An adventure movie is a film genre with several sub-genres such as swashbuckling films, pirate movie and survival movies. Adventure films can also be integrated with other film genres such as action, comedy, drama, sci-fi, horror or war: these mixtures of genres have products in some cases must see movie and masterpieces of the history of cinema. The setting plays a crucial function in an adventure film, often serving as a character in the story itself. They are generally set in distant lands, such as lost continents or exotic locations. They could also be set in a certain historical era and could consist of stories of heroes of fictional or historical adventures. The obstacles and events facing the main characters consist of fighting, piracy, revolts and the creation of empires and kingdoms.
A typical plot of adventure films consists of characters who leave their home and comfort zone to achieve a goal, starting journeys, missions, daring explorations and expeditions into the unknown. In the early days of adventure films, the main characters were usually men. These characters were bold, often seen as heroes. More recent adventure films have included heroines as main characters. The cinematic appeal of adventure peaked in the 1940s and 1930s, when films such as Captain Blood, The Adventures of Robin Hood and The Mark of Zorro were often made with famous stars, especially Errol Flynn and Tyrone Power, who were closely related to the category. Prominent early cinematic adventure experiences were created by Douglas Fairbanks (The Mark of Zorro, The Three Musketeers, Robin Hood, The Black Pirate), Zoltan Korda (The Four Feathers, The Jungle Book, Sahara, The Macomber Case) and John Huston (The Treasure of the Sierra Madre, The African Queen).
Here is a comprehensive list of the best must-see adventure films, from the classics of the thirties to today.
King Kong (1933)
King Kong is a 1933 adventure movie directed by Merian C. Cooper e Ernest B. Schoedsack. The screenplay for the film by James Ashmore Creelman and Ruth Rose was created from a story developed by Cooper and Edgar Wallace. It stars Fay Wray, Robert Armstrong and Bruce Cabot, and also tells the story of a huge gorilla called Kong who tries to kidnap a beautiful girl. Includes stop-motion computer animation by Willis O’Brien.
Among the old classic movies of Hollywood, “King Kong” is a tale of beauty and the beast that uses stop-motion animation to portray Kong, the monstrously large ape who lives on Skull Island, a land occupied by prehistoric animals. After Kong is taken to New York City, the animal breaks free, flees with actress Ann Darrow and rampages through Manhattan. “King Kong” is the film commonly regarded as one of the most important monster movies ever and his legacy can be seen in many new films today.
Treasure Island (1934)
It is a 1934 US pirate movie based on Robert Louis Stevenson’s novel ‘Treasure Island’. The film was directed by Victor Fleming and stars Wallace Beery and Jackie Cooper. It is considered one of the greatest classics of silent cinema and is still appreciated today for its gripping storyline and spectacular action scenes.
The 1934 “Treasure Island” storyline follows the story of young Jim Hawkins who sets out to search for hidden treasure on Treasure Island with a group of pirates, including the infamous Long John Silver. During the journey, Jim faces many challenges and dangers, but finally manages to find the treasure and defeat the evil pirates. The storyline is full of twists and exciting adventures, making it a captivating entertainment experience for audiences of all ages.
Captain Blood (1935)
Captain Blood is a 1935 American black and white adventure movie, a pirate movie written by Harry Joe Brown and Gordon Hollingshead (with Hal B. Wallis as executive producer), directed by Michael Curtiz and starring Errol Flynn, Olivia de Havilland, Basil Rathbone and Ross Alexander. The film is based on the 1922 novel Captain Blood by Rafael Sabatini, with a screenplay by Casey Robinson, and tells of a doctor put behind bars and his fellow inmates who leave their island bondage and become pirates in the West Indies.
“Captain Blood” is a tale rooted in the golden age of 17th century pirate piracy. This adventure on the high seas features the Irish doctor Peter Blood offered as a slave in the West Indies. During a Spanish attack he starts a new life as a Caribbean buccaneer and has many adventurous experiences. For those unfamiliar with yesteryear stars, Blood stars Errol Flynn, the top action star of his day, and ‘Captain Blood’ finds him at his boldest and most captivating.
Stagecoach (1939)
Stagecoach is a western and American adventure movie of 1939 directed by John Ford and also starring Claire Trevor and John Wayne. Dudley Nichols’ screenplay for the film is an adaptation of “The Stage to Lordsburg,” a 1937 short story by Ernest Haycox. The film follows a group of strangers who travel on a stagecoach through the dangerous Apache region. The film is a crucial work that goes beyond the western style. The characters and their journeys are universal stereotypes and the film is a mythic representation of the American desire for equal rights.
The film is set in the 1880s and the journey takes place in a world where the American frontier still looks dangerous and huge, requiring the group to work together as they embark on their legendary journey through the Wild West. Among John Ford’s best films, ‘Stagecoach’ is the film that led John Wayne to superstardom.
The Sea Wolf (1941)
It’s a drama movie and pirate adventure of 1941 directed by Michael Curtiz and starring Edward G. Robinson, Ida Lupino and John Garfield. The film is based on the novel ‘The Sea Wolf’ by Jack London and follows the story of a man who joins the crew of a cargo ship and gets involved in a series of perilous adventures. With a talented cast and solid direction, The Sea Wolf is considered a classic of adventure cinema.
