I am a huge fan of adventure films, from classic epics like The Man Who Would Be King to fun popcorn flicks like Raiders of the Lost Ark (my favorite film of all time) – tales of treasure hunts, quests, and exotic locations still get me as giddy as when I was a kid.
But many adventure movies these days skew pretty violent – and just aren’t appropriate to watch with kids. So, I decided to sit down and make a list of all the kid-friendly adventure films available out there in movieland.
First, let me get a pet peeve of mine out of the way, there is a HUGE difference between an “Action Movie” and an “Adventure Movie”. While doing research for this list it became painfully apparent that most people don’t know the difference – so here I am to save the day and set you all straight!
If you want to see my definition of an “Adventure Movie” and how I selected the movies on this list CLICK THIS LINK – or if you want to avoid my rant and just peruse the movies continue on below.
NOTE: If you have children younger than 5 this list is probably not gonna do you much good as films for 4-year-olds really don’t have much to offer for true adventure fans.
Animated Adventure Movies For Kids (5-9)
I decided to lump all of the animated adventure movies together under one heading, because, if you’re like me, sometime a cartoon character just won’t cut it when it comes to suspending my disbelief. These are all amazing movies but be sure to check the ages before showing them to younger kids, they range from ages 5 up.
Finding Nemo (2003)
Rated G | Ages 5+ | Time: 1h 40min | Animation, Adventure, Comedy
Finding Nemo is a cute little film from Pixar that made about a bazillion dollars at the box office. You won’t find any bloodthirsty cannibals’ or pits full of spikes or deadly vipers (although there is a pretty nasty shark in the movie). But Nemo is forced to go on a pretty epic quest that has a happy, 5-year-old friendly ending. A fun family film.
Up (2009)
Rated PG | Ages 6+ | Time: 1h 36min | Animation, Adventure, Comedy
How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World (2019)
Rated PG | Ages 7+ | Time: 1h 44min | Animation, Action, Adventure
Wreck It Ralph (2012)
Rated PG | Ages 7+ | Time: 1h 41min | Animation, Adventure, Comedy
Peter Pan (1953)
Rated G | Ages 5+ | Time: 1h 17min | Animation, Adventure, Family
Onward (2020)
Rated PG | Ages 7+ | Time: 1h 42min | Animation, Adventure, Comedy
Kubo And The Two Strings (2016)
Rated PG | Ages 9+ | Time: 1h 41min | Animation, Action, Adventure
The Incredibles (2004)
Rated PG | Ages 8+ | Time: 1h 55min | Animation, Action, Adventure
The Road to El Dorado (2000)
Rated PG | Ages 6+ | Time: 1h 29min | Animation, Adventure, Comedy
Treasure Planet (2002)
Rated PG | Ages 9+ | Time: 1h 35min | Animation, Adventure, Family
Adventure Movies for Little Kids (Age 5–7)
Baby’s Day Out (1994)
Rated PG | Ages 7+ | Time: 1h 39min | Adventure, Comedy, Crime
Three Amigos (1986)
Rated PG | Ages 4+ | Time: 1h 44min | Comedy, Western
Nim’s Island (2008)
Rated PG | Ages 7+ | Time: 1h 36min | Adventure, Family, Fantasy
Star Wars: Episode IV: A New Hope (1977)
Rated PG | Ages 7+ | Time: 2h 1min | Action, Adventure, Fantasy
Night At The Museum (2006)
