Movies About Route 66

From Robert Zemeckis, starring Tom Hanks, Robin Wright, Gary Sinise, Sally Field
Rated PG-13

Forrest Gump is a 1994 American comedy-drama film directed by Robert Zemeckis and based on the 1986 novel of the same name by Winston Groom. The film stars Tom Hanks as Forrest Gump, a slow-witted but kind-hearted man from Alabama who witnesses and unwittingly influences several defining historical events in the 20th century in the United States. The story depicts his epic journey of unconditional love, devotion to his childhood friend Jenny Curran, and his experiences with the people, places, and events of the world during the turbulent times of the 1950s through the 1970s. Through Forrest’s eyes, the film examines the issues of racism, patriotism, and the loss of innocence, as Forrest has been part of some of the most memorable events of the 20th century. The film was a critical and commercial success, grossing over US$677 million worldwide during its theatrical run, becoming the highest-grossing film of 1994, and winning the Academy Awards for Best Picture, Best Director, Best Actor for Hanks, Best Adapted Screenplay, and Best Visual Effects.

From Michael Curtiz, starring Humphrey Bogart, Ingrid Bergman, Paul Henreid, Claude Rains
Rated PG

Casablanca is a 1942 romantic drama directed by Michael Curtiz, starring Humphrey Bogart and Ingrid Bergman. Set during World War II in the Moroccan city of Casablanca, the story follows American expatriate Rick Blaine (Bogart) as he reunites with his former lover Ilsa Lund (Bergman) while helping her husband, resistance leader Victor Laszlo (Paul Henreid), escape from the Nazis. Along the way, Rick's loyalty is tested when he is forced to choose between his love for Ilsa and his sense of duty to the cause of the Allied powers. The film features a memorable cast of supporting characters, including the scheming police captain Louis Renault (Claude Rains), the jaded house piano player Sam (Dooley Wilson), and the worldly-wise figure of Signor Ferrari (Sydney Greenstreet). With its timeless themes of love, loyalty, and sacrifice, Casablanca is widely considered to be one of the greatest films of all time.

From Directors: Ethan Coen, Joel Coen, starring Tommy Lee Jones, Javier Bardem, Josh Brolin, Woody Harrelson
Rated R

No Country for Old Men is a 2007 American neo-Western crime thriller film directed by Joel and Ethan Coen and written by Joel and Ethan Coen, based on Cormac McCarthy's 2005 novel of the same name. The film follows a hunter (Josh Brolin) who stumbles upon a drug deal gone wrong and a bag of drug money. He finds himself pursued by a psychopathic hitman (Javier Bardem) as he attempts to keep the money secured. The film also stars Tommy Lee Jones, Woody Harrelson, and Kelly Macdonald. Set in 1980, the film follows the intersecting story-lines of various characters in the Texas desert. The film received critical acclaim and the Coen brothers won the Academy Award for Best Picture and Best Director, becoming the first duo to win both awards. It was also awarded the 2007 Palme d'Or at the Cannes Film Festival, making it the first American-made film to ever win the prestigious award.

From John Ford, starring Henry Fonda, Jane Darwell, John Carradine, Charley Grapewin
Rated Passed

The Grapes of Wrath is a 1940 American drama film directed by John Ford, based on John Steinbeck's 1939 Pulitzer Prize-winning novel of the same name. The film follows the Joad family, who, after being forced from their farm, migrate to California in search of a better life. The family suffers numerous hardships during their journey, including a devastating drought and the harsh realities of the migrant labor system. The film is told through the eyes of Tom Joad, the eldest son, and his experiences provide a microcosm of the larger narrative. The film is considered a landmark for social realism and remains one of the most acclaimed films ever made.

From Billy Wilder, starring Kirk Douglas, Jan Sterling, Robert Arthur, Porter Hall
Rated Approved

Ace in the Hole is a 1951 American drama film directed by Billy Wilder and starring Kirk Douglas as Charles Tatum. Tatum is a down-on-his-luck journalist who discovers a man trapped in a cave. In a desperate attempt to revive his career and make money, he exploits the man's plight, turning it into a media circus. As the situation escalates, Tatum begins to care less about the man and more about his own success, leading to tragic consequences. The film is a scathing critique of the media and its tendency to place profit and sensationalism above human life.

