Adventure movies, fictional or true, whisk you away on breathtaking adventures. As the story unfolds, the viewer relaxes and explores diverse landscapes, all from the comfort of their seats.
A well-crafted adventure flick is a guaranteed crowd-pleaser, leaving you fulfilled no matter the ending. We’ve compiled a list of some of the greatest adventure films ever made, based on both critical praise and box office success. So grab some popcorn, and a drink, and get ready for an adventure within an adventure!
Watch These 10 Best Adventure Movies Ever Produced
10. The Treasure of The Sierra Madre (1948)
- IMDB rating: 8.2/10
- Rotten Tomatoes rating: 100%
- Metacritic rating: 85%
In this tale of greed and gold, Humphrey Bogart portrays the avaricious Fred C. Dobbs, with Walter Huston as Howard and Tim Holt as Bob Curtin. Set against the backdrop of Mexico’s Sierra Madre mountains, the narrative follows their perilous quest for gold. Their expedition is successful, yet it culminates in tragedy when Dobbs, overcome by greed, attempts to murder Curtin for his portion of the treasure, only to meet his own demise.
On the financial front, the movie earned $4.1 million against its $2.5 million production cost. Garnering widespread critical acclaim, it secured three Academy Awards, including Best Supporting Actor for Walter Huston, Best Director, and Best Writing, Screenplay. Additionally, it took home three Golden Globe Awards for Best Picture, Best Supporting Actor (Walter Huston), and Best Director.
9. Lawrence of Arabia (1962)
- IMDB rating: 8.3/10
- Rotten Tomatoes rating: 94%
Hailed by critic Roger Ebert as “an absolute masterpiece,” Lawrence of Arabia is a sprawling and unforgettable epic. Based on the life of T.E. Lawrence and his book Seven Pillars of Wisdom, the film follows Lawrence’s experiences in World War I, specifically in the Ottoman provinces of Hejaz and Greater Syria.
Peter O’Toole delivers a star-making performance as Lawrence. The film was a box office and critical smash, grossing $70 million on a $15 million budget and sweeping the awards season. It won seven Academy Awards, including Best Picture and Best Director, and five Golden Globe Awards, including Best Director and Best Supporting Actor.
8. Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981)
- IMDB rating: 8.4/10
- Rotten Tomatoes rating: 93%
- Metacritic rating: 86%
Raiders of the Lost Ark,” celebrated as a cinematic masterpiece, is directed by Steven Spielberg and based on a story by George Lucas and Phillip Kaufman. It revolves around the legendary Ark of the Covenant, believed to grant invincibility to any army that possesses it. The film stars Harrison Ford as the daring Indiana Jones, Karen Allen as Marion Ravenwood, and Paul Freeman as René Belloq.
The movie was both a critical darling and a box office hit, raking in $389 million on a modest $20 million budget. Its greatness was recognized with five Academy Awards, including Best Art Direction, Best Film Editing, Best Sound, Best Sound Editing, and Best Visual Effects.
7. The Princess Bride (1987)
- IMDB rating: 8/10
- Rotten Tomatoes rating: 96%
- Metacritic rating: 78%
Directed by Rob Reiner and based on William Goldman’s 1973 novel of the same name, this film is a hilarious and heartwarming story of love and adventure.
Unfolding through a grandfather’s (Peter Falk) lively storytelling for his sick grandson (Fred Savage), we meet Westley (Cary Elwes), a farmhand vowing to win back his one true love, Princess Buttercup (Robin Wright). Their path is fraught with danger and quirky characters, but their love endures.
The Princess Bride earned $30 million on a $16 million budget and was lauded by critics like Roger Ebert, Gene Siskel, and Janet Maslin. Though not a blockbuster at first, it has earned a devoted following and is considered one of the greatest comedy films ever made.
6. Indiana Jones and The Last Crusade (1989)
- IMDB rating: 8.2/10
- Rotten Tomatoes rating: 84%
- Metacritic rating: 65%
Don’t call it a hat trick! Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade, directed by Steven Spielberg, is the third film in the series, but it’s a direct follow-up to the action-packed Raiders of the Lost Ark.
This time, Indiana Jones (Harrison Ford) isn’t just after artifacts – he’s on a daring rescue mission to save his father, Henry Jones Sr. (Sean Connery), from the clutches of the Nazis. The elder Jones, a renowned scholar, has been kidnapped while searching for the legendary Holy Grail.
