The adventure genre is quite misunderstood. At first glance, one would think that adventure movies would be surefire and reliable hits with audiences, but they are far more hit-or-miss than you’d imagine. Indeed, for every Pirates of the Caribbean or Jumanji that succeeds expectations, there’s a Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves that completely (and unfairly) flops.
Moreover, the genre has many movies that have become outright forgotten by audiences, whether because of their age, lack of star power attached, or simply because they came out at the wrong time and never quite found an audience. These forgotten adventure movies are the subject of this list; they’re gems that still shine brightly despite being buried by the sands of cinematic time. They’re almost flawless and more than deserving of your time.
Collider Exclusive · Middle-earth Quiz
Which Lord of the Rings
Race Do You Belong To?
Hobbit · Elf · Dwarf · Man · Orc
Middle-earth is home to many peoples — the courageous, the ancient, the stubborn, the ambitious, and the wretched. Ten questions will determine which race truly claims your soul. The answer may surprise you. Or it may confirm what you already suspected.
🌿Hobbit
🌟Elf
⚒️Dwarf
⚔️Man
💀Orc
FIND YOUR RACE →
01
What does your ideal day look like?
How we rest reveals as much as how we fight.
AA long meal with good company, a pipe, and absolutely no unexpected adventures.
BWalking through ancient forests, composing verse, watching the stars emerge.
CDeep underground, the clang of hammer on anvil, crafting something that will outlast me.
DTraining, planning, preparing — there’s always something that needs defending.
ETaking what I want and making sure nobody tries to take it back.
NEXT QUESTION →
02
How do you feel about the passing of time?
Our relationship with mortality shapes everything we value.
AI have watched ages come and go. Time is a river I observe, not chase.
BThe days blur pleasantly. I don’t think about it much — there’s always second breakfast.
CLife is short. I want to leave something behind — a name, a legacy, a deed worth singing.
DTime means little underground. What matters is the work, and the work is never done.
ETime is something stronger things take from weaker ones. I intend to be the stronger one.
NEXT QUESTION →
03
Danger is approaching. Your first instinct is to:
Fight, flight, or something in between — it’s more revealing than you’d think.
AHide, and hope it passes. I’m no hero — and I’m fine with that.
BStand your ground. Someone has to, and it might as well be me.
CFade into the background and observe. Knowledge before action.
DCharge straight at it. Hesitation is just fear wearing a sensible hat.
EDig in, fortify, and wait. Ground is everything — never cede ground.
NEXT QUESTION →
04
You stumble upon a great treasure. What do you feel?
What we desire — and what we do about it — is the true test.
AMy heart swells — this is the work of my kin, and it belongs in my hands.
BExcited, but nervous. I’d rather it not cause trouble. Can I just leave it?
CMine. Obviously mine. Why is this even a question?
DBeautiful. Something this ancient deserves to be preserved and admired, not hoarded.
EA resource — and resources should serve those with the vision to use them.
NEXT QUESTION →
05
How important is community and belonging to you?
No race of Middle-earth is truly alone — but some prefer it that way.
AEverything. My neighbours, my village, my people — they are the point of it all.
BI cherish my kin deeply, but I feel connected to all living things, not just my own kind.
CI’ll protect my people with everything I have — but I don’t need anyone else’s approval.
DI prefer a tight-knit clan bound by loyalty and shared toil over any grand fellowship.
ECommunity is a pack. You’re either dominant or you’re used. I know which I prefer.
NEXT QUESTION →
06
How ambitious are you, honestly?
Ambition is neither virtue nor vice — it depends entirely on what you want.
ADeeply. I want to build something great, reclaim something lost, or leave a mark on history.
BI seek mastery and perfection — not power over others, but excellence in all I do.
CHonestly? I mostly just want a quiet life and for things to not go wrong.
DCompletely. I want to dominate, and I don’t see any point in pretending otherwise.
EAmbitious within my craft. I want to make the finest thing ever made by my people’s hands.
NEXT QUESTION →
07
Where do you feel most at home in the natural world?
Middle-earth is vast — and every race has its place within it.
AAncient forests, still pools, places where the world feels oldest and wisest.
BRolling green hills, good soil, somewhere you can grow things and watch them thrive.
CUnderground — caves, mines, tunnels. The dark doesn’t bother me. It’s where things are made.
DOpen plains, mountains, the kind of landscape that makes you feel the weight of history.
