The holidays are coming up, which means two things: lots of travel and lots of family time.
Whether you’re sitting on a train for hours watching the world zoom by, waiting at the airport for your flight that just keeps getting delayed, or just anxiously awaiting the family chaos the holidays bring, everyone could use a bit of a break during this time of year.
These movies will give you a few moments of escape between the travel and stress of the holiday season.
My Big Fat Greek Wedding
No other movie captures the warmth and craziness of a big family quite like My Big Fat Greek Wedding.
Written by and starring Nia Vardalos, this movie is all about self-growth and accepting your identity. Vardalos plays Toula Portokalos, a young Greek woman who finds herself stuck working at her family’s restaurant, uninspired, and lacking any real direction in life.
She decides to take her life in her own hands: she goes back to school, gets a new job, and finds love in the form of John Corbett as Ian Miller.
What’s so heartwarming about this movie is that Toula makes these big changes for herself. Yes, she gets the man, but she doesn’t change for him. It’s a refreshing take on a rom-com that makes Ian and Toula’s love feel authentic and relatable.
Beyond the romance plot, there’s also the whole idea that this is a forbidden love because Ian isn’t a Greek man.
The movie follows Toula’s journey with this and how she balances her cultural identity and family responsibilities with the new life she is creating for herself.
Along the way, Toula’s big, loud, loving, and involved family adds levity and warmth. It’s truly a perfect amalgamation of the frustration and love some of us may feel towards our families during the holidays.
With a 95-minute run time, My Big Fat Greek Wedding is a great movie for a short travel day, especially if you need a reminder of why you love that crazy family of yours.
IMDb: 6.6/10
Where to watch: HBO Max
When Harry Met Sally
Nothing quite screams fall like Harry (Billy Crystal) and Sally (Meg Ryan) wandering through New York City as the leaves change color.
When Harry Met Sally follows the titular characters over the years of their friendship. They go from strangers, to enemies, to friends, to lovers, to enemies again, and lovers forever within the 95-minute runtime.
Despite the ups and downs of their relationship, Ryan and Crystal’s chemistry is palpable, and their friends-to-lovers arc is so heartwarming you can’t help but smile.
The movie spans years, and we see the pair across multiple seasons and holidays, making it a great movie to watch as you travel for the holidays.
Watching Sally and Harry is like watching friends we all know. Their idiosyncrasies are realistic and so memorable that their love story will stick with you throughout your travels.
IMDb: 7.7/10
Where to Watch: Paramount+,
Red Eye
If you want a suspenseful watch sure to keep you on the edge of your airplane seat, Wes Craven’s Red Eye should definitely be in your downloads for your next flight.
Red Eye follows Lisa Reisert (Rachel McAdams), a hotel executive who is being held hostage by terrorist Jackson Rippner (Cillian Murphy). He forces her to use her power at the hotel to help him assassinate the Deputy Secretary of Homeland Security.
Both McAdams and Murphy give incredible performances that keep you captivated for the entire 85-minute runtime.
Beyond the acting, the true star of this film is the setting. More than half of the film takes place on an airplane, which may seem claustrophobic and boring.
However, the limited space of the setting only adds to the tension. None of the other characters on the plane is aware of Rippner’s plans, making Reisert’s fear even more isolating and realistic.
There are definitely some parts of the movie (especially the ending) that are a little too convenient and unrealistic, but this movie isn’t meant to be a masterpiece.
It’s a fun and original concept that will help you pass some time during those long travel days. It’s also a much-watch on an airplane, as it adds the perfect amount of suspense.
IMDb: 6.4/10
Where to Watch: Paramount+
Train to Busan
Much like Red Eye, if you’re looking for a thriller set on a train, Train to Busan is the one for you. As a zombie virus breaks out across South Korea, passengers on a train to Busan fight to survive.
Gong Yoo as Seok-woo gives a powerful performance as a workaholic father who does everything he can to protect his daughter, played by Kim Su-an.
The movie is filled with compassion, emotional depth, and humanity, which sets it apart from other movies in the zombie genre.
