriarch Clark Griswold's many personality flaws, the family encounters more than their share of troubles along the way, including a hostage situation when things don't go as they planned at the park. Anyone who's taken a long family road trip will relate to the comedic miseries visited upon the Griswold's Wagon Queen Family Truckster. 

• Starring:  Chevy Chase, Beverly D'Angelo, John Candy
• Director:  Harold Ramis
• Year:  1983
• Runtime:  98 minutes

86. The Great Escape

A fictionalized tale based on the real-life escape of Allied POWs during World War II, "The Great Escape" tells the story of a large-scale prison break from a Nazi-run, high-security camp in 1942. Working together, the prisoners manage to dig a tunnel without the guards' knowledge and end up on the run in Nazi Germany. A heart-pounding tale of hope and ingenuity, "The Great Escape" is a reminder of human resilience in the face of overwhelming adversity. Plus, it features one of the all-time great motorcycle sequences, complete with the "King of Cool" himself, Steve McQueen.

• Starring:  Steve McQueen, James Garner, Richard Attenborough
• Director:  John Sturges
• Runtime:  172 minutes
• Rotten Tomatoes Score:  94%

85. The Good, the Bad and the Ugly

The archetypal spaghetti Western, "The Good, the Bad and the Ugly" follows three gunslingers on a quest to find a cache of Confederate gold hidden by a fugitive during the bloody peak of the Civil War. On one side, you've got the "Good," a marksman/bounty hunter who's always one step ahead of everybody else. Then there's the "Bad," a squinty-eyed mercenary with no remorse when it comes to murder. And finally, there's the "Ugly," a sniveling bandit who's a lot faster on the draw than you might expect. Together, these three double-cross each other, butt heads, and occasionally give each other a hand as they search for treasure. With three iconic characters and Ennio Morricone's incredible score, it's no wonder this is the ultimate Wild West adventure.

• Starring:  Clint Eastwood, Eli Wallach, Lee Van Cleef
• Director:  Sergio Leone
• Year:  1966
• Runtime:  161 minutes
• Rotten Tomatoes Score: 97%

84. The Treasure of the Sierra Madre

Directed by John Huston, "The Treasure of the Sierra Madre" finds two down-on-their-luck drifters teaming up with an aging prospector to dig for gold in the Sierra Madre mountains. While they find what they're looking for, trust between the party begins to quickly fray as they encounter locals, a gang of bandits with sights set on their gold, and that nastiest of human enemies — greed. Humphrey Bogart gives one of his all-time performances as Fred C. Dobbs, a man with big dreams, dollar signs in his eyes, and darkness in his heart.

• Starring:  Humphrey Bogart, Walter Huston, Tim Holt
• Director:  John Huston
• Year:  1948
• Runtime:  124 minutes

83. Jurassic Park

With a theme park chock full of cloned dinosaurs, what could go wrong? This is the central question in the film "Jurassic Park," which finds a group of survivors on the run from dinos off the coast of Costa Rica. Not long after experts paleobotanist Ellie Sattler, paleontologist Alan Grant, and chaos theory math whiz Ian Malcolm arrive to sign off on the park's safety, a storm and a disgruntled hacker descend upon the island, leaving the resident dinos to run amok after the park's electric fences lose power. Throw a couple of kids into the mix, and it's a recipe for some serious prehistoric adventure, complete with eye-popping effects, both practical and CGI.

• Starring:  Sam Neill, Laura Dern, Jeff Goldblum
• Director:  Steven Spielberg
• Year:  1993
• Runtime:  128 minutes
• Rotten Tomatoes Score: 92%

82. The Man Who Would Be King

Based on Rudyard Kipling's novella, "The Man Who Would Be King" is set in 1880s British-colonized India and the neighboring Kafiristan. Told from the perspective of a fictionalized Rudyard Kipling, the story recounts the adventures of two former British soldiers who set a course for adventure, only to find it less exciting than they pictured. So they two men — who so happen to be Kipling's compatriots — set their sights set on looting Kafiristan, a plan that gets adjusted when one of them is taken for a god by the locals.

• Starring:  Sean Connery , Michael Caine, Christopher Plummer
• Year:  1975
• Runtime:  129 minutes

81. Planes, Trains and Automobiles

One of the world's few Thanksgiving films, "Planes, Trains and Automobiles" is part buddy comedy, part road trip adventure. The tale finds frustrating but friendly traveling salesman Del Griffith crossing paths with uptight marketing exec Neal Page as they team up in a desperate bid to get Neal home in time for his turkey dinner. Despite the short distance between New York and Chicago, the unlikely pair find themselves on something of an epic journey after their plane gets diverted to Wichita. This hilarious and heartwarming adventure should be on everyone's Turkey Day watch list, largely thanks to the incredible chemistry between comedic legends John Candy and Steve Martin.

• Starring:  Steve Martin, John Candy, Laila Robins
• Director:  John Hughes
• Year:  1987
• Runtime:  92 minutes

80. Monty Python and the Holy Grail

A comedy adventure written and performed by the Monty Python comedy team, "Monty Python and the Holy Grail" follows King Arthur and his squire Patsy as they roam around the British countryside looking for knights to join the legendary Round Table and help in their quest for the fabled Holy Grail. Along the way, they get into all sorts of Arthurian adventures from a witch trial to a bout of plague. With plenty of anachronisms and absurdist humor, the film represents everything that's great about Monty Python and everything that's not so great about medieval England.

• Starring:  Graham Chapman, John Cleese, Terry Gilliam
• Director:  Terry Gilliam, Terry Jones
• Runtime:  90 minutes

79. The African Queen

"The African Queen" takes place on a steamboat in 1948 German East Africa — a unique location for a sweeping story. The film finds a pair of sibling British missionaries caught in the middle of a war between the U.K. and Germany. But after her brother's death at the hands of German troops, Rose Sayer teams up with a local steamboat captain, heavy-drinking Canadian Charlie Allnut, to upgrade his boat — the African Queen — into a massive torpedo to take on the Germans. Granted, the uptight Christian and the booze-guzzling riverman don't get along at first, but strange circumstances often lead to strange romances. This adventure story was shot on location in the Congo and Uganda, efforts that paid off in terms of the film's gorgeous Technicolor scenery. 

• Starring:  Humphrey Bogart, Katharine Hepburn, Robert Morley
• Year:  1951
• Runtime:  105 minutes
• Rotten Tomatoes Score: 96%

78. Forbidden Planet

Easily one of the most influential and iconic sci-fi films, "Forbidden Planet" takes place in the 23rd century when a United Planets starship heads to Altair IV to investigate an expedition that disappeared two decades ago. During their exploration of the planet, they encounter Robby the robot, along with Dr. Morbius and his daughter Altaira. Things turn strange pretty quickly as they often do in the sci-fi world with the crew encountering strange creatures and a powerful intellectual enhancer, among other surprises. The film has been widely discussed for its parallels to William Shakespeare's "The Tempest," and for the time, its special effects are pretty darn impressive.

• Starring:  Walter Pidgeon, Anne Francis, Leslie Nielsen
• Director:  Fred M. Wilcox
• Year:  1956

77. Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl

An 18th-century swashbuckling adventure, "Pirates of the Caribbean" is a fantastical tale that follows Will Turner and Elizabeth Swann as they cross paths with the infamous pirate Captain Jack Sparrow and the cursed crew of the Black Pearl. Based on the beloved Disney Parks ride of the same name, the "Pirates" film series is a surprisingly exciting adventure filled with plenty of mythology and wacky adventures. But it all started here with a film that became an instant classic, largely thanks to Johnny Depp's iconic performance as rum-loving, rock star pirate.

• Starring:  Johnny Depp , Geoffrey Rush, Orlando Bloom
• Director:  Gore Verbinski
• Runtime:  143 minutes
• Rotten Tomatoes Score:  80%

76. Free Guy

In "Free Guy," even non-playable characters (NPC) get to have big adventures. In the video game world of "Free City," NPC Guy becomes self-aware thanks to a new AI code in the system. As a result, he starts to go off-script, encountering game developer Millie who mistakes him for a noob. Things get even more complicated when Guy falls in love with Millie and sparks a game-wide revolution. Despite the very heavy existential subtext and slightly chilling AI implications, the story manages to stay in its lane as a fun adventure in the virtual world.

• Starring:  Ryan Reynolds, Jodie Comer, Lil Rel Howery
• Director:  Shawn Levy
• Year:  2021
• Runtime:  115 minutes

75. O Brother, Where Art Thou?

Inspired by the Homerian epic poem "The Odyssey," "O Brother, Where Art Thou?" is a Coen brothers satire set in the Great Depression that follows three escaped convicts on a treasure hunt after breaking out of a chain gang. Ulysses Everett McGill leads his pals Delmar and Pete on a wild journey where they encounter figures taken straight from Homer to the tune of period folk music. Clever, fun, and more lighthearted than many other Coen brothers projects, the film is a must-watch for anyone who enjoys a great soundtrack and a solid adventure. 

• Starring:  George Clooney , John Turturro, Tim Blake Nelson
• Director:  Joel Coen, Ethan Coen
• Year:  2000
• Runtime:  106 minutes
• Rotten Tomatoes Score:  78%

74. The Last Starfighter

When teenager Alex is rejected for his scholarship, he turns to the only cool thing in his trailer park for comfort: the "Starfighter" arcade game. After beating the game's high score, he learns that it's really a recruitment strategy for an intergalactic space army, and as a result, he ends up aboard a real-world Starfighter. The ultimate '80s teen video game fantasy, "The Last Starfighter" has developed a cult following over the years thanks to its cheesy "Star Wars" knock-off storyline. 

