Best movies like Sam Steele and the Junior Detective Agency
Last updated March 2024
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Plot Summary:
13-year-old Sam Steele Jr. forms his own private detective agency to emulate his father, Des Moines detective Sam Steele, and helps track down a jewel thief.
IMDB Rating: 4.4
IMDB Votes: 164
Genere: Family
Country: USA
Duration: 87 min
Plot tags: humorous, semi serious, feel good, captivating, exciting, realistic, suspenseful, detective
Best tv shows and movies like Sam Steele and the Junior Detective Agency (2009):
Similar in 84%
Zoey to the Max (2015)
Plot Summary:
After running away and finally finding her dream forever home, 13 year old foster kid Zoey Manning suddenly finds herself in a fight to protect her new family and their beloved dog Max.
IMDB Rating: 5.2
IMDB Votes: 454
Genere: Family
Country: USA
Duration: 86 min
Plot tags: captivating, tense, sincere, unusual plot structure, contemplative
Similar in 87%
Buffalo Dreams (2005)
Plot Summary:
Josh Townsend finds himself living in New Mexico after his father's new job requires the family to move from their home in Utah. While acclimating to his new surroundings, Josh becomes involved with a group of teens attempting to preserve the buffalo and Navajo traditions. Along the way he makes friends and learns important lessons about life in this Disney Channel Original movie.
IMDB Rating: 5.6
IMDB Votes: 590
Genere: Family
Country: USA
Duration: 89 min
Plot tags: exciting, touching, serious, realistic
Similar in 83%
Bobby and the Ghost Hunters (2013)
Plot Summary:
Sanne (Hanna Obbeek) loves stories about ghosts and other mysterious things. Her father Lucas, is a famous ghost hunter. During a holiday Lucas is asked to chase ghosts of the former cruise ship 'Rotterdam'. Sanne is very happy to hear she and her little brother Thomas can come along. On the ship she meets ghost Bobby (Nils Verkooijen), a boy of her age, who has been wandering the ship since the sixties. Sanne decides to help Bobby.
IMDB Rating: 5.6
IMDB Votes: 258
Genere: Family
Country: Netherlands
Duration: 82 min
Plot tags: exciting, sentimental, humorous, semi serious
Similar in 76%
Roxy Hunter and the Mystery of the Moody Ghost (2007)
Plot Summary:
After moving to an eerie old house in the country, nine-year-old super sleuth Roxy Hunter stumbles into a world filled with unsolved mysterieus, secret plots and spooky spirits! Now, Roxy and her best friend and boy genius Max, must race to save their home, re-unite a lost love and uncover the true villain. Is it the Moody Ghost...or something even spookier?.
IMDB Rating: 5.7
IMDB Votes: 337
Genere: Family, Mystery
Country: USA
Duration: 93 min
Plot tags: humorous, semi serious, captivating, detective
Similar in 80%
Jeremy Fink and the Meaning of Life (2011)
Plot Summary:
Jeremy Fink and his best friend Lizzy must search high and low throughout the streets of Manhattan for clues to unlock the mysterious box he received a month before his birthday.
IMDB Rating: 6.0
IMDB Votes: 386
Genere: Family
Country: USA
Duration: 91 min
Plot tags: humorous, semi serious, sentimental, captivating, light, feel good, entertaining, touching, interesting
Similar in 78%
The Three Investigators and the Secret of Terror Castle (2009)
Plot Summary:
A new case for the cult detectives! Not by coincidence, a mysterious videotape falls into the hands of Jupiter Jones (CHANCELLOR MILLER), Pete Crenshaw (NICK PRICE) and Bob Andrews (CAMERON MONAGHAN) during Jupiter's birthday party in Rocky Beach. On it is a recording of Jupiter's long dead parents. In their message they want to communicate to their son the key to an especially tricky riddle.
IMDB Rating: 5.7
IMDB Votes: 1000
Genere: Adventure, Family, Mystery
Country: Germany, South Africa
Duration: 97 min
Plot tags: exciting, semi serious, fast, detective, scary, suspenseful
Similar in 89%
Train Master (2008)
Plot Summary:
62 year old Jeremiah Wilson is truly the Train Master of Willamette Western Railroad. He lives, breaths, and eats railroad. When Brett Banner, 32 year old heir to New York Eastern talks his dad into purchasing Willamette Western, there is immediately a clash between himself and Jeremiah. Jeremiah is fired by Brett two years from retirement and turns into a angry, depressed grandfather. When Brett's nine year old son Justin realizes Jeremiah's grandson Thomas can drive a locomotive, he kidnaps and holds Thomas' favorite dinosaur ransom. Justin, Thomas and 3 other children board an old engine in for repairs and accidentally turns it into runaway engine causing a chain reaction of events.