The plot of ‘The Sea Wolf’ follows the character of Humphrey Van Weyden, a man who is rescued from a shipwreck by a crew of the cargo ship ‘Ghost’. Aboard the ship, Van Weyden finds himself under the guidance of the cruel and ruthless Captain Wolf Larsen, who leads the ship through the perils of the sea and faces challenges of all kinds. As Van Weyden adjusts to life aboard ship, he realizes that Larsen is a dangerous man and that the crew are under his close obsession. Van Weyden must find a way to escape the ship and escape from Larsen’s tyranny. The story highlights themes such as friendship, survival and the fight for freedom in a dangerous sea.
Casablanca (1942)
Casablanca is an adventure drama from 1942 directed by Michael Curtiz, with Humphrey Bogart, Ingrid Bergman and Paul Henreid. Filmed and set during WWII. It focuses on an American migrant (Bogart) who must choose between his love for a woman (Bergman) or the assistance of a Czech resistance leader, fleeing the Vichy-controlled city of Casablanca. The screenplay of the film is based on Everybody Comes to Rick’s, a play. Casablanca was hastily launched to benefit from the promotion of the Allied invasion of North Africa a couple of weeks earlier.
Settling in Morocco during World War II, “Casablanca” follows American migrant and club owner Rick who has become entangled in a dangerous relationship. It is a story of star-crossed lovers in a war-torn world, considered among the best romantic movies ever.
The Treasure of the Sierra Madre (1948)
The treasure of the Sierra Madre is a western from 1948 written and directed by John Huston. It is an adaptation of B. Traven’s 1927 book of the same name and concerns 2 downtrodden men, played by Humphrey Bogart and Tim Holt, who meet a grizzled old miner (Walter Huston, the director’s father), looking for gold in Mexico . Humphrey Bogart delivers one of his best roles as Fred C. Dobbs, a man with big dreams, obsessed with money and full of darkness in his heart.
In 1925, in the Mexican community of Tampico, Pat McCormick hires Fred C. Dobbs and Bob Curtin, 2 American drifters, as henchmen to help build oil wells for $8 a day. When the job is done and the men return to Tampico, McCormick escapes without paying them.
The African Queen (1951)
It is a 1951 British-American adventure movie adapted from the 1935 book of the same name by CS Forester. The film was directed by John Huston and written by Sam Spiegel and John Woolf. The film stars Humphrey Bogart (who won the Academy Award for Best Actor, his only Oscar) and Katharine Hepburn with Robert Morley, Peter Bull, Walter Gotell, Richard Marner and Theodore Bikel. This adventure film was shot in Congo and Uganda with stunning Technicolor photography.
Samuel Sayer and his sister Rose are British promoters in German East Africa in August 1914. Their message and goods are delivered by a tiny boat called the African Queen, helmed by rough-and-tumble Canadian Charlie Allnut. When Charlie informs the Sayers that battle has broken out between Germany and Britain, they choose to continue staying in Kungdu. German soldiers capture the city and drive out the citizens. When Samuel objects, he is shot by a policeman and quickly begins delirious with a high fever, dying soon after. Charlie helps Rose hide her brother and they escape to the African Queen.
Journey to the Center of the Earth (1951)
It is a 1959 American science fiction and adventure movie. The film, written by Charles Brackett and directed by Henry Levin, stars James Mason, In 1880s Edinburgh, Professor Sir Oliver Lindenbrook, a mineral scholar at the University of Edinburgh, is offered a chunk of volcanic rock by his student, Alec McEwan. Uncovering the unusually heavy rock, Lindenbrook finds a plumb line within which gives life to a puzzling engraving. Lindenbrook and Alec discover that it was left behind by a researcher called Arne Saknussemm, who, 300 years earlier, had discovered an entrance to the center of the Earth by descending into the Snæfellsjökull volcano in western Iceland. After identifying the message, Lindenbrook immediately activates with Alec to follow in the footsteps of the Icelandic explorer.
They begin a journey deep underground where they come across a huge underworld. Deep inside the Earth they find numerous wonders, consisting of an ocean, dinosaurs and the lost city of Atlantis. The special effects are lovely in an old-fashioned way, with extra-large mushrooms and “dinosaurs” that are actual lizards filmed to look bigger.
Seven Samurai (1954)
7 Samurai is a 1954 Japanese samurai adventure drama movie co-written and directed by Akira Kurosawa. The tale takes place in 1586 and tells the story of a peasant town who employ 7 rōnin (masterless samurai) to fight the outlaws. At the time, the film was one of the most expensive made in Japan. It took a year to shoot and Kurosawa had several problems. It was the second highest-grossing film in Japan in 1954. Several reviews compared the film to Westerns.
Among the best japanese movies never made, “Seven Samurai” is an impressive adventure story set in 16th century Japan. The action scenes vastly surpass most modern films. A legendary long-running adventure film that is among the majors masterpieces of cinematic history.
Forbidden Planet (1956)
Forbidden Planet is a 1956 American science fiction adventure movie directed by Fred M. Wilcox from a screenplay by Cyril Hume. In the cast Walter Pidgeon, Anne Francis and Leslie Nielsen. Shot in Eastmancolor and CinemaScope, it is considered among the cult movie science fiction films of the 1950s, a forerunner of modern science fiction cinema. The characters have been compared to those in William Shakespeare’s The Tempest, and the story also includes similarities to the play, leading many to consider it an adaptation.
It was the first science fiction/adventure film to show humans taking a trip in a spaceship to a planet far from Earth. The character of Robby the Robot is among the first robots larger than a simple tin can, has a personality and is also an essential character in the film. In the 23rd century, after more than a year of travel, the United Planets C-57D starship reaches the planet Altair IV to discover the fate of an exploration sent there 20 years ago. Dr. Edward Morbius, one of the initial exploration researchers, warns the ship not to land for safety reasons, but Captain John J. Adams ignores Morbius’ warning.
