Finding action-adventures for the whole family is not that easy, mainly when the kids are a bit older. In this case, the action may be a bit more than the usual children’s films have to offer. Of course, in this case, animation adventures are always a good tip:
But suppose you want a little more excitement. In that case, action-packed adventure films in the style of Steven Spielberg, such as “E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial,” “Indiana Jones,” “The Goonies”, or “Honey, I Shrunk the Kids” are the way to go. Modern classics such as “Harry Potter,” “Pirates of the Caribbean”, and “The Chronicles of Narnia” would also be considered.
But then, everybody has seen these movies before, right? With the spring season upon us again, making it more likely that the whole family will gather in front of the TV more often, we have a few adventurous movie tips ready for the entire family that probably not everyone has seen yet. Below are the top 19 family movies that not everyone has seen yet.
Nim’s Island (2008)
We kick off with an island adventure where even the younger members of the family are still on board: In “Nim’s Island,” the original title, eleven-year-old Nim (Abigail Breslin) lives alone with her father Jack (Gerard Butler), who is a marine biologist, living on a deserted island. While her father is on a mission, Nim panics a bit when (supposed) pirates land on the island. The neurotic novelist (Jodie Foster) rushes to the rescue but doesn’t really prove to be of much help.
Paddington (2014)
At Paddington station, the Brown family finds a talking bear that has just arrived in London. They welcome the Anglophile bear into their family and name him Paddington. The quest to find the explorer who once discovered the bear’s family in Peru becomes a dangerous adventure for Paddington. The bear becomes involved in a mysterious theft in his second adventure, titled simply Paddington 2 (2017), which is just as exciting for the whole family.
Hugo Cabret (2011)
Yet another novel adaptation, this time from none other than master director Martin Scorsese. At the center is twelve-year-old boy Hugo (Asa Butterfield). After his father’s death, he attempts to repair a mechanical figure in Paris in 1931, which was left to him by his father and his passion for cinema. The figurine leads him to its builder, who is a former magician. The Academy Award-winning 3D film is a nostalgic hymn about the magic of cinema.
The Spiderwick Chronicles (2008)
After their parents’ divorce, Jared and Simon Grace, both played by Freddie Highmore, go to live with their mother Helen (Mary-Louise Parker) at the mysterious house of their great-uncle, who vanished 80 years ago. There, though, what they soon discover is that the house is besieged by goblins. What they’re after is a mysterious book belonging to their great-uncle. Once Jared finds the book, the house must be defended against the goblins. The dark fantasy adventure is also perfect for Halloween.
The Kid Who Would Be King (2019)
In “The Kid Who Would Be King,” the film’s original title by “Attack the Block” director Joe Cornish, Arthurian legend serves as the backstory for a fantasy adventure for the whole family that Steven Spielberg couldn’t have directed any better. Twelve-year-old Alex (Louis Ashbourne Serkis) pulls a sword out of a concrete base at an abandoned construction site in the middle of London and takes it home with him. From that moment on, Alex is pursued by the two bullies from school and the monsters of the evil witch Morgana (Rebecca Ferguson), who wants to steal the sword from him.
Journey to the Center of the Earth (2008)
The remake starring Brandon Fraser is only loosely based on the original by Jules-Verne, in contrast to the fantastic 1959 classic starring James Mason. Volcanologist Trevor Anderson (Fraser) embarks on a journey into the bowels of the earth with his teenage nephew Sean (Josh Hutcherson).
Rim Of The World (2019)
![Rim of the World | Official Trailer [HD] | Netflix](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/xkvBpKHL99k/hqdefault.jpg "19 Best Family Action Adventure Movies 7")
Alex (Jack Gore) is not thrilled about spending his summer at Rim of the World summer camp. But he and his three new friends, ZhenZhen (Miya Cech), Dariush (Benjamin Flores, Jr.) and Gabriel (Alessio Scalzotto), will soon have very different problems than the dreary summer camp: Aliens are attacking earth, and due to hair-raising events, it is soon up to the four kids to save the planet.
The Adam Project (2022)
Adam (Ryan Reynolds) lands in 2022 from the year 2050 and meets his younger, bordering on a behaviorally challenged self (Walker Scobell). At first, the two can’t really stand each other, but they soon realize they must work together to save the future and Adam’s future wife (Zoe Saldana).
They have to prevent time travel from ever being invented to succeed, though. In turn, however, that requires Adam’s father (Mark Ruffalo), who in 2022 has already been dead for a year and a half. So, an emotional journey through time and space is in store once again…
“The Adam Project” is a heartwarming, nostalgic ode to life, childhood and, not least, nerddom, in which the whole family will have fun – also because director Shawn Levy has taken a strong cue from classics such as “E.T.” or “Back to the Future”.
Dramedy at Its Finest: “Looking for a film that skillfully blends humor with heartfelt drama? Don’t miss our review of The Persian Version, a cinematic gem that captures the essence of immigrant family life.”
Journey 2: the Mysterious Island (2012)
In this sequel to the aforementioned film “Journey to the Center of the Earth,” Sean (Josh Hutcherson) this time sets out on a journey to a mysterious island with fantastic flora and fauna. However, Hutcherson (“Future Man”) and Jules Vernes’ novel with a similar title is the only links between the two films. This time around, Dwayne Johnson is the adult companion to the youthful main character in this entertaining and diverting action adventure.
