Watch These 6 Movies To Reignite Your Love For Travel

Traveling is without a doubt among the most incredible things a person could hope to experience in life.

Broadening our horizons and allowing us to step foot outside of our comfort zones, it can encourage us to take on a renewed appreciation for every aspect of life across the globe. From understanding a vastly different culture and related history to getting a newfound appreciation for different regional cuisines, travel can trigger an unwavering sense of personal growth unlike any other in day-to-day life.

While the idea of spending a significant amount of time, energy, and money might prove a hindrance for some, certain movies perfectly encapsulate all the benefits that come with embarking on a globe-trotting adventure. From iconic ‘80s action movies to existential 2000s dark comedies, here are some of the greatest movies we’d recommend to help reinvigorate your love for travel.

Wild (2014)

Travel has the unique ability to allow us to reflect on who we are and the kind of person we’d like to become. Shining a light on the all things we hold near and dear to our hearts, it can also illustrate the positive qualities of our surroundings and those around us, restoring our faith in others and (perhaps) even ourselves. Nowhere are these characteristics more readily seen than with 2014’s Wild. A heartfelt adaptation of Cheryl Strayed’s nonfiction memoir, it’s among the most underrated comedic dramas of the 2010s, leaving audiences laughing just as often as it forces us to heartily weep.

Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981)

Okay, yes, the chances of any one of us boarding a plane for an Indiana Jones-style adventure is pretty much nil. But if Raiders of the Lost Ark leaves any impression on viewers, it’s that there’s a world of possibilities awaiting outside our doorstep. Transporting audiences to the remote jungles of South America to the rolling deserts of Egypt, Raiders of the Lost Ark does a fine job imparting a sense of puckish adventure in the heart of every viewer fortunate enough to see it.

Lost in Translation (2003)

You don’t have to hop on a plane and jet off to Tokyo to get something out of Lost in Translation. In many ways, this 2003 romantic comedy does a fine job underscoring the importance of remaining in the present moment (I.E., one of the most important things you could do on a trip abroad). Encountering people and places you never previously imagined, Lost in Translation shows how integral it is for people to be open to the world around them when venturing to new settings, sometimes paving the way to deep-seated changes that reverberate throughout our lives.

Sullivan’s Travels (1941)

One of the most underappreciated aspects about traveling is the opportunity to engage with individuals from vastly different backgrounds than ours. In this way, Sullivan’s Travels remains one of the greatest entries in the entire road film genre, brilliantly illustrating how traveling can introduce us to people and settings we wouldn’t ordinarily encounter otherwise.

Y tu mamá también (2021)

A road movie from Gravity and Roma director Alfonso Cuarón, Y tu mamá también also serves as quite possibly the filmmaker’s single best movie to date, as well as one of the greatest comedic drama films of the 21st century yet. A coming-of-age story about two teenagers experiencing their first serious brush with adulthood, Y tu mamá también shows that even the most seemingly ordinary travel experiences can fundamentally change our lives (often in ways we never truly expected).

Into the Wild (2007)

Anyone who grew up from the late ‘90s onwards has likely either read or seen the film adaptation of 1996’s travel memoir, Into the Wild. As most fans of the work are sure to know, Chris McCandless’s ill-fated expedition into the Alaskan wilderness might have ended under tragic consequences. But if we can take anything away from McCandless’ experiences, it’s that there is plenty to love about both travel and embracing a simpler life, free from the endless minutiae of everyday existence. But as Chris winds up observing, the best experiences in life tend to be enjoyed with the people you care about – a lesson we can all no doubt take when planning our next trip with family or friends.