The world is opening back up to travelers, summer is on the horizon, and Americans are beyond ready to hit the road, the high seas, and the open skies — finally — after spending much of the past year close to home. With travel restrictions being lifted throughout the US and countries across the world reopening their borders to visitors, it's definitely time to dig up your old travel bucket list — or perhaps even curate a new one. Not sure where to get ideas? We are! Movies, of course, can provide all the travel inspo you'll ever need.
Movies are often filmed in exotic and far-flung destinations, and while some filmmakers are tasked with making one destination look like somewhere else, others get to highlight the interesting destinations that serve as their settings. Then there are films in which travel is the actual theme, a crucial part of the storyline. From sappy romances and though-provoking dramas to superhero movies and suspenseful horror flicks, there's a travel movie out there to suit any taste and inspire all sorts of trips from luxury getaways to soul-searching road trips.
So if you're ready to kick off your post-quarantine travel adventures but haven't decided where to jet off to yet, check out this list of 21 of the best travel movies, sure to respark your wanderlust.
'Mamma Mia!'
Mamma Mia! — starring Meryl Streep and Amanda Seyfried and based on the Abba song of the same name, as well as the Broadway show — is all about a young woman in search of her birth father. The story takes place in the Greek isles, and the film's stunningly gorgeous scenery would make anyone want to hop the pond and visit the sun-soaked Mediterranean.
'Eat Pray Love'
This 2010 film is based on the Elizabeth Gilbert memoir of the same name and recounts the yearlong sabbatical she took to travel the world after realizing that despite her seeming success, she didn't feel fulfilled. The movie chronicles her solo travels to Italy, India, and Bali, each of which brings her completely new experiences and revelations.
'Under the Tuscan Sun'
The 2003 film Under the Tuscan Sun stars the beautiful Diana Lane as a woman who discovers her husband has been cheating on her and falls into a depression. Her best friend suggests she travel to Italy to help pull her out of her funk, and during her travels through the Italian countryside, she falls in love with a run-down old villa and ends up buying it and then fixing it up. Tuscany never looked better.
'Midnight in Paris'
In this quirky Woody Allen film, a man on vacation in Paris with his fiancée finds that he enjoys exploring the city alone late at night. He eventually encounters a group of people who seem to take him back in time where he meets several art and literature icons of the Jazz Age. The film showcases the history and beauty of the City of Lights so well.
'Crazy Rich Asians'
In the hit film Crazy Rich Asians, a Chinese-American woman from New York City visits Singapore for the first time to attend a wedding with her new boyfriend. The movie is charming and funny, but one of the best aspects of it is the incredible scenes from Singapore's legendary outdoor markets. The footage of the food alone will make you want to hop on a plane straightaway.
'Spiderman: Far From Home'
If superhero flicks are more your thing than romances, Spiderman: Far From Home should do the trick. The film sees Peter Parker travel from New York to Europe on a school trip, ready to enjoy all the sights without all the stress. Of course, there are people who need protecting and lives that need saving everywhere in the world, so the relaxation doesn't last long, but the film still shows off the scenic destinations.
'Wild'
We'll watch just about anything starring Reese Witherspoon, and the 2014 film Wild is no exception. It's about a woman who becomes self-destructive after losing both her marriage and her mother, and in an attempt to get herself back on track, she decides to hike the Pacific Coast Trail on her own.
'Chocolat'
Starring Johnny Depp and Juliette Binoche, the 2000 film Chocolat is in a word … sumptuous. It sees a woman and her young daughter move to a quaint French village that will make any traveler want to wander for days on end. And then there's the chocolate! The film is shot so beautifully, it's hard not to want to replicate the experience in real life.
'Lost in Translation'
Scarlett Johansson and Bill Murray star as an unexpected pair of friends in this film that is largely set in Tokyo. Each traveling to Japan for a different purpose, they meet in a hotel bar and form an unlikely friendship, as they navigate bustling Tokyo and its unique culture and atmosphere.
