Are you spending more time at home due to COVID-19? If so, some travel-related movies might help you better cope with this difficult time in your life. While you can find other things to do in your home, watching an uplifting movie can inspire you. All of these films are available for a fee or free with a trial on streaming video sites like Amazon, Google Play, Apple TV and YouTube
Amélie
Interested in watching a movie about Paris featuring more than 80 enchanting locations? Amélie (2001) is a feel good, romantic comedy about a French waitress (Audrey Tautou) who works in a quintessential Parisian café. Despite not having friends and losing her mother at an early age, she finds her job. In fact, this is in the lively Montmartre area. What’s more, she even has her own apartment nearby. She discovers a hidden treasure left behind by a young boy who previously lived there.
Background Information
After finding the boy and seeing his happiness, she inspires happiness to other people. The film directed by Jean-Pierre Jeunet was a big hit. In fact, it won Best Film in the European Film Awards.
Eat Pray Love
Largely panned by critics but a box office success, Eat Pray Love (2010) is based upon the 2006 memoir of American author Elizabeth Gilbert. Starring Julia Roberts in the lead role, Eat Pray Love chronicles Gilbert’s solo journey around the world after a painful divorce. Seeking solace in a year long excursion after leaving what seemed like a successful life and career, she visits Italy, India and Bali. There, she tries to find a balance in her mind, body and spirit. The film also stars James Franco, Richard Jenkins, Viola Davis, Javier Bardem, Billy Crudup and Hadi Subiyanto.
Related: Classic Movies To Ease Your Wanderlust
Forrest Gump
Love it or hate it, Forrest Gump (1994) is one of the best-known travel-related movies. Starring Tom Hanks, the film covers three decades of his life. What’s more, it showcases some of the most important people and events in American history. For instance, Forrest plays football for Bear Bryant at the University of Alabama and later serves in the Vietnam War. That’s not to mention appearing on the Dick Cavett Show with John Lennon and meeting President Richard Nixon.
Background Information
While the story takes place mainly in Alabama, the travel-related movie features several other American towns and locations. For instance, the Blue Ridge Parkway, Biltmore Estate, Monument Valley and Lincoln Memorial. Described as a magical realism, comedy-drama, Forrest Gump also stars Robin Wright, Gary Sinise, Mykelti Williamson. Sally Field co-stars as Forrest’s mother.
Into The Wild
A travel movie in every imaginable sense, Into the Wild (2007) is as inspiring as it can be discouraging. Primarily set in the desolate wilderness of Alaska, the film is a biographical adventure drama starring Emile Hirsch as Christopher McCandless. A scholar-athlete from Atlanta’s Emory University, McCandless leaves his comfortable lifestyle and wealthy parents to live a nomadic lifestyle. He eventually makes it to Denali National Park, with the tallest mountain in North America. An independent film with a budget of $20 million, the movie features several well known actors and actresses.
Actors In Into The Wild
Oscar-winning actress Marcia Gay Harden stars as Chris McCandless’ mother and acclaimed actor William Hurt as his father. Directed by Sean Penn, Into the Wild also stars Jena Malone, Hal Holbrook, Kristen Stewart, Vince Vaughn and Zach Galifianakis.
Lion
A biographical drama released in 2016, Lion depicts the journey of Indian-born Australian Saroo Brierley who is accidentally separated at age five. Based upon Brierley’s 2013 non-fiction book A Long Way Home, the film stars Dev Patel in the lead role. However it begins when the young protagonist at age five gets separated from his brother after falling asleep on a freight train in Khandwa, India.
Background On The Movie
Upon waking up, he discovers the train is moving and is unable to get off until it arrives days later in Calcutta, a distance of about 1,578 km or 980 miles. Unable to get back home, he ends up homeless before sent to an orphanage. He is adopted by an Australian couple and eventually makes it to Melbourne to study. He finds a girlfriend (Rooney Mara) but is driven to return to his home village to find his mother. Lion also stars Sunny Pawar as young Saroo, David Wenham as his adopted father and Nicole Kidman as his adopted mother.
Related: World’s Best Diwali Celebrations
Lost In Translation
One of the best movies to depict life in Tokyo, Lost in Translation is a 2003 comedy-drama starring Bill Murray and Scarlett Johansson. This travel-inspired movie revolves around an aging American actor in Tokyo to make a whiskey commercial and a newlywed whose husband is on assignment. A chance meeting connects the two at their hotel and they begin a close friendship while absorbing the culture clash that surrounds them.
