100 Travel-Inspired Movies to Inspire Your Wanderlust
Movies are good. They are a great way to kill time. But all movies are not just the same. While most of the movies are just a popular pass-time, some movies inspire you to do really something in life. The following is a list of 100+ travel inspired movies that will address your lazy self and get you moving on the road. It’s a long road ahead. So, grab your popcorn. It’s movies time!
1. The Before Trilogy
The three-part romance takes you on an intimate journey across Vienna and Austria, capturing the love story of two people who meet on a train in Europe one Summer.
2. Secret life of Walter Mitty
When Walter’s job along with that of his co-workers is threatened, he embarks on a global journey that turns out to be more adventurous than he thought it would be.
3. Into the Wild
Into the Wild tells the true story of Christopher McCandless as he gives away his savings right after his graduation and goes hitchhiking through the wilderness of Alaska.
4. The Way Back
Traversing from Siberia to India, The Way Back follows the incredible true story of 7 prisoners as they escape from the Siberian prison in dead winter and take a treacherous 4,500-mile trek.
5. The Beach
On his travel to Thailand, Richard comes in contact with a strange map which is rumored to lead him to a solitary beach paradise.
6. Eat Pray Love
Based on the real life story and memoir by Liz Gilbert, Eat Pray Love is a story of a married woman who undergoes a painful divorce & goes on a round-the-world journey to find herself.
7. Euro Trip
Ditched by his girlfriend, a high-school graduate embarks on an adventurous trip to Europe with his friends to mend his broken heart.
8. How Much Further
Esperanza and Tristeza try to get from Quito to Cuenca. But a local strike forces their bus to stop and they start hitchhiking through the beautiful scenery in Ecuador.
9. Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara
As three lifelong friends Kabir, Imran, & Arjun go on a road trip through Spain for Kabir’s bachelor party, they encounter their worst fears, mend relationships, and fall in love with life.
10. Motorcycle Diaries
Based on the memoir of Che Guevara, Motorcycle Diaries is an awe-spiring story that follows the trip of Guevara along with his friend Alberto across the beautiful continent of South America.
11. Vicky Christina Barcelona
Two young female friends have an illicit affair with a flamboyant artist during their summer vacation in Spain and are unaware that his ex-wife is about to re-enter his life.
12. Thelma and Louise
Thelma, a docile housewife accompanies her waitress friend Louise on a fishing trip. But as things get serious, they soon flee to Mexico in a ’66 Thunderbird.
13. LOTR
An award-winning adaptation of J.R.R Tolkien classic fantasy novel, the Lord of the Rings follows the exhilarating journey of Bilbo Baggins, his nephew Frodo, and their other friends.
14. Around the World in Eighty Days
In an attempt to win a bet, a Chinese thief joins an eccentric Englishman and they try to circumnavigate the globe in 80 days. The heart-pounding ride gives us a glimpse of the world’s most exotic locations.
15. Queen
After her marriage gets canceled, a homely Delhi girl from a traditional family sets out on a solo honeymoon. On her way, she makes new bonds, finds happiness, and gains a new-found independence.
16. The Way
The Way is an inspirational story of an American Father who honors his dead son killed in the Pyrenees by walking on the Spain’s historical pilgrimage site of Camino de Santiago.
17. One Week
One Week explores the motorcycle odyssey of Ben Tyler as he rides cross-country from Toronto to Tofino, British Columbia on a quest to find meaning in his life.
18. Tracks
Accompanied only by her faithful dogs and four camels, Tracks follow the tracks of a young woman who embarks on a 1,700-mile solo trek across the desert from Alice Springs to the Indian Ocean.
19. Y Tu Mamá También
Ruled by their raging hormones, two 17-year-old male best friends take a cross-country escape with a gorgeous older woman. On their road trip, they learn a few things about life, sex, and friendship.
20. The Darjeeling Limited
The Darjeeling Limited is an emotional film about three wealthy spoiled brothers setting out on a train journey across India in an attempt to rediscover their lost bond.
21. The Bucket List
Two terminally-ill cancer patients decide to explore life and break out from their hospital ward. They head off on a road trip with a bucket list of things they haven’t done before.
22. Lost in Translation
Lost in Translation speaks about the unlikely bond of two separate travelers, Bob & Charlotte who cross paths in Tokyo. The random experiences they come across helps them discover the friend within each other.
23. Under the Tuscan Sun
In a bet to escape from her depression, a 35-year-old San Francisco writer buys a villa in Tuscany. There she makes new friends, discovers new ambitions, and finds out life has second chances.
