On The Road Again
There’s just something magical about the open road. And while most of us can’t drop everything and head cross-country tomorrow, road trip movies scratch that itch for adventure—without the questionable motel sheets. So buckle up, grab your snacks, and enjoy the ride through some of the most iconic road trip movies of all time.
Into The Wild
Christopher McCandless ditched his cushy upbringing to hitchhike across America in search of truth, freedom, and himself. Adapted from Jon Krakauer’s book, Into the Wild is equal parts inspiring and heartbreaking as it shows the beauty and brutality of living untethered. It’s the ultimate road trip story—though one you probably don’t want to actually copy.
Paramount Vantage, Into the Wild (2007)
Little Miss Sunshine
Few family road trips involve a broken-down VW bus, a silent teenager, and Steve Carell’s deadpan melancholy—but Little Miss Sunshine somehow makes it work. As the Hoovers trek from Albuquerque to California for Olive’s beauty pageant, chaos and dysfunction reign supreme. It’s a quirky reminder that sometimes the biggest messes lead to the sweetest memories.
Fox Searchlight Pictures, Little Miss Sunshine (2006)
Thelma And Louise
Forget about souvenirs—this trip ends with a cliffhanger. Literally. Thelma and Louise takes two friends on what starts as a simple getaway and spirals into a feminist anthem of rebellion and freedom. Geena Davis and Susan Sarandon’s legendary joyride redefined what a road trip movie could be.
Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, Thelma & Louise (1991)
Green Book
Set in the 1960s, this Oscar-winning film pairs a Bronx bouncer with a world-class pianist on a concert tour through the segregated South. What begins as an uneasy partnership grows into an unexpected friendship that transcends barriers. Equal parts moving and witty, Green Book proves that sometimes the real road trip is learning to meet in the middle.
Universal Pictures, Green Book (2018)
Nomadland
Who needs a fancy RV when you have a van and Frances McDormand? Nomadland follows Fern as she drives across the American West, meeting real-life nomads who teach her about resilience, freedom, and community. It’s a quiet, meditative take on road tripping—and it somehow makes Walmart parking lots look poetic.
Searchlight Pictures, Nomadland (2020)
Drive My Car
Not all road trips involve highways; sometimes they’re about the long, winding roads of grief. Drive My Car is a Japanese masterpiece that follows a widowed theater director and his chauffeur as they navigate loss, memory, and the power of shared silence. It’s three hours long, but like any good road trip, the journey is worth it.
Bitters End, Drive My Car (2021)
Joy Ride
What could possibly go wrong with a CB radio prank? For three college friends in Joy Ride, the answer is: everything. Rusty Nail, the trucker they catfish, is not amused and turns their trip into a nightmare of cat-and-mouse terror. It’s like Smokey and the Bandit meets Psycho, and you’ll never look at a rest stop the same way again.
20th Century Fox, Joy Ride (2001)
Easy Rider
This counterculture classic isn’t just about motorcycles—it’s about freedom, rebellion, and a whole lot of weed. Dennis Hopper and Peter Fonda blaze (in every sense) across America, capturing the restless spirit of the 1960s. Easy Rider is the ultimate “find yourself on the road” movie, though it doesn’t shy away from the dangers lurking along the way.
Columbia Pictures, Easy Rider (1969)
The Motorcycle Diaries
Before he became the revolutionary icon Che Guevara, he was just a young guy on a beat-up bike with his buddy Alberto. The Motorcycle Diaries traces their journey through South America, blending youthful adventure with glimpses of social awakening. It’s proof that one road trip can change the course of history.
Focus Features, The Motorcycle Diaries (2004)
Queen & Slim
What begins as an awkward first date quickly spirals into a cross-country escape. After a tragic encounter with a police officer, Queen and Slim hit the road, pursued by both law enforcement and media attention. This stylish, tragic love story blends the urgency of a chase film with the intimacy of a road trip.
