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Movie Reviews

There's a multiverse of roads not taken in 'everything everywhere all at once'.

Justin Chang

Michelle Yeoh stars as a woman who suddenly develops the power to leap between parallel universes in the action-adventure-fantasy Everything Everywhere All at Once. A24 hide caption

Michelle Yeoh stars as a woman who suddenly develops the power to leap between parallel universes in the action-adventure-fantasy Everything Everywhere All at Once.

Multiverses are having something of a moment, popping up in recent movies like Spider-Man: No Way Home and upcoming ones like Doctor Strange and the Multiverse of Madness . It's refreshing, then, to get a new multiverse movie this week that doesn't spring from the world of comic-book superheroes. It's called Everything Everywhere All at Once — an apt title for a movie that imagines the existence of thousands of alternate timelines, featuring thousands of alternate versions of ourselves. It was written and directed by Daniel Kwan and Daniel Scheinert, also known as Daniels, who seem intent on topping the anything-goes audacity of Swiss Army Man , their 2016 comedy featuring Daniel Radcliffe as a flatulent corpse.

That strain of juvenile humor pops up frequently here: At one point, characters have to make inventive use of a trophy in order to jump from one universe to the next. But for all its gross sight gags and bizarre supernatural conceits, the movie has one pretty coherent purpose: to provide a dazzling actor's showcase for Michelle Yeoh .

In theaters this spring: multiverses, Bat-men, action stars and more

Yeoh plays Evelyn Wang, a Chinese American immigrant who lives in a cramped apartment with her husband, Waymond, played by Ke Huy Quan. It's a stressful time for the Wangs: Evelyn has her hands full bickering with their teenage daughter, Joy — a terrific Stephanie Hsu — and planning a birthday party for her ailing father, played by the great 93-year-old veteran James Hong. On top of that, the family business, a laundromat, is being audited by the IRS. The action really begins at the IRS office where Evelyn meets with their auditor, well played by Jamie Lee Curtis, who urges the Wangs to get their paperwork in order.

Evelyn might think she knows the story of her life, but she doesn't know the half of it. Through an extremely bizarre series of events, she learns about the existence of all those other universes, each with its own version of Evelyn. She also learns that she's the only person who can save the whole multiverse from destruction by some powerful force that has taken hold of her daughter, Joy. (As a story of conflict and reconciliation between an Asian mother and daughter, Everything Everywhere All at Once would make a nifty double bill with the current Pixar fantasy Turning Red .)

'Turning Red' confronts the messiness of adolescence with refreshing honesty

In order to defeat evil, Evelyn must repeatedly jump between her universe and others, sort of like a video-game avatar, and absorb crucial knowledge from those other Evelyns, all of whom represent different paths she could have taken through life. There's Evelyn the Hong Kong movie star, Evelyn the Peking opera singer and Evelyn the teppanyaki chef. Imagine a very long, unusually surreal Choose Your Own Adventure novel in which all the pages have been torn out and glued back together at random, and you'll have some sense of how this movie plays.

All this Matrix -style interdimensional hopping, plus the nonstop martial-arts action and in-your-face slapstick, makes Everything Everywhere All at Once an often frenetic viewing experience, and I checked out more than once the first time I saw it. But there are playful ideas beneath that busy surface. Notably, all those other Evelyns seem to be leading more fulfilling lives than Evelyn the unhappy wife, mom and laundromat owner. This is very much a movie about regret and disappointment, about the frustration of feeling that life's best opportunities have passed you by. It's no wonder that one of Evelyn's timelines pays homage to Wong Kar-wai 's In the Mood for Love , one of the greatest movies ever made about the road not taken.

Adding to that subtext is the casting of Michelle Yeoh, who's one of Asia's top stars but, despite some recent supporting roles in Crazy Rich Asians and Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings , has never had the spectacular Hollywood career she's deserved. Directors Kwan and Scheinert are clearly trying to rectify that. This movie is as passionate and exhaustive a love letter to an actor as I've ever seen, and Yeoh's performance combines action, comedy, drama and emotion in ways she's never done before. Ke Huy Quan is working just as hard here as a neglected husband whose reserves of quiet strength Evelyn takes for granted. This is a big comeback role for Quan, whom you may remember as the '80s child star from Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom and The Goonies.

For all its cosmic craziness, Everything Everywhere All at Once has a simple emotional message: It's about how the members of this immigrant family learn to cherish each other again. It's also about making peace with the life you've lived — and the ones you haven't. And that sort of sums up how I feel about this funny, messy, moving and often exasperating movie: There may be a better, more focused version of it in some other universe, but I'm still grateful for the one we've got.

6 Movies from the Asian Film Canon That Will Make You Want to Travel

By Jeff Yang

All products featured on Condé Nast Traveler are independently selected by our editors. However, when you buy something through our retail links, we may earn an affiliate commission.

This story about Asian and Asian American films is part of Home, Made , a collection of stories honoring Asian diasporas creating vibrant communities by weaving their heritages with their American hometowns. Read more here .

As Nicole Kidman famously says in that viral ad for AMC Theatres, the movies let us "go somewhere we've never been before." But some very special films activate in us the deep-seated desire to actually visit those places and see them with our own eyes, so we can experience everything we see onscreen for ourselves—or, at least, something close to it.

To celebrate the transportive power of cinema and the stories they tell, I'm sharing excerpts from my book The Golden Screen: The Movies That Made Asian America , which honors the past, present, and future of Asian and Asian American films, as well as movie-making in the hands of Asian creativity, to highlight six films that'll make you want to book a ticket directly to the beautiful, awe-inspiring, and atmospheric backdrops of some of the most iconic stories in the Asian and Asian American film canon. From the back alleys of neon-bright Hong Kong and the luxe corridors of the Lion City that is Singapore , to the lush prairies of the American heartland to the let-it-all-hang-out parties of New York's queer summer camp, Fire Island , these landscapes offer just as much narrative and drama as the memorable characters of these now-classic films.

I hope these movies—and The Golden Screen —remind you of the expansive nature of the Asian diaspora and how, wherever we go, we can carve out spaces to tell our own stories, our own way. — Jeff Yang

A Great Wall  (1986)

The destination : Beijing , China

Why you'll want to visit : It's right there in the title: Scenes in the film will make you want to see for yourself the unbelievably immense 13,171 mile-long Great Wall of China in all of its glory—breathtaking, tragic in its cost in coin and lives, and ultimately useless as a means of keeping out outsiders. If anything, it actually brings in more tourists.

From The Golden Screen :  "Billed as the first American movie to be shot (with permission!) in mainland China, A Great Wall is a modest comedy of cultural contrasts, featuring its director Peter Wang as Leo Fang, a Chinese American tech exec who, after smashing his head against Silicon Valley’s glass ceiling, decides to take his first trip to his nation of birth since childhood, bringing his very Asian American family—wife, Grace (Sharon Iwai), and son, Paul (Kelvin Han Yee)—on an extended visit to his sister’s family in Beijing."

Chungking Express  (1994)

The destination : Hong Kong

Why you'll want to visit : It's a cliche to say that some movies use the locations in which they're shot as characters, but that's undeniably the case for Wong Kar Wai's brilliantly quirky romantic dram-com, where the city of Hong Kong isn't just a character in the narrative, but arguably its protagonist. And now, after yet another evolution , Hong Kong is worth a far-flung visit.

From The Golden Screen :  " Chungking Express  is both a love letter to Hong Kong and a love letter to love; an elaborate neon journey around some of the island’s most unique locations (including the densely packed enclave of Chungking Mansions, a single building housing thousands of low-income and mostly immigrant individuals and their ad hoc businesses, and the endless outdoor escalators that connect the wealthier private domains of the Mid Levels with the raucous streets of Central)."

Harrison Pierce

María Casbas

CNT Editors

Lost in Translation  (2003)

The destination : Tokyo , Japan

Why you'll want to visit : To see for yourself if Sofia Coppola's bizarre caricature of Japan 's biggest and most richly eclectic metropolis has any truth to it. (Spoiler: Sure, the weirdness is there if you go looking for it, but you'll find so much that moves and inspires you along the way.)

From The Golden Screen :  “For white critics and audiences, Lost in Translation is a gentle, moving exploration of disconnection and loneliness, of psychological miasma created by the passage of time, the shock of the unfamiliar, and the sense of being an outsider even in one’s own life. But for many Asians, Sofia Coppola’s critically beloved sophomore feature hits differently. Set in a cartoonishly exaggerated Tokyo, the film turns Japan and Japanese people into a luridly exotic backdrop and comic foil for its white main cast.”

Crazy Rich Asians (2018)

The destination : Singapore

Why you'll want to visit: Ten minutes into the movie, the couple at the center of this blockbuster romantic comedy travel from New York to Singapore, and every beat of their journey—from the luxe platinum-class airplane suite to the way the camera soars toward the city's unforgettable skyline to the way the movie then hauls us off to a hawker center for an incredible street-food feast —couldn't have been staged better by the Singapore Tourism Board. A year after the movie's release, Singapore registered a record five million inbound tourists, and watching this film, it's easy to see why.

From The Golden Screen :  "No single movie has changed the metrics of how Asian Americans are seen in Hollywood more than  Crazy Rich Asians , Jon M. Chu’s adaptation of the book by Singaporean author Kevin Kwan. Crazy Rich Asians  ended up rallying unprecedented support from the Asian American community, who bought out theaters; saw the movie two, three, or more times; evangelized it to parents and grandparents; and kept the film buzzing on social media via endless layers of discourse, from the film’s food and fashion to the intricate symbolism of a single game of mahjong."

Minari  (2020)

The destination : Northwest Arkansas, but really Sand Springs, Oklahoma , United States

Why you'll want to visit:   Minari  is a family story that might feel tiny and intimate if it weren't for the rolling vistas of lush and expansive prairie—topped with a boundless blue sky—that frame virtually every outdoor sequence. Yes, the movie is set in the farmland around director Lee Isaac Chung's childhood home of Lincoln, Arkansas, but the actual scenery belongs to Meadow Lake Ranch in Sand Springs, Oklahoma, the dude ranch bed-and-breakfast where much of the movie was shot.

From The Golden Screen :  "This deeply evocative film from director Lee Isaac Chung, loosely based on his own childhood memories, stops just short of being an elegy. Nevertheless, it delivers a remarkable payload of broken dreams and bitter resilience in the tale of a Korean immigrant family moving from California to deep-country Arkansas in the early eighties."

Fire Island  (2022)

The destination : Fire Island , New York, United States

Why you'll want to visit: This movie— Pride and Prejudice , but with more pride and less prejudice—showcases the sweaty, ecstatic charms of New York 's slightly notorious summertime queer mecca. It'll make you want to visit Fire Island for yourself, even if you're straight; the non-gay parts are fun too (and family-friendly), though you'll never stop wondering what's on the other end of the thumping disco beats faintly audible in the distance over in Cherry Grove and The Pines.

From The Golden Screen :  “The film, a loose adaptation of Jane Austen’s classic  Pride and Prejudice  set in the gay hot spots of New York’s Fire Island, works precisely because of its ability to luxuriate in creating its characters rather than clipping them into brief stereotypes.”

Jeff Yang is the author of Eastern Standard Time: A Guide to Asian Influence on American Culture and The Golden Screen: The Movies That Made Asian America ; and is the co-author of   RISE: A Pop History of Asian America from the Nineties to Now . In 1989, Yang launched one of the first Asian American national magazines,  A. Magazine, and now writes frequently for CNN, the  New York Times, and elsewhere. He lives in Los Angeles, California.

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• Entertainment

More People Should Watch Netflix's Best Hidden Time Travel Gem

The Call's credentials: The South Korean sci-fi flick has the same editor as Parasite.

• Best New Journalist 2019 Australian IT Journalism Awards

The Call stars Park Shin-hye.

Director Bong Joon-ho went and made history in 2019 with black comedy thriller  Parasite . It was the first non English-language film to win the best picture Oscar , catapulting viewers over the 1-inch subtitle barrier into a treasure trove of South Korean films.

Now it's time to check out another South Korean flick sitting on that same glowing pile: 2020's The Call. Currently streaming on Netflix , The Call shares the same Oscar-nominated editor as Parasite: Yang Jin-mo. If you like your storytelling efficient, unique and wrought with suspense, The Call will generously provide.

The Call is set in rural Korea, where 28-year-old Kim Seo-yeon makes the trip home to visit her estranged, sick mother. Crucially, she loses her phone on the train journey over. This fatal error sees her forced to use a cordless phone . After one fateful phone call, a true nightmare unfurls.

Seo-yeon interacts with another 28-year-old woman -- Oh Young-sook -- who cries for help from her own "crazy" mother. The trailer-advertised reveal: Both women are in the same house, but from different times . One is in 2019, the other in 1999. Cue awesome '90s Korean grunge music.

With this strange connection, Seo-yeon in the present timeline is enticed to tinker with the unfortunate events in her past. The only catch is this relies on her friendship with the other woman on the line, whose circumstances might be far more hellish than her own.

The fact these women interact without meeting face to face reveals the profound skill of actresses Park Shin-hye and Jeon Jong-seo. They embark on a cat-and-mouse tug of war, tiptoeing across a minefield of unknowns and potential threats. The tension is unrelenting.

Oh Young-sook (Jeon Jong-seo) is a force to be reckoned with.

The ensemble is rounded out by the women's mothers, played by the equally extraordinary Kim Sung-ryung and Lee El. Lee El in particular produces the kind of unhinged parent performance that haunted kids like Carrie, Coraline and Norman Bates.