24. The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert
Two drag performers and a transgender travel across the desert in their lavender-hued school bus, Priscilla to perform their style of cabaret. On their way, they uncover deep secrets of Australia.
25. Seven Years in Tibet
An Austrian mountain climber-skier, Heinrich Harrer sets out to conquer a mountain in the Himalayas and ends up befriending Dalai Lama.
26. Little Miss Sunshine
Little Miss Sunshine talks about a funny road-trip journey of a dysfunctional family who go on a cross-country trip in their VW bus to fulfill the dream of their daughter.
27. Central Station
Central Station follows the journey of a bitter former schoolteacher Dora, who writes letters for illiterate people and an orphan, as they go in search of his father on a road trip across the northeast of Brazil.
28. Amélie
Amélie shows the life of an innocent young waitress in Paris who is caught in her own imaginative world helping people around to find happiness. While on her journey, she finds true love.
29. Midnight in Paris
A nostalgic writer on his trip to Paris with his fiancee’s family somehow finds himself traveling back mysteriously to the 1920’s every day at midnight.
30. Baraka
Detouring through chaotic cities to barren wilderness, Baraka presents perfectly shot time-lapse sequences of human life, places, and things from all around the world.
31. The Trip to Italy
Two friends, Steve Coogan & Rob Brydon go on a restaurant tour in Italy dining at the finest hotels and restaurants from Piedmont to Capri.
32. Due Date
Forced to ride with a dubious child-man, a would-be father tries to go on a cross-country trip to Los Angeles to make it in time for his child’s birth.
33. The Grand Budapest Hotel
The Grand Budapest Hotel is a black comedy that narrates the story of a concierge, Gustave who in his attempt to prove his innocence ends up befriending a lobby boy.
34. L’auberge Espagnole
Incredibly real, L’auberge Espagnole tells the experiences of a French university student who moves to Barcelona to learn Spanish. As he stays in a house with six other young Europeans, he undergoes a life-altering experience.
35. Hit the Road: India
Appreciated by the National Geography as one of the top-10 greatest adventures of 2012, Hit the Road: India is a travel adventure documentary that talks about 2 friends participating in a 12-day rickshaw rally across India.
36. The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel
A group of British retirees take up residence in what they think is a newly renovated hotel. While the new environment is less posh than what they expected, Marigold Hotel charms them in surprising ways.
37. Touching the void
Touching the Void tells the dramatic true story of two adventurous young mountaineers: Joe Simpson and Simon Yates as they attempt to scale the never-before-climbed 21,000 feet Siula Grande in the Peruvian Andes.
38. Whale Rider
A feisty little girl named Pai tries to fulfill a destiny while trying to win over her ultratraditional grandfather. The contemporary is filled with emotions, rejection, and triumph.
39. Away we go
A couple expecting their first child take a travel around the world looking to find the ideal home for the child to grow. On the way, they are helped by their relatives & old friends.
40. In Bruges
Stuck in Bruges, Hitmen Ray and Ken await orders from their ruthless boss. Set against the historic and the impressive city of Bruges, In Bruges is intriguing.
41. Indiana Jones
Based on the fictional adventures of Dr.Henry, Indiana Jones is a fast-paced adventurous journey of an iconic archeologist who spends his time uncovering lost artifacts in mythic locations.
42. Two For the Road
Two for the Road is a romantic dramedy about a married couple who have flashbacks of their previous relationships as they drive through France.
43. Knockin’ on Heaven’s Door
Two young terminally ill patients, Martin and Rudi put their bed-ridden lives aside and take one last trip to the sea.
44. The Art of Travel
Abandoning the past, a high school grad kisses goodbye to his childhood sweetheart and goes on a solo journey to Central America.
45. The Hundred-Foot Journey
Hassan Kadam and his family shift from India to London and set up an Indian restaurant opposite the Madame Mallory’s Michelin-starred French haute cuisine restaurant.
46. Encounters at the End of the World
Largely untouched by the humans, acclaimed film-maker Werner Herzog risks his life to travel to the McMurdo Station in Antarctica. There he learns about the continent’s wildlife and its unparalleled natural beauty.
47. A Map for Saturday
A Map for Saturday unravels the world of long-term, solo travelers through the story of trekkers traveling through 26 countries on four continents.
48. Highway
Veera, a young bride-to-be finds herself abducted by a common goon, Mahabir, and his men. In the process of setting herself free, Veera develops a strange bond with Mahabir and discovers life.
