10 Most Rewatchable Adventure Movies Of All Time

The adventure genre is one of the oldest and most universal types of stories. At its core, adventure consists of the protagonists leaving the world they know for a new one, be it a newly discovered island or simply leaving their hometown. From there, they usually meet colorful new faces, face dangers from animals and humans, and discover something about themselves.


Adventure stories tend to be simple in structure, so they can be enjoyed by every generation of consumers. This is easy to see in the movie world, where some of the best adventure movies endure decades after their release.

10 “King Kong” (1933)

King Kong - 1933

The rising actress Anne Darrow (Fay Wray) gets a chance to star in eccentric film director Carl Denham’s (Robert Armstrong). boarding the ss Car, she develops a relationship with first mate Jack Driscol (Bruce Cabot). However, when they arrive on Denham’s chosen island, they discover a lost world ruled by a gigantic gorilla named Kong.

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While there have been many remakes and reinterpretations over the years, the original is King Kong rules over everything. Although outdated by today’s standards, the effects were groundbreaking for the time and included many different techniques that would only be done with computers today. The story also remains one of the strongest depictions of the dangers of a man trying to tame nature rather than respecting it.

9 “The Adventures of Robin Hood” (1938)

the-adventures-of-robin-hood-errol-flynn-olivia-de-havilland
Image from Warner Bros

When King Richard () is captured, his brother Prince John () seizes the opportunity to take the throne. His first act is to increase taxes on the Saxon people of England and hoard the money for himself. As Sir Robin from Locksly (Errol Flynn) calls him out, John confiscates his lands and proclaims him an outlaw.

The Adventures of Robin Hood is the classic tale of the noble hero against an oppressive tyrant. What makes this, along with its bright colors and daring swordplay, the definitive tale of Robin Hood are the performances. Flynn in particular stands out with his iconic take on Robin Hood, which is as charming and witty as it is classy.

8th ‘20,000 Leagues Under the Sea’ (1954)

20000 Leagues Under the Sea feature

The French professor Pierre Aronnax (Paul Luke) and his assistant Conseil (Peter Lore) are hired by the United States Navy to investigate reports of a sea monster. Her ship is sunk by the creature, which turns out to be an advanced submarine piloted by the mysterious Captain Nemo (James Masons). He saves the two men and master harpooner Ned Land (Kirk Douglas), but declares that they cannot return to civilization.

20,000 Leagues Under the Sea explores the mystery of the oceans and man’s place in the world. It uses the calm underwater as a backdrop for important conversations about civilization vs. exile and man’s responsibility to technology. All of the cast deliver excellent performances, although Mason steals the show as the brilliant but morally troubled Captain Nemo.

7 “The 7th Voyage of Sinbad” (1958)

Movie The 7th Voyage of Sinbad
Image via Columbia Pictures

After a stop at Colossus Island, Sinbad the Sailor (Kerwin Matthews) saves a wizard named Sokurah (Richard Ayer) by a Cyclops, but refuses to return for the Wizard’s Magic Lamp. This results in Sokurah cursing Sinbad’s fiancée, Princess Parisa (Kathryn Crosby) by making them smaller. To break the spell, Sokurah needs the eggshell of a roc nesting on Colossus.

See also: Ray Harryhausen’s Sinbad films prove that franchises don’t always need leading men

The 7th Voyage of Sinbad is a brilliant example of how some of the best adventure stories can have simple stories. None of his characters break out of their archetypes, but the actors have the right amount of charisma and the writers are able to find creative ways that allow them all to shine. The real stars are Legendary’s impressive stop-motion monsters Ray Harryhausen.

6 “Indiana Jones: Raiders of the Lost Ark” (1981)

indiana-jones-recommended

After giving a golden idol to his rival Dr. Indiana Jones (Harrison Ford) is informed by the American government that his mentor, Dr. Ravenwood being targeted by Nazi Germany. Jones finds his daughter Marion Ravenwood (Karen Allen) and helps her protect a medallion from the Nazis. When the two realize they are searching for the mythical Ark of the Covenant, they team up to find it first.

Also Read: Steven Spielberg Reveals Why He Has No Regrets Leaving Harry Potter

While expectations were low due to several bad years in cinemas, Hunter of the lost treasure has broken all possible records and is now considered one of the greatest films in cinema. It’s a non-stop ride of action, adventure and excitement that seamlessly jumps from one action scene to the next. It also captures the mystery of uncovering long-lost secrets and asking if it’s better to leave them alone well enough.