Every aspect of the filmmaking process has clearly been siphoned through a delicate sieve. The attention to detail is immaculate. As well as editor Yang Jin-mo, the filmmaking team includes Avengers: The Age of Ultron and The Great Gatsby colorist Vanessa Taylor. You'll notice a purple hue sheathing the scenes with Seo-yeon in the present timeline, representing her sadness and despair. In the past, Young-sook's scenes glint with red, refracting anger, danger and violence.

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The stress you feel as the game plays out is testament to how deeply The Call draws you in. Yes, it presents a high-concept time travel mind-melder, but it's all propped up by the pillars of the mother-daughter relationships. Oh, and there's a lesson in there somewhere about the price of changing your fate, but luckily this isn't thrown with a splat in your face.

Like a Bong Joon-ho film, here director and writer Lee Chung-hyun drops a shocking midway twist that changes everything you know about the playing field. It all wraps up in an emotionally satisfying ending before squeezing out one last heart-clunking surprise.

The Call is verdant, inventive, sophisticated storytelling that leaves you buzzing for the kind of top-notch films that don't often find their way onto Netflix. Dislodge it from the back of Netflix's streaming shelves ASAP.

New Movies Coming in 2023 From Marvel, Netflix, DC and More

The 10 Best Netflix Travel Shows And Documentaries In Asia

With international trips dissipated to pretty much non-existence, for the past few years we’ve had to turn to different forms of entertainment to try and satiate our desires to travel.

Unsurprisingly, consuming online content was one way that many people realized was going to be as close as they could get to experiencing the other side of the world.

Watching as real people explored foreign cities, ate peculiar foods, and interacted with strangers somewhat filled that void that we all wished we could go out and fill ourselves with.

Netflix saw the opportunity and absolutely leaped into the task of spoiling us with huge additions of travel shows and documentaries that were made to engage us in ways that makes us feel like we’re actually there in that moment.

Their best content has helped us keep the travel bug at bay and fed into our wanderlust desires in the best ways possible.

Watching these shows, whether it be about countries we’ve already visited or ones that we’re eager to visit once we’re allowed to, inspires us and gives us insight on how we can better plan the trip when the time comes around (and it will come, hopefully sooner rather than later!).

And to be honest, they’re just super fun and easy to watch!

There is currently a plethora of shows about food, travel, and/or culture – but the best ones are the ones that combine all three.

Let’s look into the 10 best Netflix travel shows and documentaries out right now!

1. Street Food Series – Asia (2019)

The Street Food series is a much-loved global series that’s the perfect viewing experience for foodies around the world. Every episode follows the story of a local chef and shares how their famous street food stall came to be.

If you’re a fan of journeys, this series will take you on some wild rides. You’ll be pretty much learning the origin stories of some of the chefs, some who literally started from the bottom, some of who took over flailing family businesses to completely turn them around.

The first series focuses on Asia, taking you for a tour around popular Asian destinations such as Thailand , Singapore , Delhi, Seoul , and many more. The second season focuses on Latin America.

2. Twogether (2020)

Veteran South Korean entertainer Lee Seung Gi and popular Taiwanese actor Liu Yi-Hao (stage name Jasper) are thrown in the deep end in this fun travel and exploration documentary series.

Basically, before starting filming in Indonesia, they met briefly for the first time when they were told that they would be filming this show. Fast-forward to months later and they’re both stepping off the airplane in Yogyakarta, a foreign Indonesian city neither have ever visited before.

From there, both parties must navigate through ‘missions’ (tasks) as submitted by their various fans across multiple cities around Asia, all whilst trying to overcome their language barrier and adapt to their environment.

From the get-go, you get the strong feeling that this is not scripted, as both parties are as awkward as it gets. Communicating in Taiwanese, Korean, and a sprinkle of English, you can feel them warming up to each other as the show goes on, and eventually they form a wonderful brotherhood you just can’t make up.

Both Seung Gi and Jasper are adventurous, comical and overall, wonderfully likable in this amazing series.

3. Somebody Feed Phil (2020)

In this fun and light-hearted travel, food and culture documentary, Phil Rosenthal, the creator of the classic sitcom “Everybody Loves Raymond” travels the world to indulge in delicious local cuisine and explore more about the culture of the destinations.

Some of the cities that he visits include Bangkok , Saigon , Seoul, and Singapore.

Unsurprisingly, his genuine interest in local customs, openness to trying even the strangest of foods, and amusing dry humour have hooked hundreds of thousands of people around the world. There are currently 4 seasons available to watch on Netflix.

4. J-Style Trip (2020)

Chinese artist Jay Chou is synonymous with legendary music. Many argue that it was he who put C-pop on the global map; if not, then it was he who expanded it beyond its horizons.

On the surface level, this documentary showcases Jay and his crew traveling around different destinations around the world. They perform crazy magic tricks, participate in fun and adventurous activities, and generally have good banter.

However, if you’re a long-time C-pop music lover, you’ll find that this series is much more than what it appears to be.

Whilst there is the glitz and glamor of visiting Paris and globetrotting through Singapore, there are moments of nostalgia as Jay Chou talks about his childhood dreams and inspiration. Certain conversations delve you deeper into the thoughts of the musician and remind you that he is a human before he is an artist.

Regardless of whether you’re a Jay Chou fan or not, this is a great series to binge.

5. The Hungry & The Hairy (2022)

Globally renowned k-popstar Rain and veteran South Korean comedian Ro Hong-chul are a pair of two unlikely friends in their late 30s who get together to traverse the country for light adventure and great food.

The synopsis of the series is basic enough: from Jeju Island to all the way back to Seoul, the two friends dip into various locations with their motorbikes to savour the scenery and sample the local food offerings.

This is a super laid-back, easy-going travelogue show that doesn’t take itself too seriously.  

From the ridiculous outfits to the never-ending banter, you’ll find yourself immersed in the chemistry of the two as well as the gorgeous shots of the areas they go exploring.

One highlight of this show includes the endless drone shots of the long stretches of highways with mountains and beaches flanking the sides, reminding you that there is a whole world out there to explore soon.

Another highlight is the food they devour. When Rain is not showing off his culinary skills and cooking up a storm, they’re stopping into some restaurants that are local favourites to eat until they pass out (literally).

6. Midnight Asia – Eat Dance Dream (2022)

This eclectic show is unique in that rather than show celebrities, it follows the lives of individuals living life in some of the craziest night scenes across Asia.

Brightly lit neon sign boards, big personalities, and stunning drone shots characterize this show. This travel documentary series specifically shoots late at night to really showcase the party vibes of the city it’s highlighting.

The first episode focuses on Tokyo . In Shinjuku, we’re introduced to Sumiko Iwamuro, an 85-year-old DJ.  

We get to know Rogerio Ignacio Vaz, a Brazilian born to Japanese parents, who’s a mixologist.  

We follow Shotaro Komijo, as he drags his bar cart, Twillo, to a random location and then sends an update to his followers via his social media.

These are only a few of the personalities you’ll get to meet.

From Tokyo to Mumbai, Seoul to Taipei , East Asia has its moment in this series.

7. Ugly Delicious (2020)

Part cooking show, part documentary, Ugly Delicious the gold standard for those interested in how food and culture intertwine.

David Chang is a renowned chef who is the owner of the globally popular Momofuku restaurant group. From noodles to fried chicken sandwiches to pastries, his culinary ventures have left little for the imagination.

He starred in both seasons of Ugly Delicious, traveling the world, sampling and breaking down dishes and providing commentary and insight on its concept and history.

Viewers will like how grounded this show is. It isn’t merely just about the food itself; David features guests who sit down over a meal, conversing easily and candidly. There are nostalgic memories brought up, discussions about comfort foods being commercialized, and immigrants opening up shop to provide a taste of home.

David Chang ultimately drives home the message that food is a universal language, and it brings people together.

8. Zulu Man in Japan (2019)

In this short documentary, South African rapper Nasty C takes to the streets of Japan , immersing himself into the local culture, collaborating with local artists, and exposing himself to the vibrant creative arts and music scene.

With only a 48-minute running time, this is a quick and easy watch. You follow Nasty C as he freely and liberally explores the country’s night scene, gets into the thick of the local fashion and arts, attends concerts and more.

For those who have travelled to Japan before, you would know that the vibes in this country are unmatched.

So, to witness an up-and-coming rapper who’s never visited the country before take in the electric scenery, energy, and people the same way you did – in awe and wonderment – it will make you feel things.

9. Flavorful Origins

In this colourful documentary series, Flavorful Origins masterfully takes us through the various traditional cooking techniques of the Chaoshan Cuisine.

The history and culture intertwined with the real individuals in this series provides us with an insight into this relatively unknown branch of Chinese cuisine.  

Each episode focuses on a different dish, some we may have come across before, and others we’ve likely never ever heard about.

The in-depth look at how the chefs, some of whom have had techniques passed down to them from generations before, prepare and cook the food will amaze you.

Frying, grilling, steaming – no cooking method is left off the table.

Whilst there are a whopping 20-episodes, which might seem a tad long for some people, the standardized approach yet fresh content of each episode will have you eating away at the show quicker than you realise.

10. Midnight Diner Tokyo Stories (2019)

The Midnight Diner Tokyo Series is a little bit different from the rest of shows mentioned above. Rather than filming real people traveling the world and exploring food, this show is a work of fiction.

However, it’s not fiction as you know it. Rather, with nuanced characters and clever script-writing, it can be described as a travelogue, a food review show, or even a commentary show on the Japanese lifestyle.

The show itself follows the story of ‘Master’, the owner/chef of a small diner in Tokyo who serves a variety of Japanese dishes to his customers. The diner is open from midnight to 7am, and you quickly find that customers are generally regulars who come for Master’s listening ear and comfort food.

If you’re missing hearing the Japanese language, are looking for something to watch that won’t challenge your thinking too hard, and just want to have a feel-good show on, Midnight Diner Tokyo Stories will introduce you to some unique characters.

I hope you enjoyed our selection of the best Netflix travel shows and documentaries. If you’re looking for some shows to get you out of that (lack of) travel funk, we’re sure that any pick off this list will do the job.

Travel shows and documentaries work wonders in making us feel inspired about the future of travel.

Whether you’re determined to visit your favourite country next year and just want something to tide you over for now, or looking to get some ideas about where you can go next once restrictions fully lift – we hope you find it watching one of these remarkable shows.

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5 korean time-travel movies.

There is something alluring about time travel to make humans ponder over it for hundreds of years. Thankfully, since it has not been invented yet, directors can enjoy full freedom in coming up with newer sci-fi concepts for each film. But one common theme unites them all - everyone who wishes to travel to past wishes to undo something in the present. It is our belief in the chain system of actions that we think a single change of ideas or actions in the past could somehow make the present a wholly different space. How complex the effect of such a change is, is what could make or break a time-travel movie.

Having said that, not all time-travel movies need to have actual time travel or be moralise on the do-it-today-not-tomorrow ideal. Directors like Jun-sung Kim have created movies with cleverly disguised time travel that only occurs in the protagonist's mind. Here's a list of 5 different time travel-themed films from different genres.  

Lucid Dream , 2017

Heavily inspired by Inception, but with a unique plotline of its own, Lucid Dream is a Korean sci-fi thriller that has a father, travel to the past in his mind to find his kidnapped son. Dae-ho is an investigative journalist and a single father to his son. With his controversial line of work and exposes, he has made more than enough enemies. When his son goes missing with no further communication from the kidnapper, Dae-ho knows its the act of someone who he has written about. However, with all the police force's help, the case has been off for 3 years with no further clues. 

That is when with the help of a psychiatrist, Dae-ho decides to engage in a new form of visiting the past - lucid dreaming. He keeps revisiting the day until he can find enough clues to uncover the kidnapper. Filled with good graphics, violent scenes, fast-paced chase sequences and enough plot-twists to keep you on the edge of your seat, Lucid Dream is only a part time-travel movie. That is until Dae-ho meets someone who makes it possible to visit anyone's dreams. After three years, what are the chances that Dae-ho's son is still alive? Watch the movie to find out what happens in the end.  

2009: Lost Memories, 2002

This is one of those time travel movies that dare to reimagine history. In the opening sequences, we are introduced to a vastly different world. Korea is still under Imperial Japanese control, World World II ended with Japan dropping an atomic bomb on Berlin and the assassination of an important Major general if prevented on time. As a joint film made by both South Korea and Japan, the movie told on a bold narrative and tackled the heavy themes of nationality and patriotism quite well. In the present day world of the film, a Korean terrorist (or resistance organisation, if you will) is planning to go back in time and reverse the narrative to prevent Korean from being under Japanese rule. 

Masayuki Sakamoto and Shojiro Saigo are two officers assigned to investigating and thwarting the plans of this group. The group's immediate plans seem to be gaining their hands on an artefact. As the film rolls on, it becomes clear that this artefact has the power to transport one through time. The film would be understood best by those who have some knowledge of Korea and Japan's complex histories since many of the storylines (preventing certain assassinations or resistance movements) only make sense if you're aware of the large scale impact they had. 

Il Mare , 2000

When it was released, Il Mare did not perform well at the box office at all. However, over the years it has gone on to be recognised as a pathbreaker in the time-travel romance genre. It was later remade several times by different countries. Il Mare is the name of a beautiful house by the sea inhabited by a lone woman. As she moves away, she leaves a mail in the mailbox for the next occupant, who however arrives two years in the past. Confused? Yes, it is a bit. Via some correspondence, the two quickly realise that the Il Mare mailbox is capable of sending letters through time and thus two people who live not just miles, but years apart, hold a conversation.

