Last updated March 2024
On the hunt for sensationally awesome Best Adventure Movies 2009 ? See our compilation of 30 marvelous, universally beloved Best Adventure Movies 2009 handpicked for your viewing pleasure. Critically celebrated by revered IMDB reviewers and widely adored by our own legion of savvy users, these world-class titles simply have no equal. Lend fellow viewers a hand by voting up the titles you feel are keepers. We appreciate your stellar contributions showcasing the finest entertainment available!
Inglourious Basterds (2009)
Plot Summary:
In Nazi-occupied France during World War II, a group of Jewish-American soldiers known as "The Basterds" are chosen specifically to spread fear throughout the Third Reich by scalping and brutally killing Nazis. The Basterds, lead by Lt. Aldo Raine soon cross paths with a French-Jewish teenage girl who runs a movie theater in Paris which is targeted by the soldiers
Duration: 153 min
IMDB Rating: 8.4/10
IMDB Votes: 15000000
Genere: Adventure, Drama, War
Country: Germany, USA
Plot tags: world war two, vengeance, nazi, war, nazism, violent, revenge, dark humor, alternate history, violence, working undercover, brutality, racism, mission, soldier, gunfight, blood, heroes, squad, fascist, military, shooting, dialogue, hitler, nazi hunter
Up (2009)
Plot Summary:
Carl Fredricksen spent his entire life dreaming of exploring the globe and experiencing life to its fullest. But at age 78, life seems to have passed him by, until a twist of fate (and a persistent 8-year old Wilderness Explorer named Russell) gives him a new lease on life
Duration: 96 min
IMDB Rating: 8.3/10
IMDB Votes: 11000000
Genere: Animation, Adventure, Comedy, Drama, Family
Country: USA, Japan
Plot tags: dog, loneliness, unlikely friendships, friendship, follow your dream, hopes, friends, animal life, journey, obsessive quest, aging, wilderness, talking animal, dream, children, talking dog, giant bird, balloon, cartoon dog, human dog relationship, adventurer, mischievous children, love, animal, sadness
Fantastic Mr. Fox (2009)
Plot Summary:
The Fantastic Mr. Fox bored with his current life, plans a heist against the three local farmers. The farmers, tired of sharing their chickens with the sly fox, seek revenge against him and his family
Duration: 87 min
IMDB Rating: 7.9/10
IMDB Votes: 262000
Genere: Animation, Adventure, Comedy, Crime, Drama, Family
Country: UK, USA
Plot tags: stop motion, anthropomorphic animal, unlikely partners, anthropomorphism, fox, talking animal, furry, heroic mission, evil, danger, dishonesty, melancholy, village life, eccentricity, partner, disorder, rivals, daring rescue, farmer, vixen, trippy, slick, animal life, heist, dysfunctional family
Avatar (2009)
Plot Summary:
In the 22nd century, a paraplegic Marine is dispatched to the moon Pandora on a unique mission, but becomes torn between following orders and protecting an alien civilization
Duration: 162 min
IMDB Rating: 7.9/10
IMDB Votes: 14000000
Genere: Action, Adventure, Fantasy, Sci-Fi
Country: USA
Plot tags: alien, fantasy world, ecology, culture clash, creature, beautiful scenery, battles, alien life-form, space and aliens, alien planet, space travel, alien encounter, scientist, human nature, distant planet, space colony, interracial relations, mysterious planet, escapades, mythology, choice, expedition, interspecies romance, jungle, fighting the system
Star Trek (2009)
Plot Summary:
The fate of the galaxy rests in the hands of bitter rivals. One, James Kirk, is a delinquent, thrill-seeking Iowa farm boy. The other, Spock, a Vulcan, was raised in a logic-based society that rejects all emotion. As fiery instinct clashes with calm reason, their unlikely but powerful partnership is the only thing capable of leading their crew through unimaginable danger, boldly going where no one has gone before. The human adventure has begun again
