Movies About Road Trips

From Sean Penn, starring Emile Hirsch, Vince Vaughn, Catherine Keener, Marcia Gay Harden
Rated R

"Into the Wild" is a 2007 biographical drama film written, co-produced, and directed by Sean Penn. The film stars Emile Hirsch as Christopher McCandless, a young man who gives up all of his possessions and travels throughout the United States and Mexico in search of a more meaningful life. Along the way, he meets a variety of people, some of whom are helpful, while others are not. As his journey continues, McCandless eventually makes his way to Alaska, where he attempts to survive in the wilderness alone. However, his inexperience and lack of preparation lead to his eventual death. The film follows his story, as well as the people he meets along the way, and examines the many broader themes of society, nature, and the individual's place in it.

From Barry Levinson, starring Dustin Hoffman, Tom Cruise, Valeria Golino, Gerald R. Molen
Rated R

Rain Man is a 1988 American road comedy-drama film directed by Barry Levinson and written by Barry Morrow and Ronald Bass. It tells the story of an abrasive and selfish young wheeler-dealer, Charlie Babbitt (Tom Cruise), who discovers that his estranged father has died and bequeathed all of his multimillion-dollar estate to his other son, Raymond (Dustin Hoffman), an autistic savant, of whose existence Charlie was unaware. Charlie is left with only his father's car and the mystery of his father's past. Charlie and Raymond set out on a cross-country trip from Los Angeles to Cincinnati to get to the bank that manages the estate in order to gain control of the money. Along the way, the two brothers find common ground as they learn to trust and care for each other. The film was a commercial success, grossing over $418 million worldwide, winning four Academy Awards (including Best Picture, Best Original Screenplay, Best Actor for Hoffman, and Best Director for Levinson), and it became the highest-grossing film of 1988. It has since become one of the most acclaimed films of its decade and is considered one of the best films of the 1980s.

From John Hughes, starring Steve Martin, John Candy, Laila Robins, Michael McKean
Rated R

Planes, Trains & Automobiles is a 1987 American comedy film written, produced and directed by John Hughes. The film stars Steve Martin as Neal Page and John Candy as Del Griffith. Neal Page is a high-strung marketing executive trying to get home to Chicago for Thanksgiving. Del Griffith is a relentlessly friendly, but clumsy and irritating shower curtain ring salesman who inadvertently causes Neal to miss his flight home. Forced to travel together, the two eventually develop an unlikely friendship as they embark on a cross-country journey involving planes, trains, automobiles, and other modes of transportation. Along the way, they encounter a number of comedic situations. Through it all, the two men eventually come to appreciate each other's company and form a bond.

From Terry Gilliam, starring Johnny Depp, Benicio Del Toro, Tobey Maguire, Michael Lee Gogin
Rated R

Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas is a 1998 American black comedy film directed by Terry Gilliam and starring Johnny Depp, Benicio del Toro, Ellen Barkin, and Tobey Maguire. The film is based on Hunter S. Thompson's 1971 novel of the same name, which is a semi-autobiographical account of Thompson's experiences in Las Vegas in 1971. The film follows Raoul Duke (Depp) and his lawyer, Dr. Gonzo (del Toro), as they drive to Las Vegas in a red convertible to cover a motorcycle race for a magazine. Along the way, the two consume a variety of drugs and experience a number of bizarre phenomena, such as hallucinatory visions, paranoia, and extreme paranoia. Once in Vegas, they quickly become embroiled in a number of chaotic and often dangerous situations, such as a run-in with a police officer, a barroom fight, and an encounter with a gun-toting drug dealer. As their drug-addled minds wander, they make more and more bizarre decisions and find themselves at the mercy of the chaotic and often surreal landscape of Las Vegas.

From Harold Ramis, starring Chevy Chase, Beverly D'Angelo, Imogene Coca, Randy Quaid
Rated R

From Peter Segal, starring Chris Farley, David Spade, Brian Dennehy, Bo Derek
Rated PG-13

From Rawson Marshall Thurber, starring Jason Sudeikis, Jennifer Aniston, Emma Roberts, Ed Helms
Rated R

From Danny Leiner, starring John Cho, Kal Penn, Ethan Embry, Rob Tinkler
Rated R

From Tim Burton, starring Paul Reubens, Elizabeth Daily, Mark Holton, Diane Salinger
Rated PG

From Directors: Jeff Schaffer, Alec Berg, David Mandel, starring Scott Mechlowicz, Jacob Pitts, Michelle Trachtenberg, Travis Wester
Rated R

From Todd Phillips, starring Breckin Meyer, Seann William Scott, Amy Smart, Paulo Costanzo
Rated R

From Todd Phillips, starring Robert Downey Jr., Zach Galifianakis, Michelle Monaghan, Jamie Foxx
Rated R

From Amy Heckerling, starring Chevy Chase, Beverly D'Angelo, Dana Hill, Jason Lively
Rated PG-13

From Directors: John Francis Daley, Jonathan Goldstein, starring Ed Helms, Christina Applegate, Skyler Gisondo, Steele Stebbins
Rated R

From Thomas K. Avildsen, starring Toni Attell, Mike Bacarella, Billy Beck, Don Bovingloh
Rated R

From Walt Becker, starring Tim Allen, Martin Lawrence, John Travolta, William H. Macy
Rated PG-13

From Seth Gordon, starring Jason Bateman, Melissa McCarthy, John Cho, Amanda Peet
Rated R

From Barry Sonnenfeld, starring Robin Williams, Cheryl Hines, Kristin Chenoweth, JoJo
Rated PG

From Matthew Weiner, starring Owen Wilson, Zach Galifianakis, Amy Poehler, Laura Ramsey
Rated R

From Mort Nathan, starring Cuba Gooding Jr., Horatio Sanz, Roselyn Sanchez, Vivica A. Fox
Rated R

From Brian Levant, starring Ice Cube, Nia Long, Aleisha Allen, Philip Bolden
Rated PG

From Roger Kumble, starring Raven-Symoné, Martin Lawrence, Kym Whitley, Adam LeFevre
Rated G