6 Near-Perfect Adventure Movies That Deserve To Be As Big As Raiders Of The Lost Ark

Published Oct 10, 2026, 4:45 PM EDT Anthony is a news reporter and a guide writer who has covered the entertainment industry for five years. He has covered a wide range of genres, including aviation incidents and international crime, and has a keen eye for details that may slip under the radar. When he's not writing, Anthony can be found at Brands Hatch race track or at home watching indie horror movies nobody has heard of. Adventure movies are crowd-pleasers that take audiences on grand journeys. The best movies in the genre boast exceptional worldbuilding and incredible characters with goals and motivations viewers can get behind. When we talk about the adventure genre, it's hard not to think of Raiders of the Lost Ark. The 1981 movie introduced audiences to Harrison Ford's Indiana Jones. He's a rugged, charismatic archaeologist and professor unafraid of fieldwork or getting his hands dirty. Raiders of the Lost Ark is also unique because our hero searches for a fabled mythical artifact audiences may have heard of outside the movie, which gives the story a remarkable draw, and sets up an iconic series that follows suit. The Temple of Doom takes the famous archaeologist into a more fantastical world in search of the mythical Sankara Stones. In the final movie in the original trilogy, The Last Crusade, Indy teams up with his father, Henry (Sean Connery), in a race against the Nazis to find the Holy Grail. Raiders of the Lost Ark is a cultural phenomenon and has survived the test of time for more than 45 years. However, other adventure movies arguably deserve more attention than they received, and we're focusing on some of the best in this list. We have also omitted several beloved franchises, such as Pirates of the Caribbean and The Lord of the Rings, because they are already entertainment juggernauts and major parts of pop culture. With this in mind, here are six adventure movies that arguably deserve to be far bigger than they are. 6 The Mummy (1999) We're starting our list with a quintessential 90s adventure movie in Stephen Sommers' The Mummy. Brendan Fraser stars as Rick O'Connell. He's a rugged adventurer, and Evelyn (Rachel Weisz) rescues him from prison on the promise that he'll take her to Hamunaptra, a legendary Egyptian city shrouded in mystery. The pair travel to the fabled settlement with Evelyn's brother, Jonathan (John Hannah), along for the ride. They unwittingly awaken the ancient, cursed mummy, Imhotep (Arnold Vosloo). Our heroes try to reverse their mistake before it's too late, but their supernatural foe quickly grows stronger, as does his influence. The Mummy tells a fast-paced action-adventure story with an exceptional cast. Fraser and Weisz have incredible on-screen chemistry, and the story is expanded in the sequel, The Mummy Returns. Fans of the franchise are also eagerly awaiting Rick and Evelyn's return in the upcoming The Mummy 4. 5 The 13th Warrior (1999) The 13th Warrior is an epic historical fantasy adventure movie starring Antonio Banderas as Ahmed Ibn Fahdlan. He's a poet and a scholar forced out of his area of expertise to fight alongside a band of Viking warriors. Those Vikings are on a dangerous quest to face a mysterious threat. They are adept warriors, but Fahdlan stands out for all the wrong reasons because he isn't a fighter. He struggles to find his place in the group and is more of a hindrance in battle. It's an uphill struggle, but Fahdlan learns he must persevere and lean into his strengths if the mission is to succeed. Fans of The 13th Warrior speak highly of the 1999 movie, with some regarding it as an underrated classic. It has the hallmarks of a great adventure movie and even dips into fantasy territory in a coming-of-age story of sorts for an unlikely hero. 4 Stardust (2007) Stardust has a passionate fanbase, though the movie seems strangely obscure outside that circle. The 2007 film tells a high-fantasy adventure story starring Charlie Cox as Tristan. He's on a quest to retrieve a fallen star for the love of his life. Tristan's life changes forever when he reaches the star and discovers it's actually a living celestial being called Yvaine (Clare Danes). He embarks on a journey to keep her safe, though he quickly realizes he wasn't the only person searching for the star as supernatural foes give chase. Stardust offers a fast-paced story with an exceptional cast, including Robert De Niro as the fearsome sky pirate Captain Shakespeare. The movie has laugh-out-loud moments, great chemistry between the two leads, and is suitable for a multigenerational audience. 3 The Mask of Zorro (1998) Antonio Banderas makes another appearance on our list in The Mask of Zorro. The movie is certainly well-known among fans of 90s movies. There's a sequel in The Legend of Zorro, and the character is even referenced in films like Puss in Boots. That said, it's a classic swashbuckling adventure that should arguably be much bigger. Banderas stars as Alejandro Murrieta, a skilled thief. Alejandro isn't Zorro to begin with, as the first masked outlaw we meet is Don Diego de la Vega (Anthony Hopkins). He trains Alejandro to take up the mantle of Zorro, and both have unique motivations for working together. The movie is full of intense action set pieces, and it's clear that Banderas is enjoying himself as the dashing hero. The Mask of Zorro boasts a phenomenal cast and arguably one of the finest fantasy sword fights. Zorro also meets Elena (Catherine Zeta-Jones) during his adventures. She's no slouch with a sword herself, and her complex relationship with Zorro is a highlight of the movie. 2 Big Trouble in Little China (1986) Big Trouble in Little China is a beloved John Carpenter classic starring Kurt Russell as Jack Burton. He's a wise-cracking trucker, visiting his friend, Wang Chi (Dennis Dun). However, his life is turned upside down when he witnesses the Lords of Death street gang kidnapping Wang's fiancée. Jack and Wang pursue in his truck but quickly find more than they bargained for. The duo stumbles across a deadly gang war. They also encounter three seemingly invincible warriors and a mysterious cursed sorcerer, David Lo Pan (James Hong). Their quest to rescue Miao Yin (Suzee Pai) takes them beneath Chinatown and into a dangerous world where nothing is what it seems. Big Trouble in Little China is as wild as it sounds. Russell's Jack Burton is an unforgettable hero because he acts like the main character, even though he's in over his head. Burton is also endlessly quotable, with some wonderfully ridiculous one-liners. Despite its charm, Big Trouble in Little China is a one-off. A reboot was hinted at years ago, though many fans agree that the 80s movie is a classic, and a modern reboot could never do it justice. 1 National Treasure (2004) MoviestillsDB National Treasure tells an action-mystery story that feels like a modern spin on Raiders of the Lost Ark in many ways. Nicolas Cage stars as Benjamin Gates. He's a historian searching for a treasure he believes was hidden by the Founding Fathers. The catch is that one essential clue is supposedly hidden with the Declaration of Independence. Ben discovers that a rival treasure hunter, Ian (Sean Bean), intends to steal the Declaration to reach the treasure first. Ben must act quickly to beat Ian, so he hatches his own plan to obtain the Declaration himself. The problem is that you can't simply borrow such a coveted piece of history, and Ben quickly finds himself pursued by his rival as well as the authorities. National Treasure is already well-known among adventure movie fans, featuring a notably more grounded character from Cage. A sequel, National Treasure: Book of Secrets, was released in 2007, but the series has remained dormant for almost two decades. National Treasure 3 is reportedly in the works, with Cage reprising his role, but we will have to wait and see whether a sequel brings the franchise back into the limelight.