10 Best Adventure Movies (Ranked)

We often forget to breathe during them, sweat more than usual and tell ourselves that we would not like to be in the shoes of the main characters. They are fascinating, exciting, but sometimes downright unpleasant or scary. Adventure movies take us to places we've never been or never will be. And we are often happy about it.

They show us other cultures, religions, teach us not only history, but also how to survive in inhospitable conditions and keep a cool head. When you mention this specific film genre, cult works such as The Last of the Mohicans (1992), Alive (1993) or The Edge (1997) certainly come to mind.

Many also include fantasy or science-fiction films, such as the Star Wars saga, the Back to the Future trilogy, The Lord of the Rings or Jurassic Park. You won't find these films in our ranking, but we hope you discover some lesser-known gems, which are guaranteed to stay in your memory.

1. The Lost City of Z (directed by James Gray, 2016)

During this expedition to the Amazon, your blood is guaranteed to freeze more than once. A group of British researchers will reach the very limit of their capabilities in a dangerous jungle. Hungry cannibals, insidious diseases, bloodthirsty animals or lack of food await them. The biographical drama was written and directed by the author of We Own the Night and Two Lovers, and it was based on the book by David Grann.

If these films tell you anything, you know that Gray is a master storyteller with a knack for building a dark atmosphere. In addition to this, you will also find the popular Hollywood trio Charlie Hunnam (Sons of Anarchy), Robert Pattinson (Twilight), Tom Holland (Spider-Man) and the brilliant Sienna Miller in the Lost City of Z.

2. 127 Hours (directed by Danny Boyle, 2010)

Imagine that you are trapped in a dark deep abyss, you can't move because your hand is stuck under a huge boulder, and no matter how loud you scream for help, no one will come to save you because you are in a remote wilderness where there is not a living soul. You are all alone. What would you do?

127 Hours will ask you several questions that you won't want to answer, but you will have to. This is another fascinating true story about strong will and perseverance or the risks of an unknown environment, in which a unique experience can turn into a nightmare in a second.

3. Lawrence of Arabia (directed by David Lean, 1962)

An almost four-hour ride, but there is no danger of boredom. A gem from the world cinema was awarded with seven Oscars (best film, direction, cinematography, editing, music, sound mix and design) and talks about the world-famous British officer, archaeologist and writer Thomas Edward Lawrence.

It was according to his autobiographical book that David Lean (he started his career in the forties and also handled works like Oliver Twist and Doctor Zhivago) made his best and probably also the most demanding film, since all the crew members went through hell during the long filming in the hot desert.

4. Cast Away (directed by Robert Zemeckis, 2000)

Would you survive alone on a deserted island? Would you know how to start a fire or catch something to eat? Tom Hanks did it. In Zemeckis' drama, he played a castaway who survived a catastrophic plane crash and must fight for survival on a deserted beach among palm trees, far from civilization. His only company only by a small ball, which he names Wilson.

The popular American actor lost more than twenty kilograms in four months for the film. However, it was not in vain. He won a Golden Globe, an Oscar nomination, and it's his most compelling performance of the new millennium.

5. Master & Commander: The Far Side of the World (directed by Peter Weir, 2003)

Few films fit the "adventure genre" as well as Master and Commander. It's a breathtaking throwback to a rough age of fighting to the death on wooden sailing ships. Guts spilled after rifle shots, every cannon hit was devastating to the fleet, every jump overboard was a death sentence and every conflict between the crew was "the beginning of the end".

Weir's magnum opus captures the Anglo-French war in 1805. However, it does not follow the fighting on land, but on the open sea, where you can get lost and escape from the enemy only in the fog. But even that does not last forever. Russell Crowe's suggestive performance, Russell Boyd's Oscar-winning camerawork and a finale that will take your breath away.

6. Deliverance (directed by John Boorman, 1972)

What could go wrong on an innocent boys' trip in nature? All they wanted was to float down a raging river between Georgia and South Carolina, have a few beers, laugh at inappropriate jokes by the fire, and sleep in a tent. However, a sharp clash with the local freaks awaits them. A fun "meeting" of four friends suddenly turns into a traumatic fight for life. It will change them forever.

7. Into the Wild (directed by Sean Penn, 2007)

Cutting up and throwing away all identification documents, burning all your money, taking a huge backpack and going to Alaska without any communication with your family can be liberating and undoubtedly beautiful at times, but also cruelly dangerous and naively stupid. But Sean Penn doesn't moralise or glorify anyone, and that's right way to do it.

Whether the decisions of Christopher McCandless (Emile Hirsch) who set out on a lonely journey across the wilderness from which he never returned were the right ones is left to the viewer to decide. Into the Wild is a direct, clinically accurate hit to the heart. At the end, all that remains are tears and chills all over the body.

8. Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade (directed by Steven Spielberg, 1989)

It is probably clear to everyone that if we did not put Indiana Jones in this ranking, we would be insensitive and clueless barbarians. However, we chose the third part of the popular film series not only because it is the most humorous thanks to a lot of punch lines, but because the idea of combining the charisma of Harrison Ford and Sean Connery was downright genius. And sending them to fight the Nazis was even more brilliant. A classic that will warm your heart every time you watch it again.

9. Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl (directed by Gore Verbinski, 2003)

When it comes to Verbinski's direction, you can feel that he has seen the best works of Spielberg or Lucas and was greatly inspired by them. This is exactly how a perfect blockbuster should look in the 21st century. It has everything you need. Action, tension, a ton of functional humor, a touch of romance, a spectacular set, a top-notch cast full of stars, brilliantly written characters and several unforgettable scenes. You simply won't forget this Caribbean cruise, no matter how hard you try to put it out of your mind.

10. Avatar (directed by James Cameron, 2009)

Avatar caused a well-deserved stir at the time of its creation thanks to 3D, but the beautiful world that Cameron managed to create literally redefined everything we have ever imagined under the phrase 'adventure film'.

The planet Pandora is a paradise that we will never see live, that's why we appreciate it so much on the screen. A "must see" cinematic affair.