Movies About Travel And Adventure

From Directors: Pete Docter, Bob Peterson, starring Edward Asner, Jordan Nagai, John Ratzenberger, Christopher Plummer
Rated PG

Up is an animated comedy-drama adventure film directed by Pete Docter and Bob Peterson. It follows 78-year-old Carl Fredricksen, a retired balloon salesman, who sets off with a house attached to thousands of balloons to the South American wilderness. Along the way, he meets 8-year-old Russell, a Wilderness Explorer stowaway. Together, they journey to Paradise Falls and encounter talking dogs, a giant bird, and an evil explorer. As they make their way through the jungle, they also learn to appreciate life and the beauty of friendship.

From Richard Linklater, starring Ethan Hawke, Julie Delpy, Andrea Eckert, Hanno Pöschl
Rated R

Before Sunrise is a 1995 romantic drama directed by Richard Linklater and starring Ethan Hawke and Julie Delpy. The story follows two young strangers, Jesse (Hawke) and Celine (Delpy), who meet on a train and spend a night in Vienna together. Despite both of them knowing that their time is limited, they develop a strong connection as they explore the city and share intimate conversations about life and love. They fall in love, and agree to meet in the same spot one year later. Before Sunrise is a timeless classic that captures the beauty of two people connecting and the bittersweet nature of love.

From Richard Linklater, starring Ethan Hawke, Julie Delpy, Vernon Dobtcheff, Louise Lemoine Torrès
Rated R

Before Sunset is a 2004 romantic drama film directed by Richard Linklater, and starring Ethan Hawke and Julie Delpy. The film is a sequel to Linklater's 1995 film Before Sunrise. The film follows Jesse, a young American writer, and Celine, a French woman, who, nine years after their chance meeting in Vienna, reunite in Paris. Jesse is on the last leg of his current book tour, while Celine is just finishing up a social activism project. As they spend the day together, they talk about their lives, their past and the potential of a future together. The film is a story of second chances and explores the possibilities of a relationship between two people who had a brief but intense connection nine years ago. With few obstacles standing in the way of their happily ever after, Jesse and Celine must decide if they will take the risk.

From Edward Zwick, starring Leonardo DiCaprio, Djimon Hounsou, Jennifer Connelly, Kagiso Kuypers
Rated R

Blood Diamond is a 2006 action-drama film directed by Edward Zwick and starring Leonardo DiCaprio, Djimon Hounsou, and Jennifer Connelly. Set during the Sierra Leone Civil War in 1999, the film follows a fisherman, Danny Archer (DiCaprio), who is trying to make his fortune by obtaining a rare pink diamond. He meets up with Solomon Vandy (Hounsou) and his family, who have been torn apart by the war. Solomon is searching for his son, Dia, who has been taken by the R.U.F. Diamond smugglers. Danny and Solomon join forces in a quest to recover the diamond and reunite Solomon with his son. Along the way, they confront many obstacles, including the dangers of the war, the greed of the diamond traders, and their own personal struggles for redemption. Despite the odds, they eventually find the diamond and rescue Dia. The film ends with a reminder that the diamond trade still exists, and with a call to action for the viewers to combat the problem.

From Mark N. Hopkins, starring Davinder Gill, Tom Krueger, Chris Brasher, Chiara Lepora
Rated Unrated

Living in Emergency is a 2008 documentary film directed by Mark N. Hopkins. The film follows four volunteer doctors working with the humanitarian organization Médecins Sans Frontières (Doctors Without Borders) in war-torn Liberia and Congo. It follows the personal and professional struggles of the doctors as they are faced with overwhelming challenges of treating the sick and injured in dangerous and chaotic conditions. The film highlights the spirit of volunteerism and the human capacity for resilience despite extreme conditions. It also examines the complexities of providing medical aid in conflict-ridden countries, as the doctors struggle to balance the need to save lives with the realities of their limited resources. The film was acclaimed by critics and won numerous awards, including a Special Jury Prize at the Tribeca Film Festival.

