Repost This ArticleThe road trip. In the minds of all people, young and old, it conjures up images of neverending highways, new adventures, and the freedom that comes with a full gas tank (or vegetable tank).
Various films throughout the years have tapped into this sense of freedom. Here’s 5 classic road trip scenes that will have you yearning for the open road.
1. Tommy Boy (1995)
The dynamic duo: Chris Farley and David Spade in their best film. While they tried to follow it up the formula with Black Sheep, it lacked the heart of Tommy Boy. In this scene, they’re on their way to sell brake pads to save Farley’s family company. Laughter ensues.
2. Road Trip (2000)
In an interview I read somewhere, director Todd Philips confessed he wanted to make an homage to films like Fast Times At Ridgemont High and Ferris Bueller’s Day Off. (Basically an excuse to show Amy Smart mostly naked).
Yet it’s undeniable the film captures the zest of heading out with your best buddies with little more than a direction and the promise of good times.
3. Dumb And Dumber (1994)
A classic scene in a classic movie. There are so many one-liners from this film still being used today, it rightly stands up as one of the best comedies of the 90′s.
4. Easy Rider (1969)
It’s possible motorcycles sales shot through the roof once these bad-ass opening credits were first shown in theatres. For sheer dripping cool-ness, this scene has yet to be topped. After all, who needs a helmet when you’ve got a handlebar mustache?
5. Good Will Hunting (1997)
“I’ve had to go see about a girl.” With those words, Matt Damon and Ben Affleck cemented their careers for the next 10 years. This final roadtrip scene manages to mist the eyes of even the most emotionless men. SPOILER ALERT: Don’t watch unless you’ve already seen the movie.
How do you like them apples? Any favourite road trip scenes I missed? Share in the comments!
Ian MacKenzie
Ian MacKenzie is the founder and former editor of Brave New Traveler. He is Head of Video at Matador Network. Ian is also an independent filmmaker, with his first feature (One Week Job) released in 2010. His more recent projects include Sacred Economics and Occupy Love.
Connect with Facebook
While totally a “chick flick” the road trip in the movie ELIZABETH TOWN provides some great inspiration to hop in the car, listen to some tunes from the area’s local artist, and just drive from small town to small town seeing real America. Great post!
@Christine She did indeed… Crossroads. From what I recall from the trailers, she’s shy and finds herself by singing karaoke in roadside bars. Ha!
Haha – best list ever! I have got to watch Dumb and Dumber again… “Just go man…”
I agree thoe – motorcycle diaries rocked. Loved when they flipped the bike and Ches buddy is like “is that a dog?!” – awesome. Another great one is “The Art of Travel” – quite a few good travel scenes in it. Mainly the Jungle Crossing through the Darien Gap.
I guess the beginning of “Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas” would’ve been too obvious, right?
Then again, not a *typical* road trip movie — except for the bold few who think a pint of raw ether is a travel necessity.
“We can’t stop here! This is bat country!”
THELMA & LOUISE!!! THELMA & LOUISE!!!
Oh, wait – I’m a man. Never mind.
But seriously! How about Lost in America, or Something Wild? Or… best of all…
The Muppet Movie. There. I said it. The Muppet Movie.
Huh. I’m still not being serious…
Arg, Elizabethtown was absolutely horrible. And not because it was a chick flick. Because the script was awful.
@DHarbecke While we’re talking muppet-related flicks, I’m gonna have to follow suit and nominate “Follow That Bird”!
Elizabethtown would have been better with an all-Muppet cast…
For my money, something from the unsettlingly beautiful Badlands (Terence Mallick, 1973) has got to be in there.
I can’t believe that no one thought of THE road trip movie of the ages: National Lampoon’s Vacation! There is no movie out there that captures the weirdness and boredom and everything else that is a road trip better – especially in terms of a family road trip. Who can forget Aunt Edna and her vicious dog, the rip-off mechanics who happen to also be the sheriff and deputy of the town, and Christy Brinkley in that hotrod?