30 Best Adventure Movies of All Time, Ranked According to IMDb

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 10 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.

30 ‘Up’ (2009)

IMDb Rating: 8.3/10

Out of every film in Pixar’s legendary filmography, few truly show off the adventure and timeless majesty that the adventures of life can hold like Up, the critically acclaimed masterwork that acts as one of Pixar’s greatest achievements. The film follows the story of the elderly Carl Fredricksen, who after having spent years of his life fantasizing about traveling across the world, finally decides to make his dreams a reality by attaching thousands of balloons to his house. Accompanied by a quirky young boy scout, Carl finds himself on the adventure of a lifetime as he finally makes up for lost time.

While various other Pixar movies have had a heightened sense of adventure and excitement, Up uses the spirit of adventure as a central part of its themes of age, living life to the fullest, and how adventure comes from even ordinary parts of life. While everyone who has seen the film has been quick to scream from the rooftops about the mastery of the films film’s brilliant opening, the core film itself still has many exceptional strengths and leans into the classic charm that Pixar is so acclaimed for.

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29 ‘North by Northwest’ (1959)

IMDb Rating: 8.3/10

While Alfred Hitchcock is most commonly recognized for his work creating masterful suspenseful thrillers, he lent his talents to the world of a massive-scale adventure thriller in North by Northwest. The film sees advertising man Roger Thornhill (Cary Grant) being mistaken for an international super spy, finding himself on the run from various dangerous agencies who desperately want to see his demise. The chase sees Thornhill traveling across the entire country on a seemingly never-ending mad-dash to safety and refuge.

Despite not being an action movie, the modern action-comedy can attribute a lot of its inherent conventions and strengths to the standard set forth and solidified by Hitchcock’s masterful execution in North by Northwest. The film has a brilliantly sprawling sense of scale, electrifying action sequences that have audiences glued to the screen and wildly anticipating what comes next, and a charming likable lead that’s impossible not to root for. It’s hard to think of things that North by Northwest does incorrectly, being one of the most influential and iconic adventure films of all time.

28 ‘Star Wars: Episode VI – Return of the Jedi’ (1983)

IMDb Rating: 8.3/10

The long-awaited final film in one of the most iconic and beloved sci-fi adventure trilogies of all time, Star Wars: Episode VI – Return of the Jedi had the nearly impossible task of following up two of the most defining movies of the generation, yet still managed to meet these near-impossible expectations. The film sees the rebels’ continuous struggle against the empire, starting with Luke and friends’ perilous rescue of Han Solo from Jabba the Hutt to their journeying to the planet of Endor in able to stop the building of a second Death Star.

While not as legendary or beloved as the previous two entries in the trilogy, Return of the Jedi has still massively cemented itself as a legend for adventure films, helping create the standard for blockbuster adventure trilogies and finales for modern cinema. It features all the classic strengths that made the original Star Wars trilogy so beloved, from top-notch practical effects and world-building to striking thematic resonance with a powerful and timeless story.

27 ‘Toy Story’ (1995)

IMDb Rating: 8.3/10

Pixar’s first foray into the world of feature-length computer-animated films, Toy Story would take the world by storm and single-handedly start a revolution for the future of animation thanks to its quaint charm and fun adventurous style. The film sees the various toys owned by young Andy, who enjoys living their simple lives of being played with and bringing joy to his childlike wonder. However, when new spaceman toy Buzz Lightyear (Tim Allen) enters the picture, an overwhelming jealousy infects Andy’s previously favorite toy, Woody (Tom Hanks), with the duo finding themselves on an unexpected adventure in trying to get back to Andy.

While certainly at a much smaller scale than a standard adventure film, the emotional weight and strength of Woody and Buzz’s journey of returning to the other toys is filled with the same gargantuan highs of the greatest adventure films. Setpieces like the Pizza Planet arcade and Sid’s destructive room are massively iconic in nature, brimming with creativity and allowing the concept of living toys to reach their maximum potential.

