If you’re anything like me, you’ve spent the last six months on the couch binge-watching Netflix and baking non-stop. Sometimes it feels like an endless cycle. Lucky for you, I have found the solution. These movies are for the adventures turned couch potato. These movies are guaranteed to get you off the couch and reconnect with your wildside. These movies will feed the hiker, backpacker, camper and explorer within you. They will spark that fire you thought went out.
A wilderness classic, Into the Wild will inspire you to get outside and get dirty. Into the Wild is based on the real life adventures of Christopher McCandles. The movie follows McCandles journey from California all the way to the Alaskan Wilderness. The college graduate of sophisticated parents, feels overwhelmed by the pressures and expectations, decides to sell everything and heads North to clear his head. McCandles perseverance and dedication to find a deeper purpose is beyond inspiring. By the end of the movie you’ll feel inspired to reevaluate what really matters and push yourself to that next destination of success.
When everything goes wrong, go hiking. Wild is the ultimate solo mission movie. Cheryl Strayed feels defeated by life, and with no prior experience, decides to hike the Pacific Crest Trail searching for answers. The Pacific Crest Trail stretches over 2,600 miles stretching from the Cali-Mexican border up until Canada. As she hikes, cries, screams and dances throughout the forest she slowly finds answers to the problems of life and all the great outlets nature has to offer. This best-selling memoir was turned into a fantastic movie starring Reese Witherspoon in her rawest form.
The Peanut Butter Falcon will push your imagination and bring out your childlike tendencies. Director Tyler Nilson is the ultimate outdoor pioneer. He wrote the script for this movie while living in his tent above LA. His movie is a Mark Twain, Odyssey spin on adventure and brotherhood. Zack, a 22-year old boy with Down syndrome, and Tyler, a troubled fisherman, travel throughout the Outer Banks running from past ghosts, and chasing a new start. The two build a boat and hop aboard as they teach each other about friendship, dreaming big and freedom. After viewing this movie, you’ll see the world with a whole new lens of possibility and imagination, just the way you did as a child.
This movie will bring goosebumps up your spine and tears to your eyes, no doubt. Patrick Gray and Justin Skeesuck are childhood best friends who have experienced marriage, kids, loss and friendship for over 40 years. In 2012 the two friends decided to tackle the 500 mile pilgrimage trail in Spain, El Camino de Santiago. For a typical hiker, the trail will take a little over a month, tons of water and more than a few good hiking sticks. But Patrick and Justin are different. At age 15, Justin suffered a neuromuscular injury that later put him in a wheel. Justin asked his lifelong friend if he would hike the El Camino de Santiage and Patrick answered “I’ll push you.” Then started the amazing adventure the two experienced. This movie is the epitome and an unbreakable friendship and truly defines family. Grab your tissues and get prepared to be inspired, I’ll Push You just might change your perspective on everything
I’ll warn you now - after watching any one of these movies, you’ll feel inclined to pack up and get outside. You might as well pack the car now with water, tents and your best hiking shoes because once the movie is over, you may never be back. Oh and don’t forget your camera, you never know what or where your adventure will take you.
A senior Business Administration Major, Courtney is based out of San Diego California where she attends Point Loma Nazarene University. She often seeks tropical, island countries for a vacation in the sun, surf trips with locals and taking photos.. She also has a passion for Global South (or developing) countries and hopes to pursue a career in economic development after college.
