Best movies like Return to Nim's Island
Last updated March 2024
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Plot Summary:
Fourteen year old Nim, more determined than ever to protect her island and all the wildlife that call it home, faces off against resort developers and animal poachers. Soon she realizes she can’t depend on her animal cohorts alone and must make her first human friend – Edmund, who’s run away to the island from the mainland – to save her home.
IMDB Rating: 4.9
IMDB Votes: 2000
Genere: Adventure, Family, Fantasy
Country: Australia
Duration: 90 min
Plot tags: exciting, humorous, sincere, captivating, touching, offbeat
Best tv shows and movies like Return to Nim's Island (2013):
Similar in 80%
Island of Lost Souls (2007)
Plot Summary:
14-year-old Lulu moves to a small provincial town with her mother and younger brother. One night, her brother is struck by a beam of white light - actually the spirit of Herman Hartmann from the 19th-century. To her despair, Lulu realizes that Herman has possessed her brother, and the two of them are whirled into a fevered adventure.
IMDB Rating: 5.7
IMDB Votes: 2000
Genere: Action, Adventure, Family, Fantasy
Country: Denmark, Sweden, Germany
Duration: 100 min
Plot tags: gothic, atmospheric, suspenseful, stylized, dark fantasy, scary, serious, psychotronic
Similar in 86%
Ocean Girl (1994)
Plot Summary:
Ocean Girl is an Australian science fiction TV series aimed for family audiences and starring Marzena Godecki as the lead character. The show is set in the near future, and focuses on an unusual girl named Neri who lives alone on an island, and the friendships she develops with the inhabitants of an underwater research facility called ORCA. The show is an example of deep ecology science fiction. Ocean Girl inspired an animated series, The New Adventures of Ocean Girl, which ran from 2000 to 2001, and has since been released on DVD. The animated series is in a distinct reboot separate from the original live-action show.
IMDB Rating: 7.3
IMDB Votes: 2000
Genere: Action, Adventure, Family, Fantasy, Sci-Fi, Thriller
Country: Australia
Duration: 25 min
Plot tags: exciting, stylized, semi serious
Similar in 77%
Pippi in the South Seas (1970)
Plot Summary:
Pippi in the South Seas (original title is Pippi Långstrump på de sju haven) is a 1970 film, based on the eponymous children's books by Astrid Lindgren with the cast of the 1969 TV series. Pippi, with friends Tommy and Annika, adventures on the South Seas to hunt for her father, who has been kidnapped by pirates.
IMDB Rating: 6.8
IMDB Votes: 5000
Genere: Adventure, Comedy, Drama, Family, Fantasy
Country: Sweden, West Germany
Duration: 86 min
Plot tags: exciting, feel good, humorous, semi serious
Similar in 79%
Mee-Shee: The Water Giant (2005)
Plot Summary:
A New York City oil company troubleshooter is brought to a remote B.C. lake to look for some lost machinery. Cancelling a trip to Disney World with his son, he decides to bring the boy along. They both end up experiencing more excitement than Mickey could ever conjure in Orlando, when they meet up with bad guys and a legendary creature.
IMDB Rating: 5.3
IMDB Votes: 789
Genere: Adventure, Family, Fantasy
Country: UK, Germany
Duration: 95 min
Plot tags: semi serious, sincere, touching, captivating, mystical, mythical
Similar in 86%
White Tuft, the Little Beaver (2008)
Plot Summary:
White Tuft is a small beaver who lives in the north of Canada; It is a dangerous place so in his adventure he would have to recognice his friends and his enemies.
IMDB Rating: 7.0
IMDB Votes: 307
Genere: Adventure, Family
Country: France
Duration: 77 min
Plot tags: humorous, captivating, semi serious, sincere, realistic
Similar in 77%
The Dragon Pearl (2011)
Plot Summary:
When teenagers JOSH (Louis Corbett) and LING (Li Lin Jin) join their respective parents, CHRIS (Sam Neill) and Dr LI (Wang Ji) on an archaeological dig in China they encounter something trapped beneath a temple beyond their wildest imagination. A real live Chinese dragon. Two thousand years earlier, to defend his kingdom, the dragon lent an emperor his all powerful pearl. Instead of being returned, the pearl was buried with the emperor beneath his palace, and helpless without its source of power the dragon has remained entombed ever since.
IMDB Rating: 4.7
IMDB Votes: 987
Genere: Adventure, Family, Fantasy, Mystery
Country: Australia
Duration: 93 min
Plot tags: exciting, atmospheric, stylized, humorous, mystical, mythical, offbeat, serious
Similar in 75%
Magic Island (1995)
Plot Summary:
Jack Carlisle is a disillusioned 13-year old boy. His mother is always away at work since his father left. He decides to run away, as his mom won't miss him. As he is ready to leave, his nanny, convinces him to read this 'magic book'. The book is about a pirate adventure on Magic Island. As Jack reads the book, he is sucked into the world and goes on numerous adventures with Prince Morgan, while fleeing the evil Blackbeard the Pirate. He is even saved by Lily, a beautiful mermaid, whom he falls in love with.
