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12 Must See Family Adventure Movies For All Ages

By Jessica Averett

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When it comes to movies, ditch the superheros and princesses, and treat your family to some amazing classics.  If your family is searching for adventure, here are our top 10 family adventure movies to get you excited, energized, and ready to explore!

Best Adventure Movies for Families

When I was growing up, movies were completely different than they are today.  Plots were well developed, adventure was everywhere, and blood, gore, and violence weren’t as pervasive as they are today. We’re talking about classic movies that will inspire kids to explore and be brave.

So instead of looking for an adventure movie for kids on Netflix, stay in tonight and stream one of these classic adventure movies with your family.

All of the fun family adventure movies below are shows that I’ve considered classics (either older or modern adventure movie classics) and are family friendly movies that are clean and without a lot of violence or disturbing scenes.  They’re the best family adventure movies of our era. Some of these shows are more adventure movies for teens than for younger kids.  Obviously use your judgement when determining if these shows are appropriate for your kids.

Also, if there are other great adventure movies for families that aren’t on our list, please comment below so others can know what you think are the top family adventure movies.

Oh, and while we’re going back to the classics, if you don’t have one of these popcorn poppers, you’re totally missing out – everyone in our family is obsessed with making popcorn this way!  Top it with coconut oil and sea salt, or with nutritional yeast, and your life may never be the same! The perfect way to enjoy the best adventure movies for families together.

Here are the best family adventure movies of all time:

1. Swiss Family Robinson–

One families ultimate adventure as they are shipwrecked and learn to live on a deserted island.  That is, of course, until pirates attack.  This amazing movie will have you dreaming of exotic animal races, owning a pet tiger, and living in the worlds coolest treehouse.  Beware, if you watch Swiss Family Robinson with your kids, they’ll be asking you to take them on tropical vacations for the next several years, and the thought of being shipwrecked will be exciting instead of terrifying.

2. The Goonies –

After finding a treasure map, a group of friends rally together to find the treasure of One Eyed Willy.  Honestly, if you have not seen this family adventure movie, you are missing out on a vital piece of American Culture.  Goonies is one of the best adventure movies for kids.  Although this is a must see, we recommend waiting until kids are a little older (age 7 and up )before letting them watch Goonies since there are a few scary parts. It’s one of the great family adventure movies to come out of the 80’s.

3. The Princess Bride

If you want a movie like Swiss Family Robinson, this one has all the classic elements of adventure. The classic tale of love, adventure, and of course, crazy people.  The Princess Bride is an action and adventure movie that will have you on the edge of your seat (even if you’ve already seen it 100 times) as you follow Wesley (aka The Dread Pirate Roberts) on his quest to save the woman he loves (Buttercup).  AAAAAAAAAS YOOOOOOOU WIIIIISHHHHHHHHH! With all that action, it’s no wonder we’ve included it as one of our top family adventure movies.

4. UP–

Up is a cartoon that is just as great for adults as it is for kids and is one of the best family adventure movies that’s animated.  Relive what it feels like to have a dream and chase after it, no matter what age.  Follow along the life of Carl and see some of his life’s greatest adventures come true.  The unlikely adventures of a young (somewhat annoying boy), and a grouchy old man, make Up one of the greatest adventure films of all time.

5. Peter Pan –

Is Peter Pan considered an adventure movie?  Absolutely!  Yes, this animated classic adventure movie for family is truly one of the best adventure movies.  Enter the world of make believe with Peter Pan, where children never grow up, pirates are scared of crocs, and you can fly.  This is a great movie for kids of all ages (with Hook being a great second for older kids – RUFIO!)

6. The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion The Witch and The Wardrobe

This updated version of C.S. Lewis’ classic tale will transport you into a magical world where animals talk and walk just like people.  Enjoy the ride as you follow the young quartet on their battle to defeat the evil witch and find Aslan the lion on this good family adventure movie.  Although this is a little intense for younger audiences, it’s a fantastic show for older kids, with a great moral at the end!  It also has a wonderful amount of C. S. Lewis’s classic symbolism in the movie that would be fantastic to discuss with your kids as well. It’s one of our kids favorite adventure movies to watch with family.

7. Nims Island –

Join Nim, a young girl alone on a desserted island while her father is lost at sea.  She must enlist all of her animal friends and knowledge of the island to save her home from invaders.  Think Robinson Crusoe meets Indiana Jones…as a 10 year old! The adventures on Nim’s Island are wonderful and as it’s a bit more modern, kids can really relate to how Nim feels to be all alone on her island.

8. The Jungle Book

This live-action version of Disney’s classic animated film, has quickly become a keepsake.  This movie follows the adventures of Mowgli, the boy raised by wolves, on his journey through the jungle.  Kids will be both inspired and in awe at Mowgli’s bravery, determination and courage throughout the whole movie.

