Sunny Season Crime Movies: Vacation Journeys
In the realm of cinema, few genres have captured the imagination quite like the crime-road trip movie. These films, which blend the thrill of the open road with the tension of illicit activities, have provided audiences with a unique blend of adventure, suspense, and drama. Here are some of the most notable examples of this genre, excluding those produced by Wim Wenders and other films such as Pierrot Le Fou, Wild Strawberries, Little Miss Sunshine, It Happened One Night, and Y Tu Mamá También.
Bandit (2022)
This modern addition to the genre follows Robert Whiteman, a career criminal who escapes prison, crosses into Canada, and embarks on a series of bank and jewelry heists while on the run across the country. It's a crime road trip about his cross-country manhunt featuring disguises and heist schemes.
Thelma & Louise (1991)
Centered on two friends who take a road trip that escalates into a crime spree involving murder and robbery, this classic road trip crime drama is a must-watch. Although not by Wim Wenders, it has left an indelible mark on the genre.
Smoke and the Bandit (1977)
A timeless classic, this movie stars Burt Reynolds as a trucker who has to drive a tractor-trailer full of beer across state lines in 28 hours while being pursued by a sheriff.
Gun Crazy (1950)
This film takes a darker turn with its depiction of a shooting spree committed by two teenagers on a road trip.
Thunderbolt and Lightfoot (1973)
This heist movie follows a car thief and a preacher on the run from a shooter who wind up plotting a robbery together.
Starman (1984)
While not a crime-road trip movie in the traditional sense, this film about an alien who takes on the appearance of a deceased man and is helped by his widow to find a way home does feature a road trip element.
Something Wild (1986)
This movie tells the story of a straightlaced banker who meets a free-spirited woman and gets kidnapped by her.
Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas (1998)
This trippy adaptation of Hunter S. Thompson's psychedelic novel provides a unique take on the road trip genre.
Easy Rider (1969)
A classic road movie about two bikers on a journey across America, this film is a staple of the genre.
Paper Moon (1973)
This movie about a con man and a precocious kid who travel through the Depression-Era Midwest is another standout example of the genre.
Wild at Heart (1990)
This film about a couple who go on the run because the wife's mother has hired an assassin to kill the husband is a gripping addition to the genre.
Midnight Run (1988)
This movie stars Charles Grodin and Robert DeNiro as a do-gooding embezzler and bounty hunter, respectively, on a cross-country journey.
Badlands (1973)
This movie stars Martin Sheen and Sissy Spacek about a teenage girl and her older boyfriend who go on a killing spree in South Dakota.
Thieves Like Us (1974)
This film about a young murderer on the run who begins a relationship with an innocent civilian is another compelling example of the genre.
Scarecrow (1977)
This movie about a drifter-with-a-criminal-past and a homeless sailor who travel West together offers a unique perspective on the genre.
From Dusk 'Til Dawn (1996)
This movie combines a bank robbery with a vampire massacre, providing a unique twist on the crime-road trip genre.
Queen & Slim (2019)
This movie about a couple who go on the run after killing a policeman in self-defense is a modern take on the genre.
Bonnie and Clyde (1967)
This movie about the notorious bank robbers Bonnie Parker and Clyde Barrow is a classic example of the genre.
Week-end (1967)
This New-Wave film features a couple who takes a weekend road trip to murder the wife's parents.
The Hitch-Hiker (1953)
One of the few female-directed noirs of its era, this film involves a psychotic hitchhiker who intends to murder his ride.
The Living End (1992)
This movie about two HIV-positive characters on a dangerous, destructive road trip offers a unique perspective on the genre.
One False Move (1992)
This thriller about three criminals who commit several murders in Los Angeles and are pursued by a sheriff is another gripping example of the genre.
True Romance (1993)
This movie about a couple who steal cocaine from her pimp and go to Hollywood to sell it, with dangerous gangsters on their trail, is a high-stakes addition to the genre.
They Live by Night (1948)
This noir about a young thief and prison escapee who falls in love with the niece of the owner of a service station and goes on the run with her is a classic example of the genre.
Kalifornia (1993)
This movie about two journalists and their friends who go on a tour of murder sites suspected to be connected to a serial killer, and one of them turns out to be the killer, offers a dark twist on the genre.
Sullivan's Travels (1941)
This movie about a Hollywood director who wants to make a serious, gritty picture that captures the struggles of the common man, and winds up falsely arrested and sentenced to work on a chain gang, offers a unique perspective on the genre.
Detour (1945)
This B-movie noir about a hitchhiking pianist who takes the identity of a dead driver is a classic example of the genre.
Another Day in Paradise (1998)
This movie about a young, homeless meth addict who winds up being taken care of by a middle-aged couple who convince him and his girlfriend to assist them in committing drug robberies offers a unique perspective on the genre.
Nurse Betty (2000)
This weird movie about a woman who believes she's a nurse on a medical soap opera and is engaged to its lead character, while being pursued by her husband's killers, offers a unique twist on the genre.
The In-Laws (1979)
This comedy about two dads whose kids are about to get married and who wind up on a cross-continental journey together is a light-hearted addition to the genre.
To Wong Foo, Thanks for Everything! Julie Newmar (1995)
This movie about three drag queens who travel from New York to Los Angeles to compete in the Miss Drag Queen of America Pageant offers a unique perspective on the genre.
The Muppet Movie (1979)
While not a crime-road trip movie in the traditional sense, this comedy about Kermit the Frog and his friends' journey to Hollywood is a beloved example of the genre.
Film Noir,general-news: Bandit (2022) has newly joined the crime-road trip genre with its story about career criminal Robert Whiteman, whose escapades involve a cross-country manhunt filled with disguises and heist schemes.
Entertainment,crime-and-justice,sports: Gun Crazy (1950) took a darker turn with its portrayal of a shooting spree committed by two teenagers during their road trip, showcasing the genre's ability to encompass a wide spectrum of narrative themes.
