RV Feature Movie Must-Watch List

RVers are a passionate bunch that aren’t afraid to chase their dreams, even if they are a bit unconventional or eccentric. Over the years, movie producers have taken note, and films featuring RVs and the RV lifestyle continually pop up on the big screen. In this list, we’ll go through 23 titles that include RVs as supporting characters. Note that not all movies on this list are family-friendly, so if you are watching with children and are worried about content, be sure to check out the parental guide on IMDb beforehand. 

Family Favorites

Escape to Witch Mountain (1975)

Adventure, Family, Fantasy

G

This classic children’s movie features 2 orphans with magical powers who are trying to return home to Witch Mountain (hence the title) but are being chased by an ill-intentioned millionaire who wants to exploit the children’s mystical abilities. With the help of a cynical widower named Jason, the children make a run for it in a flying Winnebago. An exciting adventure with some family humor, this is great for family movie night in the camper.

The Incredibles (2004)

Family, Adventure, Comedy

PG

This Disney film is the perfect family adventure that includes superheroes and evil villains, a relatable starring family, and clever humor. This action-packed animated film made our RV movie list because of the iconic scene where the Incredibles fly into town in their RV with the help of Elastigirl on top and land it perfectly in a parallel parking spot (after a few flips and swerves along the way). If only it really was that easy to parallel park a motorhome!

RV (2006)

Comedy, Family

PG

Robin Williams stars in this family-friendly comedy which chronicles one family’s first ever RV trip and the bizarre situations they find themselves in along the way. While sometimes a bit impractical, RVers should get a good laugh and relate to some of the struggles this family experiences during their travels.

Comedies

The Long, Long Trailer (1954)

Comedy, Romance

Approved

This is a true classic and the oldest movie on our list! Starring I Love Lucy’s iconic couple, Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz, they decide to buy a home on wheels instead of a sticks’n’bricks house. This movie is a must-see for RV fanatics, a fascinating look back at campers in the 1950s paired with the hilarious humor that Lucy and Desi are known for. 

The Blues Brothers (1980)

Action, Adventure, Comedy

R

This classic film combines action, music, and comedy to keep viewers entertained and amused. You’ll likely recognize some classic lines and iconic scenes from this film. Thanks to the RV chase scene involving industrial-strength glue, it’s earned a spot on our list. If you’ve never seen this movie, it’s a must; if it’s been a while, maybe it’s time for another viewing!

Lost in America (1985)

Comedy

R

This sidesplitting satire follows a couple of young professionals who quit their corporate jobs in LA to travel the country in a Winnebago and emulate their life path based on the movie Easy Rider. With a few classic moments that have gone down in comedy history, this movie is a fan favorite and pays tribute to the RV lifestyle.

Spaceballs (1987)

Comedy, Sci-fi

PG

In the Star Wars parody film, Mel Brooks and John Candy act as star-pilot and his trusty sidekick tasked with saving a princess in distress and preserving the planet of Druidia from the evil Spaceballs force. Instead of traveling the universe in a futuristic spacecraft, our protagonists are equipped with a flying RV spaceship, which happens to be a Winnebago Chieftain 33 class A motorhome.

National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation (1989)

Comedy, Slapstick

PG-13

Another absurd tale of the Griswold family, this film is a bit over-the-top at times, but that’s part of the appeal. You can’t help but laugh at some of the ridiculous happenings in this film, like Uncle Eddy emptying the black tank from his dilapidated Ford Condor II motorhome into the neighbor’s storm drain.

Tin Cup (1996)

Comedy, Drama, Romance

R

Kevin Costner and Rene Russo star in this romantic comedy about a talented yet underachieving golfer who meets a woman he feels is worth changing for. He decides he will try and qualify for the PGA Open to impress the girl of his dreams, but that’s easier said than done. Costner lives on the golf course he manages in his 1973 Winnebago Indian, so we counted it towards our list of RV movies.

Meet the Fockers (2004)

Romantic Comedy

PG-13

This Meet the Parents sequel continues to chronicle the adventures of the Byrnes and Fockers as the two families are now connected through the marriage of their children. In this film, the Byrnes travel from New York to Florida to visit the Fockers in a 2004 Fleetwood Pace Arrow motorhome which turns into quite an adventure. For avid RVers, this sequel may just be better than the original!

Paul (2011)

Adventure, Comedy, Sci-fi

R

Two friends who share a deep love for science fiction decide to take a road trip through Area 51 in their rented RV, which happens to be another Winnebago Chieftain. Shortly after arriving, they meet a cheeky alien named Paul (voiced by Seth Rogen), who is on the run from federal agents. This hilarious adventure is one to check out!