The film deals very well with this idea and uses the play on timelines to the fullest extent. Despite living the future and knowing what has happened in the past two years, the movie takes the two characters on runs that reminds us that nothing in life is fixed and all our decisions are only a moment away from change. This a subtle, melancholic love story set against a colour pallet of fields, sunsets and oceans. 

Project Makeover

Not all time-travel movies need to be serious odes to the perils of messing with the space-time continuum and Project Makeover is testament to that! A fun and light ride, Project Makeover is by all accounts a rom-com, made only the be enjoyed and not remembered for long. Jung-Joo is a thirty-something-year-old who is not living the life she had envisioned for herself. One of the guys she had dated in school and then broke up with is now a successful businessman. Another guy who asked her out several times (and was sorely rejected) is now a famous celebrity. The guy she did date ended up being a good-for-nothing sleazeball. 

Of course, everything would be fine if Jung-Joo could just go back in time and convince herself to date the right guy! The movie has its flaws and can be non-sensical at times, but that is also a part of its charm. While you cannot change the past (as Jung-Joo will learn the hard way), you can still look forward to and change the future. Light-hearted, funny and full of warmth - this is a movie made for rainy days and sad nights. 

A Day , 2017

A time-travel movie list would be incomplete without a film where the protagonist is stuck in a single day reeling over and over again! Two women die on the same day, at the same time. Kim Joon-young is a famous and successful surgeon, but a much less successful father. One day, he witnesses an accident which results in the death of his daughter. At the same time, Lee Min Chul lost his wife to an accident. Both of them then wake up to find the day starting all over again. They must now work together to find the reason for this, which may be more far-fetched than either had imagined. With several layered elements and sudden plot twists along the way, the film focuses on equal parts on dramatic reunions and high-paced thrilling sequences. 

This is the second time that the lead actors - Kim Myung-min and Byun Yo-han , are reuniting since their stint in Six Flying Dragons which was an acclaimed Korean drama revolving around rulers of the Joseon Dynasty. Watch A Day id you're looking for a thriller with a heart. Extremely saddening at times and nail-biting at others, this is one of those movies that I would suggest without a moment's hesitation because overall, it's a pretty good ride!

Know more time travel-themed movies? Let us know in the comments! 

Screen Rant

Joy ride (2023): release date, cast, story details, trailer & everything we know.

Joy Ride is an Adele Lim-directed road trip comedy that replaces the genre's usual group of man-children with a cast of all-Asian-American women.

Joy Ride is a 2023 road trip comedy marking the feature directorial debut of Adele Lim, and details about the movie's release date, cast, story, and more are now available. The Joy Ride movie follows a group of four women who travel to China for work, to find lost family members, and to reconnect with their heritage. While it's Lim's first film as a director, her screenwriting experience includes the adaptation of Crazy Rich Asians and the Disney animated feature Raya and the Last Dragon . Lim also has many television producing credits to her name.

Unlike most movies in the R-rated comedy genre , Joy Ride follows a cast of mostly Asian-American actors, and the writing team consists of Asian Americans Cherry Chevapravatdumrong and Teresa Hsiao, both best known for their work on Family Guy . What Joy Ride has in common with the standout raunchy comedies of the 2000s is Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg as producers. These two leading comedy figures are strong endorsements for the movie, and early reviews have been positive as well. With a familial story combined with a talented cast and crew, audiences can expect a lot of laughs and emotional heft from the Joy Ride movie .

RELATED: Joy Ride (2023) Cast & Character Guide

Joy Ride Latest News

The most recent Joy Ride movie update is a new clip that showcases more of the movie's raunchy humor (via Billboard ). In the clip, the gang attempts to pass themselves off as a K-pop group. They're dressed in eccentric clothing and wigs, and they have given themselves fittingly outrageous K-popstar names. Their K-pop pseudonyms are Sassy, Cutie, Lisa, and Lisa 2. However, the funniest part of the Joy Ride movie clip is when they give a rendition of Cardi B and Megan Thee Stallion's hit "WAP" and it certainly seems to embody the kind of high energy that all the other looks at the movie have shown.

Another recent Joy Ride movie update sees the release of the movie's latest red band trailer. The new footage sells the movie's R-rated humor and the wild road trip style of the story. There is also a special emphasis placed on the ensemble. Following the movie's critically acclaimed premiere at SXSW, the trailer also highlights the positive reactions, featuring pull quotes from some of the most glowing reviews. The movie is clearly looking to gain some buzz and the trailer does a good job of showing it as the next must-watch comedy.

Joy Ride Release Date

Joy Ride is slated to release theatrically on July 7, 2023 . A middle-of-the-summer drop is the classic release time for a big studio comedy and a symbol of the producers' and Lionsgate’s confidence in the movie. The film has to compete against some major blockbusters that are sure to make a lot of money.

Joy Ride Cast

The main quartet of the Joy Ride movie is made up entirely of Asian-American actors, one of the few instances of this demographic leading a comedy movie. They are Ashley Park ( Emily in Paris ) as Audrey, Sherry Cola ( Turning Red ) as Lolo, Stephanie Hsu ( Everything Everywhere All at Once ) as Kat, and newcomer Sabrina Wu as Deadeye.

Rounding out the rest of the main cast of Joy Ride is David Denman ( The Office ), Annie Mumolo ( Barb and Star Go to Vista Del Mar ), Chris Pang ( Crazy Rich Asians ), Desmond Chiam ( The Falcon and the Winter Soldier ), Alexander Hodge ( Insecure ), Ronny Chieng ( Crazy Rich Asians) , and Lori Tan Chinn ( Turning Red ).

Seth Rogen & Evan Goldberg Are Joy Ride Producers

The production company attached to the Joy Ride movie is Point Grey Pictures, founded in 2011 by Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg . Their company has produced some of the biggest comedies over the last decade, including Neighbors , This is the End , and Good Boys . Rogen and Goldberg are also attached personally to produce, and their credits include some very iconic comedies of the early 2000s. Superbad , Pineapple Express, and Knocked Up are just some of the movies that would not have been possible without either Rogen or Goldberg. Having those two as a big part of Joy Ride signals the movie has been made with similar care.

Rogen and Goldberg began their early careers under the tutelage of Judd Apatow, and the trio worked together on a number of projects. The Apatowian-era of comedy has steadily declined since the mid-2010s but the creators who were shaped by it continue to be prominent figures in Hollywood. Rogen, Goldberg, and Point Grey Pictures are spiritual successors to Apatow, and the Joy Ride movie is in an enviable position as the latest in the line of their tentpole comedies.

Joy Ride Story Details

Joy Ride is a coming-of-age comedy that, as the name suggests, takes place over a road trip. Audrey is an Asian-American woman living in Washington State with her adoptive parents, played by Denman and Mumolo. Audrey spends most of her time with her childhood best friend, Lolo, who also happens to be the only other Asian-American person in their town. For her job as a lawyer, Audrey is tasked with traveling to China to close an important deal. Yet Audrey has never been in touch with her culture and invites Lolo, Lolo’s cousin Deadeye, and her college friend Kat along for the ride.

As Joy Ride 's cast of characters set out on their journey, Audrey decides to use this once-in-a-lifetime trip as an excuse to also meet her birth parents and connect with her Chinese roots. Their trip is full of adventure, danger, drugs, spontaneous K-pop performances, and every other road trip joke and situation that the Joy Ride movie can be a vehicle for. Like any good R-rated comedy, there is plenty of raunchy sex, outrageous jokes, and unbelievable characters to fill the surprisingly brisk 90-minute runtime.

Joy Ride Trailer

The latest trailer for the Joy Ride movie has been released, once again showing off the raunchy, R-rated tone of the movie. While the new trailer doesn't go into the story as much as the first Joy Ride trailer, it aims to highlight the movie's positive early reactions from critics and audiences. Along with the clips from the movie's road trip antics, the trailer is filled with quotes calling the movie a new comedy classic, praising the ensemble, and comparing it to other hit R-rated comedies like The Hangover and Girls Trip .

A clip has also been released that sees the four main characters dressed up as a K-pop group as they attempt to gain entry into a VIP area they wouldn't otherwise be able to reach. The clip delivers exactly what was being praised by industry insiders after the CinemaCon screening, and it teases the exact kind of crude and over-the-top humor that audiences should expect. Both the new trailer and clip hint at the movie's themes of the characters being Asian-American and the feeling of being separated from their culture. That aspect of the movie makes Joy Ride an even more intriguing comedy, but it makes sense that the latest marketing push has highlighted it as the big summer comedy.

Article: Top 10 Time Travel Movies In Korean So Far

Time travel has piqued people interest for many years because of its enticing quality.This idea of time travel excites audiences every time. But creating these kinds of films with incredible plots is not simple. For each movie, filmmakers are free to develop fresher sci-fiideas. All of them, however, have one thing in common: they all want to go back in time to undo something that has already happened. It's not necessary for all time-travel movies to

have genuine-time travel or to convey the do-it-now, rather than tomorrow, maxim. It a lotof fun going back in time. Below listed are the top 10-time travel movies in Korean so far.

1. Lucid Dream (2017)

In Jun-sung Kim's Korean sci-fi thriller Lucid Dream, a father tries to locate his kidnapped son by traveling into the past in his mind. Lucid Dream is just a part-time-travel film, but it packed with impressive visuals, gory scenes, quick-paced chase scenes, and enough story twists to keep you on the edge of your seat. A distraught father who spent three years looking for his kidnapped son now uses lucid dreams to try and find his lost child.

2. A Day (2017)

Cho Sun-ho is the director of the 2017 South Korean thriller mystery film A Day. In the story, Kim Joon Young is a well-known thoracic surgeon who isn't a great parentto his daughter Eun-Jung. An accident leaves his daughter dead in front of him one day .He strives to uncover the mystery of that day alongside the ambulance driver Lee Min Chul as the same day keeps happening from that point on. If you want a suspenseful movie with heart, watch A Day. The movie concentrates equally on poignant reunions and fast-paced, with many complex aspects and unexpected narrative turns.

3. Il Mare (2000)

It later came to be regarded as a genre pioneer in the time-travel romance subgenre.Lee Hyun Seung directed the film. A young woman leaves her charming coastal home in 1999 and moves back to the city.She puts a letter in the mailbox for the new owner, instructing them to forward any of hercorrespondence to the new address. A disillusioned young architect who moves into thesame home in 1997 discovers the letter. She receives his response after he deposits itin the mailbox, starting a love story that takes place in two different periods.This movie is a subtly despairing love story with a backdrop of greenery, sunsets, andwater.

4. 2009: Lost Memories (2002)

Lee Si Myung's science fiction action movie 2009: Lost Memories, released in 2002,was based on Bok Geo-il 1987 book Looking for an Epitaph. History changed in 1909 when an assassination attempt failed in Harbin, China. Tounravel the connection between this artifact and an ancient Korean artifact, two JB Iagents must work together.When Korean citizens strive to travel back in time to change history, anti-terrorism experts (Tôru Nakamura, Jang Dong-gun) end up on opposite sides. As a collaborative South Korean-Japanese production, the film offered a daring story and did a commendable job of tackling weighty issues like nationalism and patriotism.

5. Project Makeover (2007)

Project Makeover, directed by Chang-lae Kim, is a lighthearted and entertaining rom-com that should only be experienced and not remembered for too long. The unhappy woman takes on the identity of her cousin to prevent her younger self fromcommitting the same mistakes and jeopardizing her future and travels back in time. Thisfilm teaches us that although you cannot undo the past (as Jung-Joo would discover thehard way), you can still look ahead and influence the future.This movie is perfect for gloomy days and lonely evenings since it's cheerful, hilarious, and warm.

6. Will You Be There (2016)

The French novel Seras-tu là? by Guillaume Musso served as the inspiration for the2016 South Korean fantasy drama film Will You Be There, which was helmed by HongJi-young.The plot centers on Soo Hyun discovering mystical tablets that let him travel throughtime. The future Soo Hyun meets the youthful Soo Hyun 30 years in the past, at whichpoint he uncovers that his lover would shortly pass away as a result of him. The twoSoo-hyuns attempt to modify the past to save her, but this only creates a new and unexpected history that results in a brand-new future.It a cute, heart-warming short movie.

7. Time Renegades (2016)

South Korean director Kwak Jae Yong Time Renegades is a romantic thriller.In this film, a 1983 high school teacher and a 2015 investigator who are 30 years a partwork together via their dreams to alter the dangerous course that their shared lovelifeis on.This story will appeal to those who like complex time-travel stories.

8. 11:00 A.M. (2013)

Kim Hyun Seok sci-fi thriller AM 11:00 got released in 2013 in South Korea.A time machine has finally been created in the not too distant future by experts in adeep-sea facility. If he completes a test flight, a mega-corporation will provide funds to head researcher Woo Seok. The following morning, when he and Young-eun arrive at11 A.M. to complete the task, they discover the base is about to collapse. Now that the researchers are all vanished, someone is out to get them. The science-fiction thriller AM 11:00 is quite watchable and mildly entertaining.

9. The Spies (2012)

A 2012 South Korean action-comedy film by the director Woo Min-ho is titled The Spies ,sometimes known as The Spy. The film follows Kim Myeong-min (39) Agent Kim, a family guy who leads a pleasant and joyful life with his wife and two kids. He works for a business that imports phoney viagrafrom China while posing as a manager. Agent Kang, Agent Woo, and Adviser Yoonwere Agent Kim three teammates when he was dispatched to South Korea ten years ago for a unique assignment.The fight scenes are sleek and expertly planned, and the action is tremendous.