• Starring:  Lance Guest, Dan O'Herlihy, Robert Preston
• Director:  Nick Castle
• Year:  1984
• Rotten Tomatoes Score:  76%

73. Three Musketeers

Based on the 1844 Alexandre Dumas novel of the same name, "The Three Musketeers" follows the 17th-century adventures of d'Artagnan after joining forces with the famed "three inseperables" — Athos, Porthos, and Aramis. The silent French historical adventure finds the quartet swashbuckling their way around Europe with plenty of fancy swordplay and gorgeous period costumes. 

• Starring:  Douglas Fairbanks, Leon Bary, George Siegmann
• Director:  Fred Niblo
• Year:  1921

72. Seven Samurai

Perhaps the greatest Japanese movie ever made, "Seven Samurai" is an epic adventure tale set in 16th-century Japan, following the adventures of seven rōnin (masterless samurai) hired by farmers to fight off bandits who keep stealing their crops. Realizing that the farmers need to learn to defend themselves, the samurai arm and train the locals, helping them to fortify their village in anticipation of the next raid. Directed by one of the greatest filmmakers of all time, Akira Kurosawa, the action scenes in "Seven Samurai" blow most modern-day battle sequences out of the water. Don't be scared off by the runtime. This epic adventure flick will grab you from the start and never let go. 

• Starring:  Toshiro Mifune, Takashi Shimura, Keiko Tsushima
• Year:  1954
• Runtime:  207 minutes

71. Serenity

A continuation of the cult series "Firefly," "Serenity" is a space Western that picks up where the show leaves off with the smuggler crew of the Firefly-class spaceship Serenity. Like the series, "Serenity" is set in the 26th century and finds the crew harboring a pair of refugees — the psychic science experiment River Tam and her brother Simon. Plus, we've got bank robberies, we've got the cannibalistic Reavers, and we've got an obsessed government assassin who'll stop at nothing to track down our heroes. With a cast that includes Nathan Fillion, Alan Tudyk, Gina Torres, and Chiwetel Ejiofor, "Serenity" is an imaginative space adventure full of the magic that "FIrefly" fans came to love during the show's too-short run.

• Starring:  Nathan Fillion, Alan Tudyk, Summer Glau
• Director:  Joss Whedon
• Year:  2005
• Rotten Tomatoes Score:  82%

70. Gladiator

When 2nd-century Roman General Maximus Decimus Meridius refuses to pledge his loyalty to the murderous Commodus, he ends up arrested while his wife and son are crucified. After escaping and burying his family, Maximus ends up enslaved to a gladiator trainer, eventually becoming a crowd favorite thanks to his gladiator skills and savvy. With loads of great Colosseum action and peak Roman violence, "Gladiator" is one of the best stories set in this period.

• Starring:  Russell Crowe, Joaquin Phoenix , Connie Nielsen
• Director:  Ridley Scott
• Runtime:  155 minutes
• Rotten Tomatoes Score:  77%

69. Kong: Skull Island

Perhaps the most exciting entry in the MonsterVerse franchise, "Kong: Skull Island" finds a group of scientists and soldiers heading to the titular isle. Little do they know, they're in for a big surprise, as the place is crawling with giant insects, massive sea creatures, and one very large ape. That's right, it's King Kong, the island's protector who's engaged in a war with subterranean reptilian predators called "skullcrawlers." Half our heroes want to ally with Kong. The other half wants to kill him. Everybody wants to get off that island ... but the monsters have other ideas. The film reimagines King Kong as a lonely god figure who must be protected at all costs and adds to the mythology of the Kong universe. 

• Starring:  Tom Hiddleston, Samuel L. Jackson, Brie Larson
• Director:  Jordan Vogt-Roberts
• Year:  2017
• Runtime:  118 minutes
• Rotten Tomatoes Score:  75%

68. Where the Wild Things Are

Based on the 1963 children's story by Maurice Sendak, "Where the Wild Things Are" is a live-action fantasy adventure that takes a long and soulful look at the heartache and beauty that comes with raising a child. An imaginative child of divorce, Max is acting out, unable to control his emotions in a way that's driving his mother to a state of distress, where she's literally afraid of her own child. Locked in his room, Max journeys to a faraway land of his own imagination where he meets seven wild creatures who he's able to convince he is a king. Despite being a family film, "Where the Wild Things Are" is a complex and layered story that many viewers will find meaning in. 

• Starring:  Max Records, Catherine Keener, James Gandolfini
• Director:  Spike Jonze
• Year:  2010
• Runtime:  101 minutes
• Rotten Tomatoes Score:  73%

67. The Spiderwick Chronicles

Based on the fantasy book series by Holly Black and Tony DiTerlizzi, "The Spiderwick Chronicles" is a family fantasy-adventure centered around the Spiderwick estate and a field guide to magical fairies including brownies, goblins, fairies, and a shapeshifting ogre. After twin Jared happens across the book and encounters a brownie, he and his siblings find themselves caught up in a fantastical world where magic is real.

• Starring:  Freddie Highmore, Sarah Bolger, Mary-Louise Parker
• Director:  Mark Waters
• Year:  2008
• Runtime:  97 minutes
• Rotten Tomatoes Score:  81%

66. King Kong (2005)

Set during the Great Depression, 2005's "King Kong" marks the second time the original 1933 "King Kong" film would be remade. While NYC actress Ann Darrow is sacrificed to King Kong by the angry residents of Skull Island, the rest of her party find themselves face-to-face with dinosaurs and oversized insects. After they manage to escape, sketchy filmmaker Carl Denham captures Kong and puts him on Broadway, which goes exactly like it sounds it would. An exciting CGI-powered tribute to the original film, Peter Jackson's "King Kong" is a grand adventure, one that works thanks to the strong relationship that builds between Ann and Kong, who's portrayed by mo-cap legend Andy Serkis.

• Starring:  Naomi Watts, Jack Black , Adrien Brody
• Director:  Peter Jackson
• Year:  2005 
• Runtime:  187 minutes
• Rotten Tomatoes Score:  84%

65. 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea

A Technicolor tribute to Jules Verne's classic novel, Disney's "20,000 Leagues Under the Sea" is a sci-fi steampunk masterpiece. The tale finds Professor Aronnax — accompanied by sidekick Conseil and harpooner Ned Land — searching for a mysterious sea monster, all to discover the creature is actually the Nautilus — a submarine captained by the obsessive Captain Nemo. Aboard the Nautilus, our heroes encounter cannibals, warships, and even a giant squid as they explore the ocean in all its beauty. Even by today's standards, the 1954 special effects are spectacular, and James Mason's performance as Nemo might be a career best.

• Starring:  Kirk Douglas, James Mason, Paul Lukas
• Runtime:  127 minutes
• Rotten Tomatoes Score: 90%

64. Life of Pi

Adapted from the 2001 novel by Yann Martel, "Life of Pi" is a philosophical fantasy adventure following the journey of the titular Pi, a young man who survives a shipwreck. Our hero makes his way aboard a lifeboat and finds he has to sail across the ocean with a number of zoo animals, including a very hungry Bengal tiger. Surreal and meditative, the visually stunning tale explores the power of imagination in the face of great pain and loss. 

• Starring:  Suraj Sharma, Irrfan Khan, Rafe Spall
• Runtime:  125 minutes
• Rotten Tomatoes Score:  86%

63. Bridge to Terabithia

When bullied and economically disadvantaged adolescent Jess meets his new neighbor, Leslie, the pair invent an imaginary world called Terabithia — a land of magic and escape. More of a story about the heartache and challenges of adolescents having to face the adult world than a simple children's story, "Bridge to Terabithia" is an emotional tale of two kids finding strength in their own creativity.  

• Starring:  Josh Hutcherson, AnnaSophia Robb, Zooey Deschanel
• Director:  Gábor Csupó
• Year:  2007
• Runtime:  95 minutes

62. Cast Away

Equal parts survival story and extended FedEx advertisement, "Cast Away" finds globetrotting workaholic and FedEx productivity expert Chuck Noland taking an unexpected mandatory unpaid leave after his plane crashes, leaving him stranded on a deserted island for years. Stuck in the middle of nowhere, Chuck struggles to survive against incredible odds with only a volleyball to keep him company. When it comes to survival films, "Cast Away" is one of the best ever made thanks in no small part to Tom Hanks' incredible one-man performance for most of the film. 

• Starring:  Tom Hanks , Helen Hunt, Nick Searcy
• Director:  Robert Zemeckis
• Rotten Tomatoes Score: 89%

61. Kill Bill: Vol. 1

A genre-bending revenge fantasy, "Kill Bill: Vol. I" takes its influences from everything director Quentin Tarantino loves, including spaghetti Westerns, martial arts films, and Blaxploitation. The tale finds the Bride waking up from a years-long coma to declare revenge on her old comrades, the Deadly Viper Assassination Squad, who turned her wedding day into a bloodbath and tried to kill her. A vivid and bloody odyssey, the film is mandatory viewing for anyone who loves great cinema.  

• Starring:  Uma Thurman, Lucy Liu, Vivica A. Fox
• Director:  Quentin Tarantino
• Runtime:  110 minutes

60. The Green Knight

Inspired by the 14th-century chivalric romance poem "Sir Gawain and the Green Knight," David Lowery's trippy film is an Arthurian tale that finds King Arthur's cousin, Gawain, on a quest to the Green Chapel, where he's meant to die at the hands of the legendary Green Knight. In his travels through the eerie, mythical forests of medieval England, he crosses paths with a talking fox and a ghost, among other strange encounters. 

• Starring:  Dev Patel, Alicia Vikander, Joel Edgerton
• Director:  David Lowery

59. Dawn of the Planet of the Apes

A sequel to "Rise of the Planet of the Apes," "Dawn of the Planet of the Apes" picks up a decade after the human population has been all but wiped out by the Simian flu. In the wreckage of what remains, intellectually enhanced apes have created a colony and are beginning to take a hard line against the remaining humans. After all, people weren't too kind to these guys before civilization fell. A violent and metaphoric look at humanity's faults, the film is considered one of the best in the "Planet of the Apes" saga. 