A Man Escape (1956)
In Lyon in 1943, Fontaine, a member of the French Resistance, jumps out of the vehicle that is taking him to the Montluc prison. He is immediately captured and his German captors handcuff, beat and lock him up. During his time in prison, Fontaine regularly hears gunfire as other prisoners are killed. Initially, Fontaine was placed in a cell on the ground floor of Montluc. He interacts with his cell neighbor by tapping on the wall and is often able to speak with Terry, a member of a small group who is able to train in an unsupervised courtyard, from his window. Terry brings Fontaine’s letters to his family and the Resistance superiors and provides him with a safety pin so he can open his handcuffs.
It is a 1956 French prison escape film directed by Robert Bresson. It is based on a story by André Devigny, a member of the French Resistance who was held in Montluc prison during World War II by the Germans. The film was in competition at the 1957 Cannes Film Festival, and is among Bresson’s masterpieces. Bresson won the Best Director award at the 1957 Cannes Film Festival. A Man Escape is a lesson in absolute cinematic rigor and one of the best movies of all time.
The Hidden Fortress (1958)
It is a 1958 action adventure movie directed by Akira Kurosawa, with Toshiro Mifune, Misa Uehara, Minoru Chiaki and Kamatari Fujiwara. The film stars Toshiro Mifune as General Makabe Rokurōta and Misa Uehara as Princess Yuki while the role of the peasants, Tahei and Matashichi, is played by Minoru Chiaki and also Kamatari Fujiwara in particular. The film is also called one of the most significant for the inspiration of the Star Wars script with scenes, jokes and likenesses throughout the sci-fi film.
2 peasants, Tahei and Matashichi, offer their houses and join the Yamana feudal clan, intending to make a lot of money as soldiers. Instead they are mistaken for soldiers of the defeated Akizuki clan and are required to help dig graves before being sent away without food. They are forced along with several other inmates to dig through the ruins of Akizuki Castle to find the clan’s gold. After an inmate riot, Tahei and Matashichi take part in the search, get some rice and camp near a river.
A Night to Remember (1958)
It’s a shipwreck movie based on Walter Lord’s 1955 publication of the same name. The film chronicles the last evening of the Titanic, which on its maiden voyage from Southampton to New York City struck an iceberg in the North Atlantic and subsequently sank in the morning hours of Monday April 15, 1912. Directed by Roy Ward Baker, the film stars by Kenneth More as the ship’s second mate Charles Lightoller and also features Michael Goodliffe, Laurence Naismith, Kenneth Griffith, David McCallum and Tucker McGuire. The film tells the story of the sinking, describing major events in a documentary style. It was one of the most expensive films ever made in Britain at the time.
The vessel gradually sinks after turning onto her side. We see the turmoil on board: people forcefully slide into the water, scream, children sob. This variation of the sinking Titanic lacks any romance, which makes the tragedy all the more moving.
Ben-Hur (1959)
Ben-Hur is an adventure movie from 1959 American directed by William Wyler and played by Charlton Heston. It is a remake of the 1925 silent film of a similar title, it was adapted from Lew Wallace’s 1880 story Ben-Hur: A Tale of the Christ. The screenplay of the film is credited to Karl Tunberg. At the time of its release, ‘Ben-Hur’ was among the most impressive cinematic experiences ever made and even today the chariot race is an unrivaled piece of action film.
In the Prologue, a child is born in Bethlehem among the guards and is taken by the Magi to a cave. In AD 26, Judah Ben-Hur is a wealthy Jewish prince in Jerusalem dealing with his mother, Miriam, and brother, Tirzah. The family’s faithful servant, the salesman Simonides, visits him with his daughter, Esther. Judah and Esther fall in love, however she is engaged to another. After a number of years away from Jerusalem, Judah Messala’s childhood companion returns as head of the Antonia Fortress. Messala counts on the magnificence of Rome and also on its royal power, while Judah is committed to his faith with the Jewish people. This difference sparks tension between the two friends, as well as causing them to split after Messala asks Judah to supply potential rebels to the Roman authorities.
Spartacus (1960)
Spartacus is a 1960 American historical adventure movie directed by Stanley Kubrick, written by Dalton Trumbo and based on the 1951 book of the same name by Howard Fast. It is inspired by the life story of Spartacus, the leader of a serf rebellion in classical times. It stars Kirk Douglas as the title character, Laurence Olivier as the Roman leader and politician Marcus Licinius Crassus, Peter Ustinov as the investor servant Lentulus Bathiatus, John Gavin as Julius Caesar,
In the first century BC, the Roman Republic turned to military bribery. Among them, a talented man called Spartacus, is so uncooperative that he is sentenced to death. Coincidentally, he is introduced to the Roman entrepreneur Lentulus Batiatus, who, amazed by his ferocity, acquires Spartacus for his gladiator fights. Spartacus develops a secret relationship with a woman called Varinia, whom he refuses to rape when sent to her cell and leads her comrades in a revolt, building an army that Rome fails to defeat, no matter how many legions they send.
