21. The Wonderful Life of Amélie Poulain (Amélie - 2001)
“Amélie” is like a bright and beautiful modern fairy tale with Paris depicted very sweetly. The city through the lens of Jean-Pierre Jeunet’s camera becomes colorful and vivid, and Audrey Tautou transforms into a “lonely heroine”. The film follows her everywhere, from the winding streets of Montmartre, to the Canal Saint-Martin with its clear blue water. Everything seems to glow from within, even the dim red lights of the adult shop Pigalle are strangely beautiful. Paris has never looked so dreamy.
22. L'Auberge Espagnole (L'Auberge Espagnole - 2002)
For anyone who has studied or lived abroad, knowing about “The Spanish Inn” is as wonderful as discovering Rosetta Stone (Rosetta Stone is a company specializing in developing language learning software). The film tells the story of a French student, Xavier, on his journey to Barcelona to find himself. Here, Xavier has an unforgettable time in his life when he has to learn to live with six other international students in the same apartment, together facing and solving difficulties with cultural and language barriers. Especially Audrey Tautou, the sweet female lead of “Amélie”, also appears in this film.
23. Catch Me If You Can (2002)
“Catch Me If You Can” tells a true story based on the biography of Frank Abagnale (played by Leonardo DiCaprio) about the relentless pursuit of Carl Hanratty (played by Tom Hanks) - an FBI agent in the bank fraud department. Frank is known as the youngest con artist in America and this time, he impersonates a young Pan Am pilot with a meticulous criminal plan. This classic scene from director Steven Spielberg left a special mark on the film, we can even catch a glimpse of the space-style masterpiece of architect Eero Saarinen at the TWA arrival gate at John F. Kennedy International Airport. This gate has been rebuilt into a hotel and officially opened in May 2019.
24. Lost in Translation (2003)
The film revolves around the budding love story between a washed-up actor Bob Harris (Murray) and a college graduate Charlotte (Johansson). They meet by chance at a hotel in Tokyo and then loneliness and sympathy bring the two strangers closer together. The scenes are shot in the familiar artistic style of director Sofia Coppola, vividly depicting a colorful picture of Tokyo: from the landscape of the luxury Park Hyatt hotel to karaoke bars and streets with countless neon lights. Everything is so beautiful that if you say this is a tourism advertisement for Tokyo, there will be no doubt.
25. Under the Tuscan Sun (2003)
Before “Eat, Pray, Love,” we had “Under the Tuscan Sun.” The film follows a woman who decides to buy a villa in Italy after her marriage breaks down. Watching Frances (Diane Lane) transform her new apartment into a beautiful home and follow her to the azure, wind-swept Amalfi Coast suddenly makes the idea of leaving everything behind and starting a new life seem less absurd. One way or another, Frances’s wishes come true under the bright Tuscan sun.
26. Sideways (Sideways - 2004)
California’s beautiful vineyards are famous, but so is its wine culture. Wine – and that’s what makes “The Side Story” so special. This light-hearted and funny film is a subtle, humorous look at turning forty, the age when success begins to define a person’s life. In addition to a great story and great characters, the film takes the audience to the tasting rooms of the Santa Barbara wineries and, of course, has some breathtaking vineyard shots.
27. The Motorcycle Diaries (2004)
As the name suggests, the film follows Ernesto "Che" Guevara (Gael García Bernal) and his best friend Alberto Granado (Rodrigo de la Serna) as they travel across the Americas, exposing Che to the political injustices that still exist in this land. Director Walter Salles follows the two through most of the major landmarks in South America, from the Andes Mountains to the Inca ruins of Machu Picchu and even a leper colony in San Pablo.
28. Little Miss Sunshine (Little Miss Sunshine - 2006)
You think family trips are complicated? Well, you haven’t even gotten to the point where you have to cram an elderly father-in-law, a son who swears he won’t say a word until he gets into pilot school, a suicidal brother, an overworked husband, and a mischievous daughter who longs to enter some kind of beauty pageant, all in a beat-up yellow VW Bus, right? But that strange-sounding combination is the main character in the movie we’re talking about here. Honestly, Toni Collette’s performance can only be rated as okay. But somehow, “Little Miss” still manages to be a perfect combination of humor and nostalgia, so that when the movie ends, the audience still feels a warm, gentle aftertaste.
29. The Path to Spirituality (The Darjeeling Limited - 2007)
In this film, director Wes Anderson builds a story about an American family on a train journey across India. On the cramped train running across the subcontinent, the three Whitman brothers search for a chance to save their gradually broken relationship. Anderson's footage has captured countless beautiful and strange scenes of a colorful India, and whether it is barren desert or green mountains, all are breathtaking landscapes.