We’re the Millers (2013)

Comedy

R

A down-on-his-luck pot dealer is tasked with smuggling marijuana across the US/Mexico border after failing to pay his boss back. He gets the idea to make the trip in an RV, specifically the Coachmen Encounter, with a fake family to avoid looking suspicious.

Zombieland: Double Tap (2019)

Action, Comedy, Horror

R

A sequel to Zombieland, this action-packed comedy starred Woody Harrelson, Abigail Breslin, Emma Stone, and Jesse Eisenburg. Picking up 10 years after the original, this film is about adventure and perseverance, and zombies, obviously. It made this list because it features a Fleetwood Discovery class A motorhome during an epic zombie shoot-out.

Drama

About Schmidt (2002)

Comedy, Drama

R

In this often hilarious drama, Warren Schmidt (Jack Nicholson) decides to embark on an RV journey to fix his relationship with his estranged daughter and contemplates his own life decisions along the way. This film features a 2001 Winnebago Adventurer as Warren’s RV of choice.

Little Miss Sunshine (2006)

Comedy, Drama

R

A dysfunctional family gets news that their daughter, Olive, has qualified for a children’s beauty pageant in California. The family makes the trip in their 1978 Volkswagen Station Wagon Type 2 camper van to get there from New Mexico. The whole family is committed to making Olive’s dreams come true, but they all have their own problems, which impact their ability to do so. You’ll laugh, you may cry, but in the end, you’ll see the importance of self-confidence and being true to yourself.

The Leisure Seeker (2017)

Adventure, Comedy, Drama

R

In this heartfelt film, an older couple embarks on a runaway journey in their vintage RV to recapture their passion for life and take back their independence against the wishes of their children and doctors. The couple’s RV is named “The Leisure Seeker” and encaptures the spirit of travel and self-discovery.

Sound of Metal (2019)

Drama

R

This captivating tale follows Ruben, a musician in a metal band, as he comes to terms with losing his hearing and, with that, his career as a drummer. Ruben wants to live the life he had before he got this news, but he and his loved ones know it just isn’t possible. Ruben must find his way in a new community to learn how to be deaf and accept his new life. This movie landed on our RV movie list because Ruben lives in a vintage Aistream 345!

Scary Movies

Race with the Devil (1975)

Action, Adventure, Horror

PG*

Don’t let the PG rating mislead you; this old-school horror film is full of suspense, action, and terror. Two couples traveling from Texas to Colorado in an RV stop for a night outside a small, rural town and accidentally witness a satanic ritual involving a human sacrifice take place. The couples are seen and barely get out alive. When the local authorities didn’t believe their story, they had no choice but to keep running from the evil that was chasing them.

Near Dark (1987)

Horror

R

This horror flick features a gang of vampires who travel the country in an RV. Upon stopping in a small midwestern town, the traveling coven attempts to recruit a farmer’s son, but the boy is doing everything in his power to resist becoming an active member of the undead.

The Cabin in the Woods (2011)

Horror, Mystery, Thriller

R

This mind-bending thriller originally incorporates classic horror movie cliches. Fans of horror movies can recognize this film as both a parody and homage to the genre. While RVs are not heavily featured in the film, the group of teens arrives at the cabin in a 1984 Winnebago Chieftan, but do they leave in it? You’ll have to watch to find out.

Documentaries

Winnebago Man (2009)

Documentary, Biography, Comedy

Not Rated

This film examines the life of an ex-Winnebago salesman whose raunchy outtakes from a few 1980s-era RV commercials turned him into an internet sensation, unbeknownst to him. Filmmaker Ben Steinbauer took it upon himself to find this man, which was much more complicated than expected, and convince him to reconnect with his audience.

Hollywood to Dollywood (2011)

Documentary, Biography, Comedy

Not Rated

This documentary follows 2 twin brothers as they embark on a cross-country journey in their RV named Jolene to catch the attention of their long-time idol, Dolly Parton. This heartfelt film highlights the brother’s journey to self-discovery and acceptance inspired by the music and life of Dolly Parton.

Nomadland (2020)

Drama

R

This 2020 drama provides a pragmatic view into the life of the modern-day nomad. Frances McDormand stars as Fern, a 60-year-old woman who decides to travel the American West in a converted van following an economic collapse in her hometown. This movie features real nomads who mentor Fern through her travels and are heavily featured in the film.

Just because you own an RV doesn’t necessarily mean you’ll love all of the movies on this list, but hopefully, you found a few that are worth checking out. If you’ve watched any of these movies before owning an RV, you may find them more relatable now that you’ve shared some similar experiences! Check out RecPro’s selection of DVD players and TVs if your RV movie set-up needs an update.