We put together a list of travel movies that are great for inspiration, laughs, and all too real travel nightmares. So if you’re in need of a travel fix, these films are your solution.
Into the Wild
This true story is one of the most well known and admired travel movies amongst most wanderlust stricken boys and girls, and for good reason. The movie was written and directed by Sean Penn and is based on a biography written by Jon Krakauer. Following the story of Christopher “supertramp” McCandless, a young man that broke ties with conventional life and his family to travel around North America on a mission to reach Alaska. The movie is beautiful and Christopher McCandless is incredibly inspiring and truly brilliant.
The secret life of Walter Mitty
Have you ever been sitting at work, day dreaming of far away lands and then suddenly you realize that you have been staring blankly at computer screen with nothing on it? If you answered that question yes or if you’re currently picturing yourself on a island somewhere this is the movie for you. Walter Mitty (Ben Stiller) is a dreaming man who is constantly getting lost in his thoughts, meanwhile his real life is steadily getting more dull while he wonders where his risk taking side ran off to. When an emergency at work forces Walter to take some big risks, he slowly finds himself dreaming less and living more.
The Darjeeling limited
Directed by Wes Anderson and starring Owen Wilson, Jason Swartzman and Adrien Brody, this quirky comedy-drama is a must see, especially if you are planning a trip with your siblings. The film follows three estranged brothers who meet up on a train ride across India in a hopes to repair their brotherhood. Wes Anderson’s filming style and dry humor open a great window into traveling problems with your siblings while the attention to detail brings out a great perspective on India and train travel.
The Beach
This adventure drama starring Leonardo DiCaprio and directed by Danny Boyle about a young mans search for paradise in Southeast Asia has everything you could want in a travel adventure film. There is treasure maps and beautiful french girls and secret islands and shark attacks all mixed together with secret societies sprinkled on top. This is a must see for anyone dreaming of a life at the beach.
180 Degrees South: Conquerors of the Useless
The documentary directed by Chris Malloy that covers the journey of Jeff Johnson as he travels from Southern California to Patagonia, Chile retracing the 1968 trip that Yvon Chouinard and Doug Tompkins completed in a VW Van. Dough Tompkins was the founder of the outdoors company The North Face and Yvon Chouinard founded the company Patagonia. Johnson decided to make climbing the Corcovado Volcano in Patagonia as his life goal after finding some footage of Doug and Yvons 1968 trip. The beauty of south america is documented alongside Johnsons determination to make it to Patagonia by any means possible.
Lost in Translation
Bob Harris, an older american actor played by Bill Murray, finds himself out of place while on a job in Tokyo when he befriends Charlotte(Scarlett Johansson) a young woman at the hotel he is staying at. The two form a bond on being lost in a foreign place, while exploring and trying to deal with life at different stages. The film is shot beautifuly and gives you a great and very romatically dry perspective on Tokyo and what its like to be alone surrounded by people.
Due Date
Have you ever been stuck on a plane with the worst person in existence? I think I may have once, but either way this film captures your worst traveling fears and annoyances in a completely hilarious and cringeworthy way. Peter Highman (Robert Downey, Jr.) is on a journey back to Los Angeles to reunite with his super pregnany wife when he crosses pathes with Ethan Tremblay (Zach Galifianakis) an wannabe actor destined for fame in Hollywood. After an incident on a plane the two are forced to road trip across country so that Peter can make it home before his child is born. This film is hilarious and puts an exagerated spin on a travelers worst case scenario.
Swiss Family Robinson (1960)
This movie was a huge part of my childhood and I blame my travel obsession partially on this movie. Following a shipwrecked family as they build a life and explore the island they are marooned on. The family builds the most epic treehouse you could imagine and has to defend it from pirates! This movie literally has everything your little explorer heart could want, including a race between a baby elephant, ostrich, a donkey and a monkey riding a dog, need I say more?
Away we go
Starring John Krasinski and Maya Rudolph, this comedy-drama hits home for anyone having trouble trying to find their spot in life. Burt and Verona are in their early thirties, havent found a spot in life that feels right yet and are about to bring a child into this world that they cant seem to figure out. They embark on trip around the U.S. to find a spot that feels like a home they can raise their child in, all while encountering many different friends and families and observing how each ones figured things out, or how they havent. The film shows a sadly funny side to traveling with the person you love and everything that comes along with it.
Planes, Trains, and Automobiles
Another movie about the fear of being stuck with the most annoying person you could think of but this one is a classic! Steve Martin stars as Neal Page who is attempting to get home for the holidays when he meets Del Griffith, a shower ring salesmen with a big clumsy personality played by John Candy. The two continue to get thrown together in hilarious scenarios, no matter what extent Neal goes to distance himself from Del as the they travel across country using any transportation available.
Thats our list, we would love to hear what movies made it on to your list!
Always Departing 