The BEST Road Trip Movies
My Top 13 Picks!
In cinematic terms, my book Laughing at the Sun is a cross between Sideways and My Dinner with Andre. I LOVE road trip movies and the following list is in no particular order as I might prefer one to the other on any given day. ALL of these films are worthwhile and mandatory viewing.
The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert (1994). Stephan Elliot’s fun, frolicking Aussie comedy featuring Hugo Weaving, Guy Pearce and Terence Stamp.
Y Tu Mama Tambien (2001). A sexy, coming-of-age tale about two teenage boys who travel across Mexico with an attractive older woman in search of a legendary beach called, Heaven’s Mouth. Directed by Alfonso Cuaron and starring Diego Luna, Gael Garcia Bernal and Maribel Verdu. Verdu gives an amazing performance!
The Trip (2010). Steve Coogan and Bob Brydon road trip across the English countryside in search of the country’s finest restaurants. Also, well worth viewing: The Trip to Italy (2014). Same cast, similar story, different country. Coming soon: The Trip to Spain to be released August 11, 2017.
National Lampoon’s Vacation (1983). Harold Ramis directs, John Hughes writes, and Chevy Chase mugs for the camera.
Easy Rider (1969). Peter Fonda and Dennis Hopper play two counterculture bikers traveling from L.A. to New Orleans in search of America. The film that launched a thousand choppers!
Little Miss Sunshine (2006). A dream cast featuring Abigail Breslin, Greg Kinnear, Paul Dano, Alan Arkin, Toni Collette, and Steve Carell! A family travels cross-country in a VW bus in hopes of making a deadline to register their little girl for a beauty pageant.
Sideways (2004). Alexander Payne’s tale of two middle-aged men touring California’s wine country. Starring Paul Giamatti and Thomas Haden Church.
Zombieland (2009). Another dream cast, this one features Jesse Eisenburg, Emma Stone, Woody Harrelson and Abigail Breslin, plus a cameo with Bill Murray. Witty script and a fun adventure among the un-dead!
Thelma and Louise (1991). Ridley Scott directs Susan Sarandon, Geena Davis, Harvey Keitel and Brad Pitt in a wild tale of an Arkansas waitress and her housewife friend, who shoot a rapist, rob a convenience store and travel across the America in a ’66 Thunderbird.
Road Trip (200). Four friends, 1,800 miles, and one very funny frat house party.
It Happened One Night (1934). Frank Capra’s classic romantic road trip comedy featuring Clark Gable and Claudette Colbert.
Pee Wee’s Big Adventure (1985). Eccentric man-child Pee-Wee Herman embarks on an adventure across the U.S. to find his stolen bike. Directed by Tim Burton and starring Paul Reubens.
Mad Max: Fury Road (2015). Not your usual road trip! Director George Miller provides stunning visuals, break-neck action, and a female lead character like none other in Furiosa!
