I’m all too familiar with a restless feeling, the one that has me scrolling through flight deals or daydreaming about cobblestone streets during my workday. Wanderlust doesn’t care about practical constraints like budgets or PTO.
I often find solace in movies. Iconic travel films, as with all great modes of storytelling, help me remember the weight of a backpack on my shoulders and the salty air smell of a faraway foreign coast.
These movies help me co-exist with the ache of wanting to be somewhere, anywhere, else. Most travel films don’t just show off a beautiful place but remind me why I travel in the first place: To shake loose from routine and find connection in unexpected places with unexpected people.
This week, to self-soothe my wanderlust, I’ve curated a list of five films that capture different flavors of my love for travel. Some, like the first, made me book a flight before the end credits finished rolling. Others, like the last, reminded me that transformative and long-lasting shifts can happen when we embrace experiences beyond our comfort zones.
So settle in, and let these stories transport you somewhere new.
The Secret Life of Walter Mitty
This 2013 film is one of my all-time favorites, and I rewatch it on the regular. Ben Stiller stars as Walter Mitty, who is a man with so much potential and just as much self-doubt. He lives a mundane, predictable life until, one day, he is forced to dive head-first into the unknown.
The soundtrack features multiple songs by Swedish singer-songwriter José González. I highly recommend you listen to the score during your next travel daydreaming session. The songs will make you feel as large as the ocean and as capable as Walter Mitty eventually becomes.
Amélie
This 2001 French-language romantic comedy is pure gold. It follows a woman named Amélie as she navigates life in the Montmartre neighborhood of Paris. After my first viewing, I developed a romanticized appreciation for France as a whole, which was further solidified after I traveled around the country’s Champagne region.
The soundtrack is spot-on, the acting captivating. Plus, the videography and visuals are 10/10. I also love the humor that is embedded in the story of Amélie. This is a quintessential feel-good movie that will inspire you to inject bits of magic into your day-to-day life.
The Talented Mr. Ripley
This 1999 crime thriller follows the trials and tribulations of a certified con-man. It is objectively scary at times, but hear me out! This film is also romantic, aspirational, and one of the best intellectual thrillers I’ve ever seen. That statement carries a lot of weight because I’m a huge fan of the genre.
The film takes place between New York and Italy so viewers will soak in the dulcet tones of the Italian language while watching 1 percenters sunbathe under the Tuscan sun. It was recently reimagined as a Netflix series starring Andrew Scott and Dakota Fanning, but the original 1999 film stars Matt Damon, Jude Law, and Gwyneth Paltrow. You won’t be disappointed with superstar casts like that.
The Darjeeling Limited
This Wes Anderson classic follows a trio of brothers as they try to reconnect after the death of their father. The wanderlust kicker? Their story is propelled by a steam-engine journey across India. Nothing compares to sibling love, and travel only compounds the nuances of pre-existing dynamics.
Just like Indian cuisine, fashion, and culture, this movie is full of color. It’s vibrant, wholesome, and chaotic, reminiscent of the country in which it takes place. When I first watched it, it inspired me to plan my first siblings-only trip.
Little Miss Sunshine
This film follows another dysfunctional family, but this time they roadtrip across the United States to attend the daughter’s beauty pageant. It features themes of depression, suicide, and addiction but with immense honesty, humor and compassion.
I included it here because I think this film is the perfect example of how powerful shared travel can be. For even the most stuck-in-their-ways family members, travel can finally shake loose some outdated tendencies. This is a true roadtrip film, complete with car troubles and shitty motels. I also love every one of the characters and their collection of conflicting flaws.
Final Thoughts
Each of these films capture the internal shift, that unparalleled fulfillment from stepping outside the ordinary.
Whether it’s Walter Mitty’s dramatic leap into the unknown, Amélie’s whimsical wandering through her daily life, or a dysfunctional family finding connection in unfamiliar places, these films reminded me that travel is as much about personal growth as it is about passport stamps.
Though unique enough to stand tall on their own, these films share an understanding that movement, whether physical, emotional, or both, has the power to crack us open and access untapped potential.
The next time you’re stuck at home with an itch to wander, queue up one of these films. Let these stories share the weight of your restless energy. Let them remind you that the world is still out there, waiting.
That way, when you’re ready, when the sinking fund refills or the free time opens up, you’ll book the trip.