15 Travel Movies That Are Worth a Watch to Rekindle Your Wanderlust

If you love watching movies, you would agree that nothing could help you decide on the next destination better than watching travel movies. You can watch travel movies again and again and would never get bored. 

So, if you are looking for amazing travel movies, then here’s a compilation of the best travel movies so far that are worth watching anytime. 

1. Into the Wild

It is a 2007 American biographical adventure film, directed by Sean Penn, that featured a story of an athlete and a student who abandons everything he has. It is a motivational film and highlights the landscapes of Alaska. 

The film premiered during the 2007 Rome Film Fest and grossed $56 million worldwide. It was nominated for two Golden Globes and also won the award for Best Original Song. In Alaska, he met with different people, each with their stories. His life is filled with adventures while he makes his way up to Last Frontier. 

2. Under the Tuscan Can

Directed by Audrey Walls, Under the Tuscan Can is an American romantic-comedy-drama film, which revolves around a divorced writer who buys a villa in Tuscan on a whim, hoping this will change her life. Under the Tuscan Sun was nominated for the Art Directors Guild Excellence in Production Design Award and received a Golden Globe Award for its performance. 

3. A Walk in the Woods

A Walk in the Woods is one of the best travel movies so far. The film is based on a true story and a book by Bill Bryson. It is an American biographical comedy-drama film directed by Ken Kwapis and was released on 2nd September 2015. 

The movie is funny and entertains you throughout. It inspires you to step outdoors and to plan for hiking to experience new adventures. The story revolves around the person who, instead of retiring, announces that he is going hiking over two thousand miles along the Appalachian Trail. The movie earned around 3.6 crores USD at the box office. 

4. Lost in Translation

Directed by Sofia Coppola, the film stars Bill Murray, who is having a midlife crisis when he travels to Tokyo to promote whisky. This amazing travel movie shows the fun and incredible side of traveling to a new place. The movie shows the random travel experiences that stay in your heart even after coming back home. 

Bill Murray and Scarlett Johansson suffer from self-imposed confinement that bonds them together. After watching this movie, you will surely plan to travel to Japan soon. The film received nominations in different categories for direction and screenwriting. It won the Best Original Screenplay and received nominations for Best Director, Best Picture, and Best Actor. 

5. Lord of the Rings

This epic travel movie would leave you intrigued by the beautiful landscape and fascinating views. Right from glaciers to forests and mountains to rivers, the film shows the ecstatic views of New Zealand. 

The movie offered the opportunity to the tourist industry and made it the most frequented destination for adventure seekers. Lord of Rings is an interesting series of adventure films and was shot simultaneously in Jackson’s native New Zealand from 11 October 1999 to 22nd December 2000. 

The film is considered the greatest and the influential film series ever made. The three films were nominated for 30 Academy Awards. The members of the production crew won the Academy Award for Technical Achievement and also won the Academy Award for Scientific and Engineering Award. The Lord of the Rings received appreciation and is ranked among the greatest film trilogies ever made. 

6. Nowhere in Africa

It is a 2001 German film based on the 1995 autobiographical novel of the same name Stefanie Zweig. The film describes the story of life in Kenya of a German-Jewish family that emigrated there to escape persecution in Nazi Germany. This travel movie shows how they adjust to their new life and cope with the life they used to live earlier. 

If you have ever adapted to a new culture, then you would relate to this movie. The movie is German but subtitled in English. It is a travel movie but could become your favorite foreign-language movie. The film received many awards for Best Film, Best Music, Best Supporting Actor, and other awards. 

7. The Beach

This travel movie follows Alex Garland’s novel about young backpackers. Released in 2000, the film tells the story of Richard, a young man who travels to Thailand and finds himself to be obsessed with an odd map that is rumored to lead to an island paradise. Along with a few friends, he finds the way to the map. 

It is an adventure film directed by Danny Boyle and stars Leonardo Dicaprio, Robert Carlyle, Tilda Swinton, and others in the lead. The film didn’t do well at the box office but got mixed reviews from the critics. After the film was premiered in Thailand in 2000, Thai politicians were upset with the way Thailand was shown in the film. The film showed the drug culture, and this created a bad image of Thailand. 