49. Planes, Trains, and Automobiles
Flying to Chicago, a Man traveling to spend Thanksgiving with his wife and kids gets rerouted to a distant city in Kansas where he is forced to stay with an annoying curtain ring salesman.
50. Nowhere in Africa
A tale that follows a Jewish family as they move from Germany and adjust to a farm life in 1930s Kenya.
51. Riding Solo to the Top of the World
Riding Solo to the Top of the World is a documentary film of self-discovery that shows the unique experiences of a lonesome traveler who rides from Mumbai to Chang Pas of Ladakh in India.
52. Up in the Air
Ryan, a corporate downsizing expert enjoys living out of a suitcase. But as he comes across his potential love interest, he feels his lifestyle is threatened.
53. Made in Iceland
Accompanied only by her 550D Canon camera, Klara Hayden takes you on a 25-day long incredible journey across the undulating landscape of Iceland.
54. Easy Rider
Brimming with desert landscapes and wonderful towns, Easy Rider is about two counterculture bikers who travel from Los Angeles to New Orleans in search of America.
55. 180° South
Follows the fascinating journey of adventurer Jeff Johnson as he tries to recreate the epic 1968 journey of his heroes, Yvon Chouinard and Doug Tompkins to Patagonia
56. Out of Africa
Out of Africa tells the life-story of a Karen Blixen, a Danish baroness who falls in love with a local hunter while trying to establish her coffee plantation.
57. The Endless Summer
The Endless Summer follows the life of two young surfers over the course of ten years as they go around the world in pursuit of the perfect wave.
58. Crocodile Dundee
Crocodile Dundee is an Australian-American comedy that tells the unique love story of a crocodile poacher and a journalist, despite their cultural differences.
59. The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants
Upset over the prospect of spending their first Summer apart, four teenage girlfriends device a plan to stay connected. They pass around a pair of secondhand jeans that helps them during tough times.
60. The Straight Story
Follows the odyssey of a 73-year-old man, Alvin Straight as he rides on a lawn mower from Iowa to Mt. Zion to mend the relationship with his estranged brother.
61. Hector and the Search for Happiness
Dissatisfied with his impairing recommendations to his patients, psychiatrist Hector takes on an international quest to find the right formula for happiness.
62. Somewhere in Time
Obsessed with a photo of Elise Mckenna, a Chicago playwright travels back in time to meet Elise, only to find that they are destined to be together.
63. In July
Daniel, a young & a shy school teacher tries to break open from his shell as he goes on a crazy trip chasing the girl of his dreams from Germany to Turkey.
64. On the road
A young writer, Sal Paradise along with his free-spirited friend Dean Moriarty and his friend’s girl Marylou hit the road. And as they travel, they come across different people who affect their journey.
65. The Road within
Robert Sheenan suffering from Tourette’s syndrome embarks on a road-trip along with his OCD roommate and an anorexic woman to bring his recently deceased mother’s ashes to the ocean.
66. Samsara
Filmed over a course of five years, in twenty-five different countries, Samsara is a travelogue with pictures and music. The visuals range from cathedrals to the Himalayas to industrial complexes.
67. Copenhagen
Finding himself in the crossroads of Copenhagen while going on a quest to track down his grandfather, William develops a relationship with a teenage waitress.
68. Una Noche
Una Noche follows the life of a young man, Raul who dreams of escaping to Miami.
69. Italy: Love It, or Leave It
Two Italian icons go on an emotional trip on an old Fiat 500 across Italy to discover what’s left to the famous Italian way of life. They are posed with a dilemma, Should they love it or leave it.
70. Julie & Julia
Based on a true story, Julie & Julia tells the daring tale of Julie Powell as she vows to prepare all 524 dishes in Julia Child’s landmark “Mastering the Art of French Cooking” cookbook.
71. Maidentrip
Maidentrip is a documentary of a 14-year-old, Laura Dekker as she sets out on a two-year voyage to sail around the world. In the process, she becomes the youngest person to go sailing.
72. Romancing the Stone
An adventure writer, Joan Wilder sets out to Colombia to ransom her kidnapped sister. During the journey, she finds herself caught in the middle of a dangerous adventure.
73. A Good Year
A London-based investment broker travels to France to sell off the chateau and the vineyard he has inherited from his uncle. In the midst of the process, he discovers a laid-back lifestyle.
74. Harold & Kumar Go to White Castle
Harold & Kumar Go to White Castle is an adventure comedy that follows a Korean-American office worker & his stoner friend’s quest to satiate their hunger by getting their hands on White Castle burgers.
