There’s no denying that Indiana Jones movies are some of the most entertaining adventure films out there. Someone in a popular online forum asked for recommendations for “movies like Indiana Jones” that are action-packed fun rides. Here are the top 24 responses.
1 – The Mummy (1999)
The Mummy might be the one movie on this list that can rival the Indiana Jones series. It’s a great adventure film starring Brendan Fraser with exciting action scenes and comedy that lands. Its sequels are also beloved. One movie fan said, “These are pure gold, personally, I love them more than Indiana Jones films.”
2 – The Adventures of Tintin
Steven Spielberg helped bring Indiana Jones to the silver screen in the 1980s alongside George Lucas. Unsurprisingly, he succeeded at making another great adventure with The Adventures of Tintin in 2011. The film is based on the classic comic book of the same name. It never received a sequel, but is still beloved. One person shared, “It’s one of the best films Spielberg has made in the post-2000s era.”
3 – Uncharted
The Uncharted video games have been called Indiana Jones rip-offs for years. That’s probably why it works so well as an adventure film. With this one, you can expect all the usual globe-trotting, treasure-hunting shenanigans. One film fan said, “It wasn’t a 10/10 but still a fun time.”
4 – Jungle Cruise
Jungle Cruise, like Pirates of the Caribbean, is based on a theme park ride and is also a great adventure film. It stars Dwayne Johnson alongside Emily Blunt in a quest for a magic tree while competing against Conquistadors and an expedition of German explorers. If that sounds like a good time, this is right up your alley.
5 – Three Kings
Three Kings isn’t a typical adventure film like the rest on this list. It has some lighthearted moments but is a dark film tonally since it takes place during the Gulf War. Three soldiers set out to find Saddam Hussein’s stash of gold and run into many obstacles along the way. This one’s worth a watch for George Clooney alone.
6 – The Goonies
The Goonies is essential viewing for any adventure movie fan. It follows a group of kids hunting for treasure with the hope of saving their homes from foreclosure. Along the way, they run into the Fratellis, who want the treasure for themselves. One of the main characters is played by Ke Huy Quan, Short Round from the Indiana Jones films.
7 – Journey to the Center of the Earth
In 2008, Brendan Fraser was busy starring in a third sequel to The Mummy and Journey to the Center of the Earth. While it wasn’t a massive hit with critics or audiences, you can still have a good time with it if you want a decent adventure film.
8 – Captain America: The First Avenger
It may not seem like it, but the first Captain America film is an adventure movie despite being a comic book film. One movie lover made a compelling argument. “It has Nazis, leaves the over-the-top superhero stuff for war scientists and the occult, has a charismatic hero, a dash of romance, and captures the feel of an old adventure serial until the finale,” they explained.
9 – Jumanji
Jumanji is a film that follows the havoc caused by a board game named Jumanji. The game unleashes jungle-related creatures with each turn, leading to an exciting movie with plenty of thrills. In addition to this film, there are two sequels that continue the story.
10 – National Treasure
Nicolas Cage’s role in National Treasure as treasure hunter Benjamin Gates is one of the best in his career. Gates feels like a flawed, younger version of Indiana Jones. The film sees Gates steal the Declaration of Independence to pursue a Freemason treasure. I recommend the second National Treasure film as it is as good as the first.
11 – Lara Croft: Tomb Raider
The Tomb Raider video games were heavily inspired by Indiana Jones and helped inspire the Uncharted series. Like Uncharted, Tomb Raider received a film, Lara Croft: Tomb Raider. Protagonist Lara Croft races the Illuminati to several treasures around the world. There was a sequel as well as a Tomb Raider reboot. If you want that Indiana Jones vibe, you can’t go wrong with these films.
12 – Sahara
Aside from production issues, like possibly breaking international law, Sahara is an underrated gem when it comes to adventure movies. It stars Matthew McConaughey and Salma Hayek and was shot in the UK and Morocco. One movie fan said, “This is an underrated gem. I think a lot of people thought this was a chick flick.” It might have bombed at the box office, but it’s still worth checking out.
13 – The Lost City of Z
Based on the true story of Percy Fawcett’s disappearance, The Lost City of Z follows Fawcett and his attempts to find a lost city in the Amazon rainforest. The film stars Charlie Hunnam as Fawcett with a pre-Spider-Man Tom Holland as his son. Check this one out for yourself to see why it was named one of TIME magazine’s best films of 2017.
14 – Big Trouble in Little China
Big Trouble in Little China is a classic 80s adventure film. It’s got over-the-top action, a damsel in distress, a scary villain, and Kurt Russell. What’s not to love about it? One film fanatic said it is “by far my favorite 80s movie.” It didn’t catch on immediately with audiences but eventually reached cult status on home video.
15 – Operation Condor
Speaking of China, Operation Condor stars one of China’s biggest stars, Jackie Chan. In this film, he takes on Nazis searching for gold, similar to Indiana Jones. The film didn’t become too popular in North America, but it became a cult favorite and received a sequel in 2012.
16 – Fool’s Gold
If you enjoyed Matthew McConaughey in Sahara, you might also enjoy Fool’s Gold. It’s about a divorced couple who reunite in search of buried treasure. The movie was hated upon release and even won a Razzie award. It doesn’t have Nazis, but it does have gold, and that’s all that matters. Right?
17 – Hudson Hawk
In Hudson Hawk, Bruce Willis plays the role of a cat burglar who gets involved in the hunt for a device made by Leonardo da Vinci. The film is silly and lighthearted with its goofy cartoon-style sound effects. It also has some action elements as well. The film is definitely worth watching despite its negative reception.
18 – The Kid Who Would Be King
Fans of King Arthur may be interested in The Kid Who Would Be King. The film centers around a young boy searching for Arthur’s sword Excalibur to defeat the evil enchantress Morgan le Fay. It’s likely not receiving a sequel anytime soon, so you have plenty of time to check it out.
19 – Land of the Lost
As a remake of the classic 70s series about dinosaurs, Land of the Lost didn’t succeed at the box office and disappointed critics and audiences. More than 10 years later, opinions about the film have started to change. One movie lover called it “stupid-funny but still funny.”
20 – Onward
Onward is an adventure film tailor-made for families. It’s a Disney Pixar film about two brothers on a quest to resurrect their deceased father. This leads them to several magical obstacles that put their quest at risk. Onward is just one of the many great Disney adventure films.
21 – The Rundown
The Rundown has the honor of being one of Dwayne Johnson’s first movie roles. He plays a bounty hunter doing one last job, which sends him on a quest to Brazil. This film has all the adventure you could want in a movie, along with some great comedy and action.
22 – Jewel of the Nile
It won’t be as good as Indiana Jones, but Jewel of the Nile is a decent adventure flick. After an explosion destroys their ship, the film’s characters set off on an adventure to find the Jewel of the Nile. Even though it’s a sequel to Romancing the Stone, you don’t have to watch that film to enjoy this one.
23 – Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl
Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl gives off the perfect Indiana Jones vibe. It has a treasure, a threatening villain, and plenty of locations for the main characters to visit. This is the first film in the Pirates of the Caribbean series, but there are plenty of others if you don’t enjoy this one.
24 – Kong: Skull Island
Kong: Skull Island is yet another film about the famous giant ape, but it stands on its own. The film acts as a period piece set in the 1970s and sets up future films in the MonsterVerse. It also has some fantastic action scenes featuring King Kong himself.
Source: Reddit