Universal Pictures, Queen & Slim (2019)
Rain Man
Tom Cruise and Dustin Hoffman may be the most mismatched road trip duo in history. Rain Man takes the pair on a journey from Cincinnati to Los Angeles, where Charlie learns that his autistic brother Raymond isn’t just a burden but a blessing. It’s heartfelt, funny, and features the most famous blackjack scene ever filmed.
United Artists, Rain Man (1988)
Sideways
Two middle-aged men hit California wine country for a bachelor trip, and things get as messy as a spilled merlot. Paul Giamatti’s depressed snob and Thomas Haden Church’s immature actor friend make for an oddly lovable pair. Sideways is proof that sometimes a road trip is just an excuse to drink too much and reevaluate your life.
Fox Searchlight Pictures, Sideways (2004)
Y Tu Mamá También
This Mexican road trip movie blends sun-soaked beaches with sharp social commentary. Two teenage boys and an older woman hit the road, leading to a messy tangle of friendship, lust, and loss. Directed by Alfonso Cuarón, Y Tu Mamá También is as much about growing up as it is about getting away.
IFC Films, Y Tu Mamá También (2001)
Zombieland
If the world ends, you better hope Woody Harrelson is in your carpool. Zombieland takes the road trip formula and drenches it in blood, Twinkies, and Bill Murray cameos. It’s equal parts hilarious and horrifying, and it proves that the best travel rule is simple: always check the backseat.
Columbia Pictures, Zombieland (2009)
Dumb And Dumber
Sometimes stupidity makes for the best road trip. Lloyd and Harry’s cross-country adventure in Dumb and Dumber is a masterclass in ridiculousness, from the shaggy dog van to the Aspen snowball fight. It’s proof that you don’t need brains to make an unforgettable trip—you just need bad ideas and worse luck.
New Line Cinema, Dumb and Dumber (1994)
Mad Max: Fury Road
Okay, technically it’s a desert chase movie—but it’s also the most high-octane road trip ever filmed. Furiosa and Max race across dystopian wastelands, pursued by guitar-flamethrower maniacs and endless explosions. Fury Road is what happens when you turn a road trip into an opera of chaos.
Warner Bros., Mad Max: Fury Road (2015)
The Straight Story
How far would you go to make peace with family? For Alvin Straight, the answer was 240 miles on a lawnmower. Based on a true story, David Lynch’s The Straight Story is a quiet meditation on aging, forgiveness, and the stubborn determination to finish what you start. It’s slow—but so is the lawnmower.
Walt Disney Pictures, The Straight Story (1999)
Almost Famous
Road trips aren’t just for vacation—they’re for rock and roll journalism. Almost Famous follows a teenage writer who tags along with a rising band, learning about music, fame, and heartbreak. It’s a love letter to both the open road and the chaos of touring life.
DreamWorks Distribution, LLC., Almost Famous (2000)
Planes, Trains And Automobiles
Thanksgiving trips are stressful enough without accidentally traveling with John Candy. In Planes, Trains and Automobiles, Steve Martin’s uptight businessman and Candy’s lovable goofball endure every travel disaster imaginable. It’s a hilarious reminder that sometimes the worst trips make the best stories.
Paramount Pictures, Planes, Trains and Automobiles (1987)
Wild
Sometimes the longest road trip is the one you take alone. Wild, based on Cheryl Strayed’s memoir, follows Reese Witherspoon as she hikes the Pacific Crest Trail to heal from grief and addiction. It’s not always glamorous, but it’s an inspiring portrait of perseverance and the healing power of nature.
Fox Searchlight Pictures, Wild (2014)
The Bucket List
Jack Nicholson and Morgan Freeman prove that it’s never too late for one last ride. The Bucket List sends two terminally ill men around the world to check off life’s ultimate to-dos. It’s sappy, funny, and uplifting—basically everything you want from a cinematic road trip.
Warner Bros. Pictures, The Bucket List (2007)
Logan
Superheroes road trip too, but usually with more claws and angst. Logan follows Wolverine, Charles Xavier, and a young mutant as they race across the country while being hunted. It’s gritty, emotional, and feels more like a western than a comic book flick—perfect for anyone who wants their road trip with extra grit.
20th Century Fox, Logan (2017)
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