EBlasted wastelands, smoke, ash. Somewhere harsh enough to keep soft things away.
NEXT QUESTION →
08
What kind of strength do you most respect?
Every race defines strength differently — and they’re all at least a little right.
AThe strength to carry on when everything is telling you to stop.
BThe strength of stone — immovable, reliable, tested by pressure and time.
CThe strength to lead others and bear the cost of that responsibility.
DGrace under pressure — calm, precise, and lethal when it needs to be.
EBrute force. Everything else is just philosophy for those who lost.
NEXT QUESTION →
09
What do you want to leave behind when you’re gone?
Legacy is the story we tell ourselves about why any of this matters.
ASongs, poetry, beauty — something that outlasts the memory of who made it.
BThe knowledge that my corner of the world was a little safer and kinder because of me.
CFear. A reputation that means nobody ever dares come for mine.
DA name remembered. A deed that made a difference at a moment that mattered.
EA masterwork — something crafted so perfectly it becomes the standard all others are judged by.
NEXT QUESTION →
10
Be honest — what do you actually want most out of life?
The truest question always comes last.
APeace. Safety. Good food, good friends, and no one asking me to save anything.
BTo matter. To be part of something larger than myself, even at great cost.
CEternity — to witness all ages, to remember everything, and never be forgotten.
DDominance. To never again be at the mercy of anyone or anything.
EMastery of my craft and the respect of those who know the difference between good work and great work.
REVEAL MY RACE →
Middle-earth Has Spoken
You Belong To…
The race that claimed the most of your answers is your true kin. If two tied, both are shown — you walk between worlds.
◆ A TIE — YOU WALK BETWEEN TWO RACES ◆
🌿
Your Race
The Hobbits
You are, at your core, a creature of comfort, community, and quiet joy — and there is nothing small about that. Hobbits are proof that heroism does not require ambition, that the bravest heart can beat inside the most unassuming chest. You value good food, warm hearths, close friends, and a world that stays largely untroubled by dark lords and quests. When adventure does find you — and it will — you rise to it not because you sought it, but because the people you love needed you to. That is not ordinary. That is the rarest kind of courage in all of Middle-earth.
🌟
Your Race
The Elves
Ancient, graceful, and carrying a weight of memory most mortals cannot fathom, you are one of the Elves. You see the world in its fullness — its beauty, its impermanence, the unbearable ache of watching everything you love eventually fade. You pursue perfection not from pride, but because excellence is how you honour the time you have been given. Others may see you as remote or melancholy. They are not wrong, exactly. But they mistake depth for distance. You feel everything — which is precisely why you have learned to carry it so quietly.
⚒️
Your Race
The Dwarves
Stubborn, proud, fiercely loyal, and possessed of a work ethic that would exhaust most other races before breakfast — you are Dwarf-kind through and through. You do not ask for approval and you do not offer it cheaply. Your loyalty, once given, is given for life. Your grudges last longer. You love deeply and defend ferociously, and the things you build — with your hands, with your sweat, with generations of accumulated craft — are made to last. Not for glory. Because anything worth doing is worth doing properly, and you have never once done anything by half measures.
⚔️
Your Race
The Race of Men
Mortal, ambitious, flawed, and magnificent — you belong to the most complicated race in Middle-earth, and that complexity is your greatest strength. Men are capable of cowardice and extraordinary bravery, of cruelty and breathtaking sacrifice, sometimes within the same breath. You feel the urgency of your finite years, and it drives you. You want to matter. You want to leave something behind. You fall, and you rise, and the rising is what defines you. Tolkien called mortality the Gift of Men — not a curse, but a fire that burns bright precisely because it does not burn forever. That fire is you.
💀
Your Race
The Orcs
Brutal, survivalist, and contemptuous of anything that can’t defend itself — you answered with the instincts of an Orc, and there is a certain savage honesty in that. You do not dress up your desires in polite language or pretend you want things you don’t. You want power, survival, and to never be at the bottom of any hierarchy ever again. Orcs are not evil by nature — they were made from something that was once good, and broken into this shape by forces they did not choose. What remains is fierce, territorial, and deeply aware that the world is not kind. You’ve made your peace with that. The question is what you do with it.