IMDB Rating: 5.8
IMDB Votes: 677
Genere: Action, Adventure, Family, Fantasy
Country: USA, Mexico
Duration: 88 min
Plot tags: exciting, offbeat, feel good, humorous, stylized, semi serious
Similar in 86%
Level Up (2011)
Plot Summary:
Four very different high school teenagers battle trolls, ghouls and a dark leader of them named Maldark in a video game that goes haywire and releases the battle into the real world (IMDb.com).
IMDB Rating: 4.3
IMDB Votes: 822
Genere: Adventure, Comedy, Family, Fantasy
Country: USA
Duration: 67 min
Plot tags: exciting, humorous, captivating, entertaining, tense, witty, semi serious
Similar in 88%
A Light in the Forest (2003)
Plot Summary:
Britta, the new girl in school Highland, has reason to be jubilant this Christmas: Her sadness has served to invoke Holly Boy, the holiday spirit, waking him from his deep slumber imposed by a dark elf, King Otto. This sets off a battle earthly and supernatural fury that develop simultaneously. The Young Britta must face her fears and death defying aerial action in the holidays from school, while Holly Boy has to fight against the forces of evil. Both battles must escape to save their lives, school, and the sacred forest, although, in reality, what is really at stake is the Christmas and values.
IMDB Rating: 4.1
IMDB Votes: 172
Genere: Family, Fantasy
Country: USA
Duration: 95 min
Plot tags: exciting, light, captivating, contemplative, offbeat
Similar in 85%
Adventures in Dinosaur City (1991)
Plot Summary:
A scientist's kids are sucked into a TV screen and wind up in the Stone Age with cavemen and dinosaurs.
IMDB Rating: 4.8
IMDB Votes: 1000
Genere: Adventure, Family, Fantasy
Country: USA
Duration: 88 min
Plot tags: independent film, exciting, offbeat, feel good, humorous, stylized, semi serious
Similar in 78%
Body Troopers (1996)
Plot Summary:
A little kid shrinks himselfs so that he can travel into the body of his grandfather. Here he has to kill the kidney-stone his grandfather is suffering from.
IMDB Rating: 5.5
IMDB Votes: 1000
Genere: Adventure, Family, Sci-Fi, Fantasy
Country: Norway
Duration: 91 min
Plot tags: cult classic, exciting, offbeat, feel good, humorous, surreal, semi serious, fast, cult film
Similar in 87%
Trouble at Timpetill (2008)
Plot Summary:
The children of a small European mountain village end up being its only residents, soon after the adults cannot take their behavior any longer.
IMDB Rating: 5.8
IMDB Votes: 1000
Genere: Adventure, Family, Fantasy
Country: France, Luxembourg
Duration: 97 min
Plot tags: humorous, captivating, entertaining, light, atmospheric, offbeat, stylized, semi serious
Similar in 86%
The Lost Medallion: The Adventures of Billy Stone (2013)
Plot Summary:
A man who stops into a foster home to drop off some donations soon tells the kids a story about two teenage friends who uncover a long-lost medallion that transports them back in time.
IMDB Rating: 4.8
IMDB Votes: 2000
Genere: Adventure, Family, Fantasy
Country: Thailand
Duration: 97 min
Plot tags: exciting, serious, realistic, captivating, christian film
Similar in 82%
The Snow Queen (2005)
Plot Summary:
When Gerda befriends penniless Kay their growing friendship is cut short as one cold winter night a fragment of glass pierces Kay's eye, turning his heart cold. Enchanted by the Snow Queen he is swept away on her chariot over the glittering landscape to her frozen palace in the North. Gerda embarks on a magical and perilous journey to find and rescue Kay, finally arriving in the realm of the Snow Queen. But will this little girl in her red velvet cloak be able to match the power of the winter witch?.
IMDB Rating: 5.9
IMDB Votes: 434
Genere: Family, Fantasy
Country: UK, Canada
Duration: 56 min
Plot tags: semi serious, humorous, sincere, captivating, mysterious, dark fantasy, fairy tale
Similar in 81%
The Lost Treasure of the Knights Templar (2006)
Plot Summary:
Danish brilliant pre-teen student Nis uses his summer holiday to learn Latin so he can properly study the Knights Templar inheritance on Bjornholm island from sources. His friends Mathias, a dumb jock, and Kathrine, who only comes to spend time wear her dad, who really wanted a boy, prefer childish fun, but get dragged in his quest for a treasure. Mats's strength, Kathrine's connections and even Nis's bratty kid sister's blunt remarks contribute to find out about two brotherhoods, heirs of 12th century factions in the Templar order and deal with danger.
