20 Movies to Watch If You’re a Sagittarius
Big journeys, bold horizons, road trips, sea crossings, mountain climbs, and spacefaring missions—this list gathers films where movement and discovery are the story. You’ll find true stories and fantastical quests, intimate treks and globe-spanning adventures, all anchored by clear plots, well-known casts, and the filmmakers behind them.
Each pick below notes the essentials—who directed it, who stars, what it’s about, and how it was made—so you can quickly spot what fits your mood. From desert epics to animated voyages and science-driven space odysseys, these movies lean into exploration, curiosity, and wide-open roads.
‘Lawrence of Arabia’ (1962)
This historical epic follows British officer T. E. Lawrence as he undertakes liaison duties and campaigns across the Arabian Peninsula, weaving together military strategy, tribal alliances, and desert crossings. Peter O’Toole leads the cast with Omar Sharif, Alec Guinness, and Anthony Quinn, presenting the political and geographic scope of the campaign.
Directed by David Lean, the film features cinematography by Freddie Young, editing by Anne V. Coates, and a score by Maurice Jarre. Produced on large desert locations in Jordan, Morocco, and Spain, it received multiple Academy Awards including Best Picture and Best Director.
‘Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade’ (1989)
Archaeologist Indiana Jones reunites with his scholar father to trace clues toward the Holy Grail, moving from university halls to catacombs, desert canyons, and ancient temples. Harrison Ford and Sean Connery headline, with support from Denholm Elliott, Alison Doody, and John Rhys-Davies.
Steven Spielberg directs, with Douglas Slocombe as cinematographer, Michael Kahn as editor, and a score by John Williams. A Lucasfilm production with extensive location work and practical set pieces, the film won an Academy Award for sound effects editing and remains a key entry in the franchise’s adventure canon.
‘The Motorcycle Diaries’ (2004)
Based on Ernesto “Che” Guevara’s travel memoir, this road movie chronicles an extended trip across South America that reveals regional landscapes and social realities along the route. Gael García Bernal portrays Guevara, with Rodrigo de la Serna as Alberto Granado, depicting stops through the Andes, the Amazon, and historical sites.
Walter Salles directs, with cinematography by Eric Gautier and a score by Gustavo Santaolalla. An international co-production, it received widespread recognition, including the Academy Award for Best Original Song for “Al Otro Lado del Río,” and it emphasizes diaries, letters, and on-the-road encounters as source material.
‘Into the Wild’ (2007)
This adaptation of Jon Krakauer’s nonfiction book follows Christopher McCandless as he leaves conventional life to traverse North America and eventually live in the Alaskan bush. Emile Hirsch stars alongside Catherine Keener, Kristen Stewart, Vince Vaughn, and Hal Holbrook, charting hitchhiking stretches, seasonal work, and backcountry challenges.
Directed by Sean Penn, the film features cinematography by Eric Gautier and original songs by Eddie Vedder. Produced by River Road Entertainment and Paramount Vantage, it earned Academy Award nominations including Supporting Actor for Hal Holbrook and Best Editing, and it filmed across multiple states to match the journey.
‘The Secret Life of Walter Mitty’ (2013)
A negative assets manager at a magazine sets out to locate a missing photograph, a chase that sends him from office stacks to Greenland, Iceland, and Himalayan peaks. Ben Stiller stars with Kristen Wiig, Sean Penn, and Adam Scott, blending a workplace premise with an international search.
Ben Stiller also directs, from a screenplay by Steve Conrad inspired by James Thurber’s story concept. With cinematography by Stuart Dryburgh and music by Theodore Shapiro, the production used extensive on-location shooting in Iceland, and the film was distributed by 20th Century Fox with large-scale outdoor sequences and second-unit work.
‘Moana’ (2016)
This animated feature follows a young navigator who sails beyond the reef to locate a demigod and restore balance to her island, framing wayfinding, ocean lore, and island ecology in a seafaring quest. The voice cast includes Auliʻi Cravalho, Dwayne Johnson, Rachel House, and Jemaine Clement.
Directed by Ron Clements and John Musker with co-directors credited for story and production oversight, the film features songs by Lin-Manuel Miranda and Opetaia Foa’i and score by Mark Mancina. Walt Disney Animation Studios consulted the Oceanic Story Trust on cultural details, and the film earned Academy Award nominations for Animated Feature and Original Song.