10. Young Gun In The Time (2012)

A South Korean action-sci-fi movie, Young Gun in the Time got released in 2012. OhYoung-doo served as the director.

The investigator in this film, Yung Gun, is approached by a stunning woman who requests that he commit murder. Yung Gun politely declines. But shortly after, she uses the time machine to travel back in time after dying in a car accident. Yung Gun starts to get interested.It successfully defeats the miscreant via one of the most creative applications of time travel.

11 A.M. 2009: Lost Memories A Day Il Mare Lucid Dream Project Makeover The Spies Time Renegades Will You Be There? Young Gun In The Time

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The 15 Best Korean Sci-Fi Movies Of All Time

These films are not just about futuristic technology and special effects; they delve into philosophical and existential questions about humanity.

Korean cinema has been a formidable force in the film industry for decades, offering a unique perspective on the art of storytelling. From heart-wrenching dramas to thought-provoking thrillers, Korean filmmakers have a talent for captivating audiences and pushing the boundaries of traditional cinema. In recent years, however, a new genre has emerged in Korean cinema: science fiction. These films take the creativity and innovation that Korean cinema is known for and elevate it to new heights, exploring the limitless possibilities of the future and showcasing the incredible talent of Korean filmmakers.

Science fiction has always been a genre that challenges our imagination and forces us to confront complex ideas and concepts. In the hands of Korean filmmakers, this genre takes on an entirely new dimension. With an eye for detail and a commitment to telling stories that are both thought-provoking and entertaining, Korean sci-fi movies offer a fresh take on the genre that will leave you on the edge of your seat. These films are not just about futuristic technology and special effects; they delve into deep philosophical and existential questions about humanity and the future of our world.

Related: Best South Korean Fantasy Movies, Ranked

The themes explored in Korean sci-fi films range from the impact of technology on society to the consequences of environmental degradation and the ethics of scientific discovery. These movies often challenge our preconceived notions about the world, making us question the limits of what is possible and inspiring us to think critically about the future.

Korean cinema has made a name for itself as a leader in the world of science fiction. With its unique blend of creativity, innovation, and thought-provoking themes, Korean sci-fi movies offer something for everyone. Whether you're a fan of the genre or just looking for a great movie, this is a list you won't want to miss. So, sit back, relax, and get ready to explore the limitless possibilities of Korean sci-fi.

Describe the following movies as entries on the same list in 200 words each. Talk about the movie, the storyline, the sci-fi elements, what makes it one of the best. Keep the tone engaging. Do not be repetitive with each description. Use a different and unique start and structure with each description. Be creative. Be detailed.

15 2009: Lost Memories (2002)

2009: Lost Memories is a powerful and captivating film that tells the story of a world divided by time. In a future where time travel is possible, two versions of the same city exist: one in the present and one in the past . The film follows a detective as he travels between the two cities in a desperate attempt to uncover the truth about a mysterious group with the power to control time. The sci-fi elements in this film are expertly woven into the narrative, creating a world that is both believable and fantastical. The film's themes of time, memory, and identity make it a thought-provoking journey that will stay with you long after the credits have rolled.

14 Save The Green Planet! (2003)

Save The Green Planet! is a hilarious and unique take on the classic sci-fi trope of alien invasion. The film follows a young man who is convinced that aliens are behind the world's problems and sets out to save the planet. The film's unique blend of humor and sci-fi creates a wild ride that will have you laughing one moment and on the edge of your seat the next. The film's clever commentary on the human condition, combined with its imaginative world-building, makes it one of the best sci-fi comedies of all time.

13 The Host (2006)

The Host is a heart-wrenching and suspenseful film about a family's fight for survival in a world under attack . When a mysterious monster begins to wreak havoc in Seoul, a family must band together to rescue their daughter from its clutches. The film's expertly crafted suspense, combined with its touching portrayal of family dynamics, make it a must-see for fans of the genre. The film's themes of love, sacrifice, and the importance of family are universal and will resonate with audiences long after the credits have rolled.

12 Aachi & Ssipak (2006)

Aachi & Ssipak is a wild and wacky film that takes place in a futuristic world where people are powered by sugar. The film follows two unlikely heroes as they navigate a world filled with danger and adventure in their quest for the ultimate sugar high. The film's imaginative world-building, combined with its over-the-top humor, make it a must-see for fans of the genre. The film's themes of friendship and the importance of following your dreams make it a fun and uplifting adventure that will leave you feeling inspired.

11 Young Gun in the Time (2012)

Young Gun in the Time is a thrilling adventure that takes audiences on a journey through time. The film follows a young man as he travels back in time to save his girlfriend and prevent a catastrophic event that threatens the future. The film's imaginative take on time travel, combined with its high-stakes action, make it a must-see for fans of the genre. The film's themes of love, sacrifice, and the importance of making the right choices make it a thought-provoking and emotionally charged journey that will stay with you long after the credits have rolled.

Related: 9 South Korean Movies That Will Disturb You For Days

10 Doomsday Book (2012)

Doomsday Book is a thought-provoking film that explores the possible consequences of humanity's actions in a future world. The film tells three interconnected stories, each set in a different future, that paint a picture of a world on the brink of disaster. The film's expertly crafted storytelling, combined with its thought-provoking themes, make it a must-see for fans of the genre. The film's themes of the impact of technology on society, environmental degradation, and the ethics of scientific discovery make it a film that will challenge your perceptions of the world and inspire you to think critically about the future.

9 Flu (2013)

Flu is a suspenseful and action-packed film that takes place in a world under attack from a deadly virus. The film follows a group of survivors as they navigate the dangers of a world on the brink of collapse in their quest for a cure. The film's expertly crafted suspense, combined with its thought-provoking themes, make it a must-see for fans of the genre. The film's themes of the importance of teamwork and the dangers of fear and prejudice make it a film that will leave you on the edge of your seat and inspire you to reflect on the world around you.

8 SORI: Voice from the Heart (2016)

SORI: Voice from the Heart is a moving and emotionally charged film that tells the story of a world in which machines have replaced humans as the dominant species. The film follows a father as he searches for his daughter in a world where humanity is on the brink of extinction. The film's touching portrayal of love and loss, combined with its imaginative world-building, make it a must-see for fans of the genre . The film's themes of the importance of family and the dangers of technology make it a film that will leave you with a renewed appreciation for the world around you.

7 Okja (2017)

Okja is a heartwarming film that takes audiences on a journey of adventure, friendship, and activism. The film follows a young girl named Mija as she sets out on a mission to rescue her best friend, a genetically engineered "super pig" named Okja, from the clutches of a powerful corporation. With its compelling storyline and captivating characters, this film is a must-see for fans of the genre. The film's themes of animal rights, environmental activism, and the power of friendship make it a film that will warm your heart and inspire you to fight for what's right. With its breathtaking cinematography, awe-inspiring action sequences, and touching moments of friendship , Okja is a film that will stay with you long after the credits have rolled.

Related: Netflix Original Movie Review: Okja Is the Must See Film of the Summer

6 The Witch: Part 1 The Subversion (2018)

The Witch: Part 1 The Subversion is a captivating film that tells the story of a young woman who sets out on a journey to uncover the truth about her past and the mysterious organization that holds the key to her memories. With its intriguing storyline, imaginative world-building, and spellbinding performances, this film is a must-see for fans of the genre. The film's themes of identity, memory, and the dangers of power make it a film that will keep you on the edge of your seat and leave you with more questions than answers.

5 The Call (2020)

The Call is a thrilling film that explores the consequences of time travel and the power of fate. The film follows a young woman as she journeys back in time to prevent a catastrophic event that threatens the future. With its fast-paced action and thought-provoking themes, this film is a must-see for fans of the genre. The film's themes of sacrifice, destiny, and the importance of making the right choices make it a film that will leave you on the edge of your seat and inspire you to think critically.

4 Seobok: Project Clone (2021)

Seobok: Project Clone is a heartwarming film that tells the story of a former intelligence agent who suffers from post-traumatic stress disorder. The movie sees him living in isolation, but as the story progresses, he meets Seo Bok, a human clone. The two form a unique bond, thus changing the dynamics of their lives altogether. With its touching portrayal of friendship and its imaginative world-building, this film is a must-see for fans of the genre. The film's themes of family, friendship, and the importance of hope make it a film that will warm your heart and leave you with a renewed appreciation for the world around you.

3 Space Sweepers

Space Sweepers is a thrilling adventure that takes audiences on a journey through the final frontier. The film follows a rag-tag crew of space junk collectors as they stumble upon a dangerous and valuable discovery that could change the fate of the universe. With its action-packed storytelling and imaginative world-building, this film is a must-see for fans of the genre. The film's themes of teamwork, courage, and the importance of hope make it a film that will keep you on the edge of your seat and inspire you to look up at the stars.

Related: The Best Korean Thriller Series on Netflix, Ranked

2 Alienoid (2022)

Alienoid is a chilling film that tells the story of a world under siege by an alien invasion . The film follows a small group of survivors as they fight to stay alive and uncover the truth behind the alien attack. With its suspenseful storytelling and imaginative world-building, this film is a must-see for fans who love a good alien movie. the visuals are absolutely stunning, and the depiction of otherworldly creatures makes it a great entry into the sci-fi genre. The film's themes of survival, bravery, and the power of the human spirit make it a film that will leave you on the edge of your seat and inspire you to never give up.

1 The Witch: Part 2 The Other One (2022)

The Witch: Part 2 The Other One is a spellbinding film that continues the story of the young woman from The Witch: Part 1 The Subversion . While the first film in the series left many questions unanswered, the second installment does a fantastic job and diving straight into the intrigue. The film delves deeper into the mysterious organization and the power that holds the key to her memories. With its imaginative storytelling and thought-provoking themes, this film is a must-see for fans of the genre. Kim Dal-Mi delivers an outstanding performance as the titular character, exploring her range of acting with immense skill. The film's themes of magic, mystery, and the importance of uncovering the truth make it a film that will leave you spellbound and eager for more.

7 Absolutely Fun Time Travel Asian Dramas You Should Watch

Time travel stories are universally loved around the world! Hollywood is overflowing with them: the famed Back to the Future series, sci-fi films like Star Trek and X-Men , or rom-coms such as Hugh Jackman’s Kate & Leopold . Time travel Asian dramas have also grown popular.

My favorite aspect of these time-bending tales is the fish-out-of-water fun ensuing when a person deals with the inevitable time-shock from visiting the past or the future.

RELATED: The Scribe of Siena – Outlander Fans Will Enjoy this Time Travel Romance

Time travel stories are especially perfect for the romance genre. After all, it brings out the angsty and heart-rending idea that time is literally opposing two people from being together. Over the years I’ve seen many Korean/Chinese variations of time-travel romances – so now I can share seven exciting, crazy and fun time travel Asian dramas!

Update: We updated streaming availability in July 2019.

7 Fun and Romantic Time Travel Asian Dramas

(in alphabetical order), 1. bu bu jing xin.

Other Titles: Scarlet Heart, Startling by Each Step

Country: China

Synopsis: Zhang Xiao didn’t ask to be transported back to the Xing Dynasty. But after a terrible accident, she awakens in the body of a girl named Ruo Xi.

Set during the 18 th century of Emperor Kangxi’s reign, Ruo Xi becomes entangled in a battle for the throne amongst Kangxi’s many sons. Will Ruo Xi fall for the kind, quiet 8 th prince destined to die early or the enigmatic, intense 4 th Prince who will take his father’s throne no matter the cost?

Why You Should Check It Out: This extremely popular Chinese time travel drama is gorgeously filmed, subtly acted, and epically dramatic.

Ruo Xi is a likable heroine and her struggles feel relatable as she strives to fit in the harsh royal palace. This is definitely more of an angsty drama with a gray storyline that refuses to define any characters as merely good or bad.

The rain scene with Ruo Xi kneeling outside and 4 th prince covering her with his cloak is one of many striking scenes in the drama and my favorite. What’s not to love in this reverse harem drama?

Where You Can Find It: Viki, DVD.

Other Titles: The Great Doctor

Country: Korea

Synopsis: When Queen Noguk is gravely wounded, King Gongmin sends his best warrior, Choi Young, through a mysterious portal into what they believe is “heaven” in search of a heavenly doctor.

Choi Young finds Dr. Yoo Eun-Soo a plastic surgeon and takes her back to the past. Yoo Eun-Soo becomes trapped in the past until the portal opens again. But with a hunky warrior love interest and deadly political enemies after her, will she be able to return?

Why You Should Check It Out: Faith is a super fun, exciting romp set during the 14 th century of Korea with sword fights, intense political intrigue, poisoning baddies, and more.

I loved both of the romantic love stories with spunky Eun-Soo and stoic Choi Young and between the arranged marriage of Queen Noguk and King Gongmin.

I love the acting choices and feel like each actor suited his/her role. My biggest fault with this drama was the baddies could’ve been more menacing. And a few anticlimactic fight scenes left me wanting more.

However, I love the characters and romance in this drama and have re-watched my favorite scenes more times than I will admit!

Where You Can Find It: Viki. You can also buy on Amazon Video or DVD.

3. Jade Palace Lock Heart

Synopsis: Luo Qingchuan is a sweet, history-loving girl who accidentally gets transported in time to the 18 th century during Emperor Kangxi’s reign. She gets caught in a love triangle between the 4 th and 8 th prince. Will she choose the man with all the power or the prince who won’t survive for long?

Why You Should Check It Out: Okay, so yes this is almost the exact same story as Bu Bu Jing Xin. Only Palace feels like night and day difference as it’s a much zanier, light-hearted fare.

