You and your wanderlust family might be stuck inside right now, but it’s still a great time to find some travel inspiration.
These are some awesome family movies for travelers that will help you, and your kids, get in the mood for your next trip.
My friend, you will travel again one day and you definitely should. I think it will be ever more important than ever to your family. I’ve always been a big believer that families should take kids on vacations (here’s how being 3 generations of travelers have made us better people).
It’s especially important for the world to heal for families to travel after COVID.
We just can’t right now.
Get your popcorn and don’t change out of your sweats (you know you’re wearing them right now…). We’re going to the movies!
Family Movies for Travelers with Little Kids
Link is (almost) 2, so many “big kid” movies won’t hold his attention for long. If you have the same problem at home, try this age-appropriate family movies for travelers.
Curious George
Follow everyone’s favorite little monkey from Africa to New York on lots of silly and mischievous adventures. What’s great is that since there are also books and a TV series, you’re kids probably already know and love George!
Stream it on Hulu or the series for free on PBS kids (in the US).
Madeline
A lovable little girl lives in an orphanage for girls and her lively personality gets her into all types of trouble. Although the real-life version is great for the whole family, the cartoon movie (Madeline: Lost in Paris) is great for the littles. Like Curious George, there’s a TV series and books of the cartoons that you’re kids will also love.
Right now I found them all for streaming rental for a few dollars.
Handy Manny: Motorcycle Adventure
Travel with Manny and his talking tools on a road trip to see his family.
I also love it because it teaches kids some Spanish.
Planet Earth
Ok. We LOVE Planet Earth and you are going to too. Breathtaking cinematography and narrated by the god-like voice of David Attenborough, explore the Earth in ways that will inspire you. It’s an amazing family movie for travelers that love adventure and animals!
The whole family will love it but it videos of animals seem to hold toddler’s attention like nothing else. Link used to sit and watch it signing “fish” like crazy before he could even talk.
Elmo in Grouchland (ok not a real place, but come on...it’s for toddlers)
Elmo has to travel from Sesame Street to the garbage world, Grouchland, to save his special blankey. Yes it is a musical, but no it’s not horrible for parents to listen to (I’m looking at you Caillou).
I found it available on several sites to stream for a few dollars.
Trolls World Tour
(Ok, also not a real place…) Dance and sing along with Poppy the Troll queen as they meet the other Troll tribes. Each has their own style of music and re-do classic songs that adults will recognize and like.
Blue’s Room World Travelers
Travel the world with Blue the dog to get clues to open a suitcase. It’s interactive with the audience so it’s good at holding little ones’ attention.
Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood: Tiger Family Trip
This is a cartoon spinoff of Mr. Roger’s Neighborhood that teaches emotional skills to kids. We are big Daniel Tiger fans in our house because we love the life lessons that they teach. The songs may get stuck in your head forever (“It’s a Tiiigerrr Faaamily Trip!”) but it holds the little people’s attention. Right now you can also stream the movie and many seasons of the series on Amazon Prime! (Or use the PBS kids movie app for free!)
Family Movies for Travelers that Everyone Will Love
Ratatouille
Remy the rat is an amazing chef helps awkward garbage boy Linguini navigate the kitchen of the fanciest restaurant in Paris. The food makes you want to head to Paris and start eating until you drop. Many of the scenes have iconic Parisian landmarks.
I know I’ve said it before but Paris is my favorite place in the world. And this Pixar movie is a perfect family movie for travelers.
(As a bonus if you also want to enjoy Paris from home, I made a whole “home vacation” itinerary that includes Paris! Recipes, activities, books and more. You can pretend go to Paris without just watching movies! Download it here.)
Cars 2
Go on a crazy adventure with Lightening McQueen and Mater as they race in an international Grand Prix to find the best race car in the world! All while Mater goes undercover (Bond-esque) to find an evil car. Visit Tokyo, Paris, Porto Corsa (Italy) and London in this great Pixar family movie for travelers.
Link loves cars of any kind and we love Pixar, making this a great family travel movie for everyone.
Coco
Miguel wants to play music like his idol Ernesto de la Cruz, the only problem is that his family has banned all music! He goes to the land of the dead and learns about his past and to follow his dreams. This adorable movie brings out some of the best aspects of Mexican culture and has the best music of any Pixar.
Link watched this on repeat on the flights on our last trip to London. Both ways!!
PS. We think it’s even better if you watch it in Spanish!
Brave
This magical and mysterious Pixar follows Princess Merida who, when confronted with (what she deems) ridiculous choices of bachelors wanting to marry her, wants to create her own destiny. It is set in misty Medieval Scotland, and is so beautiful it makes you want to visit the Highlands yourself.
Moana
Moana wants to explore the sea while her family wants her to stay and lead their island people. (Her and Merida would be good friends.) She meets up with the magically tattooed demi-god Maui and goes on an adventure to save her island.
The music is outstanding (by Lin Manuel Miranda of Hamilton fame) and Maui is played by Dwayne The Rock Johnson, so what’s not to love?!
Rio
Blu is a timid little macow in Minnesota that is the last male of his species. He travels to Rio de Janeiro but gets kidnapped and teams up with other Brazilian animals to get courage and escape.
The Gods Must be Crazy
When a pilot drops a Coke bottle over the African desert, it falls into the hands of an aboriginal tribe. And havoc ensues! In an attempt to restore peace the leader goes to return it but finds himself in even more trouble.
This 1980 movie is hilarious and memorable for the whole family. (And might inspire a real-life safari one day!)
Lilo and Stitch
“Ohana means family.” You can’t help but love the little alien creation that lands in Hawaii and falls in love with a local family (and Elvis music).
