Enjoy an on the Road Cinema Night in your Motorhome

Although heading off on holiday in a motorhome signals a bit of a break from regular domestic life, there are certain things you won’t leave behind. The need to prepare and cook meals, the need to have a shower in the morning, the need to walk the dog – and so on. Also on that list, probably, is the desire to ‘hang out’ in the evenings with your friends or family (whoever you’re travelling with) and watch a bit of TV. Although watching television won’t be as much of a social focus as it is back home, it’s likely that a couple of evenings per holiday week will see you all gathering for fun things to do – and that might mean the goggle-box gets switched on.

Whether you have a new motorhome or a pre-owned motorhome, or are looking to travel in either, your vehicle may have a decent TV set pre-installed, or perhaps you’ve added one yourself. Either way, you shouldn’t feel bad about ‘wasting holiday time’ watching: Have you actually seen TV during the last couple of decades? It’s amazing! There are some truly stunning shows that elevate the form to art: Six Feet Under, Breaking Bad, Mad Men. Even Game Of Thrones is great…

In this edition of our blog, however, we’re going to focus not on the series you could watch, but on the films. Crack open the popcorn and turn TV night into cinema night with some of these incredible choices. The Don Amott special ingredient, here, is that each of the fourteen we’re recommending (one for each night of a fortnight’s trip, just in case) is connected to road trips or journeys of some kind!

Our top films to watch on the road, about being on the road

1. Easy Rider

This ‘classic’ from 1969 follows two motorcycle riders as they burn rubber from Los Angeles to New Orleans. During their trip they encounter various people and enjoy experiences that encapsulate the counter-cultural spirit of 1960s’ America. Easy Rider explores the themes of freedom, rebellion and ‘the American Dream’. Visually, the open highways and stunning landscapes offer a fantastic backdrop to a story of self-discovery. It’s a great film enhanced by the performances of Peter Fonda, Dennis Hopper and Jack Nicholson.

Image Credit: All rights reserved. © 1969 Columbia Pictures. 

2. Thelma & Louise

This on the road buddy movie from 1991 features a pair of best friends on a weekend getaway that quickly turns into a flight from the law after Louise kills a man who has assaulted Thelma. Their trip through the south-west of America becomes a thrilling escape, culminating in a poignant and symbolic ending at the Grand Canyon. Thelma & Louise highlights themes of female empowerment and defiance against oppression. Susan Sarandon and Geena Davis excel in their roles as the title characters – and there’s even an appearance from a young heartthrob called Brad Pitt.

Image Credit: Thelma and Louise. All rights reserved. © 1991. Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios Inc.

3. Mad Max: Fury Road

Speaking of heartthrobs, this 2015 sci-fi action thriller star Tom Hardy, alongside Charlize Theron. In a post-apocalyptic wasteland, the pair team up to escape a tyrant and his army. The film’s relentless, high-octane chase across the desert is a real visual spectacle featuring stunning practical effects. The hero duo’s road trip is a fight for survival and redemption, featuring a powerful narrative of rebellion and liberation.

Image Credit: Mad Max: Fury Road. All rights reserved.  © 2015 Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc.

4. Locke

Tom Hardy again! Locke is a unique drama taking place almost entirely inside a car. A construction manager drives from Birmingham to London over the course of one night, his life falling apart during the journey. Unusually, the entire narrative unfolds in real-time, which makes for a tense, claustrophobic atmosphere. Tom Hardy’s performance is great, and the film’s unique setting makes it something different but special.

Image Credit: Locke. All rights reserved. © 2013. A24 Films

5. Planes, Trains and Automobiles

This comedy from 1987 features two travellers as they try to get home in time for Thanksgiving. Their trip is fraught with numerous obstacles involving modes of transport. The film underlines the importance of patience, kindness and understanding – and the completely mismatched duo’s eventual bond forms the heart of this heartfelt comedy. Hilarious Steve Martin and the late, great John Candy star in a travel film about the inner journey, that will entertain all of the family.

Image Credit: Planes, Trains and Automobiles. All rights reserved. © 1987. Paramount Pictures

6. Clockwise

On a similar theme to Planes, Trains and Automobiles (i.e. needing to be somewhere and not quite being able to make it) is 1986’s Clockwise. Almost built for Basil Fawlty actor John Cleese – perfect at conveying anxiety and full-blown stress – Clockwise tells the story of a Headmaster who finds his meticulously planned trip to a conference derailed by a series of unfortunate events. Think missed trains, stolen cars, general chaos – and impeccable comic timing.