‘Life of Pi’ (2012)
After a catastrophic shipwreck, a teenager survives on a lifeboat with a Bengal tiger named Richard Parker, focusing on ocean survival, navigation, and the logistics of sharing a small craft with a wild animal. Suraj Sharma leads the cast, with Irrfan Khan, Rafe Spall, and Tabu appearing in framing sequences.
Directed by Ang Lee and adapted from Yann Martel’s novel, the film’s visual effects were produced by Rhythm & Hues Studios, with cinematography by Claudio Miranda and a score by Mychael Danna. It received multiple Academy Awards including Best Director, Best Cinematography, Best Visual Effects, and Best Original Score, and combined water-tank work with digital ocean environments.
‘The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring’ (2001)
The first chapter of the quest to destroy the One Ring introduces the Fellowship’s formation and travel from the Shire through mountains, forests, and ancient realms. Elijah Wood stars as Frodo Baggins with Ian McKellen, Viggo Mortensen, Sean Astin, and Orlando Bloom among the ensemble.
Peter Jackson directs, with cinematography by Andrew Lesnie, production and creature design by Wētā Workshop, and visual effects by Wētā Digital. Shot across New Zealand with large practical sets, the film won Academy Awards for Cinematography, Makeup, Original Score, and Visual Effects and launched a continuous three-film production.
‘Mad Max: Fury Road’ (2015)
Set in a post-apocalyptic wasteland, this installment centers on a high-speed desert pursuit as a rig crew attempts a break for freedom from a tyrannical citadel. Tom Hardy plays Max Rockatansky with Charlize Theron as Imperator Furiosa, supported by Nicholas Hoult and a large ensemble of driver and war-party roles.
Directed by George Miller, the film emphasizes practical stunts and vehicle design, with cinematography by John Seale, editing by Margaret Sixel, and music by Tom Holkenborg. A Kennedy Miller Mitchell production, it won multiple Academy Awards including Editing, Costume Design, Production Design, Makeup and Hairstyling, and sound categories.
‘The Martian’ (2015)
An astronaut is left behind during an emergency departure and must survive alone on Mars by engineering food, power, and communication until a coordinated rescue can be attempted. Matt Damon stars as Mark Watney with Jessica Chastain, Chiwetel Ejiofor, and Jeff Daniels among the NASA and crew ensemble.
Ridley Scott directs from Drew Goddard’s adaptation of Andy Weir’s novel, with cinematography by Dariusz Wolski and production design by Arthur Max. With consultation from NASA and large-scale set builds and location work in Wadi Rum, the film earned multiple Academy Award nominations and won major industry awards for its production.
‘Interstellar’ (2014)
Facing a global crop blight, a team of explorers travels through a wormhole to survey distant worlds, combining spaceflight operations with time dilation and planetary scouting. Matthew McConaughey, Anne Hathaway, Jessica Chastain, and Michael Caine lead the cast, with supporting roles mapping mission control, pilots, and family.
Christopher Nolan directs, with scientific consultation from physicist Kip Thorne, cinematography by Hoyte van Hoytema, and a score by Hans Zimmer. Shot on large-format film with extensive practical sets and miniatures, it won the Academy Award for Visual Effects and received nominations in sound and music categories.
‘Up’ (2009)
A widower ties thousands of balloons to his house to travel to South America, forming a team with a young wilderness explorer and an expressive dog as they search for a remote waterfall. The voice cast features Ed Asner, Jordan Nagai, and Christopher Plummer, providing humor and momentum through dialogue and action.
Directed by Pete Docter with Bob Peterson as co-director and co-writer, the film is produced by Pixar Animation Studios and distributed by Walt Disney Pictures. Michael Giacchino composed the score, and the film won Academy Awards including Best Animated Feature and Original Score, with production design emphasizing color scripts for airborne and jungle sequences.
‘Tracks’ (2013)
Adapted from Robyn Davidson’s memoir, this film follows a solo trek across the Australian desert with camels and a dog, documenting preparation, route planning, and environmental hazards. Mia Wasikowska plays Davidson, with Adam Driver as a photographer who intermittently meets her along the route.
Directed by John Curran, the film features cinematography by Mandy Walker and an original score by Garth Stevenson. Produced by See-Saw Films with on-location desert shoots, the project uses practical animal handling and long-lens photography to capture distance and heat shimmer across the route.