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9
‘Captain Blood’ (1935)
Olivia de Havilland and Errol Flynn in Captain Blood looking at each other while smiling.Image via Warner Bros. Pictures
Generally speaking, classic movies are somewhat underappreciated today, especially films from the 1930s, a period defined by the transition from silent cinema. Thus, many great movies from the decade remain underseen; case in point, 1935’s Captain Blood, one of the lesser collaborations between Errol Flynn and Olivia de Havilland. The film centers on an imprisoned doctor who escapes and becomes a pirate.
As expected of a Flynn/de Havilland vehicle, Captain Blood is sweeping, lighthearted, and ultimately riveting. Yes, the story is rather predictable and arguably weak, but what it lacks in narrative depth it more than makes up for in sheer spectacle and, of course, romance. Indeed, Flynn and de Havilland are reason enough to tune in, elevating Captain Blood and turning it into a must-watch and one of the classic period’s finest examples of unadulterated adventure.
8
‘Captains Courageous’ (1937)
A black and white shot of Spencer Tracy holding the binoculars of a child in Captains Courageous.Image via Loew’s, Inc.
Victor Fleming’s Captains Courageous is based on the 1897 Rudyard Kipling novel of the same name. A then-thirteen-year-old Freddie Bartholomew stars as Harvey, a spoiled boy who falls overboard from a steamship and is picked up by a fishing boat under Captain Manuel Fidelio (Spencer Tracy). There, he’ll have to earn his keep and learn the value of hard work.
Today, Captains Courageous is best remembered as the movie that gave Spencer Tracy his first Oscar. Whether he deserved that Oscar or not is another matter entirely, and Freddie Bartholomew’s performance is the one thing that keeps this film from achieving perfection. Alas, the fact remains that Captains Courageous is actually quite lovely, a classic adventure that perfectly captures the spirit of Hollywood’s Golden Age. It might be a tad saccharine for modern audiences, but the ending still packs a punch, and the father-and-son central theme is too charming to resist.
7
‘The Pirate’ (1948)
Gene Kelly seranades Judy Garland as the pirateImage via MGM
The Pirate is a musical directed by Vincente Minelli and starring Judy Garland and Gene Kelly. It tells the story of the romance between young Manuela (Garland), a woman unhappily engaged to the mayor of her town, and Serafin (Kelly), a performer on a traveling circus.
I know what you’re probably thinking: how can a movie starring Judy Garland and Gene Kelly be forgotten? Well, considering it has just 6,000 votes on IMDb, it’s safe to say this one is a hidden gem despite the star power attached. In The Pirate’s case, its legacy has been eclipsed by Garland and Kelly’s impressive body of work, which includes genuine icons of American cinema. Recently, the film saw a bit of a rise in popularity thanks to a clip of Kelly swallowing a cigarette before planting a kiss on a woman, only to take the cigarette out again and blow smoke on her face. Now, that is a cinematic kiss!
6
‘The Fabulous Baron Munchausen’ (1964)
Image via Ústrední Pujcovna Filmu
Czechoslovakia might not exist anymore, but its cinematic legacy remains intact. The 1964 surreal masterpiece The Fabulous Baron Munchausen is among the former country’s most significant efforts, balancing multiple genres, including adventure, fantasy, and romance. Inspired by the tales of fictional German nobleman Baron Munchausen, the film blends live-action and animation and evokes the work of French artist Gustav Doré.
If there’s a word to describe The Fabulous Baron Munchausen, it would be “odd.” Indeed, this film marches to the beat of its own drum, never actually caring whether an audience would vibe with its distinct, offbeat brand of storytelling. Yet, that’s exactly what makes it unique and worthy of experiencing. Few movies are as experimental as this one, and for all those who are willing to give it a chance, it’s bound to be an unforgettable experience. Think of it as cinematic poetry: you might not love or even get it, but you can’t deny its beauty.
5
‘The Man Who Would Be King’ (1975)
Image via Allied Artists
Sean Connery and Michael Caine have several things in common: they have two of the most distinct voices and accents in cinema, they’ve both been knighted, and they both have Oscars. Moreover, they have both shared the big screen once, in the John Huston 1975 adventure The Man Who Would Be King, based on the eponymous Rudyard Kipling novella. It centers on two British soldiers who escape to Kafiristan, where one is considered a god and declared king.
A powerful study of power and the nature of ambition, The Man Who Would Be King is adventure at its most unforgiving and cynical. Here, there’s no glory waiting a tthe end of the road, only disappointment, deception, and melancholy. The film is a commentary on colonialism and the lie of British excellency, looking back at the glory age of the empire with a feeling of dismay and sadness. It’s still thrilling, a swashbuckling adventure through and through, but one far more bittersweet and ultimately thought-provoking than what the genre usually presents.
