holiday travel movies

• Search Please fill out this field.
• Manage Your Subscription
• Give a Gift Subscription
• Sweepstakes
• Culture + Design
• TV + Movies

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.

• Inspiration
• Destinations
• Places To Stay
• Style & Culture
• Food & Drink
• Wellness & Spas
• News & Advice
• Partnerships
• Traveller's Directory
• Travel Tips
• Competitions

25 travel films that will make you feel like you're on holiday

By Antonia Quirke

The best films don’t just inspire us to travel, or even make us feel like we have – they are much more. They are time travel. Taking us directly into other eras. Some recreate a different epoch with set-dressing and costumes. Others are actual documents of worlds now lost, such as Mohsen Makhmalbaf’s unforgettable Gabbeh from 1996, about the rural carpet weavers of Iran, capturing with spectacular colour and romance a landscape and community that no longer exists. With such a film we go where we otherwise literally cannot.

We make friends with characters in films similar to the way we make friends on our travels – intensely, fleetingly. We take trips to revisit those people and places when we rewatch our favourites. We travel in our own heads whenever we think of them. That’s where the movies actually live. In our minds, reorganising images and location. The marvellous, muddled movie brain. It’s deeply poetic. Here are 25 films to transport the viewer.

Into The Wild (2007)

Some of the best travel films are based on a true story and Into the Wild , which follows the Alaskan adventure and ultimate demise of Christopher 'Alexander Supertramp' McCandless. Sean Penn's take follows McCandless, played by Emile Hirsch, kayaking the Colorado River, summiting snowy peaks, and embodying unchecked wanderlust. It's adventure travel at its best and most reckless, which of course makes for a great film.

Stream it on NOW TV

MAMMA MIA! (2008): THE GREEK ISLANDS

When it was released in 2008, this sunny tribute to ABBA was the most successful movie musical ever. But the onslaught of Scandi pop from Colin Firth, Pierce Brosnan and Meryl Streep is somehow less central to the film’s success than its location. It’s set on the fictional Greek island of Kalokairi, and the cast and crew set up in the Sporades island of Skopelos. Amanda Seyfried (Sophie) and Dominic Cooper (Sky) romp about in unspoiled Mediterranean coves such as Kastani Beach. In bad news for fans making the pilgrimage to the island, though, the jetty – where we see Sky’s stag-do mates memorably dance in flippers – was temporarily added for the film. Perhaps most striking is Agios Ioannis, where Sophie and Sky are due to be married. This dinky church sits precariously above a 100-metre cliff face in the north of the island, with 202 steps leading to the summit. Sarah James

Stream on Netflix

Where was Mamma Mia! filmed in Greece?

REBECCA (2020): CORNWALL

The 2020 Netflix adaptation of Daphne Du Maurier’s Gothic classic Rebecca travelled all across England to recreate Manderley, arguably the most famous fictional house ever dreamt up. The vast Cornish estate belonging to Maxim de Winter (Armie Hammer) is said to be one of the most beautiful properties in the country – but in real life, the crew took elements of several locations to create a composite of this impressive mansion. The exterior was shot at 17th-century Cranborne Manor in Dorset, while most of the interior was filmed at Hatfield House in Hertfordshire (also used in The Favourite and The Crown ). Back in Dorset, Mapperton House’s 15 acres of gardens stand in as Manderley’s grounds. Away from Manderley, we see Lily James (Mrs de Winter) and Armie Hammer strolling the wild Cornish coast, actually filmed in Devon’s Hartland Quay. And further afield, Monaco’s Jardin Exotique and the Belle Epoque Ancien Hôtel Régina in Nice also make star appearances. Sarah James

Where was Rebecca filmed? A locations guide

MAMMA MIA! HERE WE GO AGAIN (2018): CROATIA

While its predecessor made use of a thriving Greek isle for its sunny location shots, the sequel – filmed a whole decade later – moved the production to a sleepy Croatian outlet, Vis. This rugged 35 square-mile island, one and a half hours from mainland Croatia , was home to the cast and crew for six weeks. Lily James, who plays a young Donna (played by Meryl Streep in later life) strolls around Srebrna Bay with her lover Sam (Jeremy Irvine), while Vis harbour also stars. Kalokairi’s famous jetty from the first film appears again in the sequel, this time set up on the western tip of the island, Barjaci. Greek food was even imported to the island, to add to the all-important authenticity. Sarah James

Where 'Mamma Mia: Here We Go Again' was filmed

Carol (2015)

The film follows a young clerk at a department store (Rooney Mara) who falls for the titular Carol (Cate Blanchett), a glamorous older woman who comes into the shop one day and leaves with more than a new scarf. The two embark on a tentative affair which leads them through Fifties New York and on a road trip across America.

Stream it on Amazon Prime

THE DARJEELING LIMITED (2007): RAJASTHAN

Three brothers head across Rajasthan by train, truck and scooter in a film that feels it’s in perpetual motion; a flick-book of vividly coloured paintings of Hindu gods, and people in their multitudinous safas and ghagra cholis . Even the dust of the Rajasthani plains looks infused with pale saffron – in one scene the sand almost seems to be aflame, while the soundtrack plays Debussy’s ‘Clair de lune’: moon and fire combined. Ice and heat. The best scenes, on a cross-country train, take place in an antiquated, super-florid luxury dining car that seems fantastical but might very well be an immaculate reconstruction of the real thing. Anybody who’s been to this part of India knows it’s more than possible. Chandeliers hugger-mugger with those intricate paintings of princes hunting gazelles or Shiva bringing the Ganges down from heaven or Vishnu Vaikuntha defeating the king of Kangra. All the while, carriage windows flash past camels and scared cows, parakeets, doves and crows, old tombs and thorn scrub and the ruins of temples, to the rattle of Raj-era cutlery and the boiling of perpetual chai.

Stream on Amazon Prime

ROMA (2018): MEXCIO CITY

Director Alfonso Cuarón has a thing about beaches – they represent liberty and potency to him. His adored 2001 road movie Y Tu Mamá También , about two randy teenagers heading down Mexico ’s southern coast, shows a beach so analgesically romantic it’s since become a very specific and celebrated destination for fans (Bahías de Huatulco, about 70 miles east of Puerto Escondido, in case you’re interested). In the movie, that cove with sand like cool velvet looks like a defining image of excitement tinged with vital regret. All summers must end. The director’s autobiographical mega-hit Roma is mostly set in Seventies Mexico City , where he was raised, and the scenes when the family at the centre of the story head to the beaches at Tuxpan for a holiday completely knocks our heads off. Huge breakers, salt and wind, children’s voices bouncing hard across the water, enlivening both the family on screen and the audience. Beaches: beautiful and dangerous. In full view of your loved ones you can be eaten by a shark. Or drown. Get swept away. When I interviewed Cuarón a couple of years ago and mentioned the beaches in his films, he hooted and nodded. And said there was nothing in his childhood like that thrilling, nervy sensation of leaving Mexico City and heading towards the sea: ‘I longed for those moments.’

Where was Roma filmed?

LITTLE WOMEN (2019): NEW ENGLAND

On the subject of beaches, if there are better seaside scenes in a recent movie than the ones shot along Crane Beach in Massachusetts for Greta Gerwig’s cherished new adaptation of Louisa May Alcott’s 1868 novel, I’d like to see them. The rest of the film centres mostly on the house of the March family: a near-cloying mirage of heritage clapboard, open fires, American quilts, dried-flower swags, lanterns in the snow, Christmas feasts, Marmee hurrying forth with still-warm bread in a wicker basket. But when the girls head to Crane Beach for a picnic one spring day, the camera tracks the grass-fringed dunes and waters of one of north-east America’s most spectacular shores, studded with rare piping plovers – just outside the town of Ipswich and along towards the Essex River Estuary and salt marshes. Suddenly the film gulps in fresh air. Laurie flirts madly with an oblivious Jo all along the water’s edge as the sun throws armfuls of pure light across white sand out from the screen right across us.

Where is the new 'Little Women' filmed?

Amy Abrahams

Rick Jordan , CN Traveller

CNT Editors , CN Traveller

Olivia Morelli

ONCE UPON A TIME IN HOLLYWOOD (2019): LOS ANGELES

Tarantino’s lauded love letter to late-Sixties LA, and a semi-fantasy version of the city, now (natch) a popular bus tour all of its own. The seductive and enthralling locations are countless – the 1938 Aquarius Theatre, the Puerco Canyon in Malibu , Casa Vega on Ventura Boulevard... How well Tarantino captures the sense of the sprawling movie lots, the vacant extras, the catering trucks, the everyday strangeness of it all. The tone of the movie is phenomenal, capturing not just a fascinating place in time but a newly famous, and doomed, woman in that specific place in time: Sharon Tate (Margot Robbie), filmed bowling down the freeway in her convertible, or watching herself in a movie in amazement, or just dancing and laughing at a party in a modernist bohemian enclave of the Hollywood Hills (away from ‘the tired old men and tired old money,’ as Raymond Chandler once put it to describe other Californian neighbourhoods). A woman at the high point of her happiness. ‘Good air, and a view of the mountains,’ Chandler also declared, was the best LA (ie, life) could offer. What more could any of us want?

Once Upon a Time in Hollywood locations – the LA filming spots

Stream on Now TV

MUD (2012): MISSISSIPPI

‘This way of life ain’t long for this world…’ A story set today but with a woozy, antique feel – from its opening moments you suspect it’s a remake of a much older movie (it’s not). Or at least inspired by something written by Mark Twain, especially when one of the characters turns out to be called Tom Blankenship, the name of Twain’s childhood friend and the real-life Huckleberry Finn. The characters live along the Mississippi in wooden houseboats that crouch low along the water, hand to mouth, fishing for crawfish and mussels, and occasionally bringing up pearls. Two kind children meet Mud, an unfrightening convict hiding out on an uninhabited island in the river – Matthew McConaughey, the most handsome of Magwitch types, despite being drenched in perpetual sweat and wearing unlovely dentures. It’s filmed in the Arkansas Delta Lowlands and an island outside Eudora, and the Mississippi itself is ever-present, verdant and varied. Mystical, historical, aesthetic. Sometimes big as a sea, other times full of winding creeks and inlets edged in low-slung trees and the soft furze of mossy stones. In one scene in the morning, a dreamlike mist hovers and a snake curls through the water, geese languidly flying in a crescent overhead. You want to enter the frame as the river’s slow green flow crinkles in the occasional breeze.

Stream on Amazon/Google

CALL ME BY YOUR NAME (2017): ITALY

Teenage Elio falls for handsome doctoral student Oliver, who’s spending the summer with his family. It’s not that the Italian town and its surrounds here – Crema, in Lombardy – is devastatingly gorgeous. Or that the villa where it’s set is headturningly historic. Or any of the too-unctuous things that usually oversell locations in movies: it’s the weirdly accurate sense of time and milieu that it grasps. Of being just ‘somewhere in Italy’, in 1983, seeing out the summer. The cardboardy towels. The wrong-sized bike. Nesquik on the breakfast table. Plates of over-bruised cherries. The endless cigarettes, and clanging of church bells. You’ve been to that town during an unreliably warm July. You’ve sat in a Fiat picking at the door-catch. Endured evenings in the living room while someone has a go on the piano and others watch telly. Gone to bed early, listless. Had a cold swim in a local river. Crushed on the exchange student’s middle brother. And even though it’s a film about love and passionate sex and quashed dreams – and so upliftingly sad – it’s also the safest and familiar-feeling movie of all time. Like Wordsworth’s bright ‘spots of time’, it could be your own memories.

Where was Call Me By Your Name filmed?

MIDNIGHT IN PARIS (2011): Paris

‘How is anybody ever going to come up with a book or a painting or a symphony or a sculpture that can compete with a great city?’ Specifically, Paris . So many shots in Woody Allen’s relentlessly charming amusement about an American writer (Owen Wilson) accidentally travelling back in time to Paris in the 1920s and meeting such panjandrums as Ernest Hemingway (Corey Stoll, incandescent) show the city drenched in rain. Absolutely pelting down. Rain racing in the gutters. Rain hammering on the Seine, turning it white. The shots, though brief, seem to go on for long moments. The narcotic beauty of it! The insatiable longing that descends on us as the movie goes on – to be negotiating some café chair yourself, under an awning off the Pont Neuf, with your coat collar up, ordering coffee swilling with Armagnac while your shopping bags dissolve in the deluge. ‘How drop-dead gorgeous this city is in the rain!’ says Wilson. The same might be said for all cities, really – they magically turn into mirrors in the rain. Street puddles reflect light glimmeringly back upon itself. But Paris, being rain-coloured to begin with (those silver-grey apartment buildings), does rain best.

PHANTOM THREAD (2017): London

A masterpiece, especially for the way it conjures London . Rarely is the city filmed in wide-shot (we never see a whole street), and yet you come away completely immersed in the place and era. It’s set circa 1953, with Daniel Day-Lewis playing a couture designer living and working in a smart London square off the Marylebone Road. His house is a high-stretching, late-Georgian caress of a building: polished parquet, stucco, white shutters, immaculate cupola and a vaulted staircase that winds into infinity past rooms filled with assiduous seamstresses. Here is the air of wealth. European royalty come and go, immaculately lipsticked, being fitted for weddings. And yet at the same time there’s something very close and secretive and quintessentially Fifties to the movie – it has the tone of a Muriel Sharp novel. The city reveals itself in alluring details only. Doors slightly ajar reveal shadows of the square beyond. Through tall sashed windows, as a countess is swathed in tulle and pinned, we see plane trees and sky and elegant brick. Perhaps the red blur of a London bus. You marvel that this is all we need to so successfully locate us in a place. A certain corner. A statue. Beautiful Sanderson wallpaper. Whenever I’m in the area I find myself walking out of my way especially to sit in Fitzroy Square where it was filmed, thinking about Daniel Day-Lewis eating a plate of porridge with cream for breakfast and drinking his lapsang, frowning and sketching while London wakes up beyond his casement.

INTO THE WILD (2007): ALASKA

‘I love not Man the less, but Nature more,’ Byron wrote. This movie is as much as anything about travelling alone. Christopher McCandless was a restless young American seeking personal revitalisation by hitching towards Alaska in the early 1990s, inspired in part by Walt Whitman (‘I take to the open road’). Emile Hirsch’s McCandless grows ever thinner in leaky boots, his rucksack brimming with guides to edible plants, his hair a dustbowl, scrawny arms eternally on the brink of throwing each meagre item in his possession off a bridge just to ensure he won’t lose the focus of his ideals. Living on what he can forage, he strikes up brief friendships – in that intense, addictive way that any backpacker will recognise – with a catalogue of characters en route. The suspiciously buoyant Swedish campers. The caring older couple keen to offer their advice. The watchful girl with a guitar and a sheaf of sad songs. From the wheat fields of South Dakota and the blue water of the Topock Gorge, everything we see looks gorgeous. Especially the very guts of Alaska itself when we get there – huge skies of winter sunshine. It’s a landscape that eventually consumed McCandless, and its vigour and immensity feel overwhelming.

UNCUT GEMS (2019): NEW YORK CITY

The most exciting crime thriller in years, about a New York City jeweller (Adam Sandler) perpetually on the crazed lookout for the next big score. It’s a movie completely charged by a desire to evoke the thrum of the diamond district and all the stories that the directors – the obsessive, hard-working Safdie brothers – heard their father tell about that part of the city. Stories that sounded to them like irresistible mini pulp-genre flicks as teenagers. It’s mostly filmed on 47th Street. An outdated, antiquated world; a cash-based economy of gemstones and bartering. The movie comes at you yelling. There are scenes where you feel like every argument, every deal, every scam is being drilled right into your head, the sound mix is so chaotic and vivid. Layers and layers of conversation and alarms and traffic and mobile phones. The Safdies didn’t close the area off for their exterior shots – they just went right out on the street, real pedestrians mixing unknowingly with extras (in that way of other indelible New York movies including Marathon Man , or Tootsie , when Dustin Hoffman, dressed as Dorothy for the first time, totters with prim perfection past unsuspecting members of the actual public). But more than anything, it’s the way that 47th Street itself is clearly utterly alive for everyone involved, a living thing that they just can't stop thinking about. A knockout.

TRACKS (2013): DESERTS

Of all films shot in the desert , this one feels most saturated in a hypnotic, sunbaked, slow-blooded yellowness. A thirsty, seductive amber. It is perhaps the ultimate cinematic dream of aloneness. Mia Wasikowska stars in the true story of Australian writer Robyn Davidson , who, aged 27, walked 1,700 miles across bone-dry west Australia – for the hell of it, for the thrill, the peace – with just a few doting camels for company. ‘I’d always been drawn to the purity of the desert. The hot wind and the wide open spaces,’ she says. Occasionally she’s followed by a Time magazine photographer (played by a then-unknown and thrillingly idiosyncratic Adam Driver), who gazes at Mia’s upturned freckled frown approaching through heat-shimmers with a kind of existential longing we all share by the end of the movie : Tracks makes you want to be a different sort of person. Happier with solitude. Braver.

THE TALENTED MR RIPLEY (1999): ITALY

The look on Matt Damon’s face says it all. His character, Tom Ripley – low-born American charlatan, villainous but compelling impersonator – has come, in the late 1950s, to ‘Mongibello’, an amalgam of southern Italy’s Positano , Procida and Ischia , to spy on Jude Law’s Dickie Greenleaf, a WASP trust-fund brat. It’s not just Law’s startling eyes (blue as borage) and insolently expensive caramel curls that Ripley desires. Everything Tom sees, he covets. The candy-coloured houses clambering up the sparkling coast. The scooters and tans, the rattan bags and sandals. Espresso taken under citrus trees whilst playing at writing novels in the cobbled Amalfi afternoons; to the sound of Chet Baker and swifts and clapping masts in the bay below. But here’s Rome , too, at Christmas , with fairy lights swagged across chilly fountains. And Venice on a vivid blue day out of season, boats transporting socialites in cashmere. The freedom, the glamour and history of Italy! Away from the ‘subways and taxis and starched collars’ of America . All captured in Damon’s expression.

A BIGGER SPLASH (2015): PANTELLERIA

This movie, about a British rock singer hiding from the world on a Sicilian island, and wrangling her troublesome lovers, is pretty much perfect. Sexy, hilarious and, absurd, it’s shot on a large, elegant old estate dotted with traditional houses (called dammusi; they look like scarab beetles), crimson hibiscus and Maiolica ceramics. A vivid yellow and blue swimming pool sits by a walled Arabian garden with a citrus tree that catches the movement of the light throughout the day like a sundial. In some of the best scenes, Matthias Schoenaerts drives an old Citroën Méhari (they’re everywhere here), sexily negotiating the pitted tracks and potholes of the roads, flooring the clutch in trodden-down deck shoes and blasting Captain Beefheart while Tilda Swinton hangs off his neck. Flowing fields of capers give way to sudden swathes of amber flowers that look like waving hedgerows of Champagne. There’s a lagoon in the opening scene that islanders call the Mirror of Venus – an ancient caldera coloured the outlandish blue of a Himalayan poppy, where Swinton and Schoenaerts spend the morning crusted in skin-softening mud, snogging and sleeping. Where is this? you ask just about every time the scenery changes. The location glowers and shadows, and by the end you’re wind-blasted, ensnared. Interviewing the director, Luca Guadagnino , once, I told him I’d visited Pantelleria in tribute to the movie . ‘When you were there, did you dream?’ he asked. ‘Oh the dreams on Pantelleria! So dramatic. So tempestuous. Oh, the dreams….’

BOY ON A DOLPHIN (1957): HYDRA

Leonard Cohen would have put the Greek island of Hydra on the map when he made it his home in 1960, if this film hadn’t pipped him to the post. Sophia Loren stars as a sponge diver in a patently ridiculous tale of skulduggery and salvaged ancient statues, and many of those still living on the island appeared in the film as children, and talk about it like it all happened yesterday. However foolish the plot, the film is mesmeric, the camera capturing so much of what makes Hydra (then, and still) a kind of paradise. Sere thistles and Judas trees punctuate the shore as we swoop past grand villas and smaller overhanging-flowered cottages, water glistering off rocky shores, sponges in the underwater shots the colour of caramel, coming up from abyssal depths. And up comes Sophia too, time and again, clutching one to her historic décolleté after a dive (‘Her double was even more beautiful!’ the harbour master here once told me.) Watching the movie you see how little the island’s one main town has changed. Shaped like a horseshoe, the port backing into a natural amphitheatre dotted with russet and citrine, 18th-century, Genoese-designed millionaire-mariner’s mansions; coiling around these houses, intensely warm coloured in the sun, are white labyrinths of high steps and streets which take on a honeysuckle glow in the pale evening shadows. They sometimes show the film in the port during the summer , and people shout ‘There’s my house!’ and whoop and applaud.

IN BRUGES (2008): BRUGES

A movie that seems to have been made in part as an advert for its location, In Bruges simultaneously – so cleverly, so irresistibly – offers a challenge to any prospective visitor. Writer-director Martin McDonagh knows that we are all sitting there silently earmarking the city as a MUST VISIT IMMEDIATELY, as he sends his two antiheroes, Colin Farrell and Brendan Gleeson – soft-hearted, doomed Irish hitmen both – to hang out in the medieval capital of the County of Flanders, waiting for instructions from their nutty, Bruges-fanatic boss (an incandescent Ralph Fiennes ). Where Farrell is furiously bored by the town (history is ‘all just a load of stuff that’s already happened’), Gleeson is completely charmed (‘all those canals and bridges and cobbled streets…’) and the camera flits down the waterways and through the squares, picking out glowering swans and moonlight reflected off leaded windows as Farrell rants and Gleeson goes assiduously to museums. Oh, the bloodied wintry sunsets over 13th-century stone belfries. Bruges is famously photogenic – but what the film comprehends is its more menacing thrum and darkness, its greater sense of fate. The film’s a taunt to the traveller, an enticement.

KING KONG (1933): NEW YORK

The only film to have debuted simultaneously at the two largest movie theatres in NYC , the Roxy and Radio City Music Hall – 10 screenings a day, each sold out. And not just because of the magnificent scenes of the giant ape, cinema’s favourite misfit, uprooted from his prehistoric Skull Island lair, where he had lived in roaring disharmony with dinosaurs. But it’s loved more, I think, for the scenes in New York , where his co-star Fay Wray is first discovered, pale under a little cloche hat, stealing an apple from a stall off Broadway. The lights of Times Square – ads for Pepsodent and Chevrolet – glisten in a winter fog. The Manhattan skyline is seen from the New Jersey side of the Hudson, with the sharp jag of the Chrysler Building looking like an arrow to the heavens. It seems to impersonate the slimness and sparkle of Wray herself. And when Kong hangs off the top of the Empire State at the end of the movie, a furious dawn sun breaks through the clouds as in Titian’s painting of Goliath, and we spot Central Park below, a patch of wild space in this most designed and thrusting of cities. With this backdrop, Wray struggles in the monster’s grip in a powerful image of unrequited love.

BRIGHT STAR (2009): HAMPSTEAD HEATH

‘The grass, the thicket, and the fruit-tree wild…’ wrote the incomparable Romantic poet John Keats, in a verse composed while sitting under a plum tree in a garden on Hampstead Heath in 1819. Then, Hampstead was his adopted locale, in a house that still stands up by the Spaniards pub, when the village was a day’s march from the city of London. The heath area there today remains 800 acres of ancient parkland, woodland and meadow. This film, about Keats’s time in Hampstead, might send you directly there – and the reality won’t disappoint. ‘I’ve explored all these paths,’ explains Ben Whishaw’s unbearably tender, dying Keats to his beloved neighbour and betrothed Fanny Brawne, ‘which are more in number than your eyelashes…’ Moments in the film are so sad and beautiful that audiences openly wept. Here’s drama and plot and love and tragedy, and yet sometimes the whole thing feels like a super-feminine, drowsy montage of sensations and beauty; a spring bower of magnolia buds and bluebells, butterflies and dew-drenched poppies. High reeds around the swimming ponds, blurred dragonflies, the occasional glimpse of St Paul’s in the grey distance reminding you that a whole city beckons below, with all its hardness and reality. Death is inescapable. If only we could dawdle forever in this high Hampstead dell.

FINAL PORTRAIT (2017): PARIS

To the Montparnasse studio of the great Swiss sculptor Alberto Giacometti, in 1964. This wasn’t even filmed in the city and yet still manages to give that most charismatic, celebrated of terrains – the Left Bank of the Seine – more than its due. Director Stanley Tucci used to joke that this was the easiest job he’d ever had – walking to the Twickenham set to film, from his home by the Thames. On those walks he would think about how to bring Paris to the audience, in this cluttered, grimy art-studio setting that its owner once called ‘the prettiest and humblest of them all’. Magically, Tucci pulls it off. The belted macs on the hurrying extras in the street, the cigarettes and cigarettes, Geoffrey Rush as the artist with his tremendous uprush of grey curls, head held in concentration and then growing impatience over red wine and espressos gulped in neighbouring cafés. The bells of – is it? Yes… – Notre-Dame pealing eerily as the grey winter light ekes its way through the glass while Giacometti works with frozen hands. ‘Everything is about to dissolve, everything is floating,’ noted the writer Jean Genet once, of the studio that Tucci has recreated with such spirit. ‘And yet it all appears to be captured in an absolute reality.’

CROUCHING TIGER, HIDDEN DRAGON (2000): CHINA

Ang Lee’s swooning Chinese martial-arts fable involving two sets of lovers, a missing sword and the theft of an ivory comb, is set under the Qing dynasty, during the 19th-century – and yet the story feels far, far older. It seems to inhabit some indefinite, painted past, with a teeming hinterland of Mongol invaders and a heart-poundingly romantic closing scene showing steps leading up a forested, moss-bursting mountain towards an ageless temple. The characters literally float when in combat (the actors were hoisted frighteningly high on wires), silk robes streaming, and what we see and hear beneath them makes us twitch to be there: pink-throbbing cherry blossom , the whistling of fighters in vast woodlands, horses tearing across the Gobi Desert. Paper lanterns in the dusk of antique Chinese courtyards, the sort of architecture that seems to unfold in the dim light, like a delicate paper scroll, while Yo-Yo Ma bursts the life out of his cello on the soundtrack.

HOTEL SALVATION (2016): VARANASI

It could be morbid: a film about the hostels in the holy city on the Ganges where elderly Hindus take themselves off to die, having decided enough is enough. They buy their time-slot and simply prepare, seemingly unquestioningly, for the end – families visit, pyres are built along the riverbank, the days tick by. Such hostels exist. And yet… young director Shubhashish Bhutiani, with little to no budget, moves with instinctive swagger and tenderness amongst the crowds with his cinematographer – especially in the scenes along the river, which are pure vérité, catching faces in rhapsodic moments of grief and humour and wonder. There’s a scene during a mass prayer ceremony where many celebrants have been drinking lassi laced with mango and marijuana, singing on the steps of old temples, boats hugger-mugger, flares lit, stars hanging like lamps over green-blossomed champak trees, voices rising in urgent unison. Such wit in every shot, but love, too, and also that sense of a film learning new and quite mystical things about an old, old religion – and an even older country.

