For Hollywood, adventure films have always been a stable source of income. Inevitably connected with high expenses, these big-budget projects, shot on exotic locations with excessive decor and special effects, feel like risky business ventures. But the fact of the matter is, is that when marketed correctly you can hardly go wrong. If there is insufficient box office revenue, you are sure to make up for it with merchandise and whatnot. As long as you are able to reach a very large audience. And this is where it gets difficult when making foreign language adventure films (read non-english films). Most countries are simply to small. This has become particularly evident when you look at the most recent foreign adventure flicks. A great case in point is the Norwegian adventure feature film Kon-Tiki (2012) which was commercially successful worldwide. Norway is tiny with about 5 million people, but it reached audiences globally because it was filmed in both in Norwegian and English. And the 2014 Russian adventure film Viy 3D is spoken entirely in English.
Norway is a bit of the exception, as it are especially foreign countries with high population numbers we need to be looking at hoping for big productions. Countries like France, Germany, Spain (with South-America as its Spanish-language market) Russia, China, Japan, Brazil, and a few more. So what is out there for adventure fans? When we go back in history to look at the best foreign adventure films of all time, you will find that they were exceptionally exotic, romantic and captivating. Of course, films spring to mind like German director Werner Herzog’s Fitzcarraldo (1983) and Aguirre: Wrath of God (1972), France’s master filmmaker Jean Renoir’s Grand Illusion (1937), or the Japanese films by Kurosawa, mainly The Hidden Fortress (1958). And then of course, you have British adventure films like Lawrence of Arabia (1962) (and a large number of other British empire films). I can already tell you that such masterpieces were not produced in the 2010’s. Where the above films were original pieces, the filmmakers of the latest adventure flicks (especially the French director Luc Besson) tend to simply imitate the Hollywood adventure formula, but usually do not quite get it under their belt. Actually, high-brow film lovers best look away now, as this article will represent a terribly commercial list with films that are not great, but are unmistakably brave attempts at a difficult genre
- New adventure movies in 2018
- Best adventure movies of 2017
- 2010-2018: Must-watch adventure movies on Netflix or DVD
New adventure movies in 2018
Top movies up for release in 2018Walking to Paris
DIRECTOR: Peter Greenaway CAST: Carla Juri, Emun Elliott, Remo Girone
In 1903, Constantin Brâncus, who was to become a world famous sculptor, walked from his native Bucharest to Paris. Read more
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Amazon | All Release dates The Mercy
DIRECTOR: James Marsh CAST: Rachel Weisz Colin Firth David Thewlis
A yachtsman (Colin Firth) decides to parttake in the 1968 Golden Globe Race. His solo endeavor ends up in a catastrophe. Read more
RATING: 73/100
Netflix | Amazon | All Release dates Tomb Raider
DIRECTOR: Roar Uthaug CAST: Alicia Vikander, Hannah John-Kamen, Walton Goggins
17 years after the highly successful adaptation of an even more successful video game, Lara Croft returns to the big screen. A sprawling and pleasantly old-fashioned adventure flick about Croft (Alicia Vikander) who travels to an exotic island to unravel her father's mysterious disappearance. Read more
RATING: 82/100
Netflix | Amazon | All Release dates The Man Who Killed Don Quixote
DIRECTOR: Terry Gilliam CAST: Adam Driver, Olga Kurylenko, Stellan Skarsgård
A 21st century ad man from London ends up in Don Quixote's 17th century Spain. Read more
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Netflix 
Amazon Best adventure movies of 2017
Top rated 2017 adventure moviesThe Lost City of Z
DIRECTOR: James Gray CAST: Charlie Hunnam Robert Pattinson Sienna Miller
In the vein of classics like 'Fitzcarraldo' and 'Apocalypse Now', James Gray old-fashioned and beautifully crafted 'Lost City of Z' tells the story of a man and his obsessive search for something in the heart of the jungle. Protagonist Percy Fawcett is asked to travel to the depths of the Amazonian Jungle at the beginning of the 20th century. His task is to draw a clear border between Bolivia and Brazil and to map the area all together, but then he stumbles upon the remains of what he believes to be a lost city. Read more
RATING: 80/100
RELEASE DATE: April 21st, 2017
Netflix | Amazon | All Release dates Gold
DIRECTOR: Stephen Gaghan CAST: Matthew McConaughey Edgar Ramírez Bryce Dallas Howard |
Matthew McConaughey stars in this entertaining adventure movie about a failed businessman who tries his luck and goes searching for gold in the jungle of Indonesia. Based on a true story, this film is somewhat a mash up of 'The wolf of Wall Street' and Werner Herzog's classic 'Fitzcarraldo'. Read more
RATING: 80/100
RELEASE DATE: January 27th, 2017
Netflix | Amazon | All Release dates The Mummy
DIRECTOR: Alex Kurtzman CAST: Sofia Boutella Tom Cruise Annabelle Wallis
After numerous reboots en remakes, apparently it's time for another Mummy movie. Well, we'll give this project the benefit of the doubt. Tom Cruise seems to have a fine nose for well-made blockbusters, so this might be fun after all. Read more
RATING: 69/100
RELEASE DATE: June 9th, 2017
Netflix | Amazon | All Release dates Kong: Skull Island
DIRECTOR: Jordan Vogt-Roberts CAST: Brie Larson Toby Kebbell Tom Hiddleston