• Starring:  Andy Serkis, Jason Clarke, Gary Oldman
• Director:  Matt Reeves
• Year:  2014
• Runtime:  130 minutes

58. Time Bandits

When an 11-year-old with a love of history and an overactive imagination discovers a magical portal in his bedroom, he embarks on an odyssey through various historical eras with a group of ornery time-traveling dwarves who've abandoned their mission repairing holes in spacetime to rack up riches through the ages. Together, the crew travels through time and space, bumping into historical figures like Robin Hood, King Agamemnon, and Napoleon Bonaparte. A Terry Gilliam production, the film is strange and over-the-top in all of the best ways. 

• Starring:  John Cleese, Sean Connery, Shelley Duvall
• Director:  Terry Gilliam
• Year:  1981

57. King Kong (1933)

One of Hollywood's few pre-Code films, "King Kong" is a beauty-and-the-beast tale that uses stop-motion animation to depict Kong, the monstrously large ape that makes his home on Skull Island, a mysterious land populated with prehistoric creatures. After Kong is captured and brought to New York City, the creature breaks free, absconding with actress Ann Darrow and rampaging through Manhattan. "King Kong" is the widely considered one of the most influential monster films of all time, and its legacy can be seen in many new films today. 

• Starring:  Fay Wray, Robert Armstrong, Bruce Cabot
• Director:  Merian C. Cooper, Ernest B. Schoedsack
• Year:  1933
• Runtime: 100 minutes
• Rotten Tomatoes Score: 99%

56. Journey to the Center of the Earth

Based on Jules Verne's classic novel, "Journey to the Center of the Earth" finds a group of explorers traveling far into the planet's interior, where they encounter a vast subterranean world. Deep inside the Earth, they encounter many wonders, including an ocean, dinosaurs, and the lost city of Atlantis. The effects here are incredibly charming in an old-fashioned way, with oversized mushrooms and "dinosaurs" that are actually real-life lizards made to look larger than life.

• Starring:  James Mason, Pat Boone, Arlene Dahl
• Director:  Henry Levin
• Year:  1959
• Runtime:  132 minutes
• Rotten Tomatoes Score:  83%

"Avatar" is set in the year 2154, when humanity's reckless environmental habits have finally taken their toll. Amid the ensuing energy crisis, the Resources Development Administration has begun mining an ore called unobtanium on the lush moon Pandora in the Alpha Centauri system. To help communicate with the Na'vi, the blue humanoids who call the planet home, the human representatives use avatars to appear like the locals. But when one human begins falling for both a Na'vi and her way of life, we're taken on the journey of a lifetime. Part "Romeo and Juliet," part critique of imperialism, "Avatar" creates a vivid and imaginative world straight out of James Cameron's sci-fi dreams. 

• Starring:  Sam Worthington, Zoe Saldaña, Stephen Lang
• Director:  James Cameron
• Year:  2009
• Runtime:  162 minutes

54. Swiss Family Robinson

Based on the 1812 novel by Johann David Wyss, "The Swiss Family Robinson" finds the Robinson family en route from Switzerland to their new home in New Guinea when a pirate attack leaves them stranded on a desert island with two Great Danes. The family learns to survive, in the process encountering animals ranging from an angry tiger to a baby elephant and building the world's most amazing treehouse, complete with its own water wheel.

• Starring:  John Mills, Dorothy McGuire, James MacArthur
• Director:  Ken Annakin
• Year:  1960
• Rotten Tomatoes Score:   83%

53. The Mask of Zorro

If you're looking for a fun, exciting, sexy time, then you can't go wrong with "The Mask of Zorro." In this 19th-century adventure, the famed masked swordsman is ready to find a protége who's willing to take up the mask and sword in his stead. His new student happens to be Alejandro Murrieta, an uncouth bandit who has a lot to learn about high society and swordplay if he ever wants to get revenge on the man responsible for his brother's death. Of course, he'll also have to deal with the beautiful and dangerous Elena, a noblewoman with a connection to the OG Zorro. Romantic, swashbuckling adventure commences, with plenty of fencing duels, tangoes, and witty repartee.

• Starring:  Antonio Banderas, Anthony Hopkins , Catherine Zeta-Jones
• Director:  Martin Campbell
• Year:  1998
• Runtime:  136 minutes

52. Men in Black

The '90s was a great decade for sci-fi adventure flicks. For proof, look no further than "Men in Black." Will Smith plays the enthusiastic Agent J, a New York Cop recruited to work for the Men in Black, a secret government organization that monitors and polices alien life forms. Partnered up by Tommy Lee Jones' veteran Agent K, J picks up a neuralyzer — which can erase human memories as needed — and finds himself in a world of talking pugs, coffee-loving ETs, and a cockroach-like alien wreaking havoc in New York.

• Starring:  Tommy Lee Jones, Will Smith, Linda Fiorentino
• Director:  Barry Sonnenfeld
• Year:  1997

51. The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring

The first film in the "Lord of the Rings" trilogy, "The Fellowship of the Ring" finds hobbit Frodo Baggins embarking on his hero's journey to return the evil One Ring to Mordor where it can be destroyed once and for all. With the Fellowship of the Ring to protect him in his task, Frodo travels through treacherous lands, with his long and arduous journey only just beginning. Featuring one of the all-time movie scores from composer Howard Shore, "Fellowship of the Ring" is set against the beautiful vistas of New Zealand and features a host of impressive practical effects, some stirring battle sequences, and plenty of heartfelt emotions.

• Starring:  Elijah Wood, Ian McKellen, Liv Tyler
• Runtime:  178 minutes
• Rotten Tomatoes Score: 91%

50. Flight of the Navigator

After pre-teen David Freeman disappears in 1978, he reappears eight years later without having aged at all. Shortly after, when NASA captures a spaceship, they begin to realize that David was abducted and traveled inside this alien craft to a planet hundreds of light years away. And yet despite this fairly terrifying premise, "Flight of the Navigator" is a surprisingly uplifting family adventure film with a cult following that finds Max on the adventure of his life when he decides climb back aboard the UFO and befriend the intelligent being inside.

• Starring:  Joey Cramer, Sarah Jessica Parker, Paul Reubens
• Director:  Randal Kleiser
• Year:  1986
• Runtime: 89 minutes

49. Big Fish

A lovely film brimming with imagination, "Big Fish" takes a whole bunch of tall tales and spins them into a lovely little yarn. When an estranged son returns home to see his dying dad, he recounts some of the outlandish flights of fancy his father told him over the years. The stories are beyond unbelievable, with fables touching on witches, giants, and childhood growth spurts so dramatic they left our storyteller bedridden. A tale of familial love, forgiveness, and reconciliation, the film is one of Tim Burton's more emotional ventures. 

• Starring:  Ewan McGregor, Albert Finney, Billy Crudup
• Director:  Tim Burton

48. Muppet Treasure Island

A Muppet mayhem-fueled reimagining of Robert Louis Stevenson's classic adventure, "Muppet Treasure Island" is a surprisingly good introduction to the quintessential pirate tale. After an encounter with buccaneer Billy Bones, English orphan Jim Hawkins finds himself the latest owner of a pirate treasure map. Unfortunately for Jim and his Muppet pals, their journey to find said treasure gets them entangled with a crew of greedy pirates who want it for themselves. 

• Starring:  Tim Curry , Frank Oz, Dave Goelz
• Director:  Brian Henson
• Year:  1996
• Runtime: 99 minutes
• Rotten Tomatoes Score: 71%

47. Stripes

When perpetually immature cab driver John manages to lose his lady, his apartment, and his job in the span of a few hours, he and his bestie Russell decide to enlist with Uncle Sam. Despite their ridiculous antics during basic training, the pair end up stationed in Italy, where their continued shenanigans land them in the middle of some serious Berlin Wall-era Cold War hijinks. If you're a fan of "Ghostbusters," you'll definitely want to check out this hilarious flick, as it features a lot of the same talent both in front of and behind the camera.

• Starring:  Bill Murray , Harold Ramis, Warren Oates
• Director:  Ivan Reitman
• Rotten Tomatoes Score: 88%

46. Pete's Dragon

A reimagining of Disney's 1977 live-action animated musical, "Pete's Dragon" is the story of a child who bonds with a large green forest-dwelling dragon after losing his parents in a car crash. A metaphor for the challenge of learning to trust again after trauma, "Pete's Dragon" is a heartfelt adventure that's family-friendly and still manages to pack in plenty of depth. 

• Starring:  Bryce Dallas Howard, Oakes Fegley, Wes Bentley
• Year:  2016
• Runtime:  103 minutes
• Rotten Tomatoes Score:  88%

45. Casablanca

Set in Morocco during World War II, "Casablanca" finds American expatriate and club owner Rick entangled in a dangerous international affair when his former lover Ilsa comes to him for help getting her Czech resistance leader husband out of the country to safety. A tale of star-crossed lovers in a world turned upside down by war, "Casablanca" is widely considered one of the most romantic films of all time.

• Starring:  Humphrey Bogart, Ingrid Bergman, Paul Henreid
• Year:  1942
• Rotten Tomatoes Score:  99%

44. Planet of the Apes

After awakening from deep-space hibernation, misanthropic astronaut George Taylor finds himself on a strange planet where humans have devolved and intelligent apes rule the world. After he's captured and enslaved, Taylor befriends two chimpanzee scientists, but he'll have to convince the all-powerful orangutan Dr. Zaius that humanity is worth saving ... something that might not actually be true. Featuring one of the most shocking endings ever put to film, "Planet of the Apes" is a true adventure classic, one that won an honorary Oscar for its impressive ape make-up.