9. The Man From Snowy River –

Follow Jim Craig as he tries to tame the Australian outback and live off the land.  With the best horse riding scenes the world has ever seen, this movie is a complete classic.  In my family, if there were a vote for the best movie of all time, this would win HANDS DOWN. It’s a great adventure family movie to watch with the kids, especially if you’re looking for a good family movie with horses.

10. The Never Ending Story –

Enter a crazy fantasy world as you follow Bastian through the pages of a book.  The Never Ending story is an adventure and fantasy movie that will have you wanting to be a hero right along side him and save worlds of your own too!

Newer Adventure Movies for Families

Finding modern adventure movies that kids will love can always be a challenge, especially if you’re trying to avoid lots of violence or other inappropriate scenes. Here are a few adventure movies kids and adults will both love.

Live Action Mulan

This Disney adventure movie is new to the market, but it’s one of the best adventure movies for families that we’ve ever found. It’s a fantastic movie for inspiring bravery and determination in girls, but it’s got enough action in it that boys will enjoy it as well. This is a great adventure movie to watch as a family, though do keep in mind that it’s not well suited for younger kids, with a few intense scenes and violence. This movie is rated PG-13, so use your judgement when deciding if this is suitable for your family.

Journey To The Center Of The Earth

This family adventure movie is based off of the classic book by Jules Verne. This movie will have your kids on the edge of their seats as they get a glimpse into Verne’s imagination about what may be lurking at the center of the earth. This is an especially good adventure movie for boys who love to explore!

Classic movies like Swiss Family Robinson and movies like the Princess Bride are the types of movies we should be showing to our kids to help them be adventurous and courageous. These great family adventure movies are so fun to watch with kids and kids adventure movies always seem to add an element of fun and excitement to the home.

What are your favorite adventure movies?  If there’s a great one that you think should be on this list, please comment below!

About Jessica Averett

Hi, I’m Jessica, a mom of 5 kids and married to my favorite adventure partner. I love to bike, ski, camp and hike. We've visited over 40 countries with our kids, but are equally happy on the road as we are exploring our home state of Utah.

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96 thoughts on “12 Must See Family Adventure Movies For All Ages”

    • Oh my goodness. My kids checked out Home Alone at the library this week and we’re watching it tonight! CAN’T WAIT!!

      Reply

  5. Right now we have two favorite adventure movies, Peter Pan and 101 Dalmations! We watch one of those two movies everyday!

    Reply

    • Oops, hadn’t read the question. I’d probably have to say Finding Nemo, since I lived a pretty sheltered and unadventurous life. 😉

      Reply

  9. Wow you have 3 of my FAVORITE all time movies! Goonies, Never Ending Story, and Princess Bride!! I’d have to say the Indiana Jones movies are also my favorites. My kids like Journey 2 the Center of the Earth.

    Reply

  12. I like Snow White not sure if that is really a adventure movie. Right now my oldest kids are in love with journey to the center of the earth and chronicles of narnia. My youngest two like the polar express and anything Dora.

    Reply

  13. My vote has to be Man From Snowy River or anything that has to do with Jim Craig. Even though the horse scenes are great, the music Makes It Work

    Reply

  26. I’d say Goonies and the Princess Bride if they weren’t already on the list, so I guess another one we like is Home Alone.

    Reply

  34. I can’t help but pick one on your list because you’ve picked my favorite movie of all time and that is the Princess Bride. I LOVE that movie. If I had to pick one that wasn’t on your list The Wizard was a fun family adventure movie.

    Reply

  37. My kids are still pretty young, so I don’t know! I recently saw Labyrinth which was a flashback to my childhood when I saw it!
    We love Tangled and my daughter likes Spy Kids.

    Reply

  41. I like “The Princess Bride” very much! “Milo and Otis” is a good one too. kristiedonelson(at)gmail(dot)com Thank you.

    Reply

  43. UP!
    The Hobbit
    The Sandlot
    The rest of my family likes Hoodwinked . . .
    Can “What About Bob?” be considered as an adventure movie?

    Reply

  48. My favorite has got to be the Harry Potter series.I own all of them and the 4 kids watch them with me all the time.

    Reply

  62. We love a lot of the movies that are on your list! We are big movie fans here! Wizard of Oz is a definite favorite though as well! Thanks for the giveaway!

    Reply

  63. Princess Bride and Adventures in Babysitting are my two favorite movies. I still watch them when they come on tv.

    Reply

  71. actually our favorite is listed… the Goonies! It’s been one of my faves since I saw it in the theater when I was itty bitty. It’s timeless!

    Reply

  93. You should have just put The Man From Snowy River on here 9 times with The Return to Snowy River once (because of the whip scene at the beginning)

    Reply

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