Birdman of Alcatraz (1962)
Robert Stroud is locked up as a boy for committing a murder in Alaska. He reveals himself as a rebellious prisoner, struggling against a rigid prison system: while being moved by train with several other inmates, he breaks the window to allow the suffocated prisoners to catch their breath. Comes into conflict with Harvey Shoemaker, director of Leavenworth Prison. While behind bars, Stroud discovers that his mother attempted to see him but was refused. In a rage, he attacks a guard, stabbing her to death. Stroud is punished with the death penalty, however his mother manages to turn his sentence into life imprisonment. The sentence requires that he be placed in solitary confinement for the rest of his life.
The 1962 prison movie “Birdman of Alcatraz” features main character Robert Stroud, played by Burt Lancaster, a guilty killer who spent much of his life in Kansas’s Leavenworth Prison. In addition to becoming a bird scholar to kill time, the once-rebellious Stroud ends up being a prisoner of good conduct throughout his life sentence, and his affair gained popularity after a biography of his life. has been written. Karl Malden, Thelma Ritter, Telly Savalas, Neville Brand and even Betty Field are the co-stars of this famous drama, which has garnered 4 Oscar nominations.
The Great Escape (1963)
It is a 1963 American action-adventure movie, with war and thriller film components, con Steve McQueen, James Garner e Richard Attenborough, oltre a James Donald, Charles Bronson, Donald Pleasence. Un prison movie Based on the real-life escape of Allied POWs during World War II, “The Great Escape” tells the story of a massive breakout from a Nazi-run maximum security camp in 1942.
By working together, the inmates manage to dig a tunnel without the knowledge of the guards and end up on the run in Nazi Germany. A touching story of hope and resourcefulness, “The Great Escape” is an example of a film of survival and human resistance in the face of frustrating hardships. Also, among the best motorcycle chase scenes of all time.
The Brigand of Kandahar (1965)
It is a 1965 film directed by John Gilling genre adventure that follows the story of the protagonist, a British officer who is sent to Afghanistan to capture a bandit who is causing problems for Queen Victoria. The film has some pirate genre scenes and features spectacular landscapes of the Afghan mountains. It was critically well received for its action and visual style, although it was criticized for its depiction of Afghan characters.
The story is set in Afghanistan in the late 19th century, during the reign of Queen Victoria. The protagonist is a British officer, Captain Gallagher, who is sent to Afghanistan to capture a dangerous bandit known as El Shaitan. Gallagher encounters many challenges along the way, including betrayals, ambushes, and encounters with hostile tribes. Eventually, Gallagher manages to capture El Shaitan and restore peace to the region. The story follows Gallagher’s adventures as he battles the forces of evil and the hardships of the Afghan landscape in an action-packed and thrilling journey.
The Good, the Bad and the Ugly (1966)
The Good, the Bad and the Ugly is a 1966 Italian western adventure movie directed by Sergio Leone and starring Clint Eastwood as ‘the good guy’, Lee Van Cleef as ‘the bad guy’ and Eli Wallach as ‘the ugly guy’. The screenplay for the film was created by Age & Scarpelli, Luciano Vincenzoni, as well as Leone. With 3 great actors, unrivaled direction and the extraordinary score by Ennio Morricone, it is no surprise that this is the ultimate Wild West experience.
In 1862, during the American Civil War, a mercenary named “Angel Eyes” interrogates former Confederate soldier Stevens, whom Angel Eyes must eliminate, regarding Jackson, a fugitive who has taken a loot of gold. Knowing Jackson’s aliases “Bill Carson”, Angel Eyes eliminates Stevens and later his associate Baker so he can discover the gold himself. Outlaw Tuco Ramirez is rescued from the fugitive hunter by an anonymous drifter called “Blondie”. Blondie turns Tuco over to the sheriff to collect his $2,000 bounty. As Tuco is to be hanged, Blondie cuts Tuco’s noose with a shotgun blast setting him free. Both escape on horseback and split the bounty. They duplicate the procedure in various other cities until Blondie abandons Tuco in the desert.
Fantastic Voyage (1966)
It is a 1966 American science fiction adventure movie directed by Richard Fleischer and written by Harry Kleiner, based on a short story by Otto Klement and Jerome Bixby. The film deals with a submarine team that is shrunk to tiny size and struggles to enter the body of an injured researcher to repair the damage to his body. Kleiner all but abandoned the idea of miniaturization and even included an aspect of the Cold War. The film starred Stephen Boyd, Raquel Welch, Edmond O’Brien, Donald Pleasence and Arthur Kennedy. Long before “Honey I Shrunk the Kids” and “Innerspace,” “Fantastic Voyage” would have thought of a world where miniaturization innovation was the current Cold War front.
Both the United States and the Soviet Union have discovered modern technology that can miniaturize things and people by dwarfing atoms, but only for an hour. Researcher Dr. Jan Benes, who works behind the Iron Curtain, has found exactly how to make the procedure work forever. With the help of American secret agent Charles Grant he escapes West and shows up in New York City, but an attempted assassination leaves him in a coma with an embolism in his mind that no amount of surgical treatment can cure from the outside.
The French Connection (1971 )
The French Connection is a thriller and 1971 American adventure movie directed by William Friedkin. The film’s screenplay, written by Ernest Tidyman, is based on the 1969 Robin Moore short story of the same name. It tells the story of NYPD detectives Jimmy “Popeye” Doyle and Buddy “Cloudy” Russo, whose real-life equivalents were detectives of narcotics Eddie Egan and Sonny Grosso, in search of the wealthy French heroin smuggler Alain Charnier. The film stars Gene Hackman as Popeye, Roy Scheider as Cloudy, and Fernando Rey as Charnier. The movie with the best chase scenes ever seen.