• Starring:  Charlton Heston, Roddy McDowall, Maurice Evans
• Director:  Franklin J. Schaffner
• Year:  1968
• Runtime:  112 minutes

43. Romancing the Stone

In "Romancing the Stone," steamy romance novelist Joan Wilder finds herself in the middle of her own real-life romantic adventure when her sister is kidnapped by a pair of skeezy treasure hunters in Colombia. After crossing paths with a bird hunter looking to make a few bucks, the couple end up on the run from corrupt cops in an adventure ripped straight from the pages of a Harlequin. Anyone looking for a lighthearted romp with a few splashy thrills will get a kick out of this very '80s flick.

• Starring:  Michael Douglas , Kathleen Turner, Danny DeVito

42. Inception

Christopher Nolan's trippy sci-fi adventure "Inception" takes a deep dive into the innerspace of the human subconscious. Dom Cobb is a thief who uses specialized technology to enter dreams and make of with prized information. But when he and his team are hired to implant an idea into the deepest regions of a businessman's mind, things get really dangerous really fast, especially as Dom is haunted by memories that literally follow him. With dreams layered inside dreams, the film is equal parts seat-gripping adventure and philosophical exploration of grief. 

• Starring:  Leonardo DiCaprio, Elliot Page, Joseph Gordon-Levitt
• Director:  Christopher Nolan
• Runtime:  148 minutes
• Rotten Tomatoes Score:  87%

41. Guardians of the Galaxy

After his 1988 alien abduction, Peter Quill is all grown up and working with the intergalactic team of criminals who absconded with him as a child. But things take a turn when he gets caught up in a fight over an orb that can destroy worlds. After crossing paths with stern assassin Gamora, vengeful Drax the Destroyer, and bounty hunters Groot and Rocket (a friendly tree and a talking raccoon, respectively), Quill teams up with the rag-tag bunch to save the galaxy from the villainous Ronan the Accuser, a zealot with big plans for that aforementioned orb. An equally lighthearted yet emotional adventure in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, "Guardians" doesn't ask its viewers to know the ins and outs of the MCU to enjoy the adventure. 

• Starring:  Chris Pratt , Zoe Saldaña, Dave Bautista
• Director:  James Gunn
• Runtime:  122 minutes

40. Thor: Ragnarok

Thanks in large part to the whimsical brain of Taika Waititi, "Thor: Ragnarok" is a tonally different entry in the Marvel Cinematic Universe in all the right ways. When Thor's family troubles spin out of control, the Norse god finds himself stranded on a trash planet where the campy Grandmaster (played adorably by Jeff Goldblum) pits him against Hulk in a gladiator ring. He'll have to make peace with the big green guy pretty quickly — as well as his tricksy brother Loki and the drunken warrior Valkyrie — if he wants to get back home to Asgard to save it from his sister, the goddess of death.

• Starring:  Chris Hemsworth, Tom Hiddleston, Cate Blanchett
• Director:  Taika Waititi
• Rotten Tomatoes Score: 93%

39. The Last of the Mohicans

Based on James Fenimore Cooper's classic novel, "The Last of the Mohicans" is a stirring adventure tale set in the 18th century. During the French and Indian War, we follow the adventures of Hawkeye, the adopted white son of the Mohican Chingachgook and adopted brother of Uncas, as he gets caught up in the fighting between the French, the British, and the Hurons. If you're a fan of movies like "Collateral" and "Thief," then it will be fascinating to see director Michael Mann trying his hand at a period piece, especially one anchored by a great Daniel Day-Lewis performance and one of the most rousing musical themes you'll ever hear in an adventure film.

• Starring:   Daniel Day-Lewis , Madeleine Stowe, Eric Schweig
• Director:  Michael Mann
• Year:  1992
• Runtime:  114 minutes

38. The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King

The final film in the "Lord of the Rings" saga, "The Return of the King" finds Frodo finally reaching Mordor after his long and arduous journey. At the same time, Aragorn leads his armies against Sauron's dark forces in an epic battle of good against evil to assist Frodo in the final stage of his journey. A call to bravery and action in the face of darkness and death, the film is a powerful and visually moving tribute to J.R.R. Tolkien's epic tale. It also cleaned house during awards season, winning a staggering 11 Oscars, including Best Picture.

• Starring:  Elijah Wood, Ian McKellen , Liv Tyler
• Runtime:  200 minutes

37. The Goonies

In the world of mandatory '80s viewing, "The Goonies" reigns supreme as the ultimate coming-of-age adventure. After a group of kids in Astoria, Oregon, find themselves getting pushed out of their neighborhood by a country club, they decide to embark on a final adventure together in search of pirate One-Eyed Willie's lost treasure. The adventure leads to them into a fantastical subterranean adventure while on the run from a group of gangsters, resulting in a high-energy tale that's packing loads of laughs and genuine sense of childlike wonder. 

• Starring:  Sean Astin, Josh Brolin, Ke Huy Quan
• Director:  Richard Donner
• Year:  1985
• Runtime:  111 minutes

36. Ben-Hur

Starring Charlton Heston in the title role, "Ben-Hur" is an epic tale of a wealthy Jewish nobleman who finds himself facing off against Roman imperialism in the time of Christ. After his betrayal by a childhood friend, Ben-Hur's fall from grace places him as a galley slave. But once his fortunes start turning, he makes his way back home to become a charioteer ... and to get a little revenge. At the time of its release, "Ben-Hur" was one of the most epic adventures ever made, and even today, the chariot race is an unparalleled piece of action filmmaking.

• Starring:  Charlton Heston, Jack Hawkins, Haya Harareet
• Director:  William Wyler
• Runtime:  203 minutes

35. Stand by Me

Adapted from Stephen King's 1982 novella "The Body," "Stand by Me" is a nostalgic coming-of-age adventure set in 1959, when four friends set out to find the body of a missing boy. On their long hike, our heroes face off with a gang of local hoodlums, a speeding train, leech-filled waters, and their own personal troubles. Lacking any of the supernatural stuff that King is usually known for, "Stand by Me" is a fun adventure flick while also be a contemplative look at grief, death, and the all-too-brief moment of childhood.

• Starring:  Wil Wheaton, River Phoenix , Corey Feldman
• Director:  Rob Reiner
• Runtime:  89 minutes

34. The Jungle Book

The best among about a half-dozen adaptations of Rudyard Kipling's 1894 story collection, "The Jungle Book" is a live-action CGI remake of the 1967 Disney original. The story follows the adventures of Mowgli, who was raised by animals in the jungles of India including the black panther Bagheera, the friendly bear Baloo, and a pack of wolves. Of course, life gets a little complicated with the tiger Shere Khan shows up looking for a snack. Using songs from the original film and boasting voice talent from the likes of Scarlett Johansson, Lupita Nyong'o, and Christopher Walken, "The Jungle Book" is even better than the bare necessities.

• Starring:  Bill Murray, Ben Kingsley, Idris Elba
• Director:  Jon Favreau
• Rotten Tomatoes Score: 94%

33. Close Encounters of the Third Kind

An odyssey for anyone who's dreamed big despite naysayers, "Close Encounters of the Third Kind" finds the planet Earth flush with mysteries of an extraterrestrial origin, from rolling blackouts to chasing after UFOs. Those who experience encounters find themselves drawn to a mysterious site in the middle of nowhere, where the U.S. military plans on greeting Earth's new visitors. 

• Starring:  Richard Dreyfuss, Teri Garr, Melinda Dillon
• Year:  1977
• Runtime:  135 minutes

32. Lawrence of Arabia

Directed by David Lean, "Lawrence of Arabia" recounts the tale of British adventurer and officer T.E. Lawrence. Against the backdrop of World War I, Lawrence makes his way to the deserts of Arabia, where he encounters and advises Prince Faisal during the Great Arab Revolt. Along the way, he befriends the testy Sherif Ali, but as Lawrence's glory grows, so does his outsized ego. And you know what they say about the bigger they are...

"Lawrence of Arabia" is deemed by many directors and critics to be one of the greatest films ever made, with Peter O'Toole's performance lauded as one of the best dramatic performances of all time. Add on some eye-popping cinematography and one of the very best match cuts (literally), and you have an adventure classic for the ages. 

• Starring:  Peter O'Toole,   Alec Guinness, Anthony Quinn
• Director:  David Lean
• Year:  1962
• Runtime:  216 minutes

31. The Peanut Butter Falcon

When Zak, who has Down syndrome, goes on the lam from a living facility to pursue a career as a wrestler, he ends up on the run with a fisherman named Tyler. Together with facility employee Eleanor, the pair build a raft and take off on an adventure to find Zak's favorite wrestler, Salt Water Redneck. The film is a touching homage to Mark Twain's "Huckleberry Finn," with an optimistic feel that seems rare these days. 

• Starring:  Shia LaBeouf, Zack Gottsagen, Dakota Johnson
• Director:  Tyler Nilson, Michael Schwartz
• Rotten Tomatoes Score: 95%

Even the CIA needs pencil pushers, and 40-year-old Susan Cooper is one of them in "Spy." Normally stuck behind a desk assisting field agent Bradley Fine, Susan gets drawn into her own real-world espionage adventure to track down an errant nuke. Melissa McCarthy is at her best in this giddy tale of tough women taking charge in a world overrun with machismo. 

• Starring:  Melissa McCarthy, Jason Statham, Rose Byrne
• Director:  Paul Feig
• Year:  2015

29. The Secret of Roan Inish

"The Secret of Roan Inish" is a dreamy adventure set in 1946 Ireland in a world where Irish folklore is real. After traveling to live with her grandparents and cousin on the coast of Ulster amid a series of personal tragedies, young Fiona finds herself in a world where humans and nature live in harmony. There, she learns a family legend that an ancestor was once married to a seal-woman, also known as a selkie. A meditative film that looks for magic in a world of heartache and loss, "The Secret of Roan Inish" provides a soulful vision of a world where myth and reality blur beautifully.

