There's no doubt that movies can be a wonderful - and perhaps the best way to get away from reality. Have you had been having a bad day? Go to a movie. Are you in need of laughter? Take a look at a film. Feeling heartbroken? Watch. A. Movie. It's the best part of cinema. When it comes down to pure relaxation adventures are the most popular.
If you're asking which are the top adventure films to spend time in then we've got it covered. Here are 29 films full of fear, courage and amazement.
1. Stand by Me (1986)
Produced and directed by Rob Reiner, based on Stephen King's novella The Body. Four boys - played by River Phoenix, Wil Wheaton, Corey Feldman, and Jerry O'Connell--start an adventure to locate an unidentified body boy who has disappeared. The initial adventure turns into a touching coming-of-age story that explores friendship loss, identity, and friendship.
You can watch it on Amazon, Hulu, Apple TV
2. Life of Pi (2012)
Produced and directed by Ang Lee and based on Yann Martel's novel, this stunning film is about Pi Patel (Suraj Sharma) A boy who is saved from the wreck of a ship and ends up in a lifeboat alongside an endangered Bengal tiger called Richard Parker. Narrated by Irrfan Khan it's a story of spiritual finding oneself and overcoming.
Casting: Suraj Sharma, Irrfan Khan, Rafe Spall Watch on: Hulu, Apple TV, Amazon
3. The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (2001)
Peter Jackson's adaptation to Tolkien's epic starts by Frodo Baggins (Elijah Wood) inheriting an incredibly powerful ring that needs to be destroyed. Together with Gandalf (Ian McKellen), Aragorn (Viggo Mortensen) along with others, they set off on an adventure through Middle-earth.
Cast: Elijah Wood, Ian McKellen, Viggo Mortensen, Orlando Bloom, Sean Astin
View on Max, Amazon, Apple TV, Hulu
4. Moonrise Kingdom (2012)
The quirky story of Wes Anderson is a love story of two teenagers, Sam and Suzy, who go on a runaway from one another on an isolated island. Their disappearance creates chaos within the local community. The show is brimming with the sameness and unique Anderson quality.
Cast: Jared Gilman, Kara Hayward, Bruce Willis, Edward Norton, Bill Murray
View on Amazon, Apple TV
5. The Hidden Fortress (1958)
The samurai epic of Akira Kurosawa features two peasants, who are unaware of their role in helping aid a general as well as an actress escape behind enemies lines. The film blends of action, comedy and adventure.
Cast: Toshiro Mifune, Misa Uehara, Minoru Chiaki
View on Max, Amazon, Apple TV
6. Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981)
Indiana Jones (Harrison Ford) is a government agent to locate an Ark of the Covenant before the arrival of the Nazis. Filmed by Steven Spielberg and written by George Lucas, it's packed with the booby traps, chases and memorable scenes.
Cast: Harrison Ford, Karen Allen, Paul Freeman
Play on Amazon, Apple TV, Disney+, Paramount+
7. 2001: A Space Odyssey (1968)
Stanley Kubrick's epic of the genre combines stunning visuals with minimal dialogue. From an unsettling monolith to HAL 9000 this film is a study of the evolution of artificial intelligence and the existence.
Cast: Keir Dullea, Gary Lockwood
You can watch it on Amazon, Apple TV, Max
8. Cast Away (2000)
Tom Hanks plays a FedEx executive who is stranded on an uninhabited island following an airplane crash. The film chronicles the struggle of his survival and his growing relationship with a girl named Wilson.
Cast: Tom Hanks, Helen Hunt
Play on Amazon, Apple TV, Hulu
9. Jurassic Park (1993)
Steven Spielberg's acclaimed sci-fi thriller is about scientists visiting the island-themed park brimming with dinosaurs that have been cloned. The creatures cause chaos when they are able to escape.
Cast: Sam Neill, Laura Dern, Jeff Goldblum, Richard Attenborough
You can watch it on Amazon, Apple TV
10. The Treasure of the Sierra Madre (1948)
Three down-and-out Americans are searching to find gold within The Sierra Madre mountains. As the greed begins to take hold their bonds begin to break down. Directed by John Huston.
Cast: Humphrey Bogart, Walter Huston, Tim Holt
You can watch it on Amazon, Apple TV
11. Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon (2000)
In the Qing-dynasty of China A stolen sword can lead to the trail of justice, honor and exquisitely executed martial arts.
Cast: Chow Yun-fat, Michelle Yeoh, Zhang Ziyi
View on Amazon, Apple TV
12. Annihilation (2018)
Female scientists is entangled in an unidentified quarantined area called Area X, filled with strange creatures and landscapes. It is terrifying and frightening.
Cast: Natalie Portman, Jennifer Jason Leigh, Tessa Thompson, Oscar Isaac
Play on Amazon, Apple TV, Hulu
13. Thor: Ragnarok (2017)
Written by Taika Waititi, Thor (Chris Hemsworth) is imprisoned on Sakaar planet. Sakaar and must find his way back for the sake of stopping Ragnarok to save Asgard.