Rated PG | Ages 7+ | Time: 1h 48min | Adventure, Comedy, Family
Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian (2009)
Rated PG | Ages 7+ | Time: 1h 45min | Adventure, Comedy, Family
Night at the Museum: Secret of the Tomb (2014)
Rated PG | Ages 7+ | Time: 1h 38min | Adventure, Comedy, Family
The Pagemaster (1994)
Rated G | Ages 7+ | Time: 1hr 20min | Animation, Adventure, Comedy
Honey, I Shrunk The Kids (1989)
Rated PG | Ages 6+ | Time: 1h 33min | Adventure, Comedy, Family
Spy Kids (2001)
Rated PG | Ages 7+ | Time: 1h 28min | Action, Adventure, Comedy
Spy Kids 3-D: Game Over (2003)
Rated PG | Ages 7+ | Time: 1h 24min | Action, Adventure, Comedy
Spy Kids: All the Time in the World (2011)
Rated PG | Ages 7+ | Time: 1h 29min | Animation, Action, Adventure
Adventure Movies for Big Kids (Age 8–9)
Race to Witch Mountain (2009)
Rated PG | Ages 8+ | Time: 1h 38min | Action, Adventure, Family
The Journey of Natty Gann (1985)
Rated PG | Ages 9+ | Time: 1h 41min | Adventure, Family
Never Ending Story (1984)
Rated PG | Ages 8+ | Time: 1h 42min | Adventure, Drama, Family
The Man From Snowy River (1982)
Rated PG | Ages 9+ | Time: 1h 42min | Adventure, Drama, Romance
Aladdin (2019)
Rated PG | Ages 8+ | Time: 2h 8min | Adventure, Family, Fantasy
The Empire Strikes Back (1980)
Rated PG | Ages 8+ | Time: 2h 4min | Action, Adventure, Fantasy
The Jungle Book (2016)
Rated PG | Ages 9+ | Time: 1h 46min | Adventure, Drama, Family
Journey to the Center of the Earth (2008)
Rated PG | Ages 8+ | Time: 1h 33min | Action, Adventure, Family
Journey 2: The Mysterious Island (2012)
Rated PG | Ages 8+ | Time: 1h 34min | Action, Adventure, Family
Dora and the Lost City of Gold (2019)
Rated: PG | Ages: 8+ | Time: 1h 42min | Adventure, Comedy, Family
National Treasure (2004)
Rated PG | Ages 9+ | Time: 2h 11min | Action, Adventure, Mystery
The Spiderwick Chronicles (2008)
Rated PG | Ages 8+ | Time: 1hr 36min | Action, Adventure, Drama
The Princess Bride (1987)
Rated PG | Ages 8+ | Time: 1h 38min | Adventure, Family, Fantasy
Time Bandits (1981)
Rated PG | Ages 9+ | Time: 1h 50min | Adventure, Comedy, Fantasy
Willow (1988)
Rated PG | Ages 8+ | Time: 2h 6min | Action, Adventure, Drama
The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe (2005)
Rated PG | Ages 9+ | Time: 2h 23min | Adventure, Family, Fantasy
Prince Caspain (2008)
Rated PG | Ages 10+ | Time: 2h 30min | Action, Adventure, Family
The Chronicles of Narnia: The Voyage of the Dawn Treader (2010)
Rated PG | Ages 10+ | Time: 1h 53min | Adventure, Family, Fantasy
Labyrinth (1986)
Rated PG | Ages 8+ | Time: 1h 41min | Adventure, Family, Fantasy
The Young Indiana Jones Chronicles (1992–1993)
Rated TV-G | Ages 8+ | Time: 45min | Action, Adventure, Family
Eragon (2006)
Rated PG | Ages 9+ | Time: 1hr 44min | Action, Adventure, Family
The Neverending Story (1984)
Rated PG | Ages 8+ | Time: 1hr 42min | Adventure, Drama, Family
Bridge to Terabithia (2007)
Rated PG | Ages 9+ | Time: 1hr 36min | Drama, Family, Fantasy
A Kid in King Arthur’s Court (1995)
Rated PG | Ages 9+ | Time 1hr 29min | Adventure, Comedy, Family
The Last Starfighter (1984)
Rated PG | Ages 9+ | Time: 1h 41min | Action, Adventure, Sci-Fi
Adventure Movies for Tweens (Age 10–12)
