Last updated March 2024
Looking for acclaimed Best Adventure Movies 2016 that live up to expectations? We rounded up 30 sensational, must-see Best Adventure Movies 2016 for your viewing pleasure. Backed by stellar reviews from IMDB critics and our own discerning users, these titles are as good as entertainment gets. Help other fans uncover buried treasures by voting for your favorites. We value members who pay it forward with great recommendations!
Zootopia (2016)
Plot Summary:
Determined to prove herself, Officer Judy Hopps, the first bunny on Zootopia's police force, jumps at the chance to crack her first case - even if it means partnering with scam-artist fox Nick Wilde to solve the mystery
Duration: 108 min
IMDB Rating: 8.0/10
IMDB Votes: 533000
Genere: Animation, Adventure, Comedy, Crime, Family, Mystery
Country: USA
Plot tags: stereotypes, anthropomorphic animal, anthropomorphism, police, furry, happy ending, female protagonist, rabbit, friendship, prejudice, conspiracy, racial relations, investigation, injustice, discrimination, lion, polar bear, idealism, bullying, mammal, talking animal, buddy cop, missing person, police officer, female villain
Rogue One: A Star Wars Story (2016)
Plot Summary:
A rogue band of resistance fighters unite for a mission to steal the Death Star plans and bring a new hope to the galaxy
Duration: 133 min
IMDB Rating: 7.8/10
IMDB Votes: 675000
Genere: Action, Adventure, Sci-Fi
Country: USA
Plot tags: star wars, space opera, female protagonist, rebellion, robot, space travel, tough girl, spacecraft, rebel, self sacrifice, strong female lead, jedi, good versus evil, space, outer space, female fighter, blind man, alien, gunfight, rebel leader, evil empire, spaceship, wilhelm scream, space battle, behind enemy lines
Hunt for the Wilderpeople (2016)
Plot Summary:
Ricky is a defiant young city kid who finds himself on the run with his cantankerous foster uncle in the wild New Zealand bush. A national manhunt ensues, and the two are forced to put aside their differences and work together to survive
Duration: 101 min
IMDB Rating: 7.8/10
IMDB Votes: 139000
Genere: Adventure, Comedy, Drama
Country: New Zealand
Plot tags: coming of age, nature, adoption, wilderness, boy, hunting, juvenile delinquent, childhood, manhunt, dog, countryside, loss of wife, fat boy, misunderstanding, survival, melancholy, bittersweet, heartwarming, chase, teenager, escape, social worker, jungle, youth, road trip
Kubo and the Two Strings (2016)
Plot Summary:
Kubo mesmerizes the people in his village with his magical gift for spinning wild tales with origami. When he accidentally summons an evil spirit seeking vengeance, Kubo is forced to go on a quest to solve the mystery of his fallen samurai father and his mystical weaponry, as well as discover his own magical powers
Duration: 101 min
IMDB Rating: 7.7/10
IMDB Votes: 137000
Genere: Animation, Action, Adventure, Family, Fantasy
Country: UK, USA
Plot tags: stop motion, samurai, magic, imagination, creativity, childhood, storytelling, friendship, monkey, destiny, plot twist, mentor, talking animal, children, fight scenes, strong female character, mythology, cave, coming of age, bittersweet, sword, feudal japan, teenager, martial arts, magical
Moana (2016)
Plot Summary:
In Ancient Polynesia, when a terrible curse incurred by Maui reaches an impetuous Chieftain's daughter's island, she answers the Ocean's call to seek out the demigod to set things right
Duration: 107 min
IMDB Rating: 7.6/10
IMDB Votes: 367000
Genere: Animation, Adventure, Comedy, Family, Fantasy, Musical
Country: USA
Plot tags: ocean, magic, girl, disney princess, island, happy ending, mythology, destiny, good versus evil, friendship, little girl, giant crab, strong female lead, tropical island, young girl, journey, princess, kids and family, sea voyage, strong female character, water, sea turtle, feminism, mentor, girl power
Doctor Strange (2016)
Plot Summary:
After his career is destroyed, a brilliant but arrogant surgeon gets a new lease on life when a sorcerer takes him under her wing and trains him to defend the world against evil
Duration: 115 min
IMDB Rating: 7.5/10
IMDB Votes: 789000
Genere: Action, Adventure, Fantasy, Sci-Fi
Country: USA
Plot tags: superhero, magic, wizard, sorcerer, parallel universe, fantasy world, time, time loop, good versus evil, mentor, multiverse, training, alternate world, neurosurgeon, comic book, supernatural power, magician, alternate dimension, doctor, fight scenes, teleportation, time travel, levitation, one against many, martial arts
