Best movies about travel to stream during quarantine

By Neia Balao 8:49am PDT, May 8, 2020

Wouldn't a vacation be great right about now? Unfortunately, while we're stuck at home, the only suitable way to escape to paradise is virtually. Join Wonderwall.com as we take a look at the best movies about travel to watch while quarantining… starting with this beloved flick starring Hilary Duff. When "The Lizzie McGuire Movie" debuted in 2003, fans were given the opportunity to see Lizzie in a brand-new setting, Rome, while on a trip with her classmates and (really intense) future high school principal. From Gordo being the best friend ever for covering for Lizzie while she snuck out to spend time with another guy (our hearts!) to Lizzie and Kate finally setting aside their differences to Lizzie performing at the Colosseum with her doppelgänger, the memorable moments were endless in this teen rom-com. What we'll be doing for the rest of the day: listening to "What Dreams are Made of" and desperately hoping that Lizzie and Gordo finally got together in high school. Keep reading for more movies that take us on a much-needed vacation…

"Lost in Translation"

Considering its wildly impressive list of accolades — it received four Academy Award nominations including best actor for Bill Murray and best picture, director and original screenplay for filmmaker Sofia Coppola, who won the writing Oscar — we aren't the only ones who think this film is exceptional. 2003's "Lost in Translation" centers on the friendship between two Americans who find themselves in Japan — middle-aged actor Bob Harris (Bill(, who's there to film an advertisement for Suntory whiskey, and college graduate Charlotte (Scarlett Johansson), who's there with her husband on business. Set against the beautiful backdrop of Tokyo's bright lights and bustling streets, the film expertly explores loneliness and cultural barriers and how one person can make even the most dire circumstances a bit more tolerable. Over the course of their time together, Bob and Charlotte venture around the city and experience the culture, from running around the streets of Shinjuku to serenading one another at a local karaoke bar. If you have yet to see it, consider this a prime opportunity.

"Midnight in Paris"

This 2011 film delves into aspects of time travel, but that doesn't make it any less enchanting. "Midnight in Paris" centers on passionate screenwriter and aspiring novelist Gil Pender's (Owen Wilson) trip to Paris with his fiancée (Rachel McAdams). While in the City of Light, he embarks on a journey in which he revisits the locations Parisian creatives of the past were known to have frequented — though one night, he comes across a car full of these French icons and is consequently taken back in time to spend an unforgettable evening with them. There, in the company of 1920s literati, Gil experiences Paris in a way he'd never imagined.

"Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants"

If you don't annually rewatch this film, what are you doing? When "Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants" came out in 2005, girls who'd read the Ann Brashares novel of the same name flocked to theaters to watch its wanderlust film adaptation. The travel aspect of the film is clear: Best friends Lena (Alexis Bledel), Tibby (Amber Tamblyn), Carmen (America Ferrera) and Bee (Blake Lively) are about to embark on their first summer apart, so they decide to mail around a pair of magical pants that fit each of them, along with a note chronicling their respective adventures. The film delightfully takes us around the world, from Maryland to Greece to South Carolina to Mexico, and into the lives of this eclectic group of friends. "Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants" is a feel-good film that transports us to a time that, for many, feels so long ago — a carefree, blissful period characterized by travel, exploration and connecting with our closest friends.

"The Secret Life of Walter Mitty"

Looking for a film to wholeheartedly satisfy your wanderlust? Look no further. "The Secret Life of Walter Mitty," which debuted in 2013, centers on daydreaming Life magazine employee Walter Mitty, who finds himself on an adventure that transcends his own imagination. In an effort to miraculously recover a valuable photo slide from photojournalist Sean O'Connell (Sean Penn) that has gone missing, Walter ventures across the world — from Manhattan to Greenland to Iceland to the Himalayas — to reclaim it. Fantastical, unpredictable and awe-inspiring, this is a film that'll have even the most disinclined travelers eager to embark on an adventure.

"Before Sunrise"

Richard Linklater expertly managed to craft a trilogy that showed two strangers slowly falling in love. The series kicks off with the lovely 1995 indie film "Before Sunrise," which stars a young Ethan Hawke and a fresh-faced Julie Delpy as two people who meet and engage in thoughtful conversation while wandering along the cobblestone streets of Vienna. Just as Paris does nine years later in "Before Sunset" and Messenia, Greece, does nine years after that in "Before Midnight," Vienna plays a crucial role in "Before Sunrise." The whole "Before" trilogy uses travel as a means of self-exploration and self-fulfillment.

"Crossroads"

While it's far from the best film we've ever seen, there are some great things to be said about this 2002 road-trip drama starring Britney Spears. "Crossroads" follows Lucy Wagner (Britney Spears) and her two best friends, Kit (Zoe Saldana) and Mimi (Taryn Manning), as they embark on a road trip to Los Angeles to fulfill the wishes they'd buried in their high school dream box. Mimi wishes to go for an audition, Kit wants to visit her husband to be and Lucy hopes to locate her estranged mother in Arizona. It isn't without its flaws, but "Crossroads" makes for a nostalgic, quintessentially '00s watch (recall Britney's karaoke bar rendition of "I Love Rock 'n' Roll"). It did a pretty commendable job of capturing the essence of free-spirited 20-somethings venturing across the country in search of long-awaited answers to high school-posed questions.