IMDB Rating: 5.7
IMDB Votes: 1000
Genere: Adventure, Family
Country: Denmark
Duration: 85 min
Plot tags: exciting, humorous, semi serious, tense, captivating, touching
Similar in 76%
Bigfoot (2009)
Plot Summary:
The whole family will enjoy huge laughs and giant, hairy adventures with this touching tale about a big-hearted Bigfoot. Lost in the forest, he befriends three kids, Percy, Madison and Leonard, who are determined to protect him. When two local bullies kidnap the legendary creature with plans to sell him to the highest bidder, it's up to his human buddies to rescue him and return him to his home.
IMDB Rating: 4.4
IMDB Votes: 385
Genere: Adventure, Family
Country: USA
Duration: 90 min
Plot tags: feel good, captivating, entertaining, light, touching, offbeat, humorous, semi serious, independent film
Similar in 79%
Mia and the White Lion (2018)
Plot Summary:
A young girl from London moves to Africa with her parents where she befriends a lion cub.
IMDB Rating: 6.5
IMDB Votes: 6000
Genere: Adventure, Drama, Family
Country: France, Germany, South Africa, Switzerland, Monaco, USA
Duration: 98 min
Plot tags: captivating, sincere, scenic, inspirational, exciting
Similar in 88%
H2O: Just Add Water (2006)
Plot Summary:
When three normal teenage girls stumble upon a ancient cave they undergo a transformation that will change their lives forever. H20 - Just Add Water, sees three very different girls facing everyday teen problems with an added twist - they're mermaids with incredible powers over water.
IMDB Rating: 7.3
IMDB Votes: 18000
Genere: Adventure, Comedy, Drama, Family, Fantasy, Romance
Country: Australia
Duration: 23 min
Plot tags: exciting, light, enigmatic, captivating, sitcom, juvenile, teen, semi serious, feel good, humorous
Similar in 87%
Jumping Ship (2001)
Plot Summary:
Joseph, Matthew and Andrew Lawrence (TV's Brotherly Love) star in this thrilling, action-packed sequel to the Disney Channel Original Movie Horse Sense. It's first-class adventure on the high seas for Michael Woods (Joseph Lawrence) and his cousin (Andrew Lawrence) when they charter a private yacht for a fun-filled cruise off the coast of Australia. But the yacht turns out to be a broken-down fishing boat complete with rusting hull! When they find themselves being chased by modern-day pirates, they decide that Jumping Ship with the boat's captain Jake Hunter (Matthew Lawrence) is the only option. Stranded on a desert island without any conveniences from home, these three castaways must work together as a team if they hope to survive and be rescued.
IMDB Rating: 6.0
IMDB Votes: 2000
Genere: Adventure, Comedy, Drama, Family
Country: Australia, USA
Duration: 93 min
Plot tags: exciting, feel good, humorous, realistic, semi serious, talky
Similar in 80%
The Three Investigators and the Secret of Skeleton Island (2007)
Plot Summary:
In "The Three Investigators and The Secret of Skeleton Island" the cult detective trio from Rocky Beach, California, fall into a breath-taking mixture of adventure, thriller and mystery. Only by a hairs-breadth did they escape with their lives after the successful completion of their last case.
IMDB Rating: 5.7
IMDB Votes: 2000
Genere: Adventure, Family, Mystery
Country: Germany, South Africa
Duration: 91 min
Plot tags: exciting, feel good, semi serious, captivating, entertaining, detective, humorous, realistic, suspenseful, fast
Similar in 77%
Arthur's Quest (1999)
Plot Summary:
To escape the clutches of the evil warrior and sorceress Morgana, Merlin transports young King Arthur into modern day America. When Merlin comes back ten years later to retrieve him, he finds a hip 15 year-old Arthur who does not believe Merlin, nor does he want to return to the past. Merlin must convince Arthur of his true identity, before Morgana can retrieve Excalibur and allow the Dark Forces to take over the world.
IMDB Rating: 4.2
IMDB Votes: 505
Genere: Adventure, Family, Fantasy
Country: USA
Duration: 87 min
Plot tags: humorous, stylized, semi serious, exciting, light, captivating, sincere, fairy tale, arthurian, independent film
Similar in 84%
Treasure Island (1972)
Plot Summary:
Young Jim Hawkins finds himself serving with pirate captain Long John Silver in search of a buccaneer's treasure, in this short adaptation of Robert Louis Stevenson's classic tale.
