What are the best movies that feature walking? We’ve rounded up some of the most obvious cinematic celebrations of walking, as well as some oddball favorites.
Wizard of Oz
This classic is entirely built upon the premise of the Yellow Brick Road, a golden pathway designed to take Dorothy to the Emerald City, where she’ll learn how to get home.
Wild
This 2014 film is based on the book by Cheryl Strayed, an autobiographical account of hiking the Pacific Crest Trail after her life turns upside down. The film features many shots of Reese Witherspoon, who portrays Cheryl, hiking, walking, and getting blisters. It also has a gorgeous soundtrack perfect to listen to on your own walks.
Saturday Night Fever
While this movie is really about dancing, it features John Travolta doing one of the best swaggers every captured on film. Those few seconds of walking set the tone for the whole movie.
Homeward Bound
This movie is about two dogs and a cat who find themselves far from home. Okay, so these are animals walking, not humans, but they walk hundreds of miles and have all kinds of adventures. It’s the animal movie equivalent of the famous lyric, “and I would walk 500 miles, ” sung by The Proclaimers in their hit song, I’m Gonna Be (500 Miles).
The Way
With a tagline of “life is too big to walk it alone,” this is the movie to watch if you want to be inspired to take a big walk. A father’s son dies while walking El Camino de Santiago. He goes to recover his son’s body and decides to take the same journey.
The Lord of the Rings
We can’t make a list of walking movies without including The Lord of the Rings. Frodo, Sam, and his friends are on a quest to destroy an evil ring, and they walk across Middle Earth to do so. This movie also has one of my favorite quotes with the word ‘walk’ in it, “One does not simply walk into Mordor” (apparently, Frodo can).
What Are Your Favorites?
Tell us what famous walking scenes or themed movies you love but didn’t make our lists by leaving a note in the comments. We may just update the lists with your pick.
About the Author