• Starring:  Mick Lally, Eileen Colgan, John Lynch
• Director:  John Sayles
• Year:  1994

28. Mad Max: Fury Road

The fourth "Mad Max" film, "Mad Max: Fury Road" is considered by many to be the best in the series. Set in a post-apocalyptic Australia, this standalone movie finds road warrior Max Rockatansky forging an alliance with Imperator Furiosa, a one-armed warrior who's decided to rescue the brides of the despotic Immortan Joe. More than just a dieselpunk fantasy, "Fury Road" is a complex and layered story that manages to find meaning as a feminist anthem and a reimagined Western. It's also perhaps the greatest action movie ever made, complete with wild stunt work, unbelievable worldbuilding, and the greatest 2-hour car chase you will ever see.

• Starring:  Tom Hardy, Charlize Theron, Nicholas Hoult
• Director:  George Miller

27. Spirited Away

One of the most beloved Studio Ghibli films, "Spirited Away" finds 10-year-old Chihiro and her parents captured by supernatural beings who reside at an apparently abandoned amusement park. There, she encounters countless supernatural creatures including yōkai, shapeshifters, shikigami, and other various spirits. While trapped in the spirit realm, the child (renamed Sen) comes to care for a spirit named Haku while also hoping to break a curse that has turned her parents into pigs and led to her own enslavement. 

• Starring:  Rumi Hiiragi, Miyu Irino, Mari Natsuki
• Director:  Hayao Miyazaki

26. Big Trouble in Little China

When trucker Jack Burton and his friend Wang Chi go to pick up the latter's fiancée at the airport, the pair end up ensnared in a Chinatown gang conflict that involves a Chinese crime lord, ancient magic, and two warring factions of Chinese warriors with supernatural abilities. Wacky, over the top, and frequently nonsensical in the best way possible, "Big Trouble in Little China" offers no shortage of adventure and remains a cult favorite for many cinema lovers. Plus, it does an amazing job skewering the whole "white savior" concept, as Jack Burton is completely useless and Wang Chi is the most capable guy in the whole movie.

• Starring:  Kurt Russell , Kim Cattrall, Dennis Dun
• Director:  John Carpenter

25. The Matrix

The film that popularized the concept of simulation theory and introduced terms and concepts like "bullet time" and (inadvertently) "the red pill," "The Matrix" is part cyberpunk reimagining of Lewis Carroll's "Alice's Adventures in Wonderland," part philosophical exploration of cognitive dissonance, part critique of the world's overdependence on technology. The film finds computer programmer Neo traveling down an existential rabbit hole when he encounters Morpheus and Trinity, who help him realize that most of humanity lives in a virtual world where they have been enslaved by intelligent machines. If he wants to find freedom, he'll have to don a pair of sunglasses, learn kung fu, and become "the One."

• Starring:  Keanu Reeves, Laurence Fishburne, Carrie-Anne Moss
• Director:  The Wachowskis
• Year:  1999
• Rotten Tomatoes Score:  88%

24. Mary Poppins

Based on P. L. Travers' 1934 children's book, "Mary Poppins" is a live-action animated Disney film that follows the adventures of a British nanny with fantastical abilities and a taste for whimsy. A lesson in the importance of relating to children as intelligent beings with their own minds, "Mary Poppins" finds the eponymous nanny whisking her two young wards around London on magical adventures while at the same time teaching them the importance of responsibility and recognizing other's struggles in life. 

• Starring:  Julie Andrews, Dick Van Dyke, David Tomlinson
• Director:  Robert Stevenson
• Year:  1964
• Runtime:  140 minutes

23. Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom

In the second and easily most problematic film in the "Indiana Jones" series, the titular character takes a break from fighting Nazis and, on the run from a Shanghai crime boss, ends up narrowly escaping a crashing plane in the Himalayas with his young friend Short Round and nightclub singer Willie. The road to adventure leads the trio to northern India, where they end up stumbling onto a dangerous Thuggee cult who enjoy pastimes such as practicing human sacrifice. Despite its darker tone and the annoying persona of Willie, the film is still one of the better cinematic adventures made to date, complete with a white-knuckle mine cart chase. 

• Starring:  Harrison Ford , Kate Capshaw, Ke Huy Quan
• Rotten Tomatoes Score: 84%

22. Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle

A sequel to the 1995 board game-themed film starring Robin Williams, "Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle" finds four high school kids getting full-on Breakfast Clubbed when they're sent to detention — only here, they end up getting sucked into the video game version of "Jumanji." Inside their simulated reality, they're transformed into their avatars as they try to understand the game mechanics and stay alive long enough to hopefully return to the real world. 

• Starring:  Dwayne Johnson , Kevin Hart, Karen Gillan
• Director:  Jake Kasdan
• Rotten Tomatoes Score : 76%

21. Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade

"Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade" finds the famed archaeologist on a quest to track down his lost father Henry Jones, who went missing while searching for the Holy Grail. His journey takes him through Venetian catacombs to the tomb of a First Crusade knight, from a Nazi-infested Austrian castle to the fictional Canyon of the Crescent Moon, where he encounters several traps and tests that lead him to the Holy Grail. The third "Indiana Jones" sequel coming directly after the dark, unsettling "Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom," this film is heavy on the lighthearted humor and adventure that made "Raiders of the Lost Ark" a classic, and the cranky yet charming relationship between Harrison Ford and Sean Connery is hilarious.

• Starring:  Harrison Ford, John Rhys-Davies, Sean Connery
• Year:  1989

20. Ghostbusters

When a trio of parapsychologists lose their university gig, they decide to start a new company investigating paranormal occurrences and eliminating ghosts with the help of proton packs and nuclear-powered containment tech. When business picks up, they end up hiring a fourth team member. Things are looking great until the Ghostbusters run afoul of the EPA, resulting in a mishap that floods the city with captured ghosts and supernatural beings including the demigod Zuul and Gozer, the shapeshifting god of destruction. Creative, comedic, and completely ridiculous, "Ghostbusters" is a totally '80s adventure. 

• Starring:  Bill Murray, Dan Aykroyd , Sigourney Weaver
• Runtime:  107 minutes

19. Joe Versus the Volcano

"Joe Versus the Volcano" is one of those hidden cult gems that far too few people have had the pleasure of viewing, and it's full of hilarious quotable moments and charming banter to spare. After miserable Staten Island rectal probe factory worker/hypochondriac Joe Banks is told that he has a terminal "brain cloud," he quits his job and accepts an offer from a wealthy businessman to throw himself into a volcano on the tropical island of Waponi Woo. Along the way, he bonds with the industrialist's daughters, Angelica and Patricia (both played by Meg Ryan), and encounters the finest luggage money can buy. 

• Starring:  Tom Hanks, Meg Ryan, Abe Vigoda
• Director:  John Patrick Shanley
• Year:  1990
• Rotten Tomatoes Score: 65%

18. The Hunger Games

Based on the dystopian novel series by Susan Collins, "The Hunger Games" is set in Panem, a future North American nation that sees 12 districts living under the oppressive rule of the Capitol elites. Each year, the districts are forced to send tributes who fight to the death in a televised event that leaves only one remaining survivor. When Katniss Everdeen volunteers to take her sister's place, she finds herself trapped in a deadly game where everyone is out to kill her, especially the Head Gamemaker. Drawing on mythological elements and Roman gladiatorial games, the film offers plenty of adventure yet still contains enough interesting layers to make it ripe for interpretation. 

• Starring:  Jennifer Lawrence, Josh Hutcherson, Liam Hemsworth
• Director:  Gary Ross
• Runtime:  142 minutes

17. The Neverending Story

"The Neverending Story" is a love letter to anyone who's ever felt more at home in a good book than facing the mundane struggles of everyday life. Based on Michael Ende's 1979 novel, the story follows the adventures of 10-year-old Bastian Bux, who steals a magical book from a store after running inside to hide from bullies. Cutting class to hide in the school's attic and read all day, Bastian gets absorbed in the book about an evil force eating away at the magical land of Fantasia, a world built by human imagination. When Bastian's thoughts and actions as the reader begin to impact the story, he begins to realize that he holds the key to saving Fantasia. 

• Starring:  Noah Hathaway, Barret Oliver, Tami Stronach
• Director:  Wolfgang Peterson

16. The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, The Witch, and the Wardrobe

An adaptation of C.S. Lewis' classic tale, 2005's "The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe" follows the adventures of four siblings who travel through that titular enchanted wardrobe into the magical kingdom of Narnia. In the absence of its ruler Aslan, the once-glorious kingdom has been gradually turned to winter by the villainous White Witch. Heeding the call to adventure, the four siblings help lead an army against her.

• Starring:  Tilda Swinton, Liam Neeson, Anna Popplewell
• Director:  Andrew Adamson
• Rotten Tomatoes Score: 76%

15. Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone

"Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone" is a magical journey into Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, where children with a magical aptitude are placed into one of four houses and trained in the use of magic. The story is told through the eyes of the eponymous protagonist, an abused, bespectacled orphan who learns that his parents were important in the wizarding world and died at the hands of the dark wizard Lord Voldemort, whose attempt to kill the infant Harry left him with a notorious lightning bolt scar. The film, which follows J.K. Rowling's book closely, addresses the importance of finding acceptance as an outcast and of refusing to give ground to those who would harm others. 

• Starring:  Daniel Radcliffe , Rupert Grint, Emma Watson
• Director:  Chris Columbus
• Runtime:  152 minutes

14. Labyrinth

When it comes to cult classics, few are loved more feverishly than the 1986 fantasy film "Labyrinth," which stars an uncomfortably sexy David Bowie as Jareth the Goblin King, a teenage Jennifer Connelly, a whole lot of freaky-looking Muppets, and one of the dreamiest costume collections in cinematic history. When the teenage Sarah is more interested in her fantasy book than babysitting her crying infant half-sibling Toby, Jareth answers her frustrated plea that goblins should steal her baby brother away. As is often the case with teenagers, Sarah immediately regrets her impulsiveness and embarks on a maddening quest through Jareth's labyrinth to get Toby back. 