Duration: 127 min
IMDB Rating: 7.9/10
IMDB Votes: 616000
Genere: Action, Adventure, Sci-Fi
Country: USA, Germany
Plot tags: space travel, star trek, space opera, outer space, time travel, spacecraft, alien, heroic mission, teamwork, space and aliens, alternate universe, space wars, heroes, space, human versus alien, alternate reality, team, alien civilization, imaginary, teleportation, intergalactic, alien planet, captain, creature, revenge
Sherlock Holmes (2009)
Plot Summary:
Eccentric consulting detective, Sherlock Holmes and Doctor John Watson battle to bring down a new nemesis and unravel a deadly plot that could destroy England
Duration: 128 min
IMDB Rating: 7.6/10
IMDB Votes: 661000
Genere: Action, Adventure, Mystery
Country: USA, Germany, UK, Australia
Plot tags: sherlock holmes, steampunk, private detective, investigation, intelligence, murder, riddles and clues, prodigy, clue, hotshot hero, master criminal, genius, deduction, talented, twists and turns, partner, buddy, expert, conspiracy, murderer, puzzle, who done it, serial killer, murder mystery, friendship
Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (2009)
Plot Summary:
As Harry begins his sixth year at Hogwarts, he discovers an old book marked as 'Property of the Half-Blood Prince', and begins to learn more about Lord Voldemort's dark past
Duration: 153 min
IMDB Rating: 7.6/10
IMDB Votes: 582000
Genere: Action, Adventure, Family, Fantasy, Mystery
Country: UK, USA
Plot tags: harry potter, witch, magic, magical, witchcraft, teenager, school, good versus evil, chosen one, wizards and magicians, young heroes, boarding school, boarding school life, danger, supernatural ability, prophecy, secret place, obsessive quest, mentor, curses spells and rituals, supernatural, death, boy hero, magic wand, spell
Sin Nombre (2009)
Plot Summary:
Set on the border, where Mexico becomes the crucible and the fearsome gangs of today’s Mexican countryside, the gauntlet, to freedom. The stories of a girl living in Honduras and hungering for a brighter future, and two teen gang members, for whom the Mara Salvatrucha is near their entire universe, become interlaced on the train to the border, a journey that will determine the future of their lives
Duration: 96 min
IMDB Rating: 7.5/10
IMDB Votes: 34000
Genere: Adventure, Crime, Drama, Thriller
Country: Mexico
Plot tags: gang, immigrant, juvenile delinquency, street gang, social problems, rape, family reunited, train, gang member, u.s. mexico border, hopes, illegal immigrant, travel, youth, lifestyle change, tragic love, corpse, tragedy, culture clash, gangster, teenager, justice, robbery, border crossing, death
The Secret of Kells (2009)
Plot Summary:
Adventure awaits 12 year old Brendan who must fight Vikings and a serpent god to find a crystal and complete the legendary Book of Kells. In order to finish Brother Aiden's book, Brendan must overcome his deepest fears on a secret quest that will take him beyond the abbey walls and into the enchanted forest where dangerous mythical creatures hide. Will Brendan succeed in his quest?
Duration: 71 min
IMDB Rating: 7.5/10
IMDB Votes: 38000
Genere: Animation, Adventure, Family, Fantasy
Country: Ireland, Belgium, France
Plot tags: good versus evil, magic, legends and myths, medieval, monastery, imaginary, self discovery, heroic mission, fairy, viking, children, art, obsessive quest, woods, pagan, secrets, folklore, mythology, nature, storytelling, childhood, forest, witch, teenager, women
Red Cliff II (2009)
Plot Summary:
The battle of Red Cliff continues and the alliance between Xu and East Wu is fracturing. With Cao Cao's massive forces on their doorstep, will the kingdoms of Xu and East Wu survive?