From Edward Zwick, starring Tom Cruise, Ken Watanabe, Billy Connolly, William Atherton
Rated R

The Last Samurai is a 2003 historical epic film directed by Edward Zwick and starring Tom Cruise. Set in Japan during the 1870s, the film tells the story of Nathan Algren, a Western military officer hired by the Emperor of Japan to train the country's first modern army to counter a growing rebellion of traditional samurai forces. Algren finds himself reluctantly impressed by the samurai's courage and code of honor and gradually forms a deep bond with the samurai, who teach him their ways. When the Emperor's forces eventually turn on the samurai, Algren must choose between loyalty to his old life and his newfound respect for the samurai and their cause. The film tells a story of honor, sacrifice, and courage in a clash between two vastly different worlds, and explores themes of cultural identity and the cost of war.

From Sofia Coppola, starring Bill Murray, Scarlett Johansson, Giovanni Ribisi, Anna Faris
Rated R

Lost in Translation is a 2003 romantic comedy-drama film directed, written, and produced by Sofia Coppola. It stars Bill Murray as an aging American movie star who has been cast in an advertisement shoot in Tokyo, and Scarlett Johansson as a recent college graduate who accompanies him. The two form a bond as both are dealing with feelings of alienation in a foreign land. Through their chance meetings and conversations, they find solace and understanding with each other in a city that neither of them can relate to. As the film progresses, the two develop a close friendship and eventually come to terms with their own personal struggles.

From Alfonso Cuarón, starring Maribel Verdú, Gael García Bernal, Daniel Giménez Cacho, Ana López Mercado
Rated R

Y tu mamá también is a 2001 Mexican drama film directed by Alfonso Cuarón and starring Diego Luna and Gael García Bernal. The film follows two teenage friends, Julio and Tenoch, who embark on a road trip with an older woman, Luisa, whom they both find attractive. Along the way they discover more about themselves, each other, and the world around them. The film is an exploration of friendship, love, coming of age, and the beauty of Mexico. It deals with themes of class, politics, and identity as the boys experience a journey of self-discovery.

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

Planes, Trains & Automobiles is a classic comedy directed by John Hughes. The movie follows Neal Page (Steve Martin), a high-strung advertising executive who desperately wants to get home to Chicago in time for Thanksgiving. He meets Del Griffith (John Candy), an eccentric and talkative shower curtain ring salesman, and the two embark on a hilarious, cross-country journey to make it home before the holiday. Along the way, the two encounter a series of misadventures, including car trouble, missed connections, an obnoxious car rental agent, and a run-in with the police. Ultimately, the two travelers come to appreciate each other's company and find a way to get home in time for the holiday.

From Cary Joji Fukunaga, starring Paulina Gaitan, Marco Antonio Aguirre, Leonardo Alonso, Karla Cecilia Alvarado
Rated R

Sin Nombre is a drama/thriller set in Central America. It tells the story of Sayra, a young Honduran girl caught in a cross-border journey to the United States, and Willy, a young Mexican gang member, who are both in search of a better life. Along the way, they must deal with treacherous criminals, corrupt officials, and unpredictable weather. Despite their differences, they form a bond and help each other survive the dangerous journey. As they get closer to their destination, they must confront their pasts and the harsh realities of the world they inhabit. The film explores themes of family, identity, and hope in the face of extreme adversity.

From Fernando Meirelles, starring Ralph Fiennes, Rachel Weisz, Danny Huston, Hubert Koundé
Rated R

From Peter Weir, starring Jim Sturgess, Ed Harris, Colin Farrell, Dragos Bucur
Rated PG-13

From Woody Allen, starring Rebecca Hall, Scarlett Johansson, Javier Bardem, Christopher Evan Welch
Rated PG-13

From John Jeffcoat, starring Josh Hamilton, Ayesha Dharker, Asif Basra, Matt Smith
Rated PG-13

From Robert Zemeckis, starring Michael Douglas, Kathleen Turner, Danny DeVito, Zack Norman
Rated PG

From Danny Boyle, starring Leonardo DiCaprio, Tilda Swinton, Daniel York, Patcharawan Patarakijjanon
Rated R

From Martin Campbell, starring Clive Owen, Angelina Jolie, Linus Roache, Teri Polo
Rated R

From Jonathan Kaplan, starring Claire Danes, Kate Beckinsale, Bill Pullman, Jacqueline Kim
Rated PG-13