• Starring:  David Bowie, Jennifer Connelly, Toby Froud
• Director:  Jim Henson
• Rotten Tomatoes Score:  74%

13. The Fifth Element

A vivid and whimsical trip through Luc Besson's imagination, "The Fifth Element" is a 23rd-century adventure that finds rough-around-the-edges cabbie Korben Dallas assisting a strange orange-haired woman named Leeloo who falls from a building into his cab. Together with the help of priest Vito Cornelius, they work to stop an evil weapon from destroying Earth. While the film doesn't make a whole lot of sense, it's a zippy adventure through a fascinating future brimming with wild aliens and Jean-Paul Gaultier fashions. 

• Starring:  Bruce Willis, Gary Oldman, Milla Jovovich
• Director:  Luc Besson
• Runtime:  126 minutes
• Rotten Tomatoes Score: 70%

12. The Adventures of Robin Hood

A Technicolor imagining of the Saxon legend, "The Adventures of Robin Hood" is set in 12th-century England and finds nobleman Sir Robin of Locksley leading the fight against oppressors working on the authority of pretender Prince John, who's taken over in the absence of abducted King Richard. A romantic and exciting swashbuckler of a film, "The Adventures of Robin Hood" would become the template for all future adaptations of the story, leaving an indelible mark on Western pop culture. 

• Director:  Michael Curtiz, William Keighley
• Year:  1938

11. Back to the Future

The ultimate time travel story, "Back to the Future" tells the tale of Marty McFly, whose adventures with his slightly mad (but in a good way) scientist friend Doc Emmett Brown leave him stranded in 1955, where he almost immediately sabotages his own future after a run-in with his parents. Teaming up with the Doc Brown of 1955, Marty has to work to send himself back to the future while making a love connection between his parents so he doesn't wipe himself out of existence. A wild and wonderful adventure, the impact of "Back to the Future" cannot be overstated, from its role in popularizing skateboarding as a mainstream activity to its influence on television shows like "Rick and Morty" and "12 Monkeys."

• Starring:  Michael J. Fox, Christopher Lloyd, Lea Thompson
• Runtime:  116 minutes

10. Stardust

Adapted from the 1999 Neil Gaiman fantasy novel, "Stardust" tells the fantastical tale of romantic underdog Tristan, who travels into an enchanted land via a magical candle left for him by his mother. The motive for his quest? He hopes to retrieve a fallen star for a woman he's pursuing. Despite learning that the star is in the form of woman who calls herself Yvaine, Tristan captures the star anyway, imprisoning her with an unbreakable chain. Along their journey back to Tristan's village, the pair are pursued by three witches who plan to eat Yvaine's heart. Full of magic and Gaimanesque mythology, "Stardust" is a lovely little adventure with a fairy-tale feel and includes an outstanding performance from Michelle Pfeiffer. 

• Starring:  Claire Danes, Charlie Cox, Sienna Miller
• Director:  Matthew Vaughn
• Rotten Tomatoes Score: 77%

9. E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial

In a world where extra-terrestrials are often portrayed as menacing colonizers or monsters, "E.T." is a rare reminder that not everything strange is malevolent. When a group of alien botanists visits the planet Earth, one gets left behind after a run-in with the U.S. government. While hiding in a San Fernando Valley neighborhood, the creature is discovered by 10-year-old Elliott, who befriends the little guy. Together with his sister Gertie and brother Michael, Elliott hides the alien, who calls himself "E.T.," until the government intervenes. The film is a heartfelt metaphor for the importance of communication in overcoming differences.

• Starring:  Henry Thomas, Dee Wallace, Peter Coyote
• Year:  1982

8. Star Trek

Despite being somewhat controversial among the fandom, "Star Trek" is an enjoyable reboot of the original series that doesn't detract from the overall "Trek" canon. That's thanks to a little alternate timeline magic (dubbed the "Kelvin timeline" by "Trek" fans). So even after the Romulan ship Narada travels back in time under the command of the vengeful Nero and kills the families Kirk and Spock, this alternate yet still iconic pair still end up together aboard the USS Enterprise under the leadership of Captain Christopher Pike. Tonally darker than the original "Star Trek" series, the film is nonetheless a fitting tribute to one of the Federation's finest crews. 

• Starring:  Chris Pine, Zachary Quinto, John Cho
• Director:  J.J. Abrams

7. The Mummy

"The Mummy" finds dreamy 1920s adventurer Rick O'Connell working with wannabe Egyptologist and librarian Evelyn Carnahan and her brother Jonathan on a quest to find Hamunaptra, the City of the Dead. When Evelyn reads from the Book of the Dead near a tomb, she accidentally awakens a long-dormant curse, unleashing the mummified high priest Imhotep on the world, who in turn unleashes ten plagues on Egypt. On the run from Imhotep, the group must work together using their collective book smarts to defeat the ancient villain. 

• Starring:  Brendan Fraser , Rachel Weisz, John Hannah
• Director:  Stephen Sommers
• Rotten Tomatoes Score: 61%

6. The Wizard of Oz

A vivid and imaginative musical adaptation of Frank L. Baum's 1900 children's book, "The Wizard of Oz" is one of the most culturally influential fantasy films of all time. When Kansas teenager Dorothy and her dog Toto don't make it into the storm shelter ahead of a tornado, they're blown away to a strange land called Oz. Here, Dorothy immediately earns the ire of the Wicked Witch and the praise of the locals due to circumstances completely beyond her control. While traveling through Oz in search of a way home, Dorothy befriends the Scarecrow, the Cowardly Lion, and the Tin Man, who join her on her journey. The film resonates with viewers for a variety of reasons and is sometimes seen as a metaphor for the personal journey to find truth and enlightenment, and it fits perfectly with Pink Floyd's "Dark Side of the Moon."

• Starring:  Judy Garland, Frank Morgan, Ray Bolger
• Director:  Victor Fleming
• Rotten Tomatoes Score: 98%

5. Spartacus

Stanley Kubrick's epic historical drama "Spartacus" recounts the tale of the titular historical figure, a Thracian slave thrust into greatness during a period when the Roman Republic is on the slippery slope to its own demise. When Spartacus is shipped off to gladiatorial school, he leads his fellow slaves in an uprising, building an army that Rome can't seem to put down no matter how many legions they send.

• Starring:  Kirk Douglas, Laurence Olivier, Jean Simmons
• Director:  Stanley Kubrick
• Runtime:  184 minutes

4. Star Wars: Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back

"The Empire Strikes Back" represents "Star Wars" at its best. The film, set a few years after the Death Star's destruction, finds the Imperial fleet finally catching up with the Rebels on the frozen planet Hoth. After his escape, Luke travels to Dagobah, where he trains to use the Force under the guidance of Jedi master Yoda, preparing to face off against Darth Vader. Things turn from bad to worse for the Rebels, setting the stage for the epic face-off in "The Return of the Jedi," giving us one of cinema's greatest twists, and resulting in perhaps the most exciting lightsaber battle in "Star Wars" history.

• Starring:  Carrie Fisher, Mark Hamill , Harrison Ford
• Director:  Irvin Kershner
• Year:  1980

3. The Princess Bride

Based on the 1973 William Goldman novel, "The Princess Bride" is the romantic and comedic tale of Buttercup, who falls in love with Westley, a farmhand always answers her demands with a dreamy "as you wish." After Westley leaves to make his fortune so they can afford to get hitched, his ship comes under attack by the Dread Pirate Roberts, whose claim to fame is that he doesn't leave survivors. A few years later when the brokenhearted Buttercup finds herself forced to marry the murderous Prince Humperdinck, she finds herself kidnapped and then kidnapped from her kidnappers only to learn that Westley is still alive. Packed full of charming performances, quotable dialogue, and memorable characters, "The Princess Bride" is one of the best adventures ever filmed. 

• Starring:  Robin Wright, Cary Elwes, Mandy Patinkin

2. Raiders of the Lost Ark

The first in the "Indiana Jones" series, "Raiders of the Lost Ark" finds archaeologist-adventurer Indiana Jones striving to stay a step ahead of the Nazis on their quest for global domination via the biblical Ark of the Covenant. With his mentor's hard-drinking and hard-fisted daughter at his side, Indy travels to Egypt, hoping to find the all-powerful Ark before the Germans can get their hands on it. Complete with plenty of witty dialogue-fueled romance, mysterious ancient booby traps, and some of the best stunts in cinema history, "Raiders of the Lost Ark" is the ultimate treasure hunters' tale. 

• Starring:  Harrison Ford, Karen Allen, Paul Freeman

1. The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers

The second film in the "Lord of the Rings" series and the best in the trilogy, "The Two Towers" finds the Fellowship of the Ring split, with Frodo and Sam continuing the trek to Mordor and Merry and Pippin planning an attack on Saruman's fortress. Elsewhere, Legolas, Aragorn, Gimli reunite with an old mystical friend. Spectacular and emotional, the film is a beautiful tribute to J.R.R. Tolkien's epic tale, and it all leads up to one of the greatest showdowns in cinematic history — the Battle of Helm's Deep. When it comes to battle scenes, they don't get any better than this one. Plus, the movie introduced us to the mo-cap wonder that is Gollum, a character who still haunts our memories with his calls of "my precious."

• Year:  2002
• Runtime:  179 minutes

Discover the 19 Best Adventure Films of All Time

Posted: December 11, 2023 | Last updated: December 11, 2023

Adventure has always been something for which people have yearned. Leaving a familiar place in search of the unknown appeals to all of us, so it’s no wonder that the medium of film has been so successful in fulfilling that need.