From Wim Wenders, starring Harry Dean Stanton, Nastassja Kinski, Dean Stockwell, Sam Berry
Rated R

Paris, Texas is a critically acclaimed drama directed by Wim Wenders and starring Harry Dean Stanton, Nastassja Kinski, and Dean Stockwell. The film follows the story of Travis, a drifter who has been missing for four years. After being found in a Texas desert, he is reunited with his brother Walt and young son Hunter, whom he had left behind. As Travis reconnects with his family, he also uncovers the secrets of his past. His estranged wife Jane is also trying to move on with her life and is not sure she is ready for a reunion. Through a journey of self-discovery, Travis learns to accept his own faults and to forgive his wife. Along the way, he and his family are able to reconnect and build a stronger bond. The film is a striking meditation on love, loss, and redemption, and has been praised for its stunning cinematography and captivating performances.

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 yuppie, 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 beloved 1949 Buick Roadmaster convertible and Raymond, the first time Charlie has ever taken responsibility for another human being. Throughout the film, Charlie learns to appreciate Raymond's gifts, such as his uncanny mathematical abilities, and to accept the fact that he cannot change Raymond or his condition. The film was a critical and commercial success, and grossed over $354 million worldwide against a budget of $25 million, becoming the highest-grossing film of 1988. It also won four Academy Awards, including Best Picture, Best Original Screenplay, Best Director, and Best Actor for Hoffman's portrayal of Raymond.

From John Landis, starring John Belushi, Dan Aykroyd, Cab Calloway, John Candy
Rated R

The Blues Brothers is a 1980 musical comedy film directed by John Landis. It stars John Belushi and Dan Aykroyd as "Joliet" Jake and Elwood Blues, characters developed from "The Blues Brothers" musical sketches on the NBC variety series Saturday Night Live. The two are on a "mission from God" to save the Catholic orphanage in which they were raised. To do so, they must reunite their blues band and organize a performance to earn $5,000 to pay the orphanage's tax bill. Along the way, they are targeted by a destructive "mystery woman", neo-Nazis, and the Illinois State Police. The film was met with critical and commercial success, grossing over $115 million in the United States. It has since become a cult classic.

From Jim Jarmusch, starring Tom Waits, John Lurie, Roberto Benigni, Nicoletta Braschi
Rated R

Down by Law is a 1986 black-and-white independent comedy-drama film directed by Jim Jarmusch and starring Tom Waits, John Lurie, and Roberto Benigni. It follows the story of three characters: Jack (Waits), an unemployed disc jockey; Zack (Lurie), a pimp; and Roberto (Benigni), an Italian tourist who speak no English. The three characters are arrested and thrown in jail, where they must learn to work together in order to escape. Along the way, they encounter a variety of colorful characters, learn valuable life lessons, and find themselves in increasingly absurd and comical situations. In the end, they are able to escape and the film ends with the three of them walking down the road together.

From Steven Spielberg, starring Dennis Weaver, Jacqueline Scott, Eddie Firestone, Lou Frizzell
Rated PG

Duel is a 1971 American action thriller film written by Richard Matheson and directed by Steven Spielberg in his feature film directorial debut. Starring Dennis Weaver, the plot depicts a terrifying battle of wits between a lone motorist and a mysterious tanker truck. The film follows a businessman, who, driving a Plymouth Valiant, is stalked on a remote and lonely road in California by a menacing and seemingly-unstoppable tanker truck. As the confrontation between the two drivers escalates, the businessman soon realizes his anonymous tormentor's true motive. The film received positive reviews from critics, who praised Spielberg for his skillful direction, Matheson's screenplay, and Weaver's performance. It was also a commercial success and gained a cult following. It is considered one of the greatest films of all time, and a landmark of the early 1970s New Hollywood era.

