Movies like Eat Pray Love ignites travel and self-discovery in you, makes you appreciate solitude and self-care. We picked 17 best wanderlust movies to inspire you today.
Self-discovery is such an important element in our lives. It is essential that we set aside time to ponder and get in touch with our inner self: our soul. When I travel in an aircraft, that place becomes my comfort pod and I am the most creative and inspired at that time. When I am not traveling, a short walk helps too.
17 Best Wanderlust movies like Eat Pray Love
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In the post we have highlighted options for renting or buying the DVD/blu ray from Amazon. Trailer snippets are included so that you can get a dose of wanderlust right away!
Under the Tuscan Sun
Under the Tuscan Sun is a romantic comedy-drama movie, based on the book of the same name. In the film, Frances Mayes, a 35-year-old San Francisco writer, divorces and leaves her when she learns about him/his cheating.
Depressed and unable to write, she buys a villa in Tuscany, Italy to change her life for good. She enjoys her new life, explores Italy, and finally falls in love again.
Wild
Wild is an adventure drama film, based on the travel memoir of Cheryl Strayed Wild: From Lost to Found on the Pacific Crest Trail.
Reese Witherspoon stars as who with a large backpack, embarks on a one thousand one hundred mile solo hike undertaken as a way to recover from a recent personal tragedy.
She had no experience of hiking prior to her trip but decides to come out of her comfort zone and take on the Pacific Crest Trail alone. The movie captures the terrors and wins of the solo hiker fighting all odds to continue her journey, ultimately healing her emotional wounds throughout the process.
Vicky Cristina Barcelona
Two friends – Vicky (Rebecca Hall) and Cristina (Scarlett Johansson) – from the US go on a summer trip to Barcelona Spain. During their stay, they meet a charming writer and decide to spend time with him.
Very soon, his former lover steps in, flying sparks all over, in the house. This movie is a fun romantic comedy genre, with locations set in the stunning Spanish city and their cultural nuances.
The Motorcycle Diaries
The Motorcycle Diaries is a biopic showcasing subtle stories about Socialism and the life of Ernesto Guevara. I watched this film when I was 16 and still is one of my favorite travel movies that inspires wanderlust in me.
Nomadic, vagabond style existed decades ago when ‘gap year’ was not even a thing. In this movie (based on the book of the same name), 23-year-old Ernesto Guevara embarks on a road trip with his friend Alberto Granado to South America.
The film recounts the story and self-discovery of Che, as a leader, where he witnessed injustices, social and economic disparity, and destitute of the poor. The 1952 expedition of Che, as a wanderer, make him appreciate Latin American culture. Che is a Cuban hero, but his association and support to the Latin Americans have gone down in history and something that eventually took his life.
One Week
One week is a Canadian drama film, that features some of the amazing Canadian landscapes from coast to coast, whilst narrating the life story of Ben Tyler (Joshua Jackson) who is diagnosed with cancer.
Ben upon his diagnosis decides to take a motorcycle road trip from Toronto across Canada to Vancouver Island. He rekindles his relationship with his fiances and sparks his dream of becoming a writer.
A perfect movie with drama, stunning cinematography and a heart-touching story!
Into The Wild
Into the Wild is an amazing biographical adventure drama, depicting the story of Christopher McCandless, a man who hiked across North America into the Alaskan wilderness in the early 1990s. It is adapted from a novel of the same name.
The main protagonist, Christopher McCandless, a young graduate, renounces all his worldly possessions and hitchhikes across the Americas into a journey of self-discovery and wanderlust. Throughout the story (and his journey), Christopher grows as a person as he encounters several situations that left an indelible mark on him.
The Secret Life of Walter Mitty
The Secret Life is Walter Mitty, brings a mixed bag of emotions. For one, we believe in facing setbacks head-on; and do not actively seek escapist mechanisms to deal with life issues.
Having said that, Ben Stiller brings forth and portrays that ‘feeling’ of breaking away, and getting into the new world – fun-filled and packed with adventure.
The story unfolds as the protagonist living a dull life dreams to an action-filled scenario/s to escape from monotony. Later when his own job is threatened, he sets out on a real romantic and action-packed journey. Definitely, a ‘feel-good’ movie, with a fun dose of wanderlust!
Away We Go
Away we go is a romantic comedy film, wherein the two protagonists travel in various places in the US, to find a place to live. It is an interesting movie that depicts the struggles of the couple, in their early thirties living in Denver, Colorado. Their story can be understood and compared to an expat living in a new city.