What’s more, adventure can synthesize with practically any other film genre effortlessly. Let’s discover the 19 best adventure films of all time. ( If you’re looking for something more rustic, click here for the best western films ever made. )

To determine the best adventure movies of all time, 24/7 Tempo developed an index using average ratings on IMDb , an online movie database owned by Amazon, and a combination of audience scores and Tomatometer scores on Rotten Tomatoes , an online movie and TV review aggregator, as of October 2023, weighting all ratings equally. We considered only movies with at least 5,000 audience votes on either IMDb or Rotten Tomatoes. Directorial credits are from IMDb.

19. Stand by Me (1986)

• IMDb user rating: 8.1/10 (380,190 reviews)
• Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 94% (270,467 reviews)
• Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 91% (57 reviews)
• Directed by: Rob Reiner

When they learn that a man has been killed in their town, four Oregon boys set out to see it. Soon, however, the boys run afoul of a mean junk man and a marsh full of leeches. In the process, they learn more about each other and their home lives in a journey that will mark a pivotal moment in all of their lives.

What makes “Stand by Me” one of the best adventure films ever is how deftly it captures a group of adolescent boys’ rite of passage. Certain elements in the movie make it a timeless piece of nostalgia, expertly riding the line between boyhood and adulthood in a way that only gets better with time.

18. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part II (2011)

• IMDb user rating: 8.1/10 (849,283 reviews)
• Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 89% (250,000 reviews)
• Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 96% (332 reviews)
• Directed by: David Yates

The film follows up on the first part of the Deathly Hollows series, but this time the stakes are high. Harry Potter and his friends prepare for a fight against Lord Voldemort. Simultaneously, they must search for the Horcruxes, talismans that keep Voldermort immortal. Soon, they will meet at Hogwarts for an epic showdown of good versus evil.

“Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part II” is, no doubt, a satisfying conclusion to the Harry Potter film series. Its effects are dazzling, the acting is powerful, and the film’s overall solemn, grim tone contrasts nicely with the first Harry Potter movie. For its success, the film was nominated for three Academy Awards.

17. Jaws (1975)

• IMDb user rating: 8.0/10 (565,147 reviews)
• Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 90% (945,011 reviews)
• Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 97% (93 reviews)
• Directed by: Steven Spielberg

After a man-eating shark attacks beachgoers in a sleepy, seaside town, the police chief races to action. To help capture this abominable creature, the chief enlists the help of a marine biologist and a professional shark hunter. Together, they must outsmart the deadly beast before he takes more lives.

What makes “Jaws” one of the best adventure movies of all time is how downright scary it can be. Chock full of impressive effects, a solid cast, and an expert, hair-raising pace, the movie provides thrilling action entertainment of the highest order. For its success, “Jaws” won Academy Awards for Best Film Editing, Best Original Dramatic Score, and Best Sound. ( Discover the best Steven Spielberg movies of all time. )

16. The Wizard of Oz (1939)

• IMDb user rating: 8.0/10 (379,622 reviews)
• Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 89% (876,535 reviews)
• Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 99% (145 reviews)
• Directed by: Victor Fleming

Teenage girl Dorothy is attempting to escape an incoming tornado. Instead, she is lifted and dropped in a strange, alien land. There she learns that her landing killed a powerful witch. However, she does not know how to get home, so she must follow the yellow brick road to find the Wizard of Oz. Along the way, she meets three friends who will help Dorothy on her fact-finding journey.

What makes “The Wizard of Oz” one of the best adventure films of all time is how perfectly it evokes a sense of wonder. Filled with eye-popping sets and fantastical creatures, the film conveys the hero’s journey in a simple, evocative way. For its unprecedented success, “The Wizard of Oz” won Academy Awards for Best Original Score and Best Original Song.

15. Sullivan’s Travels (1941)

• IMDb user rating: 7.9/10 (25,347 reviews)
• Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 89% (8,614 reviews)
• Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 100% (35 reviews)
• Directed by: Preston Sturges

The film portrays a Hollywood comedy director desperate to make a socially-relevant, dramatic movie. Lacking inspiration, the director decides to live life as a tramp to gain the experience needed to make an accurate movie. Along the way, he connects with an aspiring actress who accompanies him on his journey of self-discovery.

Based, in part, on the classic adventure novel “Gulliver’s Travels,” the film received mixed reviews upon its initial release. Over time, however, “Sullivan’s Travels” was recognized as a classic, blending escapism, fantasy, and moral significance effortlessly. It’s now considered one of the best movies ever made about movie-making.

14. Inception (2010)

• IMDb user rating: 8.8/10 (2,171,143 reviews)
• Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 91% (571,783 reviews)
• Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 87% (361 reviews)
• Directed by: Christopher Nolan

The film depicts a professional thief who specializes in stealing information from people by entering their subconscious minds. He encounters his toughest challenge yet, however when he is tasked with planting an idea in someone’s subconscious. Though this job offers him a chance to have his criminal history erased, he will risk everything he cares about in the process.

One of the best adventure films of all time, “Inception” is a mind-melding, edge-of-your-seat journey into the labyrinth of the mind. Its visuals are innovative and hypnotic, its story is like a chess game, and the result is a film unlike any you’ve ever seen. For its success, “Inception” won Academy Awards for Best Cinematography, Best Sound Editing, Best Sound Mixing, and Best Visual Effects.

13. The Bridge on the River Kwai (1957)

• IMDb user rating: 8.1/10 (211,273 reviews)
• Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 93% (54,763 reviews)
• Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 95% (61 reviews)
• Directed by: David Lean

When a group of British prisoners of War is ordered by their Japanese captors to build a strategically important bridge, the group of soldiers does everything they can to sabotage and delay construction. That is, until, their commanding officer orders them to get to work. Little do they know, however, that a group of allied soldiers is on their way to destroy the same bridge.

While “The Bridge on the River Kwai” is undoubtedly one of the best adventure films of all time, it is also a deeply moving and compelling character study. Frankly, the film has everything with moments of gripping drama as well as acerbic humor. Ultimately, what makes the film so great is it asks hard questions without giving in to easy answers about the nature of war and the men who fight it. For its success, “The Bridge on the River Kwai” won seven Academy Awards.

12. The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (2003)

• IMDb user rating: 8.9/10 (1,710,236 reviews)
• Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 86% (34,679,773 reviews)
• Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 93% (275 reviews)
• Directed by: Peter Jackson

A continuation of the previous film, “The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King” picks up with Sam and Frodo as they inch nearer to Mount Doom in an attempt to destroy the One Ring. Meanwhile, the rest of the crew prepares for battle against the evil sorcerer Sauron and his troops in the city of Minas Tirith.

Chock-full of incredible visuals and carried at an impeccable pace, “The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King” is one of the best adventure films of all time. It is a perfect ending to the already remarkable movie series, capturing both impressive detail and expansive atmosphere with a momentum that ends in satisfaction. For its success, the film won an astounding twelve Academy Awards.

11. Lawrence of Arabia (1962)

• IMDb user rating: 8.3/10 (296,218 reviews)
• Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 93% (50,000 reviews)
• Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 94% (132 reviews)

The film follows the real-life figure, Lawrence, and his experiences in the Ottoman Empire provinces of Hejaz and Greater Syria during the First World War. There, he allied with the Arab National Council to stage attacks in Aqaba and Damascus as he struggles with the emotional quotient of violence while his sense of identity blurs.

With its sweeping desert vistas and impeccably acted roles, it’s no surprise that “Lawrence of Arabia” is considered one of the best adventure films of all time. Though it functions as a blockbuster epic, the film is a vivid and intelligent portrayal of a man trapped between two widely different cultures and societies. For its success, “Lawrence of Arabia” won seven Academy Awards including Best Picture, Best Director, and Best Actor. ( Here are the highest-grossing movies based on true stories. )

10. The Great Escape (1963)

• IMDb user rating: 8.2/10 (246,586 reviews)
• Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 95% (103,579 reviews)
• Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 94% (49 reviews)
• Directed by: John Sturges

Based on a book of the same name, “The Great Escape” follows a group of British prisoners of war at the German POW camp Stalag Luft III during World War II. There, they will work together to outsmart their German captors and make a daring escape to freedom.

Though “The Great Escape” received adequate reviews upon its release, it was only over the ensuing decades that the film earned the praise it deserved. It has everything really, with moments of terror and despair as well as humorous slices of life that ultimately revel in the unbreakable human spirit. For its success, it received one Academy Award nomination.

9. The Princess Bride (1987)

• IMDb user rating: 8.1/10 (408,278 reviews)
• Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 94% (527,843 reviews)
• Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 97% (78 reviews)

The film follows a farmhand named Westley, who is on a mission to save his true love, Princess Buttercup from the sinister Prince Humperdinck. Along the way, he meets a gang of unlikely friends. Together, they evade evil forces and outsmart cunning wizards in an attempt to unite Westley with his one true love.

Operating through a metafictional narrative style of a movie within a children’s book, “The Princess Bride” works on multiple levels. It’s funny, self-referential, ironic yet still retaining a sweet sincerity, and full of great fantasy-adventure moments. Though not a box-office success, “The Princess Bride” gained a cult following and is now considered a hallmark of the adventure genre.

8. North by Northwest (1959)

• IMDb user rating: 8.3/10 (312,200 reviews)
• Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 94% (79,896 reviews)
• Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 97% (109 reviews)
• Directed by: Alfred Hitchcock

The film follows an innocent man as he is doggedly pursued by agents of a mysterious organization. That’s because the man is trying to block this organization from smuggling microfilm out of the country that contains a laundry list of government secrets. Soon, he meets a beautiful but mysterious woman who joins him on his daring escape from shadowy, sinister forces.

What makes “North by Northwest” one of the best adventure films of all time is how perfectly it captures the zeitgeist of the time. It has Cold War spies, deception, and several classic action sequences, but there is so much more. It’s an expertly crafted meditation on intrigue, identity, and conspiracy-laden sinister forces. For its success, “North By Northwest” was nominated for three Academy Awards.