In Marseille, a police investigator searches for Alain Charnier, who runs the largest heroin trafficking distribution in the world. The policeman is killed by Charnier’s hit man, Pierre Nicoli. Charnier plans to smuggle $32 million worth of heroin into the United States by hiding it in the car of his friend, TV personality Henri Devereaux, who is taking a boat trip to New York.
The Man Who Would Be King (1975)
It is a 1975 adventure movie adapted from Rudyard Kipling’s 1888 novel of the same name. It was directed by John Huston and starred Sean Connery, Michael Caine, Saeed Jaffrey and Christopher Plummer as Kipling. The film tells of 2 traveling ex-NCOs of the British Army who arrive in distant Kafiristan where one is considered a god and also made king.
In 1885 India, journalist Rudyard Kipling is approached by a derelict who claims to be Peachy Carnehan, an old collaborator. Carnehan tells Kipling the story of how he, along with his comrade-in-arms Danny Dravot, former sergeants in the British Army made a journey far beyond India, to the remote land of Kafiristan.
Big Wednesday (1978)
It is a 1978 surf movie directed by John Milius. The plot follows three surfing friends in the 60s and 70s who share their passion for the waves and life, while dealing with changes in society and their personal lives. The film was well received for its poetic depiction of surfing as well as its soundtrack.
Big Wednesday follows the lives of three friends, Matt, Jack and Leroy, who grow up together in 1960s and 70s Southern California sharing their passion for surfing. As they deal with changes to their personal lives and society, such as the Vietnam War, the anti-war movement, and sexual freedom, the three friends remain united through their friendship and their dedication to surfing. The film shows how surfing is a lifeline for them in a rapidly changing world, and how their friendship is stronger than the changes they encounter. The storyline explores themes such as friendship, loyalty and maturity, all seen through the lens of surfing and surf culture.
Time Bandits (1981)
Time Bandits is a 1981 British adventure movie co-written and directed by Terry Gilliam. Nel cast Sean Connery, John Cleese, Shelley Duvall, Ralph Richardson, Katherine Helmond, Ian Holm, Michael Palin, Peter Vaughan e anche David Warner.
Kevin is an eleven-year-old boy fascinated by history. One evening, while he is resting, a knight in armor on a steed comes out of his closet. Kevin hides under the covers while the knight goes straight into a wood where the wall surface of his room used to be; when Kevin looks once more, the area has returned to normal, and he spots one among his images on the wall’s surface that is comparable to the wood he saw. Thus begins an odyssey through numerous historical periods with a group of time travelers, meeting historical figures such as Robin Hood, King Agamemnon and Napoleon Bonaparte.
Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981)
It is a 1981 American action-adventure movie directed by Steven Spielberg and written by Lawrence Kasdan, based on a short story by George Lucas and Philip Kaufman. In the cast Harrison Ford, Karen Allen, Paul Freeman, Ronald Lacey, John Rhys-Davies and Denholm Elliott. Ford plays Indiana Jones, a globetrotting explorer who battles with Nazi German forces in 1936 to recover the Ark of the Covenant, a magical item designed to make an army unbeatable. Teaming up with his former lover Marion Ravenwood (Allen), Jones is quick to let competing explorer Dr. René Belloq (Freeman) not direct the Nazis to the Ark and its power. An entertaining adventure film filled with witty dialogue, ancient magical traps and some of the best stunts in cinematic history, “Raiders of the Lost Ark” is the tale of esoteric treasure hunters.
Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom (1984)
Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom is a 1984 American action-adventure movie directed by Steven Spielberg. It is the second installment of the Indiana Jones franchise after Raiders of the Lost Ark, with Harrison Ford again in the role of the famous archaeologist. In the film, after arriving in India, Indiana Jones is asked to discover a magical rock and also to rescue children from a Thuggee cult that practices slavery, magic and human sacrifice in honor of the mermaid Kali.
In the second film of the “Indiana Jones” series, the protagonist takes a break from the battle against the Nazis and, on the run from a Shanghai criminal, ends up in a plane that crashes in the Himalayas with his young friend Short Round and the Willie bar singer. The road ahead leads the trio to northern India, where they end up in a dangerous Thuggee cult that practices human sacrifice. Despite its darker tone, the film is still among the best big-budget adventure cinematic experiences made to date, featuring a spine-tingling minecart chase.
The Goonies (1985)
The Goonies is a 1985 American comedy-adventure movie directed by Richard Donner from a screenplay by Chris Columbus, based on a story by Steven Spielberg. In the film, the boys who reside in the “Goon Docks” area of Astoria, Oregon try to keep their homes from foreclosure and, in doing so, find an old treasure map that leads them on an adventure to discover the treasure of One-Eyed Willy, a famous 17th century pirate.
Throughout the adventure they are chased by a group of thieves who want the treasure for them. The adventure turns into a fantastic underground journey as they are on the run from a group of gangsters, leading to a high energy story that causes lots of laughs and a real sense of childlike wonder. The Goonies has become a cult film.
Stand by Me (1986)
It is a 1986 American adventure movie and coming-of-age drama directed by Rob Reiner. It is based on Stephen King’s 1982 novel The Body and the title comes from the tune by Ben E. King. Wil Wheaton, River Phoenix, Corey Feldman and Jerry O’Connell play 4 teenagers who, in 1959, go on a journey to discover the body of a missing boy.