A Monster Calls (2016)
Plot Summary:
A boy imagines a monster that helps him deal with his difficult life and see the world in a different way
Duration: 108 min
IMDB Rating: 7.4/10
IMDB Votes: 92000
Genere: Adventure, Drama, Family, Fantasy, Horror
Country: USA, Spain, UK
Plot tags: bullying, monster, childhood, loneliness, terminal illness, life & death, imagination, courage, boy, single mother, cancer, nightmare, depression, truth, death, child, teenager, destiny, family drama, creature, dream, grief, storytelling, youth, magic realism
The Jungle Book (2016)
Plot Summary:
A man-cub named Mowgli fostered by wolves. After a threat from the tiger Shere Khan, Mowgli is forced to flee the jungle, by which he embarks on a journey of self discovery with the help of the panther, Bagheera and the free-spirited bear, Baloo
Duration: 106 min
IMDB Rating: 7.4/10
IMDB Votes: 289000
Genere: Animation, Adventure, Comedy, Drama, Family, Fantasy, Musical
Country: UK, USA, New Zealand, France, Canada, India
Plot tags: jungle, animal, boy, orphan, human animal relationship, courage, tiger, talking animal, wild animal, friendship, greed, monkey, good versus evil, wolf, feral child, panther, chase, animal life, snake, beautiful scenery, heroes, child in peril, danger, journey, escapades
Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice (Ultimate Edition) (2016)
Plot Summary:
Duration: 182 min
IMDB Rating: 7.2/10
IMDB Votes: 67000
Genere: Action, Adventure, Sci-Fi
Country: USA
Plot tags: superhero, villain, alien, revenge, amazon, billionaire, orphan, team, rivalry, reporter, vigilante, gotham city, superhero team, superheroine, mad scientist, masked superhero, flying superhero, adoptive father, alien superhero, lex luthor character, anti hero, jimmy olsen character, batman, wonder woman, superman
Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them (2016)
Plot Summary:
In 1926, Newt Scamander arrives at the Magical Congress of the United States of America with a magically expanded briefcase, which houses a number of dangerous creatures and their habitats. When the creatures escape from the briefcase, it sends the American wizarding authorities after Newt, and threatens to strain even further the state of magical and non-magical relations
Duration: 132 min
IMDB Rating: 7.2/10
IMDB Votes: 499000
Genere: Adventure, Family, Fantasy
Country: UK, USA
Plot tags: magic, witch, wizard, fantasy world, sorcerer, good versus evil, magical creature, friendship, magic wand, chase, harry potter, teleportation, magician, rescue, supernatural power, orphan, spell, alternate universe, orphanage, parallel universe, englishman abroad, witchcraft, unlikely hero, shape shifting, arizona desert
Finding Dory (2016)
Plot Summary:
Dory is reunited with her friends Nemo and Marlin in the search for answers about her past. What can she remember? Who are her parents? And where did she learn to speak Whale?
Duration: 97 min
IMDB Rating: 7.2/10
IMDB Votes: 296000
Genere: Animation, Adventure, Comedy, Family
Country: USA, China
Plot tags: memory loss, underwater, fish, kids and family, amnesia, animal, ocean, shark, friendship, children, talking animal, beautiful scenery, heroes, friends, teamwork, loneliness, heroic mission, anthropomorphism, escapades, danger, family problems, whale, heartwarming, octopus, water
Kung Fu Panda 3 (2016)
Plot Summary:
Continuing his "legendary adventures of awesomeness", Po must face two hugely epic, but different threats: one supernatural and the other a little closer to his home
Duration: 95 min
IMDB Rating: 7.1/10
IMDB Votes: 178000
Genere: Animation, Action, Adventure, Comedy, Family, Fantasy
Country: China, USA
Plot tags: kung fu, good versus evil, talking animal, dragon, animal protagonist, anthropomorphism, fight scenes, monkey, mentor, animal, village, destiny, creativity, storytelling, tiger, anthropomorphic animal, friendship, martial arts, kung fu panda, kids and family, wuxia, chinese culture, training, father son reunion, teacher
The Young Offenders (2016)
Plot Summary:
Two teenage boys cycle 160 km on stolen bikes pursued by police to find a missing bale of cocaine worth 7 million euro. Set around the real event of Ireland's biggest cocaine seizure in 2007 of 440 million euro
