Are you a fan of the National Treasure movies starring Nicolas Cage as the history-loving treasure hunter Benjamin Franklin Gates? With their perfect blend of action, adventure, mystery, and a touch of American history, it’s no wonder these films have become modern classics.
If you’ve watched National Treasure and National Treasure: Book of Secrets more times than you can count and are craving more movies with a similar vibe, look no further. We’ve compiled a list of 18 exciting movies like National Treasure that will take you on globe-trotting adventures, send you on quests to uncover ancient secrets, and give you the same adrenaline rush. Get ready to solve puzzles, dodge booby traps, and go on the adventure of a lifetime from the comfort of your couch.
1. Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981)
Raiders of the Lost Ark is the quintessential adventure movie and a must-watch for any National Treasure fan. Directed by Steven Spielberg, this classic stars Harrison Ford as the iconic Indiana Jones, an archaeologist and adventurer hired by the U.S. government to find the legendary Ark of the Covenant before the Nazis do. With its unforgettable action sequences, exotic locales, and a sense of humor, Raiders of the Lost Ark set the standard for the action-adventure genre.
Adventure Rating: 5/5
Historical Secrets: 4/5
Puzzle Solving: 3/5
2. The Mummy (1999)
Brendan Fraser stars as adventurer Rick O’Connell in this action-horror blockbuster that breathed new life into the classic Universal Monsters franchise. When Rick joins an archaeological dig in the ancient Egyptian city of Hamunaptra, they accidentally awaken the cursed high priest Imhotep. Rick must stop him before he regains his full powers and unleashes his wrath upon the world. The Mummy is a fun, fast-paced thrill ride with romance, laughs, scares, and of course, mummies.
Adventure Rating: 4/5
Historical Secrets: 3/5
Puzzle Solving: 2/5
3. Lara Croft: Tomb Raider (2001)
Based on the popular video game series, Lara Croft: Tomb Raider stars Angelina Jolie as the titular adventurer. On a mission to recover powerful ancient artifacts, Lara faces off against the evil Illuminati who want to use the artifacts to control time itself. While the plot is a bit over-the-top, Jolie is perfect as the smart, tough, and acrobatic Lara Croft. The exotic locations and action set pieces make this an entertaining adventure romp.
Adventure Rating: 3/5
Historical Secrets: 2/5
Puzzle Solving: 3/5
4. The Da Vinci Code (2006)
In this adaptation of Dan Brown’s bestselling novel, Tom Hanks plays symbologist Robert Langdon who gets caught up in a murder mystery that uncovers a shocking historical secret protected by a clandestine society. Teaming up with cryptologist Sophie Neveu (Audrey Tautou), Langdon follows a trail of clues hidden in the works of Leonardo Da Vinci. While the mystery unfolds a bit slowly, The Da Vinci Code will delight history buffs with its fascinating alternative religious history.
Adventure Rating: 2/5
Historical Secrets: 5/5
Puzzle Solving: 4/5
5. Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl (2003)
Johnny Depp’s iconic performance as the eccentric pirate Captain Jack Sparrow is just one of the many things to love about Pirates of the Caribbean. When Jack teams up with blacksmith Will Turner (Orlando Bloom) to stop a crew of cursed undead pirates and save the beautiful Elizabeth Swann (Keira Knightley), supernatural thrills and swashbuckling adventure ensue on the high seas. It launched a mega-successful Disney franchise for good reason.
Adventure Rating: 4/5
Historical Secrets: 2/5
Puzzle Solving: 2/5
6. Sahara (2005)
Based on the Clive Cussler novel, this adventure flick stars Matthew McConaughey as explorer Dirk Pitt who is searching for a long-lost Civil War battleship in Africa. He crosses paths with a WHO doctor (Penélope Cruz) investigating a deadly disease. Together they uncover a conspiracy involving a corrupt dictator. While it was a box office flop, Sahara is still a fun, globe-hopping adventure with a great cast that includes Steve Zahn and William H. Macy.
Adventure Rating: 3/5
Historical Secrets: 2/5
Puzzle Solving: 2/5
7. The Rundown (2003)
Dwayne Johnson showed his leading man potential in this lighthearted jungle adventure. He plays a bounty hunter tasked with retrieving his boss’s troublemaking son (Seann William Scott) from the Amazon. But the two must team up when they get caught between a rebel force and an evil mining operation searching for a priceless artifact. The Rundown is just an exciting, funny buddy action-comedy with great chemistry between Johnson and Scott.
Adventure Rating: 3/5
Historical Secrets: 1/5
Puzzle Solving: 1/5
8. Romancing the Stone (1984)
Kathleen Turner plays a romance novelist who finds herself on a real adventure in Colombia in this charming action-comedy. When her sister is kidnapped by treasure-hunting criminals, she must team up with a roguish bird exporter (Michael Douglas) to deliver a map in exchange for her sister’s freedom. Danny DeVito co-stars and steals scenes as a bumbling criminal. Romancing the Stone was a big hit in the 80s and it’s still a delightful rom-com adventure today.
Adventure Rating: 3/5
Historical Secrets: 2/5
Puzzle Solving: 2/5
9. Tomb Raider (2018)
Alicia Vikander takes over the role of Lara Croft in this gritty reboot that depicts Lara’s origin story. Still unproven as an adventurer, Lara embarks on a dangerous journey to solve the mystery of her father’s disappearance on a mythical island off the coast of Japan. Facing ruthless enemies and deadly traps, Lara must push herself beyond her limits to survive. Vikander’s intense performance makes this version of Tomb Raider a solid action-adventure.