30. Into the Wild (2007)
This is a film adapted from the book of the same name, telling a true story about Christopher McCandless's journey across North America and his life in the Alaskan wilderness in the early 1990s. Some people see Christopher's departure as poetic, but many people find it frightening. Whether his death was due to stupidity or loneliness, we cannot deny the deep meaning and wild, desolate beauty of "Into the Wild", as well as the artistic talent of director Sean Penn. As McCandless, Emile Hirsch also sat on endless train rides, rowed the Colorado River, climbed snowy peaks and even drowned in the Pacific Ocean.
31. In Bruges (2008)
The film's protagonist is given to Colin Farrell as Ray, an Irish gunman living in one of the most beautiful cities in Belgium. Bruges is already a romantic, gentle tourist destination, a town with an old, ancient beauty, under the black comedy story of Martin McDonagh becomes more charming and irresistible than ever.
32. Vicky Cristina Barcelona (2008)
Most of Woody Allen’s films pay homage to New York City, but in 2008 he took a surprising turn with “Love Story in Barcelona.” The film follows the adventures and loves of two young women as they travel to Barcelona. The city itself becomes a prominent character in the film. Once you see the magnificent architecture and picturesque landscapes, you’ll be tempted to put on a Spanish tune and wish you were in Barcelona.
33. Up (Up - 2008)
It is true that “Up” is a digital animation film like “Toy Story”, but it is certainly not a film just for children. This is a song about love and loss, a story about the grumpy old man Carl and the clumsy boy Russell. The two have the strangest trip in the world: floating in Carl’s house with hundreds of colorful balloons, heading to South America to find the land of Paradise Falls. “Up” is one of the rare travel movies where the main characters “float” in the sky, and it seems that nothing can stop them except a little gravity of the globe. Don’t forget to bring a box of tissues if you want to watch “Up”, this wonderful movie will definitely make you cry a lot.
34. Up in the Air (2009)
In this film, George Clooney plays Ryan, a layoff specialist (that is, companies hire him to fly around the country to inform strangers that they have lost their jobs), and a traveler. Throughout the film, Ryan's very solitary life and the life philosophies he preaches to those he meets along the way are followed. The film was shot mainly in St. Louis, Missouri, and some other big cities like Detroit, Michigan, Omaha, etc.
35. Away We Go (2009)
A few months before their baby is due, Verona (Maya Rudolph) and Burt (John Krasinski) decide to take a road trip to finally find the right place to raise a family. They travel from Phoenix and Tucson to Madison and Montreal. The roads and cities have never been friendlier. “Away We Go” is a perfect “online tour” across North America, perfect for enjoying right now if you’re bored with the monotony of home life.
36. The Trip (2010)
Despite its similar premise, “The Trip” isn’t really a buddy comedy, as the characters played by British comedians Rob Brydon and Steve Coogan don’t seem to like each other. Still, it’s a fun movie. Audiences travel with Brydon and Coogan around England, dining in fancy restaurants, contemplating the meaning of life, death, and relationships. Don’t forget to take in the beautiful scenery of the English countryside.
37. Midnight in Paris (Midnight in Paris - 2011)
Gil Pender, played by Owen Wilson, is a wide-eyed screenwriter and aspiring novelist. He travels to Paris with his materialistic fiancée, Inez (Rachel McAdams), and her wealthy parents. One night in the City of Lights, Gil gets drunk and gets lost. At midnight, a Peugeot 176 pulls up next to him and guests dressed in 1920s clothing invite him in. They go to a party together, where Gil realizes he has traveled back in time to the 1920s.
38. The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel (2011)
“The Marigold Hotel” follows a group of elderly British men and women who decide to live a special retirement life in the exotic country of India. Lulled by the advertisements for the newly refurbished Marigold Hotel in Jaipur with luxurious rooms and attentive service, they arrive only to discover that it is just a worn-out shell. A lovely, light-hearted comedy, it must be said, that proves that travel can bring us laughter and a wonderful atmosphere, no matter what our age.
39. The Secret Life of Walter Mitty (The Secret Life of Walter Mitty - 2013)
It can be said that this is the visual embodiment of a “gangster” plot. The film is the story of the life of Walter Mitty (played by Ben Stiller), an office worker with endless dreams, as he embarks on an adventure filled with unimaginable things. Mitty takes us from Manhattan to Greenland, through the streets of Iceland and even to the majestic Himalayas. The film is so great that it can urge a lazy person who never goes anywhere to immediately want to buy a travel ticket for himself.
40. The Grand Budapest Hotel (The Grand Budapest Hotel - 2014)
This is a comedy film written and directed by Wes Anderson, inspired by the works of Stefan Zweig. In the film, Ralph Fiennes plays a hotel manager who must prove his innocence after being framed for murder.
