Adventure movies have been quietly having a huge renaissance in recent years, but few seem to realize it, with so many great recent films in the genre going overlooked. Compared to other genres, adventure movies are admittedly a little bit hard to define, crossing across a wide range of settings and infused with a wide variety of different styles. In general, the best adventure movies do indeed feature some perilous journeys full of exciting dangers, playing out as impressive action movies that are perhaps a tad more family-friendly.
Because of their inherently expensive nature, many of the most-successful adventure movies tend to sprout from recognizable franchises with valuable I.P., such as the Pirates of the Caribbean films. Yet in recent years, it seems as though studios have become more and more willing to take risks on original stories that haven’t yet had a chance to prove themselves. Of course, a few installations in familiar series have also come out in the modern day, though even these aer sometimes underappreciated.
9
Indiana Jones And The Dial Of Destiny (2023)
Unfairly Judged Before It Was Ever Even Released
It comes as a shock that one of the most iconic adventure series of all time, the Indiana Jones films, had a recent release that came and went with little fanfare or critical discussion. Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny sees Harrison Ford return to his old role after 15 years, taking up the iconic fedora once more. Set in 1969, this adventure sees Indy square off against an ex-Nazi scientist working at NASA who wishes to use a mysterious ancient device to go back in time and alter the course of history.
Before the film even came out, it was lambasted for the controversial use of A.I. to digitally de-age Harrison Ford for extended flashback sequences. This may have led to many audiences not even giving the film a chance, meaning Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny flopped harshly at the box office. Audiences may have been too cynical to see such an aged adventure franchise come back, but it’s worth watching just to see Ford back in a franchise that he actually has enthusiasm for.
8
The Lost City (2022)
As Overlooked As Its Namesake
Star power is always a helpful thing to have for selling a big-budget adventure movie, but in some cases, too many recognizable names can actually dull advertising as prospective audiences’ eyes glaze over in a sea of familiarity. This may have been what happened to The Lost City, which packs a mirror-polished cast of wide appeal, including Sandra Bullock, Channing Tatum, Brad Pitt, and Daniel Radcliffe. Bullock stars as an archaeologist-turned-romance-writer who is kidnapped along with her ditzy male cover model to help find a valuable lost artifact with her old research.
The Lost City is a tragic example of how unfairly glossed over original films can be in the modern moviemaking landscape. Critics that actually took the time to see it can attest to the strength of the writing and chemistry between the talented cast, which deserves more credit for being a rare blockbuster to feature an attractive male star pining over a female lead 15 years his senior. The Lost City may be a tad derivative of other adventure classics, but that doesn’t mean it has no merit of its own.
7
Paddington In Peru (2024)
Another Charming Entry In A Darling Franchise
Despite being one of the most quintessentially British characters ever created, Paddington the bear is actually Peruvian. This heritage is explored in the recent Paddington in Peru, which sees Paddington travel along with the Brown family back to his ancestral homeland to find his missing aunt. Considering how critically adored Paddington and especially Paddington 2 are, it’s a wonder that the film quietly released without too much overt celebration.
Paddington in Peru is a worthy follow-up that spins the homely marmalade-loving bear’s adorable antics with a fresh, adventurous spin
Though it may not hit quite as hard as Paddington 2, Paddington in Peru is a worthy follow-up that spins the homely marmalade-loving bear’s adorable antics with a fresh, adventurous spin. Some may have seen it as a step away from the relatable, down-to-earth fun that made the series great in the first place, but taken for what it is, Paddington in Peru is a genuine family-friendly jewel. The setting may have changed, but the heart and humor that makes the Paddington films such a treasure is still present in spades.
6
Jungle Cruise (2021)
Quietly One Of The Rock’s Better Movies
Though the Pirates of the Caribbean movies somehow managed to make the idea of a captivating story based on a theme park ride work, subsequent attempts like the disastrous Tomorrowland haven’t been able to recapture lightning in a bottle. Jungle Cruise is one of the more recent attempts at doing so, and is quietly the best since the Pirates of the Caribbean series concluded. The film stars Emily Blunt as a botanist in the early 20th century searching for the fabled Tree of Life in the Amazon jungle with the help of Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson’s Frank Wolff.
Even if Jungle Cruise isn’t exactly highbrow entertainment, it’s relentlessly entertaining and successful as a thrilling joyride through a charming setting, just like its namesake ride. The Rock gives an oddly vulnerable performance compared to most of his blockbuster fare with an amazing twist, and the cursed conquistadors and Imperial German sailors make for incredibly fun villains. Jungle Cruise didn’t deserve the panning it received from some cynical critics.
