Recently released blockbusters like Dune: Part Two underscore the enduring popularity of the adventure genre, which is one that intersects with numerous other categories. Fans of films that depict epic journeys and thrilling encounters will be happy to learn that it’s easier than ever to discover the best adventure movies, thanks to IMDb.
Users’ votes on the platform have determined the highest-rated adventure films, which are often award-winning classics that represent the best that the genre has to offer. The top adventure movies on the platform rightly include several entries from the Star Wars and The Lord of the Rings franchise (as well as the Avengers movies), which are essential films from the genre.
40. ‘Jumanji’ (1995)
IMDb Rating: 7.1/10
Based on Chris Van Allburg’s children’s book of the same name, Jumanji is an exciting fantasy adventure film led by Robin Williams, which became one of his most memorable and iconic roles. The film follows siblings Judy (Kirsten Dunst) and Peter (Bradley Pierce), who stumble upon an old, mysterious board game after moving into their new home. As they start playing, they encounter Alan (Williams), a man trapped inside the game since 1969, and attempt to rescue him by navigating various jungle-based hazards and notorious characters.
When it was released, Jumanji received mixed reception from critics but was a huge commercial success and retrospectively earned a cult status, inspiring several spin-off films, shows, and similar films in the genre. Critical reviews aside, Jumanji packs wholesome adventures and thrilling turns of plots, making it a fun, family-friendly film, made better by Williams’ idiosyncratic and peculiar characterization and great visual effects. —Maddie P
39. ‘Moby Dick’ (1956)
IMDb Rating: 7.3/10
Adapted from Herman Melville’s popular 1851 novel of the same name, Moby Dick follows Captain Ahab (Gregory Peck), the obsessive captain of the whaling ship Pequod, who seeks revenge from the great white whale called Moby Dick, for breaking his leg. Along with his crew, Ahab sets sail for a perilous voyage in search of the elusive beast for a showdown. Moby Dick joins the long list of adventure films that director John Huston was known for where the filmmaker translates the classic tale into a grand physical adventure.
Moby Dick is believed to be one of the greatest motion pictures. A death-defying high-sea adventure, Moby Dick is a roaring and rumbling film with striking effects and uncommon color schemes. The detailing of the great white whale is the most notable aspect of the film’s visuals, with critics praising the staging of the fierce combat between Ahab and Moby Dick. —Maddie P
- Release Date
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June 27, 1956
- Runtime
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116 minutes
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Gregory Peck
Captain Ahab
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James Robertson Justice
Capt. Boomer
38. ‘The Neverending Story’ (1984)
IMDb Rating: 7.3/10
Directed by Wolfgang Petersen in his first English-language film, The Neverending Story, adapted from Michael Ende’s eponymous novel, follows Bastian (Barret Oliver), a young boy who seeks refuge in an old bookstore to escape the school bullies, and steals the titular storybook. As he begins reading, Bastian finds himself drawn into the book, getting intertwined with the story, eventually stepping into its mythical world called Fantasia, where he must help the kingdom from a dark force called The Nothing.
A story resting on the concept of the power of a child’s imagination, The Neverending Story makes for a remarkable adventure film for kids and adults alike. Bastian’s magical journey into Fantasia and his escapades come alive on screen through immersive visuals, rendered by incredible practical effects and animatronics. A charming, nostalgic, and heartwarming film, The Neverending Story is often considered to be a masterpiece in the fantasy adventure genre. —Maddie P
37. ‘The Adventures of Robin Hood’ (1938)
IMDb Rating: 7.9/10
The first sound film featuring the legendary heroic outlaw, The Adventures of Robin Hood follows the greatest Saxon knight in the Holy Land during the Crusades, where, in the absence of King Richard I, he becomes an outlaw leader and rebels against the oppressive Prince John and Norman lords to free the Saxon commoners. Errol Flynn and Olivia de Havilland lead the cast as Robin Hood and his love interest, Maid Marian, respectively, along with Basil Rathbone as Guy of Gisborne.
An epic swashbuckler film, The Adventures of Robin Hood is regarded as the best Robin Hood film ever made, which brings life to one of the most colorful adventures in English folklore. With its rich medieval exposition and an imaginative narrative balancing romance, drama, and thrilling action, the vintage classic makes for ultimate cinematic pageantry. The Adventures of Robin Hood was a critical and commercial success, winning three Academy Awards for direction, editing, and music. —Maddie P
36. ‘The Wizard of Oz’ (1939)
IMDb Rating: 8.1/10
Starring Judy Garland in her most acclaimed and iconic role, The Wizard of Oz, adapted from L. Frank Baum’s novel, The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, tells the story of Dorothy (Garland), a young girl from Kansas, who dreams of a better life, gets caught in the eye of a tornado along with her dog Toto, and lands in the fantasy world of Oz. As they explore the magical land, Dorothy and Toto befriend Scarecrow, Cowardly Lion, and TinMan, and together embark on a journey to the Emerald City to seek the help of the Wizard.