While the setting being mainly on a train could also feel limiting, the movie uses the tight, confined space to heighten the suspense and tension.
The result is an incredibly creative and compelling movie in a genre that usually lacks such qualities.
At nearly two hours, Train to Busan is perfect for those longer travel days. If you’re stuck on a train, this movie becomes a transformative experience that makes you feel like you’re right there with the characters.
Perhaps not the most relaxing way to spend a travel day, but definitely an entertaining one.
IMDb: 7.6/10
Where to Watch: Netflix
Knives Out
With the third installment of the series coming to Netflix in December, now is the perfect time to watch the first Knives Out movie, especially if you find some free time on your hands.
Writer and director Rian Johnson creates a memorable cast of characters with an equally intriguing mystery at hand.
Detective Benoit Blanc (Daniel Craig) sets out to solve the murder of crime novelist Harlan Thrombey (Christopher Plummer) after his 85th birthday party.
However, each member of the Thrombey family has a motive, and so an enthralling whodunit sprawls out before your eyes.
The stacked cast, including Chris Evans, Ana de Armas, Jamie Lee Curtis, and Toni Collette, brings a combination of heart and deceitfulness to the film. Their chaotic, backstabbing, and dysfunctional ways make most other family gatherings seem downright peaceful.
Set in a grand estate, surrounded by beautiful foliage, and shrouded in mystery, Knives Out is the kind of movie you keep coming back to even after you know the ending.
It’s a great comfort rewatch to ease the stress of traveling, while also keeping you wickedly entertained. At just over two hours, it’s the perfect way to waste some time in between flights, and you may even notice some details you missed the first time around.
IMDb: 7.9/10
Where to Watch: Amazon Prime
Catch Me If You Can
Based on a true story, Catch Me If You Can follows Frank Abagnale Jr. (Leonardo DiCaprio), a skilled con man, and Carl Hanratty (Tom Hanks), the FBI agent tasked with tracking him down.
A little bit on the longer side at 2 hours and 21 minutes, this is a great pick if you’ve got a long flight or train ride because every single second is entertaining.
DiCaprio gives a captivating performance as he goes from a juvenile delinquent to an expert criminal. He lies his way through being a pilot, a doctor, and a lawyer, and each one feels as believable as the last.
Hanks gives a stellar performance as well, which deepens Hanratty and Abagnale’s relationship throughout. The pair bounce off each other perfectly, and that really is the crux of the film. As a viewer, you’re rooting for them both. That push and pull is exactly what keeps your eyes glued to the screen.
Catch Me if You Can is one of those movies that will never get old. It’s a great choice to just keep downloaded on your phone as a backup because there’s never a bad time to watch it.
IMDb: 8.1/10
Where to Watch: Paramount+
Captain Fantastic
Written and directed by Matt Ross, Captain Fantastic tells the story of an eccentric but deeply charming family that lives removed from society.
After a tragedy, the father Ben (Viggo Mortensen) embarks on a road trip with his six children out of the woods and into the outside world. All of the children are incredibly intelligent despite never receiving a typical education, but their offbeat quirkiness is the true heart of the film.
Captain Fantastic is one of those movies that makes you want to travel into the woods and escape the real world for a little while. Since most people can’t do that, the next best option is watching it on your next long-haul flight, train, or car ride.
Especially if you’re traveling to see family, this movie will remind you of how unique and special each family truly is.
Mortensen snagged an Oscar nomination for his role, and rightfully so. He gives an incredible performance as a grieving father trying to do right by his kids, while protecting them from the real world.
In a film filled with social commentary about parenting and education, Mortensen balances the comedy and drama perfectly.
At its very best, Captain Fantastic provides a raw portrayal of family relationships that might make you feel more in tune with your own family during the holiday season.
At its worst, it’s a fun and emotional way to kill two hours if you’re stuck in the airport.
IMDb: 7.8/10
Where to watch: Hulu
Whether you’re dreading the holidays or can’t wait for the much-needed break, keeping a wide array of movies in your back pocket isn’t a bad way to spend those long, tiring days of traveling.
