Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny is bringing back one of history’s greatest adventurers, Indiana Jones, for one final adventure. But while Indiana Jones wasn’t the first adventure hero, he was the most popular. However, many adventure films came before Indiana Jones and many that came after. So if fans are looking to recapture the magic, there are plenty of options.
10 The Adventures of Tintin (2011)
The Adventures of Tintin is based on a series of comics of the same name. The story follows a young journalist as he goes on a globe-trotting adventure to find the secrets hiding within the history of the naval ship, the Unicorn. He’s joined by his dog Snowy and a washed-up drunk named Captain Haddock.
Steven Spielberg brings much of what makes Indiana Jones work to this film. It’s a lighthearted adventure in the vein of Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade. The Adventures of Tintin is a fast-paced globe-trotting adventure that Indiana Jones fans will surely love.
9 Secret Of The Incas (1954)
Starring Charlton Heston as Harry Steele, Secret of the Incas follows an adventurer who desires to find the Sunburst, an ancient Incan artifact. Harry Steele works as a tour guide but wants to go to Machu Pichu to find the Incan artifact because it’ll make him rich.
People who watch this film will find a visual similarity to Indiana Jones. This film is often credited as the “blueprint” for Raiders of the Lost Ark, even down to Heston’s clothes. Fans of Harrison Ford’s iconic hero should be interested in watching this movie if only to see where the famed adventurer came from.
8 Romancing The Stone (1984)
Romancing the Stone stars Michael Douglas as Jack Colton, a mercenary who gets wrapped up in an adventure. This film sees Kathleen Turner set out to find her sister when she’s attacked by a man named Zolo, and she’s saved by Colton. Together, they go on a dangerous treasure hunt.
Romancing the Stone is very clearly a Raiders of the Lost Ark “clone,” but it’s still able to stand on its own as a fun and lighthearted adventure. Fans who are looking to explore more adventure films outside of Indiana Jones would want to check this one out.
7 The Librarian: Quest For The Spear (2004)
The Librarian franchise consists of three TV movies and one TV show, so it might have slipped under some people’s radars. The first movie, Quest for the Spear, follows Flynn Carson, the new Librarian at the Library, as he goes on an adventure to find the Spear of Destiny before the forces of evil do.
The Librarian: Quest for the Spear was an attempt to bring an Indiana Jones-type adventure to the small screen, and it succeeded for the most part. The film is an exciting adventure filled with historical and mythical artifacts as Flynn learns how to become the best Librarian. It even showcases the Ark of the Covenant.
6 Dora And The Lost City of Gold (2019)
Dora and the Lost City of Gold introduce audiences to an older Dora the Explorer. Her father, played by Michael Pena from the Ant-Man films, and her mother send her to stay with her cousin Diego while they go searching for the lost city of gold. Unfortunately, they get captured, and Dora has to team up with her cousin and some new friends to find them and the city.
While most Indiana Jones-type films attempt to entice the same audience, Dora and the Lost City of Gold is designed to be more for younger audiences. The film brings many of the cartoon elements of Dora the Explorer to life in faithful and fun ways and provides a fun adventure for those looking to experience it.
5 National Treasure (2004)
Nicolas Cage stars as Benjamin Franklin Gates, a treasure hunter who searches for the greatest treasures in history. His search for a mysterious treasure hidden by American history’s greatest figures has taken his entire life. Thanks to a clue on the back of the Declaration of Independence, he’s now closer than ever to discovering history’s greatest treasure.
National Treasure might be one of the most popular Indiana Jones-like films. Benjamin Gates is a character who loves history and uses his knowledge to help him discover hidden secrets of the ancient world, much like Indiana Jones. Because of this, National Treasure is the perfect film for those looking for more adventure.
4 Jungle Cruise (2021)
The adaptation, based on the popular Disneyland ride of the same name, follows Dr. Lily Houghton as she journeys to the jungle to find the Tree of Life. This tree is said to hold extraordinary powers and can cure any illness. She enlists the help of Frank Wolff, a man who gives tours of the jungle for a living. Together, they have to fight off Germans and undead conquistadors.
Dwayne Johnson is a very charismatic lead, and he and Emily Blunt have great chemistry. Jungle Cruise is a movie that doesn’t try to hide its influences. Because of this, it can feel very derivative of other adventure films, but it could also be great fun for those who just want a fun adventure.
3 The Mummy (1999)
Set in the 1920s, the story of The Mummy follows Brendan Fraser as Rick O’Connell and Rachel Weisz as Evelyn Carnahan and their journey to uncover the lost city of Hamunaptra. When there, they awaken the evil mummy Imhotep, who is looking to revive his lost love and plunge the world into eternal darkness.
A swashbuckling adventure, The Mummy is a perfect stand-in for those interested in watching more adventure films. While it lacks the supernatural MacGuffins of the Indiana Jones franchise, there are plenty more similarities, like the race against evil and the globe-trotting adventure, to keep fans interested.
2 Sahara (2005)
Sahara follows the adventures of Matthew McConaughey’s Dirk Pitt as he searches for a lost Civil War battleship known as the Ship of Death. On this adventure, he meets Eva Rojas, played by Penélope Cruz, who is being hunted by a ruthless dictator. Together, they embark on the adventure of a lifetime.
While Sahara is not the best adventure film, it still offers the kind of thrills that Indiana Jones fans would be looking for. McConaughey plays a very charismatic adventurer, and while the movie doesn’t include any supernatural elements, there’s still plenty of fun to be had.
1 The Road To El Dorado (2000)
Two con artists in Spain find themselves in possession of a map of the fabled city of El Dorado. The Road To El Dorado finds Tulio and Miguel on a journey to find fortune and glory. When they find El Dorado, they are worshiped like gods by the people. When it becomes clear that things are about to go wrong, the two of them decide to protect the city from the invaders that follow them.
The Road To El Dorado is a great adventure film that honors the films that came before without being hamstrung by them. Much like Indiana Jones, the two only cared about fortune and glory before learning about the culture and the people they were about to exploit. It’s a heartwarming adventure that fans should not miss.