26 ‘2001: A Space Odyssey’ (1968)

IMDb Rating: 8.3/10

One of the most influential and critically acclaimed sci-fi adventure films of all time, Stanley Kubrick‘s 2001: A Space Odyssey redefined how space adventures would be told in the medium of film. The film follows a team of scientists who find themselves on a journey across space in search of the origin of a mysterious object that was left buried beneath the lunar surface. The team has the help of the most advanced supercomputer of the future, the HAL 9000, to aid them on their quest across the cosmos.

For over 50 years, 2001: A Space Odyssey has been largely touted as one of the greatest feats in cinematic history, with groundbreaking special effects and masterful storytelling that left a permanent influence on the medium of film. It’s a testament to the film’s high quality that, even when compared to the largest and most popular adventure films of the modern era, 2001 is still in contention for some of the best that adventure films have to offer, even without any standout action sequences.

25 ‘Princess Mononoke’ (1997)

IMDb Rating: 8.3/10

Hayao Miyazaki has lent his hand to the creation of many powerful and breathtaking adventure films in the world of animation, with one of his most acclaimed achievements coming in the form of Princess Mononoke. The film follows the story of Prince Ashitaka, who after being cursed by a demonized boar god, is forced to travel to the far west to find a cure to his ailment. On his journey, he finds himself at the center of an ongoing power struggle between a bustling human city and a young girl and her wolf companions fighting to protect the forest and its creatures.

Princess Mononoke sports powerful and timeless themes through its breathtaking visuals, exceptional worldbuilding, and some of the greatest action put into the medium of animation. The film has continued to stand the test of time in the decades since its release as one of the greatest 2D animated films of all time as well as one of the most acclaimed works of art of the 90s. It makes a great central argument for just how powerful adventure films can be, even in the confines of animation.

24 ‘Lawrence of Arabia’ (1962)

IMDb Rating: 8.3/10

As far as sprawling epic adventure films with a gargantuan sense of scale and magnitude, it’s difficult to find a film that feels more massive in its approach than Lawrence of Arabia, even over 60 years after its release. The film follows British officer T.E. Lawrence as he embarks on a mission to aid the Arab tribes during their revolt against the Ottoman Empire during the First World War. Soon enough, Lawrence becomes a larger-than-life figure of great importance following the Arab unity, yet his mental hurdles threaten to destroy and undermine everything that he’s worked towards.

Lawrence of Arabia is the quintessential example of what a cinematic epic adventure should entail, clocking in at over three and a half hours and not wasting a single second in its story or experience. It has proven to be one of the most influential adventure films of modern cinema, weaving together a story of massive proportions while also giving the level of emotional gravitas required to make it stand the test of time.

23 ‘Coco’ (2017)

IMDb Rating: 8.4/10

There is a solid reason why many people consider Coco to be one of the best films that Pixar has ever produced. Fans have grown to anticipate exceptionally clear and stunning graphics from the studio, and the film delivers on those expectations. Also, the film tells an extraordinary tale about a little boy who has adventures in the Land of the Dead.

In the film, an unexplained ban on music is revealed to have been motivated by a tragic backstory, which will almost certainly move viewers to shed at least a few tears. Stunning and grandiose moments in the animated film are brilliantly accompanied by scenes that are more personal and moving – all of these work well and make up the engrossing and unforgettable trip of a lifetime for the film’s lovable protagonist.

22 ‘Inglourious Basterds’ (2009)

IMDb Rating: 8.4/10

While Quentin Tarantino has made a wide variety of iconic and memorable films throughout his career, the only one that could be considered an adventure film is Inglourious Basterds, with its massive sense of scale and tumultuous journey. The film follows a variety of different characters and stories during the height of World War II, including a cutthroat group of Jewish-American soldiers known as “The Basterds,” a cinema worker’s plans to sabotage her own Nazi viewing party, and all the chaos in between.

Inglourious Basterds brings all the classic stylings and conventions of Tarantino’s other works to the vicious period of World War II, creating a beautiful revisionist history story of bloodshed and electrifying characters. It’s as close as a 21st-century war film can get to being perfect from start to finish, thanks greatly to Tarantino’s brilliant creative vision for the film, as well as the overall scale and standout sequences that have continued to make it a fan favorite 15 years later.