Like this? Now read:

Ambassadors recommend one book to read before visiting their country

The best travel books

Where was Mamma Mia 2 filmed?

Find more in our On Location series

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
• Best Travel Songs Playlist
• 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

Looking to book your next trip? Why not use these resources that are tried and tested by yours truly.

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

Book your Hotel: Find the best prices on hotels with these two providers. If you are located in Europe use Booking.com and if you are anywhere else use TripAdvisor

Find Apartment Rentals: You will find the cheapest prices on apartment rentals with VRBO . 

Travel Insurance: Don't leave home without it. Here is what we recommend:

• Allianz - Occasional Travelers.
• Medjet - Global air medical transport and travel security.

Need more help planning your trip? Make sure to check out our Resources Page where we highlight all the great companies that we trust when we are traveling.

You May Also Like

Game of Thrones Filming Locations You Can Visit in Real Life

20 Best Motorcycle Movies and TV Shows To Inspire Wanderlust

One Week – My Movie Review of This Beloved Canadian Film

About The Planet D

Dave Bouskill and Debra Corbeil are the owners and founders of The Planet D. After traveling to 115 countries, on all 7 continents over the past 13 years they have become one of the foremost experts in travel. Being recognized as top travel bloggers and influencers by the likes of Forbes Magazine , the Society of American Travel Writers and USA Today has allowed them to become leaders in their field.

Join thousands of others who get our monthly updates!

Leave a comment cancel reply.

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

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.”

• Meet the Team
• Work with Us
• Czech Republic
• Netherlands
• Switzerland
• Scandinavia
• Philippines
• South Korea
• New Zealand
• South Africa
• Budget Travel
• Work & Travel
• The Broke Backpacker Manifesto
• Travel Resources
• How to Travel on $10/day

Home » Budget Travel » The Ultimate List of Travel Movies Updated For 2024

The Ultimate List of Travel Movies Updated For 2024

There is a pretty high chance that you were first inspired to get out of your hometown and see a bit of the world by a film. Maybe you were filled with a deep desire to be in nature after watching “Into The Wild”, or perhaps you just fancied partying in Thailand after seeing “The Beach”. Alternatively, (like me) you simply wanted to visit the chic cafes of Paris after watching the works of New Age Wave autre John Luc Goddard.

In this post, we are going to take a look at some of the best travel movies, documentaries and TV shows ever. As well as introducing the films, we’ll reflect on what makes them special and what they say about travel.

Unlike some other travel blogs, the Broke Backpacker boasts several self confessed film snobs amongst its writing staff and our eclectic list reflects this. We have included some true classics  (ie, golden oldies),  a few leftfield, indie-gems, and yes, a few definitive backpacker faves that we simply could not leave out. Oh and I’m happy to tell you right now that “Eat, Sleep, Pray” did  not  make our list.

What is a Travel Movie?

Firstly I think it’s worth taking a closer look at what we mean by a “travel film” or “travel movie” as the definition is not as apparent as it may at first seem.

In order to qualify as a travel film on this list, the film needs to have “travel”, or the journey of the protagonists as a central theme. Alternatively, it must use travel as the setting to explore the characters’ story arcs. So does this mean that Lord of the Rings qualifies? After all, the characters cover a fair few miles over the course of the trilogy. Well no, because to make it onto our list it also has to take place in a ‘real world’ setting.

It is also not enough for a movie to simply be set “abroad” in order for it to qualify and for this reason, “Lost in Translation” qualifies whereas “Enter The Void” doesn’t. Whilst both are essentially films about Americans in Tokyo, there are some crucial differences. “Enter The Void” is simply a story that happens to take place in Tokyo whereas the central theme of “Lost in Translation” is the alienation of being a stranger in a strange land (oh and much of the film takes place in a hotel!).

Finally, it’s only fair to tell you in advance that some films may make it onto this list purely because I say so!

The Best EVER Travel Films 

Now that we all know the rules, let’s meet the contestants. These are the best travel movies EVER. Pass the popcorn…

Into The Wild (2007)

Firmly established as a contemporary backpacker favourite, Sean Penn’s Into The Wild casts a young Emile Hirsch as “Alexander Supertramp”; a disillusioned young man who leaves his home, turns his back on society and sets off in search of the simple, free life. 

Based on a true story, Into The Wild examines the possibility of living a nomadic, cash-free existence in modern America as he ventures towards a hermetic existence in the wilds of Alaska . Critics of the film point out that it seems to gloss over the protagonist’s mental health issues and portrays his self-destructiveness as a form of nobility.

Into The Wild has become a very influential film and has (kind of) inspired a generation of backpackers as well as an Arcade Fire song (the book did anyway) . Pretty much all of The Broke Backpacker team have been told we are “just like the guy from Into The Wild” at some point or another – we don’t agree, as we are all glued to the capitalist system. But we don’t think it would necessarily be a good thing anyway if you’ve seen how it ends.

On The Road (2012)

On The Road is based on the seminal Jack Kerouac book of the same name and tells the semi-fictitious tale of the author’s alter-ego, Sal Paradise, as he crosses back and forth across America in the 1950s. Setting out from New York with his best friend and idol, Dean Moriarty, the film is an amphetamine fuelled, jazz soundtracked take on the nature of freedom and the symbolism of the road.

Sam Riley puts in a solid performance as Sal/Kerouac and there is also a notable cameo from Steve Buschemi. A few people would argue that the film fails to even come close to the novel, but it is indeed a worthy attempt.  

I first read the book as a young man and it inspired me to get out and travel, although it took me a good few years to muster the courage and save the cash to actually do so. Whilst On The Road has gone down a truly great piece of literature, its greatest achievement is perhaps putting hipster city Denver on the map.

Seven Years in Tibet (1997)

Let’s start with a fun factoid, this worthy adaptation of the memoir of the same name is one of the few films you can watch at the little cinema in Manang, halfway up Nepal’s Annapurna circuit . If you are ever passing that way, be sure to check it out.

Seven Years in Tibet tells the true story of Austrian (Nazi sympathising) mountaineer Heinrich Harrer who gets effectively stranded in the (closed) country of Tibet when World War II breaks out. After finding refuge in the “forbidden city” of Lhasa, Harrer is hired to serve as a tutor to the young Dalai Lama who inevitably ends up teaching him.

The film is a touching tale of redemption and enlightenment that examines the nature of friendship and fatherhood. The film is also notable for depicting the unique (and lost) Tibetan culture and the tragic invasion of Tibet by China’s Red Army in 1950.

The Darjeeling Limited (2007)

For some bizarre reason, there seems to be a shortage of travel films set in India. This Wes Anderson comedy throws together a stellar leading cast including Owen Wilson (we’ll be seeing more of him) and Adrian Brody.

Seemingly set in the 1970s (judging by the fashion and soundtrack), The Darjeeling Limited documents the train journey 3 brothers decide to take across India to commemorate their Fathers passing.

As with most Wes Anderson films, the film does dry, dark humour very well. Moreover, as a travel movie the film examines the cliches and realities of the notion of India as a “spiritual country” . It also looks at the dynamics between travel companions – if you have ever taken a trip with your relatives, you know the pain.

Raiders of The Lost Arc (1981)

The first of the Indiana Jones series introduces Harrison Ford as the world’s most bad-ass archeologist. This fast paced and utterly lovable flick sees Jones travel from Peru, to Nepal and onto Egypt trying to beat the Nazis to the Arc of Covenant. The original 3 Indie films are all raucous globe-trotting masterpieces but this is probably the pick.

Despite being fantastical, the Jones films did nevertheless inspire a generation of youngsters to go out and seek adventure. Even to this day, when I find myself exploring the Temples of Bagan, or the overgrown Fort in Bundi, Rajasthan, I get giddy with excitement channelling my inner Indie.

Caravan (Himalaya) (1999)

This French-backed Nepalese feature film rightfully won a raft of awards upon its release and to date stands as one of the few Nepalese films to ever meet with worldly success. Set and filmed in Nepal’s mysterious and ancient Dolpang region, Caravan tells the story of traditional Nepalese mountain folk making their annual journey to sell rock-salt.

Despite such a simple premise, the film is utterly gripping. The journey across the Himalayas is tough and arduous and to make it, the cantankerous but wise Tinle must reconcile with young protegge Karma.

Most of the characters in the film were absolute amateurs – Dolpanese villagers making their acting debuts – but the performances are so perfect you would never tell.

You can also watch this film at Manang cinema too.

Before Sunrise (1995)

The first (and best) instalment of the beautiful Before trilogy , Before Sunrise introduces Ethan Hawke and Julie Delpy as 2 American backpackers who meet on a train whilst interrailing around Europe.

Finding an immediate and deep connection (which seem to come thick and fast when backpacking) the pair are both ending their trip and decide to spend their last 12 – 24 hours exploring Vienna together before going their separate ways forever (or at least until 2004’s Before Sunset).

What this film does majestically, is encapsulating the joy of simply walking around a city with somebody interesting. Vienna is nice, but it ultimately serves as a backdrop to the two protagonists’ deeper explorations of one another.

Once you see this film, your challenge is to try and blag a “pay you later” bottle wine like Ethan Hawke’s character does. Let me know how it goes.

Fitzcarraldo – The Burden of Dreams (1982)

This West German underground masterpiece by auteur of the weird Werner Herzog is perhaps amongst the most unique films to make this list. Set in the Amazon Rainforest in the 1920s, Fitzcarraldo is based on the exploits of real-life Rubber Baron Roberto Fitzarrold.

Fitzcarraldo, played by the intense and charismatic Klaus Kinski, is an entrepreneur and Opera fan. Fitz dreams of building an Opera house in the middle of the jungle so he can invite legendary Tenor Enrico Caruso to open it. In order to raise the cash, Fitz needs to find a way to access the lucrative rubber trees buried deep in the forest, so he decides the easiest way is to carry his steamship over a mountain.

The film is utterly balmy. It’s surreal, humorous and possibly unlike anything else you have ever seen.

In Bruges (2008)

Even Gangsters need vacations right? Well, kinda yes, but mostly no. In Bruges tells the story of 2 bungling gangsters who are sent to Ghent, er I mean Bruges, by their crime lord boss apparently to lay low after a hit gone wrong back in London. After spending the first few days confined to a tiny hotel room, the 2 begin taking it in turns to go out and explore the city making friends and enemies as they go. Eventually, it becomes clear to the pair that their jaunt in Brugge is not just a jolly, but there is another hit that needs doing…

Starring Colin Farrell, Brendan Gleeson and Ralph Fiennes, the all-star cast are on their comedy best and the film packs in plenty of laugh-out-loud moments and memorable one-liners (what about the Vietnamese?).

“It feels like a dream but I know I’m awake” is how Colin Farrel’s character describes Bruges (actually he didn’t, he said it was shit, watch the film to find out why this is funny). Indeed the film put Bruge firmly on the map for weekend breaks and stag do’s – a clientele even less desirable than hitmen.

Roman Holiday (1953)

Rome has never not been an “in demand” holiday destination and the eternal city has been attracting visitors even long before St Paul made his pilgrimage there to establish a death cult. Still, in the 1950s, chic Rome was possibly at its peak, thanks in part to Richard Burton living there. But also thanks to this classic piece of black and white cinema.

Roman Holiday stars everyman Gregory Peck and the elfin beauty of Audrey Hepburn as a reporter and a secret Princess who meet one day exploring Rome . What follows is now a textbooky comic-romantic-adventure involving Vespa scooters, the Spanish steps and a ton more Roman tropes.

One of the oldest travel films to make our list, Roman Holiday is a true classic from one of Hollywood’s golden periods.

Easy Rider (1969)

“Two men set off in search of America, they couldn’t find it anywhere” – is how Easy Rider was summarised on its release in 1969. Filmed and set in California at the height of the 60’s counter-culture, Easy Rider follows the 2 protagonists (Dennis Hopper and Hollywood-hippy Peter “Wow’ Fonda) as they journey up from Mexico across the south-west en route to sell a giant haul of cocaine.

The film celebrates the simple joy of the open road examines the thriving hippy counterculture of the time. The New Orleans graveyard scene is perhaps one of the earliest and most successful attempts to capture the LSD experience on film. Easy Rider also packs an awesome soundtrack including The Byrds’ “Wasn’t Born To Follow”. The less than happy ending reminds us that not all journeys end well…

Midnight Express (1977)

Now for a look at the darker side of travel. Midnight Express is based on the true story of American Billy Hayes who spent 5 years in a Turkish prison for attempting to smuggle hashish out of the country.

The film is not for the faint hearted and depicts the brutality of the Turkish prison regime which drives the protagonist to the point of insanity.

Whilst watching this film, I was reminded that each year young backpackers around the world are arrested and sentenced to long jail sentences in foreign prisons for drug offences – please don’t take the risk and please stay safe in Istanbul !

Lost in Translation (2003)

Sofia Coppola’s critically acclaimed (but actually quite boring) indie flick sends Bill Murray alongside Scarlett Johansen (in her breakout role) to Tokyo. Murray is an American film star who has been sent to Tokyo by his agent to do some commercials, whereas Johansen is a bored wife who’s husband is always too busy working.

The film slowly examines one of the lesser acknowledged aspects of travel – the occasional melancholy and “why the fuck am I here?” moments that can make a traveller wonder whether actually, those who wander truly are lost after all.

There is plenty of substance in this film, some genuine moments of dry humour and the soundtrack features shoegaze pioneers My Bloody Valentine.

Midnight in Paris (2011)

I wasn’t a fan of Owen Wilson and initially dismissed him as a floppy Woody Harrelson until I saw this. Directed by another Woody, Woody Allen’s (who’s neurosis Wilson channels throughout) Midnight in Paris is the story of a Hollywood writer and his fiancee holidaying in Paris with her conservative (boo!) parents.

Despite having always dreamed of visiting Paris, Gil (Owen) is ultimately disillusioned with its reality and it just cannot live up to his expectations. He constantly finds himself wishing he “was here in the 20’s” or “here in the rain” and is endlessly seeking a romanticised version of the city that only ever really existed in the novels of Hemmingway and films of Truffaut anyway. Can you relate to any of that? Because I certainly can.

I won’t give away too much, but the film takes on a magical twist when (around midnight), Gil is transported back in time to the Paris of his fantasies – cue inevitable, happy, eventual realisation about the only time and place worth being here and now.

Lawrence of Arabia (1962)

I was loath to include war films on this list. Basically, I don’t really think that invading France or bombing Vietnam is what people have in mind when they think about “travel” despite what the shitty army recruitment campaigns try to suggest (‘Get Paid To Travel! Your Country Needs You!” etc)..

Anyway, I have included this firstly because it is a masterpiece and true classic, but also as it invites us on an intriguing cinematic voyage across a Middle East that is now lost forever. Leading an all legend cast, Peter O Toole plays British agent T.E Lawrence in the true story of his life and exploits in “Arabia” during WWI. Lawrence travels from Jordan to Syria to Iraq, basically trying to convince the Arab tribes to rebel against their Ottoman overlords and fight alongside the British.

Needless to say, both Lawrence and the Arab tribes are screwed over the British once get what they want from them. Thank God it’s only a film ( oh wait…) .

The Beach (2000)

Do I even need to tell you what this one is about?! The Beach follows a young Leonardo Di Caprio finding himself on his gap year (yada-yada) around Southeast Asia. He quickly grows disillusioned with “doing the same old shit” and having inauthentic experiences in Thailand, so decides to head out in search of something else.

Inspired by a scene-stealing Robert Caryle, Di Caprio and his hostel-buddies set off in search of a mysterious, hidden backpacker paradise known as “The Beach”. Upon finding it though, they soon realise that Paradise comes at a cost.

This one is rightfully established as a contemporary-classic travel film. It perfectly caught the Zeitgeist and feels as pertinent today as it did upon its initial release in 2000. The Beach forces us to acknowledge the dark side of hedonism and moreover, to confront the huge elephant (pants?) in the waiting lounge; are travellers actually looking for something or simply running away from something?

The actual beach used in the film is now closed after Thai backpackers pushed the eco system to the point of ruin.

The Man Who Knew Too Much (1956)

Another golden oldie, The Man Who Knew Too Much is my excuse to include a film offering from ‘the master of suspense’ Alfred Hitchcock.  Featuring James Stewart and Doris Day (two other film & media legends), The Man Who Knew Too Much is a classic adventure romp across French Morocco and makes extensive use of Casablanca’s and Marrakech’s cinematic charm .

If you’re in the mood for great, entertaining filmmaking, they don’t make ’em like this anymore.

The Italian Job (1969)

The Swiss/Italian border high up in the Alps makes for perhaps one of the most scenic drives in the world and has been utilised by filmmakers countless times – never more memorable than in The Italian Job.

This 60s classic casts Michael Caine as a debonair, loveable ex-con who, upon his release from jail, sets to work on his next caper – a bold plot to rob the Italian gold reserve. The Italian Job is the only heist film you ever need to see. It fuses witty dialogue with some unforgettable visual set pieces. The mini chase around Turin looks as impressive today as it must have done in 1969.

FYI – There is a shitty remake of this film knocking about which is to be avoided at all costs.

Withnail & I (1987)

If any of you have ever taken a country break in the UK, then you will know firsthand that they tend to descend into squalid, traumatic disasters that leave you wishing you’d never left the city. 

This is essentially Withnail & I! Two out of work, out of luck, out of it actors decide to escape 60’s London for a few days and head to “the country” to gatecrash the rural cottage owned by Withnail’s (Richard E Grant) eccentric Uncle Monty. The two quickly find themselves making enemies of the country folk at every twist and turn as they bumble from one disaster to another.

Things only take a turn for the worse when Uncle Monty turns up and takes a bit too much of an interest in the protagonist “I” (Paul Mcann). This is British Black humour at its best. A true cult classic packed with t-shirtable one-liners.

The Talented Mr. Ripley (1999)

The Talented Mr Ripley is an alluring, seductive and sinister story of obsession, envy, longing, belonging and social class. Young psychopath Thomas Ripley’s (played by Matt Damon) great talent is that he can almost “become” anybody and accordingly, is dispatched to Italy by a wealthy shopping magnate to persuade his wayward son to come home and grow up.

Arriving in 1950’s Italy, Thomas finds himself immersed in the intoxicating lifestyle of Dickie (Jude Law) and his young & monied circle. I have to be mindful not to give away any plot devices here so suffice to say, tensions start to build and things get a bit dark.

As a travel film, this focuses on the strange concept of travel nostalgia ( Italy in the roaring 50s – yes please!) along with the sobering realisation that no matter how much we like to pretend otherwise, travel is still reserved for the privileged.

Mr. Nice (2010)

Mr Nice tells the story of everybody’s favourite drug dealer, Howard Marks. Based on Marks’ memoir (which he wrote in jail), the film tells the (true) story of a simple boy from the Welsh Valleys who became one of the world’s biggest marijuana smugglers.

Funny, witty and fast paced, the film follows Marks from swinging London, to troubled Ireland, to Afghanistan and Mallorca before doing an unwanted tour of countless american penitentiaries. Ouch.

In case you have moral misgivings as to whether it’s ok to like a drug dealer so much, remember that Mark’s never dealt in hard drugs and never used violence. Outlaw yes, criminal no.

James Bond (1961 – Present)

I mulled long and hard over whether to include the Bond franchise on this list and mulled even harder over which one to single out as the best. In the end, I decided James Bond films do qualify but there are simply too many nuggets to choose just the one!

A supercool Brit fighting and shagging his way across the world whilst being utterly culturally insensitive, Bond was in many ways my original travel hero ( although I’m not so much into that Queen and Country crap) . What Bond does well (or awfully) is serve up delightfully patronising travel tropes whether it’s the Q-mechanised Indian Rickshaw in Octopussy or the cartoon Haitian Witch Doctor’ in Live and Let Die.

Ever wanted to jump from the Eiffel Tower? Cos Bond’s done it. Ever wanted to drive a Soviet tank across Red Square? He’s done that too.

Want to visit some of the spots made famous in the movies, check out the best James Bond filming locations for some inspiration.

Best Ever Travel Documentaries

These real-life documentaries are bound to astound and inspire you. Let’s take a look at the best travel documentaries ever.

Samsara (2011)

The last word in travel porn was how our very own Ralph Cope described this – and he’s not far wrong. Samsara is a non-narrative documentary that basically splices gorgeous images from around the world set to a haunting soundtrack featuring Lisa Gerrard (Dead Can Dance). 

From the sacred to the mundane, delving into the profane, the film’s iconic scenes feature the temples of Bagan in Myanmar, as well as jails in the Philippines. Whilst not always an easy watch, Samsara is rewarding, unforgettable and will inspire you to see more of the world.

Parts Unknown (2013 – 2020)

Parts Unknown is essentially a cooking show for people who hate food (or at least hate cooking shows ). Celebrity Chef and all round hero, Anthony Bourdain (dec’d) travels the globe in search of great recipes. On his way, he takes a close look at the cultures behind the food, meeting the people, learning the histories and seeking out the hidden spots that only the locals know about.

Various episodes have seen Bourdain drinking beer and eating noodles with Barack Obama in Hanoi, and have seen the chef getting pissed on a train in Myanmar. What I love about this show is that it reminds us how important food is to the travel experience – it’s no coincidence that all of my favourite countries have great cuisines.

Above all, it also reminds us that a good meal with the right people in the right setting, is an experience in itself and can take you away.

Planet Earth (2006)

If you are reading this, then there is a pretty good chance that you live on Planet Earth. This lauded BBC David Attenbrough series collates some utterly mesmerising footage from the 4 corners of the flat-earth and weaves them into the narrative of our planet.

From the snows of Bhutan, via the deserts of Sudan, to the Jungles of Milan, it’s all in here. The series melds never seen before, HD footage of some of the world’s great wonders with Attenbroughs familiar Grandfatherly tones offering the narration.

As well as Planet Earth, Human Planet and Blue Planet are equally unmissable.

Around The World in 80 Days (1989)

Before Bond and before Jack Kerouac, my first ever travel inspiration came as a 12-year-old boy watching the erstwhile, BBC-perfect, prototype Brit, Michael Palin going around the world in 80 days. In the late 1980s, Palin set out to re-create the fictional journey undertaken by Jules Verne’s character Phileas Fogg in the 19th-century classic novel.

Getting around the world in 80 days sounds easy enough until you realise that staying true to the source material, Palin was forbidden from flying and was instead forced to use trains and boats. This is where I caught my first ever glimpse of Tokyo’s pod hotels and the Orient Express. As a naive working-class boy from a small town, I had no idea that such a world existed and a seed was planted.

Palin’s gift is to make the ordinary extraordinary and all of his travel series are a delight. Also, I have a confession for you – as much as I like to think I’m Bond, in truth I’m closer to the amiable Palin. In fact, whenever I find myself in challenging situations out on the road, I ask myself “What would Michael Palin do?” and try to channel his unflappable manner of being calm, pleasant and just a bit bumbling; after all, it’s gotten him out of many a jam.

Tribe – with Burce Parry (2002 +)

Ex-Royal Marine and trek leader Bruce Parry travels to some of the most remote places on earth to visit and ingratiate himself with various indigenous tribes. Parry seeks out tribes who still live a traditional way of life more or less untouched by the modern world. His challenge in each episode is to immerse himself in their culture, master their ways or surviving and sometimes even undergo their brutal initiation rituals.

Over the course of the series, Parry has lived with Inuits in the Arctic, Mongolian horse tribes in the Steppes, and even dined with some of the earth’s last cannibal cultures.

Long Way Down (2006)

Long Way Down takes 3 of the coolest things in the world and throws them together in one long road trip. Yes, the winning formula of Motorcycles + Travel + Obi Wan Kenobi (or Ewan McGregor as he insists on been called) proved to be a massive hit.

The show follows McGregor and his best mate Charlie Boorman John o’ Groats in Scotland through eighteen countries in Europe and Africa to Cape Town in South Africa. It is a follow-up to the Long Way Round of 2004, when the pair rode east from London to New York via Eurasia and North America. On the way they visit the set of Star Wars in Tunisia, make their way (minus the camera crew) across Libya and bribe their way through multiple African border crossings.

Best Ever Travel Series

Let’s face it, this is the Netflix era and Hollywood is dead. For the last decade, HBO, Sky and now even the BBC have been producing absolutely awesome long-form TV series that rival even the greatest pieces of film in terms of storytelling and cinematography. Therefore it would be churlish (as well as Boomer as Hell) to not allow TV Series onto this list.

The Serpent (2021)

Made by the BBC, The Serpent transports us to 70’s Bangkok by way of India and Nepal. It tells the true story of a Dutch Diplomat who gets wound up in the investigation into 2 missing backpackers. Unimpressed by the Thai Police’s apathy, he takes matters into his own hands and ends up hot on the trail of notorious backpacker killer, Charles Sobhraj.

The show is gripping, fast paced and the characters well executed. Best of all, it shines a light on the seedier side of the 1970’s hippy trail and reminds us that we backpackers are pretty vulnerable. Don’t let your parents watch this before you set out on a trip is all I can say!

The Terror (2018)

The Terror is a fictional account of the very real lost voyage to the Arctic of Sir John Franklin which took place between 1845-1848. His ships leave England headed towards the cold North seeking out a mythical shortcut through the Arctic.

Strange things happen at sea and it seems even stranger things happen on frozen seas. As well as having to deal with the usual diet of rum, sodomy and the lash, the crew are challenged by ice-breaks, the arctic winter and a strange monster that haunts the frozen wasteland.

As winter drags on, the surviving crew slowly lose their grip on sanity (lead in your food will do that) and the boundaries between dream states and reality dissipate.

Fortitude (2015)

Right, so this one breaks my rules a bit. It is a drama set in a travel-place but it isn’t really about travel. Still, I am making an exception because it is set somewhere you just need to see, because it has an international cast and because I did warn you that sometimes I would just say so!

Fortitude is filmed on and based on Svalbard, although they renamed the city Fortitude in the show for dramatic purposes. It’s about a terrible prehistoric disease that breaks out in the isolated frontier settlement because of melting ice caps – how 2020 of them.

When I visited the Norwegian territory myself in 2016, I immediately said “this place is simply fascinating, it would make a great TV show” before the barman said, “they already made one, I was in it!”.

Final Thoughts

I enjoyed writing this one and I hope you enjoyed reading it. I could have included more but let’s keep it sensible, right? How many of these have you seen? Are you inspired to see a few more? If you have any gems that you think I missed, do let me know in the comments!