This version, though, is pretty manic and exaggerated. And worse there aren’t as many princes who fall for Quingchan! Honestly, I watched this drama for Feng Shaofeng who is adorable even as he plays the often self-centered 8 th Prince.

This one definitely has more laughs and cheerful moments than Bu Bu Jing Xin . And amazingly enough, it does end happily. Now, how did they pull that off?

Where You Can Find It : Currently Unavailable

4. Queen In-Hyun’s Man

Synopsis: Kim Boong-Do is a young nobleman in the 17th century, protecting the deposed Queen In-Hyun. A friend gives Boong-Do a protection charm and Boong-Do is magically transported to modern Korea anytime he’s in life-threatening danger.

There he meets Choi Hee-Jin, a struggling actress, and a relationship starts to blossom. Can they truly be together, though? Or will fate intervene?

Why You Should Check It Out: Oh my goodness, this is probably my number one choice for an entertaining, romantic time travel drama!!

Queen In-Hyun’s Man is a wonderful blend of intense historical drama and light, breezy rom-com. The story bounces back and forth between the 17 th century with the scholar Kim Boong-Do and in modern times with adorable, spunky actress Choi Hee-Jin, yet never feels unbalanced.

The romantic chemistry is absolutely crackling in this drama and leaves us with a PERFECT couple.

Where You Can Find It: DVD

5. Rooftop Prince

Synopsis: The Crown Prince of Joseon desperately searches for his wife’s killer along with three loyal servants and gets transported into the future. He meets Park Ha and ends up staying at her apartment with his three servants.

Things complicate when the Crown Prince is mistaken for a rich business heir and he finds a girl who may be the reincarnation of his wife. Will he be able to untangle this mystery? And before he falls in love with Park Ha?

Why You Should Check It Out: This is a hilarious, off-beat time travel drama that totally won me over with its cute and crazy fish-out-of-water story.

The Crown Prince and his three buddies are absolutely golden, reacting to modern-day wonders such as zippers on jackets and TV.

Sadly, the show turned more melodramatic in the second half almost transforming into an office drama. The super-cute romance between Park Ha and the Crown Prince kept me around even with all the reincarnations going on which left viewers with some ambiguous moments near the end.

I’ve re-watched Episode Two a handful of times and it doesn’t fail to put a smile on my face.

Where You Can Find It: Viki, DVD

6. Splash Splash Love

Other Titles: Splish Splash Love

Synopsis: Dan Bi has been prepping for her college aptitude test but stress forces her to not show up for the test. She ends up slipping through time to the 15 th century where a young King Sejong rules.

She helps the king who has an unquestionable thirst for science and it’s not long before serious romantic feelings start brewing. But Dan Bi has to return to her home and her mom who’s waiting for her…

Why You Should Check It Out: With only two episodes, Splash Splash Love is more like a delightful 2-hour movie. Hilarious, emotional and unabashedly romantic, this drama blew past my expectations and left me with a lot of happy feels.

Dan Bi and the king bring together a fun if not adorable romance. Everything came together perfectly, including the secondary characters. This is a K-drama at its sweetest and finest.

Where You Can Find It: Viki

7. Time Slip Dr. Jin

Other Titles: Dr. Jin

Synopsis: Jin Hyuk is an extremely skilled doctor with a pretty girlfriend. But life takes a turn when his girlfriend gets in an accident and Jin Hyuk gets transported to the 19 th century.

There he associates with a nobleman who turns out to be the future Royal Prince Regent and an idealist girl who might be the reincarnation of his girlfriend. This doctor has his hands full of plagues, sicknesses, rudimentary medical tools and war brewing in the air.

Why You Should Check It Out: The pros of this time travel drama – a look at a fascinating time during the Joseon dynasty in the late 1800s with the 1871 Battle of Ganghwa with American forces, early persecution of Catholics, and the rise of the Prince Regent Heungseon into power.

However, the drama itself is manic and confusing with really no resolution by the end. The main leads are boring and difficult to empathize with. But the supporting cast fascinates with the clever, multi-layered Prince Regent, the charming lady Gisaeng (similar to a geisha), the angsty, tortured police captain and his best friend who’s secretly a rebellion leader.

Sadly, the ridiculous and unbelievable overshadows much of the good in this drama. But overall, it’s still a fun watch.

Where You Can Find It : Tubi

Do any of these Asian time travel dramas interest you? Have you seen another time travel drama you loved or hated? I’d love to hear about it!

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Go Back Spouses K-drama Review – A Fun Heartfelt Time Travel Story

Faith has always enjoyed movies and TV shows from swoon-worthy period dramas to heart-stopping action-adventure flicks. Her love of Korean dramas started a few years ago when she binge-watched a 62 episode period K-drama and fell in love. She also has a passion for writing stories. Even as a young teenager she entertained her sisters with episodic superhero adventures. Now she spends her time working, blogging, sewing, juggling several novels, and watching her favorite shows, mainly K-dramas. You can visit her blog at: www.justwaytooboss.blogspot.com

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12 thoughts on “7 Absolutely Fun Time Travel Asian Dramas You Should Watch”

Thanks for this lovely list! I’m watching Bu Bu Jing Xin, even though I’m not good at handling unhappy endings, because my friend told me it doesn’t end there. Apparently in the sequel, Bu Bu Jing Qing (scarlet heart 2), things look up for our main couple. It’s also cute that the leads are a couple in real life (Nicky Wu and Cecilia Liu)! I plan to watch Queen In-Hyun’s Man soon! And one day, Rooftop Prince too.

You’re welcome! Yes, that’s true – I’d forgotten about that but Scarlet Heart 2 came out in 2014 so there is hope for the main couple! And it is adorable that they became a real life couple after doing two dramas together. 😀 I’m certain you’ll love Queen In-Hyun’s Man and Rooftop Prince is super funny!

The unnecessary unhappy ending of Rooftop Prince spoiled it for me

Can you give me a recommendation about historical drama?

Absolutely! For period dramas, my personal favorite is A Tree With Deep Roots . The story is riveting with assassins of a secret organization trying to stop the king from creating a Korean alphabet (and thus changing society by allowing everyone a chance to read). The main hero is out for revenge against the king as well. This drama is intense and addictive from beginning to the end. It’s only 24 episodes, so not too long.

Queen Seondeok would be my second favorite. This one is 62 episodes, so its extremely long, but its an epic story of a girl becoming a queen without a husband. Plus she’s surrounded by handsome loyal bodyguards (who make up the supporting characters). 😀

Other recommendations: Arang and the Magistrate (fantasy/historical. It really feels like a fairy tale.) The Princess’ Man (fantastic quality, super intense but great acting) Three Musketeers (wonderful balance of drama, humor, adventure and danger) Empress Ki (51 episodes but Ha Ji-Won is a wonderful actress and really sells the story of a young woman who becomes the queen of a foreign country) I’m also currently watching Jackpot (also known as Daebak) which is a beautifully shot drama. I’m loving the bromance between the main hero and the young prince.

These sound fun, especially Splash, Splash Love 🙂

Splash Splash Love is definitely a favorite of mine!

The list is incomplete without the KDrama “Nine: Nine Times Time Travel”. Please do not miss out on it ^^

I was looking for that!

Thank you :))

This list seriously needs the drama Go Princess Go I recommend it to everyone who <3 comedy romance time travel period dramas

I saw a Chinese tv series but only what could catch in episodes. female thief tries on empress dress and female bounty hunter shows tries capture her and they fight over a jade headrest go back in time . thief disguises herself as guy and bounty is mistaken for some rebels dead wife. I do not the name of the show.. but odd dramedy. spoiler alert , thief and her male lover return present time , he on top tourist bus and she at forbidden city . bounty hunter remains back in time with her love .

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Chinese movies about time travel

In the top there are new films of 2023, a plot description and trailers for films that have already been released.

After her mother Li Huanying is fatally injured in a car accident in 2001, grief-stricken Jia Xiaoling finds herself transported back in time to the year 1981, where she becomes her mother's close friend. Jia Xiaoling feels that she has not been a good enough daughter in the present, so back in 1981 she does all she can to make Li Huanying happy, including setting her up with a factory manager's son, Shen Guanglin, in the hope of giving her mother a better husband, a better daughter, and a better life than she had the first time around.

In the Ming Dynasty, there lives four orphans, Ying, Sao, Yuanlong and Niehu. Raised in Taoyuan Village, the four are as closed as brothers. Their exceptional martial arts skills allows them to reach the highest rank within the imperial guards. After the four successfully killed the Japanese troop leader, the Emperor orders Ying to escort the Golden Wheel of Time from Sindu (now India) back to the capital, which is said to have the power of time travel and foresee into the future. Now in 2013, Squire Tang, funded by a mysterious financer, digs up three ancient icemen from the outskirt of China; they are Ying, Sao and Niehu. As he is transferring the icemen to Hong Kong for further studies, the vehicle involves in a traffic accident which, unexpectedly, defrosts Ying...

Gu Xiaojiao, a young girl from 2018 and Lu Ming, a man from 1999, discover that they have both woken up in the same bed at the same space-time. More surprisingly, they realize that they can time travel by exiting the bedroom door. The fun begins when they start to plan a number of changes within these two eras. However, they do not know that their destiny is in the hands of a mysterious person.

Wu-Lin is the successor of an ancient, once powerful Chinese clan, the "Iron Feet." After the death of his master, Wu-Lin leaves his rural village for the City of Stone-Cold looking for his fellow apprentice Jiang Li. Along the way, he becomes the bodyguard of Fei-Fei, the daughter of Jia-Shan Li, the richest family in the city, and quickly gets drawn into a mob war in order to protect her.

The USS Enterprise crew explores the furthest reaches of uncharted space, where they encounter a mysterious new enemy who puts them and everything the Federation stands for to the test.

In the futuristic action thriller Looper, time travel will be invented but it will be illegal and only available on the black market. When the mob wants to get rid of someone, they will send their target 30 years into the past where a looper, a hired gun, like Joe is waiting to mop up. Joe is getting rich and life is good until the day the mob decides to close the loop, sending back Joe's future self for assassination.

When a fellow scientist asks for Jack's help in locating the mausoleum of China's first emperor, the past collides violently with the present as Jack discovers his amazing visions are based in fact.

Modern treasure hunters, led by archaeologist Ben Gates, search for a chest of riches rumored to have been stashed away by George Washington, Thomas Jefferson and Benjamin Franklin during the Revolutionary War. The chest's whereabouts may lie in secret clues embedded in the Constitution and the Declaration of Independence, and Gates is in a race to find the gold before his enemies do.

An American backpacker gets involved with a ring of drug smugglers as their driver, and winds up on the run from his employers across Munich's autobahns.

Decades after Sarah Connor prevented Judgment Day, a lethal new Terminator is sent to eliminate the future leader of the resistance. In a fight to save mankind, battle-hardened Sarah Connor teams up with an unexpected ally and an enhanced super soldier to stop the deadliest Terminator yet.

Chinese archeology professor Jack teams up with beautiful Indian professor Ashmita and assistant Kyra to locate lost Magadha treasure. In a Tibetan ice cave, they find the remains of the royal army that had vanished together with the treasure, only to be ambushed by Randall, the descendent of a rebel army leader. When they free themselves, their next stop is Dubai where a diamond from the ice cave is to be auctioned. After a series of double-crosses and revelations about their past, Jack and his team travel to a mountain temple in India, using the diamond as a key to unlock the real treasure.

In the mythical Elven world of Altera, an epic battle unfolds between the beautiful Princess Liya and the Dark Elf Elena, who has gained possession of a jewel so powerful it allows its holder complete authority over all Alterans.

Po is now living his dream as The Dragon Warrior, protecting the Valley of Peace alongside his friends and fellow kung fu masters, The Furious Five - Tigress, Crane, Mantis, Viper and Monkey. But Po’s new life of awesomeness is threatened by the emergence of a formidable villain, who plans to use a secret, unstoppable weapon to conquer China and destroy kung fu. It is up to Po and The Furious Five to journey across China to face this threat and vanquish it. But how can Po stop a weapon that can stop kung fu? He must look to his past and uncover the secrets of his mysterious origins; only then will he be able to unlock the strength he needs to succeed.

Taking place 500 years after the Havoc in Heaven, the Tang Priest is appointed by Buddha to go to the West to fetch the sacred scriptures, only to accidentally free the Monkey King. With Lady White (Gong Li) aiming to break up the team assembled to defeat her, the Monkey King must fight in order to save his world!

When two flummels are transported into the present day, they learn that their species has become extinct, and they must travel back in time to try to save their race.

Two former cops start investigating the series of murders that tanked their careers when the killings begin again.

Bai Qian, a goddess and monarch from the Heavenly Realms, is sent to the mortal world to undergo a trial to become a High Goddess. There, she meets Ye Hua, with whom she falls in love and marries. When an old enemy reappears in her life, everything she holds dear is threatened.

In the subtropical province of Guizhou, Chen Sheng embarks on a journey to find his nephew.

White Vengeance tells the story of two brothers contending for supremacy during the fall of the Qin Dynasty, which ruled Imperial China from 221 to 206 BC. As rebels rose, the nation fell into chaos. Liu Bang and Xiang Yu, became leaders of the rebellious army, and also became sworn brothers in battle.Xiang Yu and Liu Bang are close friends who both serve King Huai of Chu. King Huai uses a plot, saying that whoever can subvert the Qin kingdom in Guanzhong would be the Lord Qin, in order to benefit from the competition between Xiang Yu and Liu Bang. Xiang Yu is over-confident. He fights against the main force of Qin army, and entrusts Liu Bang with Yu Ji, the woman he loves.Liu Bang expresses his love to Yu Ji and takes the chance to invade Guanzhong first when most of Qin army is outside fighting against Xiang Yu’s army.