21 ‘Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse’ (2018)

IMDb Rating: 8.4/10

Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse is a critically acclaimed animated film that introduced the Marvel hero to the concept of the multiverse before it became mainstream. It follows the likable Miles Morales (Shameik Moore) as he attempts to juggle superhero responsibilities with schoolwork, a task that quickly gets more complex as he encounters other Spider-Man characters from all over the universe. Before it’s too late, they have to work together to put a stop to the nefarious Kingpin and his “super collider.”

The film’s stunning visuals steal the show, overshadowing even its well-written characters in impact. It seems as if pages from a comic book have come to life in order to convey Miles’ amazing experience thanks to the vivid colors and wild transitions that are used. It’s an incredible animated movie that stands up remarkably well to more recent entries in the genre.

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20 ‘Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Ark’ (1981)

IMDb Rating: 8.4/10

In Raiders of the Lost Ark, the courageous archaeologist Indiana Jones (Harrison Ford) embarks on an incredible journey. Alongside his brave love interest Marion Ravenwood (Karen Allen), the characters find themselves entangled in a race against villains who are searching for the lost artifact for their own nefarious purposes. What comes next is a treacherous adventure that is full of twists and traps, both of which the protagonist needs to overcome.

The thrilling Indiana Jones movie is packed with unexpected turns that shed light on the individuals and their motivations for the actions they do. As the audience becomes increasingly attached to Jones and Marion, the story focuses less on the artifact itself and more on the adventurous journey that they go on.

19 ‘Avengers: Infinity War’ (2018)

IMDb Rating: 8.4/10

The stakes are higher than ever before in Avengers: Infinity War, where the group of familiar heroes faces off against a truly terrible antagonist, Thanos (Josh Brolin), an intergalactic Titan warlord who’s on a quest to collect all six Infinity Stones. His goal? To destroy half of all life across the universe to “restore balance.”

For MCU fans, Infinity War left a sinking feeling in their stomachs that would only be resolved by the even more iconic sequel. It showed the world that the Avengers could lose in a spectacular fashion, and gave audiences a legendary antagonist with a twisted goal that changes everything for the mighty heroes.

18 ‘WALL-E’ (2008)

IMDb Rating: 8.4/10

Pixar has had many films that have toyed with the themes and concepts of adventure films throughout their legendary filmography, yet no film in their catalog quite achieves a sense of adventure like WALL-E. The film follows the titular robot, one of the last remaining holdouts on a completely barren and abandoned planet Earth, leaving him alone to clean the trash that humanity left behind. However, when a spaceship in search of life returns to Earth, WALL·E will travel across the cosmos on an adventure to save Earth and humanity as a whole.

From the darkest visions of the future to the deepest reaches of outer space, WALL-E has a grandiose sense of scale and magnitude that makes perfect use of the medium of animation. The film’s themes of environmentalism have continued to ring true and powerful all these years, and the characters of WALL·E and Eve have grown to be one of the most iconic duos in modern animation history. While Pixar has and will continue to create iconic adventure films that make the most out of animation as an art form, WALL·E will continue to be one of their greatest cinematic achievements.

17 ‘Avengers: Endgame’ (2019)

IMDb Rating: 8.4/10

Following the devastating deaths caused by Thanos’ snap in Avengers: Infinity War, the survivors are left to pick up the pieces in Endgame. The events of Phase Three come to a head in the box office hit, which sees the remaining Avengers banding together for one final attempt at reversing the chaos and destruction all over the universe.

The Russo brothers manage to depict a complicated story with numerous moving parts in a cohesive and exhilarating way in one of the best adventure movies from Hollywood. With wild portrayals of time travel, tear-jerking final goodbyes, and visually stunning epic battles on a scale never before seen in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

16 ‘Aliens’ (1986)

IMDb Rating: 8.4/10

In this terrific sequel to Alien, Sigourney Weaver reprises her now-iconic role as Ellen Ripley, who is finally rescued after spending decades asleep in cryo. She quickly becomes a member of a team that is sent to a settlement of colonists on a planet that may be inhabited by extraterrestrial beings, and she is disheartened to discover that everyone around her appears to be underestimating the monsters.

