What’s worse than being stuck with a crazy family or a rowdy stranger? Being stuck with them on the road. Roadtrip films are the ultimate theatrical metaphor for the journey of life. From adrenaline-induced thrills in Thelma & Louise to stomach-clenching laughs in We’re the Millers, the tender, unlikely friendships in Greenbook, and solitude in Nomadland, these films depict the meaning to life’s journeys.
These films remove the noise and force unlikely characters into tight quarters. It isn’t about the destination, but who you become during the journey. Starting from frustration, leading to revelations, peaking at a breakthrough, and eventually gratitude for the lessons learned along the way.
Buckle up as we share some of the most unforgettable road trip films in cinema.
We’re the Millers
A pot dealer in trouble is tasked by his supplier with smuggling a massive shipment of marijuana from Mexico into the U.S. To avoid suspicion at the border, he recruits a cynical stripper, a naive young boy, and a homeless teenager to pose as his wife and kids.
Director: Rawson Marshall Thurber / Starring: Jason Sudeikis, Jennifer Aniston, Emma Roberts, Will Poulter
Are We There Yet?
A bachelor offers to drive his girlfriend’s two children from Portland to Vancouver so they can join her for New Year’s Eve. What started off as a simple trip turns into a chaotic cross-country journey juggling the distinct personalities of the kids.
Director: Brian Levant / Starring: Ice Cube Nia Long, Aleisha Allen, Philip Daniel Bolden
Thelma & Louise
Best friends Thelma and Louise hit the road for a quick weekend getaway. What started as a simple drive turns into a life-altering trip when Louise shoots and kills a man who attempts to assault Thelma.
Director: Ridley Scott / Starring: Susan Sarandon, Geena Davis
Unpregnant
When a 17-year old finds out she’s pregnant, she realizes her home state doesn’t legally allow for abortions without parental consent. She convinces her friend to help her drive to New Mexico where the procedure is allowed.
Director: Rachel Lee Goldenberg / Starring: Haley Lu Richardson, Barbie Ferreira
Greenbook
Based on a true story, an African-American Musician (Dr. Don Shirley) hires an Itallian-American from the Bronx (Tony “Lip” Vallelonga) to become his driver on a concert tour through the segregated American South in 1960s. Using The Negro Motorist Green Book to find safe places to stay and eat, the two men embark on a journey that challenges both of their perspectives which changes them forever.
Director: Peter Farrelly / Starring: Mahershala Ali, Viggo Mortensen
Due Date
A high-strung architect, Peter Highman, plans to head home for the birth of his first child when an aspiring actor gets him placed on the no-fly list. The two are forced to work together and make it home in time for the birth of Peter’s child. A simple journey quickly becomes a chaotic race with an endless series of mishaps.
Director: Todd Phillips / Starring: Robert Downey Jr., Zach Galifianakis
Nomadland
After loosing her job during the Great Recession, a woman is forced to pack her bag and leave her hometown. She embarks on a journey as a nomad through the American West. From sweeping landscapes, the stories of real-life nomads, and intimate tones, the film depicts what it means to find a home and community outside of a physical address.
Director: Chloé Zhao / Starring: Frances McDormand
Dog
An Army Ranger is tasked with transporting a military dog, to the funeral of her handler, a fellow soldier. What was supposed to be a simple drive down the coast turns into a trip with unexpected detours, and the pair drive each other crazy eventually finding common ground and fostering a deep, heartfelt connection.
Director: Reid Carolin & Channing Tatum / Starring: Channing Tatum
Rain Man
A self-centered car dealer Charlie Babbitt learns that his recently deceased father left his multi-million-dollar estate to an older brother he never knew existed. His brother, an autistic man living in a care facility. he sets out to meet him. That brother, Raymond, is an incredibly smart autistic man living in a care facility. Charlie takes him on a cross-country trip in hopes of gaining control of the inheritance.
Director: Barry Levinson / Starring: Tom Cruise, Dustin Hoffman
Crossroads
Three childhood friends reunite after high school for a cross-country road trip that will change their lives.
Director: Tamra Davis / Starring: Britney Spears, Zoe Saldaña, Taryn Manning
