8 great films that double as travel movies, from ‘Crazy Rich Asians’ to ‘Little Women’ – USA TODAY

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There are the classic travel movies you know about, and then there are the newer and lesser-known travel-centric films that inspire a surprising amount of wanderlust. If you’re stuck at home thinking you’ve seen all the travel movies worth watching and rewatching, think again.

SmarterTravel offers eight unexpected options, ranging from action-packed blockbusters to indie flicks.

‘Midsommar’ (2019)

Who says a horror film can’t be a travel movie? “Midsommar” made waves in 2019 for its haunting depiction of a fictional Swedish town that celebrates midsummer – a time when parts of the region see 24 hours of sunlight per day – with rituals carried out by a pagan cult. Keep in mind that it’s less sunny Swedish scenery and more gore and terror.

USA TODAY review:  ‘Midsommar’ is a nightmarish take on a toxic relationship

Where to watch free:  Stream for free with your Amazon Prime subscription 

‘The Farewell’ (2019)

An independent film that racked up rave reviews and accolades in 2019, “The Farewell” follows a Chinese-American family overseas to visit their grandmother and stage a fake wedding when she’s (unknowingly) diagnosed with a terminal illness. A charming travel movie based on a surprisingly true story, it illustrates the divide – and some surprising similarities – between China and “the West.”

USA TODAY Network review: ‘The Farewell’ is one of the most poignant movies of the year

Where to watch: Stream for free with your Amazon Prime subscription

‘Little Women’ (2019)

A reboot that actually lives up to the literary classic, writer/director Greta Gerwig’s 2019 version of “Little Women” takes viewers back in time to both colonial New England and Paris via filming locations travelers still visit today. Concord, Massachusetts – the area where the movie was filmed –  is also home to the historic Louisa May Alcott House, where Alcott wrote and set her novel “Little Women.” But the movie goes beyond the gorgeous New England scenery to 19th-century Paris.

USA TODAY review:  Greta Gerwig’s all-star ‘Little Women’ adapts a classic with modern wit, resonance

Where to watch:  Rent on Amazon, iTunes, Google Play or YouTube

‘Crazy Rich Asians’ (2018)

Perhaps a more-expected movie than the others on this list: If you want to truly unwind with a hilarious and effervescent romantic comedy, there are few as over-the-top as “Crazy Rich Asians,” the 2018 blockbuster based on the novel trilogy by Kevin Kwan. Explore sparkling Singapore by way of a down-to-earth couple attending their first family wedding together, where old money and a new girlfriend clash in a surprisingly tender love story.

USA TODAY review:  Spectacular ‘Crazy Rich Asians’ clinches a win for Hollywood representation

Where to watch: Stream free with your HBO or Cinemax account

‘Charlie’s Angels’ (2019)

No one asked for a “Charlie’s Angels” reboot, but the new female-directed action movie is a surprisingly perfect travel movie for its use of many dazzling city landmarks as famous backdrops to fight and chase scenes. The new round of Angels fight bad guys in Hamburg, Germany; Istanbul, Turkey; and Chamonix, France. Anyone who’s seen Hamburg’s Philharmonic, Istanbul’s bazaars, and Chamonix’s apres ski charm will be floored.

USA TODAY review:  Kristen Stewart steals the revitalizing, super-fun new ‘Charlie’s Angels’

Where to rent: Amazon, iTunes, Google Play, Youtube

‘The Trip to Spain’ (2017)

In a lesser-known movie version of their TV show ‘The Trip,” British comedians Steve Coogan and Rob Brydon set out on a culinary journey to Spain as fictional versions of their still-famous selves. The old friends’ witty banter (and many celebrity impressions) color their visits to iconic Spanish historic sites and many mouth-watering restaurants – follow along with your own tapas and wine at home for optimal viewing. (Bonus: A new movie from the duo called “The Trip to Greece” is due for release in 2020.)

Where to watch:  Rent on Amazon, iTunes, Google Play or YouTube

‘The Grand Budapest Hotel’ (2014)

If you liked Wes Anderson’s “The Darjeeling Limited” as a travel movie, you’ll love the director’s “The Grand Budapest Hotel” for its similarly whimsical framing of a far-off, complex place. The film follows hotel staff at a 1930s ski resort as they uncover a murder and a mysterious painting, which fill in the rich cultural history of Eastern Europe with plenty of dark humor.

USA TODAY review:  You’ll never want to leave ‘Grand Budapest Hotel’

Where to watch:  Rent on Amazon, iTunes, Google Play or YouTube

‘Downhill’ (2020)

The king and queen of comedy have come together for a vacation movie we can all get behind. Downhill stars Julia Louis-Dreyfus and Will Ferrell on a fictional family trip to the Alps that goes awry and forces them to ask hard questions about their relationship, family, and overall life together.

Where to watch: Rent on Amazon, iTunes, Google Play or Youtube 

Need more escapism? 11 Inspiring Travel Movies and Shows About Europe

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