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Disney’s latest theme park-inspired movie Jungle Cruise was released this summer to the delight of action-adventure fans everywhere. Dwayne Johnson donned the skipper’s cap, and with the help of Emily Blunt, Jack Whitehall, and more, delivered a highly enjoyable and exciting adventure for the whole family.
Adventures in the exotic with ties to curses, monsters, and hidden treasures have been gracing theatres with their presence for many years— so with a wide array of classics to draw upon, it’s little surprise that Disney’s river romp has been given two thumbs up by audiences. The action-adventure genre is brimming with hits that Jungle Cruise‘s vines are tied to, films that bring the same brand of mischief, mayhem, and magic to the movie screen.
10 National Treasure Is Further Proof That Disney Are No Strangers To Finding Cinematic Gold
With high-octane action and a wild premise that never takes itself too seriously, National Treasure stole the hearts of many fans upon release in 2004. In what is almost a signature move for Disney, the film maintains truly captivating high stakes whilst keeping the on-screen terrors tolerable for the entire family.
National Treasure also boasts an absolutely golden cast including Nicolas Cage, Sean Bean, Harvey Keitel, and Jon Voight. The movie was such a smash hit that a sequel, National Treasure: Book of Secrets, followed in 2007.
9 Jumanji Is More Jungle Fun, With Even More Dwayne Johnson
Before Disney’s Jungle Cruise, Dwayne Johnson and the jungle already made for a perfect mix in the hit family adventure Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle. With the help of the eclectic team of Jack Black, Karen Gillan, and Kevin Hart, Johnson utilized his irresistible charisma and bountiful biceps to make the Jumanji sequel the fifth highest-grossing movie of 2017.
Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle is a hilarious and highly enjoyable excursion of the cinematic variety, and also features touching tributes to the original film’s star and cinema legend Robin Williams.
8 The Theme Park Movie Doesn’t Get Better Than Pirates of the Caribbean
The original Disney theme park movie set a near untouchable standard in 2003 with Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl. One of cinema’s finest action-adventure movies— and the launching point for a franchise that has earned almost $5 billion at the box office— Pirates features an electric and career highlight performance from Johnny Depp.
Jungle Cruise‘s creators almost certainly took inspiration from the swashbuckling classic, and who can blame them? Pirates of the Caribbean’s rollercoaster of a story, its captivating characters, and its exciting action scenes all make for an excellent template when it comes to action-adventure movies.
7 Hook Is A Heartwarming Throwback To Classic Fantasy Films
For an adventure of the most fantastical variety, look no further than the Steven Spielberg classic Hook. While the presence of Robin Williams alone is enough to pique the interest of most potential viewers, the additions of Dustin Hoffman, Julia Roberts, and Bob Hoskins will surely seal the deal.
Hook is the tale of an adult Peter Pan, played by Williams, who ventures to Neverland in order to save his children and rediscover his past along the way. It’s a heartwarming, exhilarating, and magical motion picture.
6 The Rock Has Been Romping In The Jungle Since The Rundown
Before Dwayne Johnson was a bonafide Hollywood megastar, he was finding his footing in Tinseltown whilst building upon his tremendous popularity as a professional wrestler. The Rock showed promise from the onset, but one of the most enjoyable outings from his early acting career is 2003’s The Rundown.
Similar to Jungle Cruise, The Rundown is a jungle adventure that relies heavily on Johnson’s talents as a leading man, only this time he’s aided by the often hilarious Seann William Scott and the ever-iconic Christopher Walken. The Rundown also features action legend Arnold Schwarzenegger in something of a baton-passing cameo that holds up well today considering Dwayne Johnson’s many successes in film.
5 Raiders Of The Lost Ark Is The Very Best Of Action-Adventure Cinema
When searching for the king of the adventure movie, one would not be surprised if in place of a crown rested the famous fedora of Indiana Jones. Raiders of the Lost Ark is widely considered to be one of the finest films ever created, and Harrison Ford’s main character has become an entertainment juggernaut since debuting in 1981.
Awards, fanfare, and its place in the National Film Registry are all testament to the incredible quality and significance of Raiders of the Lost Ark. It is lonely at the top, as there is little competition for Spielberg’s classic when it comes to cinema’s greatest adventure movies.
4 Movies In The Jungle Come In All Shapes & Sizes, But None Are Quite Like Mighty Joe Young
The ’90s offered up its fair share of creature features, but whilst the majority of oversized animals and mythical behemoths took center stage as the villains, 1998’s Mighty Joe Young gave audiences a far more friendly figure. The film focuses on a giant mountain gorilla and the struggles to keep it safe and out of the hands of poachers.
Charlize Theron and Bill Paxton star as protectors of the titular gorilla, and special effects master Rick Baker’s exceptional costume and makeup design ensure that the ape is as huggable as he is huge.
3 The African Queen Is The Classic River Cruise
The one true classic riverboat adventure, John Huston’s The African Queen sailed straight into the history books upon its release in 1951, receiving multiple Academy Awards nominations and providing one of the all-time greats in Humphrey Bogart with his only Best Actor win.
Along with fellow screen legend Katharine Hepburn, Bogart displays his typically unmatched charisma to enhance the laughs and the thrills in The African Queen. The film remains hugely influential, with numerous movies over the last 70 years taking inspiration from the Technicolor classic.
2 The Mummy Offers Up A Little Fright With Its Fun
Another film with striking similarities to Jungle Cruise is the 1999 action-adventure The Mummy. A remake of the Boris Karloff classic, the film was hugely successful, even spawning two sequels, a Dwayne Johnson-starring prequel, and a spinoff animated series.
There are curses and traps aplenty, and The Mummy made Brendan Fraser a genuine box office star. It’s both exciting and terrifying, with some hilarious comic relief thrown in for good measure provided by Scottish great John Hannah.
1 Romancing The Stone Is A Feel-Good ’80s Adventure In The Rainforest
Jungle adventures simply don’t get much more fun than Romancing the Stone. Directed by the legendary Robert Zemeckis of Back to the Future fame, Romancing the Stone is one of the many classics heavily influenced by Raiders of the Lost Ark but does more than enough to separate itself and stand proudly on its own.
The comedy hits as hard as the romance and the action, leaving viewers with a feel-good, thrilling, and highly humorous picture. Romancing the Stone also features expectedly brilliant performances from Kathleen Turner, Michael Douglas, and Danny DeVito.
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