THE BEST MOVIES TO INSPIRE TRAVEL

1 – OUT OF AFRICA – Originally released in 1985, this iconic drama is based on a memoir written by Karen Blixen about her life in Kenya in the early 1900’s. Meryl Streep’s fabulous performance, the romantic soundtrack and spectacular panoramas of life in Africa will captivate you.

Robert Redford and Meryl Streep in Out of Africa (1985)
Source: IMDb

2 – CRAZY RICH ASIANS – Also based on a book, this 2018 film plays off the extravagance of the wealthy elite in Singapore. The book and film delighted audiences around the world and as a result, Singapore has become a must-visit destination for many. When you do plan your trip to Singapore, you can even take “Crazy Rich Asian” themed tours of the sites featured in the movie.

Constance Wu and Henry Golding in Crazy Rich Asians (2018)
Source: IMDb

3 – PLANET EARTH – An oldie but goodie… We’re all trapped in our homes and in need of a good virtual escape. Planet Earth can take you around the world to appreciate some of nature’s finest miracles.

Planet Earth (2006)
Source: IMDb

4 – THE DA VINCI CODE – If you love a good mystery thriller, this film adaptation of Dan Brown’s Da Vinci Code is perfect for movie night. You’ll be unraveling a masterfully woven puzzle while digitally gallivanting around Europe’s iconic landmarks with Tom Hanks.

Tom Hanks and Audrey Tautou in The Da Vinci Code (2006)
Source: IMDb

5 – MIDNIGHT IN PARIS – I saw this movie in the theatre with my friend who specifically told me she was happy to see any movie so long as it “wasn’t about time travel.” Spoiler alert – I picked incorrectly, but my friend and I still loved how Woody Allen’s film evoked the true timeless magic of Paris.

Kathy Bates, Adrien Brody, Owen Wilson, Carla Bruni, Marion Cotillard, Mimi Kennedy, Alison Pill, Rachel McAdams, Tom Hiddleston, Audrey Fleurot, Sonia Rolland, Léa Seydoux, and Nina Arianda in Midnight in Paris (2011)
Source: IMDb

6 – AMELIE – If you studied French in school, you’ve undoubtedly seen Amelie. If not, you may have missed this foreign language film. But don’t be deterred by the subtitles and overall quirkiness, it’s an absolute delight!

Audrey Tautou in Le fabuleux destin d'Amélie Poulain (2001)
Source: IMDb

7 – SEVEN YEARS IN TIBET – This movie came out in 1997. I was 12 and thought it was the best movie I’d ever seen (meanwhile my brother was bored to tears…). I was just so captivated with the scenery, culture and magic of Tibet! One day I will make it there (sadly, I was supposed to visit in 2008, but our trip there was cancelled due to the political unrest at the time) – until then, I’ll be watching this film again.

Brad Pitt and Jamyang Jamtsho Wangchuk in Seven Years in Tibet (1997)
Source: IMDb

8 – THE GRAND BUDAPEST HOTEL – A quirky Wes Anderson film that romanticizes the historic era of Europe’s grand dame hotels.

The Grand Budapest Hotel (2014) - IMDb
Source: IMDb

9 – INTO THE WILD – John Krakauer’s novel based on the wandering life of Christopher McCandless was adapted into a film by Sean Penn in the early 2000s. For anyone craving a nature escape, this cinematography of Alaska’s wilderness is the perfect prescription.

Into the Wild (2007)
Source: IMDb

10 – WHERE’D YOU GO BERNADETTE – I watched this movie recently on a plane and I think I cried through most of it. It’s about a woman who has lost her way in life and sets off on a lone adventure to Antarctica to find herself again. I truly believe that travel gives us perspective – it changes us, it re-centers us – and we can live vicariously through Bernadette until we can set off on our own again.

Cate Blanchett in Where'd You Go, Bernadette (2019)
Source: IMDb

BONUS: HARRY POTTER SERIES – Sometimes we just need a complete escape from reality and I can think of no better place to go than Hogwarts.

Robbie Coltrane, Richard Harris, Rupert Grint, Daniel Radcliffe, Harry Taylor, and Emma Watson in Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone (2001)

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