While looking for help and adjusting to a new life and living, they end up visiting Phoenix, Tuscan, Madison, and Montreal Canada.
Away we go – goes on to showcase various locations in the US, while depicting the everyday struggles of the couple and raising a child.
Midnight in Paris
Ooh..for Paris lovers! This is a must-watch. Midnight in Paris is another Woody Allen movie, set in Parisian lanes. In this romantic comedy, Gil Pender (Owen Wilson) arrives with his fiancee and her family in Paris for a vacation, while trying to finish his debut novel.
During this time, Gil evaluates this relationship with his fiance and their divergent goals, and this exaggerates as he travels back in time each night at midnight.
Paris, as mesmerizing as ever, captures his attention, and takes him to a time past, away from his fiancee. The movie explores themes of nostalgia and modernism.
The Longest Ride
The Longest Ride is a romantic drama film, based on the bestselling novel by master storyteller Nicholas Sparks. The movie centers on the star-crossed love affair between Luke, (former champion bull rider) and Sophia, (a college student). Sophia is about to embark upon her dream job in New York City’s art world.
This movie is unique, where the two protagonists unravel and grow in their own characters, over time. It showcases that love requires sacrifice, and the movie depicts a happy ever after’ (spoiler).
And the most beautiful part of the film was how their stories were presented simultaneously – their struggles and appreciations. Not to forget, the beautiful locations where the movie is shot, brings delight.
Everything Is Illuminated
‘Everything is illuminated’ is based on the novel of the same name. It is a comedy drama movie, and it uncovers the story of a person who travels from America to Ukraine to trace his Jewish family roots, who were wiped out in the World War by Nazis.
The movie has subtle humour, yet it touches the core of human agony and separation during and after wars.
The young man traces the woman who saved his grandfather in a small Ukrainian town, and returns home to the US with memorabilia.
The movie is a good watch for history and film buffs. Its rate on Rotten Tomatoes is 70%.
The Way
A heartfelt movie, The Way, celebrates life goals and its pursuit in a unique way. The film showcases the journey of an American father who travels to France to retrieve the body of his estranged son. The son died while attempting the pilgrimage to Spain’s Santiago de Compostela.
The father, played by Martin Sheen, resolves to take on his son’s unfinished journey himself.The film honors the Camino de Santiago and promotes the traditional pilgrimage in Spain. It showcases stories of struggles traveling in a group and adapting or coping with it.
In the end, the father arrives at the pilgrimage and appreciates the journey and lessons learned. Very soon, he embarks on another expedition – this time to Morocco.
Love Actually
Love Actually is my all-time favorite Christmas themed, romance and wanderlust movie. What keeps me pulling to this movie are the wonderful scenes and locations in London and nearby areas.
The movie is played by British actors, where eight London couples try to deal with their relationships in different ways. Their individual stories and struggles in relationships make them discover how complicated people and love can be.
The Bucket List
The Bucket List is a wonderful story of two terminally ill men, friends who embark on a journey to explore life, with only six months to live. They create a bucket list of all the things they have never tried before, and set forth to accomplish them.
When I watch a movie or learn of a true story of this kind, it makes me think how important ‘time on hand’ is, and it shouldn’t be wasted. Keep at it, and check off all of your bucketlist items.
The Darjeeling Limited
The Darjeeling Limited is set in eastern India, showcasing the train journey of three brothers across the country. In the movie, the characters evolve, as they intropect their lives after their father;s death, and rediscover their lost bond.
An incredible movie, this will make you visit India even more.
Under the Moon
Under The Same Moon is a story of a Mexican-American, Carlitos, who desperately tries to unite with his mother who illegally works in the US.
It speaks volumes on illegal immigration in the country. Carlitos is only 9 and he tries to cross the Mexican border after his grandmother passed away. His struggles and the relevance of the movie make it a definite must-see.
The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel
Of the many travel films shot in India, The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel is special. Shot in the village of Khempur in India, the movie delights with beautiful images of Udaipur and the grand palace of a tribal chieftain, now a hotel.
This travel movie revolves around the lives of seven British tourists who come to Jaipur on a holiday. It portrays how their lives intertwine with their host, and their dreams and ambitions.
That’s a wrap. We hope you enjoyed this list of wanderlust movies like Eat Pray Love. Have you watched any of these movies? What’s in your list to watch today?
Updated Date – April 30 2020
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