The Best Adventure Movies for Kids and Families, Ranked

Ranker Film
Updated May 23, 2025 111.6K views 104 items
Ranked By
12.9K votes
1.4K voters
Voting Rules
Adventure movie suitable for children
Latest additions: Fountain of Youth, Thunderbolts*, Woody Woodpecker
Most divisive: Oz the Great and Powerful
Over 1.4K Ranker voters have come together to rank this list of The Best Adventure Movies for Kids and Families, Ranked

The best adventure movies for kids are filled with heart-pounding excitement, memorable characters, and inspiring tales of bravery. These films offer exhilarating journeys that children and adults can enjoy together, creating lasting cinematic memories. From timeless classics to modern hits, they deliver a perfect mix of action, humor, and emotion that captivates all ages.

Adventure movies take young viewers on extraordinary quests where imagination runs wild and universal themes of friendship, courage, family, and personal growth shine. These stories entertain and teach resilience, empathy, and teamwork, leaving a lasting impact on their audiences.

Examples like The Goonies, How to Train Your Dragon, and E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial showcase the genre’s enduring magic. The Goonies follows a group of friends on a high-stakes treasure hunt, blending camaraderie and danger. How to Train Your Dragon brings a visually stunning world of dragons to life, exploring themes of trust and unlikely friendships. E.T. tells a heartfelt story of connection as a boy forms an extraordinary bond with a stranded alien.

These films spark wonder and imagination, offering children timeless lessons and unforgettable adventures. Vote up the films you consider the best adventure movies for children and families.