A film that gave the world an evergreen song like “Over the Rainbow,” The Wizard of Oz is one of the few films to be on UNESCO’s Memory of the World register, and unarguably an artistic and cultural landmark. An ultimate masterpiece in adventure storytelling, The Wizard of Oz is celebrated for its groundbreaking visuals, memorable characters, fantastical world-building, and resonating music, all of which have become major pop culture references ever since. —Maddie P
35. ‘Howl’s Moving Castle’ (2004)
IMDb Rating: 8.2/10
One of many highly acclaimed animated adventure films by Studio Ghibli and acclaimed director Hayao Miyazaki, Howl’s Moving Castle brings to life a beautiful and sprawling world as it tells its story of found family and connection. The film features some of the most tantalizing and beautiful 2D animation, not just of the era it was released, but in all of animation history, with massive spectacle and beautiful setpieces elevating its emotional adventure.
The film proves to be as much about the various adventures that Sophie, Howl, and their friends go on throughout the realms as much as it is about their inherent connection and bonding as an unexpected family unit. Much like other Ghibli movies, the film has a gargantuan sense of scale and scope, creating a deeply invigorating world that it provides a full sense of gravitas towards while only seeing a fraction of the creative possibilities of its concept.
- Release Date
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September 9, 2004
- Runtime
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119 minutes
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Chieko Baisho
Sophie (voice)
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Takuya Kimura
Howl (voice)
34. ‘Spider-Man: No Way Home’ (2021)
IMDb Rating: 8.2/10
Acting as the third film in the MCU Spider-Man trilogy as well as a glorious love letter to all the different eras of Spider-Man filmmaking, Spider-Man: No Way Home feels like a dream come true for longtime fans of the character. Even outside the abundant fan service and glorious portrayal of fan-favorite Spider-Man actors and characters from the past, the film finds ways to improve upon the action and emotion of the previous Tom Holland Spider-Man films, creating one of the best MCU films of the modern era.
Spider-Man: No Way Home makes the absolute most out of the possibilities of the multiverse and crossover in an MCU setting, bringing back beloved actors to add onto and expand on their iconic roles under a new lens. The film at the same time acts as a revolution and a defining moment for Holland’s portrayal of the character, truly coming into his own and cementing himself as the true Spider-Man for the modern era in the process.
33. ‘Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade’ (1989)
IMDb Rating: 8.2/10
The Indiana Jones franchise has a monumental status and legacy as one of the most acclaimed and widely beloved adventure movie franchises out there, with the third film in the series, Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade, fully delivering on the status of the character. The film provides the same wild antics and globe-trotting adventures that made the previous films such major successes, with the added benefit of the exceptional chemistry between Harrison Ford and Sean Connery as Indy’s father.
Often considered alongside Raiders of the Lost Ark as the highlight of the entire franchise, The Last Crusade features some of the most iconic and memorable sequences in the entire series, cementing the series as a pillarstone of action-adventure filmmaking. The combination of ceaseless charm and charisma from its characters and top-notch action filmmaking from Steven Spielberg has never been as effective and timeless as it is in The Last Crusade.
32. ‘Jurassic Park’ (1993)
IMDb Rating: 8.2/10
A wildly influential adventure film that brought prehistoric creatures from the past to the present through stunning visual effects and masterful animatronics, Jurassic Park created timeless visuals that still hold up over 30 years later. The film finds the perfect balance between action, tension, family moments, and overall adventure to create one of the most iconic movies of the 90s and one whose influence is still felt to this day. While the film would receive an array of sequels and continuations over the years, none have held a candle to the brilliant craft and majesty of the original.
It’s difficult to understate just how popular and widespread a phenomenon Jurassic Park has been as a staple of modern filmmaking abilities, being the face of what high-end visual effects can do to elevate a film. The film was once the highest-grossing movie of all time and further redefined the capabilities of blockbuster filmmaking on a massive scale and scope that would forever change adventure films as a whole. The love and passion towards the film has not diminished in the slightest in the decades since its release, only growing with the transformation of the film into a major franchise.
31. ‘Toy Story 3’ (2010)
IMDb Rating: 8.3/10
The third film in one of the most critically acclaimed animated franchises of all time, Toy Story 3 took a more mature and grounded approach to the classic tale of toys coming to life as it told a story tailored to those who grew up with the original films. The film sees Woody and the rest of Andy’s toys being shipped away after being donated to a local daycare when Andy goes off to college, forcing them to reevaluate and figure out a way to get back to Andy.
The film features the same creative passion and satisfying setpieces that made the previous films so effective, yet tied together with one of the strongest and most potent emotional cores in any Pixar movie to date. Even when it gets to its biggest tearjerker moments, the film never truly shies away from its adventurous core, featuring wildly entertaining moments like the daycare prison escape to keep the stakes both high and entertaining.