After Peter Jackon's somewhat disappointing 'King Kong' from 2005, we were curious about this one. And we couldn't be happier with the result. In the hands of indie director Jordan Vogt-Roberts, Skull Island became an entertaining, old-fashioned adventure tale stuffed with great details, jokes and awesome songs. Read more
RATING: 75/100
RELEASE DATE: March 9th, 2017
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Best adventure movies on Netflix or DVD in 2018
2010's best rated adventure movies out on DVD, Bluray or streaming on VOD (Netflix, Amazon).Hunt for the Wilderpeople
DIRECTOR: Taika Waititi CAST: Sam Neill Julian Dennison Rima Te Wiata
Part adventure film, part coming-of-age, part black comedy, 'Hunt for the Wilderpeople is unlike anything you've seen this year. Ricky is 12-year old delinquent who has just been placed in a new foster family. After a series of unlikely events, the boy ends up with his grumpy foster uncle in the bush of New Zealand. In order to survive (and stay out of the hands of the authorities) they need to work together. Read more
RATING: 79/100
RELEASE DATE: March 31st, 2016
Netflix | Amazon | All Release dates The Wind Rises
DIRECTOR: Hayao Miyazaki CAST: Hideaki Anno Hidetoshi Nishijima Miori Takimoto
I wont expound on this one too much, as it is already written about extensively online. Released in Japan in 2013, and since it is a Hayao Miyazaki film highly anticipated, it is said to have lived up to everyone’s expectations. I have not been able to see it yet (it will be released here in 2014), but reviews describe it as Miyazaki’s most mature animated film so far. Most people are familiar with his work, and if not, then I can recommend the animated adventure film Spirited Away (2001). The Wind Rises tells the adventurous life story of Jiro Horikoshi, the man responsible for the design of Japanese fighter planes used in the Second World War. As these planes were used for Pearl Harbour, the film initially stirred up quite a controversy, but most people have simply fallen in love with it. Read more
RATING: 78/100
RELEASE DATE: February 21st, 2014
Netflix | Amazon | All Release dates The Jungle Book
DIRECTOR: Jon Favreau CAST: Neel Sethi Bill Murray Ben Kingsley
It was about time for a Jungle Book reboot, the guys behind the Iron Man series thought. This updated adaptation of Rudyard Kiplings beloved novel is way darker then Walt Disney's classic from 1967, and will sure please older audiences. Read more
RATING: 75/100
RELEASE DATE: April 7th, 2016
Netflix | Amazon | All Release dates Kon-Tiki
DIRECTOR: Joachim Rønning, Espen Sandberg CAST: Pål Sverre Hagen Anders Baasmo Christiansen Gustaf Skarsgård
The two Norwegian filmmakers responsible for Kon-Tiki have not gone unnoticed by Hollywood. They have been snatched up to direct the fifth installment in the American adventure film franchise: The Pirates of the Caribbean (2015). This new gig will undoubtedly make them lose all of their interesting edges, but even Kon-Tiki already feels like a Hollywood film. But it would be unfair to completely equate it to a run of the mill action/adventure flick. The story itself is intriguing, and the cinematography is spectacular. Kon-Tiki is an adventure story pur sang, it is based on true events, and is about legendary explorer Thor Heyerdal who undertook a dangerous crossing of the pacific on only a wooden raft. Not just for laughs, but to prove that it was possible for South Americans to settle in Polynesia in pre-Columbian times. Read more
RATING: 72/100
RELEASE DATE: August 24th, 2012
Netflix | Amazon | All Release dates The Young and Prodigious T.S. Spivet
DIRECTOR: Jean-Pierre Jeunet CAST: Kyle Catlett Helena Bonham Carter Judy Davis
I have to admit that I am no fan of Jeunet, but a lot of people love his work. It is rather diverse, from very dark comedies like Delicatessen (1990) to more cheerful films like Amelie (2001), and his new film Spivet (2013). Very much in style of Amelie, but more suited for kids, we follow a 12-year old cartographer who leaves home without anyone knowing, and travels across the country to receive an award for his work from a prestigious institute. Read more
RATING: 71/100
RELEASE DATE: June 13th, 2014
Netflix | Amazon | All Release dates Xingu
DIRECTOR: Cao Hamburger CAST: João Miguel Felipe Camargo Caio Blat
I almost forgot about seeing this one, but it is of course a film that fits the strict adventure genre definition like a glove. It is a Brazilian adventure film of 2012 directed by Cao Hamburger, who most people know because of the art house hit The Year My Parents Went on Vacation (2006). In a sense the film is a Brazilian version of Dances with Wolves, but instead of Kevin Kostner we are following the activist Villas-Bôas brothers who undertake an expedition into the Xingu River territory where they encounter the local native Indian tribes, eventually building the very first reservation for Indians. The film is not the most balanced-out film on the list, but it is definitely worth the watch because it is said to stay very true to history. Read more
RATING: 71/100
RELEASE DATE: April 6th, 2012
Netflix | Amazon | All Release dates Les aventures extraordinaires d’Adèle Blanc-Sec
DIRECTOR: Luc Besson CAST: Louise Bourgoin, Mathieu Amalric Gilles Lellouche
This French adventure film by Luc Besson is the European equivalent of Indiana Jones, but instead of Harrison Ford, there is a female protagonist. And she probably is best thing about the film. For the rest it is nothing but a Hollywood rip-off. Nonetheless, if you are a hardcore genre lover, you will probably appreciate it. I have never been a huge fan of Luc Besson (only Leon was not all bad), but he has been incredibly successful, so there must be something there. Read more
RATING: 63/100
RELEASE DATE: April 14th, 2010
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