5 ‘The Idiots’ (1985)

The Idiots (1985)

With their homes facing foreclosure, the friends have Mikey (Sean Astin), Data (Ke Huy Quan), mouth (Corey Feldman) and piece (Jeff Cohen) gather one last time before moving away. While exploring Mikey’s attic, they find the treasure map of One-Eye Willy, a pirate who kept his treasure in the area. As they follow the map, they face many dangers, including self-doubt, ancient traps, and a ruthless mob family.

The Goonies was popular upon release, but the years that followed have bestowed it with cult status thanks to the sheer talent and creativity found within. It’s a story about the camaraderie between outcasts and how the power of faith can achieve the seemingly impossible. The child actors all do a great job and their dialogue and performance are some of the most realistic in cinema.

4 “The Princess Bride” (1987)

The Prince's Bride

As a little boy (Fred Savage) is sick in bed, his grandfather (Peter Falk) reads him a story about Buttercup (Robin Wright), who is chosen, Prince Humperdink (Chris Sarandon). She is soon captured by a trio of bandits who plan to use her to start a war but are foiled by a Man in Black. He turns out to be Buttercup’s lost love Westley (Cary Elwes).

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The Prince’s Bride has everything you could want from a classic adventure film. Between the iconic sword fighting dialogue, the film tells a good love story and makes good use of its fairytale aesthetic. It doesn’t take itself too seriously and never forgets to have fun, which ties into another theme about enjoying fantasy stories.

3 Jurassic Park (1993)

T Rex in Jurassic Park
Image via Universal

Paleontologist Alan Grant (Sam Eliot) and Ellie Sattler (Laura Dern) are hired to run millionaire John Hammond’s (Richard Attenborough) next to the chaotic Dr. Ian Malcolm (Jeff Goldblum). They are shocked to find that the park’s main attractions are dinosaurs and take a tour. As a storm descends on them, a disgruntled employee hacks into the park to steal dinosaur embryos, releasing the dinosaurs.

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Jurassic Park mixes the classic adventure trope of visiting an eccentric person’s island with modern conversations about the perils of the advancement of science. The jungle atmosphere helps emphasize how out of their element the humans are and builds suspense as to when the dinosaurs will appear. It remains one of Steven Spielberg’s best films thanks to its iconic characters, impressive use of early CGI, and amazing animatronics.

2 “The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring” (2001)

The Lord of the Rings The Fellowship of the Ring (2001) (1)
Image via New Line

After Bilbo Baggins (Mister Ian Holm) leaves the Shire, his nephew Frodo (Elijah Wood) inherits his belongings, including a gold ring. This is the One Ring forged by the Dark Lord Sauron that allows him to rule Middle-earth. With some unlikely companions, Frodo sets out to destroy the ring in the fires of Mt. Doom.

Lord of the Rings is the cornerstone of modern fantasy and Peter Jacksons The trilogy proved to be as influential as the film. they tell JRR Tolkien’s Large scale tale of unity, triumph against impossible odds and the strength of friendship that combines new CGI with amazing practical effects. community of the ring stands out especially for being the first step in the journey and doing a wonderful job of establishing the characters and the world they fight to protect.

1 “Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl” (2003)

Jack Sparrow with pistol next to Will Turner from Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl
Image via Buena Vista Pictures Distribution

When the Black Pearl attacks Port Royal, the crew with Elizabeth Swan (Keira Knightly), the governor’s daughter. The Blacksmith Will Turner (Orlando Bloom) recruits the help of notorious pirate Captain Jack Sparrow (Johnny Depp). Meanwhile, Elizabeth learns that the Pearl’s crew are victims of an Aztec curse of undeath.

Also Read: Jerry Bruckheimer Wants to Bring Johnny Depp Back to Pirates of the Caribbean

This film spawned a lucrative franchise and rekindled people’s love for adventure on the high seas. No wonder, as the film features impressive action sequences, hilarious sword fights and some of the legendary composer’s best scores Hans Zimmer. Jack Sparrow has become one of Depp’s most iconic characters and is the definitive example of a pirate to audiences.

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Olly Dawes

Olly Dawes is a 24ssports U.S. News Reporter based in London. His focus is on U.S. politics and the environment. He has covered climate change extensively, as well as healthcare and crime. Olly Dawes joined 24ssports in 2021 from the Daily Express and previously worked for Chemist and Druggist and the Jewish Chronicle. He is a graduate of Cambridge University. Languages: English. You can get in touch with me by emailing: ollydawes@24ssports.com.

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