41. Tracks (Tracks - 2014)
As writer Robyn Davidson, Mia Wasikowska embarks on a journey across the stunning Western Australia, accompanied only by four camels and a loyal dog. Among the few people on the solo trip are a National Geographic photographer and an old local man named Eddy. Davidson’s beautiful adventure was not only a highlight of the female theme in the 70s, but to this day, it remains a source of great inspiration for anyone who wants to explore the world.
42. Wild Adventure (Wild - 2014)
Based on novelist Cheryl Strayer’s 2012 bestseller of the same name, “Wild” is a memoir about Cheryl’s 1,100-mile trek along the Pacific Crest Trail at age 22 after the loss of her mother, the breakup of her family, and a short-lived marriage. On her journey back to herself, she traveled to the dusty Mojave, through dense forests, across snowy fields, and on muddy trails, ultimately healing her seemingly broken heart.
43. Agent 007: Spectre (Spectre - 2015)
"Spectre" is the 24th James Bond film produced by Eon Productions. Daniel Craig plays James Bond for the fourth time in this film, and Christoph Waltz plays the villain Ernst Stavro Blofeld. As in most other Bond films, "Spectre" has scenes that cross countless borders, from Austria to Italy to Morocco, and there nature is beautifully portrayed in the battles of MI6 agents.
44. Carol (2015)
“Carol” tells the story of a star-crossed love affair between photographer Therese (Rooney Mara) and Carol (Cate Blanchett), who are about to divorce. Their feelings gradually grow as they travel from New York, through Ohio, Illinois, and Iowa.
45. Call Me By Your Name (2017)
This is the final work in the “Desire” trilogy by director Luca Guadagnino, after “I Am Love” (2009) and “A Bigger Splash” (2015). Set in the northern Italian countryside in 1983, “Call Me by Your Name” focuses on the romantic relationship between Elio Perlman (Timothée Chalamet), a 17-year-old teenager, and 24-year-old American student Oliver (Armie Hammer), an intern assistant to Elio’s father, when he comes to stay at Elio’s house. They spend time together cycling through centuries-old squares, diving for fossils in Lake Garda, and having breakfasts of soft-boiled eggs and freshly picked peaches.
46. Roma Quarter (Rome - 2018)
This is a film shot in Mexico by director Alfonso Cuarón, revolving around the story of Cleo, a maid in Mexico City (also Cuarón's hometown) in the 1970s. This black and white masterpiece vividly depicts the Colonia Roma neighborhood with its grocery stores and rows of fluttering clotheslines. Unlike today's Colonia Roma, which is much more luxurious, "Roma" perfectly recreates the image of Cuarón's childhood neighborhood more than 50 years ago.
47. Crazy Rich Asians (2018)
This is the story of Rachel Chu, a Chinese-American lecturer who traveled to Singapore to meet her fiancé's family. What she didn't expect was that her lover was very rich, and his family was used to living in the upper class world with luxurious parties on billion-dollar yachts or lavish weddings like royalty. But thanks to all that luxury, Rachel had the opportunity to admire the city's hot beauty in the most vibrant places: Gardens by the Bay, the infinity pool at Marina Bay Sands, the pastel shops in Chinatown, and even the food centers with countless delicious street foods.
48. Midsommar (2019)
“Bloody Carnival” is the story of a girl named Dani, her boyfriend, and three other friends who travel to the village of Hårga in Sweden. Their trip coincides with the village’s summer solstice festival. Besides the creepy cult rituals that make the audience’s hair stand on end, there are still some beautiful scenes that stand out in the film: the Florence Pugh performance and the sunny Swedish countryside. The light spreads brightly over the farms of northern Sweden, or the green meadows and vast coniferous forests will also make you want to visit there immediately.
49. The Farewell (2019)
At the 77th Golden Globe Awards, Awkwafina of “The Farewell” won the Best Actress in a Musical or Comedy category. The film is a story about Chinese American life, the strength of family and the challenges of dealing with the pain of separation. The footage follows a young girl named Billi (played by Awkwafina) as she leaves her home in New York to visit her grandmother in Changchun, a northeastern region of China. The visit is under the name of attending a wedding but is actually just an excuse for the whole family to reunite when they learn that her grandmother has only a few weeks to live. Meanwhile, she is the only one completely unaware of her illness. The film has many emotional scenes but also has many funny and sweet moments.
50. Once Upon a Time in… Hollywood (2019)
Quentin Tarantino's films tend to focus more on plot and character development than on setting, but the talented director also knows how to skillfully incorporate filming locations into the complex flow of the story on screen. The most typical example of this technique is his latest film - "Once Upon a Time in Hollywood". Not only relying on the emotions of the actors and the expressive language, Tarantino used a combination of slow-motion shots on Hollywood Boulevard, along with famous locations such as Westwood Village in the background to create a poetic effect of Los Angeles in the late 1960s.