Author Gordie Lachance reads a news article about a fatal stabbing. As a youngster, his parents were too grieving the loss of his older brother Denny to provide 12-year-old Gordie much attention. He recalls a youthful event when he, his friend, Chris Chambers, and 2 other friends, Teddy Duchamp and Vern Tessio, traveled to discover the body of a missing little boy near the town of Castle Rock, Oregon over the weekend of Labor Day, in September 1959.
During their long walk, our heroes face a gang of local hoodlums, a runaway train, leech-filled waters and their own personal problems. The film has none of the supernatural components that King is known for, “Stand by Me” is an equally entertaining adventure film and a thoughtful look at pain, death and the too-short period of youth. One of those movies that you life changing.
Big Trouble in Little China (1986)
It is an adventure movie and action comedy 1986 American Martial Arts directed by John Carpenter and with Kurt Russell, Kim Cattrall, Dennis Dun and James Hong. The film tells the story of truck driver Jack Burton (Russell), who helps his good friend Wang Chi (Dun) rescue Wang’s green-eyed girlfriend from outlaws in San Francisco’s Chinatown. They enter the strange underworld beneath Chinatown, where they deal with an ancient sorcerer named David Lo Pan (Hong), who needs a green-eyed woman to marry him to free himself from an age-old curse. The film’s initial script by first-time screenwriters Gary Goldman and David Z. Weinstein was written as a Western set in the 1880s, with screenwriter W. D. Richter subsequently completely changing the script. The studio hired Carpenter to direct the film and fulfilled Carpenter’s wish to make a martial arts film. Crazy, over the top, and funny in the best possible way, “Big Trouble in Little China” is a film that turns the white hero principle upside down: Jack Burton is totally wimpy and Wang Chi is the most capable person in the entire film.
Truck driver Jack Burton wins a bet with his friend Wang Chi. To ensure he makes due payment, Jack drives him to the airport to pick up Wang Miao Yin’s Chinese girlfriend, where a Chinese-American street gang, the Lords of Death, attempt to kidnap another Chinese lady. Jack and Wang track the Masters of Death to Chinatown, where they discover a funeral procession appearing in a confrontation between the Chang Sing and Wing Kong, 2 ancient Chinese warrior societies. When “The Three Storms” – Rain, thunder and lightning, warriors with weather-related powers – appear, slaughtering Chang Sing, Jack runs his truck over David Lo Pan, a man who runs the Three Storms.
Lord of the Flies (1990)
Lord of the Flies is a 1990 American shipwreck movie directed by Harry Hook and starring Balthazar Getty, Chris Furrh, Danuel Pipoly and James Badge Dale. It was produced by Lewis M. Allen and written by Jay Presson Allen under the pseudonym “Sara Schiff”, based on the 1954 book Lord of the Flies, by William Golding. It is the second film adaptation of the book, after Lord of the Flies (1963). Many have criticized the method by which the filmmakers departed from the book. This is the second cinematic variation of William Golding’s timeless novel.
A plane carries young cadets who crash into the sea on a remote Pacific island. At one point they split into 2 warring groups when the leader of an intrigue convinces the others by force. The title describes a pig’s head that young boys position to avoid a cave monster.
Point Break (1991)
“Point Break” is a 1991 movie directed by Kathryn Bigelow. The film is a combination of action, adventure and crime, and follows FBI agent Johnny Utah (played by Keanu Reeves) who infiltrates a group of surfers suspected of bank robberies. During his investigations, Utah befriends the leader of the group, Bodhi (played by Patrick Swayze), and begins to develop an understanding of their philosophy of life and ethics. Ultimately, Utah is forced to choose between his loyalty to the law and his friendship with Bodhi. The film is considered a classic of the genre and influenced many other action films of the 90s.
“Point Break” follows FBI agent Johnny Utah who is assigned a case of serial bank robberies committed by a group of surfers who call themselves the “Ex-Presidents”. To solve the case, Utah decides to infiltrate the world of surfing and befriends the leader of the group, Bodhi. During his investigation, Utah discovers that the robbers are actually seeking an extreme spiritual experience through their heists and surfing. Meanwhile, Utah begins to develop mixed feelings for Bodhi and his free-living philosophy. However, when he discovers that members of the group are responsible for a series of violent robberies, Utah is forced to decide whether to arrest his friends or help them escape.
The Last of the Mohicans (1992)
The Last of the Mohicans is a 1992 American historical drama-adventure movie set in 1757 during the French and Indian War. It was directed by Michael Mann and is based on James Fenimore Cooper’s 1826 novel The Last of the Mohicans: A Narrative of 1757 and its 1936 film adaptation. The film stars Daniel Day-Lewis and Madeleine Stowe, with Jodhi May, Russell Means, Wes Studies, Eric Schweig and Steven Waddington. It is interesting to see director Michael Mann try his hand at a feature film with an excellent role played by Daniel Day-Lewis and with exciting music, among the best ever heard in an adventure film.
In 1757, British Army Major Duncan Heyward arrives in Albany, New York during the French and Indian War. He is tasked by Colonel Edmund Munro, the chief of Fort William Henry in the Adirondack Mountains, to drive Munro’s 2 children, Cora and Alice, to their dad. Before they leave, Heyward asks Cora to marry him, however she requests more time before giving her answer.
Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon (2000)
It is a 2000 adventure movie directed by The Lee and written for the screen by Wang Hui-ling, James Schamus and Tsai Kuo-jung. The film includes a global cast of Chinese stars, consisting of Chow Yun-fat, Michelle Yeoh, Zhang Ziyi and Chang Chen. It is based on the serial Chinese book of the same name published between 1941 and 1942 by Wang Dulu. The film features stunning cinematography and fantastic martial arts scenes with special effects: flying battles among bamboos, overwhelming love and legendary adventures.