75. The Big Year
Fighting against all the odds, three avid bird-watchers try to make the cut in a year-long-bird-spotting competition.
76. Chasing Bubbles
Chasing Bubbles is the true story of a charismatic 25-year-old from Indiana who trades his comfortable life to set a sail around the world.
77. Long way round
Long Way Round celebrates the three-month long trip of motorcyclists Ewan McGregor and Charley Boorman as they ride via Siberia, Mongolia, Kazakhstan, Alaska, and New York.
78. Sin Nombre
Sin Nombre is an adventure thriller film about a Honduran young girl and a Mexican gangster who come in contact with each other during their travel across the American border.
79. The Story of the Weeping Camel
Traveling deep into Mongolia’s desert, The Story of the Weeping Camel talks about the rare occurrence of a camel belonging to a nomadic group giving birth to a white calf.
80. The Revenant
The Revenant is an American semi-biographical western film that follows the inspirational journey of a legendary frontiersman as he uses his skill to survive after being betrayed by a companion.
81. Cast Away
A plane crash leaves Chuck stranded on an island who must now transform himself physically & emotionally to survive the fatal crash.
82. Living on One Dollar
Living on One Dollar follows the real-life journey of four friends in rural Guatemala who experiment living just on One dollar a day for eight weeks.
83. Blue Hawaii
Back from the Army, Chad Gates defies his parent’s wishes to work at the family business and pursues working with his buddies and his girlfriend.
84. Leap Year
Anna Brady heads out to Dublin, Ireland to propose her boyfriend Jeremy on a leap day. But along her way to Dublin, she faces several hindrances.
85. The Trip
Asked by The Observer, Steve Coogan sets out reviewing the hotels in the North England with his best friend Rob Brydon as his girlfriend backs out.
86. Life of Pi
Life of Pi follows the epic journey of Patel who finds a way to survive in a lifeboat along with a fearsome Bengal Tiger. During the process, he unexpectedly develops a relationship with the animal.
87. Gringo Trails
Exhibited through the life-changing stories of travelers and locals, Gringo Trails reveals the surprising long-term effects of tourism on culture, economic, and the environment.
88. Nordfor Sola
Nordfor Sola is a sport/adventure documentary of two surfers who spend nine months in the isolated, uninhabited bay of a remote island in Norway.
89. Into the Cold: A Journey of the Soul
Two men set on an iconic foot trek journey to the North Pole in a bid to celebrate the amazing journey of Admiral Peary in 1909.
90. Swiss Army Man
Hank, a hopeless man gets stranded on a deserted island where he befriends a dead body and together they go on a surreal journey filled with magical realism.
91. Kon-Tiki
Kon-Tiki tells the journey of a legendary Norwegian explorer Thor Heyerdahl who crossed the 4,300 miles long Pacific in his balsawood raft in 1947.
92. Hideous Kinky
25-year-old single mother, Julie migrates to Morocco with her two daughters. Along the adventurous journey, they encounter new experiences, meet different people, and come across interesting cultures.
93. Monsoon Wedding
Monsoon Wedding is an Indian drama in which relatives from all around the world come to Delhi to make the wedding a joyous affair. Monsoon Wedding celebrates the family bond.
94. Lawrence of Arabia
Lawrence of Arabia is the story of Lieutenant Lawrence, who along with Prince Faisal device a plan to fight the Turks during the time of World War I.
95. Captain Ron
Martin Harvey inherits the yacht formerly owned by Clark Gable and takes his family on a sail from Ste. Pomme de Terre to Miami. With Captain Ron on the board, the trip turns out to be an unexpected one.
96. Hotel Very Welcome
Set over two different continents, Hotel Very Welcome tells the story of six different characters as they travel to Asia on a search to find answers to life’s questions.
97. The Decoy Bride
A local girl Katie gets hired to play the decoy bride to shoo away the paparazzi from Hollywood actress Alice Eve who has come to a sleepy town in Scotland to get married.
98. Chasing Liberty
Anna Foster, the first daughter gets frustrated with her overprotective dad and runs away with a charming photographer, Ben. But things get complicated when she finds out Ben is working for her father.
99. Madagascar
Helped by few fugitive penguins, four animals escape from the New York Central Zoo and find themselves stranded in Madagascar.
100. James Bond Movies
Follows the thrilling encounter of a fictional character named James Bond, created by the novelist Ian Fleming.
101. The Hangover
Three best people who go on a bachelor trip to Las Vegas along with the groom wake up the next morning with no memory of what they did the previous night.
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