Plenty of films in the genre have become household names, but many have not, and it’s not because they lack in quality. Several incredible adventure movies failed to attract an audience when they premiered. Sometimes, it’s easy to blame poor marketing, but there are often several contributing factors that led to the lack of appreciation they recieve today.
10
The Road To El Dorado (2000)
The Road to El Dorado is a DreamWorks movie and was released when animated films were starting to fall out of vogue. A quieter premiere doesn’t speak to the movie’s quality, and it remains an excellent adventure that audiences of all ages can enjoy.
The Road to El Dorado stars Tulio (Kevin Kline) and Miguel (Kenneth Branagh) as two conmen with a map to the city of gold. They stumble upon an island where the residents believe they are gods and run into trouble when their elaborate ruse becomes increasingly difficult to maintain.
Kids will find plenty to enjoy in a fast-paced animated movie, and The Road to El Dorado has plenty of subtle, mature jokes for adults. All things considered, it’s an easy watch with a loveable cast.
9
Willow (1988)
Willow is a grand fantasy epic starring Warwick Davis, on an adventure to bring a special child to safety. He’s a farmer, and quickly finds himself out of his depth against supernatural creatures, soldiers, and an evil sorceress who will stop at nothing to claim her prize.
The movie puts Willow on a globetrotting journey outside the safety of his village. He teams up with Madmartigan (Val Kilmer), a skilled swordsman in a medieval-style world full of magic and peril.
Some of the special effects are dated by today’s standards, but Willow remains a superb fantasy adventure that’s slipped into obscurity. A Willow series was recently available to stream on Disney+, but was suddenly removed and is no longer watchable.
8
Hidalgo (2004)
Many people only know Viggo Mortensen as Aragorn from The Lord of the Rings films. Far fewer know that he starred in an adventure movie inspired by real events, which premiered between the releases of The Fellowship of the Ring and The Two Towers.
Mortensen plays Frank Hopkins in 2004’s Hidalgo. He’s a cowboy past his prime and embarks on a grueling race across the desert on his trusty steed, Hidalgo, for a grand prize. The race, aptly named the ‘Ocean of Fire,’ is far more dangerous than a regular competition.
Hopkins and Hidalgo face threats from the environment and from other ruthless competitors and outsiders. It’s a no-brainer for fans of horse movies, but it’s a strong enough action-adventure flick for anyone to enjoy.
7
The Ghost And The Darkness (1996)
The Ghost and the Darkness is a survival adventure film loosely based on real events. It follows Val Kilmer as John Patterson, who is commissioned to build a railroad bridge in Africa. However, a group of man-eating lions has other plans.
Patterson is trapped in an unfamiliar land, trying to keep his workers safe while two lions, the Ghost and the Darkness, terrorize the camp. He teams up with Remmington (Michael Douglas), a veteran hunter, but the duo quickly realizes there is more to the lions than meets the eye.
The Ghost and the Darkness is a tense adventure movie, and the lions are just as scary as any supernatural threat. It failed to make an impression at the box office, but it remains a worthwhile watch, especially for fans of creature features.
6
Stardust (2007)
Stardust is a fantasy adventure movie starring Charlie Cox as Tristan. He embarks on a quest to retrieve a fallen star for his partner, only to realize it is actually a living person named Yvaine (Claire Danes). Tristan also discovers he’s not the only person after the star.
Stardust has a stellar cast, including Robert De Niro as a pirate captain. Tristan and Yvaine embark on a perilous journey and face a mix of supernatural and more grounded foes. The movie tells a romantic story, but it also features plenty of action, including well-choreographed sword fights.
Despite offering a masterful blend of fantasy, romance, and action, Stardust is rarely talked about today. It has a loyal fanbase, but remains an underrated movie that a multigenerational audience can enjoy.
5
The Lost City Of Z (2016)
The Lost City of Z is another adventure film loosely based on real-life events. It stars Charlie Hunnam as Percy Fawcett, a plucky British explorer who travels to the Amazon rainforest in search of a city he calls ‘Z.’
During the movie, Fawcett tries to map uncharted areas of the Amazon despite danger lurking around every corner. The jungle itself is an unforgiving environment, and diseases like malaria make the location even more hostile.
Fawcett also faces pressure from his contemporaries as his search borders upon obsession. The Lost City of Z is slower-paced than you may expect from a typical adventure movie, but it’s atmospheric and takes time to explore its protagonist.
4
The Golden Child (1986)
The Golden Child is an ’80s adventure movie starring Eddie Murphy as Chandler Jarrell. He’s a private detective tasked with finding and protecting a special child as evil forces move against him.
Jarrell teams up with Kee Nang (Charlotte Lewis) as their journey takes them from dingy backstreets to Tibetan temples. The movie is endlessly quotable, and Murphy is just silly enough that his quest remains believable.
Our heroes face both natural and supernatural threats, and Charles Dance plays a wonderfully evil antagonist, Sardo Numspa. The Golden Child blends action comedy and adventure into a package with mass appeal. It’s not the most iconic movie in Murphy’s repertoire, but many who stumble across it believe it’s woefully underrated.
3
Love And Monsters (2020)
Love and Monsters is the newest movie on the list, but slipped under many audiences’ radars despite being a solid adventure film. The movie was originally titled Monster Problems and was set for a theatrical release until the pandemic struck.
Despite the release woes, Love and Monsters tells a heartwarming yet tragic story about how monsters claimed the planet’s surface. Joel (Dylan O’Brien) is separated from his love interest, Aimee (Jessica Henwick), during the outbreak, which sees the end of society as we know it. He plans a reunion despite having zero survival skills.
Love and Monsters introduces us to many weird and wonderful creatures as Joel learns how to deal with them. He meets other survivors, and there are some surprisingly touching moments and funny events along the way.
2
Big Trouble in Little China (1986)
Big Trouble in Little China is a wild adventure movie starring Kurt Russell as Jack Burton, a trucker. He unwittingly finds himself facing supernatural foes beneath Chinatown when a gang kidnaps his friend’s partner.
Events quickly spiral out of control in Big Trouble in Little China, but Jack can never resist acting cool and tough, no matter the situation. David Lo Pan (James Hong) is a superb, mysterious antagonist, and the movie throws everything from gang fights to immortals in straw hats into the mix.
Although the movie is far less known outside that circle, Big Trouble in Little China remains a timeless cult classic and one of Kurt Russell’s most iconic roles, even if the film wasn’t a massive hit in 1986.
1
Army of Darkness (1992)
The Evil Dead movies and the incredibly successful reboots are hits for horror fans and even general audiences. However, far fewer know about Army of Darkness, a sequel to the original films that takes the story in a completely new direction and into adventure territory.
Ash (Bruce Campbell) is unwillingly thrown back into Medieval times during the climax of Evil Dead 2. Army of Darkness trades the cursed cabin in the woods for castles as our hero searches for the Necronomicon and a way back home.
The adventure movie leans heavily into comedy, with Ash bringing contemporary weapons into an ancient fantasy setting. Army of Darkness is certainly well-known among horror fans, but far less so outside that niche. The tone is entirely different from the gritty Evil Dead reboots, but Campbell’s portrayal of Ash is timeless, as are his legendary one-liners.