And for transparency’s sake, please know that some of the links in our content are affiliate links . That means that if you book your accommodation, buy your gear, or sort your insurance through our link, we earn a small commission (at no extra cost to you). That said, we only link to the gear we trust and never recommend services we don’t believe are up to scratch. Again, thank you!

Aiden Freeborn

Share or save this post

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

Notify me of followup comments via e-mail.

• 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

• Film-inspired holidays

Comments (…)

Most viewed.

Subscribe & get your free guide to going abroad!!

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.

Best Holiday Movies to Stream Right Now

By CNT Editors

Holiday travel looks a little different this year—but don't let that fool you into looking at past years through rose-colored glasses. Even without a pandemic, holiday travel is filled with mishaps by way of delayed flights, inclement weather, and (sometimes too much) time with family. Granted, that travel drama usually doesn't involve evading home burglars in New York City or making out in front of paparazzi at Heathrow, like it does for the casts of these holiday movies. We asked our editors to pick their favorites and our resulting list includes Broadway hits, rom coms, tearjerkers, and rom com tearjerkers. So cozy up by a fire (or at least light a candle ) and cue up these films—which take place everywhere from snowy Vermont to sunny California. 

All products featured on Condé Nast Traveler are independently selected by our editors. However, when you buy something through our retail links, we may earn an affiliate commission.

A Very Murray Christmas (2015)

Almost a single-movie homage to the Carlyle Hotel , this movie captures an Old World, Upper East Side vibe of New York that few realize still exists. From the Christmas carol sing-along in  Bemelmans Bar (with a group that includes Jenny Lewis, Maya Rudolph, and Paul Shaffer, no less), to the snow falling outside while Bill Murray runs into Chris Rock at the hotel entrance, you'll find yourself as easily transfixed by the details of the hotel (the quirky murals, the cosseting Champagne service, the cozy chairs) as you are by the rotating appearance of your favorite comedians and musicians. —Corina Quinn, city guides director

It's a Wonderful Life (1946)

Sure, the town of Bedford Falls is fictitious—but the town of Seneca Falls in upstate New York, upon which it's based, is quite real. While sights like the icy bridge where George Bailey (played by James Stewart) tempts his fate are ones you can see yourself, it's the character of the small town—the walkable streets, the picturesque storefronts—that the movie captures so well. Watch for the charming Victorian homes and the local hangouts, not to mention the doughy snowfall, to really set the holiday mood. —C.Q.

Four Christmases (2008)

Though it's technically set in San Francisco, this film was shot throughout the Bay Area and greater Los Angeles, a fact that becomes apparent in each consecutively sunny scene and homes with a distinct Southern California vibe. NoCal, SoCal—does it matter? As the couple played by Reese Witherspoon and Vince Vaughan spend their Christmas holiday frantically jumping to various houses and family engagements, they traverse Hollywood, Santa Clarita, Venice Beach, Long Beach, and the Twin Peaks neighborhood of San Francisco. With the regular appearance of hilltop views, palm trees, and sprawling, beautifully appointed open floor plans, you'll reconsider the advantages of a chilly, snow-filled Christmas season. —C.Q.

White Christmas (1954)

I never saw this classic until I met my partner’s mother 20 years ago. It’s her favorite holiday movie and one she watches at least three times per season. She lives in snowy Buffalo, New York, which, if you squint real hard, looks a bit like snowy Pine Tree, Vermont—the fictional village that, for the last 66 years, has come to epitomize winter in the Green Mountain state. (Never mind the fact that most scenes were filmed on sound stages in Southern California—that’s Hollywood for you.) In White Christmas , Rosemary Clooney and Vera-Ellen co-star as singing, dancing sisters trying to make it in show business. They team up with two singing, dancing suitors—charming Danny Kaye and crotchety Bing Crosby—to develop an act that’ll save an old military buddy’s rural Vermont lodge from financial ruin. While Irving Berlin’s songs are catchy, what really locks in my mind is the Technicolor scenery. White Christmas cast New England as the ultimate winter wonderland: a shimmering snow globe of powder-capped spruces and Hallmark moments getting hygge by the fireplace. I’ve only driven through Vermont once—in August—but if I ever make it there for the holidays, I hope it looks just like this. —Ashlea Halpern, contributing editor

Jessica Puckett

CNT Editors

Jesse Ashlock

Planes, Trains, and Automobiles (1987)

Yes, this John Hughes' classic centers around Thanksgiving, but it manages to perfectly capture the hell that is holiday travel. In a characteristic twist, it makes it endearing, too. In this case, it's a series of airports, car rentals, bus stops, and motels that steal the scenes, scattered from New York City to Ohio and Illinois. The chill of the midwest winter, the ubiquitous presence of snow, the questionable decor of a hotel where you did not plan to stay, and the ongoing change of plans and weather delays make the eventual arrival home all the sweeter. Which is why we do it year after year, anyway. —C.Q.

While I'm very much of the sort that waits patiently until December 1 to start blasting “All I Want for Christmas Is You,” Elf   is year-round fare for me. The movie manages to cram the best of winter in New York into 97 minutes, with stops at the Empire State building, a snowball fight in Central Park, and visits with faux-Santa at Gimbels, which technically closed in the ‘80s but once sat across from Macy’s in Herald Square. And while most of us who live in New York today managed to avoid getting hit by a yellow cab on our first day and hardly proclaim bodega coffee as the world's best, many arrived with the same wide-eyed curiosity and joy as Will Ferrel's Buddy the elf. — Meredith Carey, associate editor

Home Alone 2: Lost in New York (1998)

Can anyone say Worst Parents Ever? In the second installment of Home Alone , Kevin McCallister (Macaulay Culkin) once again finds himself estranged from his ever-negligent family, this time in the middle of the Big Apple. While his family spends Christmas in Miami , Kevin is unwittingly reunited with the same two bungling burglars he foiled in Chicago . (Cue the swinging paint cans and falling tool chests.) The fact that his victory is made possible only with the help of a crazy bird lady in Central Park solidifies this as a true New York holiday movie. Of course, guest appearances by Rockefeller Center and The Plaza Hotel don't hurt. —Lara Kramer, senior manager, audience development  

Rent (2005)

Rent is the ultimate New York movie to me, and I'll gladly use the holiday setting as an excuse to rewatch it every Christmas. The emotional musical centers on a group of young New Yorkers navigating the AIDS crisis in bohemian lower Manhattan, in the heart of winter. It'd be easy to forget that the holidays even play a role in the movie, but watching drag queen Angel (played by Wilson Jermaine Heredia) dance around a converted loft in a Santa suit, as snow falls outside, is so quintessentially New York—you don't even need to see the city streets (though you will, plenty) to know where it takes place. — Megan Spurrell, associate editor

The Holiday (2006)

I could happily watch The Holiday any time of year, but it’s especially enjoyable in the winter. Set in a pre-Airbnb world, the rom-com follows two heartbroken 30-something women looking for a change of scenery. They spend the Christmas holidays on a house swap, temporarily taking over each other’s homes in sunny Los Angeles and snowy, rural England. The houses are as much characters as the stacked cast (Kate Winslet, Cameron Diaz, Jude Law, and Jack Black): Diaz’s Amanda lives in the quintessential Spanish-style southern California home, with a huge pool, exterior teeming with bougainvillea, and a modern interior; Winslet’s Iris has a quaint cottage with a gorgeous stone bathroom, clawfoot tub, and cozy, inviting fireplace. Either would be a lovely place to spend December, which makes it all the more fun to watch this year, when a last-minute getaway isn’t quite as simple. — Madison Flager, commerce editor

Sleepless in Seattle (1993)

The film adaptation of Nora Ephron's Sleepless in Seattle was perhaps my earliest impression of the Pacific Northwest city. Tom Hanks and his son live on a houseboat right on the sound, the rain falls constantly, and, when the romantic comedy's plot—which kicks off on Christmas Eve—comes to a head, there's nothing cozier than knowing our protagonists will weather the drizzly climate together. Best of all, New York makes a dazzling, dramatic guest appearance at the end, in all her winter glory, in an ode to An Affair to Remember . — M.S.

While You Were Sleeping (1995)

New York usually gets all the love in holiday movies, but this flick lets Chicago have its day in the winter sun. The Christmas rom-com centers on Lucy (Sandra Bullock), who crushes on a commuter (Peter Gallagher) while on the job as a token taker for the L train. (These days, you can pay with a Ventra card or just tap your contactless credit card to get in to Lucy's Randolph/Wabash station.) Gallagher's character, also Peter, takes a tumble into the tracks, Lucy saves him and is mistaken as his fiancée by nurses at the hospital, and hijinks ensue, of course. There are plenty of skyscraper shots and river walks to appease the city folks, but much of the film takes place in Chicago's low-key suburb of La Grange, too. – M.C.

Serendipity (2001)

Plenty of holiday movies celebrate the magic of the winter season in New York City, but Serendipity truly nails it with its mix of romance, comedy, and quintessential Big Apple experiences. Between shopping at Bloomingdale’s, ice skating in Central Park, and frozen hot chocolate at Serendipity 3 , the movie captures the reason why so many flock to New York in December. While it certainly feels dated now—there are many ways fate can intervene that don’t involve a lost receipt or a phone number in a used book—it’s the timelessness of a New York City holiday that makes it worth watching again, nearly 20 years after it was first released. That, and Eugene Levy’s unforgettable stint as a department store salesperson. — Stephanie Wu, articles director

Love, Actually (2003)

These days, the opening lines of Love, Actually feel especially apt: “Whenever I get gloomy with the state of the world, I think about the arrivals gate at Heathrow Airport. General opinion's starting to make out that we live in a world of hatred and greed, but I don't see that. It seems to me that love is everywhere.” I agree with Hugh Grant’s voiceover: Airports are often where we find unfettered displays of affection and warmth, sensations I think we’ve all been missing this year. I was, in fact, supposed to be traveling to Heathrow this month, on a trip to London with my fiancé. The sweet but melancholy holiday movie, which takes place almost entirely in the city, transports me to the gleaming glass cases of Selfridges department store, where Harry (Alan Rickman) buys a necklace for his ill-fated work crush, or the charming St. Luke’s Mews in Notting Hill, where Mark finally drops the act and tells Juliet (Kiera Knightley) that he loves her with a series of hilarious poster boards. True to its word, this heartening film does make you feel as though love, actually, is all around—and that even for a moment, you’re living in it. — Betsy Blumenthal, associate editor

By signing up you agree to our User Agreement (including the class action waiver and arbitration provisions ), our Privacy Policy & Cookie Statement and to receive marketing and account-related emails from Traveller. You can unsubscribe at any time. This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

55+ best travel movies to inspire wanderlust

In this day and age where travel restrictions persist worldwide, it’s only possible to imagine a dream. As armchair travel grows so does the need to look for books and films to inspire wanderlust.

So we did some legwork to make it easier for you to find our favorite travel movie hits for whenever you are stuck at home and cannot travel anymore! It’s not different from the previous one that discusses Best Travel Film.

As a traveller myself I often wonder which are the best Travel Movies which I can watch in my free time or maybe on my next flight. In this post, we will be covering the topic in detail about trip movies which you can check out in your free time.

What produces excellent travel movies? We feel it is when the location ends up being the celebrity. A motion picture that showcases stunning cities, landscapes, and society is a movie that motivates us to go to a location or relive our time there when we get residence.

Disclaimer  – Chasing Whereabouts is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program and the Amazon EU Associates Programme, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn fees by advertising and linking to Amazon and affiliated sites.

The Very Best Travel Movies to Inspire Wanderlust

Produced by Mark Magidson, the film aims to reach beyond languages, nationalism, and religious and politically speaking to the inner viewer.

Baraka is an extensive series of photographic scenes describing human life, natural events and technology filmed throughout 25 countries across six continents.

This documentary is unparalleled in its beauty, sensibility and understanding of our world. It transcends languages and geographical boundaries and helps us see planets differently. See movies .

This is by far the best travel movie. One of the personalities really brings around a guidebook! We recently rewatched Bruges and also it stands up! If you enjoy a good caper set in an exotic location, you’ll like In Bruges .

When Colin Farrell’s character constantly complained of hating Bruges in Belgium as he and Brendan Gleeson took the gondola via the canals, I assumed it was superb writing as well as direction. The more Colin Farrell’s personality complained, a lot more you absorbed the surroundings of Bruges and also noticed simply exactly how picturesque Bruges is.

As Brendan Gleeson took in the history as well as checked out the guidebooks admiring the city, Colin Farrell simply kept speaking about how much he hated Bruges, which made me like it much more.

Rent or Acquire In Bruges on Amazon.com

One of our favorite movies of all time. And also not due to the fact that it is set in Canada (And we live in Canada). One Week adheres to a boy driving a motorbike on a cross-country road trip across Canada after being detected with terminal cancer cells.

No motion picture has actually made me intend to discover a nation more than One Week . We wrote an entire testimonial about it below. It absolutely is the supreme Canadian trip motion picture. Rental Fee One Week Right Here on Amazon

I really did not wish to see this film because of its dark subject, however, it ended up being an uplifting as well as enlightening movie of self-discovery. One Week is a love letter to Canada and also a homage to being to life. I really did not also assume it would certainly fit into the mold and mildew of travel movies however it did!

We have actually been to many of the stops on this road trip film, and it is fantastic to see things like The Big Nickel and The Terry Fox monument on the big screen. It goes to the top of our finest travel film for a factor. Review our listing of ideal motorbike motion pictures

Secret Life of Walter Mitty

I needed to see this most popular of all travelling movies two times prior to determining I liked The Secret Life of Walter Mitty. At first, I assumed it was silly, however after that after a second as well as now a 3rd as well as 4th, I can recognize why it goes to the top of most checklists of best travel flicks. The first time around I was annoyed with all the long-drawn-out dream series that takes place in Walter Mitty’s head. Once he reaches Iceland and also Greenland, it really comes to be a fun adventure. The Secret Life of Walter Mitty demonstrates how taking a risk and also leaving your convenience area can lead to excellent points. The ending was my preferred, but I will not ruin it for you. Rent it now to see what you think of the Secret Life of Walter Mitty.

Before Sunrise Trilogy

We have three of our preferred travel motion pictures in one package! As well as each showcases the location they remain in. They have to do with love yet they are additionally very much traveling movies. They were shot 10 years apart and they occur in three different locations around Europe– Vienna, Paris, and also Greece . The Before Sunrise trilogies capture the significance of each destination. And right here’s a great truth– Dave and I stayed at Costa Navarino in Greece where After Twelve o’clock at night occurred! Before Sunrise: Prior to going to Vienna , be sure to view Prior to Sunup, they showcase the entire city. Prior to Sunset: And also After Midnight records the power of Paris magnificently. They visit places such as Pont Neuf, Quai Henri-IV, and Shakespeare & Company Bookstore. Prior to Midnight: As our heroes age, this is a fitting title. Now with youngsters as well as in their forties, it’s a soothing getaway to Kalamata, Greece where they navigate middle age in the charm of Costa Navarino.

They go to the Old city of Messini, The Kardamali Pier, as well as the Westin Resort where we in fact had the benefit of spending four glorious evenings. It is probably the most effective of all romantic traveling flicks out there that literally spans 3 years. (they film a motion picture every one decade)

I read in an interview with Ethan Hawk that they are mosting likely to proceed doing installments every one decade. I can’t await the next one. See Before Sunup and also Sunset on Amazon Prime

Planes Trains and Automobiles

John Candy and also Steve Martin take an unexpected cross country road journey from New york city City to Chicago. This is Dave’s pick for the very best traveling movie. If you remain in the mood for a great wholehearted comedy, rent it today. Anyone that has actually ever before driven cross country can associate with some of the wrongdoings. Have you remained in a cheap motel? You can connect. Have you ever rested next to someone that has made you exceptionally uncomfortable? You can associate!

This is thought about among the terrific comedy travel films, but I consider it as a drama. John Sweet’s character breaks my heart. You might point of it as a holiday movie however it is also among the craziest traveling films available.

Julie & Julia

Not just does Julie as well as Julia star the fantastic Meryl Streep and also among one of the most functional starlets around, but this film is additionally regarding traveling and also blogging .

It’s like it was produced us! I was stunned by how much I enjoyed this motion picture based on real tale of Julia Child and I really did not go in anticipating a lot. Julie & Julia adheres to the life of Julia Child throughout her time in Paris and cuts throughout to the present day in New York. Meryl Streep’s Julia enjoyed Paris so much that she made you think that it was the most desirable place on planet. It makes you crave French food and also a life of decadence in France. When it pertains to choosing a preferred traveling flick this one is right up there. Besides, Meryl Streep can do no incorrect. Lease it now on Amazon Instant Video Clip!

The Big Year

I stood up to viewing this motion picture for many years, yet it ultimately turned up on one of my many streaming service memberships so I took a seat to watch it. The Big Year complies with Jack Black (that does not like Jack Black?), Owen Wilson as well as Steve Martin circumnavigating the United States with hopes of becoming the number 1 bird viewer worldwide. It wound up being among the most shocking traveling movies I’ve seen.

They are stressed with spotting even more varieties of birds than any other person in 365 days. I connected to this movie because it is a lot more regarding the journey and also exactly how having a wonderful experience can alter a life. It does not matter what your rate of interest is, simply go out and also check out! Rent it Currently

Best Travel Movies for Adventure Lovers

Into the wild.

Based on the true life true story it narrates the journey of Christopher McCandless who went on a cross country road journey through the US wound up in Alaska. I read Into bush years ago and also was enthralled trying to identify how someone could surrender every little thing to go and live off the grid. John Krakauer dug into the subconscious of McCandless and also what inspires individuals to take dangers.

What has a person to cut all connections with their household, hitchhike throughout the nation, and afterwards finally cut themselves completely off from society? Things don’t end up as he hoped, and it is a lesson learned for would certainly be adventurers. But it absolutely is a fascinating read and also I love Krakauer’s creating style. Enjoy it now!

It took me a while to enjoy Wild with Reese Witherspoon. I wasn’t really a fan of hers before. But then I watched The Early morning Show, Little Fires Almost Everywhere, and also Big Little Lies (another fantastic series for traveling enthusiasts) as well as became a big fan. Huge Little Lies showcases Monterrey and also Carmel by the Sea in California and truly flaunts the gorgeous views of the Pacific Coast Freeway. But I Swerve.

Wild is a based on true story an adaptation of Cheryl Strayed’s traveling memoir concerning hiking the Pacific Crest Trail. It’s a trip regarding placing a life back with each other after everything crumbles. Pushing the limits and getting out of her comfort zone takes her on a trip of self discovery. A battle and journey can change a life.

Check it out this travel movie on Amazon.com

Another awesome movie inspired by the true story from 1996 Mount Everest disaster . It’s a first-hand account by Krakauer who was on Everest at the time and it is one of the travel adventure documentary which you have to watch if you love watching movies.

We really did not exceed base camp, however this movie takes a dark turn as the events in 1996 was one of the worst catastrophes in Everest background. It is an interesting flick checking out why individuals risk their lives for something and also what occurs when things go horribly wrong. 11. Tracks

I actually really taken pleasure in Tracks. It’s a film concerning a female who walks across Australia from Alice Springs to the Indian Ocean with 4 camels and her pet canine. What’s more impressive is that it is based upon a real tale. What I actually liked is exactly how the protagonist Robyn Davidson finds out the abilities needed to endure. She is visited by a photographer from National Geographic who shared her story and was led via the spiritual lands of the Wilderness by an Indigenous senior. See it out on Amazon.com !

World’s Fastest Indian

From New Zealand to America, Anthony Hopkins takes his Indian Bike to the salt flats to see how much he can go. The Globe’s Fastest Indian is among my favorite efficiencies by Hopkins. He is vulnerable, adorable and also inspiring. He goes on a fun road trip in the process until he reaches the Salt Flats of California which is when you truly start directing for him to win! This flick wishes to make you follow your desire as well as shows you are never too old to make it take place. That’s practically our motto! Lease it on Amazon Prime

Adventures of Pricilla Queen of the Desert

While we are in the Oceana par of the globe, let’s speak about a fun road trip via the Australian outback. Adventures of Pricilla Queen of the Desert complies with a group Two drag performers and a transgender woman travel taking a cross country road journey in a van called “Pricilla” from Sydney to Alice Springs where they are going to do their drag program. They meet a lot of personalities along the road as well as this movie introduced us to superstars Hugo Weaving and also Guy Pearce who signed up with the already developed Terrence Stamp.

Motorcycle Diaries

The Motorcycle Diaries is a 2004 biopic about the journey and written memoir of the 23-year-old Ernesto Guevara. Che Guevara is interesting as well as this film starring a young Gael García Bernal follows his motorcycle trip journey with South America prior to when he came to be a part of the revolution. Traveling can transform an individual.

This movie is based on a incredible true story where Che travelled with the continent and I believe it was traveling with South America that Che saw what individuals were undergoing which is what triggered him to take action in his very own method.

This film is a bittersweet homage to the impressive walking. Acting tale Martin Sheen walks the route to honor his kid Emilio Estevez (also supervisor) who passed away on the walk.

This movie explores styles of grief, remorse as well as understanding. Martin Sheen’s character finishes what his son started assisting him attach and recognize his kid while examining his very own life.

Best Clasic Travel Movies of All Time

Lawrence of arabia..

Dave as well as I saw Lawrence of Arabia on IMAX when it was re-released years earlier, and also it made us dream of the Arabian desert. I would certainly say that this is typically taken into consideration among the very best travel movies of perpetuity. It’s the initial for sure and also it really does record the greatness of the Arabian Desert. When we obtained the chance to check out Jordan as well as walk in the footprints of the actual Lawrence of Arabia, we couldn’t think we were living a movie. We felt downright woozy when our overviews explained where the actual Lawrence of Arabia stood.

This will make you wish to go on a journey as well as invest the evening in a Bedouin outdoor tents. Lease it on Amazon.com Prime Now.

Out of Africa.

If you want another Meryl Streep automobile that is often taken into consideration one of the very best travel films, you ought to try Out of Africa. Out of Africa happens in a different time, however it captures the heart of Africa beautifully. Meryl Streep is a wedded baroness crazy with big video game hunter Robert Redford. Their chemistry is unmistakable.

She loves Africa as well as you will certainly fall in love with it also. The cinematography is exceptional. It won 7 Oscars consisting of Finest Image and also Finest Cinematography. Rent of Africa on Amazon.com currently.

Romancing the Stone.

Who didn’t daydream about an experience in Colombia after watching Kathleen Turner as well as Michael Douglas in Romancing the Rock?

As a child I constantly considered the line “I require to get to Cartagena” as well as while I had no idea where Cartagena was,( It’s in South America incidentally) I recognized it was exciting. Kathleen Turner changed from an afraid writer that merely writes about experience, to a female encountering an experience and fulfilling a sturdy mystical man in unique Columbia. See Romancing the Stone today.

The Bucket List.

With two of my favored stars and a message to live life to the greatest, the Bucket List is one fantastic travel movie. The phrase has actually been excessive used in the last few years, however the message never ever gets old. The Bucket List is the initial “live your dreams currently” travel film.

The movie is all about Two terminally ill men bust out of the cancer ward with a plan to experience life to the fullest before they kick the bucket. Enjoy and also see to it you leave this earth without regrets. It really feels remarkable to mark off a pail listing, trust me! Rent or buy it right here!

So, I liked this film, yet I really did not enjoy it. The majority of people claim that Amelie is just one of the best travel films of all time.

So I felt that I need to include it due to the fact that this listing would not be total without it. I did enjoy the sights of Paris as well as the day-to-day life showcased in Montmartre. I additionally took pleasure in the uplifting message of silent Amelie aiding the people around her in the beautiful area of Montmartre in Paris. If you want to see sweeping scenes with Paris roads and also if you love Paris, you can not assist but like Amelie. So check it out!

Roman Holiday.

This did not age well in our point of view. We saw it just recently and also it is simply downright negative. Many people will possibly disagree.

However it is fun to see Rome as well as to revisit our Vespa Excursion that we did a few years ago there. They need to reprise Roman Holiday, it would certainly be enjoyable. However, perhaps the Hallmark Channel already did. There are a dreadful lot of Princess conference normal Joes on that network at Xmas. Rent it on Prime.

I admit it. Hereafter movie appeared, I didn’t drink Red wine for several years! Sidewards takes us on a trip through California red wine country as well as it truly is loaded with incredible performances. Rent or acquire on Amazon Prime. In 2015 we remained in Santa Maria, California. The very same places that Sideways was established and all I can think about was Paul Giamatti’s snobbery when it concerned Pinot Grigio.

It’s an enjoyable dramedy that was excellent for the 1990s. An outstanding actors with Sandra Oh, Virginia Madsen, and Thomas Hayden Church.

Up in the Air.

Up in the Air makes you enjoy the suggestion of traveling yet it shows the emptiness that the life of an explorer can result in if you do not remain based with your friends and family. It’s not in the genre of normal traveling films out there, but travel is the major motif. Travel for work that is. I can not experience flight terminal safety and security any longer without thinking about George Clooney and also understand simply exactly how messy I am. His character has the art of travel to a scientific research. Ah, to be cool like George. Life would certainly be excellent. This film also has an excellent message that Dave and I can associate with. We all end up being so consumed with our professions as well as our lives that we ignore what is important. Lease or buy it on Amazon.com Immediate Video.

Ads Starting

Post Continues

Best Destination Movie For Travel Lovers

The beach– thailand..

I really did not enjoy this flick. I liked guide instead. Yet I am a fan of Leonardo DiCaprio and if you want to get a sense of what it was like to take a trip to Thailand prior to the mass tourism, this is a great motion picture for you.

Plus it is beautiful. Not only are individuals attractive, but the landscapes of southern Thailand is likewise heavenly. Take the journey as they look for a hidden beach that is pure perfection.

Lost in Translation– Tokyo.

Tokyo is a little bit strange. It differs anywhere else in the world and Lost in Translation showcases the culture shock that really feels when staying in a different city.

There are various customs in Japan and the society is much different than anywhere else as well as this motion picture catches that strange feeling you get when taking a trip there. Shed in Translation highlights some of the very best places in Tokyo.

The hotel where the flick happens still has among the most effective sights in the city! As well as that doesn’t love Expense Murray? He is valuable and it’s one of Scarlett Johanson’s best performances. Check it Out.

The Coastline is the initial backpacker slacker travel film. I was actually delighted when this came out due to the fact that we had actually just been to Thailand for the very first time. The Coastline catches what Thailand resembled prior to tourists began crowding to it en masse. At once, it was an off-the-beaten-path backpacker destination. We enjoyed guide a lot more, but you can never go wrong with Leo.

Slumdog Millionaire– India.

Okay this is one of the most popular movie which the west knows about India but being an young Indian boy I never really knew why India was shown in such a way.