7. The Treasure of the Sierra Madre (1948)

• IMDb user rating: 8.2/10 (119,669 reviews)
• Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 93% (26,178 reviews)
• Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 100% (52 reviews)
• Directed by: John Huston

An adaption of the classic B. Traven novel by the same name, “The Treasure of Sierra Madre” follows two poor, dispossessed men in search of success. Soon, they encounter a cynical old prospector who is on a similar journey. Together, they will venture into Mexico on a hunt for hidden gold.

One of the few movies to ever hold a 100% score on Rotten Tomatoes, “The Treasure of Sierra Madre” is an expertly crafted tale of adventure and morality. Though remade more than once, nothing has come close to touching the original’s compelling meditation on greed, the desolation of nature, and man’s place in it. For its success, “The Treasure of Sierra Madre” won Academy Awards for Best Director, Best Supporting Actor, and Best Screenplay.

6. Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope (1977)

• IMDb user rating: 8.6/10 (1,277,193 reviews)
• Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 96% (863,326 reviews)
• Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 92% (132 reviews)
• Directed by: George Lucas

Set in a fictional universe long ago and in a galaxy far away, the film follows a resistance group as they attempt to destroy the Empire’s newest weapon, the Death Star. However, when rebel leader Princess Leila is kidnapped, an unassuming young man named Luke Skywalker must save her using his deep wellspring of metaphysical power called “the force.”

Easily one of the best adventure films of all time, “Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope” is an incredible mixture of scope, imagination, and humanity. It combines the best elements of adventure with the most compelling aspects of human emotion. This results in a sci-fi space opera that is greater than the sum of its parts. For its success, “Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope” won seven Academy Awards including Best Visual Effects, Best Sound, and Best Costume Design.

5. The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (2001)

• IMDb user rating: 8.8/10 (1,731,527 reviews)
• Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 95% (1,355,751 reviews)
• Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 91% (235 reviews)

Set in a fantastical realm called Middle Earth, the film follows the unlikely trail of the One Ring, a powerful talisman that affects anyone who touches it. Though the evil sorcerer Sauron seeks it, the ring has ended up in the possession of a young hobbit named Frodo. After he learns of the object’s might, Frodo joins forces with a rag-tag group of adventures to take the ring to Mount Doom and destroy it for good.

One of the best adventure films of all time, “The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring” is a beautiful, epic tale of good versus evil. It has astounding scope yet a keen sense of detail, resulting in a journey that is gripping, powerful, yet just as intimate. For its success, the film won Academy Awards for Best Visual Effects, Best Original Score, Best Makeup, and Best Cinematography.

4. Back to the Future (1985)

• IMDb user rating: 8.5/10 (1,113,249 reviews)
• Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 94% (1,095,654 reviews)
• Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 96% (83 reviews)
• Directed by: Robert Zemeckis

The film follows teenager Marty McFly who is accidentally sent back in time in a modified DeLorean by his eccentric scientist friend Doc Brown. When he arrives in 1955, he inadvertently prevents his future parents from falling in love. Since this may erase his very existence, McFly must reconcile his soon-to-be parents so he can return to his future.

What makes “Back to the Future” one of the best adventure films of all time is how deftly it flips expectations about time travel. Ostensibly a small story about a small town, the film starts funny and charming but ends up in a wondrous display of possibility and love. For its success, Back to the Future received four Academy Award nominations, winning for Best Sound Editing.

3. Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981)

• IMDb user rating: 8.4/10 (917,143 reviews)
• Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 96% (827,087 reviews)
• Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 96% (84 reviews)

The film follows Indiana Jones, a globe-trotting archeologist in a race against Nazi forces to recover the long-lost religious relic, The Ark of the Covenant. To do so, Jones teams up with his former love interest Marion Ravenwood. Together, the pair will fight the Nazis and prevent them from using the Ark’s power for their evil ends.

Upon release, “Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Ark” was an instant classic. Inspired by adventure tales of the past, the film expertly crafts a vision of a singular, yet accessible hero that is as appealing as it is thrilling. For its visionary might, the film won Academy Awards for Best Art Direction, Best Film Editing, Best Sound, Best Sound Editing, and Best Visual Effects. Discover the most popular action stars of all time.

2. The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers (2002)

• IMDb user rating: 8.7/10 (1,546,188 reviews)
• Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 95% (1,341,428 reviews)
• Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 95% (255 reviews)

The first film in the Lord of the Rings series, “The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers” picks up where the first left off: with Sam and Frodo on their journey to destroy the One Ring, now accompanied by an unsettling creature named Gollum. Meanwhile, the rest of the crew are reunited with the good wizard Gandalf before fighting the evil legions controlled by the sorcerer Sauron.

Usually, the second film in a trilogy is the most plodding, but “The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers” manages to avoid the cliche. It’s a perfectly balanced mixture of exposition and action, satisfying plot points in dazzling displays while still leaving audiences eager for the trilogy’s final chapter. For its success, the film won Academy Awards for Best Sound Editing and Best Visual Effects.

1. Star Wars: Episode V – The Empire Strikes Back (1980)

• IMDb user rating: 8.7/10 (1,205,389 reviews)
• Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 97% (1,058,608 reviews)
• Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 94% (105 reviews)
• Directed by: Irvin Kershner

Following in the footsteps of “Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope,” “The Empire Strikes Back” depicts an epic ice-laden battle between the Rebel Alliance and the Galatic Empire. Soon after, Luke Skywalker begins his Jedi training on the swamp planet of Dagobah. Meanwhile, Han Solo and crew are double-crossed on the cloud planet Bespin by Solo’s old friend.

One of the best adventure movies of all time, “Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope” defies expectations about sequels, introduces audiences to an even grander scope than the original movie, and results in a satisfying conclusion that still leaves audiences wanting more. It’s funny, heartfelt, and chock-full of imagination. For its success, “Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope” won an Academy Award for Best Sound. If you’re looking for something more intense, discover the best R-rated Sci-Fi movies of all time.

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USA TODAY 10Best

From music to food, these are the best festivals across the nation

March 27, 2024 // By 10Best Editors

By 10Best Editors March 27, 2024

Millions of people attend at least one festival in the U.S. per year — and those numbers are on the rise. With so many events to choose from (and ticket prices in the hundreds, if not thousands of dollars for some festivals), it can be difficult to decide where to spend your time and money.

That's why USA TODAY 10Best teamed up with a panel of festival experts to nominate the top events across seven categories. Then, we asked readers to vote for their favorites, and the results are in.

Click on each category below to see the full winners list:

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Best Art Festival: Artisphere in Greenville, South Carolina

Since its inception, Artisphere in Greenville, South Carolina, has earned regional as well as national esteem as one of the top art events in the nation. The three-day event hosts international-caliber artists in an outdoor showcase where patrons can meet artists face-to-face while shopping for one-of-a-kind pieces. Food, live performances, demos, and hands-on activities for the little ones complement the visual art on display.

Full list of winners: Best Art Festival »

Best City Food Festival: Queens Night Market in Queens, New York

New Yorkers know that the borough of Queens is culinary catnip, a smorgasbord of global goodies that makes a ride on the number 7 subway line an ambrosial proposal. The weekly, seasonal Queens Night Market is modeled after the popular open-air night markets of Asia, offering street food that showcases the ethnic and cultural diversity of the borough — all at wallet-friendly prices.

Full list of winners: Best City Food Festival »

Best Cultural Festival: Merrie Monarch Festival in Hilo, Hawaii

The Merrie Monarch Festival, held in Hilo on the Big Island, is dedicated to the memory of King David Kalakaua, who was known as the Merrie Monarch, thanks to his fun-loving ways and personal panache. King David was a dedicated patron of the arts, and this festival applauds the arts of Hawaii, particularly hula, with a hula competition and hula shows taking center stage.

Full list of winners: Best Cultural Festival »

Best Film Festival: Salute Your Shorts Film Festival in Los Angeles, California

Salute Your Shorts was started by filmmakers for filmmakers and is now considered one of the top short film festivals in the country, noted for offering top-notch programming and a weekend of inspiring and thought-provoking cinema. Judges are directors, have won Oscars, have served at Sundance, and curated for Vimeo, meaning you're in good hands at this annual happening.

Full list of winners: Best Film Festival »

Best Flower Festival: Zoo Blooms at Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden in Cincinnati, Ohio

One of just two accredited botanical gardens in Ohio, the Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden becomes a floral feast for the senses during Zoo Blooms. It offers one of the largest tulip displays in the Midwest (more than 100,000), and visitors can stroll among more than 1 million yellow and white daffodils, hyacinths, flowering trees, shrubs, and various spring bulbs peeking from their winter slumber.

Full list of winners: Best Flower Festival »

Best Music Festival: Joshua Tree Music Festival in Joshua Tree, California

Founded in 2003, Joshua Tree Music Festival takes place near the entrance of Joshua Tree National Park in the Mojave Desert. This family-friendly global music experience not only offers live music spanning multiple genres, but also features mind-blowing art, workshops, and tons of activities for little ones amid the gorgeous scenery.

Full list of winners: Best Music Festival »

Best Specialty Food Festival: Delta Hot Tamale Festival in Greenville, Mississippi

Greenville, Mississippi, has an actual U.S. Patent and Trademark certificate for being the hot tamale capital of the world, with historians claiming that the Delta hot tamale dates back hundreds of years or more. At this festive ode to the tamale, you can take part in tamale eating contests, cooking contests, art and T-shirt design contests, and even a Miss Hot Tamale pageant.

The weekend starts with a welcome dinner and dance party, and the following day sees panel discussions, food trucks, and live entertainment on the main stage, making for one big party.

Full list of winners: Best Specialty Food Festival »

Congratulations to all these winners! Remember to visit 10best.usatoday.com daily to vote in our other Readers' Choice Awards contests.