James Cameron‘s Aliens is able to successfully present audiences with a more extensive storyline since it has much improved special effects, expanded approaches for world-building, and even a more intimate look into Ellen’s backstory. Widely regarded as one of the most iconic sci-fi movies, Aliens will keep audiences glued to their screens as Ellen survives one horrific encounter after another.

15 ‘The Lion King’ (1994)

IMDb Rating: 8.5/10

The Lion King is an animated Disney classic that tells the story of Simba (voiced by Matthew Broderick), a cub and successor to King Mufasa (James Earl Jones) in the Circle of Life. When Simba’s scheming uncle Scar (Jeremy Irons) murders Mufasa and manipulates the lion cub that it’s his fault, however, he finds comfort far away from home among new carefree friends, Timon (Nathan Lane) and Pumbaa (Ernie Sabella). It takes a childhood friend, Nala (Moira Kelly), and a shaman, Rafiki (Robert Guillaume), to get Simba back on the right path.

Among the greatest movies to come out during the Disney Renaissance, the touching story of Simba’s adventure is an important part of numerous audiences’ childhoods. The well-written film is still worth revisiting today, as adults may find new perspectives on Simba’s journey.

14 ‘Back to the Future’ (1985)

IMDb Rating: 8.5/10

Back to the Future is a film that needs no introduction. The critically acclaimed classic directed by Robert Zemeckis follows the misadventures of Marty McFly (Michael J. Fox), who accidentally uses Doc Brown’s (Christopher Lloyd) modified DeLorean to travel back in time. He’s soon in a messy situation when he ruins the early stages of his parents’ relationship, which threatens Marty’s existence.

Campy, wacky, and surprisingly heartfelt, it’s not hard to see why Back to the Future is beloved by fans. Any disturbing challenges Marty encounters are never too troubling thanks to the comedic tone and light atmosphere throughout the film.

13 ‘Dune: Part Two’ (2024)

IMDb Rating: 8.5/10

Following the successful premiere of 2021’s Dune, it seemed to most that Frank Herbert‘s notoriously unadaptable novels have found their match. Director Denis Villeneuve proves this with the recently released Dune: Part Two, which continues Paul Atreides’ (Timothée Chalamet) journey further into the unforgiving deserts of the planet Arrakis, where he takes advantage of a prophecy to motivate the local population to fight.

Dune: Part Two is bigger, bolder, and better in every way, expanding on the already intriguing lore laid out by the first movie. It also introduces new characters and elements with ease, with the film benefitting from Villeneuve’s direction in telling its tricky yet compelling story – not to mention its impeccably cast supporting characters. Fans and critics alike are hoping he can stick the landing with the potential final installment in the film series.

12 ‘Gladiator’ (2000)

IMDb Rating: 8.5/10

Director Ridley Scott’s Gladiator is a historical drama centered on the Roman general, Maximus Decimus Meridius (Russell Crowe). Maximus is betrayed, and his family is murdered by the treacherous Commodus (Joaquin Phoenix), who wanted to claim Emperor Marcus Aurelius’ (Richard Harris) throne. Maximus is sent away and into slavery, but he soon becomes a gladiator and climbs the ranks to seek revenge.

Anyone who has seen the hard-hitting yet spectacular movie knows that Maximus’ adventure isn’t a happy one. He repeatedly risks his life to get right back to where he was and confront his family’s murderer. One of Ridley Scott’s very best works, it’s an inspiring and heartbreaking tale of a courageous soldier who never stops fighting.

11 ‘Spirited Away’ (2001)

IMDb Rating: 8.6/10

Director Hayao Miyazaki’s Spirited Away is centered on ten-year-old Chihiro Ogino’s (Rumi Hiiragi) tale as she ventures deeper into the world of the Kami to find a way to rescue her parents. She has to learn to muster up the courage to survive in Yubaba’s (Mari Natsuki) bathhouse, deal with creatures like No-Face, and rely on her inner strength to keep going.

Still considered Studio Ghibli’s most popular film, the animated masterpiece has gorgeous visuals, imaginative character design, and a touching narrative of independence and hope. Chihiro’s adventure is unlike any other and will take viewers along for an awe-inspiring ride through the spirit world.

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