The movie is offset in the slums to catch the run-down neighborhoods of India. A lot of the cities and attraction are well developed, however there is no denying that you would find slums and region and this movie explores themes around that.

Download it here on Amazon.

Vicky, Cristina Barcelona– Spain.

Admit it, we all intend to go to Spain and face beautiful people like Penelope Cruz and Javier Barden. The cities in Spain are just as lovely as individuals! The Spanish are so much extra in contact with their feelings. They live life with a passion that the remainder people do not have. A minimum of, that is what Vicky Cristina Barcelona makes us believe.

Vicky Cristina Barcelona definitely is an inspiring travel motion picture and also one of the best travel films available. It truly captures the power and also interest of Spain. Rent Vicky Christina Barcelona on Amazon.

Under the Tuscan Sun– Italy.

For the romantics out there, Under the Tuscan Sun is one of the awe inspiring film of all time. Wouldn’t you just like to get a rental property in Tuscany and fall in love with a complete stranger? After a bad separation, her personality travels to Italy courtesy of her buddy, (The extraordinary Sandra Oh!) and purchases a home!

Diane Lane shows that avoiding it all as well as relocating to one more nation can fix whatever. This movie is based on a true story where our celebrity shares the trials and also tribulations of remodeling a Tuscan suite.

I do love the premise and also everybody lives happily ever before after. And Guess What? Under the Tuscan Sunlight gets on Amazon. You can download it currently!

Best Exotic Marigold Hotel– India.

I enjoy the most effective Exotic Marigold Hotel. We constantly preach that you are never too old to attempt something new as well as you are never ever as well old for travel. It’s chock filled with excellent fabulous actors consisting of Dame Judi Dench, Costs Nighy, as well as Maggie Smith. The Very Best Exotic Marigold Resort complies with a group of senior citizens who take a trip to India to endure their days at a falling apart retired life resort. All mayhem and madness occur as points can just in India. There’s love, catastrophe, as well as hope. Rental fee it currently.

A Good Year– Provence France.

A Good Year made me intend to most likely to Provence and also live a straightforward life … on a multi-million dollar winery estate. That’s reasonable, best?

A Good Year makes life in Provence resemble the yard of Eden and I want a piece of it. Everybody is gorgeous, everyone is a white wine connoisseur, and also everyone is pure as well as excellent. That would not intend to go to the south of France after seeing A Good Year?

Midnight in Paris– Paris

Midnight in Paris records the golden years of Paris as Owen Wilson goes through the streets at night in search of that charming nostalgia of the city.

He winds up fulfilling the famous clients of the 1920s including Cole Concierge, Ernest Hemingway, Gertrude Stein as well as more! This film makes me wish to get on a flight to Paris each time! See it on Amazon.com Prime or get it on DVD

This film was crucified by the doubters, but I liked it. Nicole Kidman as well as Hugh Jackman take her livestock across the Outback. It additionally touches on the oppressions of how

Australia treated the Aboriginal Individuals, advising me of what Canada did with property institutions to our own indigenous communities. It’s beautifully shot as well as is a love letter to Australia. I think it was worthy of much more love than it got. Check it out on Amazon

Lightheared Travel Movies

This is an enjoyable motion picture. I am not much of a Will Farrell fan, however this motion picture is one of his ideal. The motion picture starts (after a brief recall) in Iceland showcasing its attractive landscapes and also falls with sweeping drone shots of the stars performing.

It has all the stereotypes and also mottos of Iceland, however it is performed with heart and also enjoyable. It truly is a love letter to Iceland. Adhere To Lars as well as Sigrit as they try to accomplish their dream of contending in Eurovision in Edinburgh.

The film offers a great display of that city also! And it additionally explains to North Americans precisely what Eurovision is. It is complimentary on Netflix or you can lease it on Amazon.com

Darjeeling Limited

This film takes Owen Wilson, Jason Schwartzman, and also Adrian Brody throughout India one year after their dad’s fatality starting on the Darjeeling Express train. It’s strange, heartbreaking, humorous and also pure Wes Anderson.

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

Forgetting Sarah Marshall

This is such an enjoyable film, set in the very real Turtle Bay Hotel in Oahu. It may just be in one location yet it most definitely seems like a traveling film.

The movie stars Jason Seigel as a Hollywood Author that mosts likely to Hawaii to recover his wounds after obtaining unloaded by his partner Kristen bell. It ends up, she exists on vacation with her brand-new boyfriend and also shenanigans follow.

This motion picture makes you intend to reserve an aircraft to Hawaii and have your own remain at Turtle Bay which has currently become popular. Rental it on Prime

Last Holiday

If you are looking for funny travel movies, this need to be at the top of your checklist. This is the supreme fairytale on exactly how travel can transform a life. As well as exactly how we ought to all strive to live a better life. It’s also short to wait.

Queen Latifa is valuable as a woman that is detected with an incurable illness, so she takes her life savings to appreciate her last vacation at a luxurious hotel. She does whatever from base jumping to snowboarding and also delighting in decadent French food. If every person took a vacation like this, we would certainly all live better lives. Rent, Buy or Enjoy on Amazon.com Prime

French Kiss

Meg Ryan plays a female named Kate who hesitates to take a trip. When her fiance falls for another female in France, she promises to win him back and also travels there despite being terrified. Hilarity takes place when she meets con man Kevin Kline and also they venture across the nation together.

My preferred scene is when she is indulging in cheese on the train. It’s that French minute that made me daydream regarding passing by train across the French countryside. Watch French Kiss for yourself

My Life in Ruins

While not just as good as My Big Fat Greek Wedding Event, My Life in Damages is a nice comeback for Nia Vardalos in an enjoyable loving traveling movie. She plays a trip leader taking stereotypical travelers with the websites of Greece.

It’s fun, it’s enchanting as well as the setting is gorgeous. It’s not mosting likely to win any Academy Awards, however, for an enjoyable Saturday afternoon movie, this will certainly transport you to Greece. Lease it or buy it on Amazon.com

The Hangover 2

The First Hangover was far much better and also if you haven’t seen it, I advise seeing. It as well is a travel movie taking you to Las vega (also an awesome road trip adventure), but this one is a lot of enjoyable taking us through Bangkok. It records the insane power of the city.

My favorite scene is when Bradly Cooper needs to go to the healthcare facility and also comes out with an absurdly low medical facility bill. Dave and also I have been to the hospital in Thailand as well as can testify. When you go out, you really feel as if you have simply robbed them for their time and also service. Rental fee it currently!

Blockbuster Travel Movies

Star wars: the surge of skywalker & the last jedi.

One would not think of a film based in celestial spaces to be a travel film that motivates wanderlust, however the last Star Wars Trilogy featured among our favorite locations in the world.

It was teased at the end of the Force Awakens and highlighted in the Last Jedi, but the Surge of Skywalker really showcased the impressive Skellig Michael of Ireland.

This 6th-century abbey was a celebrity unto itself as Luke experienced Rey the ways of the Force. It has actually currently motivated many vacationers as well as movie buffs to take the hair-raising watercraft come through to these rocky islands 12 kilometres off the shore of Ireland. Check it out on Amazon.com as well as Review our Short article regarding our experience at Skellig Michael

We really discovered where Mama Mia occurs while visiting the location where it was recorded, Pelion, Greece. The Greek islands are paradise, and Mom Mia complies with the story of Meryl Streep who runs a hotel on the coastline.

When her daughter becomes involved, she invites three men who might be her father. It’s a rip-roaring good time of music, enjoyable and also gorgeous landscapes.

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

Once Upon a Time in Mexico Trilogy

Just how sexy are Antonio Banderas and also Salma Hayak together? You have to watch the whole trilogy to actually value this collection by Robert Rodrigues.

Once In Mexico ends the trilogy with Antonio Banderas, Salma Hayek, and also Cheech Marin. El Mariachi began everything starring Carlos Gallardo. My fave of the 3 is Desperado, but they are all amusing.

Once Upon A Time In Mexico is a fantasy as well as it is a stereotype of Mexico, however it makes you want to go to Mexico and have a fantastic experience. The landscapes is gorgeous, the film is filled with awesome design, and the music is fabulous. View the Trilogy today!

The Legend of Tarzan

The $180 million dollar spending plan ensures to display the appeal of the African Savannah, the dense jungles, as well as the marvelous wild animals.

You feel as if you have actually entered the heart of Africa. Seriously, lease it, you’re mosting likely to like it a whole lot greater than you assume! Rent it on Amazon

The Tourist

It’s a little indulgent, and Angelina Jolie is a little bit aggravating with exactly how outstanding she believes she remains in this, but it does record traveling in Europe magnificently.

It makes you want to have an enchanting tryst in Venice . It makes you intend to ride a train and also have a mysterious experience. It provides you a peek into how the abundant real-time and also take a trip the globe.

Just recently we had somebody contact us with a list of their favorite motion pictures concerning traveling. He mentioned the initial Alien vs. Predator occurred in Antarctica and I keep in mind that being a quite enjoyable movie. After that I thought of the timeless Kurt Russel flick, Things.

This thriller takes place at a clinical base camp in the Antarctic and truly allows you feel how claustrophobic and also separated scientists need to feel when spending the winter at the bottom of the world. Watch it now!

Bourne Movies, James Bonds, Mission Difficult & Indiana Jones Movies

The Bourne flicks, James Bond, Indian Jones, and Mission Impossible take us worldwide with each motion picture. They could be thought about travel movies, but they are more about adventure, action, as well as fantasy.

Nevertheless, I wished to include them because if you are seeking some stunning scenes from Europe and the Center East, these traveling films fit the costs. They are so good at taking you away to unique locations.

Best Travel Movies in Fiction

Grand budapest hotel.

I can’t help it, I enjoy Wes Anderson motion pictures. He is unique and quirky. Grand Budapest resort is just one of the most effective traveling films that isn’t embeded in any kind of actual place. This is done in an imaginary setup.

I like this for a travel film due to the fact that it advises me of the grand old resorts from another age. Well, it ought to because it is embeded in an additional period. The resort is fictional, however it does take you away to an additional world. Lease it on Prime

Black Panther

Wakanda might be a fictional place in Africa, yet this film captures the spirit of East and also South Africa. It accepts the Africa culture and also most of the flick’s scenes were recorded in Africa. We have actually been to Africa numerous times as well as this motion picture delivered us there once more. If you have not seen it, see it currently!

Lord of the Rings and also Hobbit

They might be embeded in Center Planet, but the Lord of the Rings movies are a love letter to New Zealand. Lord of the Rings and the Hobbit Flicks make us want to go to New Zealand and these films catch its appeal completely. Lease the trilogy on Amazon.com today

Eat Pray Love

One more boring adjustment. Eat Pray Love had not been my favorite whatsoever. However The book was all right but the film starring Julia Roberts is awful. If you liked it, let me recognize. Possibly I’ll give it one more watch in case I missed something. Lease it on Amazon.com

We’ll be updating this list on a regular basis and also we enjoy finding brand-new travel movies to enjoy. So, if you have tips for your favored travel flicks, leave them in the comments listed below as well as we’ll make certain to provide a watch!

Long way round

This DVD set and British television series follows Ewan McGregor and Charley Boorman’s 2000-mile bike ride. From London to New York City, the team travels across 12 nations from Asia to Europe to Canada and the U.S. Their dreams for adventure and endurance took them across 19 different countries within just 115 days while visiting several UNICEF project projects. It’s an inspiring travel movie which challenges your view of life in many respects. See movies.

Hit the road: India

Follow Keith King and Mark Gazarian in their bid for a 12-day rickshaw rally across India. The documentary follows two travellers on a journey through Mumbai to Chennai as they face a series of travel difficulties including a temperamental car and bad weather. When their excitement fades, it’s easy for the young person to understand that endurance and determination are essential in their travel experiences. See movies!

Long way down

The following up to Longway Round, Ewan McGregor once again started riding a motorcycle in a Honda Odyssey. Starting from Scotland, they are heading towards Cape Town, South Africa.

Their 85-day trip through vineyards, deserts and jungles gives insight into 18 different countries. Between border crossings and motorcycle accidents, these reports provide real insight into the ups and downs of road trips. See movies.

Appeal to your curiosity about travel, it will encourage you to abandon all the daily chores, pack your bags and explore all around you. It focuses on one of friends who travel across Europe to visit Patagonia.

With boarders and climbing equipment, they saw the decline and the battle for industrialism. This is an amazing story with an honest storyline and beautiful scenery throughout. Watch movies.

A map for Saturday

If you are looking for a film about traveling around the globe a year, you will love this one. Then, Brook Silva-Braga stepped away in 2005 and it was an idyllic job.

Follow the journey few would have taken. Experience the emotions of long-distance travel. The film gives you an honest view on travels in 26 countries across five continents. Please see the movie.

Hector and the search for happiness

Based on the best-selling novel of similar names, Simon Pegg leaves his normal job as psychiatrist and travels the world looking for true happiness. He has developed an international adventure story with humorous effect and contemporary love stories.

For those who want to do something else with their lives, this film certainly inspires them. Watch movies.

Scotty has been left to a halt after he escaped his girlfriend after graduating high school. There are countless stereotypes throughout Europe as these two people encounter difficult situations and a few laugh out loud situations throughout their journey. The Comedians are certainly the most entertaining travel movie ever made! View movies.

The movie stars a couple expecting a child from a married couple. With little real places to call home, they travel through the USA and Montreal searching for a great home for them. Enjoy both funny and humorous experiences when you meet funny parents, friends and re-educational classmates. You can see the film on this website.

It tells a tale about freedom and corruption within an American society which is conformist and corrupt. After they sold their cocaine to a drug dealer from Mexico, he went to New Orleans just before the Mardi Gras. Easy Rider will help you see how the American people faced tensions in the 1960s. See movies.

The Hundred foot journey

Another awesome travel film which you can try watching is this which is a story centered around an Indian family who moves to France and opens a restaurant across.

So you can enjoy the beauty of France with this movie night.

That was our in depth guide about Travel Movies which you can watch on your next trip. Do let us know if there was any movie which you enjoyed the most.

Book cheap flights

Book train tickets, book luggage drop, visa requirements, book cheap hotels, book bus tickets, book airport transfer, take an insurance, packing list.

Get your Notion Travel Planner Template!

Embark on your next adventure with the Wanderlust Planner , the ultimate Notion Travel Planner Template . Organize your wanderlust-fueled dreams and turn them into unforgettable journeys. Whether you’re a seasoned globetrotter or a newbie explorer, this template has you covered.

Sankalp Singh is the Founder and Author of Chasing Whereabouts. He is passionate about travel, photography, and food. He has travelled across Europe extensively to experience its quirks, culture, and diversity. He is a self-taught traveller and he has been exploring the world since the age of 25. When he is not travelling, you can find him at work being a Software Engineer in 9-5 Job.

Similar Posts

Day Trip From Dublin To Belfast

What you want to do determines a lot of the ideal time of year to go. You should travel in the summer, between June and August, if you want the warmest weather. The month with…

Explore the Best Family Holiday Destinations In Europe

With tourism picking up steam, Europe might be the ideal destination for a family international vacation.Although it’s hard to go wrong with the classics, there are a tonne of incredible, family-friendly places to travel outside…

Flying drones in Europe The Complete Guide

Being a travel blogger it is always comes into the mind to shoot the location from the Drone Perspective, But flying Drones in Europe is not a easy task. Unless you want to fly illegally…

50+ Lake Como Italy Quotes and Captions for Instagram

So you got your epic picture at Lake Como and are now on the lookout to find some awesome Lake Como Italy Quotes to share as a caption on Instagram. Then in this post, I…

Exploring the Location of the Tulip Festival Amsterdam

Welcome to the Tulip Festival Amsterdam, a vibrant celebration of one of the Netherlands’ most iconic flowers. This annual event attracts both tourists and locals alike, who come to witness the breathtaking beauty of the…

Free Guide for Discovering Best Greek Islands for Families

Greece is a family-friendly destination that offers plenty of activities for all ages. From stunning beaches to delicious food and rich culture, there is something for everyone in this beautiful country. One of the best…

Awesome, you're subscribed!

Thanks for subscribing! Look out for your first newsletter in your inbox soon!

The best things in life are free.

Sign up for our email to enjoy your city without spending a thing (as well as some options when you’re feeling flush).

Déjà vu! We already have this email. Try another?

By entering your email address you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy and consent to receive emails from Time Out about news, events, offers and partner promotions.

Love the mag?

Our newsletter hand-delivers the best bits to your inbox. Sign up to unlock our digital magazines and also receive the latest news, events, offers and partner promotions.

• Things to Do
• Food & Drink
• Arts & Culture
• Time Out Market
• Coca-Cola Foodmarks
• Los Angeles

Get us in your inbox

🙌 Awesome, you're subscribed!

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.

An email you’ll actually love

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  

[image] [title]

More on Time In

Discover Time Out original video

• Press office
• Investor relations
• Work for Time Out
• Editorial guidelines
• Privacy notice
• Do not sell my information
• Cookie policy
• Accessibility statement
• Terms of use
• Modern slavery statement
• Manage cookies
• Advertising

Time Out Worldwide

• All Time Out Locations
• North America
• South America
• South Pacific

• Skip to main content
• Keyboard shortcuts for audio player

Pop Culture Happy Hour

• Performing Arts
• Pop Culture

The 2021 holiday movie guide: 100+ new films to get you in the spirit

Linda Holmes

Nina Dobrev and Jimmy O. Yang in Love Hard . Bettina Strauss/Netflix hide caption

Nina Dobrev and Jimmy O. Yang in Love Hard .

Every year, more outlets offer holiday movies (and by that I mean overwhelmingly Christmas movies, but occasionally not). And the places that offer them seem to offer more . It has become a kudzu situation. How are we getting VH1 holiday movies now? How did Food Network get involved ?

Nonetheless, here we are for the third year in a row to look at this year's crop, complete with trope elements in bold. A few notes:

1. I didn't cover most of the kids' movies or animated movies. This is primarily a guide to the romances and romantic comedies that are so very thick on the ground at this time of year, plus a few that seem to be specifically aimed at adults but not aren't romances (some are kind of mushy and inspirational).

2. It's entirely possible I missed something somewhere. There is no centralized repository of holiday offerings other than ones created by other fallible journalists and writers, and so I tip my hat to some of the people who I cross-checked with to make sure there wasn't anything I missed: especially TV Line and the very helpful and exhaustive catalog maintained by this Tumblr user . The ones that have already premiered are most likely still rerunning from now until Christmas, so don't be dismayed if they've already aired once!

In honor of one of my favorite titles of the year, An Ice Wine Christmas , here's a photo from that film, starring Roselyn Sanchez and Lyriq Bent. Lifetime hide caption

In honor of one of my favorite titles of the year, An Ice Wine Christmas , here's a photo from that film, starring Roselyn Sanchez and Lyriq Bent.

3. As a concession to the shortness of life and a desire to keep this guide somewhere in the vicinity of a hundred movies, there are a few outlets I didn't individually write up , but who do have movies coming. Being a completist at this point is just not practical. I skipped a few from ION Television, Roku, Tubi, Crackle, and a couple other places, including two that are only going to be on Hallmark's streaming service. (I think two different Hallmark cable networks is enough.) Also of note, former Hallmark executive Bill Abbott is now running a new cable channel called GAC Family, which says it celebrates "American culture, lifestyle and heritage." There's very little information on their site about most of their films, but if that sounds appealing, you can check out their lineup .

4. More inclusive content is something I hope for every year and am glad for every year when it comes up. I commend to you some commentary from the writer Tressie McMillan Cottom recently about holiday movies, and especially about Hallmark's Christmas In Harmony . If you're looking for more Black leads, you'll find more at Lifetime than at Hallmark, but even at Hallmark, the tide is turning somewhat. There is a lot to be said about this. Take Dr. McMillan Cottom's words under advisement.

With that said, let's dive in.

You, Me & The Christmas Trees

A headstrong expert on evergreens ( cool job alert ) heads to a man's family business , a tree farm, to help him save his trees from certain death. (Hallmark, 10/22)

Raymond Ablack and Catherine Haena in Boyfriends of Christmas Past . Albert Camicioli/Crown Media hide caption

Raymond Ablack and Catherine Haena in Boyfriends of Christmas Past .

Boyfriends of Christmas Past

Lauren is visited by ... well, the ghosts of her old boyfriends. (Hallmark, 10/23)

Christmas In My Heart

A violinist and a "reclusive country music star" are "joined through the connective power of music." Sounds dangerous. (Hallmark Movies & Mysteries, 10/23)

The Santa Stakeout

Two undercover detectives (Tamera Mowry-Housley, Paul Campbell) put on a fake relationship as newlyweds to bust a string of ... holiday party heists? Sure, okay. (Hallmark, 10/24)

Christmas in Harmony

You'll note that some of these premiere dates are in the past; the reason those are included is that in most cases, they will continue to air and stream all season, and this way you can look them up if you're interested.

A woman named Harmony (yuuuup) auditions for a chorus so she can perform music directed by her ex-boyfriend . (Hallmark, 10/29)

Coyote Creek Christmas

Event planning brings two people together. (Seriously, that's all I know. I don't know any more!) (Hallmark, 10/30)

The Christmas Promise

A grieving woman hires a hot helpful man to help renovate a house . (Hallmark Movies & Mysteries, 10/30)

Here are the Books We Love: 360+ great 2021 reads recommended by NPR

Christmas sail.

A woman comes back to her hometown with her moppet daughter and meets up with her old friend . (Hallmark, 10/31)

A Rich Christmas

A dad sends his spoiled daughter off to work with unhoused folks to teach her a lesson about the true meaning of Christmas . (BET+, 11/4)

A woman impulsively flies out for a holiday visit with a guy she's been talking to on a dating app on the Amazing Internet. When she realizes she's been catfished and identities are scrambled , the regular guy agrees to make it up to her by setting her up with the guy she thought she was getting. (Netflix, 11/5)

Gingerbread Miracle

They are packing a lot into this one: His family business is a Mexican bakery that makes cookies that grant wishes . She's his old friend . (Hallmark, 11/5)

Next Stop, Christmas

We all get frustrated with holiday travel , but this woman has a particularly peculiar experience: She gets on a magic train back to her hometown and goes 10 years into the past, where she gets to consider: What if she picked a different guy? (Note: The supporting cast includes Christopher Lloyd and Lea Thompson! In a time-travel movie! Get it?) (Hallmark, 11/6)

Debbie Macomber's A Mrs. Miracle Christmas

There are a lot of branding words in this title. As for what it's actually about: Mrs. Miracle helps a couple rediscover the true meaning of Christmas . (Hallmark Movies & Mysteries, 11/6)

Want to make tastier, prettier pies? A baker tells us where to tart

Father christmas is back.

Kelsey Grammer plays the big jerk dad of four daughters who are reunited at their ostentatious house and surprised when said dad shows up. (Netflix, 11/7)

A Christmas Treasure

Former American Idol Jordin Sparks plays a woman opens a time capsule and meets a chef (...sure), which motivates her to consider moving to New York (as you do after opening a time capsule and/or meeting a chef). (Hallmark, 11/7)

Christmas With A Prince: The Royal Baby

Did you know there's a "Christmas With A Prince" series about the royal-ish that's different from the "Christmas Prince" series on Netflix? There is, and this is the third movie in it. (UPtv, 11/7)

Open by Christmas

A woman and her friend look for the writer of an anonymous Christmas card from high school. (Hallmark, 11/12)

Ice Wine Christmas

A sommelier goes home to ... Evergreen (PUN TOWN ALERT!) ... for the annual "ice wine festival ," only to find that a Suit Man is planning to commercialize Christmas ice wine after taking over from her "ice wine mentor." Seriously, I missed holiday movies so much. (Lifetime, 11/12)

My Christmas Family Tree

In a premise so potentially sketchy it makes my teeth itch, a woman takes a DNA test, finds new relatives , and goes to see them for Christmas. (Hallmark, 11/13)

A Picture Perfect Holiday

A photographer (Tatyana Ali!) goes to a "Christmas photography retreat" (sure) and winds up in trapped together in a cabin with a wildlife photographer. (Lifetime, 11/13)

One December Night

I hardly know where to begin! Peter Gallagher (!) and Bruce Campbell (!!) play rock star dads (!!!) who have to be brought together at Christmas . (Hallmark Movies & Mysteries, 11/13)

A Snowy Christmas

A woman goes back to her family home for Christmas, and she needs to save the place ! Will she be able to rely on this hot helpful man who just showed up? (UPtv, 11/13)

A Holiday in Harlem

Another one jam-packed with classic setups: A hard-charging career woman returns to her hometown to care for her injured grandmother and winds up reconnecting with her old best friend to run the neighborhood holiday party . (Hallmark, 11/14)

Snowed In For Christmas

An au pair is snowed in with the family she works for, and she's going to teach these moppets and their hot uncle about the true meaning of Christmas . (UPtv, 11/14)

Vanessa Hudgens, Vanessa Hudgens and Vanessa Hudgens star in The Princess Switch 3: Romancing The Star . Mark Mainz/Netflix hide caption

Vanessa Hudgens, Vanessa Hudgens and Vanessa Hudgens star in The Princess Switch 3: Romancing The Star .

The Princess Switch 3: Romancing The Star

You might remember that The Princess Switch , in which there were two royal-ish Vanessa Hudgenses, was followed by The Princess Switch 2 , in which there were three Vanessa Hudgenses. It appears that they have decided three is the limit for now, because there are still the same three Vanessa Hudgenses in The Princess Switch 3: Romancing The Star . If you want four Vanessa Hudgenses, you might have to wait for Princess Switch 4: Four Vanessa Hudgenses . (Netflix, 11/18)

Nantucket Noel

In a setup so familiar it seems like they have to have already made this movie at least once, a woman discovers that developers are going to take down the wharf (!) where her adorable small business , a toy store (!!), is located. But the developer's son is a surprisingly hot enemy , soooooooo maybe that will help? (Hallmark, 11/19)

Dancing Through The Snow

When a clip of a hot single dad and his moppet daughter doing ballet together goes viral on the Amazing Internet , he suddenly becomes a sensation. But he's into his daughter's ballet teacher! (Lifetime, 11/19)

Candy Coated Christmas

Okay, apparently it's now mandatory for everyone to make a Christmas movie, which is the only explanation I have for the fact that Discovery+, via the Food Network, has this one coming out, in which a woman goes back to her mom's charming hometown to save the family business and runs into a baker played by the Pioneer Woman. CAN WE JUST STOP ADDING OUTLETS THAT MAKE CHRISTMAS MOVIES? (Discovery+, 11/19)

A Christmas Together With You

A woman and her "father figure" head out on a road trip looking for the love of his life, but maybe she'll find the love of hers ! (Hallmark, 11/20)

You Make It Feel Like Christmas

A career woman is too busy to come home for Christmas, but an ex-boyfriend sets out to get her to return. (Lifetime, 11/20)

Here's how to host a meaningful gathering

Five more minutes.