4
‘The Rescuers’ (1977)
The Rescuers is among the most underrated Disney movies. Bob Newhart and Eva Gabor voice Bernard and Miss Bianca, two mice who are members of the Rescue Aid Society. Their mission is to rescue young Penny (Michelle Stacy), a six-year-old orphan girl who has been kidnapped by Madam Medusa (Geraldine Page), a wicked treasure hunter searching for a giant diamond.
The period between the end of Disney’s Silver Age and the start of the Disney Renaissance, commonly known as the Bronze Age, is something of a dark period for the studio. Thus, The Rescuers never enjoyed the same popularity as other classics from the House of Mouse. It’s a shame, because this delightful adventure movie is both wholesome and surprisingly dark, greatly elevated by perfect vocal performances from Newhart and Gabor. However, the highlight is Madam Medusa, one of Disney’s most sinister yet flamboyant villains, and a spiritual sister of Cruella de Vil and Ursula.
3
‘Dragonslayer’ (1981)
Vermithrax Pejorative embarks on her reign of terror in Dragonslayer.Image via Paramount Pictures
A gem of dark fantasy that changed the game for good, Dragonslayer is simultaneously a gem of ’80s cinema and a criminally underappreciated classic. Set in the medieval land of Urland, the film follows the journey of young wizard Galen Bradwarden (Peter MacNicol) as he fights the cruel and powerful Vermithrax Pejorative, a vicious dragon terrorizing the kingdom.
Considering that Dragonslayer is widely seen as a seminal piece of ’80s fantasy, it might be surprising to see it in a list like this one. Yet, it’s undeniable that the name Vermithrax Pejorative doesn’t command the same respect it did a few decades ago. It’s a shame, because Dragonslayer is undoubtedly a masterpiece of dark fantasy that has aged beautifully, especially in everything concerning the dragon. Indeed, Vermithrax is arguably the greatest cinematic dragon, inspiring everyone from George R. R. Martin to Guillermo del Toro.
2
‘Castle in the Sky’ (1986)
Sheeta and Pazu laying in a field in Studio Ghibli’s ‘Castle in the Sky’.Image via Studio Ghibli
Castle in the Sky is a masterpiece of steampunk filmmaking. The film tells the story of orphans Sheeta (Anna Paquin) and Pazu (James Van der Beek), who are seeking her crystal necklace, the key to accessing a flying castle hosting advanced technology known as Laputa. However, their journey is threatened by multiple enemies, including a government agent, the army, and a band of pirates.
Now, I bet you’re thinking to yourself, “How can a Studio Ghibli movie be underrated?” And you’re partially right; of the entries on this list, Castle in the Sky is for sure the best-known, both by virtue of being a Ghibli movie but also for its reputation as the studio’s first proper effort. Yet, it’s also fair to say that its legacy pales in comparison to Ghibli and Miyazaki’s subsequent masterpieces. Yet, Castle in the Sky is just as worthy of praise as Porco Rosso or Princess Mononoke. The worldbuilding is incredible, the animation beautifully flowy, and the narrative is deep and thought-provoking, laying down the path that Ghibli would follow in the future.
1
‘The Adventures of Tintin’ (2011)
The Adventures of TintinImage via Paramount Pictures
The Adventures of Tintin is probably Steven Spielberg’s most underappreciated effort, give or take a Duel. Based on the eponymous comic strip by Hergé, the film sees Tintin (Jamie Bell) and Captain Haddock (Andy Serkis) searching for the treasure of the Unicorn, a ship captained by Haddock’s ancestor. However, they’ll have to face Ivan Ivanovitch Sakharine (Daniel Craig), a ship collector and the descendant of Red Rackham.
To be fair, it’s not like The Adventures of Tintin flopped. In fact, it made an impressive $374 million worldwide, which would be great if not for the fact that it cost a whopping $130 million to make. Since its 2011 release, the film has sort of vanished from everyone’s subconscious, including Spielberg’s, who mentioned plans for a sequel for years before ultimately saying it was up to co-producer Peter Jackson to make it. Sounds like we will never get a Tintin follow-up, which is a shame because the 2011 movie is pure adventure bliss; it’s thrilling, charming, and full of exhilarating setpieces while still capturing the daring spirit of Hergé’s source material.