In 19th-century Qing Dynasty China, Li Mu Bai is a prominent Wudang swordsman and his friend Yu Shu Lien, a machete warrior, runs a personal security business. Shu Lien and Mu Bai actually have had feelings for each other for a long time, however since Shu Lien was engaged to Mu Bai’s friend Meng Sizhao before his death, Shu Lien and Mu Bai they feel committed to Meng Sizhao and have not actually revealed their love for each other.
Almost Famous (2000)
It is a 2000 American comedy-drama and adventure movie written and directed by Cameron Crowe, and with Billy Crudup, Frances McDormand, Kate Hudson and Patrick Fugit. It tells the story of a teenage journalist writing for Rolling Stone publication in the early 1970s, his experiences with the rock band Stillwater, and his efforts to get his first story published. The film is semi-autobiographical, as Crowe himself was a teenage writer for Rolling Stone.
In 1969 San Diego, child prodigy William Miller has a hard time adjusting. His life is even more complicated after he discovers that his widowed professor, mom Elaine, has actually mistakenly led him to think he is twelve years old. William is eleven years old, having actually started first grade at age 5. Strong-willed Elaine’s strict restrictions on rock music and her preoccupation with popular culture take a toll on her children, eventually leading William’s 18-year-old sister Anita to move to San Francisco and end up as a flight attendant .
The Motorcycle Diaries (2004)
It is a 2004 biographical adventure movie about the journey and written narrative of 23-year-old Ernesto Guevara, who many years later would come to be referred to worldwide as Che Guevara. The film chronicles the 1952 exploration, first on motorcycles, throughout South America by Guevara and his friend Alberto Granado. It’s a film on the road and also a training film.
As the experience, initially focused on youthful hedonism, unfolds, Guevara finds himself changed by his observations of the lives of poor indigenous peasants. Through the characters they meet on their continental journey, Guevara and Granado witness firsthand the oppression the poor face and get to know individuals and social classes they otherwise would never have met. To their surprise, the street provides them with a fascinating and authentic picture of Latin American identity.
Transamerica (2005)
Transamerica is a 2005 American comedy-drama and adventure movie written and directed by Duncan Tucker and played by Felicity Huffman and Kevin Zegers. The film’s script, composed in part of discussions between Tucker and his roommate Katherine Connella, tells the story of Bree (Huffman), a trans woman, who goes on a road trip with her long-lost son Toby (Zegers). The film received favorable ratings and won several awards, including Huffman winning a Golden Globe and an Academy Award nomination.
A week before her vaginoplasty, a trans woman named Sabrina “Bree” Osbourne receives an unexpected phone call from a boy named Toby Wilkins, a 17-year-old who lives in New York City. He asks for Stanley Schupak, Bree’s old name, claiming to be her son. Bree was previously unaware that she had a child; now she wishes to break with her past and give up on him. Bree’s therapist refuses to sign on for her surgery unless she addresses her previous connections.
Into the Wild (2007)
Into the Wild is a 2007 American adventure-drama movie written, co-produced and directed by Sean Penn. It is an adaptation of Jon Krakauer’s 1996 book of the same name and tells the story of Christopher McCandless (“Alexander Supertramp”), a boy who traveled across North America to the Alaskan wilderness in the early 1990s. The film stars Emile Hirsch as McCandless, Marcia Gay Harden as his mother, William Hurt as his father.
After finishing Emory University, student and professional athlete Christopher McCandless ditches his comforts, donates his entire $24,000 savings account to charity, and hitchhikes to Alaska to live in the wilderness. Along the way, Christopher meets a series of characters that change his life. In April of 1992, Christopher McCandless shows up in a remote location called Healy, just north of Denali National Park and Preserve in Alaska. Noticing his unpreparedness, his motorist provides him with rubber boots. McCandless camps out in a run-down city bus which he dubs “The Magic Bus”. He is satisfied with isolation, the charm of nature and the adventure of living off the foods of the earth. He hunts with a rifle, reads books and keeps a journal as he prepares for his new life in the wild.
The Brothers Bloom (2008)
The Brothers Bloom is a 2008 American comedy-drama and adventure movie written and directed by Rian Johnson. The film stars Rachel Weisz, Adrien Brody, Mark Ruffalo, Rinko Kikuchi, Maximilian Schell and Robbie Coltrane. The film opens during the youth of the orphaned protagonists, Stephen (Mark Ruffalo) and Bloom (Adrien Brody). Stephen, the older of the two aged 3, commits numerous crimes and gets into trouble, while the younger brother Bloom is content to play scams. The siblings’ implacable rebellious temper causes them to be expelled from one foster family to another. This beginning is told by magician Ricky Jay, foreshadowing the film’s later focus on card techniques and deception.
One Week (2008)
One Week is a 2008 Canadian adventure drama movie directed by Michael McGowan and starring Joshua Jackson, Liane Balaban and Campbell Scott. The beautiful Canadian landscape backdrop along with an all-Canadian soundtrack work well in the film. Ben goes on a journey on his mission to discover meaning in his life.
Jackson plays Ben Tyler, who has learned he has cancer. Needing instant treatment, he instead chooses to take a motorcycle trip from Toronto across Canada to Vancouver Island. Along the way, he meets a number of people who help him review his relationship with his girlfriend Samantha (played by Balaban), his job and his idea of becoming a writer.