Anything I tell you about this movie would pale in comparison to the fact that it is based on a song about the passage of time by Scotty McCreery, the former American Idol contestant. (Hallmark Movies & Mysteries, 11/20)

Mistletoe and Molly

A woman who's a "waitress and animal lover" is getting desperate for a break, because she needs to fix her car and it's almost Christmas! I wonder if this hot helpful man can do anything for her. (UPtv, 11/20)

Who Is Christmas Eve?

A woman who was left at a church as an infant learns about her past with the help of her boyfriend. (Bounce, 11/21)

A Kiss Before Christmas

A guy who's too nice to get ahead in business (sigh) magically wakes up in an alternate reality where he wasn't so nice, and he doesn't have his family but he has lots of money, and only you can make a guess as to what he will conclude about the big question: What if he had money but not love? (Hallmark, 11/21)

Baking Spirits Bright

A woman's family business is selling fruitcakes. (Hey, she likes fruitcakes.) They hire a Suit Man to help with marketing, and she has to, I'm sure, make sure that the true meaning of fruitcake is not lost. (Lifetime, 11/21)

Christmas on 5th Avenue

A "professional wish granter" ( cool job alert ) is redecorating for a writer who won't be home for Christmas. But then he is home after all! Can she make him rediscover the true meaning of Christmas ? (UPtv, 11/21)

The Nine Kittens of Christmas

If you know anything about these movies, you know that The Nine Lives of Christmas , in which Brandon Routh played a firefighter who met a girl and got a cat , is one of the best ones. Now, there's a sequel that's been given prized placement on Thanksgiving. But it suggests that the couple from the first one is getting back together in this one, which means they broke up so that they have to be brought together at Christmas , and now all my old Christmases are ruined. (Hallmark, 11/25)

Christmas Deja Vu

Amber Riley plays a woman who wishes she had pursued a singing career, and an angel is ready to give her a look at what if she had that life. (BET+, 11/25)

House of Gucci is a spicy meatball

• LISTEN & FOLLOW
• Apple Podcasts
• Google Podcasts
• Amazon Music

Your support helps make our show possible and unlocks access to our sponsor-free feed.

A Castle For Christmas

Netflix has put a lot of its Christmas muscle into somewhat younger demos with movies like The Princess Switch franchise and the Christmas Prince franchise. But like Hallmark and Lifetime, it knows that some of the holiday-movie bread is buttered with cholesterol-free alternatives, so it's putting a lot of weight behind this more mature romance starring Cary Elwes and Brooke Shields as a royal-ish castle owner and a writer who do not hit it off when she tries to buy his ostentatious house , a.k.a. castle. (Don't you hate it when somebody you don't like wants to buy your castle?) (Netflix, 11/26)

Christmas CEO

A woman who owns a small business (a toy company !) gets a chance to sell out big-time, but her former business partner — is he the one who got away ? — has to agree. (Hallmark, 11/26)

An Unexpected Christmas

A writer gets his ex-girlfriend to enter into a fake relationship and pretend to be his current girlfriend. (Hallmark, 11/26)

Reba McEntire and John Schneider in Reba McEntire's Christmas In Tune. Lifetime hide caption

Reba McEntire and John Schneider in Reba McEntire's Christmas In Tune.

Reba McEntire's Christmas In Tune

In a movie that pulls out all the stops for its intended audience, beloved famouses Reba McEntire and John Schneider play exes , an estranged singing team whose daughter (too old to be a moppet , but same difference) tries to bring them together for Christmas to participate in a charity event . But they still hate each other! Just kidding. (Lifetime, 11/26)

Making Spirits Bright

This story involves — let me consult my notes — "the son and daughter of rival holiday decorating families." Oh, that old story. Anyway, decorating contest , hot enemies , new bonds, and probably somebody pitching in at the end when somebody else has trouble. Maybe they'll team up? (Hallmark, 11/27)

Christmas at Castle Hart

Hallmark staple Lacey Chabert plays a woman who goes to Ireland to research her family and is mistaken for an elite event planner when identities are scrambled , which winds up getting her stuck planning a party for a big fancy royal-ish Irish dude. I hate when that happens. (Hallmark, 11/27)

Merry Liddle Christmas Baby

The next installment in this franchise finds Jacquie (Kelly Rowland!) getting ready for a baby . (Lifetime, 11/27)

Time For Them To Come Home For Christmas

This somewhat unwieldy title belongs to a movie about a woman with amnesia who can only figure out who she is by going to the Christmas festival . Producer is ... Blake Shelton. (Hallmark Movies & Mysteries, 11/27)

Christmas in Tahoe

A woman's family owns a charming hotel , which naturally has an annual Christmas show (...?). To save the show this year, she has to approach her former boyfriend ... and his band (NO!). (Hallmark, 11/28)

The Christmas Contest

Hallmark staple Candace Cameron Bure stars as a woman who competes against some hot rival to win money for charity ? And the whole charming town gets in on it? Details are sketchy. (Hallmark, 11/28)

Tia Mowry and Smokey Robinson in Miracle in Motor City. Lifetime hide caption

Tia Mowry and Smokey Robinson in Miracle in Motor City.

Miracle in Motor City

Tia Mowry plays a woman who's event-planning her church's Christmas celebration and winds up leading them to believe beloved famous Smokey Robinson is coming. (Shades of Marcia Brady and Davy Jones.) She and her ex-boyfriend have to get together and try to get Smokey to come! (No spoilers, but, uh, Smokey's in the movie.) (Lifetime, 11/28)

Welcome to the Christmas Family Reunion

A singer named Tiffanie Christmas (YES!) is having a family reunion, and her event planner has enough challenges without falling for Tiffanie Christmas' cousin! (Lifetime, 11/29)

Adventures in Christmasing

Kim Fields plays a talk show host whose hot enemy is a survivalist dude she has to work with for a Special Christmas Event . (VH1, 11/29)

A Christmas Wish

A single mom needs a miracle at Christmas. Information is very minimal! (BET+, 11/30)

A Chestnut Family Christmas

A live-in chef invites her family to her boss' place for the holidays, but identities are scrambled to the degree that her family thinks she lives there herself. (OWN, 11/30)

Match Made In Mistletoe

A woman is hired to do the interior design for an embassy, but the ambassador (whom you can consider royal-ish for this purpose) doesn't like her style and makes her his hot enemy , because he's "minimalist." (LOL.) Will they learn to get along while she decorates? (Lifetime, 12/1)

The Business of Christmas 2

It's a sequel , obviously, and the children of the Franklin family are learning to get along without their dad. (BET+, 12/2)

The trailer for Netflix's Single All The Way.

Single All The Way

My personal pick for "I can't wait to see this one" is this film in which (the great) Michael Urie plays a guy who gets a friend to fake a relationship and pretend to be his boyfriend when he goes home for Christmas . When his mother, played by (the great) Kathy Najimy sets him up with an entirely different hottie, things get awkward. Jennifer Coolidge is around also, and it's a story with a gay lead going home to his family where it seems to have nothing whatsoever to do with either coming out or family disapproval, and that is a nice change. (Netflix, 12/2)

A Christmas Village Romance

I could not stop laughing at this title, because I kept wanting to type it as A Christmas Village Christmas , which would be the best movie title ever. Aaaanyway, a romance novelist discovers that a "charming pioneer village" (absolutely no idea) is "struggling to stay afloat" (in what sense?), she sponsors a big party for Christmas. But she gets all kinds of friction from the (checks notes) "blacksmith and town historian." (Lifetime, 12/2)

The Bitch Who Stole Christmas

RuPaul and some absolute queens appear in this parody in which a journalist goes to a small town where someone is trying to destroy Christmas. (VH1, 12/2)

Eight Gifts of Hanukkah

Someone asked recently whether Hallmark made Hanukkah movies, and I said occasionally, and hey, here is one! And unlike some in the past, it doesn't look like it's exclusively about Hanukkah as an alternative to Christmas. This one has a Hanukkah secret admirer . (Hallmark, 12/3)

Book Reviews

Ann patchett reflects on love and relationships in new essay collection, a christmas dance reunion.

They're closing the resort! Better try to save the place with one last Christmas celebration ! That's why Lucy and her mother go off into the snow, where they run into her ex-dance-partner who are brought together at Christmas . There's presumably some pretty good dancing here, since Monique Coleman and Corbin Bleu (reuniting from High School Musical !) are the leads. (Lifetime, 12/3)

A Very Merry Bridesmaid

A woman whose birthday is on Christmas Eve (the worst) also has a brother whose wedding is going to be on Christmas Eve (sir!). So it's up to her old crush to give her an actual birthday. (Hallmark, 12/4)

Kirk Franklin's A Gospel Christmas

A woman becomes lead pastor of a church only a month before Christmas, and she needs some help to get ready for the Winter Jamboree ! Kirk Franklin appears in and wrote music for this one. (Lifetime, 12/4)

A Clusterfunke Christmas

A comedy parody of the kind of movie that populates the rest of this list, this movie is by Ana Gasteyer and Rachel Dratch, and it's about a career woman who goes to a small town to buy an inn, and I can't really list tropes because it's specifically about tropes! But I will watch it. (Comedy Central, 12/4)

Our Christmas Journey

Holly Robinson Peete is a single mom of a son with autism, and something happens around Christmas, but the description doesn't really say what it is. I guess that's the Christmas journey! (Hallmark Movies & Mysteries, 12/4)

Movie Reviews

New york times doc on janet jackson's super bowl scandal leaves questions unanswered, christmas under the stars.

A "Christmas blogger" ( job from 2006 alert ) heads to a place called Christmas World (I mean, it makes sense) to get some delicious content. The guy who's about to inherit Christmas World needs her help to save the place ! (UPtv, 12/4)

Sister Swap: A Hometown Holiday

I'm not sure how I went this long without knowing that Kimberly Williams-Paisley and Ashley Williams are actual sisters, but they are, and they're both experienced holiday movie people, so here they are together! Real relatives playing relatives! Apparently, their uncle has just died , and he owned the theater in their town. So the sister, widowed single mom, comes back to town to help save the theater (maybe?), and she meets up with her onetime rival from the debate team, so that sounds hot . (Hallmark, 12/5)

My Favorite Christmas Melody

Mýa plays a woman who can write real songs but is off writing jingles. (This is nothing to be ashamed of, it seems to me!) The high school music teacher in her hometown gets her involved in trying to save the arts programs at the school. Hopefully, she teaches all the kids that there's no shame in making a living in the arts, even if it means you write jingles! (Lifetime, 12/5)

A Furry Little Christmas

(I just want to make it clear that I don't write the titles of these things.) A doctor (a city guy) meets a vet (a small-town girl), just in time for Christmas. (UPtv, 12/5)

Secretly Santa

There's one every year where I just think, "You have to quote the entire thing, or it won't come through." So here's the official description: "Miranda (Alicia Dea Josipovic) and Paul (Travis Nelson) are business rivals who accidentally meet at a costumed Santa crawl and spend a romantic evening together without learning each other's identities. As their anonymous romance continues online, their businesses merge, forcing them into an unwanted partnership. As they clash while working together on a holiday gift-giving app, their hearts must reconcile their online love when unexpected feelings develop for one another." (Lifetime, 12/6)

Hip Hop Family Christmas

A hip-hop celebrity family agrees to do a Christmas special to improve their image. Ne-Yo is in it! (VH1, 12/7)

Christmas Movie Magic

A woman journalist is assigned to write about the anniversary of a beloved Christmas movie, so she goes to the small town where it was filmed. (So far so good; this could be my life.) She meets up with the theater owner, and they explore the history of the movie's big song. (Lifetime, 12/7)

A Sisterly Christmas

Two sisters who just couldn't be more different (one loves Christmas! one hates Christmas !) are brought together on a vacation, but they encounter an old rival . (OWN, 12/7)

Christmas with a Crown

A woman goes back to her hometown to look after her family's Christmas festival . There, she meets a man whom she does not realize is royal-ish : a prince in disguise! That never happens to me when I'm planning my family's Christmas festival! (Lifetime, 12/8)

Merry Switchmas

Twin sisters decide to switch places at the family Christmas party ! Identities are scrambled ! (BET+, 12/9)

A Fiance for Christmas

A woman invents a fiance, and then she has to get a guy to pretend to be her fiance , and that sounds like a recipe for disaster! (Hey, it's beloved famous Marie Osmond!) (Lifetime, 12/9)

A Dickens of a Holiday!

So ... a woman lives in a small town that has a "Victorian festival ." And the best way to make its 100th anniversary a smash is to invite back a local celebrity: the guy she went to high school with , who's now a movie star , and who she wants to play Scrooge in A Christmas Carol . (Hallmark, 12/10)

Mario Lopez and Emeraude Toubia in Holiday in Santa Fe . Lifetime hide caption

Mario Lopez and Emeraude Toubia in Holiday in Santa Fe .

Holiday in Santa Fe

Mario Lopez plays a guy whose family business makes holiday decor. When a Suit Woman shows up who might want to buy the company, they have to get to know each other. (Lifetime, 12/10)

A Royal Queens Christmas

I think you will agree this title sounds like it could be about a lot of things, but here's what it's actually about, per the Hallmark description: "A prince finds his way to Queens during Christmas when a local woman enlists his help with a children's Christmas show ." I have a lot of questions. (Hallmark, 12/11)

The Holiday Fix-Up

A TV star who does a home renovation show gets assigned to fix up a hotel in her hometown for Christmas. But who's the contractor she'll be working with? HER OLD FLAME ! (Lifetime, 12/11)

A Godwink Christmas: Miracle of Love

So this is a continuation of this Godwink franchise in which the idea is that coincidences are God winking. Like, they are literally winks of God. "Godwinks." Apparently, this movie about a woman who wants to be a nurse and a man who also is "at a crossroads" (...?) involves a sort of Habitat For Humanity-like setup as well as a "medical miracle." (Hallmark Movies & Mysteries, 12/11)

Hot Mess Holiday

Again, I know everyone wants to get into this business, but Comedy Central, guys? COMEDY CENTRAL? Anyway, a woman gets dumped during Diwali (okay, I do appreciate an expansion of what "holiday movie" means!), and she and her best friend go on a wild partying tear through Chicago, and they end up with a diamond. (Comedy Central, 12/11)

Sister Swap: Christmas in the City

I originally thought they had listed a movie twice, but no! See, while the one sister goes back home to save the theater, her sister goes and takes her place at her restaurant to help prepare for a contest . And she meets a man! So these movies are paired, you see: it's a sister swap, and each one gets a movie. It's like The Holiday , if it had been two movies. (Hallmark, 12/12)

People Presents: Blending Christmas

I am candidly irate that this is not a movie about someone who owns a Santa-themed smoothie company, but WHATEVER. It's actually about a couple who comes together with their wacky families for what's supposed to be a proposal, but then things get crazy and the families have to cooperate to get them back together. Note that this movie features not one but four members of the original Brady Bunch cast plus Cousin Oliver playing, I believe, various family members! What a time to be alive. (Lifetime, 12/12)

Fixing Up Christmas

A woman who does event planning for "difficult clients" has to put together a party for a Suit Man . (UPtv, 12/12)

Maps & Mistletoe

A "cartographer of school maps" (um, cool job alert) has to get together with an actual North Pole explorer to work on a special Christmas project for work. (Lifetime, 12/13)

Let's Get Merried

A woman (who hates Christmas ) is on a bachelorette weekend right around Christmas when she meets and marries some dude. Will it remain a fake relationship ? (VH1, 12/13)

Dan Jeannotte and Annie Clark in Ghosts of Christmas Past. Danielle Blancher/Lifetime hide caption

Dan Jeannotte and Annie Clark in Ghosts of Christmas Past.

Ghosts Of Christmas Past

A woman who ghosts people on dating apps (PUN TITLE!) gets into a whole thing with a fortune teller who says she has to close the loop with some of her dates or she'll never fall in love. (Wow, okay, worst fortune teller ever.) (Lifetime, 12/14)

A Christmas Stray

I mean, it is what it says it is! A man is not at all into Christmas, but then a stray dog finds him. (OWN, 12/14)

The Enchanted Christmas Cake

(Don't eat cursed food, guys.) Anyhoo, a woman running the family bakery after her grandmother's death is trying to figure out the Enchanted Christmas Cake recipe , and when a baking TV show wants to film in her town, she agrees to help. And that producer is looking pretty good! (Lifetime, 12/15)

A California Christmas: City Lights

In a sequel to last year's classic (?) A California Christmas , hard times come upon the owners of the ... dairy-farm-slash-winery. (Netflix, 12/16)

Christmas By Chance

The woman's name is Chance, and her small business is By Chance Gifts, and the rich guy who comes in to get her to put together a proposal to his girlfriend probably never suspects that she's going to be his big ... chance. (Lifetime, 12/16)

Mistletoe in Montana

Melissa Joan Hart owns a ranch that entertains city people, including a hot single dad and his kids. What a ... ride! (Lifetime, 12/17)

The Christmas House 2: Deck Those Halls

The Christmas House was famous last year for being the Pigs Flying movie for people who believed Hallmark might never include a gay couple, even in a supporting position in a family ensemble. This year, the whole wacky family is back to decorate houses in a brutal competition . Including the gay brother! (Hallmark, 12/18)

Toying With The Holidays

A "workaholic" woman and her moppet son go back to her hometown , only to find that the model train she loves isn't running anymore this Christmas! She better fix that, because tradition is the true meaning of Christmas , and she better hope there's an old friend and model-train guy in town to help. (Lifetime, 12/18)

Christmas For Keeps

Some friends get together over the holidays to celebrate their high school teacher back in their hometown . (Hallmark Movies & Mysteries, 12/18)

'Tis the Season to be Merry

A writer wants to work on her relationship book, so she goes off to Vermont (the most Christmas-y of destinations) and meets a guy. (Hallmark, 12/19)

Elise Bauman and Tattiawna Jones in Under the Christmas Tree. Albert Camicioli/Lifetime hide caption

Elise Bauman and Tattiawna Jones in Under the Christmas Tree.

Under The Christmas Tree

A "marketing whiz" and a "Christmas tree whisperer" (!) ( cool job alert ) clash over the latter's discovery of a perfect tree for a special project in the former's backyard. Will they get over themselves and stop being hot enemies ? WILL THEY? Take note and note well: They're both women! (Lifetime, 12/19)

Christmas Together

A woman rents a young father's guest house and falls in love. (UPtv, 12/19)

Candy Cane Candidate

A woman smarting from a city council loss retreats to her hometown , but what's this? She meets up with her old high school rival who beat her in student government elections? And the mayor just resigned, meaning they have to run against each other again in an emergency election? That sounds like she's going to have a terrible Christmas full of nothing but stress! (Lifetime, 12/20)

Miracles Across 125th Street

Nick Cannon stars as a rapper who goes to church on Christmas Eve to deal with some pretty heavy personal business. (VH1, 12/20)

The Christmas Ball

A fired ballerina goes home to find that her family's ostentatious house is at risk, and the only way to save it is to work with a local historian to put on a grand ball that will recall the place of the "family manor" in history. (Lifetime, 12/21)

It Takes A Christmas Village

The town has a " Christmas market ," but the beautiful mayor can only make it work by convincing a local mean recluse to let the city use his mill! I bet it won't work and Christmas will be canceled. (Lifetime, 12/22)

Rebuilding A Dream Christmas

(Not, by the way, Requiem for a Dream Christmas , which would be a whole different thing.) A woman returns to her hometown to fix up a property she inherited. Whom will she hire to work on the place? Not this hot single dad ! (Lifetime, 12/23)

Hot Chocolate Holiday

A woman whose coffee shop (the coziest possible small business ) is famous for its hot chocolate decides that a rival shop has ripped off her hot cocoa "recipe," which she can tell from its distinct taste. (Let me guess: Chocolate and milk?) But of course, as they are literally fighting over hot cocoa as hot enemies , they can't help falling in love. (Lifetime, 12/24)

Writing Around The Christmas Tree

A romance novelist goes on a writing retreat and meets a dude who is also a writer , who tells her she shouldn't write romance unless she gets herself some, and I am here to tell you this man should be escorted out the nearest window, but apparently he has some serious charm, because she gets to know him instead. (Lifetime, 12/25)

Christmas For Sale

A real estate agent impersonates the yoga instructor to a billionaire (yes, with a B) in order to pursue a real estate listing (?), but even though identities are scrambled , she kinda likes him. (BET+, date TBD)

The Jenkins Family Christmas

The first Christmas in a big family after the death of a parent is a big deal, but it's safe to say it's a bigger deal when, as here, a previously unknown additional sibling shows up for the holidays. (BET+, available now)

A man who owes money to the mob goes into hiding as a mall Santa. (This is a pretty good setup. Easy moppet story!) (BET+, available now)

10 Classic Movies About Holiday Travel

Paramount Pictures

It's that time of the year again when the cool air is nipping, and life is all about family and friends. Some people may have already started (or even finished) their Christmas shopping. Others may have already begun planning their holiday gatherings—travel included. Hollywood may be able to offer up some inspiration as you're firming up your holiday plans. Whether it is taking a magical journey into a snow-covered village or spending time with unexpected company in strange small towns, a few fan-favorite films come to mind.

Bounce researched films that take place during the holidays, involving travel as a significant element, and highlighted 10 of the best. Each film had to have at least a 6.5 on IMDb with over 10,000 user votes to qualify.

Keep reading for some travel-inspired holiday films. Be prepared for some holiday cheer.

Love discounts and traveling?

Sign up for our newsletter and get 10% off your next booking.

The Weinstein Company

Carol (2015)

Director: Todd Haynes IMDb user rating: 7.2 Metascore: 94 Runtime: 118 minutes

In this romantic film adapted from the 1952 novel "The Price of Salt," authored by Patricia Highsmith, a lesbian romance unfolds in New York City.

One day while doing some last-minute holiday shopping, New York City shopgirl and aspiring set designer Therese Belivet (Rooney Mara) meets a sophisticated older woman named Carol Aird (Cate Blanchett). Even though Therese and Carol have men in their lives, they struggle to live up to society's conservative 1950s expectations as they explore their deep connection with each other.

The Guardian's Peter Bradshaw described the film as "handsomely detailed and furnished," whisking viewers into a luxurious past of perfectly coiffed women, train carriages, and record players. "Carol" received many nominations for cinematography, costume design, hair and makeup. It also won Rooney Mara the Best Actress in a Supporting Role award at the Cannes Film Festival in 2015.

New Line Cinema

Director: Jon Favreau IMDb user rating: 7.0 Metascore: 64 Runtime: 97 minutes

In this Christmas comedy, a human baby crawls into one of Santa's toy sacks, but St. Nick doesn't realize it until he reaches the North Pole. Santa and the elves decide to keep the infant, naming him Buddy (Will Ferrell).

As time passes, Buddy becomes knowledgeable in the elfin way of life but isn't aware of his human origins until he overhears his elven peers discussing his distinctive traits. Buddy soon seeks out his biological father in New York City, which comes with its own set of obstacles. The film features a magical New York City during Christmas, complete with prominent Gimbels department store appearances, which may inspire nostalgia in some viewers.

Warner Bros.

Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (2004)

Director: Alfonso Cuarón IMDb user rating: 7.9 Metascore: 82 Runtime: 142 minutes

People don't generally consider Harry Potter films to be "holiday movies," but several make the cuts—including "Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban." Yes, the plot centers on a mass murderer's prison escape—but it's full of wintry wonderland scenes.

In one scene, the characters visit Hogsmeade, a magic-filled and quaint snow-covered village, complete with an old-fashioned sweets shop.

EASILY STORE LUGGAGE IN LONDON

Now it’s simple to find luggage storage in London , so no one needs to be burdened by their baggage while strolling the West End.

Visiona Romantica

The Hateful Eight (2015)

Director: Quentin Tarantino IMDb user rating: 7.8 Metascore: 68 Runtime: 168 minutes

"The Hateful Eight" has become an unusual Christmas favorite for those in the mood for something less saccharine. The story follows eight strangers in post-Civil War Wyoming as they seek refuge in a lodge from a blizzard. Humorous but violent scenes ensue. Once Bob (Demián Bichir) starts to play "Silent Night" on the piano, as Maj. Marquis Warren (Samuel L. Jackson) and Gen. Sandy Smithers (Bruce Dern) eat around the fireplace with blankets on their laps, it begins to feel a little like Christmas—albeit menacingly.

The film won an Academy Award for Best Music and a BAFTA Award for Best Original Music.

Columbia Pictures

The Holiday (2006)

Director: Nancy Meyers IMDb user rating: 6.9 Metascore: 52 Runtime: 136 minutes

In the romantic comedy "The Holiday," two women who meet online find themselves similarly unlucky in love and agree to swap homes for the holidays. Amanda Woods (Cameron Diaz), a hardworking businesswoman in the movie industry who lives in Los Angeles, will soon exchange locales with society columnist Iris Simpkins, who lives in a cozy stone cottage in England's countryside.

The change of scenery is positive for both women, not only in terms of romantic possibilities but also in sheer beauty. Iris' cottage is decorated in shabby chic fashion, complete with ivy and a freestanding tub, while Amanda's is a two-story bougainvillea-laden dream. Sceneries will have viewers itching to book the next flight across the Atlantic. The film won a Teen Choice Award in 2007 for Choice Movie: Chick Flick.

SECURE LA LUGGAGE STORAGE

Find the most convenient luggage storage Los Angeles has, with some shops open 24/7.

Twentieth Century Fox

Home Alone 2: Lost in New York (1992)

Director: Chris Columbus IMDb user rating: 6.8 Metascore: 46 Runtime: 120 minutes

In "Home Alone 2," 10-year-old Kevin McCallister (Macaulay Culkin) and his family are supposed to go on a Christmas trip to Florida, but Kevin ends up lost at the airport and ends up getting on the wrong plane—to New York. With his father's credit card and wallet in tow, Kevin books a luxurious suite in a Manhattan hotel, which include a massive bed and an extra-extra-large sundae.

It sounds like a perfect holiday until he's kicked out of the hotel and must face the same burglars he confronted in the first installment. "Home Alone 2" takes Kevin across many New York sights, including Radio City Music Hall, the Statue of Liberty , Central Park, and even a Santa on stilts outside the Empire Diner.

CONVENIENT NY BAG STORAGE

Easy access to luggage storage in New York City with convenient locations throughout the Big Apple.

Focus Features

In Bruges (2008)

Director: Martin McDonagh IMDb user rating: 7.9 Metascore: 67 Runtime: 107 minutes

In this comedy-drama thriller, assassins Ray (Colin Farrell) and Ken (Brendan Gleeson) travel to Bruges in Belgium around Christmastime to hide after a failed assassination. Ray, filled with guilt about the botched first job for his crime boss, wants to leave Bruges, while Ken views the trip as a mini-vacation.