In the waning years of the Ming Dynasty, the Bruneian Empire offers a rare creature to the nation as a gift. Ocean, a member of the Imperial Secret Police, has been tasked to tame the beast. Though the furry beast appears ferocious on the outside, Ocean discovers that it is kind by nature. Not wanting to turn the beast into a killing machine on the battlefield, Ocean secretly releases the beast into the wild and elopes with Frigid, the daughter of a man executed on false charges.

A tale of revenge, honor and greed follows a group of misfits that gets involved with a kitchen cleaver made from the top five swords of the martial arts world in this wild and brash action comedy.

Three parties pursue the million dollars that driver Xiao Zhang stole to help out his girlfriend.

A married womans husband with a perfect life cheats with her sister with extreme consequences befalling them all.

The famous psychologist Xu Ruining has a raising career, when he met the troublesome patient Ren Xiaoyan. The meeting is not easy as feeble-looking Ren is point by point against him.

Based on Keigo Higashino's international bestseller The Miracles of the Namiya General Store comes director Han Jie's take on the fantastical novel. TFBoys' Karry Wang stars as Xiao Bo, one of three orphans on the run who take refuge in a derelict corner store. Once there, they find a mysterious letter seeking advice, leading to an emotional adventure through time and unexpected connections with their own past.

Tang Monk brings three disciples on a journey to the West. On the outside, everything seems harmonious. However, tension is present beneath the surface, and their hearts and minds are not in agreement. After a series of demon-capturing events, the monk and his disciples gain mutual understanding of each others' hardships and unease. Finally, they resolve their inner conflict and work together to become an all-conquering, demon-exorcising team.

A blind woman and a delivery boy attempt to solve a hit-and-run case the police have been unable to solve.

The story of Chinese legendary anti-hero Zhong Kui, a young man endowed with mysterious powers who is forced into a battle among the realms of Heaven, Earth and Hell in the course of his attempt to save his countrymen and the woman he loves.

An espionage thriller set in the 1950s and adapted from the novel "Year Suan/Plot Against" by May Jia. Tony Leung Chiu Wai plays a blind man who works for a piano tuner. He is recruited for a spy mission because of his exceptional hearing.

Three different stories of youth set in different cities of China. 1 Shanghai Love. 2 Sunny Breakfast. 3 Small Fashion Show. Directed by Zhenxing Yi, the plot revolves around a young man working in Beijing. He used to live with his grandma in his less developed hometown Hunan. While he is drown in his childhood reminiscence, he receives an unexpected call – Grandma is in critical condition.

When Liang Xia's obsession for a perfect wedding puts a strain in the relationship with her fiancé, he ultimately calls it quits and breaks up with her. In a heartbroken state, Liang Xia carelessly ingests a magical item, which transports the 28-year-old’s mind back to when she was only seventeen years old.

A detective from Hong Kong teams up with an American gambler to battle against a notorious Chinese criminal.

In the northern Chinese city of Manzhouli, they say there is an elephant that simply sits and ignores the world. Manzhouli becomes an obsession for the protagonists of this film, a longed-for escape from the downward spiral in which they find themselves.

In the adorably different town of Uglyville, weirdness is celebrated, strangeness is special and beauty is embraced as more than meets the eye. After traveling to the other side of a mountain, Moxy and her UglyDoll friends discover Perfection -- a town where more conventional dolls receive training before entering the real world to find the love of a child.

The story of three women whose worlds collide - a social commentary about the 'sound bite' society we are becoming, where perception becomes reality and judgments based on limited facts quickly spread, without regard for the truth or the damage they could cause.

In the rising populations of Tomboys in China, one rise up to develop a "Love Formula" App to find true love. Will the Love Coach, Do, played by Simon Twu, be able to save the world in helping people finding True Love?

What is it that makes a man fall in love with a woman at first sight? Appearance? Aura? Wealth? NO, when campus prince and gaming expert, student Xiao Nai first saw Bei Wei Wei, what made him fall in love was not her extraordinary beauty, but her slim and slender fingers that were flying across the keyboard and her calm and composed manner!!! Embarrassing, no? At the same time, gaming expert Bei Wei Wei, at this time and place is on the computer, methodically commanding a guild war, and won a perfect and glorious victory despite being at a disadvantage, and was completely unaware that cupid is nearby. Soon after basketball player, swimmer, all-around excellent student, and game company president, Xiao Nai, uses both tactics on and off-line to take this beauty’s heart. Therefore this romance slowly bloomed. ~~ Drama adapted from the novel by Gu Man.

Set in China during the Warlords Period of the 1920s, notorious bandit chief Zhang descends upon a remote provincial town posing as its new mayor, an identity that he had hijacked from Old Tang, himself a small-time imposter. Hell-bent on making a fast buck, Zhang soon meets his match in the tyrannical local gentry Huang as a deadly battle of wit and brutality ensues.

Li Xuelian, a woman from the countryside is falsely accused by her husband of having an affair. To defend herself, Li moves from her small town to the big city until she reached the capital.

China's deadliest special forces operative settles into a quiet life on the sea. When sadistic mercenaries begin targeting nearby civilians, he must leave his newfound peace behind and return to his duties as a soldier and protector.

In the 19th century, the Prince Regent of the Qing Dynasty orders the mass execution of the entire Meng clan. Before his beheading, the leader vows that his family will avenge this travesty of justice. Awaiting his death, a five-year-old Meng boy named Erkui bravely sings an aria. The power and purity of his voice touches the opera star Master Yu and his seven-year-old pupil Guan Yilong. Master Yu rescues the boy and the two orphans become brothers. Years later, Master Yu wins the coveted golden "The Mightiest Warrior" plaque from the Prince Regent, but subsequently loses it in a duel with his archrival Master Yue. Banished from the stage upon his loss, Master Yu spends his time training the two brothers in the village. When the boys grow into men, they set off for Shanghai to pursue revenge. Once they reach Shanghai, they quickly defeat Master Yue, reclaiming not only the plaque but also taking over the Yue's opera troupe.

A mysterious warrior teams up with the daughter and son of a deposed Chinese Emperor to defeat their cruel Uncle, who seeks their deaths.

Following the death of his wife, Ip Man travels to San Francisco to ease tensions between the local kung fu masters and his star student, Bruce Lee, while searching for a better future for his son.

An innocent discovery of a well-preserved mummified Emperor from 200 BC China unearths a 2000 year old nightmare - a secret that should have remained buried.

The Founding of an Army is a 2017 Chinese film commissioned by China's government to commemorate the 90th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Liberation Army.

This sequel to "Pandora's Box" continues director Jeffrey Lau's adaptation of the Buddhism saga "Journey to the West". Stranded five centuries in the past, Joker Monkey King must battle a variety of monsters, seductive women and super-powered villains to save the dying Pak Jing-Jing.

Huo An, the commander of the Protection Squad of the Western Regions, was framed by evil forces and becomes enslaved. On the other hand, a Roman general escapes to China after rescuing the Prince. The heroic duo meet in the Western Desert and a thrilling story unfolds.

A Cantonese street cook and his chief rival, a French-trained Michelin-starred chef, discover they have a lot in common as they prepare for a world-famous culinary competition. An international culinary competition becomes a battleground between rival cooks, one famous for his Cantonese street food and the other a Michelin-starred chef trained in France. But their rivalry takes an unexpected turn when they discover a common foe and combine their skills in a fusion of East and West.

An undercover agent is assigned by his corrupt chief to infiltrate a rival department and sabotage their investigation of counterfeit currency. What he discovers is the counterfeiter's real plan. To overthrow the capital. Not by flooding it with funny money, but with an army of undead.

During the economic reform period of the 80’s, three undergraduates bind together by a common ambition – to live the American dream. They are Cheng Dongqing, a hillbilly who refuses to accept his destiny of being a farmer; Meng Xiaojun, a self-confident, cynical intellectual; and Wang Yang, an idealistic romantic poet. Xiaojun is the first to obtain an US Visa for studying abroad. Yang follows but decides to remain in China for his beloved. Poor Dongqing is rejected by the US Embassy repeatedly. Baffled, he reluctantly accepts the job as an English instructor in the university but eventually gets fired for teaching tutorial classes in private. Across the Pacific, Xiaojun fails to find a decent job and is driven to work as a busboy in a diner.

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WHIAANHPI and SmithsonianAPA Unveil Joint Theme for 2024 Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander Heritage Month: ‘Bridging Histories, Shaping Our Future’

The White House Initiative on Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders and the Smithsonian Asian Pacific American Center issue call for intergenerational connection, action, and reflection.

The White House and WHIAANHPI will convene over 1,000 AA and NHPI leaders on May 13 for a landmark celebration at the Andrew W. Mellon Auditorium.

Today, the White House Initiative on Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders (WHIAANHPI) and the Smithsonian Asian Pacific American Center are proud to present our joint 2024 theme for Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (AA and NHPI) Heritage Month: “Bridging Histories, Shaping Our Future.”

Since the late 1970s, our country has recognized the invaluable contributions of AA and NHPI communities each May. For more than a decade, the Smithsonian Asian Pacific American Center and WHIAANHPI have collaborated to identify a national theme for AA and NHPI Heritage Month in consultation with the White House and community partners. Previous themes such as "I Am Beyond" (2014) and "Visible Together" (2023) have been warmly embraced, both by federal agencies and community-serving organizations, and have served as catalysts for meaningful dialogue around AA and NHPI identity.

The 2024 theme is an homage to our ancestors and invites all Americans to delve into the legacies, triumphs, and challenges that have shaped AA and NHPI communities. It embodies the spirit of our collective journey – one rooted in resilience and hope – and encourages us to forge intergenerational connections to honor our past and pave a durable path forward.

The White House and WHIAANHPI will use this theme to foster discussions during our May activities, including a landmark celebration on May 13, 2024, at the Andrew W. Mellon Auditorium in Washington, DC. This historic convening, uniting over 1,000 AA and NHPI leaders spanning five presidential administrations, will mark the 25th anniversary of the establishment of the White House Initiative and the President's Advisory Commission on Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders during the Clinton Administration. Sign up to receive the livestream link here .

About Our 2024 Theme: “Bridging Histories, Shaping Our Future”

As the Nation observes Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (AA and NHPI) Heritage Month in May, we reflect on our rich heritage and storied past. From Indigenous Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander communities whose wisdom and knowledge helped to shape this country and continue to guide us today, to the immigrants and refugees who came to our shores in search of better opportunities, to the trailblazers who paved the way for progress across generations – our communities’ journey has been one of tragedy and triumph, adversity, and resilience.

Knowing our histories gives us power. Throughout the month, let us embrace the interconnectedness of our stories and honor the visionaries who came before us. Let us commit to spotlighting the myriad ways diverse AA and NHPI communities have enriched every facet of American life. And let us endeavor to build bridges across generations, experiences, and cultures to forge a future where all of us can thrive.

The White House Initiative on Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders (WHIAANHPI), established by President Joe Biden through Executive Order 14031, is charged with coordinating a whole-of-government agenda to advance equity, justice, and opportunity for AA and NHPI communities. Learn more at hhs.gov/whiaanhpi.

The Smithsonian Asian Pacific American Center (APAC), established in 1997, strives to ensure the comprehensive representation and inclusion of Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders in the Smithsonian’s collections, research, exhibitions, and programs. Through education initiatives, publications, and public programs, APAC provides new avenues to document, celebrate, and share the rich and diverse history, art, and culture of AA and NHPI communities. Learn more at apa.si.edu.

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Iraq criminalises same-sex relationships with maximum 15 years in prison

Iraq's parliament passed a law criminalising same-sex relationships with a maximum 15-year prison sentence on Saturday, in a move it said aimed to uphold religious values but was condemned by rights advocates as the latest attack on the LGBT community in Iraq.

The U.N. Security Council on Saturday expressed its "deep concern" over an imminent attack on al-Fashir in Sudan's North Darfur region by the Rapid Support Forces (RSF).

A Russian court has ordered another suspect to be held in custody following the arrest of an ally of Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu on suspicion of taking bribes, TASS news agency reported on Saturday.

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'Asoka' makeup trend on TikTok inspired by 2000s Bollywood movie

A Bollywood throwback is resurfacing on social media this week as thousands of TikTok users participate in the viral “Asoka” makeup trend. 

The trend takes inspiration from a 2001 Hindi film of the same name, and it has creators styling themselves in Indian bridal hair, makeup and outfits to the beat of one of the movie’s songs. Creators of several cultural backgrounds are partaking, many amassing tens of millions of views and likes. 

“Asoka,” which stars Bollywood heavy hitters Shah Rukh Khan and Kareena Kapoor Khan, tells a fictionalized story based on the ancient Mauryan emperor Ashoka the Great, who ruled in the Indian subcontinent during the third century B.C.E. 

The movie showcases what are meant to be ancient Indian styles of dress and makeup, including dark eyeliner and geometric patterns drawn on the face and body. Though modern Indian bridal wear isn’t used in the movie, the bright colors, bold eyes, dramatic makeup and gold jewelry have become the main pull of the Asoka trend.

On TikTok, creators use transitions to document styling their look, getting ready to the beat of “Asoka” song “San Sanana.” 

Some South Asian creators have taken the Asoka trend one step further, not only recreating the modern bridal looks, but also the traditional ones used throughout the film. 

Some said they want to see more of that. 

“I just want one person to do that Asoka transition trend with the actual makeup Kareena had in the film and not Asian bridal because as impressive as it is what is the correlation,” one person said on X.

