Adventure movies has been a popular genre of cinema since the early days of Hollywood, and the swashbuckling sub-genre has emerged as a strong part of that success. Known for its focus on swordplay, colorful characters, treasure hunting and more, these movies make for some of the film industry’s classics. Iconic characters like Zorro, Sinbad and Robin Hood are among the many figures who have made the sub-genre as entertaining and rich as it is.

Swashbuckler adventure has a talent in captivating the youngest and oldest audiences out there, often presenting accessible, all-ages entertainment. These stories often show good genre versatility, blending with fantasy, romance and action. Witnessing a hero master the techniques of sword fighting and work the rigging of a ship on a seafaring adventure perfectly encapsulates the appeal of this type of adventure.

Peter Pan is an Adventure Classic

Peter Pan tells the story of Wendy and her brothers’ journey to Neverland, guided by the young and adventurous Peter Pan. The land is a place where nobody ages, and an ongoing war between Captain Hook’s pirate crew and the heroic lost boys rages.

Peter Pan follows Peter, Wendy and the Lost Boys as they explore the perils and different people of Neverland, from its Native American residents to mermaids. The scenes that follow Peter’s never-ending battle against Captain Hook stand out as the best moments of classic swashbuckling fun in the story.

Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves is Pure Fun

As one of the most enduring legends of English mythology, Robin Hood is best known for being an archer hero who robs from the rich and gives to the needy. In 1991, Kevin Costner starred as Robin of Locksley, the wealthy son of an English lord. After returning to Britain from the Middle East, Robin, along with his Moore friend, Azeem, sets out to liberate people from the tyrannical Sheriff of Nottingham.

Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves follows Robin and Azeem as they ally themselves with the Merry Men of Sherwood, led by Big John. Meanwhile, the hero courts Maid Marion and begins his adventures of robbing the rich to give to the poor.

Sinbad is Animated Seafaring Fun

Sinbad: Legend of the Seven Seas tells the story of the titular pirate as he’s forced to undergo an epic seafaring adventure to recover the Book of Peace after the goddess Eris stole it and framed him. Traveling to Tartarus in a bid to save his friend from dying in his stead, Sinbad faces perils of Greek myth along the way while wooing his friend’s love.

Sinbad is a fun merging of piracy, Greek mythology, romance and action, as Sinbad races to recover the Book of Peace and prove he isn’t the black-hearted scoundrel Eris claims. With Brad Pitt and Catherine Zeta-Jones lending their voice to the movie, it’s a great look at a classic character reimagined for animation.

The Three Musketeers Made a Cult Movie of the French Novel

Based on the classic French novel by Alexandre Dumas, The Three Musketeers tells the story of D’Artagnan, a young fencer who aspires to become a Musketeer. However, when France’s Cardinal Richelieu orders the disbandment of the elite guard, three of their best, Athos, Porthos and Aramis, stay firm in their duties. When they meet D’Artagnan, and he aids them in a fight, he tries to join the three heroes in their adventures and missions.

1993’s The Three Musketeers has a great theme of friendship and loyalty, as Hollywood icons Charlie Sheen and Kiefer Sutherland were cast hot on the heels of Young Guns. A fun spin on the classic novel, the movie has some great swordplay and action scenes that make it worth a look.

Antonio Banderas Defined the Role of Zorro

Based on the classic novels and comics, Zorro is one of the adventure genre’s best icons. By day, the hero is Don Diego de la Vega, a wealthy lord who feigns obliviousness. However, when people need him, he dons the black mask and cape, takes up his sword and fights tyranny. In this incarnation, however, the mantle of Zorro is passed down by Don Diego to a new hero, Alejandro Murrieta, a thief who seeks revenge for his brother’s murder.

In 1998’s Mask of Zorro, the story of Murrieta is shown as he trains under Don Diego, with a shared common enemy in the tyrannical Spanish governor, Don Rafael. When Murrieta discovers an oppressive mining operation, he and Don Diego hatch a plan to liberate the workers and free California from tyranny.

Stardust is Everything Adventure Should Be

Stardust tells the story of Tristan Thorn, a young shopkeeper who, in a bid to win the affections of his crush, embarks on a quest to recover a fallen star. When he realizes the star has taken the form of a beautiful woman, Yvaine, Tristan resolves to take her back anyway. However, the duo soon realizes the boy isn’t the only one looking for Yvaine, and an evil witch, a pair of princes and more are soon on their trail.

Along the course of their journey, Tristan and Yvaine begin to fall for one another as they face pirates, dark magic and tricksters on their way. The film is one big love letter to fantasy/adventure and sees Tristan grow from a nervous shopkeeper to a confident, sword-wielding hero.

The Goonies Brought Treasure Hunting to the ’80s

The Goonies tells the story of a group of friends who, after finding a map to the lost treasure of famed pirate One-Eyed Willy, set out to find it. However, on their way, the children encounter a family of criminals, the Fratellis, who chase them down. While navigating the perilous caverns underground, the friends inch closer to the lost treasure.

The Goonies takes classic swashbuckling adventure and brings it into the ’80s, as the ending sees the friends find Willy’s ship and battle the Fratellis for the treasure. As a peak case of childhood adventure, the movie has endured as one of its genre’s best stories.

The Count of Monte Cristo is Revenge Meets Adventure

The Count of Monte Cristo tells the story of a young sailor, Edmond Dantes, as his life is turned upside when a letter handed to him by Napoleon sees him arrested. Framed for treason by his best friend and a prosecutor, Dantes languishes in a hellish prison for thirteen years until, with the aid of a priest, he escapes. When he makes his way to land, the young man, fuelled by vengeance, finds a lost treasure, which turns him into a man of great wealth — and he renames himself the Count of Monte Cristo.

The Count of Monte Cristo sees Edmond Dantes as he uses his newfound wealth and title to plot revenge against the men who had a hand in his captivity. The story is one of love and revenge, as Dantes is left disillusioned at the revelation that his past betrothed married the man who framed him.

Curse of the Black Pearl Kicked Off Pirates of the Caribbean

Based on the beloved theme park ride, the Pirates of the Caribbean film franchise kicked off with Curse of the Black Pearl. The film follows the arrival of Captain Jack Sparrow to Port Royal, where he rescues the island’s governor’s daughter, Elizabeth. After the pirate crew of his old ship loots the island and kidnaps the young woman, Jack is forced to team up with a local blacksmith, Will Turner — Elizabeth’s love.

Curse of the Black Pearl follows Jack and Will as they steal a Royal Navy ship and head out to rescue Elizabeth from her vile captors. Culminating in a showdown on the dreaded Isla de Muerta, the movie is a showcase of everything fun about its era, from scoundrel pirates to seafaring adventure.

The Princess Bride Combined Romance With Adventure

The Princess Bride follows a story told by a grandfather to his grandson and takes the audience into the heart of the kingdom of Florin. Beginning with a romance between the lady Buttercup and her farmhand, Wesley, the story leads to the young man leaving and being reported killed, with Buttercup becoming the bride of a villainous king. However, when she is kidnapped, her old love returns, now under the identity of the Dread Pirate Roberts.

The Princess Bride is as classic an adventure film as it gets and follows Wesley as he forms a friendship with a swordsman, Inigo Montoya, and a giant, Fezzik. As the three heroes band together to rescue Buttercup and reunite her with Wesley, they face the king and his men, as well as the perils of the forest.