The film treats viewers to picturesque locations in Bruges, including the Market Square and Belfry (which appears on UNESCO's World Heritage list) and Relais Bourgondisch Cruyce, the boutique hotel where the killers stay. The film received several awards, including a BAFTA Award for Best Original Screenplay.

Hughes Entertainment

National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation (1989)

Director: Jeremiah S. Chechik IMDb user rating: 7.5 Metascore: 49 Runtime: 97 minutes

In this slapstick comedy film, everything seems to go awry for the Griswold family as they prepare for their holiday celebration. Clark Griswold (Chevy Chase) is determined to have a fun, traditional family Christmas with his wife Ellen (Beverly D'Angelo) and two kids, but having both sets of inlaws and Clark's grumpy uncle and nutty aunt complicate things.

With floors collapsing, ladders falling, and a moment in which Clark must swerve the car to avoid a collision with a snowplow and an epic sledding scene super-powered by an experimental "non-caloric silicon-based kitchen lubricant," viewers will enjoy more than a few chuckles. Scenes of the Griswold home were filmed in Los Angeles , with most outdoor scenes filmed in Breckenridge, Colorado.

Planes, Trains & Automobiles (1987)

Director: John Hughes IMDb user rating: 7.6 Metascore: 72 Runtime: 93 minutes

In this comedy flick, easily frustrated Neal Page (Steve Martin) is trying to get home to Chicago to spend Thanksgiving with his wife Susan (Laila Robins) and kids. But of course, everything that can go wrong does.

The heavy snow in Chicago causes Neal's flight to get rerouted to a city in Kansas . With the hotels already booked, he has no choice but to share a room with Del Griffith (John Candy), the friendly, easy-going, quirky traveling salesman. The two go on adventures while viewers get treated to homey small-town locations, including the classic gazebo in the middle of the square.

Castle Rock Entertainment

The Polar Express (2004)

Director: Robert Zemeckis IMDb user rating: 6.6 Metascore : 61 Runtime: 100 minutes

In this animated film based on the bestselling book by Chris Van Allsburg, a young boy goes on an adventurous trip, leaving on Christmas Eve. The boy travels via train from his hometown of Grand Rapids , Michigan, to the North Pole. Along with other children, he is treated to a literal song and dance by the servers and chefs, which ends with a steaming cup of hot chocolate; sights of the otherworldly northern lights shimmering high above; and, of course, a majestic North Pole.

Once the train stops, the conductor informs the children about the elves gathered in the magical city and how Santa awaits them to give them gifts. Grand gestures notwithstanding the film's message—that true Christmas lies in one's heart—is one that will leave viewers reaching for their loved ones.

Get the Bounce app

Instantly find locations nearby to drop off your luggage wherever you go.

• My Quiz Activity
• Newsletters
• Sports Betting
• MY FAVORITES
• Add Sports/Teams
• Arizona Cardinals
• Atlanta Falcons
• Baltimore Ravens
• Buffalo Bills
• Carolina Panthers
• Chicago Bears
• Cincinnati Bengals
• Cleveland Browns
• Dallas Cowboys
• Denver Broncos
• Detroit Lions
• Green Bay Packers
• Houston Texans
• Indianapolis Colts
• Jacksonville Jaguars
• Kansas City Chiefs
• Las Vegas Raiders
• Los Angeles Chargers
• Los Angeles Rams
• Miami Dolphins
• Minnesota Vikings
• New England Patriots
• New Orleans Saints
• New York Jets
• New York Giants
• Philadelphia Eagles
• Pittsburgh Steelers
• San Francisco 49ers
• Seattle Seahawks
• Tampa Bay Buccaneers
• Tennessee Titans
• Washington Commanders
• Arizona Diamondbacks
• Atlanta Braves
• Baltimore Orioles
• Boston Red Sox
• Chicago White Sox
• Chicago Cubs
• Cincinnati Reds
• Cleveland Guardians
• Colorado Rockies
• Detroit Tigers
• Houston Astros
• Kansas City Royals
• Los Angeles Angels
• Los Angeles Dodgers
• Miami Marlins
• Milwaukee Brewers
• Minnesota Twins
• New York Yankees
• New York Mets
• Oakland Athletics
• Philadelphia Phillies
• Pittsburgh Pirates
• San Diego Padres
• San Francisco Giants
• Seattle Mariners
• St. Louis Cardinals
• Tampa Bay Rays
• Texas Rangers
• Toronto Blue Jays
• Washington Nationals
• Atlanta Hawks
• Boston Celtics
• Brooklyn Nets
• Charlotte Hornets
• Chicago Bulls
• Cleveland Cavaliers
• Dallas Mavericks
• Denver Nuggets
• Detroit Pistons
• Golden State Warriors
• Houston Rockets
• Indiana Pacers
• Los Angeles Clippers
• Los Angeles Lakers
• Memphis Grizzlies
• Milwaukee Bucks
• Minnesota Timberwolves
• New Orleans Pelicans
• New York Knicks
• Oklahoma City Thunder
• Orlando Magic
• Philadelphia 76ers
• Phoenix Suns
• Portland Trail Blazers
• Sacramento Kings
• San Antonio Spurs
• Toronto Raptors
• Washington Wizards
• Anaheim Ducks
• Arizona Coyotes
• Boston Bruins
• Buffalo Sabres
• Calgary Flames
• Carolina Hurricanes
• Chicago Blackhawks
• Colorado Avalanche
• Columbus Blue Jackets
• Dallas Stars
• Detroit Red Wings
• Edmonton Oilers
• Florida Panthers
• Los Angeles Kings
• Minnesota Wild
• Montreal Canadiens
• Nashville Predators
• New Jersey Devils
• New York Islanders
• New York Rangers
• Ottawa Senators
• Philadelphia Flyers
• Pittsburgh Penguins
• San Jose Sharks
• Seattle Kraken
• St. Louis Blues
• Tampa Bay Lightning
• Toronto Maple Leafs
• Vancouver Canucks
• Vegas Golden Knights
• Washington Capitals
• Winnipeg Jets
• Entertainment Home
• Lifestyle Home
• More Sports
• YB on Facebook
• YB on Twitter
• YB on Flipboard
• Privacy Policy
• Terms of Service
• College Basketball
• College Football
• Entertainment
• Formula One
• Horse Racing
• Motor Sports
• Premier League
• Sports Business
• Track and Field
• More Sports ▸

Entertainment News

5 of the best holiday travel movies

Buena Vista // Getty Images

Whether you're returning to the town you grew up in, visiting family across the country, or driving down the street to a friend's house, traveling tends to be a key part of the November and December holidays across the U.S.

In 2023, AAA estimated 55.4 million people would travel 50 miles or more from home during Thanksgiving week, making it the third-highest forecast since the company began tracking holiday travel in 2000. While a vast majority of holiday travelers tend to drive (nearly 89%), about 8% take to the friendly skies, and some, according to the Bureau of Transportation Statistics, even bike or take electric scooters .

The holiday travel experience is so universal that it tends to be a plot point of many beloved holiday movies, from Kris Kringle getting around via reindeer and sleigh in the 1970 stop-motion classic "Santa Claus Is Comin' to Town" to the McCallisters (sans Kevin) running through the airport to make their flight to Paris in 1990's "Home Alone."

To celebrate Hollywood's take on holiday travel, Airalo researched holiday travel films and curated a list of five of the best. To make the list, each film had to be set during the holiday season, involve significant plot points around traveling, and have at least a 6.5 user rating on IMDb .

In the hopes of encouraging some new viewing this holiday season, you'll notice this list doesn't include some classic Christmas travel scenes, like the aforementioned airport sprint in "Home Alone," the Griswolds' harrowing drive to chop down a tree in "National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation," or Elizabeth's unforgettable trip to her fictitious farm in "Christmas in Connecticut." The movies included are a diverse list in genre, style, and popularity, from a classic John Hughes comedy to a star-studded '40s film, and a Nancy Meyers rom-com to an animated take on a beloved holiday book.

Read on to find a cinematic holiday travel tale that could inspire your next movie night.

Paramount // Getty Images

Planes, trains and automobiles (1987).

- Director: John Hughes - IMDb user rating: 7.6 - Metascore: 72 - Runtime: 93 minutes - Release date: Nov. 25, 1987

In the 1980s and early '90s, writer and director John Hughes was known for two things: helping to launch the careers of the Brat Pack (particularly Emilio Estevez, Anthony Michael Hall, Andrew McCarthy, Judd Nelson, Molly Ringwald, and Ally Sheedy) via movies like "Sixteen Candles," "Pretty in Pink," and "The Breakfast Club"; and family-friendly holiday movies a la "Home Alone" and "National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation." Of course, those two movies are already likely on your must-watch holiday movie list, but 1987's "Planes, Trains and Automobiles," a Thanksgiving travel tale, is heralded less often.

The comedy stars frequent Hughes collaborator John Candy as Del, a chatty shower curtain ring salesman who becomes an unexpected travel companion to high-strung advertising executive Neal (Steve Martin) after their flight from New York to Chicago gets rerouted to Wichita, Kansas, due to a blizzard. As the title suggests, their misadventures trying to make it home in time for Thanksgiving dinner involve almost every kind of mode of transportation: cabs, trains, rental cars, semitrucks, and even Chicago's L train.

If you want to feel better about your two-hour flight delay, stream "Planes, Trains and Automobiles" on Paramount+, DirecTV, and Pluto TV, or rent it on a wide range of platforms, from Google Play to Redbox. And don't forget to save some tissues for the ending!

While You Were Sleeping (1995)

- Director: Jon Turteltaub - IMDb user rating: 6.8 - Metascore: 67 - Runtime: 103 minutes - Release date: April 21, 1995

In between her breakthrough performance in 1994's action thriller "Speed" and the 1996 adaptation of John Grisham's "A Time to Kill," actor Sandra Bullock starred in an often-forgotten Christmas rom-com that centers a Chicago L train token collector named Lucy.

A hopeless romantic, Lucy finds herself pining over businessman Peter Callaghan (Peter Gallagher) whom she sees on his daily commute. On Christmas Day, he gets mugged on the platform and the assailant pushes him onto the tracks. To save him from an oncoming train, Lucy jumps down onto the tracks and pulls him to safety. But when she accompanies Peter to the hospital, where he's in a coma, she soon finds herself in quite the tangled web and tells his family that she's his fiancée.

The romantic comedy may not involve road trips or air travel for the holidays, but it does capture the unique feeling of being in a crowded city (or train car) during the so-called "most wonderful time of year" and still feeling very lonely. Spoiler alert though, there is a very happy train moment at the end of "While You Were Sleeping," which is available to stream on Disney+ and Paramount+.

Kevin Winter // Getty Images

The polar express (2004).

- Director: Robert Zemeckis - IMDb user rating: 6.6 - Metascore: 61 - Runtime: 100 minutes - Release date: Nov. 10, 2004

While "Planes, Trains and Automobiles" may depict the horrors of holiday travel, on the opposite end of the spectrum is "The Polar Express," an adventure fantasy movie that makes train travel seem magical. The film was groundbreaking in its sole use of performance capture technology, a combination of live action and motion capture computer animation.

"The Polar Express" begins on Christmas Eve sometime in the mid-20th century and centers on the titular train that takes children to the North Pole to see Santa himself, including those who may be skeptical about his existence. The movie, which is based on Chris Van Allsburg's 1985 children's book of the same name, features the voices of Tom Hanks, Daryl Sabara, Peter Scolari, and Nona Gaye, to name a few.

If you want to dream of a holiday train ride filled with dancing waiters serving hot chocolate, you can stream "The Polar Express" on Hulu and Max.

Evan Agostini // Getty Images

The holiday (2006).

- Director: Nancy Meyers - IMDb user rating: 6.9 - Metascore: 52 - Runtime: 136 minutes - Release date: Dec. 8, 2006

Nancy Meyers is undoubtedly romantic-comedy royalty and when you add the winter holidays into the mix, you get one of the coziest films of the 21st century. Her aptly-titled movie "The Holiday" is a quintessential Christmas rom-com, with some revolutionary travel mixed in.

After experiencing respective heartbreaks 6,000 miles away from one another, strangers Amanda Woods (a high-powered movie trailer producer in Los Angeles played by Cameron Diaz) and Iris Simpkins (a newspaper columnist in London played by Kate Winslet) find themselves searching for some new scenery. They wind up on a home exchange site, pre-Airbnb days, and decide to swap houses for the holidays.

In their new settings—a luxurious home in California for Iris and a quaint cottage in the English countryside for Amanda—they meet some new romantic interests: Amanda connects with Iris' brother, Graham (Jude Law) and Iris crosses paths with Amanda's frequent collaborator, composer Miles (Jack Black). To add to the charm of "The Holiday," Graham has two adorable daughters and Iris meets Amanda's neighbor, who's a Golden Age of Hollywood screenwriter played by real-life film icon Eli Wallach.

If you want to laugh, cry, and perhaps be inspired to travel and trade lives with a stranger this holiday season, check out "The Holiday," available to stream on Fubo, AMC+, Starz, and DirecTV.

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer // Getty Images

3 godfathers (1948).

- Director: John Ford - IMDb user rating: 7.0 - Metascore: 82 - Runtime: 106 minutes - Release date: Dec. 1, 1948

Oscar-winning director John Ford directed this big-screen adaptation of Peter B. Kyne's 1913 similarly named short novel. The movie follows three men (played by John Wayne, Pedro Armendáriz, and Harry Carey Jr.) who rob an Arizona bank at Christmastime and unexpectedly become godfathers to a newborn baby while on the run. Though most of us don't travel like the three godfathers today—they make their way via horseback—it is how one would've gotten around during Christmas in the Old West.

"3 Godfathers" may not be your typical holiday movie, but many consider it to be an American Western retelling of the story of the Three Wise Men, a fixture of many Christmas nativity scenes and traditions. To catch the movie this season, you can rent it on many platforms, including AppleTV, YouTube, and Amazon Prime.

Data reporting by Luke Hicks. Story editing by Carren Jao. Copy editing by Tim Bruns. Photo selection by Clarese Moller.

This story originally appeared on Airalo and was produced and distributed in partnership with Stacker Studio.

This article first appeared on Stacker and was syndicated with permission.

More must-reads:

• 23 films from the 1970s that still hold up

Trending in Entertainment

Customize your newsletter.

Get the latest news and rumors, customized to your favorite sports and teams. Emailed daily. Always free!

• Contest Rules
• Game Of The Week
• All Jacktivities
• Featured Jacktivities
• Send Us Your Jacktivity!
• Advertise Now
• Advertise With Us

5 of the best holiday travel movies

Whether you’re returning to the town you grew up in, visiting family across the country, or driving down the street to a friend’s house, traveling tends to be a key part of the November and December holidays across the U.S.

In 2023, AAA estimated 55.4 million people would travel 50 miles or more from home during Thanksgiving week, making it the third-highest forecast since the company began tracking holiday travel in 2000. While a vast majority of holiday travelers tend to drive (nearly 89%), about 8% take to the friendly skies, and some, according to the Bureau of Transportation Statistics, even bike or take electric scooters .

The holiday travel experience is so universal that it tends to be a plot point of many beloved holiday movies, from Kris Kringle getting around via reindeer and sleigh in the 1970 stop-motion classic “Santa Claus Is Comin’ to Town” to the McCallisters (sans Kevin) running through the airport to make their flight to Paris in 1990’s “Home Alone.”

To celebrate Hollywood’s take on holiday travel, Airalo researched holiday travel films and curated a list of five of the best. To make the list, each film had to be set during the holiday season, involve significant plot points around traveling, and have at least a 6.5 user rating on IMDb .

In the hopes of encouraging some new viewing this holiday season, you’ll notice this list doesn’t include some classic Christmas travel scenes, like the aforementioned airport sprint in “Home Alone,” the Griswolds’ harrowing drive to chop down a tree in “National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation,” or Elizabeth’s unforgettable trip to her fictitious farm in “Christmas in Connecticut.” The movies included are a diverse list in genre, style, and popularity, from a classic John Hughes comedy to a star-studded ’40s film, and a Nancy Meyers rom-com to an animated take on a beloved holiday book.

Read on to find a cinematic holiday travel tale that could inspire your next movie night.

Planes, Trains and Automobiles (1987)

– Director: John Hughes – IMDb user rating: 7.6 – Metascore: 72 – Runtime: 93 minutes – Release date: Nov. 25, 1987

In the 1980s and early ’90s, writer and director John Hughes was known for two things: helping to launch the careers of the Brat Pack (particularly Emilio Estevez, Anthony Michael Hall, Andrew McCarthy, Judd Nelson, Molly Ringwald, and Ally Sheedy) via movies like “Sixteen Candles,” “Pretty in Pink,” and “The Breakfast Club”; and family-friendly holiday movies a la “Home Alone” and “National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation.” Of course, those two movies are already likely on your must-watch holiday movie list, but 1987’s “Planes, Trains and Automobiles,” a Thanksgiving travel tale, is heralded less often.

The comedy stars frequent Hughes collaborator John Candy as Del, a chatty shower curtain ring salesman who becomes an unexpected travel companion to high-strung advertising executive Neal (Steve Martin) after their flight from New York to Chicago gets rerouted to Wichita, Kansas, due to a blizzard. As the title suggests, their misadventures trying to make it home in time for Thanksgiving dinner involve almost every kind of mode of transportation: cabs, trains, rental cars, semitrucks, and even Chicago’s L train.

If you want to feel better about your two-hour flight delay, stream “Planes, Trains and Automobiles” on Paramount+, DirecTV, and Pluto TV, or rent it on a wide range of platforms, from Google Play to Redbox. And don’t forget to save some tissues for the ending!

While You Were Sleeping (1995)

– Director: Jon Turteltaub – IMDb user rating: 6.8 – Metascore: 67 – Runtime: 103 minutes – Release date: April 21, 1995

In between her breakthrough performance in 1994’s action thriller “Speed” and the 1996 adaptation of John Grisham’s “A Time to Kill,” actor Sandra Bullock starred in an often-forgotten Christmas rom-com that centers a Chicago L train token collector named Lucy.

A hopeless romantic, Lucy finds herself pining over businessman Peter Callaghan (Peter Gallagher) whom she sees on his daily commute. On Christmas Day, he gets mugged on the platform and the assailant pushes him onto the tracks. To save him from an oncoming train, Lucy jumps down onto the tracks and pulls him to safety. But when she accompanies Peter to the hospital, where he’s in a coma, she soon finds herself in quite the tangled web and tells his family that she’s his fiancée.

The romantic comedy may not involve road trips or air travel for the holidays, but it does capture the unique feeling of being in a crowded city (or train car) during the so-called “most wonderful time of year” and still feeling very lonely. Spoiler alert though, there is a very happy train moment at the end of “While You Were Sleeping,” which is available to stream on Disney+ and Paramount+.

The Polar Express (2004)

– Director: Robert Zemeckis – IMDb user rating: 6.6 – Metascore: 61 – Runtime: 100 minutes – Release date: Nov. 10, 2004

While “Planes, Trains and Automobiles” may depict the horrors of holiday travel, on the opposite end of the spectrum is “The Polar Express,” an adventure fantasy movie that makes train travel seem magical. The film was groundbreaking in its sole use of performance capture technology, a combination of live action and motion capture computer animation.

“The Polar Express” begins on Christmas Eve sometime in the mid-20th century and centers on the titular train that takes children to the North Pole to see Santa himself, including those who may be skeptical about his existence. The movie, which is based on Chris Van Allsburg’s 1985 children’s book of the same name, features the voices of Tom Hanks, Daryl Sabara, Peter Scolari, and Nona Gaye, to name a few.

If you want to dream of a holiday train ride filled with dancing waiters serving hot chocolate, you can stream “The Polar Express” on Hulu and Max.

The Holiday (2006)

– Director: Nancy Meyers – IMDb user rating: 6.9 – Metascore: 52 – Runtime: 136 minutes – Release date: Dec. 8, 2006

Nancy Meyers is undoubtedly romantic-comedy royalty and when you add the winter holidays into the mix, you get one of the coziest films of the 21st century. Her aptly-titled movie “The Holiday” is a quintessential Christmas rom-com, with some revolutionary travel mixed in.

After experiencing respective heartbreaks 6,000 miles away from one another, strangers Amanda Woods (a high-powered movie trailer producer in Los Angeles played by Cameron Diaz) and Iris Simpkins (a newspaper columnist in London played by Kate Winslet) find themselves searching for some new scenery. They wind up on a home exchange site, pre-Airbnb days, and decide to swap houses for the holidays.

In their new settings—a luxurious home in California for Iris and a quaint cottage in the English countryside for Amanda—they meet some new romantic interests: Amanda connects with Iris’ brother, Graham (Jude Law) and Iris crosses paths with Amanda’s frequent collaborator, composer Miles (Jack Black). To add to the charm of “The Holiday,” Graham has two adorable daughters and Iris meets Amanda’s neighbor, who’s a Golden Age of Hollywood screenwriter played by real-life film icon Eli Wallach.

If you want to laugh, cry, and perhaps be inspired to travel and trade lives with a stranger this holiday season, check out “The Holiday,” available to stream on Fubo, AMC+, Starz, and DirecTV.

3 Godfathers (1948)

– Director: John Ford – IMDb user rating: 7.0 – Metascore: 82 – Runtime: 106 minutes – Release date: Dec. 1, 1948

Oscar-winning director John Ford directed this big-screen adaptation of Peter B. Kyne’s 1913 similarly named short novel. The movie follows three men (played by John Wayne, Pedro Armendáriz, and Harry Carey Jr.) who rob an Arizona bank at Christmastime and unexpectedly become godfathers to a newborn baby while on the run. Though most of us don’t travel like the three godfathers today—they make their way via horseback—it is how one would’ve gotten around during Christmas in the Old West.

“3 Godfathers” may not be your typical holiday movie, but many consider it to be an American Western retelling of the story of the Three Wise Men, a fixture of many Christmas nativity scenes and traditions. To catch the movie this season, you can rent it on many platforms, including AppleTV, YouTube, and Amazon Prime.

Data reporting by Luke Hicks. Story editing by Carren Jao. Copy editing by Tim Bruns. Photo selection by Clarese Moller.

This story originally appeared on Airalo and was produced and distributed in partnership with Stacker Studio.

Provided by Stacker

Recently Played

• Flight + Hotel
• Things to Do

The 5 best holiday travel movies ever

Not on the list.

Sign up to get the best travel deals of the week from Orbitz, just like that!

By Steve Dollar

What do people do after ingesting a massive holiday dinner with assorted friends and relatives, many of whom have traveled thousands of miles through crowded highways and airports to spend a few hours communing with their loved ones?

As many Americans will do Thursday when they celebrate Thanksgiving, they’ll kick back and watch a movie (before or after the various Major Sporting Events of the day). And there’s a good chance the movie will boast a holiday theme, since it’s one thing everyone can relate to. For all the hearty folks heading from here to there during the next few weeks, here’s our Top 5 movies for holiday travelers.

Planes, Trains and Automobiles

Everything that can go wrong will go wrong in this classic John Hughes comedy. An ode to roadbound misadventure, it stars Steve Martin at his flappable best as an uptight advertising executive. Absurdly cheerful goofus John Candy is his catastrophic companion, a shower-curtain-ring salesman who derails him on a zig-zagging journey home from New York to Chicago by way of…Wichita? While taking every mode of transport at hand, each man discovers that the other isn’t exactly who they seem to be. When wheels fail them, an unexpected friendship prevails.

Scent of a Woman

Al Pacino won an Oscar for his hammiest of roles, playing a blind, drunk, ex-military crank who takes the prep school kid (Chris O’Donnell) hired to babysit him over Thanksgiving on a whirlwind trip to New York City. The boy’s jaw drops as Pacino’s stubborn crustbucket turns into a connoisseur of the good life, sweeping young women across dance floors, gunning a test-drive Ferrari through the city streets and regaling him with whiskey-fueled tall tales. Just when they’re having fun, he starts waving a gun around, threatening suicide. Anyone watching this will be grateful for a quiet Turkey Day with their boring family.

The Big Chill

The title of Lawrence Kasdan’s ensemble dramedy doesn’t allude to the sudden crisping of the autumn breeze but the icy fingers of mortality, felt among a group of 30-something college friends who reunite in Beaufort, S.C. to bury one of their own. Camped out over Thanksgiving amid the coastal splendor and moss-laden oaks of the Low Country, some of America’s finest actors (Kevin Kline, Glenn Close, William Hurt, Jeff Goldblum) get stoned, fool around, spill secrets and bond like crazy to a non-stop soundtrack of Motown classics.

The Sure Thing

Jocular freshman “Gib” Gibson (John Cusack) meets awkward with prim bookworm Alison Bradbury (Daphne Zuniga) in this update of the classic screwball comedy It Happened One Night (written and directed by Rob Reiner, fresh off This is Spinal Tap) . Polar opposites, the East Coast college kids spar and squabble when they’re thrown together on a haywire cross-country trip to California, where they hope to spend Christmas break. Gib’s got a “sure thing” (beach bunny and future Desperate Housewives hussy Nicolette Sheridan); Alison has a boring yuppie fiance. After much interstate misery, they hitchhike their way into each other’s arms.

Tagged: Uncategorized

Note: Orbitz compensates authors for their writings appearing on this site.

• Latest Posts

Steve Dollar

Latest posts by steve dollar ( see all ).

• A hoodoo-heavy New Orleans music fest - October 2, 2013
• In Austin, it’s tacos for breakfast - July 18, 2013
• 7 Austin food trucks you must try now - June 2, 2013

Related Posts

No related articles.

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

Check this box to add yourself to our email list.

Get exclusive deals on your mobile device

The best films to watch if you can't go home for the holidays this year

• The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) strongly urges Americans to stay home this Thanksgiving and celebrate with the people they live with.
• From packed airports, snowstorms, canceled trips, never-ending traffic, and family squabbles, let these films remind you that maybe staying home isn't the worst idea.
• Neal Page lives through a terrible two-day odyssey to get home in "Planes, Trains, and Automobiles."
• The McCallister family experiences every parent's worst nightmare upon landing in Paris in "Home Alone."
• Visit Insider's homepage for more stories .

The coronavirus pandemic has put a huge damper on 2020, and for many, this has become even more apparent as the holidays approach and people choose to stay home instead of visiting family.

But really, maybe skipping holiday travel is not so bad: Remember endless lines, packed airports, snowstorms, canceled trips, and never-ending traffic?

And what often awaits on the other end? Endless cooking, overeating, and family squabbles.

Keep scrolling for some of the best holiday movies to watch if you can't go home for the holidays this year, and let their stresses remind you that maybe staying home isn't so bad after all.

As depicted in "Four Christmases," canceled flights are unfortunately a holiday travel staple.