"Toy Story 4"

The most recent installment in the "Toy Story" franchise saw our beloved toys on yet another adventure. 2019's "Toy Story 4" takes place directly after the third film and follows Woody, Buzz Lightyear and their eclectic group of companions as they venture on a family RV road trip where they search for a lost toy, reunite with an old friend and say some unexpected goodbyes. With all of its feel-good nostalgia, this film's a real delight to watch unfold.

"Call Me By Your Name"

Luca Guadagnino's "Call Me By Your Name" is like a love letter to the Italian countryside: from bike rides through Piazza del Duomo to visits to Lake Garda and Laghetto dei Riflessi to breakfasts of soft-boiled eggs and freshly picked peaches. Timothee Chalamet and Armie Hammer star in the deeply moving 2017 film adaptation of André Aciman's novel that chronicles the beautiful yet complicated relationship between 17-year-old Elio and 24-year-old Oliver.

"Eat Pray Love"

Starring Julia Roberts, 2010's "Eat Pray Love" follows recent divorcée Liz Gilbert as she takes a leap of faith and embarks on a journey of self-discovery that takes her to Italy, India and Bali. Based on Elizabeth Gilbert's 2006 memoir of the same name, the biographical romantic drama succeeds in taking audiences on a globe-trotting adventure rooted in reinvigoration and self-identity.

"Under the Tuscan Sun"

Much like the aforementioned film, 2003's "Under the Tuscan Sun" follows a similar trajectory — it tells the story of Frances Mayes (Diane Lane), a newly divorced woman who buys a rural villa and moves to Italy after she finds out her husband has been cheating on her. From renovating her stunning new home to taking spontaneous day trips to the Amalfi Coast, the film leaves us longing to hop on the next available flight to Tuscany.

"Little Miss Sunshine"

There's something about this 2006 indie film that always gets us. Maybe it's the relatability of seeing a dysfunctional family naively embark on a chaotic road trip, or how beautifully broken each of its characters are. The dialogue in "Little Miss Sunshine" feels lived — and the film manages to find the perfect balance between pain and triumph. A moment we'll never forget: when 7 year-old Olive (Abigail Breslin) is finally able to perform on stage at the Little Miss Sunshine pageant.

"Up"

It takes a special kind of film to make audiences of all ages weep. The heart-wrenching 2009 movie "Up" film centers on the relationship between reclusive senior citizen Carl (voiced by Ed Asner) and boy scout Russell as they become friends and journey to South America together in Carl's balloon-mobilized house. "Up," while fantastical in some respects, also has a beautiful ability to ground us.

"Up in the Air"

2009's "Up in the Air" tells the story of Ryan (George Clooney) , an "expert downsizer" who flies across the country informing people that they've lost their jobs. He's content with this life, since it allows him the opportunity to constantly travel and collect frequent flyer points. Just as he's on the cusp of attaining a million miles — a longtime goal — young professional Natalie (Anna Kendrick) comes along and threatens the longevity of his career with an innovative idea that could see the elimination of needing to travel to downsize. Meanwhile, Ryan also meets Alex (Vera Farmiga), a woman who leads a transient life too, and the pair's deepening relationship throws his cherished lifestyle further into question.

"Sex and the City 2"

Leave it to Carrie (Sarah Jessica Parker) and her group of friends (played by Kim Cattrall, Kristin Davis, Cynthia Nixon) to embark on the vacation of a lifetime! "Sex and the City 2," which debuted in 2010, follows the New York City women as they venture to Abu Dhabi, where unexpected surprises — like a former flame — await them. The film also includes tons of famous familiar faces like Miley Cyrus, Tim Gunn, Penélope Cruz and Norm Lewis.

"Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again"

The 2018 sequel "Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again" simultaneously tells two stories — of past and present. One is set in 1979 and follows Donna (Lily James) as a recent Oxford University graduate who embarks on a thrilling journey across Europe, while the present-day story focuses on Sophie (Amanda Seyfried), Donna's (Meryl Streep) pregnant daughter who hopes to renovate a taverna as well as reunite her mother's old friends and flames on the Greek island of Kalokairi. The movie delivers as much feel-good and fun as the first installment — it'll have you dreaming of going to Greece!

"Wild"

Serious question: is there anything Reese Witherspoon can't do? 2014's "Wild" tells the story of Cheryl Strayed (Reese), a woman who finds herself spiraling out of control in the wake of her mother's (Laura Dern) death and the dissolution of her marriage. In an effort to piece her life back together, Cheryl sets out to hike the Pacific Crest Trail — one of America's most difficult trails — with virtually no outdoor experience. A film about nature, growth and taking risks, "Wild" is the perfect movie for anyone looking to get wildly inspired.

"Away We Go"

As they wait for their baby to arrive, Burt Farlander (John Krasinski) and Verona De Tessant (Maya Rudolph) embark on a journey across the United States in hopes of finding the perfect destination to raise their family and call home. Along the way, they experience all sorts of things — from a series of misadventures to reconnecting with familiar faces. As to be expected, John and Maya play their roles exceptionally. At its core, 2009's "Away We Go" is a film that explores the meaning of home and how subjective that definition may be.