8. Lawrence of Arabia

It is a 1962 British epic historical drama based on the life of T.E. Lawrence. The film was directed by David Lean and was produced by Sam Spiegel. 

The film stars T.E. Lawrence with Alec Guinness playing Prince Faisal. This Peter O’Toole classic is set during World War I and followed a British soldier’s interaction with nomadic tribes. With beautiful pictures of the desert, you would soon be wanting to travel to a desert. 

The film was nominated for ten Oscars at the 35th Academy Awards. Furthermore, it also won the Golden Globe Award for the Best Motion Picture and the BAFTA Award for the best film. The film is regarded as one of the greatest and influential films ever made. In 2004, the film voted the best British film of all time and in a poll of Britain’s leading filmmakers. 

9. Tracks

It is a beautiful travel movie of a young woman who traveled 1700 miles over the deserts of West Australia with her faithful dog. It is a 2013 Australian drama film and an adaptation of Robyn Davidson's memoir of the same name. 

The film has been shown at other film festivals, including OpenAir, Dubai, London, and other places. The film starred Brendan Maclean, Jessica Tovey, Adam Driver, and others in the lead. The film was released in limited theatres in North America and grossed $21,544, with an average of $5,386 per theatre. 

10. A Good Year

It is a romantic comedy film produced by Ridley Scott. A Good Year stars Didier Bourdon, Albert Finney, Russel Crowe, and others in the main role. The movie features Russel Crowe as an uptight banker who finds his soul again when he returns to his uncle’s vineyard. 

The film grossed around $40,000,000 and has earned over $7 million in US DVD sales. French locations were filmed at Marseille Provence Airport, Cucuron, and other places. 

11. The Way Back

The Way Back is another travel movie about seven prisoners from different backgrounds who escaped from a Siberian prison in winter. It is a 2010 American survival film directed by Peter Weir. 

The film is inspired by The Long Walk and starred Jim Sturgess, Mark Strong, Ed Harris, Colin Farell, and others. The movie is shot in stunning locations in India, Bulgaria and features some excellent actors. 

12. Eurotrip

It is a funny movie about backpacking in Europe and starred Jacob Pitts, Travis Wester, and Jessica Boehrs. If you have never been to Europe and are planning to visit it soon, then you must watch Eurotrip soon. The film was released in the United States and Canada in over 2500 theaters. 

The film grossed over $6.7 million and collected $20 million worldwide. The movie sends you to Europe and features an amazing performance from Matt Damon.

13. Midnight in Paris

It is a 2011 fantasy comedy-drama film directed by Woody Allen. Produced by the Spanish group Mediapro, the film stars Rachel McAdams, Marion Cotillard, Carla Bruni, and others in the lead role. While on a trip to Paris with his fiancée's family, the writer finds himself going back to 1920 every day at midnight. 

The film made its debut at the 2011 Cannes Film Festival and was released nationwide in France on the same day. The film was nominated for Best Picture, Best Art Direction, and won Best Original Screenplay. Furthermore, the film was nominated at the Australian Academy of Cinema and Television Arts for Best Direction - International, Best Screenplay - International, and Best direction - International. 

14. The Motorcycle Diaries

It is a 2004 biopic that follows the life of Che Guevara from doctor to revolutionary. The film star Lucas Oro, Sofia Bertolotto, Sergio Boris, Diego Giorzi, and others in the main role. The film was first presented at the Sundance Film festival and later screened at other film festivals. 

15. Wild

Wild is another one of the best travel movies that features beautiful scenes throughout the Pacific Northwest in the US. It is a travel film that reminds you that your journey is more important than the destination. 

The film premiered at the Telluride Film Festival, and before that, it was released theatrically in 2014. The film starred Laura Dern, Gaby Hoffmann,  Anne Sorce, Charles Baker, and others in the lead role. 

Final Words

Look for the best travel movies that you should look forward to watching this weekend with your traveling partners. Do you know other travel movies that are worth watching? Drop their names below in our comment section.