Cast: Chris Hemsworth, Tom Hiddleston, Cate Blanchett, Jeff Goldblum
You can watch it on Amazon, Apple TV, Disney+
14. Spy (2015)
Melissa McCarthy stars as a CIA analyst who is thrust into the field following her friend's death. A hilarious spoof of a spy who travels the world.
Cast: Melissa McCarthy, Jude Law, Rose Byrne, Jason Statham
You can watch it on Hulu, Max
15. The Wizard of Oz (1939)
Dorothy (Judy Garland) is transported from Kansas to the land of dreams of Oz. Along the yellow brick roads Dorothy meets unforgettable characters and enemies.
Cast: Judy Garland, Ray Bolger, Jack Haley, Bert Lahr
You can watch it on Amazon, Apple TV, Max
16. Interstellar (2014)
Christopher Nolan's epic of the cosmic is about a group of explorers travelling through a wormhole to discover an alternative home for the human race. The human experience, science and spectacle come together in this time-bending tale.
Cast: Matthew McConaughey, Anne Hathaway, Jessica Chastain
View on: Amazon
17. Mad God (2021)
Phil Tippett's stop motion horror adventure is dark, strange and a bit disturbing. A faceless character descends into an alternate world populated by gross creatures and rotting ruin.
You can watch it on Amazon, Apple TV
18. Apollo 13 (1995)
Based on a true story Ron Howard's thrilling drama tells the story of the moon mission's failure. Excellent performances and awe-inspiring technological precision make it an exciting to watch.
Cast: Tom Hanks, Kevin Bacon, Bill Paxton
View on: The Roku Channel
19. O Brother, Where Art Thou? (2000)
A satirical retelling from Homer's Odyssey set in the 1930s of Mississippi. George Clooney leads three escaped convicts in a musical and raunchy road journey.
Cast: George Clooney, John Turturro, Tim Blake Nelson
View on Amazon, Apple TV
20. Inception (2010)
Dom Cobb (Leonardo DiCaprio) is a dream-thief given an opportunity to erase his past, if the thief can plant an idea. A thrilling mental labyrinth.
Cast: Leonardo DiCaprio, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Ellen Page, Tom Hardy
View on Amazon, Apple TV, Max
21. Thelma and Louise (1991)
Directed by Ridley Scott, this road movie-turned-feminist manifesto follows two women--played by Susan Sarandon and Geena Davis--who embark on a weekend getaway that spirals into an unexpected fugitive run across the American Southwest. It's emotional, bold and iconic.
Cast: Susan Sarandon, Geena Davis, Harvey Keitel, Brad Pitt
View on Amazon, Apple TV
22. Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind (1984)
The story of Hayao Miyazaki's post-apocalyptic masterpiece Princess Nausicaa struggles to bring back peace between humans and the natural world after the ecological crisis. It is visually stunning and emotionally moving.
Cast (English dub): Alison Lohman, Patrick Stewart, Uma Thurman
View on: Max Apple TV
23. Almost Famous (2000)
Based on Cameron Crowe's own teenage years this rock comedy follows a young writer as she travels with a band that is growing. It's about youth, music discovering your unique voice.
Cast: Patrick Fugit, Kate Hudson, Billy Crudup, Frances McDormand
View on: Paramount+ Apple TV
24. Captain Fantastic (2016)
Viggo Mortensen portrays the role of a father who raises six children away from the mainstream within the Pacific Northwest. When a family tragedy prompts them to return to the world, cultural clashes as well as identity conflicts and profound lessons are revealed.
Cast: Viggo Mortensen, George MacKay, Samantha Isler
View on Amazon, Apple TV
25. The Revenant (2015)
Alejandro G. Inarritu's gritty western is the story of Hugh Glass (Leonardo DiCaprio) as a fur trapper who is killed and left to die, who must endure an icy winter to seek revenge. Oscar-winning and visually stunning.
Cast: Leonardo DiCaprio, Tom Hardy, Domhnall Gleeson
You can watch it on Amazon, Apple TV
26. Mad Max: Fury Road (2015)
Set in a scorched desert with tyrants in charge, this high-octane chase feature is about Max (Tom Hardy) and Furiosa (Charlize Theron) fight against oppression. Non-stop action meets stunning visuals.
Cast: Tom Hardy, Charlize Theron, Nicholas Hoult
View on Amazon, Apple TV
27. The Secret Life of Walter Mitty (2013)
Ben Stiller directs and stars in this tale about a timid editor who escapes his routine and embarks to the world for a trip. It's a jolly visual adventure to discover your passion.
Cast: Ben Stiller, Kristen Wiig, Sean Penn
Check out: Various platforms
28. Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl (2003)
Captain Jack Sparrow (Johnny Depp) takes a trip into cinematic history with Johnny Depp in this thrilling adventure with cursed treasures naval battles, pirates along with ghost pirates. The beginning of a hugely profitable series.
Cast: Johnny Depp, Orlando Bloom, Keira Knightley, Geoffrey Rush
View on Disney+
29. Avatar (2009)
James Cameron's groundbreaking sci-fi adventure takes us to the exotic world of Pandora in which an injured marine becomes a an integral part of Na'vi tribe. It is a blend of romance, adventure, and environmental activism.
Cast: Sam Worthington, Zoe Saldana, Sigourney Weaver, Stephen Lang
View on Disney+