The attention the trend is gaining across the world is bringing more people to the original “Asoka” movie too, with dozens of new comments appearing under the “San Sanana” video on YouTube.

“Who else is here because of TikTok makeup video?” said one comment, which has 39,000 likes. 

Some TikTok users from other parts of the world said this trend is their first exposure to Hindi music. Many shared a similar sentiment in the comments: they’re now Bollywood fans. 

Sakshi Venkatraman is a reporter for NBC Asian America.

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25 Best Travel Movies Of All Time (Films That Will Inspire You To Travel)

Journey through the best travel movies ever made ........................................................................ You can watch these films over & over again, and never get sick get sick of them. Nothing gets me more excited to travel than a good travel film. It gives you the inspiration and the motivation to a new destination. So here is my personal list of the best travel movies of all time. Which ones are your favorites? I started to realize I had a travel obsession when all my favorite movies were based on crazy travel adventures. Once I’ve finished watching any of these films, I feel the instant urge to pack up everything and head out to explore the world. Great travel movies like these have inspired me a lot for my own personal travel goals over the years.

• Movies or TV
• IMDb Rating
• In Theaters
• Release Year

1. Into the Wild (2007)

R | 148 min | Adventure, Biography, Drama

After graduating from Emory University, top student and athlete Christopher McCandless abandons his possessions, gives his entire $24,000 savings account to charity and hitchhikes to Alaska to live in the wilderness. Along the way, Christopher encounters a series of characters that shape his life.

Director: Sean Penn | Stars: Emile Hirsch , Vince Vaughn , Catherine Keener , Marcia Gay Harden

Votes: 658,043 | Gross: $18.35M

Into The Wild is the true story of Christopher McCandless, a recent college graduate who gives away his live savings and hitchhikes to Alaska. He meets all kinds of people along the way, each with their own stories. In Alaska, he heads out into the wilderness to live on his own. His life is filled with random adventures and experiences while he makes his way up to “The Last Frontier”. This is what travel is all about to me. Experiences, good and bad, make you who you are. And long term travel is FULL of new experiences. The key is to not completely get in over your head (like Christopher did).

2. The Motorcycle Diaries (2004)

R | 126 min | Adventure, Biography, Drama

Ernesto Guevara de la Serna, popularly known as Che, along with his friend Alberto Granado, decides to take a road trip across South America. His experiences on the journey transform him.

Director: Walter Salles | Stars: Gael García Bernal , Rodrigo de la Serna , Mía Maestro , Mercedes Morán

Votes: 104,769 | Gross: $16.78M

Essential Visuals: Miramar, Buenos Aires, Argentia; Caracas, Venezuela; Patagonia; Nahuel Huapi Lake; Machu Picchu; Atacama Desert Where It Takes You: South America This awe-inspiring film is based on the memoirs of Che Guevara, from a time before he became an iconic Latin American revolutionary. Guevara (Gael Bernal) and his friend Alberto "Mial" Granado (Rodrigo De la Serna, Guevara’s real-life second cousin) climb atop a motorcycle and ride across South America for eight months and over 14,000 kilometers. The trip inspired the rest of Guevara's incredible life. The movie will inspire you to learn more about the incredibly beautiful continent.

3. The Beach (I) (2000)

R | 119 min | Adventure, Drama, Romance

On vacation in Thailand, Richard sets out for an island rumored to be a solitary beach paradise.

Director: Danny Boyle | Stars: Leonardo DiCaprio , Tilda Swinton , Daniel York , Patcharawan Patarakijjanon

Votes: 253,687 | Gross: $39.79M

Where It Takes You: Thailand Essential Visuals: Bangkok; Koh Samui Beaches; Gulf of Thailand; Ko Phi Phi Leh Want to see Leonardo DiCaprio before he had a dadbod? We hate to bust someone’s bubbles, but we’re not talking about Titanic here. For the ladies reading this post, the 2000 adventure film “The Beach” lets you feast your eyes on a shirtless young Leonardo DiCaprio, swimming on the fabulous crystal clear waters of Ko Phi Phi Lee.

4. The Way (I) (2010)

PG-13 | 123 min | Comedy, Drama

A father heads overseas to recover the body of his estranged son who died while traveling the "El camino de Santiago," and decides to take the pilgrimage himself.

Director: Emilio Estevez | Stars: Martin Sheen , Emilio Estevez , Deborah Kara Unger , Yorick van Wageningen

Votes: 35,338 | Gross: $4.43M

The Way is a beautiful and inspiring tale about a father walking Spain’s Camino de Santiago trail to honor his recently dead son. The experience is an eye-opening an emotional one for him, as he’s forced to make friends with complete strangers and examine his life during the 800km journey. It features a very eclectic mix of characters, all walking the path for their own personal reasons. The movie certainly made me more interested in traveling along the Camino at some point in my life. The Way is a heart-warming and beautiful story of a father who walked the Camino de Santiago trail in Spain, to honor his estranged son who recently died while trekking this trail. His experience was eye-opening and quite an emotional one, as he was compelled to make friends with total strangers as well as examine his life during his long 800 kilometer long journey. The film features a pretty eclectic blend of characters, all trekking the long trail for their own personal reasons.

5. 180° South (2010)

PG | 85 min | Documentary, Drama, Sport

The film follows adventurer Jeff Johnson as he retraces the epic 1968 journey of his heroes Yvon Chouinard and Doug Tompkins to Patagonia.

Director: Chris Malloy | Stars: Yvon Chouinard , Doug Tompkins , Keith Malloy , Alicia Salome Acuna Ika

Votes: 3,174 | Gross: $0.03M

180 Degrees South is a documentary that follows the adventure of a group of friends as they travel to Patagonia in the spirt of their heroes. They pack their surfboards and climbing gear as they sail and drive along the South American coast, learning about the losing battle against industrialization and the destruction of the natural world. Modern commercial interests fed by the growing human consumption of disposable goods is ruining our planet, and the film shows what some brave people are doing to try and stop it. The movie’s beautiful scenery and fantastic soundtrack mix together with a strong message and travel adventure to create a true work of art.

6. Wild (I) (2014)

R | 115 min | Adventure, Biography, Drama

A chronicle of one woman's 1,100-mile solo hike undertaken as a way to recover from a recent personal tragedy.

Director: Jean-Marc Vallée | Stars: Reese Witherspoon , Laura Dern , Gaby Hoffmann , Michiel Huisman

Votes: 138,829 | Gross: $37.88M

Reese Witherspoon donned a pair of ill-fitting hiking boots and a giant backpack for her role as Cheryl Strayed, a writer who trekked 1,100 miles on the Pacific Crest Trail after the devastating loss of her mother. (The film is based on Strayed’s best-selling 2012 book of the same name.) Strayed crosses the dusty Mojave, crazy forests, snowy fields, and muddy trails, losing toenails but gaining mental clarity—or at least self-acceptance—along the way.

7. One Week (I) (2008)

Not Rated | 94 min | Adventure, Drama

Chronicles the motorcycle trip of Ben Tyler as he rides from Toronto to Tofino, British Columbia. Ben stops at landmarks that are both iconic and idiosyncratic on his quest to find meaning in his life.

Director: Michael McGowan | Stars: Joshua Jackson , Peter Spence , Marc Strange , Gage Munroe

Votes: 12,044

Where It Takes You: Road Trip Across Canada This 2008 film chronicles the motorcycle escapade of Ben Tyler, a school teacher, as he takes a fascinating road trip from the city of Toronto to British Colombia’s Tofino. Along his quest’s route, he makes stops in a number of landmarks, to find the true meaning of life, before he gets married.

8. Tracks (I) (2013)

PG-13 | 112 min | Adventure, Biography, Drama

A young woman goes on a 1,700-mile trek across the deserts of West Australia with four camels and her faithful dog.

Director: John Curran | Stars: Mia Wasikowska , Adam Driver , Lily Pearl , Philip Dodd

Votes: 31,724 | Gross: $0.51M

Where It Takes You: Western Australia Standing in for real-life writer Robyn Davidson, Mia Wasikowska travels across the breathtaking landscape of Western Australia with only four camels and a beloved dog for company. Her occasional human visitors include a photographer for National Geographic (Adam Driver), an indigenous Australian elder named Mr. Eddy who guides her through sacred lands, and various tourists who come to gawk at the so-called Camel Lady. Davidson’s solo trip was beyond the pale for a woman in the '70s, but it's still incredibly inspiring today. We'll just leave the camel-training to someone else.

9. And Your Mother Too (2001)

R | 106 min | Drama

In Mexico, two teenage boys and an older woman embark on a road trip and learn a thing or two about life and each other.

Director: Alfonso Cuarón | Stars: Maribel Verdú , Gael García Bernal , Daniel Giménez Cacho , Ana López Mercado

Votes: 128,871 | Gross: $13.62M

Where It Takes You: Mexico Essential visuals: Mexico City; Puerto Escondido; Huatulco; Secluded Mexican beaches Julio and Tenoch are two teens ruled by raging hormones and a mission to consume exotic substances. But one summer, the boys learn more about life than they bargain for when they set off on a wild, cross-country road trip with seductive, 28-year-old Luisa. The temptress Luisa teaches them the finer points of passion, and they of course, both fall madly in love with her.

10. The Darjeeling Limited (2007)

R | 91 min | Adventure, Comedy, Drama

A year after their father's funeral, three brothers travel across India by train in an attempt to bond with each other.

Director: Wes Anderson | Stars: Owen Wilson , Adrien Brody , Jason Schwartzman , Amara Karan

Votes: 216,911 | Gross: $11.90M

Essential Visuals: The Himalayas; temples in Jodhpur; Indian railways Where It Takes You: India The Darjeeling Limited is a wacky film about three wealthy, spoiled brothers taking an overland train trip through India. They haven’t spoken in a year, and the trip is supposed to heal and bond them again. Initially it all goes wrong as they bicker and fight with each other. They are all suffering from depression, and pop pain killers like candy. When it seems like nothing is going right, their crazy experiences along the way finally put things into perspective. The ultimate goal of healing and rejuvenation starts to happen. They finally start to grow up and turn into men. The movie is hilarious, and beautifully shot too. It will make you want to visit India.

11. Encounters at the End of the World (2007)

G | 99 min | Documentary

Film-maker Werner Herzog travels to the McMurdo Station in Antarctica, looking to capture the continent's beauty and investigate the characters living there.

Director: Werner Herzog | Stars: Werner Herzog , Scott Rowland , Stefan Pashov , Doug MacAyeal

Votes: 19,249 | Gross: $0.94M

Encounters At The End Of The World is an incredibly beautiful and funny movie about the people and animals who live in Antarctica. The film is done by Werner Herzog, one of my favorite directors. The individuals that work at the National Science Foundation research station are full of character, and most are permanent world travelers. Even if you’ve seen Discovery channel shows about Antarctica, this is totally different and fresh. I liked it much more than I thought I would, and it has earned a spot on my best travel movies list because as soon as it was over I wanted to pack up and head down there for a bit!

12. The Bucket List (2007)

PG-13 | 97 min | Adventure, Comedy, Drama

Two terminally ill men escape from a cancer ward and head off on a road trip with a wish list of to-dos before they die.

Director: Rob Reiner | Stars: Jack Nicholson , Morgan Freeman , Sean Hayes , Beverly Todd

Votes: 259,813 | Gross: $93.47M

The Bucket List is a tearjerker, and more importantly, a heart-warming film that will inspire you to do all the things that you want to do before you kick the bucket, including traveling. To me, the film also reminds us that life is too short, and we should enjoy it to the fullest.

13. The Secret Life of Walter Mitty (2013)

PG | 114 min | Adventure, Comedy, Drama

When both he and a colleague are about to lose their job, Walter takes action by embarking on an adventure more extraordinary than anything he ever imagined.

Director: Ben Stiller | Stars: Ben Stiller , Kristen Wiig , Jon Daly , Kathryn Hahn

Votes: 340,828 | Gross: $58.24M

When Walter’s job along with that of his co-worker are threatened, Walter takes action in the real world embarking on a global journey that turns into an adventure more extraordinary than anything he could have ever imagined. This is a lighthearted look at the adventurous spirit with some awesome travel mixed in.

14. Out of Africa (1985)

PG | 161 min | Biography, Drama, Romance

In 20th-century colonial Kenya, a Danish baroness/plantation owner has a passionate love affair with a free-spirited big-game hunter.

Director: Sydney Pollack | Stars: Meryl Streep , Robert Redford , Klaus Maria Brandauer , Michael Kitchen

Votes: 86,338 | Gross: $87.10M

Where It Takes You: Kenya Essential Visuals: Ngong Hills; Shaba National Game Reserve; African savannas Meryl Streep and Robert Redford star in this tragic love story about a married baroness who falls for a big-game hunter, based on the autobiographical novel by Isak Dinesen. Filmed on location in the UK and Kenya, including the Shaba National Game Reserve, Out of Africa feels about as epic as the doomed love affair between two very different people.

15. Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara (2011)

Not Rated | 155 min | Comedy, Drama, Musical

Three friends decide to turn their fantasy vacation into reality after one of their friends gets engaged.

Director: Zoya Akhtar | Stars: Hrithik Roshan , Farhan Akhtar , Abhay Deol , Katrina Kaif

Votes: 85,843 | Gross: $3.11M

Where It Takes You: Spain Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara ( You Don't Get Life a Second Time ) - Two lifelong friends (Hrithik Roshan, Farhan Akhtar) take a third (Abhay Deol) on a road trip through Spain instead of throwing a traditional bachelor party.

