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Whether you frequently travel or wish you could travel more, these movies and shows on Netflix are some of the best ways to experience a sliver of other cultures and locations. It may even encourage you to put these countries on your travel list, as it has for me.
2018
1
4
Status
Ended
Don’t watchSalt Fat Acid Heatif you’re prone to getting hungry watching cooking shows. It’s a four-part cooking documentary, wherein each episode Nosrat visits four countries: Japan, Italy, Mexico, and the US (specifically California).
Each location is then associated with an ingredient that appears frequently in recipes, like salt in Japan or fat in Italy. If you love cooking or, at the very least, want to learn,Salt Fat Acid Heatis a great way to create a foundation and understanding.
Netflix
Salt Fat Acid Heatdelves into the power of a single ingredient across different cultures.
2025
6
Ongoing
The less you know aboutThe Eternaut, the better; the mysterious is part of its appeal, so I’ll say this:The Eternautis a post-apocalyptic survival show set in Argentina. One day, it starts to snow, but it isn’t normal as it’s quickly learned that it kills people it touches. And there, I’ll leave the rest of the mystery for you to experience.
The Eternautis a post-apocalyptic series set in Argentina, where people are dying from fallen snow.
2016
Runtime
1 hour, 58 minutes
I normally avoid zombie movies, as I think they’re not all that interesting, butTrain to Busanis required viewing. For one, it’s set in South Korea, so there’s a nice change of scenery from typical zombie movies.
Secondly, the movie mostly focuses on the KTX, a high-speed rail system, so for a lot of the movie, there are these really intense scenes that take place on a train. And lastly, the characters are endearing and you’re rooting for them to survive the entire time.
Train to Busanfollows a group of survivors in a speeding train during a zombie outbreak in South Korea.
2023
2 hours, 5 minutes
When you’re on a boring flight or bus,Godzilla Minus Oneis too good to pass on. The movie is pure entertainment, but mixes in some human interest and sensitive topics like suicide and the effects World War II had on Japan. What’s particularly impressive is that it was made with a very small team, and the CGI looks incredible.
InGodzilla Minus One, Japan is at the mercy of Godzilla after just experiencing the effects of World War II.
2024
1 hour, 36 minutes
Perhaps not the most appropriate movie to watch while you’re on a plane, especially considering the factThe Lost Childrenis a documentary about a plane crash, but it does have a happy ending.
The documentary covers the harrowing experience of four children who not only manage to survive a plane crash, but the incredibly expansive Amazon. The oldest survivor was 13-years-old, while the youngest wasn’t even a year old yet!
The Lost Childrenis a true story of four children who miraculously survive the Amazon after experiencing a plane crash.
2019
2 hours, 12 minutes
Parasiteis another film I believe is required viewing by, well, everyone. It focuses on a struggling Korean family, the Kims, who manage to lie their way into the home of the very wealthy Parks family. Its social commentary on wealth and class is also second-to-none.
The movie is so incredibly tense as the Kims cleverly swindle the Parks, and just barely conceal their scheme and identities. And the acting from the cast only heightens the movie!
Parasitefollows a destitute family as they cleverly worm their way into the good graces of the wealthy Park family.
2020
1 hour, 33 minutes
After being granted asylum, Bol, Rial, and their daughter Nyagak emigrate from South Sudan to London. The problem is, they’re essentially on house arrest, experiencing racism from both the immigration system and their neighbors.
On top of that, they’re dealing with paranormal activity, so it’s just blow after blow with this poor family who are just trying to find a safe place to live. If you aren’t rooting for them by the end ofHis House, you should check your heartbeat.
His Housefollows the lives of a family from South Sudan as they experience both racism and the supernatural in London.
I’m a big fan of anime and an even bigger fan of Junji Ito’s work; theLong Dreamstill gives me an existential crisis.Japanese Tales of the Macabreis Junji Ito’s own horror stories in anime form.
Most, if not all, of his stories take place in Japan, and at various points of time, so it’s not only well-written, but you get a glimpse into Japanese culture.
Japanese Tales of the Macabrebrings to life the work of horror manga artist Junji Ito.
Cassandrais the nightmare version of today’s AI or like a sliver ofTerminator’sSkynet. Rather than a full-blown apocalyptic event,Cassandrais about one family moving into a new home in Germany that features an ancient AI system, along with Cassandra the robot.
The show is a limited series, so there’s no second season to look forward to, which I consider a huge plus. How Cassandra causes a schism among the family is diabolical at times.
InCassandra, the Prill family is weakened and pitted against one another by the in-house AI system.
2000
1 hour, 50 minutes
I stumbled onUnder Suspicionby complete accident. I’d been hooked on movies from the early 80s to the early 2000s, and when I saw the movie starred Gene Hackman and Morgan Freeman, I had to watch it. And I’m glad I did!
Heny Hearst (Gene Hackman) is a pillar of the community of San Juan and, unfortunately for him, he stumbled across the body of a young girl. He’s brought in for questioning, and from the tension builds and builds.
InUnder Suspicion, Henry Hearst undergoes interrogation after uncovering the body of a young girl.
With that, you have quite a selection of movies that are perfect for traveling, and they’re all on Netflix, too. At least a few of these will make you want to visit their settings—I know it makes me want to visit Japan and Korea even more, just to see their architecture and food.