The Last Crusade whipped up critical acclaim and box office gold. Though it only won one Academy Award (Best Sound Editing) out of three nominations, it raked in a whopping $474 million on a $48 million budget. This exciting adventure cemented its place as a beloved conclusion to the original Indiana Jones trilogy.
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5. Jurassic Park (1993)
- IMDB rating: 8.2/10
- Rotten Tomatoes rating: 92%
- Metacritic rating: 68%
Steven Spielberg brings Michael Crichton’s 1990 novel to life in Jurassic Park, the groundbreaking first film in the franchise. Sam Neill, Laura Dern, and Jeff Goldblum star as paleontologists invited to tour a wildlife park unlike any other—one populated by dinosaurs brought back through genetic engineering.
Billionaire John Hammond (Richard Attenborough) envisions a wonder of science, but his dream turns into a nightmare when the park’s security systems fail. Thrown into a desperate fight for survival, the visitors must outrun and outsmart the prehistoric predators unleashed upon the island.
A massive critical and commercial hit, Jurassic Park earned over $1 billion worldwide on a $63 million budget. It secured its place in cinematic history with three Academy Awards for Best Sound Effects Editing, Best Sound, and Best Visual Effects.
4. The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (2001)
- IMDB rating: 8.9/10
- Rotten Tomatoes rating: 91%
- Metacritic rating: 92%
Director Peter Jackson ushers us into the epic world of Middle-earth in The Fellowship of the Ring, the first chapter in the beloved Lord of the Rings trilogy.
Adapted from J.R.R. Tolkien’s classic novel, the film follows the hobbit Frodo Baggins (Elijah Wood) on a perilous quest. An evil force, the Dark Lord Sauron, seeks the One Ring, an artifact of immense power that could bring about his dominion. Frodo, entrusted with the Ring’s destruction, must journey beyond the idyllic Shire and form a fellowship of companions to confront the growing darkness.
The film became a critical and commercial sensation, grossing a staggering $883 million and sweeping the 74th Academy Awards with four wins (Best Cinematography, Best Makeup, Best Original Score, and Best Visual Effects) out of its 13 nominations.
3. The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (2003)
- IMDB rating: 9/10
- Rotten Tomatoes rating: 94%
- Metacritic rating: 94%
The epic saga reaches its awe-inspiring conclusion in The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King, the final chapter of Peter Jackson’s beloved trilogy.
Frodo Baggins’ (Elijah Wood) quest to destroy the One Ring and extinguish the Dark Lord Sauron’s evil reaches its climax. With the fate of Middle-earth hanging in the balance, Frodo and his fellowship face perilous challenges as they journey deeper into enemy territory.
The film became a landmark. It not only surpassed the billion-dollar mark at the box office but also achieved an unprecedented feat, winning all eleven Academy Awards for which it was nominated, including Best Picture, Best Director, and Best Adapted Screenplay.
2. Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl (2003)
- IMDB rating: 8.1/10
- Rotten Tomatoes rating: 80%
- Metacritic rating: 63%
Set sail for adventure in The Curse of the Black Pearl, the first Pirates of the Caribbean film, and buckle up for a thrilling ride filled with sword fights and supernatural secrets!
Johnny Depp plays Jack Sparrow, a rogue pirate who aids Will Turner (Orlando Bloom) in rescuing Elizabeth Swann (Keira Knightley) from the cursed Black Pearl, captained by the villainous Hector Barbossa (Geoffrey Rush).
Directed by Gore Verbinski, the film became a box office hit, raking in $654.3 million and earning critical acclaim, including Academy Award and Golden Globe Award nominations. Depp’s iconic performance as Jack Sparrow was particularly praised.
1. The Jungle Book (2016)
- IMDB rating: 7.4/10
- Rotten Tomatoes rating: 94%
- Metacritic rating: 77%
The Jungle Book swings back into action in this live-action remake by director Jon Favreau! This vibrant reimagining of Rudyard Kipling’s classic follows Mowgli (Neel Sethi), an orphaned boy raised by a wolf pack. He embarks on a thrilling journey of self-discovery under the guidance of Bagheera, the wise panther, and Baloo, the free-spirited bear. But watch out for Shere Khan, the fearsome tiger lurking in the shadows!
Praised for its stunning visuals and captivating voice acting, the film roared at the box office, grossing over $966 million worldwide. Its groundbreaking effects earned it an Academy Award for Best Visual Effects.