‘Seven Years in Tibet’ (1997)
This biographical drama tracks Austrian climber Heinrich Harrer from a wartime internment escape to his arrival in Lhasa and mentorship with the young 14th Dalai Lama. Brad Pitt stars as Harrer with David Thewlis as Peter Aufschnaiter, depicting travel, adaptation, and cultural encounters.
Directed by Jean-Jacques Annaud, the film features cinematography by Robert Fraisse and a score by John Williams with featured cello solos by Yo-Yo Ma. Based on Harrer’s book, the production combined high-altitude locations and studio stages, focusing on language, protocol, and city layout in its set designs.
‘The Darjeeling Limited’ (2007)
Three brothers board a long-distance train across India to reconnect, traveling through compartments, rural stops, and city temples as they work through family dynamics. Owen Wilson, Adrien Brody, and Jason Schwartzman star, with cameos and supporting roles filling out fellow passengers and local guides.
Wes Anderson directs, with cinematography by Robert Yeoman and a soundtrack that draws on cues from Satyajit Ray alongside tracks by The Kinks. Produced by American Empirical Pictures and distributed by Fox Searchlight Pictures, it was preceded by the short film ‘Hotel Chevalier’, which introduces one character’s backstory.
‘Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World’ (2003)
Set during the Napoleonic Wars, this naval adventure follows Captain Jack Aubrey and surgeon-naturalist Stephen Maturin as HMS Surprise pursues a superior enemy ship across oceans. Russell Crowe and Paul Bettany lead the cast, integrating shipboard tactics, crew routines, and scientific collecting during stops.
Peter Weir directs, drawing from Patrick O’Brian’s novels, with cinematography by Russell Boyd and a score by Iva Davies, Christopher Gordon, and Richard Tognetti. The film won Academy Awards for Cinematography and Sound Editing and is noted for detailed period production design, rigging, and practical vessel builds.
‘The African Queen’ (1951)
During a Central African campaign, a riverboat captain and a missionary set off on a hazardous journey downriver to strike a German gunboat, navigating rapids, swamps, and mechanical repairs. Humphrey Bogart and Katharine Hepburn star, balancing tense passages with character interplay aboard the small steamer.
Directed by John Huston, the film’s Technicolor cinematography is by Jack Cardiff with music by Allan Gray. An adaptation of C. S. Forester’s novel, it includes on-location shooting in Africa combined with studio work, and Humphrey Bogart received the Academy Award for Best Actor.
‘Kon-Tiki’ (2012)
This dramatization of Thor Heyerdahl’s expedition depicts the construction and voyage of a balsa-wood raft launched to test a theory about transoceanic drift and settlement routes. Pål Sverre Hagen plays Heyerdahl with supporting roles covering the crew’s divisions of labor and crisis management at sea.
Directed by Joachim Rønning and Espen Sandberg, the film features cinematography by Geir Hartly Andreassen and a score by Johan Söderqvist. A Norwegian production that shot in multiple countries and water-tank facilities, it was released in both Norwegian- and English-language versions and received an Academy Award nomination for Foreign Language Film.
‘Nomadland’ (2020)
Following seasonal work closures, a woman outfits a van and travels across the American West, meeting others who share routes, campgrounds, and job sites. Frances McDormand stars, with real-life nomads Linda May, Swankie, and Bob Wells appearing as themselves and contributing to the film’s community scenes.
Chloé Zhao directs, writes, and edits, with cinematography by Joshua James Richards and production by a team including McDormand and Peter Spears. Based on Jessica Bruder’s nonfiction book, the film was distributed by Searchlight Pictures and won Academy Awards for Best Picture, Best Director, and Best Actress.
‘The Way Back’ (2010)
Inspired by ‘The Long Walk’, this survival drama follows a group of prisoners who escape from a Siberian labor camp and trek over thousands of kilometers toward India, crossing forests, deserts, and mountain passes. Jim Sturgess, Ed Harris, and Saoirse Ronan lead the cast, with supporting roles covering group logistics and navigation.
Directed by Peter Weir, the film features cinematography by Russell Boyd and a score by Burkhard Dallwitz. An international co-production with extensive location work, it incorporates practical terrain challenges and period costume and props, and it was released by distributors including National Geographic Entertainment.
If you’ve got another adventure-driven favorite that fits this theme, share your pick in the comments!