Percy Jackson (2010/2013)
Based on the book series of the same name by Rick Riordan, the two “Percy Jackson” films are a kind of “Harry Potter” in the world of Greek mythology: New York teenager Percy Jackson (Logan Lerman) must learn that he is the son of the god Poseidon. His origins naturally involve him in all kinds of adventures with Greek gods and mythical creatures.
The Nutcracker and the Four Realms (2018)
“The Nutcracker and the Four Realms” is based loosely on the Tchaikovsky ballet “The Nutcracker,” which in turn set the story “Nutcracker and the Mouse King” by E. T. A. Hoffmann. The 14-year-old Clara (Mackenzie Foy) discovers a magical parallel world of living toys created by her recently deceased mother. Disneys has turned it into a fairy-tale fantasy adventure that has little to do with the famous original but is still an exciting movie experience for the whole family.
Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them (2016)
This expansion of the world of “Harry Potter” is set in New York in 1926, so it is a kind of prequel to the film series about the teenage sorcerer’s apprentice: at the center is the gifted wizard Newt Scamander (Eddie Redmayne), an expert on magical animal creatures. But when one of his little animals escapes from him, turmoil reigns in the magical community of New York, which worries even more about a public revelation of magic than in Newt’s native Britain.
Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle (2017)
Dwayne Johnson again and Jack Black again: in this reimagining of the classic with Robin Williams, Dwayne Johnson, Jack Black, Kevin Hart and Karen Gillan are drawn to a computer game version of the insidious magic game. Or, to be precise: Those four are pawns in the game, taking the form of the four teenagers who are drawn into the game. To escape from the video game, they must play through all the levels and defeat the big boss.
A-X-L (2018)
![AXL | Official Trailer [HD] | Open Road Films](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/--8nr2kt4uk/hqdefault.jpg "19 Best Family Action Adventure Movies 14")
Miles (Alex Neustaedter) discovers a damaged robotic dog, a motorcycle-riding teenager. Called A.X.L., the military experiment is a combat robot with artificial intelligence on the level of a dog. And like a loyal puppy, then, is how the robot behaves toward its rescuer. Of course, military leaders who developed the robot want their sinfully expensive experiment back. Miles and his girlfriend Sara (Becky G) try to prevent this.
Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children (2016)
![Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children | Official Trailer [HD] | 20th Century FOX](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/tV_IhWE4LP0/hqdefault.jpg "19 Best Family Action Adventure Movies 15")
An excellent horror story from master director Tim Burton: Jacob (Asa Butterfield) journeys to the island where he lived in an orphanage during World War II after his grandfather’s death. The home has long been an abandoned ruin. Yet, Jacob finds evidence that the special children from the stories his grandfather told him actually exist: tucked away in another world and well protected by the resolute Miss Peregrine (Eva Green). However, Jacob has come to the danger to the children that have already cost his grandfather his life.
Race to Witch Mountain (2008)
“E.T” as an adventure road movie: cab driver Jack (Dwayne Johnson) is supposed to bring the two teenagers Sara (Anna Sophia Robb) and Seth (Alexander Ludwig) out of Las Vegas to a mysterious place in the desert. The two teenagers, which turn out to be extraterrestrials, are being pursued by the U.S. government as well as by an – also extraterrestrial – assassin. Jack and UFO expert Alex (Carla Gugino) help Sara and Seth get to their spaceship.
Goosebumps (2015)
Since we are on the subject of scary stories: Starring Jack Black as the R.L. Stine, author of the successful “Goosebumps” horror novels for teens, in this Halloween comedy, there’s fun for the whole family. Teenager Zach (Dylan Minnette) is a new kid in town. Barely arriving at his new house, he sets his eyes on the pretty neighbor’s daughter Hannah (Odeya Rush). But with Hannah’s father, the said author, it is not good to eat cherries. And when Zach accidentally unleashes all the ghosts, freaks and demons that Stine invented in his books on the town, all hell breaks loose.
The House with a Clock in Its Walls (2018)
Talking about witches and wizards: This not really scary fantasy adventure by horror director Eli Roth could easily come from the world of “Harry Potter“. But this is a film adaptation of the young adult book of the same name, featuring an excellent cast, including Jack Black and Cate Blanchett. The focus is also on a little sorcerer’s apprentice.
After the death of his parents, Lewis Barnavelt (Owen Vaccaro) moves in with his strange uncle, living in an equally odd house. Heck, there’s even a strange neighbor. Of course, uncle (Black) and neighbor (Blanchett) turn out to be wizards and witches. And even the house has a secret that wants to be revealed.
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (2014)
Live-action adaptation of the well-known comic and animated series: with nearly perfect ninja fighting technique, mordant humor and an unconquerable friendship, humanoid turtles Leonardo, Michelangelo, Raphael and Donatello fight against the evil Shredder and his henchmen. They are assisted by their master, humanoid rat Splinter, along the way and by fearless journalist April O’Neil (Megan Fox) and her cameraman Vern Fenwick (Will Arnett).