Duration: 83 min
IMDB Rating: 7.0/10
IMDB Votes: 13000
Genere: Adventure, Comedy, Crime, Drama
Country: Ireland
Plot tags: teenager, friendship, cocaine, juvenile delinquent, police, road trip, drug, drunkenness, escapades, danger, coming of age, poverty, friendship between men, humour, adolescence, teenage protagonist, fraud, thief, beach, bicycle, chicken, dog, prison, fight, treasure
Star Trek Beyond (2016)
Plot Summary:
The USS Enterprise crew explores the furthest reaches of uncharted space, where they encounter a mysterious new enemy who puts them and everything the Federation stands for to the test
Duration: 122 min
IMDB Rating: 7.0/10
IMDB Votes: 256000
Genere: Action, Adventure, Sci-Fi, Thriller
Country: USA, China
Plot tags: star trek, space opera, alien, space travel, outer space, alien race, space battle, mythology, good versus evil, alien planet, wilhelm scream, deep space, space, alien civilization, friendship, self sacrifice, interracial friendship, teleportation, creature, stranded, vengeance, fantasy world, chase, revenge, spaceship crash
American Honey (2016)
Plot Summary:
A teenage girl with nothing to lose joins a traveling magazine sales crew, and gets caught up in a whirlwind of hard partying, law bending and young love as she criss-crosses the Midwest with a band of misfits
Duration: 163 min
IMDB Rating: 7.0/10
IMDB Votes: 46000
Genere: Adventure, Drama, Romance
Country: UK, USA
Plot tags: road trip, teenage girl, first love, teenager, on the road, teenage boy, adolescence, coming of age, van, jealousy, white trash, naked in public, life philosophy, character study, crime gone awry, wealth, theft, motel, poverty, misfit, sex scene, runaway, hip hop, supermarket, women
Justice League vs. Teen Titans (2016)
Plot Summary:
Robin is sent by Batman to work with the Teen Titans after his volatile behavior botches up a Justice League mission. The Titans must then step up to face Trigon after he possesses the League and threatens to conquer the world
Duration: 78 min
IMDB Rating: 6.9/10
IMDB Votes: 23000
Genere: Animation, Action, Adventure, Comedy, Drama, Fantasy, Sci-Fi
Country: USA
Plot tags: superhero, justice league, superhero team, comic book, heroes, villain, supernatural, friendship, justice, vengeance, transformation, superman, multiverse, battles, violence, showdown, mentor, rivalry, danger, exodus, epic battle, teen superhero, superpower, batman, werewolf
The Magnificent Seven (2016)
Plot Summary:
Seven gun men in the old west gradually come together to help a poor village against savage thieves
Duration: 132 min
IMDB Rating: 6.9/10
IMDB Votes: 225000
Genere: Action, Adventure, Drama, Western
Country: USA, Australia
Plot tags: good versus evil, revenge, bounty hunter, dark hero, criminal, deception, duel, outlaw, showdown, small town, murder, gunfighter, corruption, violence, dark past, arson, teamwork, irony of fate, native american, magic trick, industrialist, civil war, gunfight, modern western, modern west
X-Men: Apocalypse (2016)
Plot Summary:
After the re-emergence of the world's first mutant, world-destroyer Apocalypse, the X-Men must unite to defeat his extinction level plan
Duration: 144 min
IMDB Rating: 6.9/10
IMDB Votes: 455000
Genere: Action, Adventure, Sci-Fi
Country: USA
Plot tags: comic book, superhero, mutant, superhero team, transformation, superpower, heroes, teleportation, technology, x men, good versus evil, psychic, disguise, justice, genetics, betrayal, female agent, fight, vigilante, fight scenes, professor, apocalypse, pyramid, telekinesis, super speed
Storks (2016)
Plot Summary:
Storks deliver babies…or at least they used to. Now they deliver packages for a global internet retail giant. Junior, the company’s top delivery stork, is about to be promoted when he accidentally activates the Baby Making Machine, producing an adorable and wholly unauthorized baby girl
Duration: 87 min
IMDB Rating: 6.8/10
IMDB Votes: 66000
Genere: Animation, Adventure, Comedy, Family, Fantasy
Country: Canada, USA
Plot tags: baby, talking bird, stork, anthropomorphic animal, transformation, neglected child, good versus evil, bird, talking animal, animal, loneliness, father, son, human, fantasy world, realtor, little boy, teenager, hunter, ghost hunter, furry, buddies, meme, chase, girl
Pete's Dragon (2016)
Plot Summary:
For years, old wood carver Mr. Meacham has delighted local children with his tales of the fierce dragon that resides deep in the woods of the Pacific Northwest. To his daughter, Grace, who works as a forest ranger, these stories are little more than tall tales... until she meets Pete, a mysterious 10-year-old with no family and no home who claims to live in the woods with a giant, green dragon named Elliott. And from Pete's descriptions, Elliott seems remarkably similar to the dragon from Mr. Meacham's stories. With the help of Natalie, an 11-year-old girl whose father Jack owns the local lumber mill, Grace sets out to determine where Pete came from, where he belongs, and the truth about this dragon
Duration: 102 min
IMDB Rating: 6.7/10
IMDB Votes: 61000
Genere: Action, Adventure, Comedy, Drama, Family, Fantasy
Country: USA, UK, New Zealand, India
Plot tags: dragon, orphan, boy, children, magic, childhood, boy girl friendship, friendship, imagination, small town, escape, family life, fire breathing dragon, forest, hospital, car crash, beautiful scenery, kids and family, wizard, feral child, deforestation, invisibility, teenager, magical, giant monster
Warcraft (2016)
Plot Summary:
The peaceful realm of Azeroth stands on the brink of war as its civilization faces a fearsome race of invaders: orc warriors fleeing their dying home to colonize another. As a portal opens to connect the two worlds, one army faces destruction and the other faces extinction. From opposing sides, two heroes are set on a collision course that will decide the fate of their family, their people, and their home
Duration: 123 min
IMDB Rating: 6.7/10
IMDB Votes: 275000
Genere: Action, Adventure, Fantasy
Country: China, USA, Canada, Japan
Plot tags: sword and sorcery, wizard, magic, monster, fantasy world, sorcerer, good versus evil, invasion, video game, kingdom, warrior, creature, fictional war, magician, clan, demon, mythology, betrayal, giant creature, fire, traitor, self sacrifice, sorcery, war, magical
Ballerina (2016)
Plot Summary:
Set in 1879 Paris. An orphan girl dreams of becoming a ballerina and flees her rural Brittany for Paris, where she passes for someone else and accedes to the position of pupil at the Grand Opera house
Duration: 89 min
IMDB Rating: 6.7/10
IMDB Votes: 24000
Genere: Animation, Adventure, Comedy, Family, Music
Country: France, Canada
Plot tags: ballet, ballerina, inventor, children, dancing, orphan, follow your dream, rivalry, best friends in love, mentor, flying, dancer, choreographer, escape, audition, mean girl, friendship, child protagonist, love interest, never give up, dance lesson, training, girl, female protagonist, teenager
Batman: Bad Blood (2016)
Plot Summary:
Bruce Wayne is missing. Alfred covers for him while Nightwing and Robin patrol Gotham City in his stead. And a new player, Batwoman, investigates Batman's disappearance
Duration: 72 min
IMDB Rating: 6.7/10
IMDB Votes: 26000
Genere: Animation, Action, Adventure, Crime, Sci-Fi
Country: USA
Plot tags: batman, superhero, gunfight, justice, fantasy world, vigilante, adaptation, comic book, superpower, murder, chase, transformation, multiverse, criminal, good versus evil, hand to hand combat, mansion, rescue, disappearance, lgbt, heroes, villain, redheaded woman, motorcycle, nun
Kingsglaive: Final Fantasy XV (2016)
Plot Summary:
The magical kingdom of Lucis is home to the world’s last remaining Crystal, and the menacing empire of Niflheim is determined to steal it. King Regis of Lucis commands an elite force of soldiers called the Kingsglaive. Wielding their king’s magic, they fight to protect Lucis. As the overwhelming military might of the empire bears down, King Regis is faced with an impossible ultimatum – to marry his son, Prince Noctis to Princess Lunafreya of Tenebrae, captive of Niflheim, and surrender his lands to Niflheim rule. Although the king concedes, it becomes clear that the empire will stop at nothing to achieve their devious goals, with only the Kingsglaive standing between them and world domination
Duration: 110 min
IMDB Rating: 6.7/10
IMDB Votes: 23000
Genere: Animation, Action, Adventure, Drama, Fantasy, Sci-Fi
Country: Japan, USA
Plot tags: warrior, sword and sorcery, magic, heroes, medieval, king, magical, supernatural, magician, supernatural ability, imaginary, state affairs, imaginary kingdom, friendship, witchcraft, royal family, escapades, curses spells and rituals, superhero, dragon, video game, propaganda, misogynist, exodus, superpower
Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children (2016)
Plot Summary:
A teenager finds himself transported to an island where he must help protect a group of orphans with special powers from creatures intent on destroying them
Duration: 127 min
IMDB Rating: 6.7/10
IMDB Votes: 185000
Genere: Adventure, Drama, Family, Fantasy, Thriller
Country: USA, UK, Belgium, Canada
Plot tags: time travel, magic, fantasy world, time loop, children, monster, imaginary, youth, beautiful scenery, orphan, supernatural power, witch, boarding school, immortality, children's home, boarding school life, mentor, childhood, transformation, island, wizard, riddles and clues, butterfly effect, destiny, grandfather
The Lost City of Z (2016)
Plot Summary:
A true-life drama in the 1920s, centering on British explorer Col. Percy Fawcett, who discovered evidence of a previously unknown, advanced civilazation in the Amazon and disappeared whilst searching for it
Duration: 141 min
IMDB Rating: 6.6/10
IMDB Votes: 98000
Genere: Adventure, Biography, Drama, History
Country: USA
Plot tags: jungle, explorer, expedition, travel, survival, archaeology, journey, tribe, amazon jungle, world war one, biopic, lost civilization, obsession, courage, conquistador, destiny, self discovery, wilderness, adaptation, cave, forest, quest, rescue, father son relationship, bravery
The Girl with All the Gifts (2016)
Plot Summary:
In the future, a strange fungus has changed nearly everyone into a thoughtless, flesh-eating monster. When a scientist and a teacher find a girl who seems to be immune to the fungus, they all begin a journey to save humanity
Duration: 111 min
IMDB Rating: 6.6/10
IMDB Votes: 64000
Genere: Action, Adventure, Drama, Horror, Sci-Fi, Thriller
Country: UK
Plot tags: zombie, pandemic, post apocalypse, apocalypse, infection, zombie apocalypse, end of the world, military, zombie child, children, undead, virus, scientist, teacher, feral child, social commentary, distopia, experiment, post apocalyptic, gas mask, abandoned city, epidemic, living dead, disease, chase
Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice (2016)
Plot Summary:
Fearing the actions of a god-like Super Hero left unchecked, Gotham City’s own formidable, forceful vigilante takes on Metropolis’s most revered, modern-day savior, while the world wrestles with what sort of hero it really needs. And with Batman and Superman at war with one another, a new threat quickly arises, putting mankind in greater danger than it’s ever known before
Duration: 151 min
IMDB Rating: 6.5/10
IMDB Votes: 744000
Genere: Action, Adventure, Sci-Fi
Country: USA
Plot tags: superhero, batman, revenge, superhuman powers, comic book, heroes, superman, rivalry, justice, alien, vigilante, good versus evil, wonder woman, save the world, death, imaginary, dark hero, brutality, violence, betrayal, murder, redemption, transformation, super powers, danger
Nerve (2016)
Plot Summary:
Industrious high school senior, Vee Delmonico, has had it with living life on the sidelines. When pressured by friends to join the popular online game Nerve, Vee decides to sign up for just one dare in what seems like harmless fun. But as she finds herself caught up in the thrill of the adrenaline-fueled competition partnered with a mysterious stranger, the game begins to take a sinister turn with increasingly dangerous acts, leading her into a high stakes finale that will determine her entire future
Duration: 96 min
IMDB Rating: 6.5/10
IMDB Votes: 139000
Genere: Action, Adventure, Crime, Drama, Thriller
Country: USA
Plot tags: teenager, game, internet, hacker, technology, heroine, hacking, moral dilemma, rivalry, race against time, danger, friendship, teenage boy, teenage girl, computer cracker, surveillance, dark web, party, jealousy, unexpected kiss, cheerleader, revenge, high school, fear, courage
The Secret Life of Pets (2016)
Plot Summary:
The quiet life of a terrier named Max is upended when his owner takes in Duke, a stray whom Max instantly dislikes
Duration: 87 min
IMDB Rating: 6.5/10
IMDB Votes: 214000
Genere: Animation, Adventure, Comedy, Family
Country: USA, Japan, France
Plot tags: dog, children, friendship, kids and family, animal, terrier, cat, pets, anthropomorphism, chase, dachshund, childhood, talking animal, pig, guinea pig, chihuahua, wilhelm scream, animal life, pet dog, remote control, siamese cat, rabbit, exodus, redemption, furry