Image Credit: Clockwise. All rights reserved. © 1986. EMI Films

7. Little Miss Sunshine

A dysfunctional family takes a cross-country trip in their VW campervan to support a young girl in her dream of winning a beauty pageant. The journey is filled with mishaps and moments of bonding, with each character’s vulnerabilities and strengths revealed. Greg Kinnear, Toni Collette and Steve Carell star in this heartwarming 2006 film exploring family dynamics and the pursuit of dreams.

Image Credit: Little Miss Sunshine. All rights reserved. © 2006. Twentieth Century Fox.

8. Rain Man

The stellar pairing of Tom Cruise and Dustin Hoffman steer this 1988 classic which tells the story of a selfish yuppie discovering his estranged brother, an autistic savant, after their father’s death. The two embark on a cross-country trip to Los Angeles. As they travel the heartlands, the brothers face numerous challenges that reveal their differences but, ultimately, deepen their bond. There are some hilarious moments on the road, but Rain Man is a heart-warmer more than anything else.

Image Credit: Rain Man. All rights reserved. © 1988. Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios Inc.

9. The Motorcycle Diaries

Gael García Bernal stars as a young Ernesto ‘Che’ Guevara in this biographical film which follows the journey of the future Cuban revolutionary and his friend across South America. The pair travel and encounter the social injustices and stark realities of the continent, which impact and influence Guevara’s worldview – and therefore his future activities. The scenic route shown throughout The Motorcycle Diaries showcases the diversity and beauty of South American landscapes.

Image Credit: The Motorcycle Diaries. All rights reserved. © 2004. Focus Features.

10. Into the Wild

Directed by Sean Penn and based on a true story, cult film Into The Wild (2007) follows young American adventurer Christopher McCandless on a trip with a difference. In search of a deeper meaning to life McCandless (who was also known by his nickname Alexander Supertramp) abandons his possessions and savings to trek into the Alaskan wilderness. His journey is both physical and philosophical, with the film exploring themes of self-reliance and the human spirit, and the place of both in nature. The breathtaking landscapes and poignant encounters enrich the thought-provoking Into The Wild.

Image Credit: Into the Wild. All rights reserved. © 2007. Paramount Pictures.

11. The Straight Story

You’d be right to expect something weird and obscure from director David Lynch – but, just as he did with The Elephant Man in 1980, he tells a highly emotional story in a relatively straightforward way. Hence, partly, the title of this road trip film based on a true story. In 1994, Alvin Straight travelled almost 250 miles on his lawnmower to visit his ailing brother. His very slow, determined journey through rural America became a deeply moving testament to perseverance, reconciliation and the simplicity of life. The incredible Richard Farnsworth (as Straight) is the heart of this poignant road trip film.

Image Credit: The Straight Story. All rights reserved. © 1999. The Straight Story, Inc.

12. Withnail & I

This 1987 cult classic is perhaps best saved for after the kids have gone to bed. It’s not strictly a road trip movie, as most of the ‘action’ takes place in a dusty and dimly-lit Camden flat where two out of work actors live at the tail end of the 1960s – but there is a journey in it which sits right at the centre of the story. The pair (played by Richard E Grant and Paul McGann) take off in a car to escape their grim London lives and enjoy a holiday in a cottage in the middle of the Lake District. However, misadventures amidst the rain-soaked countryside abound, offering a darkly comedic look at friendship and failure.

Image Credit: Withnail & I. All rights reserved. © 1987. Handmade Films.

13. Heartlands

This British comedy drama from 2002 stars the versatile Michael Sheen as a very mild-mannered married man from a small mining village. When his wife leaves him, he travels across the heartlands of England in his motorbike and sidecar on a journey to win her back. Encountering various quirky characters along the way (including a stop-off at a pub where popular real-life folk singer Kate Rusby is gigging to a room of bikers), the film becomes a tale of love, loss and personal redemption. It even features a funny cameo from darts legend Eric Bristow!

Image Credit: Heartlands. All rights reserved. © 2002. Miramax.

14. On the Road (2012)

Doing justice to the legendary great American novel On The Road by Jack Kerouac, this 2012 film follows a young writer and his friends as they travel across the USA. On a search for adventure and meaning, both book and film capture the ‘Beat Generation’ aesthetic and its spirit of rebellion. Explored through the landscapes and culture of post-war America, this is something very special.

Image Credit: On the Road. All rights reserved. © 1999. MK2.

Each of these fourteen films highlights the transformative power of journeys (sometimes internal as well as external). We love all of these films and we’re sure that they’ll offer first-time viewers a chance to glimpse new horizons from the comfort of their motorhome seats. If you’ve seen them before, no worries either – enjoy taking the trip down memory lane! Check out all of the amazing motorhomes on sale at Don Amott – and get your own road trip going…