Wanderlust Directed by Roger Weisberg, 2005

From Walt Whitman to Thelma and Louise, the open road has long been a fixture of the American imagination — and of all mediums, none are more reverent or enduring than the classic road movie.

In this brilliant new documentary, the most important writers, actors, and directors in the genre discuss these movies, from Grapes of Wrath and Sullivan’s Travels to Bonnie and Clyde and Rain Man. WANDERLUST features clips from hundreds of iconic films, as well as fascinating insights on classic road movies from film stars including Dennis Hopper, Peter Bogdanovich, Sam Shepard, Wim Wenders, and many others. In a reverent counterpoint, WANDERLUST includes vignettes from a fictional road trip starring Paul Rudd and Tom McCarthy.

Whether it’s Dennis Hopper describing the reception of Easy Rider in New Orleans or Peter Bogdaniovich discussing why all the roads but one in Paper Moon were straight, this film is full of the movie magic and the glory of the open road.