Adventure Rating: 4/5
Historical Secrets: 2/5
Puzzle Solving: 3/5
10. Armour of God (1986)
Jackie Chan directed and starred in this Hong Kong action-comedy that has him playing a former musician turned adventurer known as the “Asian Hawk.” When he’s hired by a Count to help find the lost Armour of God, Asian Hawk heads to Europe and battles against a religious cult and a treacherous former bandmate. The stunts are incredible and it has the humor you expect from a Jackie Chan movie. An in-name only sequel, Armour of God II: Operation Condor, followed in 1991.
Adventure Rating: 3/5
Historical Secrets: 2/5
Puzzle Solving: 2/5
11. The Librarian: Quest for the Spear (2004)
Noah Wyle stars in this made-for-TV adventure film as Flynn Carsen, a brilliant student who lands a job as the Librarian, the protector of a secret collection of powerful artifacts. When a piece of the Spear of Destiny is stolen from the Library, Flynn must embark on a globe-spanning quest to recover it before the forces of evil do. While low budget, The Librarian has an old-fashioned serial adventure charm to it. It launched a franchise that includes two sequels and a TV series.
Adventure Rating: 2/5
Historical Secrets: 3/5
Puzzle Solving: 3/5
12. The Goonies (1985)
More of a kid-oriented adventure than National Treasure, The Goonies still holds up as a fun romp almost 40 years later. When a group of misfit kids discovers an old treasure map, they set out on a quest to find the long-lost fortune of a legendary pirate to save their homes from foreclosure. Along the way they have to outwit a dangerous criminal family also after the treasure. With a memorable young cast, humor, heart, and a sense of childhood wonder, The Goonies is a nostalgic adventure classic.
Adventure Rating: 3/5
Historical Secrets: 2/5
Puzzle Solving: 3/5
13. Uncharted (2022)
Based on the popular action-adventure video game series, Uncharted stars Tom Holland as young treasure hunter Nathan Drake. Recruited by seasoned adventurer Sully (Mark Wahlberg), Nate goes on a dangerous quest to recover a 500-year-old lost fortune amassed by explorer Ferdinand Magellan. But a ruthless billionaire and mercenary leader are also after the treasure. Holland is charming as always and the action set pieces are massive in scale. A fun, if formulaic, adventure flick.
Adventure Rating: 3/5
Historical Secrets: 2/5
Puzzle Solving: 2/5
14. The Lost City (2022)
Sandra Bullock plays a romance novelist who gets caught up in a real treasure-hunting adventure in this charming action-comedy that calls back to Romancing the Stone. When Bullock is kidnapped by an eccentric billionaire (Daniel Radcliffe) who thinks her latest novel is based on the location of real treasure, her cover model (Channing Tatum) sets out to rescue her. The two must work together to find the treasure and escape the jungle. Bullock and Tatum have great comedic chemistry together.
Adventure Rating: 3/5
Historical Secrets: 2/5
Puzzle Solving: 2/5
15. The Mummy (1999)
This action-horror blockbuster kicked off a reboot of the Universal Monsters in a big way. Brendan Fraser stars as adventurer Rick O’Connell who accidentally awakens the cursed Egyptian priest Imhotep while on an archaeological dig. As Imhotep returns to life and gains power, Rick must find a way to stop him with the help of librarian Evelyn (Rachel Weisz) and her brother Jonathan (John Hannah). A perfect blend of action, comedy, romance, and horror, The Mummy is endlessly entertaining.
Adventure Rating: 4/5
Historical Secrets: 3/5
Puzzle Solving: 2/5
16. Journey to the Center of the Earth (2008)
Brendan Fraser stars in another family-friendly adventure adapted loosely from the classic Jules Verne novel. He plays a science professor who discovers that his missing brother’s theories about a passage to the Earth’s center may be true. Joined by his nephew and a beautiful mountain guide, Fraser follows the clues to Iceland where they discover a stunning lost world filled with prehistoric life and treacherous terrain. The movie makes good use of 3D effects to bring the fantastical underground realm to life.
Adventure Rating: 3/5
Historical Secrets: 1/5
Puzzle Solving: 2/5
17. Fool’s Gold (2008)
This lighthearted adventure rom-com reteams How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days stars Matthew McConaughey and Kate Hudson. They play a recently divorced couple who are both professional treasure hunters. Fate brings them back together to search for 18th century Spanish treasure lost at sea. But their salvage rights are about to expire and gangsters are also after the gold. Fool’s Gold coasts on the charm and chemistry of its leads in a breezy, tropical adventure.
Adventure Rating: 2/5
Historical Secrets: 2/5
Puzzle Solving: 1/5
18. The Adventures of Tintin (2011)
Steven Spielberg directed this animated action-adventure based on the beloved Belgian comic book character. Tintin is a young investigative reporter who buys a model ship that holds a clue to the location of a sunken treasure. Teaming up with the drunken Captain Haddock, whose family history is connected to the treasure, Tintin embarks on a perilous quest while pursued by the evil Ivanovich Sakharine. The motion-capture animation brings the look of the comics to life in an exciting, globe-trotting mystery.
Adventure Rating: 3/5
Historical Secrets: 2/5
Puzzle Solving: 3/5
No matter which of these thrilling movies you choose, you’re guaranteed an exciting quest full of action, laughs, and maybe even a little bit of real history. Whether you love the wit and resourcefulness of National Treasure‘s Benjamin Gates, the grit of Tomb Raider‘s Lara Croft, or the supernatural dangers of The Mummy, there’s an adventure waiting for you.
So grab some popcorn, dim the lights, and let these movies transport you from the comfort of your couch to long-lost cities, booby-trapped temples, and hidden treasures beyond your wildest dreams. The spirit of adventure is calling. Will you answer?