Hawaii is also one of the three “home vacation” itineraries I made for you to plan your own staycation! There’s recipes (yes Hawaiian shave ice), activities, books and more. Download them for free here.
Mulan
Set in ancient China Mulan restores honor to her family by going undercover as a man in the Chinese army to fight in invading Hun army. She lead a rag-tag group of fighters and kicks butt! (With an incredibly iconic soundtrack by the way.) Hands down my favorite Disney princess and a great family movie for travelers that want to visit the Great Wall of China.
Mr. Bean’s Holiday
Experience British humor as the ever ridiculous Mr. (first name) Bean (last name) goes on a trip through France. He teams up with a struggling actress to try to help get a lost boy back to his father.
The slapstick humor is hilarious and Mr. Bean has been a family favorite of ours for years. He is one of the few comedians you can make you cry with laughter without saying a word.
Mary Poppins (original and new)
Explore depression era London with the magically colorful (and proper) Mary Poppins who swoops down to save the Banks family. They go on imaginative adventures and sing iconic Disney songs. The original has the elegant Julie Andrews and jolly Dick van Dyke. The new has Emily Blunt (actually British) and Lin Manuel Miranda (yes the creator of Hamilton).
I thought about this movie a lot in February when we went to London and saw the pigeons in Trafalgar Square.
Side note: The movie “Saving Mr. Banks” is about Walt Disney making the original movie and how important it was to him. Beautiful movie but probably suited for pre-teen or older kids.
European Vacation
Comedian Chevy Chase wins a trip to Europe and convinces his reluctant family to go. The have one mishap after another. While it may not be the most socially accurate movie it still is a classic family movie for travelers.
The Lizzie McGuire Movie
The ever klutzy Lizzie get mistaken for a popstar on a school trip in Italy. She is asked to perform one-last concert pretending to be her! Total chick flick for your teens and pre-teens. But you can’t help but want to ride a Vespa around the Colosseum at night after watching this movie.
Planet Earth
I’ve mentioned it before but I need to put it in here too, because it really is that good! You are going to LOVE Planet Earth. As I said earlier, breathtaking cinematography and narrated by the god-like voice of David Attenborough, explore the Earth in ways that will inspire you.
You get to see places of the planet that you wouldn’t ever get to see as a tourist. On tops of mountains, in volcanos, under the sea. It’s AMAZING.
Family Movies for Travelers with Older Kids
Secret Life of Walter Mitty
I personally know 5 people who have (or have plans to) traveled to Iceland because of this movie. There’s an amazing scene where Walter longboards down a fairytale perfect mountain.
Walter is a timid photo developer for Life magazine. He has incredible fantasies about an adventurous life but really lacks the courage to ask a girl out. After losing an important photo he goes on an adventure around the world to track down the illusive photographer.
The Sound of Music
Another Julie Andrews classic with iconic music. Maria is nun that doesn’t fit in at the convent and is sent to help the widowed Von Trapp father with his kids. She chooses to raise the children in her own way and helps them family heal and escape the Nazis. All while singing in the Alps of Austria.
This was the music that my sister and I would act out as kids. CLASSIC movie. In real life you can actually tour a lot of the places that the movie was filmed in!
Around the World in 80 Days
Based on the classic novel, an inventor in Victorian England makes a bet that he can travel around the world in 80 days. He takes his butler along (Jackie Chan, so you know it’s a good movie and has martial arts) and travels in creatively different ways.
Lord of the Rings
You can’t make a list of movies that make you think of iconic places and not include this series. Lord of the Rings is a perfect family movie for travelers because it perfectly highlights the beauty of New Zealand. Literally hundreds of thousands of people travel to New Zealand every year for “Tolkien Tourism”.
I’m not going to give you a synopsis because you should already know it….A ring is involved.
Travel with Kids
This is a great series of a real-life family that travels the world with their kids! Think Rick Steves for families. See great family-friendly destinations, things to do and tips and tricks to traveling with kids.
You can check out their blog here.
(Some seasons are available for free on Amazon Prime!)
Roman Holiday
This is one of those classic romance movies that you watch with your girlfriends and eat ice cream. BUT I think it’s one everyone should see once. Audrey Hepburn plays a princess who falls asleep on a park bench and is taken home by a reporter worried for her safety. They explore Rome on a Vespa and fall in love.
Yes it’s black and white. But it’s worth it.
Midnight in Paris
A jaded Hollywood writer comes to Paris with his fiancée and each night finds himself magically transported back to Bohemian Paris. He makes friends with art, music and literary icons like F Scott Fitzgerald, Hemmingway and Picasso. Each morning he wakes up back to his current time.
It’s an adorable movie that also wins bonus points for incorporating history and culture.
The Hundred Foot Journey
Hassan is a brilliant self-taught chef from India who immigrates to France with his family. They set up an Indian restaurant 100 feet away from an award winning restaurant and conflict ensues.
My dad LOVES this movie and bugged me constantly until I watched it. It was worth the bugging.
The Bucket List
A billionaire and a mechanic end up in the same hospital room fighting cancer. As their friendship grows they decide to write and check off a “bucket list” together. They explore the world together, motorcycling on the Great Wall of China, skydiving, going on a safari and eating at the fanciest restaurant in Paris.
It’s a bittersweet feel good movie. As a cancer nurse I have a special liking for it. And it’s a great family movie for travelers that want to see some of the most exciting and iconic world trips.
Use this list of the very best family movies for travelers to help cut back some of your cabin fever or inspire you for your next trip!
If you get sick of all the TV try a family “staycation” instead! I made these awesome home travel itineraries that are super easy to follow. Recipes, activities, books and crafts that you can do with your kids (usually with stuff around the house!) They include 3 of the most iconic destinations in the world.
I hope your kids love them as much as mine!
