A staple of cinema for nearly a hundred years, the road movie often explores diverse places and their cultures while exploring what defines those places. In American cinema, the road movie often explores the concept of the American dream and what it might entail.
Many road films can capture the feeling of traveling in an environment that one knows or does not know and the fear of exploring a new place. Sometimes filmmakers choose to celebrate the environment it explores, while others choose to criticize it. Whatever the intention behind the film, the road movie is a timeless exploration of character and place.
ten Magic Mike XXL brings comedy to the Risqué series
Magic Mike XXL is the sequel to Steven Soderbergh’s critically acclaimed drama magic mike. The first film shows the audience the dark side of amateur erotic dance. The sequel, however, decides to lean into the fun side of the industry.
Magic Mike XXL follows the titular hero Mike as he and his team of erotic dancers, the Kings of Tampa, travel to Myrtle Beach for one last explosive retirement dance. Magic Mike XXL capitalizes on its fun premise of male strippers to bring fun camp and road trip diversions to the Tampa Kings story.
9 Road Trip takes the title
One of the defining teen films of the late 90s and 2000s, road trip follows a group of college students who run across the country to prevent an inappropriate tape from being seen by one of their girlfriends. The steamy comedy stars 90s icons Tom Green and Seann William Scott and comes from Ivan Reitman’s production company.
road trip marked the start of Todd Philips’ career as a comedic figure in the 2000s film scene. Philips would later go on to direct Old school and The Hangover Trilogy before making a serious turn with Joker, which earned him an Academy Award nomination for Best Director. Philips started with road tripwhich remains one of the most iconic road trip films of the modern era.
8 Dumb and Dumber introduced America to Jim Carrey
Stupid and even dumber follows two well-meaning models as they attempt to return a suitcase full of cash to its owner in Aspen, Colorado. The 1994 comedy was a box office hit and has become a cult classic.
One of the greatest comedies of the 90s, Stupid and even dumber defined the careers of everyone involved. The Farrelly Brothers became staples of the ’90s comedy scene after the film’s release. Jeff Daniels, previously known for his dramatic theatrical experience, has earned a lot of respect with his turn for the stupid in film. However, no one has been brought into the public eye more than Jim Carrey in the same year that The mask and As-Venture were released.
seven Pee-wee’s Great Adventure created icons
After the success of The Peewee Herman Showa movie featuring the iconic Groundlings character was inevitable. Peewee’s Big Adventure is an on-the-road movie starring Pee-wee Herman, who travels the country to rescue his stolen bike.
Peewee’s Big Adventure was originally conceived as a parody of the classic Italian film Bike thieves and featured the directorial debut of Tim Burton. The film was a critical and commercial success, allowing Burton to make beetle juice and Batman. The iconic character of Pee-Wee and the equally iconic style of Tim Burton make Peewee’s Big Adventure one of the most unique road trip films.
6 Borat is the anti-American road trip movie
One of the most striking examples of the mockumentary boom of the 2000s, Borate! Cultural Learnings of America to Benefit the Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan manages to critique erroneous American viewpoints while being a prime example of an American road movie.
Playing his iconic role as Borat, Sacha Baron Cohen travels the country to learn about American culture. Borat challenged the way America was heading politically. Become one of the most emblematic characters in the history of cinema, Borat established itself as the quintessential American road movie in a post-9/11 world.
5 Logan is a superhero road trip
Logan is the rare superhero road trip and crossover film. The dark superhero film follows Hugh Jackman in his final performance as Wolverine as he attempts to transport a young mutant somewhere she can be safe.
Logan starred as the finale of Hugh Jackman’s Wolverine and, at least at the time, Patrick Stewart’s Professor X. for other characters to see the same treatment.
4 It Happened One Night is one of the first road movies
One of the earliest examples of a road trip movie, It happened one nightis a 1930s pre-Code film. Directed by Hollywood legend Frank Capra, It happened one night Clark Gable and Claudette Colbert play two unfortunate strangers who must work together after being abandoned at a bus station.
It happened one night swept away at the Oscars. The film won Best Picture, Director, Actor, Actress and Writing, the first of only three films in history to win the famous “Big Five”. The film was so successful that an urban legend claims a shirtless scene featuring Clark Gable caused undershirt sales to plummet after the film’s release. A film with this level of impact is worth celebrating these days.
3 Almost Famous Picks The Road Trip Soundtrack
Not only one of the best road trip movies, almost known is one of the greatest musical films of all time. Cameron Crowe’s semi-autobiographical film follows a fifteen-year-old music lover who sneaks onto the famous rock band Stillwater’s tour bus under the guise of being a Rolling Stone reporter.
almost known showcases Cameron Crowe’s genuine love of music and his talent for writing in one of the greatest coming-of-age films of the 2000s. There is no travel scene on the road better or more typical than when everyone on the tour bus is singing little dancer together.
2 Planes, Trains and Automobiles is a matured film by John Hughes
One of the greatest comedies of the 80s, Planes, trains and automobiles features two comedy legends with Steve Martin playing a marketing executive who wants to come home for Thanksgiving and John Candy as the well-meaning man who often gets in the way of Martin. Planes, trains and automobiles is a rare adult-centric John Hughes film.
Released in 1987, Planes, trains and automobiles came after classic high school movies sixteen candles, Ferris Bueller’s day off, weird scienceand The breakfast club. Mature themes allow Planes, trains and automobiles stand out from the rest of Hughes’ filmography while maintaining his signature comedic style.
1 Y Tu Mamá También is a Mexican road movie par excellence
Y Tu Mama Tambien is a 2001 Mexican road movie directed by Alfonso Cuarón and starring Gael García Bernal and Deigo Luna. Bernal and Luna play two degenerate young men who convince an older woman, played by Maribel Verdú, to accompany them on a road trip to a beach that may or may not exist.
Y Tu Mama Tambien acts as a time capsule in the political and cultural turning point that Mexico was experiencing. The film is an early example of Alfonso Cuarón’s directing style, which would later be refined with Rome and children of men. The lead performers and Cuarón would go on to become one of the most influential members of the film industry, and their debut is with this film.
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