Duration: 142 min
IMDB Rating: 7.5/10
IMDB Votes: 25000
Genere: Action, Adventure, Drama, History, War
Country: China, Hong Kong, Japan, Taiwan, South Korea, USA
Plot tags: war, martial arts, soldier, master warrior, battles, chinese history, ancient history, horse, historical event, wuxia, military, life is a bitch, leadership, historical character, wartime life, kung fu, medieval, danger, barbarian, ancient, antiquity, asian history, knight, combat, fight
Yahsi Bati - The Ottoman Cowboys (2009)
Plot Summary:
Two Ottoman government officials travel to USA in 19th Century in order to give gift to President from Sultan of Ottoman
Duration: 112 min
IMDB Rating: 7.4/10
IMDB Votes: 38000
Genere: Adventure, Comedy, Fantasy, Western
Country: Turkey
Plot tags: horse, cowboy, robbery, theft, escapades, gem, disorder, silly humor, mission gone awry, turk, wrestling, diamond, native american, profanity, card playing, wanted, special agent, violent content, indians, tribe, church, diplomat, usa president, american indian, u.s. president
Summer Wars (2009)
Plot Summary:
Kenji is your typical teenage misfit. He’s good at math, bad with girls, and spends most of his time out hanging out in the all-powerful online community known as OZ. His second life is the only life he has – until the girl of his dreams, Natsuki, hijacks him for a starring role as a fake fiancé at her family reunion. Things only get stranger from there. A late-night email containing a cryptic mathematic riddle leads to the unleashing of a rogue AI intent on using the virtual world of OZ to destroy the real world. As Armageddon looms on the horizon, Kenji and his new “family” set aside their differences and band together to save the worlds they inhabit in this "near-perfect blend of social satire and science fiction."
Duration: 114 min
IMDB Rating: 7.4/10
IMDB Votes: 31000
Genere: Animation, Action, Adventure, Comedy, Drama, Romance, Sci-Fi
Country: Japan
Plot tags: virtual reality, artificial intelligence, code breaking, satellite, technology gone awry, teenage life, family relations, save the world, code, relationships, technology, adaptation, computer genius, imaginary, heroic mission, computer, youth, prodigy, danger, virtual world, high school student, heroes, love and romance, family reunited, teenage love
Invictus (2009)
Plot Summary:
Newly elected President Nelson Mandela knows his nation remains racially and economically divided in the wake of apartheid. Believing he can bring his people together through the universal language of sport, Mandela rallies South Africa's rugby team as they make their historic run to the 1995 Rugby World Cup Championship match
Duration: 134 min
IMDB Rating: 7.3/10
IMDB Votes: 166000
Genere: Action, Adventure, Biography, Drama, History, Sport, Thriller
Country: USA
Plot tags: racism, rugby, human spirit, president, leadership, apartheid, politics, underdog, biopic, politician, idealism, historical character, prejudice, justice, world politics, culture clash, celebration, sports star, sports history, business, motivation, freedom, rivalry, social problems, ambition
Wonder Woman (2009)
Plot Summary:
On the mystical island of Themyscira, a proud and fierce warrior race of Amazons have raised a daughter of untold beauty, grace and strength: Princess Diana. When an Army fighter pilot, Steve Trevor, crash-lands on the island, the rebellious and headstrong Diana defies Amazonian law by accompanying Trevor back to civilization
Duration: 74 min
IMDB Rating: 7.2/10
IMDB Votes: 19000
Genere: Animation, Action, Adventure, Fantasy, Sci-Fi
Country: USA
Plot tags: superhero, female warrior, wonder woman, heroes, vengeance, heroine, betrayal, revenge, women, justice, brutality, vigilantism, vigilante, good versus evil, comic book, rescue, superpower, heroic mission, princess, pilot, rivalry, master villain, save the world, escapades, danger
Green Lantern: First Flight (2009)
Plot Summary:
Test pilot Hal Jordan finds himself recruited as the newest member of the intergalactic police force, The Green Lantern Corps
Duration: 77 min
IMDB Rating: 7.1/10
IMDB Votes: 17000
Genere: Animation, Action, Adventure, Fantasy, Sci-Fi
Country: USA
Plot tags: superhero, comic book, good versus evil, betrayal, frame up, law enforcement, heroic mission, intergalactic, pilot, theft, supernatural ability, imaginary, secret identity, master villain, protagonist as suspect, battles, murder, test pilot, false accusation, multiverse, torture, villain, green lantern, distopia, superpower
Everybody's Fine (2009)
Plot Summary:
Eight months after the death of his wife, Frank Goode looks forward to a reunion with his four adult children. When all of them cancel their visits at the last minute, Frank, against the advice of his doctor, sets out on a road trip to reconnect with his offspring. As he visits each one in turn, Frank finds that his children's lives are not quite as picture-perfect as they've made them out to be
Duration: 100 min
IMDB Rating: 7.1/10
IMDB Votes: 63000
Genere: Adventure, Drama
Country: USA
Plot tags: road trip, family relations, holiday, family reunited, loss of spouse, loneliness, father son relationship, retired, dysfunctional family, widower, bus trip, aging, family drama, father daughter relationship, doctor, parents and children, on the road, family problems, siblings relations, retirement, introspection, christmas, journey, parenthood, train travel
Agora (2009)
Plot Summary:
A historical drama set in Roman Egypt, concerning philosopher Hypatia of Alexandria and her relationship with her slave Davus, who is torn between his love for her and the possibility of gaining his freedom by joining the rising tide of Christianity
Duration: 127 min
IMDB Rating: 7.1/10
IMDB Votes: 72000
Genere: Adventure, Biography, Drama, History, Romance
Country: Spain, Malta, Bulgaria, USA
Plot tags: roman empire, ancient history, mathematics, atheism, impossible love, medieval, political unrest, ancient world, antiquity, historical character, religions or cults, unrequited love, master and servant, religion, judaism, ancient egypt, scientist, professor, destiny, paganism, science, astronomy, unfulfillment, christianity, sword fight
The Princess and the Frog (2009)
Plot Summary:
A waitress, desperate to fulfill her dreams as a restaurant owner, is set on a journey to turn a frog prince back into a human being, but she has to face the same problem after she kisses him
Duration: 97 min
IMDB Rating: 7.1/10
IMDB Votes: 162000
Genere: Animation, Adventure, Comedy, Family, Fantasy, Musical, Romance
Country: USA, Japan
Plot tags: princess, jazz, good versus evil, prince, magical, disney princess, animal life, imaginary, cinderella story, love and romance, dream, fall in love, transformation, human becomes animal, restaurant, firefly, girl, enemies to lovers, happy ending, talking animal, frog, turned into an animal, curses spells and rituals, african american, interracial romance
9 (2009)
Plot Summary:
When 9 first comes to life, he finds himself in a post-apocalyptic world. All humans are gone, and it is only by chance that he discovers a small community of others like him taking refuge from fearsome machines that roam the earth intent on their extinction. Despite being the neophyte of the group, 9 convinces the others that hiding will do them no good
Duration: 79 min
IMDB Rating: 7.0/10
IMDB Votes: 146000
Genere: Animation, Action, Adventure, Drama, Fantasy, Sci-Fi, Thriller
Country: USA, Canada, Luxembourg
Plot tags: steampunk, apocalypse, post apocalypse, dystopia, survival, danger, technology gone awry, life is a bitch, vestiges of humanity, distopia, fate of humanity, robot, save the world, parallel world, end of the world, artificial intelligence, transformation, alternate history, scientist, man versus machine, hopes, heroes, friendship, post apocalyptic, trippy
Battlestar Galactica: The Plan (2009)
Plot Summary:
When the initial Cylon attack against the Twelve Colonies fails to achieve complete extermination of human life as planned, twin Number Ones (Cavils) embedded on Galactica and Caprica must improvise to destroy the human survivors
Duration: 112 min
IMDB Rating: 6.9/10
IMDB Votes: 21000
Genere: Action, Adventure, Drama, Romance, Sci-Fi
Country: USA
Plot tags: androids and robots, space travel, space, space battle, escapades, space opera, battlestar galactica, battles, space and aliens, good versus evil, man versus machine, danger, imaginary, human existence, dystopian future, space wars, robot, survival, brother brother relationship, cyborgs, intergalactic, genocide, spaceship, distopia, invasion
Hulk Vs. (2009)
Plot Summary:
Two stories featuring Marvel's anti-hero The Incredible Hulk and his encounters with the X-Man Wolverine and the god known as Thor
Duration: 82 min
IMDB Rating: 6.9/10
IMDB Votes: 13000
Genere: Animation, Action, Adventure, Fantasy, Sci-Fi
Country: USA
Plot tags: superhero, battles, supernatural, experiment gone awry, hulk, comic book, danger, imaginary, monster, heroes, mutant, beast, blood, alien, mature, family life, trap, supernatural ability, escapades, rivalry, fighting crime, wilderness, countryside, disorder, top secret
Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs (2009)
Plot Summary:
Times are changing for Manny the moody mammoth, Sid the motor mouthed sloth and Diego the crafty saber-toothed tiger. Life heats up for our heroes when they meet some new and none-too-friendly neighbors – the mighty dinosaurs
Duration: 94 min
IMDB Rating: 6.9/10
IMDB Votes: 260000
Genere: Animation, Adventure, Comedy, Family
Country: USA, UK, Canada
Plot tags: dinosaur, jungle, ice age, talking animal, fantasy world, friendship, parenthood, birth, rescue, animal life, iceberg, life philosophy, rescue team, baby, survival, youth, friends, love and romance, escapades, babies and infants, danger, dimwit, partner, silly humor, bonding
Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs (2009)
Plot Summary:
Inventor Flint Lockwood creates a machine that makes clouds rain food, enabling the down-and-out citizens of Chewandswallow to feed themselves. But when the falling food reaches gargantuan proportions, Flint must scramble to avert disaster. Can he regain control of the machine and put an end to the wild weather before the town is destroyed?
Duration: 90 min
IMDB Rating: 6.9/10
IMDB Votes: 252000
Genere: Animation, Adventure, Comedy, Family, Fantasy, Sci-Fi
Country: USA
Plot tags: food, inventor, nerd, natural disaster, father son relationship, mad scientist, greed, small town, parents and children, save the world, friendship, weatherman, goofy hero, fall in love, social misfits, inventions and discoveries, disorder, save the day, chaos, monkey, restaurant, cooking, scientist, mayor, technophobia
The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus (2009)
Plot Summary:
A traveling theater company gives its audience much more than they were expecting
Duration: 123 min
IMDB Rating: 6.8/10
IMDB Votes: 153000
Genere: Adventure, Comedy, Fantasy, Mystery
Country: UK, France, Canada
Plot tags: surrealism, imaginary kingdom, deal with the devil, mysterious character, magic, imagination, destiny, transformation, bet, magical, steampunk, insanity, trippy, immortality, creativity, eccentricity, alternate reality, good versus evil, circus, deal, ancient, chases and races, escapades, choice, danger
A Christmas Carol (2009)
Plot Summary:
Miser Ebenezer Scrooge is awakened on Christmas Eve by spirits who reveal to him his own miserable existence, what opportunities he wasted in his youth, his current cruelties, and the dire fate that awaits him if he does not change his ways. Scrooge is faced with his own story of growing bitterness and meanness, and must decide what his own future will hold: death or redemption
Duration: 96 min
IMDB Rating: 6.8/10
IMDB Votes: 126000