17. The Endless Summer (1966)

Not Rated | 95 min | Documentary, Sport

The crown jewel to ten years of Bruce Brown surfing documentaries. Brown follows two young surfers around the world in search of the perfect wave, and ends up finding quite a few in addition to some colorful local characters.

Director: Bruce Brown | Stars: Robert August , Michael Hynson , Lord James Blears , Bruce Brown

Votes: 6,215

Catch a wave and you’re sitting on top of the world,” sang the Beach Boys; and if ever a film embodied that mindset, it’s Bruce Brown’s 1966 surfer documentary. Brown shadowed buddies Robert August and Mike Hynson on a round-the-world surfing trip, filming their travels to places like Hawaii, New Zealand, and South Africa as they crested waves and met like-minded surf obsessives. The film’s impact on surf culture and tourism was huge, thanks in no small part to Brown’s cinematography, as well as the subjects’ ability to make riding those impossibly large waves seem effortless This 1966 classic has a cult following, and deservedly so; it spiraled an entire surf and travel subculture, and has been inspiring travelers for the past 50 years. The film follows surfers around the globe as they search to continue summer surfing beyond the summer months. Their travels are what any traveler could wish on such a journey; exotic locations, cultural exchanges and lessons, and plenty of good stories along the way.

18. Easy Rider (1969)

R | 95 min | Adventure, Drama

Two bikers head from L.A. to New Orleans through the open country and desert lands, and along the way they meet a man who bridges a counter-culture gap of which they had been unaware.

Director: Dennis Hopper | Stars: Peter Fonda , Dennis Hopper , Jack Nicholson , Antonio Mendoza

Votes: 116,931 | Gross: $41.73M

Released the year of the Woodstock festival—perhaps the biggest event of the ’60s counterculture movement—Easy Rider couldn’t have come out at a better time in history. The film plays out like a motorcycle travelogue, following Wyatt (Peter Fonda) and Billy (Dennis Hopper) on their sojourn from Mexico to Los Angeles to New Orleans. Shot on a shoestring budget, the film is flush with desert landscapes and towns that the pair of nogoodniks (and co-stars, like a young Jack Nicholson) pass through on their drug-and-booze-fueled hippie adventure.

19. The Art of Travel (2008)

R | 100 min | Drama

Having called off his wedding, a high school graduate journeys alone to Central America, finding adventure with a ragtag group of foreigners who attempt to cross the Darien Gap in record time.

Director: Thomas Whelan | Stars: Christopher Masterson , Brooke Burns , Johnny Messner , James Duval

Votes: 2,620

Ever think of trading out the American dream of white picket fences and suburban houses for an adventure? The 2008 film The Art of Travel shows a man who does just that after finding out his long time sweetheart and fiancee is cheating on him. Abandoning the past and in an attempt to move forward, he takes his honeymoon alone. The result is an adventure of self discovery and the true meaning and mastering of wanderlust as he and a group of adventurers try to race across the Darien Gap. Travel lovers everywhere will be inspired by the cinematography as the hero travels through the miles of the South and Central American rainforest. The film also does a fantastic job of depicting the struggle every traveler feels in their soul at the thought of returning to what is familiar after having experienced the challenges the world has waiting for you.

20. A Map for Saturday (2007)

TV-PG | 90 min | Documentary

On a trip around the world, every day feels like Saturday. A MAP FOR SATURDAY reveals a world of long-term, solo travel through the stories of trekkers on four continents. The documentary ... See full summary  »

Director: Brook Silva-Braga | Stars: Scott Erikson , Rebecca Filmer , Sabrina Hezinger , Kate McNair

Votes: 1,216

A Map For Saturday is a travel documentary that follows one man as he quits his cushy job with HBO to travel around the world for a year and live out of his backpack. It shows the different ways people travel, and gives an accurate picture of what it is like to vagabond around the world long term. You get to experience both the ups and downs of his trip at a very personal level. If you ever thought of doing something like this, the movie will show you what the experience is really like. It also shows you that anyone can travel cheaply if they really want to. The only thing stopping you is, well, you.

21. Vicky Cristina Barcelona (2008)

PG-13 | 96 min | Comedy, Drama, Romance

Two friends on a summer holiday in Spain become enamored with the same painter, unaware that his ex-wife, with whom he has a tempestuous relationship, is about to re-enter the picture.

Director: Woody Allen | Stars: Rebecca Hall , Scarlett Johansson , Javier Bardem , Christopher Evan Welch

Votes: 268,839 | Gross: $23.22M

Where It Takes You: Spain Essential Visuals: Barcelona Harbor; Spanish countryside; Oviedo; Santa Maria del Mar Church

23. Away We Go (2009)

R | 98 min | Comedy, Drama, Romance

A couple expecting their first child travels the U.S. seeking the perfect "family home." They have misadventures and find fresh connections with relatives and old friends who help them discover "home" on their own terms for the first time.

Director: Sam Mendes | Stars: John Krasinski , Maya Rudolph , Allison Janney , Carmen Ejogo

Votes: 55,074 | Gross: $9.45M

A few months before their baby is due, Verona (Maya Rudolph) and Burt (John Krasinski) decide to take a road trip to find the perfect location to raise their family. Their journey takes them from Phoenix and Tucson to Madison and Montreal, a city that has never seemed more friendly or inviting. The movie is a wonderful tour of North America’s cities, as well as a touching tribute to love and family. John Krasinski and Maya Rudolph play expectant parents in director Sam Mendes's 2009 flick. Verona (Rudolph) and Burt (Krasinski) travel across the continent searching for where they should settle down to raise their unborn baby. They visit friends along the way, learning about the type of parents they'd like to be and despite Verona's hesitation to get married, pledge they'll always be there for each other. In his review of the film, Globe film critic Wesley Morris wrote that it "is a road movie for idealists. Away We Go is story of discovery and interaction with different lifestyles of people across the world, and a look into the different kind of lives we can choose to live. The story follows a couple who is expecting their first child; upon learning they are pregnant, they decide to travel across North America to try to find the kind of culture and life they wish their child to grow up in. The film does well at inspiring you to not settle to be like the people around you, but to make your own path.

24. Lost in Translation (2003)

R | 102 min | Comedy, Drama

A faded movie star and a neglected young woman form an unlikely bond after crossing paths in Tokyo.

Director: Sofia Coppola | Stars: Bill Murray , Scarlett Johansson , Giovanni Ribisi , Anna Faris

Votes: 488,819 | Gross: $44.59M

Where It Takes You: Japan Essential Visuals: Tokyo; Daikanyama; Shinjuku Park Tower; Heian Jingu Shrine in Kyoto; Nanzen-ji Temple’s Sanmon gate Lost In Translation is based on two separate travelers, Bob & Charlotte, visiting Tokyo at the same time. They meet each other and form a friendship as they experience confusion and hilarity in a strange and curious city. Bob is an aging actor starring in commercials, while Charlotte is the bored wife of a photographer there on business. They are an unlikely pair, experiencing a degree of loneliness in a foreign city filled with millions of people. This is another beautifully shot film that also shows how funny and interesting traveling in a new country can be. The many little random experiences that present themselves while traveling are often the most memorable.

25. Under the Tuscan Sun (2003)

PG-13 | 113 min | Comedy, Drama, Romance

Frances Mayes, a 35-year-old San Francisco writer, gets a divorce that leaves her with terminal writer's block and depression. Later, she decides to buy a house in Tuscany in order to change her life.

Director: Audrey Wells | Stars: Diane Lane , Raoul Bova , Sandra Oh , Lindsay Duncan

Votes: 59,532 | Gross: $43.61M

Where It Takes You: Tuscany, Italy Don’t want to give up your city life? A word of advice, please don’t watch the Under the Tuscan Sun. With all the delightful wines, mouthwatering food, remote cottages and scenic rolling hills shown in the film, this romantic flick will inspire to you to travel to this Italian paradise, as well as urge you to scrap your urban life, for a chance to harvest an awesome dream of living a life Under the Tuscan Sun.

26. Eat Pray Love (2010)

PG-13 | 133 min | Biography, Drama, Romance

A married woman realizes how unhappy her marriage really is, and that her life needs to go in a different direction. After a painful divorce, she takes off on a round-the-world journey to "find herself".

Director: Ryan Murphy | Stars: Julia Roberts , Javier Bardem , Richard Jenkins , Viola Davis

Votes: 105,881 | Gross: $80.57M

Where It Takes You: Italy, India, Indonesia The book-turned-movie Eat Pray Love, ever since it was released, has been inspiring people to travel, and seek a life or career outside the big buzzing cities. I have to admit that this was one of those rare occasions where I didn’t enjoy the book but I enjoyed the movie. Yet another one based on the real story and memoir by Liz Gilbert, Julia Roberts plays her and visually takes us through her transformational journey from a difficult divorce to a quest of self-discovery through eating in Italy, praying in India and loving in Bali. A movie for the senses.

27. The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert (1994)

R | 104 min | Comedy, Music

Two drag performers and a transgender woman travel across the desert to perform their unique style of cabaret.

Director: Stephan Elliott | Stars: Hugo Weaving , Guy Pearce , Terence Stamp , Rebel Penfold-Russell

Votes: 55,035 | Gross: $11.22M

Guy Pearce, Hugo Weaving, and Terence Stamp star as two drag performers and a transwoman who travel to Alice Springs, Australia, in a lavender-hued school bus they've named Priscilla. A road trip across the Outback serves as a dusty backdrop for personal revelations and general awesomeness, like a fireside lip-sync performance of Gloria Gaynor's "I Will Survive.

28. Seven Years in Tibet (1997)

PG-13 | 136 min | Adventure, Biography, Drama

Heinrich Harrer, an Austrian climber, breaks out of prison and travels to the holy city of Lhasa. He is employed as an instructor to the 14th Dalai Lama and soon becomes his close confidante.

Director: Jean-Jacques Annaud | Stars: Brad Pitt , David Thewlis , BD Wong , Mako

Votes: 155,905 | Gross: $37.96M

Seven Years In Tibet is about an Austrian mountaineer who heads out to conquer a Himalayan mountain in 1939. After getting captured and sent to a prison camp, he ends up breaking out with another man and sneaking into the holy Tibetan city of Lhasa. He befriends the young Dalai Lama just as the Chinese attempt to invade Tibet by force. Both men are from totally different worlds, yet become great friends and learn from each other. The character starts off as a selfish prick, but slowly changes his outlook on life when confronted with new experiences in a very foreign land. It’s a good movie that shows you how travel adventures can transform your life. Filled with scenic shots and views of The Himalayas, Potala Palace, and other sites, most of the filming actually took place in Argentina. However, two crews allegedly secretly shot footage in Tibet, providing authentic visuals.

29. The Way Back (I) (2010)

PG-13 | 133 min | Adventure, Drama, History

Siberian gulag escapees travel four thousand miles by foot to freedom in India.

Director: Peter Weir | Stars: Jim Sturgess , Ed Harris , Colin Farrell , Dragos Bucur

Votes: 122,000 | Gross: $2.70M

Inspired by an incredible true story, The Way Back follows seven prisoners from very different backgrounds as they attempt the impossible: escape from a Siberian prison in the dead of winter. Thus begins a treacherous 4,500-mile trek to freedom across the world’s most merciless landscapes – from Siberia to India. They have little food and few supplies. They don’t know or trust each other. But they know that to survive, they must withstand nature at its most extreme. A compelling testament to the code of trust among travelers, and our innate quality to seek survival and freedom at all costs

30. The Spanish Apartment (2002)

R | 122 min | Comedy, Drama, Romance

A strait-laced French student moves into an apartment in Barcelona with a cast of six other characters from all over Europe. Together, they speak the international language of love and friendship.

Director: Cédric Klapisch | Stars: Romain Duris , Judith Godrèche , Kelly Reilly , Audrey Tautou

Votes: 42,780 | Gross: $3.90M

I have met very few travelers who aren’t obsessed with L’Auberge Espagnole. While there are numerous reasons to love this movie—the romance of Barcelona, the potent sexual tension, etc.—the number one reason why travelers crave this movie is because it’s so incredibly real. Anyone who has ever lived or studied abroad can instantly relate to this film and the way in which it traces the subtle cultural differences and real-life situations experienced by University-aged travelers. Watching L’Auberge Espagnole makes you want to call up long lost travel acquaintances and reminisce and laugh over a stiff drink and focus on the lighter, more important side of life. A final sticking point is the way in which the main character, Xavier, realizes that life’s various experiences and the personal connections you forge are ultimately what really matter, not your salary, title, or career. As this is a mantra many free-spirited travelers hold so dear it’s no wonder the film has fostered such a devoted following.

31. Baraka (1992)

Not Rated | 96 min | Documentary

A collection of expertly photographed scenes of human life and religion.

Director: Ron Fricke | Star: Patrick Disanto

Votes: 40,982 | Gross: $1.33M

Baraka is a non-narrative documentary film, but this list wouldn’t be complete without mentioning Baraka. This movie explores themes via a kaleidoscopic compilation of natural events, life, human activities and technological phenomena shot in 24 countries on six continents over a 14-month period. Shot in 70mm film in 24 countries on six continents, Baraka (meaning “blessing” in several languages,) is more of a transcendent global tour – an exploration of extraordinary places, peoples and cultures that create the world’s pulse. A world beyond words, this story is almost an un-story, a narration of nature and of humankind’s chaotic and lovely relationship with it. A viewing experience truly awesome and like nothing you’ve seen or felt before. (2008 | Not Rated) If you loved Baraka,

32. Before Sunrise (1995)

R | 101 min | Drama, Romance