Every year, happily unmarried couple Brad (Vince Vaughn) and Kate (Reese Witherspoon) take an exotic trip designed specifically to avoid their divorced parents and dysfunctional families. This year, while already at the airport, their flight is canceled, and they must endure four stressful family get-togethers in one single day.

How to watch: Rent on Amazon from $2.99

Thanks to a blizzard that diverts his flight, Neal Page in "Planes, Trains, and Automobiles" lives through a terrible two-day odyssey to get home.

Uptight marketing executive Neal Page (Steve Martin) is desperate to get home to Chicago for Thanksgiving after a business trip to New York. When his flight is diverted to Kansas due to a snowstorm, he decides to do whatever it takes to get home — and it takes a lot, from getting on a train and a bus to renting a car. Throughout the two-day series of misadventures, he's involuntarily accompanied by Del Griffith (John Candy), an annoying but lovable shower curtain ring salesman he can't seem to shake.

How to watch: Rent on Amazon from $3.99 or with AMC

The McCallister family experiences every parent's worst nightmare upon landing in Paris in "Home Alone."

In this holiday classic, an extended family of 15 jets off to Paris for the holidays, but accidentally leaves their 8-year-old son behind (Macaulay Culkin).

Said son must then protect the family home from burglars, booby-trapping the place to hilarious results.

How to watch:  Rent on  Amazon  from $3.99 or on  Disney+

Kevin is having a grand time in New York City, but his family is once again living through a nightmare without him in "Home Alone 2: Lost in New York."

One year after having been left at home for the holidays, somehow, yet again, Kevin McCallister (Macaulay Culkin) gets separated from his family when he accidentally boards a plane to New York City while his family jets off to Miami.

Undeterred, he makes the best of the situation by living it up in the Big Apple, from staying at the Plaza to exploring Central Park and Rockefeller Center. However, he encounters the two burglars he foiled the previous Christmas, and this year must stop them from robbing a toy store.

How to watch:  Rent on Amazon from $3.99 or on Disney+

In "Last Holiday," Georgia Byrd would rather spend her potential last holiday season alone, far from home, than be with friends and family.

When Georgia Byrd (Queen Latifah) is told that she only has a few weeks left to live due to a terminal brain disease, she decides to turn the quiet, constrained life she's been living to date on its head. She takes her life savings and travels to Europe over the holidays where she lives it up, enchanting everyone she crosses paths with her joie-de-vivre.

How to watch: Rent on Amazon from $2.99 or on Peacock

In "I'll Be Home For Christmas," Jake's father has to literally bribe him to come home for the holidays, and his ensuing trip is stressful, to say the least.

"I'll Be Home For Christmas" follows the disastrous trip college student Jake (Jonathan Taylor Thomas) makes from Los Angeles, where he's in school, to his hometown in New York.

He hasn't been home for the holiday since his mother died and his father remarried in less than a year, but when his dad promises to gift him his vintage Porsche if he makes it in time for Christmas dinner, the race is on. Too bad a nemesis sabotages him, making the trip unnecessarily difficult.

How to watch: Rent on Amazon from $2.99 or on Disney+

Claudia Larson would have preferred to avoid her dysfunctional clan in "Home for the Holidays."

Claudia Larson (Holly Hunter), has had a rough time. The single mom is fired from her job, made out with her boss, and her only teenage daughter announces that she's not only having Thanksgiving with her boyfriend's family, but she also plans on sleeping with him for the first time.

Dejected, Larson flies home from Chicago to Baltimore to spend Thanksgiving with her eccentric, dysfunctional extended family. Luckily, things start to look up when her brother brings a handsome friend.

How to watch: Rent on Amazon from $2.99.

"National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation" will remind you just how stressful trying to put together the perfect holiday can actually be.

All Clark Griswold (Chevy Chase) wants is to have the perfect Christmas for his family — but literally everything goes wrong, from the decorations to the meal to some unexpected, boorish family members showing up unannounced.

Skipping Christmas and all the stress and spending it entails in lieu of a cruise as in "Christmas with the Kranks" seems like a savvy idea.

When their daughter decides not to come home for the holidays for the first time, the usually Christmas-obsessed Kranks (Tim Allen and Jamie Lee Curtis) decide to skip it altogether in favor of a 10-day tropical cruise, alienating them from their holiday-happy neighbors who try to bully them into the Christmas spirit.

When their daughter shows up after all, they scramble to put together a last-minute Christmas.

• 20 movies that will transport you to another place right now
• A couple travels around the world to perfectly re-create movie and TV scenes
• 20 of the best Thanksgiving movies of all time, ranked

In "The Holiday," Iris and Amanda would rather spend their holidays alone than with family and friends, but it worked out for everyone.

Two women, single and depressed around the holidays, decide to trade homes over Christmas, not realizing that their lives couldn't be more different.

Newspaper columnist Iris (Kate Winslet) ends up in a modern Hollywood mansion, while movie trailer producer Amanda (Cameron Diaz) finds herself in a picturesque little cottage in the English countryside. One thing they do have in common? Getting their spirits lifted by the local men they meet.

• Main content

15 Movies That Will Inspire You to Travel

Posted: March 6, 2024 | Last updated: March 6, 2024

Adrien Brody, Owen Wilson, and Jason Schwartzman play brothers on a train trip through India in Wes Anderson’s The Darjeeling Limited (2007).

Courtesy of Fox Searchlight

It’s a hard truth to accept: You can’t constantly be on vacation, jetting off to far-flung lands all the time. Thankfully, it’s easier than ever to virtually transport yourself through the many streaming services available these days.

To help bridge the gap until your next adventure—or to get the juices flowing if you don’t know where to go next—we pulled together some recommendations from our staff for the best movies that had us searching for flights as soon as the credits rolled. Hopefully, they’ll inspire you to travel, too.

“Aftersun” (2022)

• Watch now: Apple TV ($4), Google Play ($5), Paramount+ (free with Showtime subscription)
• Genre: Drama

Vacation nostalgia cuts deep in this coming-of-age film. Now an adult, Sophie reflects back on a holiday she took with her father—a single dad played by Paul Mescal—20 years earlier at a Turkish resort. This film earned Mescal an Oscar nomination for best actor, and rightfully so. You’ll never listen to David Bowie and Queen’s “Under Pressure” the same way again after watching him dance to it at the resort on the final night of their trip.

“The Darjeeling Limited” (2007)

• Watch now: Amazon Prime Video ($4), Apple TV ($4), Google Play ($4)
• Genre: Adventure

Set in India, this Wes Anderson flick has all the romanticism of a bygone era of travel—with the opulent train cars, adventures, and misadventures (including acquiring poisonous snakes at a local market, falling in love with train attendants, and joining a sacred Indian funeral). It will make you believe in the transformative and thrilling experience of just moving through a place, taking it in, and letting that movement heal you.

“Amélie” (2001)

• Genre: Romance/Comedy

This whimsical comedy about a Parisian waitress (and set to an enchanting Yann Tiersen soundtrack ) will make you want to move to Montmartre and spend your days skipping stones on the Canal Saint-Martin. As Amélie (Audrey Tautou) makes her way through Paris, nudging her neighbors and family toward their own happiness, she finds love along the way, too.

>> See more: The 15 Best Movies Set in Paris You Can Stream Right Now

“Seven Wonders of the World” (1956)

• Watch now: Kanopy (free with a public library card or university login)

Around the World in 80 Days (with David Niven as Phileas Fogg) wasn’t the only great travel movie to come out in 1956: The Cinerama epic Seven Wonders of the World , starring Lowell Thomas as the mellifluous guide to Rio de Janeiro, Athens, New York, and more, also made its debut that year. Unseen theatrically since the early 1970s, this digitally remastered version from its original camera negatives is now available on Kanopy, an on-demand streaming video platform for public and academic libraries.

“Y Tu Mamá También” (2001)

• Watch now: Amazon Prime Video (free with AMC+ subscription), Apple TV ($4), Google Play ($4)

Two teen boys (played by Diego Luna and Gael García Bernal) convince an older woman (Maribel Verdú) to join them on an impromptu road trip to a mystical Mexican beach. The fictitious Boca del Cielo (“Heaven’s Mouth”) was filmed at Oaxaca’s Bahia Cacaluta, which is as remote and untouched as the movie makes it seem. (To access it, you either have to hike in or take a boat.) If you want to see more of Mexico through the point of view of writer-director Alfonso Cuarón, his 2018 film Roma is loosely based on his 1970s middle-class upbringing in Mexico City.

“Sideways” (2004)

• Genre: Comedy

A wine geek and his philandering friend mix pinot noir and midlife malaise on a road trip through California’s Santa Ynez Valley wine country near Santa Barbara. After this now-classic movie debuted, tourism in the region boomed and pinot producers multiplied. If you go, stay at the Inn at Mattei’s Tavern, Auberge Resorts Collection , which opened in 2023 in a converted stagecoach stop and tavern.

“The Descendants” (2011)

• Watch now: Amazon Prime Video ($4), Apple TV ($4), Google Play ($4), Peacock (free with a subscription)

If you’ve only ever been to the Hawaiian islands of O‘ahu or Maui, The Descendants will inspire you to travel deeper. Shots of Kaua‘i’s raw, jagged cliffs and almost acid-green vegetation are bound to mesmerize you. If you go, make time to hike the Kalalau Trail and have kalua pork at Tahiti Nui , a legendary spot for live music and mai tais in Hanalei, which is featured in the film.

“All About My Mother” (1999)

An Oscar-winning film by Pedro Almodóvar, All About My Mother is a vibrant portrayal of women in Barcelona and beautifully captures the attitude of the Spanish city. Just try watching it and not immediately book a flight to go see every Gaudí site and eat as much tortilla española as possible.

“The Endless Summer” (1966)

• Watch now: Amazon Prime Video (free with subscription), Apple TV ($4)
• Genre: Documentary

This 1966 documentary that follows two California surfers on a trip to catch waves around the world will tap into your surfer-girl (or boy) fantasies. In fact, after watching it, one former AFAR editor, Jen Murphy, signed up for a week-long surf camp on the North Shore of Hawai‘i.

“Roman Holiday” (1953)

• Watch now: Amazon Prime Video ($4), Apple TV ($4), Kanopy (free with a public library card or university login), Paramount+ (free with subscription)

In her major debut U.S. performance, Audrey Hepburn shines as Ann, a sheltered princess who falls for a rakish newspaperman, Joe Bradley, while on a tour of Europe’s capital cities. Drama ensues when Joe (played by Gregory Peck) realizes he can profit financially by becoming close with the princess and enlists his photographer friend to take photos of them to sell to tabloids. Come for the sparkle between the costars, and stay for the dizzying shots of Rome: Although the film was shot on location, doing so meant a greater expense than anticipated—so the film ended up in black and white instead of color. >> See more: 12 Movies Set in Rome to Stream Right Now

“Tracks” (2013)

• Watch now: Amazon Prime Video (free with subscription), Apple TV ($4), Google Play ($2)

Based on the true story of Robyn Davidson’s 1,700-mile camel ride through the Australian desert, Tracks will help you pluck up the courage for any adventure you can think of. Davidson, played by Mia Wasikowska, sets a course from Alice Springs, in the Northern Territory, to the Indian Ocean, and along the way meets National Geographic photographer Rick Smolan (Adam Driver) and engages with local Aboriginal people, during which she learns about sacred customs and ancient traditions. While you may not want to undertake the trip in quite the same way—with four dromedaries and a dog—the Outback setting will certainly draw you in.

“Before Sunrise” (1995)

• Genre: Romance/Drama

Cinematic proof that love can pop up anywhere. By the final Vienna train station scene, you’ll be rooting for Jesse (Ethan Hawke) and Céline (Julie Delpy) even if they’ve only known each other for one day. The film is actually part of a trilogy: Before Sunset (2004) and Before Midnight (2013) follow the pair into the future as they reconnect in Paris nine years later and go on vacation in Greece with their children, respectively.

“Lost in Translation” (2003)

Written and directed by Sofia Coppola, Lost in Translation walks a line between comedy and drama, light and dark. With bustling Tokyo as its backdrop, the film stars Scarlett Johansson as Charlotte, a young wife on location with her photographer husband, and Bill Murray as Bob Harris, a past-his-prime movie star bored in his own marriage. In between Bob’s commitments shooting an ad for Suntory whiskey, the two gallivant around the city, singing karaoke at Karaoke-Kan in Shibuya and eating sushi in Daikanyama. Made most famous by the film, perhaps, is the sleek, sky-high New York Bar at the Park Hyatt Tokyo . (Note that the hotel is set to close for year-long renovations in May.) Though some of the scenes around Japanese culture are dialed up for comedic effect, the film’s theme of existential ennui will ring true for most.

>> See more: 12 Movies Set in Tokyo to Stream Right Now

“Into the Wild” (2007)

• Watch now: Apple TV ($4), Google Play ($4), Paramount+ (free with subscription)

Based on the true story of Christopher McCandless, Into the Wild is about a young man who gave up his worldly possessions to hitchhike across North America and eventually live in Alaska’s wilderness. It’s a great example of how much there is to discover in our own backyards, and it also embodies the AFAR ethos of traveling to learn something new about a place, see a side you never knew about, and test your own boundaries in the process.

“The Motorcycle Diaries” (2004)

Gael García Bernal plays a young Ernesto “Che” Guevera on his iconic road trip across South America in the 1950s before he became the famous Marxist revolutionary. This movie will not only spark wanderlust but it will also light a fire under anyone seeking their life’s calling.

Lyndsey Matthews contributed reporting to this article, which originally appeared online in 2015; it was most recently updated on March 6, 2024, to include current information.

More for You

A psychology expert shares 5 toxic phrases 'highly selfish, entitled' people always use—and how to deal with them

Full List Of Republican Senators Who Voted Against Ukraine Aid

Why You Should Be Putting Aluminum Foil Behind Your Router

Baking Soda Makes a Great DIY Weed Killer—Here's How to Use It

Martin Lewis issues warning to people choosing air fryer over oven

Why the Middle Class Can’t Afford a New Car, According to Money Expert Humphrey Yang

Here's No. 1 thing mentally strong couples 'never' do, says relationship therapist of 20 years

I did 50 frog squats every day for a week — here’s what happened

Everyone laughed at Hitler in the 1920s. A century on, are we making the same mistake?

Ina Garten Eats the Same Breakfast Everyday: Toast with a Generous Schmear of This French Butter

The #1 restaurant chain in America, according to diners—and see the rest of the top 50

Tech trick: How to tell who’s calling when you don’t recognize the phone number

What It Means to Be Fraysexual—Everything You Need to Know

At 43, I’ve finally learned how to love my size 16 curves

Putin Sends Russia's Defense Minister a Warning Shot

If You See Black Residue on Your Cast-Iron Skillet, This Is What It Means

46% of divorced couples say this was the No. 1 conflict in their relationship—and it isn't money

You Are Too Old To Do These 12 Things After 55

Culver's Vs Five Guys: Which Burger Chain Is Better?

What you need to know about new overtime rule that will benefit millions

We are experiencing periods of high call volumes with longer than usual wait times. Please allow up to 24 hours for a callback during regular business hours. Save time and book online under the Tour Dates & Pricing section of your desired tour!

Travel Movies

Dreaming of your next amazing vacation? Perhaps you’re starting to feel the pull of travel once again and feel compelled to start the planning process. Planning for your travels is a great way to get excited. Plus, when you get some travel plans going and the time is right, you’ll be ready to pack your bags and hit the road!

While you’re still in the planning process, a perfect way to fuel that travel excitement is by watching a classic travel-themed movie! Maybe you’ll be inspired by a film and dream up a new destination for your list of places to visit. Here are some of our favorites that include stories of travel and finding one’s self, making lifelong friendships, new love, lost love, and bridging cultural gaps. Other themes in these films include discovering languages and places you can only dream of and the thrill of raw adventure.

Posted on May 19th, 2020 in Our Stories

Eat, Pray, Love

“Liz Gilbert (Julia Roberts) thought she had everything she wanted in life: a home, a husband and a successful career. Now newly divorced and facing a turning point, she finds that she is confused about what is important to her. Daring to step out of her comfort zone, Liz embarks on a quest of self-discovery that takes her to Italy, India and Bali.”

View the Trailer Here

Under the Tuscan Sun

“When Frances Mayes (Diane Lane) learns her husband is cheating on her from a writer whom she gave a bad review, her life is turned upside down. In an attempt to bring her out of a deep depression, her best friend, Patti (Sandra Oh), encourages Frances to take a tour of Italy. During the trip, the new divorcée impulsively decides to purchase a rural Tuscan villa and struggles to start her life anew amid colorful local characters, including the handsome Marcello (Raoul Bova).”

Lost in Translation

“A lonely, aging movie star named Bob Harris (Bill Murray) and a conflicted newlywed, Charlotte (Scarlett Johansson), meet in Tokyo. Bob is there to film a Japanese whiskey commercial; Charlotte is accompanying her celebrity-photographer husband. Strangers in a foreign land, the two find escape, distraction and understanding amidst the bright Tokyo lights after a chance meeting in the quiet lull of the hotel bar. They form a bond that is as unlikely as it is heartfelt and meaningful.”

The Motorcycle Diaries

“On a break before his last semester of medical school, Ernesto “Che” Guevara (Gael García Bernal) travels with his friend Alberto Granado (Rodrigo de la Serna) from Brazil to Peru by motorcycle. The two men soon witness the great disparities in South America, encountering poor peasants and observing the exploitation of labor by wealthy industrialists. When they reach a leper colony in Peru, Ernesto’s values have changed so much that he sides with the sufferers, forgetting his own comfort.”

The Secret Life of Walter Mitty

“Walter Mitty (Ben Stiller), an employee at Life magazine, spends day after monotonous day developing photos for the publication. To escape the tedium, Walter inhabits a world of exciting daydreams in which he is the undeniable hero. Walter fancies a fellow employee named Cheryl (Kristen Wiig) and would love to date her, but he feels unworthy. However, he gets a chance to have a real adventure when Life’s new owners send him on a mission to obtain the perfect photo for the final print issue.”

Midnight in Paris

“Gil Pender (Owen Wilson) is a screenwriter and aspiring novelist. Vacationing in Paris with his fiancee (Rachel McAdams), he has taken to touring the city alone. On one such late-night excursion, Gil encounters a group of strange — yet familiar — revelers, who sweep him along, apparently back in time, for a night with some of the Jazz Age’s icons of art and literature. The more time Gil spends with these cultural heroes of the past, the more dissatisfied he becomes with the present.”

“Amélie” is a fanciful comedy about a young woman who discretely orchestrates the lives of the people around her, creating a world exclusively of her own making. Shot in over 80 Parisian locations, acclaimed director Jean-Pierre Jeunet (“Delicatessen”; “The City of Lost Children”) invokes his incomparable visionary style to capture the exquisite charm and mystery of modern-day Paris through the eyes of a beautiful ingénue.” View the Trailer Here

The Darjeeling Limited

“Estranged brothers Francis (Owen Wilson), Peter (Adrien Brody) and Jack (Jason Schwartzman) reunite for a train trip across India. The siblings have not spoken in over a year, ever since their father passed away. Francis is recovering from a motorcycle accident, Peter cannot cope with his wife’s pregnancy, and Jack cannot get over his ex-lover. The brothers fall into old patterns of behavior as Francis reveals the real reason for the reunion: to visit their mother in a Himalayan convent.”

Catch Me if You Can

“Frank Abagnale, Jr. (Leonardo DiCaprio) worked as a doctor, a lawyer, and as a co-pilot for a major airline — all before his 18th birthday. A master of deception, he was also a brilliant forger, whose skill gave him his first real claim to fame: At the age of 17, Frank Abagnale, Jr. became the most successful bank robber in the history of the U.S. FBI Agent Carl Hanratty (Tom Hanks) makes it his prime mission to capture Frank and bring him to justice, but Frank is always one step ahead of him.”

National Lampoons Vacation

“Accompanied by their children (Dana Barron, Anthony Michael Hall), Clark Griswold (Chevy Chase) and his wife, Ellen (Beverly D’Angelo), are driving from Illinois to a California amusement park. As Clark increasingly fixates on a beautiful woman driving a sports car, the Griswolds deal with car problems and the death of a family member. They reach Los Angeles, but, when Clark worries that the trip is being derailed again, he acts impulsively to get his family to the park.”

Planes, Trains, and Automobiles

“Easily excitable Neal Page (Steve Martin) is somewhat of a control freak. Trying to get home to Chicago to spend Thanksgiving with his wife (Laila Robins) and kids, his flight is rerouted to a distant city in Kansas because of a freak snowstorm, and his sanity begins to fray. Worse yet, he is forced to bunk up with talkative Del Griffith (John Candy), whom he finds extremely annoying. Together they must overcome the insanity of holiday travel to reach their intended destination.”

Out of Africa

“Initially set on being a dairy farmer, the aristocratic Karen Blixen (Meryl Streep) travels to Africa to join her husband, Bror (Klaus Maria Brandauer), who instead spends their money on a coffee plantation. After discovering Bror is unfaithful, Karen develops feelings for hunter Denys (Robert Redford), but realizes he prefers a simplistic lifestyle compared to her upper class background. The two continue on until a series of events force Karen to choose between her love and personal growth.”

“An American father travels to France to retrieve the body of his estranged son, who died while attempting the pilgrimage to Spain’s Santiago de Compostela. He resolves to take the journey himself, in an effort to understand both himself and his son.” View the Trailer Here

Into the Wild

“Christopher McCandless (Emile Hirsch), son of wealthy parents (Marcia Gay Harden, William Hurt), graduates from Emory University as a top student and athlete. However, instead of embarking on a prestigious and profitable career, he chooses to give his savings to charity, rid himself of his possessions, and set out on a journey to the Alaskan wilderness.”

Encounters at the End of the World

“Acclaimed filmmaker Werner Herzog travels to Antarctica, where he finds a desolate, beautiful landscape, largely untouched by human hands, and a group of truly unique people who risk their lives to study it. Centered at McMurdo Station, the United States’ largest Antarctic research center, Herzog explores the minds of the scientists willing to abandon civilization and endure volatile conditions to learn more about the continent’s wildlife and awe-inspiring natural wonders.”

“Accompanied only by her faithful dog and four camels, an Australian (Mia Wasikowska) satisfies her craving for solitude by embarking on a solo trip across the desert from Alice Springs to the Indian Ocean.”

“Driven to the edge by the loss of her beloved mother (Laura Dern), the dissolution of her marriage and a headlong dive into self-destructive behavior, Cheryl Strayed (Reese Witherspoon) makes a decision to halt her downward spiral and put her life back together again. With no outdoors experience, a heavy backpack and little else to go on but her own will, Cheryl sets out alone to hike the Pacific Crest Trail — one of the country’s longest and toughest through-trails.”

Best Exotic Marigold Hotel

“Some British retirees (Judi Dench, Maggie Smith, Bill Nighy) decide to outsource their retirement to exotic — and less expensive — India. Lured by advertisements for the newly restored Marigold Hotel and imagining a life of leisure in lush surroundings, they arrive and find that the Marigold is actually a shell of its former self. Though their new home is not quite what they had imagined, the retirees find that life and love can begin again when they let go of their pasts.”

The Bucket List

“Billionaire Edward Cole (Jack Nicholson) and car mechanic Carter Chambers (Morgan Freeman) are complete strangers, until fate lands them in the same hospital room. The men find they have two things in common: a need to come to terms with who they are and what they have done with their lives, and a desire to complete a list of things they want to see and do before they die. Against their doctor’s advice, the men leave the hospital and set out on the adventure of a lifetime.”

A Walk in the Woods

“After years of living in Britain, celebrated travel writer Bill Bryson returns to New Hampshire. But instead of retiring, the 60-year-old announces he’s going to hike over two thousand miles along the Appalachian Trail.”

A Good Year

“Failed London banker Max Skinner (Russell Crowe) inherits his uncle’s (Albert Finney) vineyard in Provence, where he spent many childhood holidays. Upon his arrival, he meets a woman from California who tells Max she is his long-lost cousin and that the property is hers.”

The Before Trilogy

Before Sunrise: “On his way to Vienna, American Jesse (Ethan Hawke) meets Celine (Julie Delpy), a student returning to Paris. After long conversations forge a surprising connection between them, Jesse convinces Celine to get off the train with him in Vienna. Since his flight to the U.S. departs the next morning and he has no money for lodging, they wander the city together, taking in the experiences of Vienna and each other. As the night progresses, their bond makes separating in the morning a difficult choice.”

Before Sunset: ” A sequel to “Before Sunrise,” this film starts nine years later as Jesse (Ethan Hawke) travels across Europe giving readings from a book he wrote about the night he spent in Vienna with Celine (Julie Delpy). After his reading in Paris, Celine finds him, and they spend part of the day together before Jesse has to again leave for a flight. They are both in relationships now, and Jesse has a son, but as their strong feelings for each other start to return, both confess a longing for more.”

Before Midnight: “On the last night of their idyllic Greek vacation, longtime lovers Jesse (Ethan Hawke) and Celine (Julie Delpy) reminisce about their lives together and what different choices might have brought.”

Search the Blog

Categories:

Share this Trip:

Stay Informed

Be the first to know about exclusive opportunities or departures from your area.

Stay Connected

Activity levels.

Tour days tend to be shorter in length, at a relaxed pace, and include lots of unscheduled time for leisure. Expect standing and walking for extended periods of time on flat surfaces, mostly low altitudes, and consistent temperatures.

Tour days usually move at a leisurely pace. Some days’ scheduled activities last longer than others. Expect standing and walking for long periods of time on occasionally uneven terrain. You may experience changes in altitude or temperature.

Tour days tend to be long, move at a consistent pace, and may include long travel days. Expect standing and walking for long periods of time on uneven surfaces. Some destinations may have changes in altitude and/or temperature.

Tour days tend to be long, move at a brisk pace, and may include lengthy travel days. Expect long periods of walking and standing on uneven surfaces. Scheduled activities may require physical effort or have distinct changes in altitude or temperature.

Very Active

Tour days tend to be long, move at a vigorous pace, and may include lengthy travel days. Expect long periods of walking and standing on rough surfaces. Scheduled activities may require physical effort or have distinct changes in altitude or temperature.

• Copy from this list
• Report this list

Best Holiday Movies Ranked (as well as some rare finds)

These are my favorite, but the list includes some weird finds that are worth listing although may not be worth watching -- I'll note those cases.

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

1. Miracle on 34th Street (1947)

Not Rated | 96 min | Comedy, Drama, Family

After a divorced New York mother hires a nice old man to play Santa Claus at Macy's, she is startled by his claim to be the genuine article. When his sanity is questioned, a lawyer defends him in court by arguing that he's not mistaken.

