Road Movies
In the guise of a comedy or drama, a thriller or romance, the road movie acts as a metaphor for life where during the course of the running time, the characters lives are changed forever by the journey that they are taking. People go through love, loss, redemption and salvation. They are on the road of discovery, learning about themselves and adjusting to the changes and hurdles that the road throws up at them. Finally, there is the destination, the goal which makes the journey worthwhile, where closure is provided and a final catharsis occurs; the literal end of the road.
However, if this sounds like too much hard work for you and you just want some good, honest car chases with burning rubber and squealing tires, then look no further than "Car Chase Movies". Just click on the link at left.
Pictured: Kowalski and his Dodge Challenger in 'Vanishing Point'.
Goodbye Pork Pie (1980)
6.9/10
Director: Geoff Murphy
Starring: Tony Barry, Kelly Johnson, Claire Oberman
Gerry is a 19-year-old unemployed no-hoper from Auckland who illicitly rents a yellow Mini with little more than mischief in mind. He offers a ride to... Read more
The Blues Brothers (1980)
7.9/10
Director: John Landis
Starring: Aretha Franklin, Ray Charles, John Belushi, James Brown, Henry Gibson, Dan Aykro...
Engagingly nutty comedy about John Belushi and Dan Aykroyd trying to raise money to save an orphanage by reuniting their old band and nearly destroyin... Read more
Radio On (1979)
6.5/10
Director: Christopher Petit
Starring: David Beames, Lisa Kreuzer, Sandy Ratcliff, Sting
Following a young London DJ (David Beames) on the road to Bristol to investigate the mysterious death of his brother, "Radio On" offers a unique, comp... Read more
Mad Max (1979)
7/10
Director: George Miller
Starring: Mel Gibson, Joanne Samuel, Hugh Keays-Byrne
The cult classic that made Mel Gibson a star as the futuristic avenger, a former police officer whose family was murdered by marauders. A bleak desert... Read more
Convoy (1978)
6.3/10
Director: Sam Peckinpah
Starring: Kris Kristofferson, Ali MacGraw, Burt Young, Ernest Borgnine
Sam Peckinpah's classic road-movie based around the hit song by C.W. McCall. Long-distance trucker Rubber Duck (Kris Kristofferson) is on the run from... Read more
Kings of the Road (1976)
8/10
Director: Wim Wenders
Starring: Rudiger Vogler, Hanns Zischler, Lisa Kreuzer
A sweeping 'road' movie concerning two men who journey across Germany visiting shuttered movie houses, listening to rock 'n' roll and discovering what... Read more
Wim Wenders' Road Movies: Alice In The Cities (1973) / Wrong Move (1975) / Kings Of The Road (1976)
Director: Wim Wenders
Starring: Rudiger Vogler, Yella Rottlander, Lisa Kreuzer, Hanna Schygulla, Hanns Zischler
This trilogy of road movies from acclaimed German director Wim Wenders, starring Rudiger Vogler, form a commentary on the adoption of American culture... Read more
Race With The Devil (1975)
6.6/10
Director: Jack Starrett
Starring: Peter Fonda, Warren Oates, Loretta Swit
After two vacationing couples travelling from Texas to Colorado witness a satanic cult's human sacrifice they must flee in their RV, with the murderou... Read more
Harry and Tonto (1974)
7.4/10
Director: Paul Mazursky
Starring: Chief Dan George, Ellen Burstyn, Geraldine Fitzgerald, Larry Hagman, Art Carney
Harry (Art Carney) is a retired teacher in his seventies living in an area of New York City where he and his deceased wife raised his children - where... Read more
The Sugarland Express (1974)
6.8/10
Director: Steven Spielberg
Starring: Goldie Hawn, William Atherton, Ben Johnson, Michael Sacks
Steven Spielberg's now classic first theatrical film stars Goldie Hawn and William Atherton as a young fugitive couple who lead the Texas police on a... Read more