6 Best Hitchhiking Movies

By Vlad Zakh · May 17, 2026

Thumbing a ride opens up dramas, thrillers and romances. Into the Wild follows a young man hitchhiking across America to live alone in Alaska, It Happened One Night is the romance, and Kalifornia, The Hitcher and The Hitch-Hiker are the ones that remind you never to pick up the wrong person. Detour rounds out the six with noir dread.

Into the Wild (2007)

IMDb ★ 8.0 RT 83% Metacritic 73

A college graduate gives away his savings and walks into the Alaskan wilderness alone.

Directed by Sean Penn · 2h 28m · Rated R

Nominated for 2 Oscars23 wins & 106 nominations

Where to watch

Rent: JustWatch TV, Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home · Buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

Kalifornia (1993)

TMDB ★ 6.4

A couple researching serial killers unknowingly picks up a real one as a hitchhiking road trip companion.

Directed by Dominic Sena · 1h 58m · Rated R

Where to watch

Stream: fuboTV, MGM+ Amazon Channel, Philo, MGM Plus Roku Premium Channel, MGM Plus · Rent or buy: Apple TV Store, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

The Hitcher (1986)

TMDB ★ 6.7

A young driver who picks up a mysterious hitchhiker becomes the target of a relentless killer.

Directed by Robert Harmon · 1h 38m · Rated R

Where to watch

Stream: Cinemax Amazon Channel, Cinemax Apple TV channel

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

The Hitch-Hiker (1953)

TMDB ★ 6.9

Two friends on a fishing trip pick up a psychopathic hitchhiker who takes them hostage.

Directed by Ida Lupino · 1h 11m · Rated NR

Where to watch

Stream: Amazon Prime Video, Brew, Amazon Prime Video with Ads, Troma NOW, Bloodstream, Artiflix · Rent or buy: Amazon Video, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

Detour (1945)

TMDB ★ 7.1

A hitchhiking musician's chance encounter with a manipulative woman spirals into a nightmare of deceit and murder.

Directed by Edgar G. Ulmer · 1h 08m · Rated NR

Where to watch

Stream: Amazon Prime Video, MGM+ Amazon Channel, Brew, YouTube TV, MGM Plus, FlixFling · Rent: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Fandango At Home, FlixFling, MovieMe · Buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Fandango At Home, FlixFling

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

It Happened One Night (1934)

IMDb ★ 8.1 RT 98% Metacritic 87

A runaway heiress and a fast-talking reporter share a bus ride that turns into a real romance.

Directed by Frank Capra · 1h 45m · Rated NR

Won 5 Oscars14 wins & 2 nominations

Where to watch

Rent: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home, Spectrum On Demand · Buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

Streaming availability data from JustWatch, via TMDB. Availability changes often, so check the service before you plan a movie night.

Vlad Zakh

Founder, Movieix

Founder of Movieix. He started the site because most recommendation pages felt like noise. Here, lists are sorted by who's in the film, where it's from and what mood you're in tonight.

6 Best Hitchhiking Movies

Into the Wild (2007)

Kalifornia (1993)

The Hitcher (1986)

The Hitch-Hiker (1953)

Detour (1945)

It Happened One Night (1934)

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