5 Movies That Capture Unforgettable Trips
From noir classics to indie gems, these five California-set road trip films reflect the adventure, humor, and heartbreak of hitting the open road. Curated by writer Robert Ito.
Films about road trips are nearly as old as road trips themselves—and just as varied. Some of the best ones have been set in California, running the gamut from comedies to tragedies, film noir thrillers to character-driven indies. Here are five of our favorites.•
This roundup appears in Issue 32 of Alta Journal. SUBSCRIBE
THE GRAPES OF WRATH (1940), DIRECTED BY JOHN FORD
In this cinematic treasure, the Joad family pilot their overloaded 1926 Hudson along Route 66 from drought-stricken Oklahoma to the (supposed) promised land of Weedpatch, in Kern County.
FASTER, PUSSYCAT! KILL! KILL! (1965), DIRECTED BY RUSS MEYER
The cult classic exploitation flick (which was initially panned) follows three go-go dancers as they race cars, rob folks, and, yes, kill! kill! on a wild ride from Van Nuys to the California desert.
POETIC JUSTICE (1993), DIRECTED BY JOHN SINGLETON
Lucky (Tupac Shakur) is on his way to visit a cousin; Justice (Janet Jackson) is going to a hair show. The two strangers (who, naturally, fall in love) travel from South Los Angeles to Oakland in a mail truck, with stops in Pismo Beach, Big Sur, and Woodside.
SIDEWAYS (2004), DIRECTED BY ALEXANDER PAYNE
Two friends, Miles (Paul Giamatti) and Jack (Thomas Haden Church), embark on a weeklong road trip through Santa Barbara’s wine country to bond and find some nice pinot noirs before Jack’s wedding. Shenanigans ensue.
NOMADLAND (2020), DIRECTED BY CHLOÉ ZHAO
In this bittersweet paean to living life on the road, “not homeless, houseless” Fern (Oscar-winning Frances McDormand) navigates her van-home across the American West in search of work.
Robert Ito is a journalist based in Los Angeles. He writes about film, television, and theater for the New York Times.
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