IMDB Rating: 5.8
IMDB Votes: 1000
Genere: Adventure, Family
Country: UK, France, Italy, West Germany, Spain
Duration: 95 min
Plot tags: humorous, semi serious, independent film
Similar in 81%
The Adventurer: The Curse of the Midas Box (2013)
Plot Summary:
17-year-old Mariah Mundi's life is turned upside down when his parents vanish and his younger brother is kidnapped. Following a trail of clues to the darkly majestic Prince Regent Hotel, Mariah discovers a hidden realm of child-stealing monsters, deadly secrets and a long-lost artifact that grants limitless wealth – but also devastating supernatural power. With the fate of his world, and his family at stake, Mariah will risk everything to unravel the Curse of the Midas Box.
IMDB Rating: 5.4
IMDB Votes: 7000
Genere: Adventure, Family, Fantasy
Country: UK, Spain, Belgium
Duration: 100 min
Plot tags: serious, exciting, captivating, entertaining, scenic, gothic horror, period piece, costume drama
Similar in 76%
Nim's Island (2008)
Plot Summary:
A young girl inhabits an isolated island with her scientist father and communicates with a reclusive author of the novel she's reading.
IMDB Rating: 6.0
IMDB Votes: 37000
Genere: Adventure, Family, Fantasy
Country: USA
Duration: 96 min
Plot tags: exciting, scenic, captivating, fairy tale, sad, light, colorful, touching, humorous, realistic
Similar in 83%
The Secret of Moonacre (2008)
Plot Summary:
When 13 year old Maria Merryweather's father dies, leaving her orphaned and homeless, she is forced to leave her luxurious London life to go and live with Sir Benjamin, an eccentric uncle she didn't know she had, at the mysterious Moonacre Manor.
IMDB Rating: 6.0
IMDB Votes: 11000
Genere: Adventure, Family, Fantasy, Romance
Country: Hungary, UK, France, Australia, USA, New Zealand
Duration: 103 min
Plot tags: fairy tale, feel good, sentimental, captivating, mystical, romantic, scenic, mystic, period piece, happy
Similar in 78%
Five Children and It (2004)
Plot Summary:
A Psammead is 'It', an ancient, irritable, ugly sand fairy, which five children find one day in a gravel pit. As a reward for finding him, It grants the children one wish a day, the results of which will last until sunset.
IMDB Rating: 5.5
IMDB Votes: 5000
Genere: Adventure, Family, Fantasy
Country: France, UK, USA
Duration: 89 min
Plot tags: feel good, humorous, entertaining, offbeat, semi serious, gothic
Similar in 80%
Mio in the Land of Faraway (1987)
Plot Summary:
They're two best friends, a million miles from home. On an incredible adventure, beyond the boundaries of space and time. A fantasy about a lonely boy who is transferred from his dull life with his adoptive parents to the land where his real father is the king.
IMDB Rating: 6.3
IMDB Votes: 6000
Genere: Adventure, Family, Fantasy
Country: Sweden, Soviet Union, Norway
Duration: 99 min
Plot tags: fairy tale, light, captivating, entertaining, exciting, cult classic, humorous, stylized, semi serious, crying
Similar in 87%
Percy Jackson: Sea of Monsters (2013)
Plot Summary:
In their quest to confront the ultimate evil, Percy and his friends battle swarms of mythical creatures to find the mythical Golden Fleece and to stop an ancient evil from rising.
IMDB Rating: 5.7
IMDB Votes: 124000
Genere: Adventure, Family, Fantasy
Country: USA
Duration: 106 min
Plot tags: fairy tale, exciting, epic, entertaining, stylized, teen, semi serious, mystical, suspense, tense
Similar in 85%
Free Willy: Escape from Pirate's Cove (2010)
Plot Summary:
After young Kirra (Bindi Irwin) leaves her Australian home to summer with her grandfather (Beau Bridges) in South Africa, she soon discovers a baby orca stranded in the lagoon near her grandfather’s rundown seaside amusement park. She names the lonely whale Willy--and embarks on a great quest to lead the little guy back to his anxious pod.
IMDB Rating: 5.0
IMDB Votes: 3000
Genere: Adventure, Drama, Family
Country: USA
Duration: 101 min
Plot tags: serious, sentimental, touching, realistic, uplifting
Similar in 88%
Far from Home: The Adventures of Yellow Dog (1995)
Plot Summary:
Teenager Angus adopts a stray dog and names him Yellow. Several days later, while travelling along the coast of British Columbia with Angus's father, John, the boy and dog become stranded when turbulent waters capsize their boat. Angus's parents relentlessly badger rescue teams. Angus, schooled by his father in wilderness survival skills, and assisted by the intelligent Yellow Dog, tries to attract rescuers.
IMDB Rating: 6.3
IMDB Votes: 3000
Genere: Adventure, Family
Country: USA
Duration: 81 min
Plot tags: sentimental, emotional, touching, exciting, serious, light, romantic, feel good, unusual plot structure, humorous