5
Dora And The Lost City Of Gold (2019)
A Hilarious Subversion Of A Ubiquitous Kids’ Show
Considering Dora the Explorer was one of the most successful cartoons aimed at young children for many years, it’s a shock that it took until 2019 for the series to get a live-action film adaptation. But rather than being a sanitized picture aimed at audiences as young as its inspiration, Dora and the Lost City of Gold rebranded itself into a true four-quadrant movie, almost acting as a hilariously gritty interpretation of the squeaky-clean kids show. The plot sees a teen version of Dora help her explorer parents find the famed Lost City of Gold.
Dora and the Lost City of Gold concerns itself primarily with humor, and is stunningly effective on that front. From Boots the monkey’s unexpectedly deep voice to other characters being confused by Dora’s classic fourth-wall breaks reminiscent of the show, the movie is amazing at taking familiar elements of the esteemed Nickelodeon cartoon and flipping them on their head. On top of that, the movie has enough straightforward adventure elements to stay engaging.
4
Elevation (2024)
A Unique Hike Through Post-Apocalyptia
Post-apocalypse settings are great for adventure movies, providing a natural backdrop for long journeys and dangerous villains. Enter 2024’s Elevation, which went bitterly overshadowed in the year’s release cycle. The film takes place in a world in which mysterious monsters have emerged from under the Earth’s surface, wiping out most of the human population save for small pockets of survivors living at high alтιтudes the beasts refuse to climb to.
Anthony Mackie stars while leading an expedition into a decimated town to find oxygen filters for his son, whose lung disease makes the lack of oxygen at safe levels of elevation ᴅᴇᴀᴅly. Elevation‘s criticism offers a common refrain modern adventure movies seem to be unfairly accosted by, which is that it was too derivative of other movies. Other genres don’t get this same level of scrutiny, and without it, the stunning sets, creative worldbuilding, and caring performance by Mackie carry Elevation past the summit of quality.
3
Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves (2023)
One Of The Most Unacceptable Flops In Recent Times
The modern era of moviemaking has seen many great films become box office disappointments, and few are as egregious as the failure of Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves. Set in the popular Forgotten Realms setting of the world’s most famous role-playing game, the film faithfully recreates the world and typical antics of the average Dungeons & Dragons adventuring party with wit and charm. The plot concerns a ragtag team of adventurers who team up to defeat an evil sorceress bent on turning the city of Neverwinter into her own personal unᴅᴇᴀᴅ army.
Portraying the source material with remarkable accuracy, Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves‘ commitment to portraying just how chaotic and messy the average game can be is what makes it so fun. The practical effects and wonderful sets help make the fantasy world feel lived-in, and the story perfectly balances genuine emotive drama with absurdly hilarious gags. Considering the potential locations future Dungeons & Dragons movies could go to next, it’s an absolute crime the film performed as poorly as it did, utterly let down by general audiences.
2
Love And Monsters (2020)
A More Lighthearted Take On The End Of The World
Elevation proves that there’s still a case to be made for serious post-apocalyptic adventure movies featuring monsters, but Love and Monsters takes things in a more lighthearted direction. The film imagines a different creature-based apocalypse in which mysterious radiation from a meteor causes cold-blooded animals to mutate into horrific beasts. Living in an underground bunker of survivors, the cowardly teenager Joel sets out on a journey to find his old high school girlfriend, Aimee, braving hordes of monsters on the surface.
At once a buddy road trip movie, a post-apocalyptic creature feature, and a coming-of-age story, Love and Monsters is a charming mashup of different ideas. The creative monster designs keep things interesting down to the very last action set piece, and the unexpected developments of Joel’s romantic pining hit like a truck. It’s a shame that the film’s streaming-only release in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic hurt its name recognition.
1
Army Of The ᴅᴇᴀᴅ (2021)
A Zombie Adventure Heist
Speaking of monster adventures that mashup multiple genres, Army of the ᴅᴇᴀᴅ manages to juggle being an adventure movie, a zombie movie, and a heist film all at the same time. Quietly one of Zack Snyder’s best movies, Army of the ᴅᴇᴀᴅ imagines that the entire city of Las Vegas fell to a zombie infection that went out of control, though the government managed to quarantine it to prevent its spread. A wealthy casino owner contracts Dave Bautista’s Scott Ward to ᴀssemble a team to recover 200 million dollars from his vault in the city before the military nukes Vegas.
Army of the ᴅᴇᴀᴅ also has a prequel, directed by Matthias Schweighöfer, тιтled Army of Thieves.
Between the crime, zombies, and the literal ticking time bomb at the group’s back, the crew of Army of the ᴅᴇᴀᴅ has to have one of the most creatively dangerous missions in recent movie history. The creative action scenes, praiseworthy lead performance by Bautista, and trademark Snyder gore should have overcome comparisons to other legacy zombie films. Sadly, Army of the ᴅᴇᴀᴅ remains a bitterly underrated adventure movie for now.