The Adventures of Huck Finn (1993)
Rated PG | Ages 10+ | Time: 1h 48min | Adventure, Comedy, Drama
Jumanji (1995)
Rated PG | Ages 10+ | Time: 1h 44min | Adventure, Comedy, Family
The Kid Who Would Be King (2019)
Rated PG | Ages 10+ | Time: 2h | Action, Adventure, Family
Mulan (2020)
Rated PG-13 | Ages 11+ | Time: 1h 55min | Action, Adventure, Drama
Tomorrowland: A World Beyond (2015)
Rated PG | Ages 10+ | Time: 2h 10min | Action, Adventure, Family
Avatar: The Last Airbender (2010)
Rated PG | Ages 9+ | Time: 1hr 43min | Action, Adventure, Family
Young Sherlock Holmes (1985)
Rated PG-13 | Ages 11+ | Time: 1h 49min | Adventure, Fantasy, Mystery
Hook (1991)
Rated PG | Ages 10+ | Time: 2h 22min | Adventure, Comedy, Family
Back to the Future (1985)
Rated PG | Ages 10+ | Time: 1h 56min | Adventure, Comedy, Sci-Fi
Holes (2003)
Rated PG | Ages 10+ | Time: 1h 57min | Adventure, Comedy, Drama
Enola Holmes (2020)
Rated PG-13 | Ages 12+ | Time: 2h 3min | Action, Adventure, Crime
Thor: Ragnarok (2017)
Rated PG-13 | Ages 12+ | Time: 2h 10min | Action, Adventure, Comedy
The Goonies (1985)
Rated PG | Ages 10+ | Time: 1h 54min | Adventure, Comedy, Family
Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle (2017)
Rated PG-13 | Ages 11+ | Time: 1h 59min | Action, Adventure, Comedy
Jumanji: The Next Level (2019)
Rated PG-13 | Ages 11+ | Time: 2h 3min | Action, Adventure, Comedy
Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981)
Rated PG | Ages 11+ | Time: 1h 55min | Action, Adventure
Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade (1989)
Rated PG-13 | Ages 11+ | Time: 2h 7min | Action, Adventure
Jurassic Park (1993)
Rated PG-13 | Ages: 12+ | Time: 2hr 7min | Action, Adventure, Sci-Fi
Romancing The Stone (1984)
Rated PG | Ages 12+ | Time: 1h 46min | Action, Adventure, Comedy
Pirates of the Caribbean: Curse of the Black Pearl (2003)
Rated: PG-13 | Ages: 12+ | Time: 2h 23min | Action, Adventure, Fantasy
The Mummy (1999)
Rated PG | Ages: 12+ | Time: 2h 4min | Action, Adventure, Fantasy
The Mummy Returns (2001)
Rated PG-13 | Ages: 12+ | Time: 2h 10min | Action, Adventure, Fantasy
League of Extraordinary Gentlemen (2003)
Rated PG-13 | Ages: 12+ | Time: 1h 50min | Action, Adventure, Fantasy
Ready Player One (2018)
Rated PG-13 | Ages 12+ | Time: 2h 20min | Action, Adventure, Sci-Fi
Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children (2016)
Rated PG-13 | Ages 12+ | Time 2h 7min | Adventure, Drama, Family
The Golden Compass (2007)
Rated PG-13 | Ages 12+ | Time: 1hr 53min | Adventure, Family, Fantasy
Stardust (2007)
Rated PG-13 | Ages 12+ | Time: 2hr 7min | Adventure, Family, Fantasy
Percy Jackson & the Lightning Thief (2010)
Rated PG | Ages 10+ | Time 1hr 58min | Adventure, Family, Fantasy
Percy Jackson Sea of Monsters (2013)
Rated PG | Ages 10+ | Time 1hr 46min | Adventure, Family, Fantasy
A Wrinkle in Time (2018)
Rated PG | Ages 10+ | Time: 1hr 49min | Adventure, Family, Fantasy
Jack the Giant Slayer (2013)
Rated PG-13 | Ages 11+ | Time: 1hr 54min | Adventure, Fantasy
Adventure Movies for Teens (Age 13+)
Avatar (2009)
Rated PG-13 | Ages 13+ | Time: 2h 42min | Action, Adventure, Fantasy
The Maze Runner (2014)
Rated PG-13 | Ages 13+ | Time: 1hr 53min | Action, Mystery, Sci-Fi
