The adventure genre is packed full of great movies, but some directors have created a film so impressive that they’re consistently referred to as masterpieces. The best adventure movies are less about action or spectacle and more about the journey, featuring heroes who travel across vast landscapes, encounter allies and enemies, and pursue objectives that feel like the ultimate main quest. Filmmakers have been telling these stories long before sprawling RPGs and open-world video games became some of the biggest forms of entertainment that followed the same principles.

Whether it’s searching for hidden treasure, crossing dangerous terrain, or answering a call to destiny, some flawless adventure movies capture the same sense of progression and discovery that makes quest-based video games so compelling. Looking back, it’s easy to draw comparisons between some of cinema’s greatest adventures and modern gaming classics.

5

Dune: Part One is the Beginning of Denis Villeneuve’s Epic Saga

The Chosen One Quest

Based on Frank Herbert’s legendary novel, Dune: Part One follows Paul Atreides, the heir to a noble family tasked with overseeing Arrakis. The harsh desert planet contains the galaxy’s most vital resource: spice, but after a political betrayal devastates House Atreides, Paul and his mother are forced to survive in the unforgiving wilderness. With its impressive worldbuilding, ancient prophecies, and compelling themes of power and human destiny, Dune: Part One is a flawless sci-fi movie that opens Villeneuve’s enormous saga.

Dune: Part One has all of the elements of an RPG. Paul begins the story as an inexperienced young noble before gradually unlocking new abilities, mastering survival skills, and learning more about his destiny. Arrakis itself resembles the open-world maps of The Witcher 3 or Elden Ring, which players often start as outsiders before discovering hidden cultures, completing quests for opposing factions, or uncovering their place in a much larger story. But the heart of Dune: Part One is a classic “chosen one” quest that gradually reveals a much larger adventure.

4

The Good, The Bad and The Ugly is a Perfect Western Adventure

Treasure Hunt Quest

The wild, wild west is yet to see a movie that tops Sergio Leone’s The Good, The Bad and The Ugly. The Western masterpiece follows three gunslingers, Blondie/The Man With No Name, Angel Eyes, and Tuco, as they race to find a hidden cache of Confederate gold during the American Civil War. Along the way, shifting alliances, betrayals, and countless obstacles complicate their search. Featuring iconic performances and one of the most celebrated endings of all time, The Good, The Bad and The Ugly helped define the Spaghetti Western.

The Good, The Bad and The Ugly is essentially one big treasure hunt quest. The three protagonists function like rival players pursuing the same objective while taking wildly different approaches to their journey. Clues lead to new locations, unexpected encounters create detours, and every step brings them closer to the final reward. The structure feels remarkably similar to Red Dead Redemption 2, with its sprawling landscapes and morally ambiguous characters. Even the cemetery showdown plays like a final boss battle after dozens of hours of questing.

3

The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring

Epic Party Quest

The first chapter of Peter Jackson’s Lord of the Rings trilogy follows Frodo Baggins after he inherits the One Ring, a powerful artifact sought by the Dark Lord Sauron. Joined by a fellowship of allies that includes Samwise Gamgee, Merry, and Pippin, among other wizards, elves, and dwarves, Frodo leaves the safety of the Shire and embarks on a perilous journey across Middle-earth. The breathtaking visuals, epic journey, and phenomenal performances all helped The Fellowship of the Ring cement itself as one of the best fantasy titles of all time.

The Fellowship of the Ring captures the exact feeling of a classic fantasy RPG. The story assembles a party of heroes with different skills and backgrounds before sending them across a vast world full of quests, enemies, and memorable locations. Middle-earth feels like an enormous open-world map, while the Fellowship resembles the kind of adventuring party found in games like Dragon Age and Skyrim. Every stop on the journey introduces new challenges and side stories, making the film feel like the opening to an epic campaign.

2

Raiders of the Lost Ark is a Classic Adventure Movie

Retrieval/Gather Quest

Raiders of the Lost Ark follows one of gaming’s oldest and most enduring quest structures: recover a powerful artifact before the villains do. Steven Spielberg’s adventure flick introduced the world to Indiana Jones, an archeologist-adventurer tasked with finding the biblical Ark of the Covenant before it falls into Nazi hands. The film sends Indy around the globe, from South American temples to Egyptian ruins, as he battles rival treasure hunters and deadly traps. With a classic opening scene, an everyday hero, and flawless pacing, it’s easy to see why Raiders of the Lost Ark is so iconic.

The DNA of franchises like Tomb Raider and Uncharted can be found in almost every Raiders of the Lost Ark scene. Environmental puzzles, globe-spanning exploration, and enemy encounters all feel like the building-blocks of an action-adventure game. Indy even acquires clues to the next step in his journey, making audiences feel like they’re on a progression system that mirrors how many adventure games guide players through increasingly dangerous locations.

1

Lawrence of Arabia is One of the Greatest Films Ever Made

Tactical Campaign Quest

Lawrence of Arabia tells the story of British officer T.E. Lawrence during World War I. Sent to Arabia to help coordinate forces against the Ottoman Empire, Lawrence slowly becomes a pivotal figure while navigating political alliances, military campaigns, and his own complicated ambitions. Lawrence of Arabia’s sweeping desert and massive scale have influenced filmmakers for decades, thanks to the 65mm film and panavision lenses, which allowed for a very wide and sharp filming of the landscapes.

Lawrence of Arabia feels like a historical open-world adventure game. Much of the movie revolves around traveling through dangerous territory, recruiting allies, gaining influence with rival factions, and undertaking seemingly impossible missions. Lawrence steadily gains reputation and status, almost like a player leveling up through a campaign. Modern gamers will recognize elements of Assassin’s Creed Origins, Kingdom Come: Deliverance, and Mount & Blade, all of which combine exploration, diplomacy, and warfare in the same vein as Lawrence’s journey through the desert.