'The Beach'
The breathtaking scenery in the Beach, starring Leonardo DiCaprio, will make you want to book a trip to Thailand ASAP. In fact, so many people did just that after seeing the film — which is about a man who finds a strange map that leads him to a remote island paradise — that the country had to shut down the location site (Koh Phi Phi Leh) to give it a break from the hordes of tourists.
'The Bucket List'
You kind of can't go wrong with any film starring Hollywood legends Morgan Freeman and Jack Nicholson. In the Bucket List, their characters are strangers who meet when they are assigned the same hospital room. They become fast friends and decide to set off on a road trip, checking things off of their bucket lists along the way.
'The Motorcycle Diaries'
Beyond this film being full of eye candy, it is sure to make you want to get out there and explore the world. It's actually the story of revolutionary Che Guevara and an eye-opening motorcycle trip from Brazil to Peru that he took with a friend just before he graduated from medical school. The trip was one that changed the course of his life forever.
'Roman Holiday'
Audrey Hepburn's 1953 film Roman Holiday has inspired droves of people to visit the Eternal City. It's about a princess exhausted from touring Europe, who escapes on her own to enjoy a night in Rome and meets an American reporter who found her alone and asleep on a park bench. The film is full of romance and gorgeous scenery.
'National Lampoon's Vacation'
Once you watch this classic comedy, anything that could possibly go wrong on your next vacation won't seem quite so bad. National Lampoon's Vacation will make you laugh so hard you cry and, despite all of the travel mishaps it depicts, it'll likely still inspire you to hit the road with your family.
'Thelma & Louise'
A lot of people may remember Thelma & Louise, starring Susan Sarandon and Geena Davis, most fondly for its girl power vibes — or perhaps as the start of a lifelong crush on Brad Pitt. But it's also a damn good travel flick. Sordid moments aside, it perfectly captures the thrill of embarking on a cross-country road trip.
'The Talented Mr. Ripley'
A tantalizing thriller starring Matt Damon, Jude Law, and Gwyneth Paltrow, the Talented Mr. Ripley is a chilling story about a man who will do just about anything to adopt the lifestyle of the rich and famous as his own. But it paints the stunning Italian landscape in the best way possible, so like we kind of get it.
'Sideways'
If wine is your thing, the 2004 film Sideways, featuring Paul Giamatti and Sandra Oh, will make you want to book a direct flight to California's Napa Valley. It's a dramedy about a struggling writer who decides to take a boys' trip to wine country, and he and his soon-to-be-married friend end up hooking up with two other wine enthusiasts.
'Vicky Cristina Barcelona'
Yup, ScarJo is on the list again. In this gorgeous film directed by Woody Allen, she stars alongside Penelope Cruz and Javier Bardem in the story of two women who travel to Spain for vacation. The ladies encounter a sexy bohemian who guides them through Barcelona for a weekend of eating, drinking, art, and all sorts other debauchery.
'Away We Go'
We adore this film starring Maya Rudolph and John Krasinski as expectant parents who decide to travel across America on the hunt for the perfect place to settle down and raise their family. In each destination, they make new discoveries, encounter people, and have experiences that help them come to realize the true meaning of "home."
'The Grand Budapest Hotel'
This acclaimed film is sure to make you want to set off on an exotic adventure. Featuring an ensemble cast that includes Ralph Fiennes, Adrien Brody, and Tilda Swinton, it's set at a luxury European ski resort and full of intrigue and suspense. While you may not want to share the experiences depicted in the film, it'll definitely make you want to find your own mountainside spot to luxuriate in.
'Midsommar'
We're not gonna lie, the 2019 film Midsommar is deeply disturbing. It's the perfect watch for fans of the horror genre looking for something a bit different. That said, it paints the most scenic and beautiful picture of the Swedish countryside and will make just about anyone curious about the traditional midsommar festivals the region is known for.