From Martin Brest, starring Robert De Niro, Charles Grodin, Yaphet Kotto, John Ashton
Rated R

Midnight Run is a 1988 action comedy directed by Martin Brest, starring Robert De Niro and Charles Grodin. The film follows the story of bounty hunter Jack Walsh (De Niro) who is hired to take a mob accountant, Jonathan "The Duke" Mardukas (Grodin) from New York to Los Angeles. Walsh and Mardukas must make it to L.A. in four days in order for Walsh to collect the $100,000 bounty. Along the way, the pair get caught up in a series of misadventures, including being chased by the mob, the police, and a rival bounty hunter. In the end, Walsh and Mardukas make it to L.A., and Walsh collects his reward.

From Jim Jarmusch, starring Johnny Depp, Gary Farmer, Crispin Glover, Lance Henriksen
Rated R

Dead Man is a 1995 independent film directed by Jim Jarmusch. Set during the 19th century, the film follows William Blake (Johnny Depp), a recently-deceased accountant from Cleveland who embarks on a spiritual journey across the American frontier. Along the way, he meets a Native American, Nobody (Gary Farmer), who believes Blake is a reincarnation of the English poet of the same name. Nobody guides Blake on his journey, crossing paths with myriad characters, from assassins to prostitutes, as they traverse the wilderness and experience the beauty of the American landscape. Blake eventually finds himself in a climactic gunfight with a notorious bounty hunter, furthering his metaphorical transformation from accountant to poet.

From Ridley Scott, starring Susan Sarandon, Geena Davis, Harvey Keitel, Michael Madsen
Rated R

Thelma & Louise is a 1991 American road film directed by Ridley Scott and written by Callie Khouri. The film follows two best friends, Thelma (Geena Davis) and Louise (Susan Sarandon), who set out on a short vacation to escape their mundane lives in Arkansas. When they stop at a roadside honky-tonk, they experience a violent act of sexual assault by a stranger, which leads to a life-changing journey as they attempt to outrun the law. Along the way, they pick up a hitchhiker (Brad Pitt) and eventually become popular outlaws, gaining confidence and a sense of freedom. As their situation worsens and the law closes in, the two realize that they must make some difficult decisions about their lives and about the relationship between them. Thelma & Louise ultimately becomes an iconic story of two rebels in search of their own freedom.

From Clint Eastwood, starring Kevin Costner, Clint Eastwood, Laura Dern, T.J. Lowther
Rated PG-13

A Perfect World is a 1993 crime drama directed by Clint Eastwood. The story follows escaped convict Butch Haynes (Kevin Costner) and his hostage, a young boy named Phillip Perry (T.J. Lowther). Butch and Phillip embark on a road trip through Texas, where they form an unlikely bond. As they evade the police, Butch protects the boy and teaches him how to survive in the wilderness. Meanwhile, an empathetic Texas Ranger (Clint Eastwood) tracks the two, determined to bring them to justice. As the lives of Butch, Phillip, and the Ranger intersect, the film explores themes of justice, redemption, and the power of human connection.

From Percy Adlon, starring Marianne Sägebrecht, CCH Pounder, Jack Palance, Christine Kaufmann
Rated PG

From Dennis Hopper, starring Peter Fonda, Dennis Hopper, Jack Nicholson, Antonio Mendoza
Rated R

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

From Directors: John Lasseter, Joe Ranft, starring Owen Wilson, Bonnie Hunt, Paul Newman, Larry the Cable Guy
Rated G

From Oliver Stone, starring Woody Harrelson, Juliette Lewis, Tom Sizemore, Rodney Dangerfield
Rated R

From Monte Hellman, starring James Taylor, Warren Oates, Laurie Bird, Dennis Wilson
Rated R

From David Lynch, starring Nicolas Cage, Laura Dern, Willem Dafoe, J.E. Freeman
Rated R

From Francis Ford Coppola, starring C. Thomas Howell, Matt Dillon, Ralph Macchio, Patrick Swayze
Rated PG

From Directors: John Ford, Henry Hathaway, George Marshall, Richard Thorpe, starring James Stewart, John Wayne, Gregory Peck, Henry Fonda
Rated G

From John Carpenter, starring Jeff Bridges, Karen Allen, Charles Martin Smith, Richard Jaeckel
Rated PG

From Dominic Sena, starring Brad Pitt, Juliette Lewis, Kathy Larson, David Milford
Rated R