Genere: Animation, Adventure, Comedy, Drama, Family, Fantasy
Country: USA, UK
Plot tags: christmas, holiday, ghost, scrooge, redemption, snow, time travel, christmas spirit, greed, christmas eve, regret, victorian england, life changing experience, christmas season, rich and poor, supernatural, human nature, coldhearted, afterlife, christmas carol, xmas, adaptation, winter, lesson, charles dickens
OSS 117: Lost in Rio (2009)
Plot Summary:
French top secret agent, Hubert Bonisseur de la Bath, is sent to Rio to buy microfilms from a running nazi. To do so, he has to team up with Mossad secret services
Duration: 101 min
IMDB Rating: 6.8/10
IMDB Votes: 16000
Genere: Action, Adventure, Comedy, Crime
Country: France
Plot tags: spy spoof, secret agent, spy, femme fatale, reluctant partners, womanizer, secret service, escapades, working undercover, disorder, goofy hero, heroic mission, hippie, disguise, racial stereotype, world war two, mossad, lgbt, cold war, adventurer, spying, heroes, undercover, conspiracy, nazism
Where the Wild Things Are (2009)
Plot Summary:
Max imagines running away from his mom and sailing to a far-off land where large talking beasts -- Ira, Carol, Douglas, the Bull, Judith and Alexander -- crown him as their king, play rumpus, build forts and discover secret hideaways
Duration: 101 min
IMDB Rating: 6.7/10
IMDB Votes: 108000
Genere: Adventure, Drama, Family, Fantasy, Horror
Country: Germany, USA, Australia
Plot tags: childhood, creature, mischievous children, imaginary kingdom, fantasy world, imagination, loneliness, island, children, coming of age, youth, anger, surrealism, magical, child, unlikely friendships, boy, storytelling, journey, adventurer, imaginary, young heroes, friendship, forgiveness, family relations
Tinker Bell and the Lost Treasure (2009)
Plot Summary:
A blue harvest moon will rise, allowing the fairies to use a precious moonstone to restore the Pixie Dust Tree, the source of all their magic. But when Tinker Bell accidentally puts all of Pixie Hollow in jeopardy, she must venture out across the sea on a secret quest to set things right
Duration: 81 min
IMDB Rating: 6.6/10
IMDB Votes: 12000
Genere: Animation, Adventure, Family, Fantasy
Country: USA, India
Plot tags: fairy, friendship, imaginary kingdom, mischievous children, magic, supernatural, imaginary, tinkerbell, pirate, heroes, friends, family relations, escapades, danger, disorder, siblings relations, young heroes, good versus evil, curses spells and rituals, mission, female protagonist, peter pan, small town, love, teenager
Terminator Salvation (2009)
Plot Summary:
All grown up in post-apocalyptic 2018, John Connor must lead the resistance of humans against the increasingly dominating militaristic robots. But when Marcus Wright appears, his existence confuses the mission as Connor tries to determine whether Wright has come from the future or the past -- and whether he's friend or foe
Duration: 115 min
IMDB Rating: 6.5/10
IMDB Votes: 374000
Genere: Action, Adventure, Sci-Fi
Country: USA, Germany, UK, Italy
Plot tags: cyborgs, apocalypse, robot, cyberpunk, post apocalypse, future war, androids and robots, distopia, man versus machine, time travel, dystopian future, artificial intelligence, technology gone awry, dystopic future, terminator, save the world, post apocalyptic, end of the world, resistance, killer robot, army, hi-tech, survival, wartime, dystopia
Fanboys (2009)
Plot Summary:
In 1999, Star Wars fanatics take a cross-country trip to George Lucas' Skywalker Ranch so their dying friend can see a screening of The Phantom Menace before its release
Duration: 120 min
IMDB Rating: 6.5/10
IMDB Votes: 61000
Genere: Adventure, Comedy, Crime
Country: USA
Plot tags: road trip, on the road, friendship, fan, fandom, last wish, stoner, rivalry, buddy, obsessive quest, escapades, youth, prostitute, blonde, obstacle, nerd, cancer, high school, jay and silent bob, obsessed fan, space opera, star wars, breaking and entering, travel, geek