Everyone’s Fine (2009)
Everyone’s Fine is a 2009 American adventure drama movie written and directed by Kirk Jones and starring Robert De Niro, Drew Barrymore, Sam Rockwell and Kate Beckinsale. It is a remake of Giuseppe Tornatore’s Italian film They are all fine. Frank Goode, a recently widowed retiree, is preparing to have his children come to see him. One by one, however, they contact him to cancel the appointment at the last minute. Feeling a little depressed by the rejections, Frank chooses to go on a cross-country road trip, meeting each of his children.
Away We Go (2009)
Away We Go is a 2009 American comedy-drama and adventure movie directed by Sam Mendes and written by Dave Eggers and Vendela Vida. The two protagonists of the film are John Krasinski and Maya Rudolph.
Verona De Tessant (Maya Rudolph) and Burt Farlander (John Krasinski), are in their early thirties in the Denver locale and find it difficult to meet daily needs and build fulfilling lives. Discovering that they will soon become parents, they are faced with the difficulty of how, and where, to raise a child and create a happy family. They travel across the United States to find out the best location to settle. Along the way, they have mishaps and discover new connections with a variety of family members and old friends who might just help them find “home” for the first time.
Life of Pi (2012)
Life of Pi is a drama adventure movie of 2012 directed and produced by Ang Lee and written by David Magee. Based on the 2001 book of the same name by Yann Martel, it stars Suraj Sharma, Irrfan Khan, Rafe Spall, Tabu and Adil Hussain. The story focuses on 2 survivors of a shipwreck. One is a sixteen year old Indian boy named Pi Patel (Suraj Sharma) and the other is a Bengal tiger named Richard Parker. They both remain on a lifeboat adrift in the Pacific Ocean for 227 days. Adapted from Yann Martel’s 2001 book, “Life of Pi” is a philosophical and dreamlike experience that follows the journey of the protagonist Pi. Meditative and surreal, it is a shipwreck movie aesthetically sensational tests the power of creativity in the face of terrible hardships and losses.
In Canada, a young author meets middle-aged Pi Patel. The author has been advised that Pi’s life story would make an excellent subject for a book. Pi informs the author of the following story about his life. Pi’s father names it Piscine Molitor Patel after Piscine Molitor, a popular swimming pool in France. In Pondicherry Secondary School, she uses the Greek letter “Pi” as a label to prevent bullying. He was raised in a Hindu family, however at 12 he was introduced to Christianity and later to Islam and chooses to follow all 3 religious beliefs as he “simply wishes to enjoy God”. Pi’s family owns a zoo and Pi takes an interest in animals, especially a Bengal tiger named Richard Parker. After Pi gets alarmingly close to Richard Parker, his father forces him to watch the tiger kill a goat.
North of the Sun (2012)
“North of the Sun” is a 2012 surf movie directed by Ingar Helge Gimle. The film tells the story of two Norwegian surfers who spend a winter on a remote island in Northern Norway, building a shelter out of rubbish and surfing the waves with homemade boards. The film follows their adventure into the wilderness and shows how their experience changes them. ‘North of the Sun’ was acclaimed for its visual beauty and thrilling storytelling.
“North of the Sun” follows the story of two young surfers, Inge Wegge and Jørn Ranum, who decide to spend a winter on an uninhabited island in Northern Norway. With the help of scrap materials found on the beach, the two build a shelter and live there for nine months, surfing the cold waves and trying to survive in the wilderness. During this time, the two experience the loneliness and hardship of life in nature, but at the same time discover the beauty and peace this lifestyle offers. Their adventure will change their perspective on life and nature, and show how an out-of-the-ordinary experience can have a profound impact on one’s life.
DAMaN (2022)
Daman is a biographical adventure drama movie written and directed by Debi Prasad Lenka and Vishal Mourya. The film stars Babushaan and Dipanwit Dashmohapatra in lead roles. The film shows a doctor’s relentless battle against superstitions and the battle to make tribal individuals aware of the truth about malaria. The film is based on the real-life accounts of Dr. Omkar Hota, who saved numerous lives in Malkangiri between 2015 and 2018.
Siddharth, a young doctor who finished his education in Bhubaneswar and was sent to Janbai PHC, an isolated tribal locality in Malkangiri district of Odisha. As per Odisha government standards, medical trainees studying in government medical courses have to serve in rural or tribal localities of Odisha for 5 years. On his journey he fights against all odds to assist people with health centers.
Gandhadagudi (2022)
Gandhada Gudi is a 2022 Indian-language adventure movie and docudrama directed by Amoghavarsha JS. It stars Puneeth Rajkumar who is a travel and adventure enthusiast and has chosen to explore the abundant biodiversity of Karnataka. For this film he collaborated with acclaimed Amoghavarsha director JS. Together, they embark on a journey where they discover a precious phenomena. An impressive musical feast of the land of India full of melodies and charms of nature.
Kantara (2022)
Kantara is a 2022 Indian-language action thriller-adventure movie written and directed by Rishabh Shetty. The film stars Shetty as a champion from Kambala who is at loggerheads with an officer, Murali. In 1847, a king agrees with Panjurli Daiva/Bhoota, a divine being worshiped by the residents of Udupi and Dakshina Kannada, Kerala, to give a portion of his land to the residents in exchange for peace and joy given by a shaman who apparently apparently he is possessed by Daiva.