Warcraft: The Beginning (2016)
Rated PG-13 | Ages 14+ | Time: 2h 3min | Action, Adventure, Fantasy
Adventures in Babysitting (1987)
Rated PG-13 | Ages 13+ | Time: 1h 42min | Adventure, Comedy, Crime
Congo (1995)
Rated PG-13 | Ages 13+ | Time: 1h 49min | Action, Adventure, Mystery
Lara Croft: Tomb Raider (2001)
Rated PG-13 | Ages 14+ | 1h 40min | Action, Adventure, Fantasy
Lara Croft Tomb Raider: The Cradle of Life (2003)
Rated PG-13 | Ages 14+ | 1h 57min | Action, Adventure, Fantasy
Tomb Raider (2018)
Rated PG-13 | Ages 14+ | Time: 1h 59min | Action, Adventure, Fantasy
Last Action Hero (1993)
Rated PG-13 | Ages 15+ | Time: 2hr 10min | Action, Adventure, Comedy
Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest (2006)
Rated PG-13 | Ages 12+ | Time: 2h 31min | Action, Adventure, Fantasy
Classic Family Adventure Movies (Pre 1970)
The Adventures of Robin Hood (1938)
Rated PG | Ages 8+ | Time: 1h 42min | Action, Adventure, Romance
Chitty Chitty Bang Bang (1968)
Rated G | Ages 6+ | Time: 2h 24min | Adventure, Family, Fantasy
7th Voyage of Sinbad (1958)
Rated G | Ages 7+ | Time: 1h 28min | Action, Adventure, Family
Valley of the Gwangi (1969)
Rated G | Time: 1h 36min | Action, Adventure, Sci-Fi
The Sea Hawk (1940)
Rated Approved | Time: 2h 7min | Action, Adventure, History
Treasure Island (1934)
Not Rated | Ages 7+ | Time: 1h 50min | Adventure, Family
Around the World in 80 Days (1956)
Rated G | Ages 7+ | Time: 2h 55min | Adventure, Comedy, Family
Swiss Family Robinson (1960)
Rated G | Ages 8+ | Time: 2h 6min | Adventure, Family
Action Vs. Adventure Movies
While I love action movies like Die Hard, they do not necessarily involve any real Adventurous elements – many action films made these days just rely on huge explosions (hello Transformers) and have very little substance or character transformation.
Adventure implies going on a quest of some type, traveling to exotic, unknown territories, solving riddles or ancient mysteries, engage in hazardous and exciting activities and undertaking dangers and unknown risks.
In better Adventure Movies there is usually a major character transformation ala Joseph Campbell’s Heroes’ Journey. This is one of the reasons I love watching Adventure Movies with my kids, they learn lessons about strength of character and how to persevere when the whole world seems like it is stacked against you.
You won’t find any Harry Potter Movies on this list, don’t worry I love them as much as you – but they are not really “Adventure” movies. They are more mystery, fantasy, coming of age stories.
Also absent are any Superhero Movies, as they are more in the “Action” genre as opposed to Adventure. The one exception is Thor: Ragnarok – which is a rollicking good adventure!
So, there you have it – the Top 100 Best Adventure Films of All Time! This list is constantly updated and changed as my (and my kid’s) tastes change – so be sure to check back in a couple of months. (I’m working on a printable PDF as well)
Also, be sure to check out my other related movie posts like the Best Summer Movies for Kids, and one of my favorites, 25 Movies Like Jumanji, you will find a bunch of other great action-oriented films on those lists as well.
