The idea of the road movie as a genre in its own right is difficult to trace. An early reference to the term “road movie” can be found in the film Easy Rider when Peter Fonda’s character says that his life is like a road movie. Though many will dispute which films should and should not be categorised as road movies, the key feature is that a road movie involves a journey of some kind, though not necessarily on a road.
How that journey evolves can be a defining factor in determining whether a film can be classed as a road movie or not. For example, Bonnie & Clyde involves a lot of time in cars on roads but is not really a road movie as such because the journey is not a central feature of the film. Some will probably disagree with this, so please use the comments box at the end to do so, and suggest other films that could be included in this list.
Duel (1971)
Steven Spielberg’s first film as director sees a motorist (played by Dennis Weaver) being chased on a remote road by a lorry driver. The driver is never seen. And that is basically the plot. It doesn’t sound much but the result is a tense thriller that keeps you on the edge of your seat. It won an Emmy.
Easy Rider (1969)
One of the all-time classics, Easy Rider stars Peter Fonda and Dennis Hopper as two motorcyclists travelling through the American south on their way to New Orleans in time for Mardi Gras. They are joined on the way by George Hanson (played by Jack Nicholson) and find both friendship and prejudice in their travels. It had two Oscar nominations.
Kalifornia (1993)
X Files star David Duchovny plays student Brian Kessler who travels across the USA with his girlfriend (played by Michelle Forbes) researching a book about serial killers. After posting a ride share ad, the pair are joined by Early Grace (played by Brad Pitt) and Adele Corners (Juliette Lewis). Unknown to Brian Kessler, Early Grace is jumping parole and is a murderer. Quickly, the serial killer research becomes more real than they envisaged.
Rain Man (1988)
Dustin Hoffman plays Raymond Babbitt, who suffers from autism and is suddenly a multimillionaire after his father dies. His other son – Charlie Babbitt (played by Tom Cruise) – was not even aware of Raymond’s existence and so finds Raymond and takes him on a cross country car trip to try to sort out the estate with his attorneys. The film won four Oscars and was nominated for another four.
The Blues Brothers (1980)
This cult musical comedy tells the story of brothers Jake (played by John Belushi) and Elwood (played by Dan Akroyd) trying to reunite an R&B band to play a charity concert. They are pursued by the police and others. The best line is when they ask a bar owner what kinds of music is played there, and he says both types, country and western. It won the Golden Reel Award.
The Grapes of Wrath (1940)
Arguably the original road movie (before the term was even invented), this is about a family that loses their farm during the 1930s depression in the USA and travel across the country to California in search of work. It stars Henry Fonda as Tom Joad and John Carradine as Jim Casey. The film is an adaptation on the novel of the same name by John Steinbeck. The novel won a Pulitzer Prize and the film won two Oscars and was nominated for another five.
The Hitcher (1986 and 2007)
The original The Hitcher was released in 1986 with a remake in 2007. In the 1986 version, Jim Halsey (played by C Thomas Howell) picks up a hitchhiker (John Ryder, played by Rutger Hauer) who turns out to be a murderer. He escapes but then comes across the hitchhiker as he continues his murderous journey. In the remake, Sean Bean plays John Ryder and Zachary Knighton plays Jim Halsey.
The Passenger (1975)
Jack Nicholson stars as television journalist David Locke making a documentary about Africa and travels across the Sahara desert to interview rebels in the Chad civil war. When a man dies, David Locke switches identities with him and discovers that he was a gun runner for the rebels he’d been trying to contact. It won the Golden Palm Award at the Cannes Film Festival.
Thelma and Louise (1991)
Directed by Ridley Scott, the film tells the story of Thelma (played by Geena Davis) and Louise (played by Susan Sarandon) who kill a rapist and then go on the run in a 1966 Thunderbird. They are hunted by the police. A young Brad Pitt plays JD, a robber on parole. The key feature of the film is the growing friendship between the two women and the strength that they gain from that. It won an Oscar and was nominated for another five.
Thunderbolt and Lightfoot (1974)
Clint Eastwood stars as Thunderbolt, a former bank robber masquerading as a preacher. He teams up with Lightfoot (played by Jeff Bridges) and they try to find the money from a previous heist while being pursued by other members of the gang who believe Thunderbolt has double crossed them. It was nominated for an Oscar.
Best Road Movie of All Time
Death Race 2000 did not make the top ten, but it is listed in the best sports movies of all time article. As to which film is the best of the above, it is a fairly easy choice. Whereas the likes of Duel, Kalifornia and The Blues Brothers are great films, there is only one winner and that has to be Easy Rider.
Steve Rogerson - Steve Rogerson is a UK-based writer specialising in television, technology, sports and beer.
Join the Conversation