Background Information On Lost In Translation
The film also co-stars Akiko Takeshita, Catherine Lambert and Anna Faris. Japan’s capital and largest city is captured on film with all of its excitement and glittering neon. Several well known spots were shot on location in Tokyo. For example you will see Park Hyatt Tokyo and the vibrant Shinjuku and Shibuya neighborhoods.
Related: Feel Good Movies To Watch While Stuck At Home
The Bucket List
Despite receiving mixed reviews from movie critics, The Bucket List (2007) is still a fun travel movie to watch for a few laughs or three. Starring Jack Nicholson and Morgan Freeman as two terminally ill men who want to cross off as many destinations off their wish list before they die or in slang, “kick the bucket”. First meeting each other in a hospital, both actors have been diagnosed with terminal lung cancer. During their treatment, they become friends and decide to put together a bucket list of places they want to visit. The pair travel to places as varied as the North Pole and Taj Mahal in India, as well as the Great Wall of China and the Great Pyramid, among others.
The Last Emperor
Described as an “elegant travel brochure”, The Last Emperor (1987) is a cinematic masterpiece despite not doing exceptionally well at the box office. As the title suggests, the biographical film depicts the life of Puyi, the last Emperor of China who began his first reign when he was just 2 years, 10 months old. The first western film authorized by the People’s Republic of China to film in Beijing’s Forbidden City, the film stars John Lone, Joan Chen, Peter O’Toole and Victor Wong. The Last Emperor covers nearly 60 years of the life of Puyi and features several locations in China, including Changchun Railway Station, Beijing’s Summer Palace and the iconic Forbidden City.
The Last Emperor Best Picture of the Year
The epic 3 hour 39 minute film earned just 44 million worldwide, which barely covered its production cost of 23.8 million. However, it was a massive, critical success, winning nine Oscars at the 60th Academy Awards, including Best Picture and Best Director for Bernardo Bertolucci. The Last Emperor also won several other major awards, like Best Film and Director at the 45th Golden Globes and the BAFTA Award for Best Film.
Under The Tuscan Sun
While romance may be difficult when social distancing is trending, this travel movie may still inspire a bit of snuggling when the time is right. It might even inspire a romantic getaway when life finally gets back to normal. Based upon a 1996 memoir by Frances Mayes, Under the Tuscan Sun stars Diane Lane in the breathtaking Tuscany region of Italy. After discovering that her husband has been cheating, Frances Mayes decides to take a vacation to Tuscany at the urging of her friend Frances. Captivated by its historic culture and sheer natural beauty, she purchases and then restores an abandoned 16th century villa in Cortona,
Background Information On Under The Tuscan Sun
Under the Tuscan Sun was filmed in Florence, Positano, Rome and Siena, in addition to scenes in San Francisco. Directed by the late Audrey Wells, the travel-based movie also stars Lindsey Duncan and Raoul Bova and was both a box office and critical success.
Wild
Released in late 2014, Wild is one of the most inspiring travel-related movies to come out in the last decade. An autobiographical drama starring Reese Witherspoon, Wild is based upon the life experience and stirring memoir by author Cheryl Strayed. Initially set in Minnesota, the protagonist had a close relationship with her mother (Laura Dern). After her mother’s sudden death from cancer, Strayed’s life went into a tailspin. As a result, she had a divorce in addition to a heroin addiction.
Background Information On Wild Starring Reese Witherspoon
Seeking to start a new life, she heads to California. There, she embarks upon a months-long journey along the Pacific Crest Trail. Directed by Jean-Marc Vallée, it opened to widespread acclaim. Indeed, Reese Witherspoon and Laura Dern both received Academy Award nominations. The film features more than 50 captivating locations. In detail are California’s Mojave Desert and Crater Lake and Mount Hood in Oregon.
Related: Best Hiking Destinations On The West Coast
About The Author
Randy Yagi is an award-winning freelance writer who served as the National Travel Writer for CBS Local from 2012-2019. More than 900 of his stories still appear in syndication across 23 CBS websites, including CBS New York, Los Angeles, Chicago and San Francisco. During his peak years with CBS, Randy had a reported digital audience reach of 489 million and 5.5 million monthly visitors. Additionally, his stories have appeared in the Daily Meal, CBS News, CBS Radio, Engadget, NBC.com, NJ.com and Radio.com. He earned a media fellowship from Stanford University in 2012.
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