Director: George Seaton | Stars: Edmund Gwenn , Maureen O'Hara , John Payne , Gene Lockhart

Votes: 54,901 | Gross: $2.65M

2. Love Actually (2003)

R | 135 min | Comedy, Drama, Romance

Follows the lives of eight very different couples in dealing with their love lives in various loosely interrelated tales all set during a frantic month before Christmas in London, England.

Director: Richard Curtis | Stars: Hugh Grant , Martine McCutcheon , Liam Neeson , Laura Linney

Votes: 531,377 | Gross: $59.70M

A+ and I don't care what critics say!

3. Elf (2003)

PG | 97 min | Adventure, Comedy, Family

Raised as an oversized elf, Buddy travels from the North Pole to New York City to meet his biological father, Walter Hobbs, who doesn't know he exists and is in desperate need of some Christmas spirit.

Director: Jon Favreau | Stars: Will Ferrell , James Caan , Bob Newhart , Zooey Deschanel

Votes: 310,722 | Gross: $173.40M

An A in its category. Maybe an A- to be fair. The third act deflates a bit too much for my taste...

4. National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation (1989)

PG-13 | 97 min | Comedy

The Griswold family's plans for a big family Christmas predictably turn into a big disaster.

Director: Jeremiah S. Chechik | Stars: Chevy Chase , Beverly D'Angelo , Juliette Lewis , Johnny Galecki

Votes: 220,085 | Gross: $71.32M

This one gets an A+ from me!

5. It's a Wonderful Life (1946)

PG | 130 min | Drama, Family, Fantasy

An angel is sent from Heaven to help a desperately frustrated businessman by showing him what life would have been like if he had never existed.

Director: Frank Capra | Stars: James Stewart , Donna Reed , Lionel Barrymore , Thomas Mitchell

Votes: 498,962

Of course an A.

6. Four Christmases (2008)

PG-13 | 88 min | Comedy, Drama, Romance

A couple struggles to visit all four of their divorced parents on Christmas.

Director: Seth Gordon | Stars: Reese Witherspoon , Vince Vaughn , Mary Steenburgen , Robert Duvall

Votes: 80,824 | Gross: $120.15M

It gets better with time, I think. Found it funnier last Christmas...

7. The Holiday (2006)

PG-13 | 136 min | Comedy, Romance

Two women troubled with guy-problems swap homes in each other's countries, where they each meet a local guy and fall in love.

Director: Nancy Meyers | Stars: Kate Winslet , Cameron Diaz , Jude Law , Jack Black

Votes: 322,840 | Gross: $63.22M

8. How the Grinch Stole Christmas (2000)

PG | 104 min | Comedy, Family, Fantasy

On the outskirts of Whoville lives a green, revenge-seeking Grinch who plans to ruin Christmas for all of the citizens of the town.

Director: Ron Howard | Stars: Jim Carrey , Taylor Momsen , Kelley , Jeffrey Tambor

Votes: 291,420 | Gross: $260.04M

9. The Family Stone (2005)

PG-13 | 103 min | Comedy, Drama, Romance

An uptight, liberal businesswoman accompanies her boyfriend to his eccentric and outgoing family's annual Christmas celebration and finds that she's a fish out of water in their free-spirited way of life.

Director: Thomas Bezucha | Stars: Dermot Mulroney , Sarah Jessica Parker , Claire Danes , Diane Keaton

Votes: 75,204 | Gross: $60.06M

10. The Santa Clause (1994)

PG | 97 min | Comedy, Drama, Family

When a man inadvertently makes Santa fall off his roof on Christmas Eve, he finds himself magically recruited to take his place.

Director: John Pasquin | Stars: Tim Allen , Judge Reinhold , Wendy Crewson , Eric Lloyd

Votes: 133,395 | Gross: $144.83M

11. Gremlins (1984)

PG | 106 min | Comedy, Fantasy, Horror

A young man inadvertently breaks three important rules concerning his new pet and unleashes a horde of malevolently mischievous monsters on a small town.

Director: Joe Dante | Stars: Zach Galligan , Phoebe Cates , Hoyt Axton , John Louie

Votes: 247,697 | Gross: $148.17M

12. Serendipity (2001)

PG-13 | 90 min | Comedy, Romance

A couple search for each other years after the night they first met, fell in love, and separated, convinced that one day they'd end up together.

Director: Peter Chelsom | Stars: John Cusack , Kate Beckinsale , Jeremy Piven , Bridget Moynahan

Votes: 121,320 | Gross: $50.29M

Oh, well, I dig it. Love this movie still...

13. While You Were Sleeping (1995)

PG | 103 min | Comedy, Drama, Romance

A hopelessly romantic Chicago Transit Authority ticket booth operator is mistaken for the fiancée of a comatose patient.

Director: Jon Turteltaub | Stars: Sandra Bullock , Bill Pullman , Peter Gallagher , Peter Boyle

Votes: 113,948 | Gross: $81.06M

14. Home for the Holidays (1995)

After losing her job, making out with her soon-to-be former boss, and finding out that her daughter plans to spend Thanksgiving with her boyfriend, Claudia Larson faces spending the holiday with her family.

Director: Jodie Foster | Stars: Holly Hunter , Anne Bancroft , Robert Downey Jr. , Charles Durning

Votes: 14,557 | Gross: $17.52M

15. Planes, Trains & Automobiles (1987)

R | 93 min | Comedy, Drama

A Chicago advertising man must struggle to travel home from New York for Thanksgiving, with a lovable oaf of a shower-curtain-ring salesman as his only companion.

Director: John Hughes | Stars: Steve Martin , John Candy , Laila Robins , Michael McKean

Votes: 160,161 | Gross: $49.53M

16. Arthur Christmas (2011)

PG | 97 min | Animation, Adventure, Comedy

Santa's clumsy son Arthur sets out on a mission with Grandsanta to give out a misplaced present to a young girl in less than two hours on Christmas Day.

Directors: Sarah Smith , Barry Cook | Stars: James McAvoy , Jim Broadbent , Bill Nighy , Hugh Laurie

Votes: 67,085 | Gross: $46.46M

17. The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993)

PG | 76 min | Animation, Family, Fantasy

Jack Skellington, king of Halloween Town, discovers Christmas Town, but his attempts to bring Christmas to his home causes confusion.

Director: Henry Selick | Stars: Danny Elfman , Chris Sarandon , Catherine O'Hara , William Hickey

Votes: 375,024 | Gross: $75.08M

18. Die Hard (1988)

R | 132 min | Action, Thriller

A New York City police officer tries to save his estranged wife and several others taken hostage by terrorists during a Christmas party at the Nakatomi Plaza in Los Angeles.

Director: John McTiernan | Stars: Bruce Willis , Alan Rickman , Bonnie Bedelia , Reginald VelJohnson

Votes: 945,194 | Gross: $83.01M

19. A Christmas Carol (2009)

PG | 96 min | Animation, Adventure, Comedy

An animated retelling of Charles Dickens' classic novel about a Victorian-era miser taken on a journey of self-redemption, courtesy of several mysterious Christmas apparitions.

Director: Robert Zemeckis | Stars: Jim Carrey , Gary Oldman , Colin Firth , Steve Valentine

Votes: 129,484 | Gross: $137.86M

20. The Christmas Chronicles (2018)

PG | 104 min | Adventure, Comedy, Family

The story of sister and brother, Kate and Teddy Pierce, whose Christmas Eve plan to catch Santa Claus on camera turns into an unexpected journey that most kids could only dream about.

Director: Clay Kaytis | Stars: Kurt Russell , Darby Camp , Judah Lewis , Oliver Hudson

Votes: 83,473

21. Fred Claus (2007)

PG | 116 min | Comedy, Family, Fantasy

Fred Claus, Santa's bitter older brother, is forced to move to the North Pole to help Santa and the elves prepare for Christmas in exchange for cash.

Director: David Dobkin | Stars: Vince Vaughn , Paul Giamatti , Elizabeth Banks , John Michael Higgins

Votes: 47,796 | Gross: $72.01M

This is a really funny movie. I'll give it a B+, why not.

22. The Night Before (II) (2015)

R | 101 min | Comedy, Fantasy

On Christmas Eve, three lifelong friends spend the night in New York City looking for the Holy Grail of Christmas parties.

Director: Jonathan Levine | Stars: Joseph Gordon-Levitt , Seth Rogen , Jillian Bell , Lizzy Caplan

Votes: 82,619 | Gross: $43.04M

23. Last Christmas (2019)

PG-13 | 103 min | Comedy, Drama, Fantasy

Kate is a young woman subscribed to bad decisions. Working as an elf in a year-round Christmas store is not good for the wannabe singer. However, she meets Tom there. Her life takes a new turn--that seems too good to be true.

Director: Paul Feig | Stars: Madison Ingoldsby , Emma Thompson , Boris Isakovic , Lucy Miller

Votes: 90,458 | Gross: $35.15M

24. Look Who's Talking Now (1993)

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

The dogs can talk at a family of 4, where mom loses her job the same day dad gets a job as pilot for a cute, single boss.

Director: Tom Ropelewski | Stars: John Travolta , Kirstie Alley , David Gallagher , Tabitha Lupien

Votes: 30,946 | Gross: $10.34M

25. Christmas with the Kranks (2004)

PG | 99 min | Comedy, Family

With their daughter, Blair, away in Peru, Luther and Nora Krank decide to skip Christmas all together until she decides to come home, causing an uproar when they have to celebrate it at the last minute.

Director: Joe Roth | Stars: Tim Allen , Jamie Lee Curtis , Dan Aykroyd , M. Emmet Walsh

Votes: 57,575 | Gross: $73.78M

Pretty good!

26. White Christmas (1954)

Not Rated | 120 min | Comedy, Musical, Romance

A successful song-and-dance team become romantically involved with a sister act and team up to save the failing Vermont inn of their former commanding general.

Director: Michael Curtiz | Stars: Bing Crosby , Danny Kaye , Rosemary Clooney , Vera-Ellen

Votes: 51,120 | Gross: $30.00M

27. The Muppet Christmas Carol (1992)

G | 85 min | Comedy, Drama, Family

The Muppets present their own touching rendition of Charles Dickens' classic tale.

Director: Brian Henson | Stars: Michael Caine , Dave Goelz , Steve Whitmire , Jerry Nelson

Votes: 70,628 | Gross: $27.28M

28. The Family Man (2000)

PG-13 | 125 min | Comedy, Drama, Fantasy

A fast-lane investment broker, offered the opportunity to see how the other half lives, wakes up to find that his sports car and girlfriend have become a mini-van and wife.

Director: Brett Ratner | Stars: Nicolas Cage , Téa Leoni , Don Cheadle , Jeremy Piven

Votes: 119,347 | Gross: $75.79M

29. The Santa Clause 2 (2002)

G | 104 min | Comedy, Family, Fantasy

Scott Calvin has been a humble Santa Claus for eight years, but it might come to an end if he doesn't find a Mrs. Claus.

Director: Michael Lembeck | Stars: Tim Allen , Spencer Breslin , Elizabeth Mitchell , Eric Lloyd

Votes: 63,890 | Gross: $139.24M

30. Home Alone (1990)

PG | 103 min | Comedy, Family

An eight-year-old troublemaker, mistakenly left home alone, must defend his home against a pair of burglars on Christmas Eve.

Director: Chris Columbus | Stars: Macaulay Culkin , Joe Pesci , Daniel Stern , John Heard

Votes: 652,605 | Gross: $285.76M

31. Scrooged (1988)

PG-13 | 101 min | Comedy, Drama, Fantasy

A selfish, cynical television executive is haunted by three spirits bearing lessons on Christmas Eve.

Director: Richard Donner | Stars: Bill Murray , Karen Allen , John Forsythe , John Glover

Votes: 116,407 | Gross: $60.33M

32. A Christmas Story (1983)

PG | 93 min | Comedy, Family

In the 1940s, a young boy named Ralphie Parker attempts to convince his parents, teacher, and Santa Claus that a Red Ryder Range 200 Shot BB gun really is the perfect Christmas gift.

Director: Bob Clark | Stars: Peter Billingsley , Melinda Dillon , Darren McGavin , Scott Schwartz

Votes: 168,599 | Gross: $20.61M

As a classic it gets an A, and has a lot of funny moments but the whole BB gun thing always freaks me out.

33. Office Christmas Party (2016)

R | 105 min | Comedy

When his uptight CEO sister threatens to shut down his branch, the branch manager throws an epic Christmas party in order to land a big client and save the day, but the party gets way out of hand...

Directors: Josh Gordon , Will Speck | Stars: Jason Bateman , Olivia Munn , T.J. Miller , Jennifer Aniston

Votes: 88,189 | Gross: $54.77M

34. A Very Harold & Kumar Christmas (2011)

R | 90 min | Adventure, Comedy

Six years after their Guantanamo Bay adventure, stoner buds Harold Lee and Kumar Patel cause a holiday fracas by inadvertently burning down Harold's father-in-law's prize Christmas tree.

Director: Todd Strauss-Schulson | Stars: Kal Penn , John Cho , Neil Patrick Harris , Patton Oswalt

Votes: 72,720 | Gross: $35.03M

35. The Polar Express (2004)

G | 100 min | Animation, Adventure, Comedy

On Christmas Eve, a young boy embarks on a magical adventure to the North Pole on the Polar Express, while learning about friendship, bravery, and the spirit of Christmas.

Director: Robert Zemeckis | Stars: Tom Hanks , Chris Coppola , Michael Jeter , Leslie Zemeckis

Votes: 241,226 | Gross: $183.37M

36. Scrooge (1970)

G | 113 min | Drama, Family, Fantasy

A musical retelling of Charles Dickens ' classic novel about an old bitter miser taken on a journey of self-redemption, courtesy of several mysterious Christmas apparitions.

Director: Ronald Neame | Stars: Albert Finney , Alec Guinness , Edith Evans , Kenneth More

Votes: 12,586 | Gross: $3.70M

37. Jingle All the Way (1996)

PG | 89 min | Adventure, Comedy, Family

A father vows to get his son a Turbo Man action figure for Christmas. However, every store is sold out, and he must travel all over town and compete with everybody else in order to find one.

Director: Brian Levant | Stars: Arnold Schwarzenegger , Sinbad , Phil Hartman , Rita Wilson

Votes: 116,119 | Gross: $60.57M

38. I'll Be Home for Christmas (1998)

PG | 86 min | Comedy, Family

A college student faces an impossible journey when he is left stranded in the desert, thousands of miles from home, with no money and only a few days left until Christmas.

Director: Arlene Sanford | Stars: Jonathan Taylor Thomas , Jessica Biel , Adam LaVorgna , Gary Cole

Votes: 11,911 | Gross: $12.21M

39. Jack Frost (1998)

PG | 101 min | Comedy, Drama, Family

A father who can't keep his promises is killed in a car accident. One year later, he returns as a snowman who has the final chance to put things right with his son before he is gone forever.

Director: Troy Miller | Stars: Michael Keaton , Kelly Preston , Joseph Cross , Mark Addy

Votes: 40,933 | Gross: $34.55M

40. Call Me Claus (2001 TV Movie)

Not Rated | 90 min | Comedy, Family

Lucy's a producer on a home shopping channel. She hires the real Santa as Santa. He has to find his replacement as the real Santa in 4 weeks. Lucy is unknowingly the only candidate left.

Director: Peter Werner | Stars: Whoopi Goldberg , Nigel Hawthorne , Brian Stokes Mitchell , Victor Garber

Votes: 2,826

41. Noelle (2019)

G | 100 min | Comedy, Family, Fantasy

Santa's daughter must take over the family business when her father retires and her brother, who is supposed to inherit the Santa role, gets cold feet.

Director: Marc Lawrence | Stars: Anna Kendrick , Shirley MacLaine , Bill Hader , Kingsley Ben-Adir

Votes: 27,048

42. Santa Claus: The Movie (1985)

PG | 107 min | Adventure, Family, Fantasy

The legend of Santa Claus is put in jeopardy when an unscrupulous toy manufacturer attempts to take over Christmas.

Director: Jeannot Szwarc | Stars: Dudley Moore , John Lithgow , David Huddleston , Burgess Meredith

Votes: 15,598 | Gross: $23.72M

43. The Bishop's Wife (1947)

G | 109 min | Comedy, Drama, Fantasy

A debonair angel comes to Earth to help an Episcopalian bishop and his wife in their quest to raise money for the new church.

Director: Henry Koster | Stars: Cary Grant , Loretta Young , David Niven , Monty Woolley

Votes: 20,897

44. Holiday Inn (1942)

Passed | 100 min | Comedy, Drama, Music

At an inn which is open only on holidays, a crooner and a hoofer vie for the affections of a beautiful up-and-coming performer.

Directors: Mark Sandrich , Robert Allen | Stars: Bing Crosby , Fred Astaire , Marjorie Reynolds , Virginia Dale

Votes: 17,623 | Gross: $8.18M

45. Mixed Nuts (1994)

PG-13 | 97 min | Comedy, Drama

The events focus around a crisis hotline business on one crazy night during the Christmas holidays.

Director: Nora Ephron | Stars: Steve Martin , Madeline Kahn , Robert Klein , Anthony LaPaglia

Votes: 13,521 | Gross: $6.80M

It's nuts. But not funny enough...

46. The Santa Clause 3: The Escape Clause (2006)

G | 92 min | Adventure, Comedy, Family

Santa, a.k.a. Scott Calvin, is faced with double-duty: how to keep his new family happy and how to stop Jack Frost from taking over Christmas.

Director: Michael Lembeck | Stars: Tim Allen , Martin Short , Elizabeth Mitchell , Eric Lloyd

Votes: 42,651 | Gross: $84.50M

47. Surviving Christmas (2004)

PG-13 | 91 min | Comedy, Romance

A lonely, obnoxious young millionaire pays a family to spend Christmas with him.

Director: Mike Mitchell | Stars: Ben Affleck , Christina Applegate , James Gandolfini , Catherine O'Hara

Votes: 27,750 | Gross: $11.66M

Oh, Ben. Who would've thought.

48. Deck the Halls (2006)

Two neighbors have it out after one of them decorates his house for the holidays so brightly that it can be seen from space.

Director: John Whitesell | Stars: Matthew Broderick , Danny DeVito , Kristin Chenoweth , Kristin Davis

Votes: 33,158 | Gross: $35.09M

Hmmm... Not my favorite.

49. Stalking Santa (2006)

PG | 82 min | Comedy

Millions of people believe in him. Thousands claim to have seen him. But only one man is foolish enough to try to prove his existence. Self-proclaimed "Santologist" Dr. Lloyd Darrow will ... See full summary  »

Director: Greg Kiefer | Stars: Chris Clark , Daryn Tufts , Lisa Valentine Clark , William Shatner

Okay, love the narrator (who doesn't) but the movie's not that good. Worth listing it, though, as it is a rare find.

50. Rare Exports: A Christmas Tale (2010)

R | 84 min | Adventure, Fantasy, Horror

In the depths of the Korvatunturi mountains, 486 meters deep, lies the closest ever guarded secret of Christmas. The time has come to dig it up. This Christmas everyone will believe in Santa Claus.

Director: Jalmari Helander | Stars: Jorma Tommila , Onni Tommila , Peeter Jakobi , Tommi Korpela

Votes: 32,141 | Gross: $0.26M

What a weird movie this is! I do not recommend it, especially not for children. The whole thing gave me nightmares... Gotta list it, though, because it is really a "rare" find.

List Activity

Tell your friends, other lists by egarbi.

Recently Viewed

Where to travel based on your favorite holiday movies

Travel inspiration can strike at any moment. The clink of an Aperol spritz at a bar easily transports us to the Italian Riviera, and the deep chime of a bell can bring back Big Ben’s tolls in a heartbeat. One of our favorite ways to be inspired to travel, though, is through the sights and sounds of film—especially during the holiday season. Watching our favorite films becomes a tradition that we look forward to revisiting as we curl up on the couch with a warm cup of cocoa. There’s always a certain scene that makes us laugh, cry, or perhaps inspires us to plan a journey across the globe. In the spirit of the season, we’re diving into a few of the best holiday movies and showcasing similar holiday destinations that’ll inspire your travels in 2024 and beyond.

Explore more tours

4.7 out of 5 stars

4.6 out of 5 stars

More travel inspiration

• Action/Adventure
• Children's/Family
• Documentary/Reality
• Amazon Prime Video

More From Decider

Sydney Sweeney Sings “Unwritten” Into Glen Powell’s Butt in Iconic...

Holly Madison Calls Bob Guccione A "Horrible Person" For Publishing...

'9-1-1's Oliver Stark Says Season 7 Fan Response Is "A Beautiful Reminder"...

'Deal Or No Deal Island' Star Rob Mariano Says There's "No Masterminds" In...

Jennifer Lopez Sets The Record Straight On 'The View' After Alyssa Farah...

Bill Maher Compares Nickelodeon To Neverland Ranch After Watching 'Quiet...

Woody Allen in Exile: 'Coup De Chance' Finally Arrives On Streaming, Where...

Donald Trump Once Invited 'The View's Joy Behar To Be On 'The Apprentice'...

Share this:.

• Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
• Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
• Click to share on WhatsApp (Opens in new window)
• Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window)
• Click to copy URL

Stream It Or Skip It: ‘Holiday Road’ on Hallmark, Where Nine Strangers Come Together for an Unforgettable Christmas Roadtrip

Where to stream:.

• Holiday Road
• Jingle Binge

Stream It Or Skip It: ‘Dave Chappelle: The Dreamer’ On Netflix, Where The Comedian Has Fulfilled His Lifelong Dream If Not Also Yours

‘friends’/‘home alone’ crossover theory confirmed chandler and monica’s house is the same as the mccallister’s, says sitcom’s art director, stream it or skip it: ‘the holdovers’ on peacock, a would-be future classic christmas dramedy from alexander payne, donald trump says producers begged him to make a cameo in ‘home alone 2’ — even though director claims he bullied his way into the movie.

Christmas has come a month early on Hallmark with the absolute gift that is Holiday Road . Nine strangers decide to hitch a ride to Denver together after their flight gets cancelled, leading them on the roadtrip adventure of a lifetime. So is this movie worth hopping onboard for? Read on to find out!

HOLIDAY ROAD : STREAM IT OR SKIP IT?

The Gist: Holiday Road is an ensemble-driven road-trip rom-com that begins with a group of nine strangers whose holiday travel plans are completely disrupted when a winter storm cancels their flight to Denver. Realizing they’re all going to the same destination, they decide to share a van, the last one left at the airport dealership, rented out by risk-averse dating app creator Clay (Warren Christie). Though Clay and the group’s ringleader, free-spirited adventure travel writer Dana (Sara Canning), initially butt heads, they eventually begin finding common group as the newly formed “Van Clan” starts their journey.

18 hours in a car (which turns out to be wrong when, inevitably, things go awry) naturally ends up leading to some major bonding time amongst this seemingly very different group of people. Dana and Clay are joined by vlogging-obsessed influencer Maya (Princess Davis), single mom Trisha (Enid Raye Adams) and her adopted son, Ben (Kiefer O’Reilly), Hong Kong-based couple Lei (Sharon Crandall) and Kai Ling (Ryan Mah), gruff older man Dusty (Trevor Lerner), and soulful aspiring singer Ember (Brittany Willacy). Together they embark on a holiday journey like no other complete with no shortage of mishaps, memory making, and plenty of Christmastime magic and merriment.

What Movies Will It Remind You Of?: The whole core plot of very different strangers coming together out of necessity to travel to the same destination together just in time for the holidays (and having hilarity, mishaps, and emotional moments occur along the way) is very reminiscent of Planes, Trains, and Automobiles . Additionally, Holiday Road ‘s romance brewing between two initially opposing personalities on a roadtrip may remind some viewers of films like Leap Year or The Sure Thing .

Performance Worth Watching: Sara Canning seriously stands out as Dana, acting as a charismatic charmer and memorable presence in a film full of interesting characters. Canning delivers a subtle yet multifaceted performance that comes across as very human and natural, complete with realistic flaws and all.

Memorable Dialogue: “You cannot teach someone to dream and not let them dream.” Uhh I’m not crying, YOU’RE crying (okay yes, I am crying).

A Holiday Tradition: Lei and Kai Ling lead the way with some terrific holiday traditions that they share with “The Van Clan”. One is to eat and share traditional Chinese Christmas cookies that are said to bring good fortune, and another is to use their portable karaoke machine to slay some Christmas karaoke from wherever they are in the world (even if it’s in a van with a bunch of strangers in the winding roads of Western USA.

Does the Title Make Any Sense?: Holiday Road ‘s title is an homage to Lindsey Buckingham’s song of the same name, which was written for the 1983 road trip film National Lampoon’s Vacation . With all of that in mind, the title does feel like a very fitting one, especially as the characters find that, as a line in the original song says, “it’s a long way down the holiday road.”

Our Take: I’m an absolute sucker for a roadtrip movie but Holiday Road goes above in beyond with doing that genre justice, in large part thanks to the film’s writers Grant Scharbo and Gina Matthews imbuing their script with tons of genuine warmth and heart. Like any great holiday title, this is a movie about love and connection in its many forms. And Holiday Road is doubly impressive that it’s able to put such connection on display when there are nine different main characters to focus on. Yet even with so many, every character feels distinct, lovable, and very real-feeling, with each even getting their own satisfying arc.

In the end, I was sad to see the characters go because I loved getting to know them, and I can openly admit without shame that their more emotionally climactic moments in the final 20 minutes had me shedding tears. All of the actors did a wonderful job. They showed the heck up and made their respective role feel lived in and multi-dimensional from the start. I loved seeing them come together from strangers to real friends and I truly believed in the bonds being formed. This was just so darn wholesome and encapsulated all of the whimsy, generosity of spirit, and love that defines any high-quality holiday movie.

Our Call: STREAM IT! Holiday Road is everything a Christmas movie should be (it makes you feel the holiday magic, believe in the innate goodness of humanity, and is just the right amount of cheesy) and I truly hope you give it a go this holiday season.

• Hallmark Channel

Does 'Yellowstone' Return Tonight? 'Yellowstone's Season 5, Part 2 Premiere Date Updates

'Bob Hearts Abishola's Billy Gardell Tells ‘Live’ About His Bariatric Surgery and 170 Lb Weight Loss: "I Went From A Young Jackie Gleason To An Old Paul Newman"

Is 'Grey's Anatomy' New Tonight? Here's When The Next Episode of 'Grey's Anatomy' Is On ABC And Hulu 

'Deal Or No Deal Island' Star Rob Mariano Says There's "No Masterminds" In The Night Owls Alliance: "They're Just Birds"

Whoopi Goldberg Confronts Her 'View' Co-Hosts After Nearly All Of Them Fail To Carry Out Guest J. Lo's Request: "How Come Y'all Weren't Dancing?" 

'9-1-1's Oliver Stark Says Season 7 Fan Response Is "A Beautiful Reminder" Of The Show's Cultural Impact