IMDB Rating: 5.3
IMDB Votes: 109
Genere: Family
Country: USA
Duration: 97 min
Plot tags: exciting, serious, realistic, captivating, suspenseful
Similar in 77%
The Adventures of Mickey Matson and the Copperhead Conspiracy (2012)
Plot Summary:
When a mythical device from ancient times is rebuilt by a group of Confederates who feel the civil war never ended, Mickey Matson and his newfound friend, Sully, must follow a series of clues left by his dead grandfather to keep the evil men away from the three mystical objects that power the device. If he fails, it could mean not only the loss of his family's home, but maybe the demise of our country as we know it.
IMDB Rating: 4.9
IMDB Votes: 784
Genere: Adventure, Comedy, Family, Fantasy, Mystery, Thriller
Country: USA
Duration: 94 min
Plot tags: exciting, semi serious, captivating, entertaining, tense, humorous
Similar in 88%
Undercover Kids (2004)
Plot Summary:
Nicole and Nelson are twins with psychic powers. On the first day of school everyone is talking about the recent vandalism at school. Nicole and Nelson decide to go undercover to find the culprit. The twins get child genius George & his high tech gadgets to help them solve the mystery. With the clock ticking, the kids race to break the case open before the big school board meeting where they must reveal the true person responsible for the vandalism. Will the Undercover Kids solve the crime before time runs out?.
IMDB Rating: 4.1
IMDB Votes: 111
Genere: Family
Country: USA
Duration: 82 min
Plot tags: semi serious, captivating, humorous, disturbing, independent film, detective
Similar in 83%
Roxy Hunter and the Myth of the Mermaid (2008)
Plot Summary:
Roxy is at it again when, in pursuit of a local journalism award, she brings home a mysterious amnesiac who was found soaking wet outside of the local coffee shop. After ceremoniously naming her ANNIE NONYMOUS, Roxy takes the young lady home and finds that even the most common household item is a complete mystery to Annie. When Annie returns dripping wet from the lake several nights in a row, Roxy determines what is abundantly clear to her, Annie is a mermaid. A mermaid who has to find her way home.
IMDB Rating: 5.6
IMDB Votes: 234
Genere: Family
Country: USA
Duration: 92 min
Plot tags: feel good, humorous, captivating, entertaining, light, touching, offbeat, stylized, semi serious
Similar in 85%
Famous Five 2 (2013)
Plot Summary:
For their bicycle tour to Catmoor, the friends Julian, Dick and Anne, their cousin Georgina, called George, and her dog Timmy have long looked forward to. But the camping holiday in the countryside ends with the kidnapping of Dick, confuse the two underprivileged hoodlums with the same age millionaire's son Hardy. With sophistication and courage, the five friends take on his trail that leads from a mysterious traveling circus to the castle "Owls Nest" where the kidnappers force Dick to coax the clue to a giant emerald.
IMDB Rating: 5.5
IMDB Votes: 506
Genere: Adventure, Crime, Family
Country: Germany
Duration: 88 min
Plot tags: semi serious, humorous, light, captivating, exciting, realistic
Similar in 81%
Cop Dog (2008)
Plot Summary:
Ever since Robby's father was killed while on police duty, Robby has been angry and alone. His father's old partner, a police dog named Marlowe, suffers the same fate. So when Robby sees Marlowe alone and locked up in a cage he begs his mum to let him have him. Instantly, the two are best friends. But, being a cop dog, when Marlowe, sees two familiar criminals in the woods.
IMDB Rating: 2.7
IMDB Votes: 498
Genere: Adventure, Comedy, Crime, Family, Fantasy
Country: USA
Duration: 90 min
Plot tags: humorous, captivating, entertaining, light, feel good, semi serious
Similar in 89%
K-9 Adventures: A Christmas Tale (2013)
Plot Summary:
Luke Perry stars in this heartwarming "tail." Kassie, her friends and her dog, Scoot, organize a holiday fundraiser, but must protect the cash from some crooks in order to save Christmas.
IMDB Rating: 4.7
IMDB Votes: 418
Genere: Family
Country: USA
Duration: 86 min
Plot tags: feel good, humorous, light, sincere, touching, exciting, sentimental, realistic, semi serious, fairy tale
Similar in 81%
Ace Wonder: Message from a Dead Man (2014)
Plot Summary:
Ace Wonder is a 10-year-old detective, struggling to find a storyline for his latest novel. When his path tangles with Derek Morton, a simple family mystery becomes a very real case of corporate espionage, scientific discovery, and one coldblooded killer.
IMDB Rating: 5.2
IMDB Votes: 296
Genere: Adventure, Family, Mystery
Country: USA
Duration: 95 min
Plot tags: exciting, captivating, semi serious, detective, humorous, realistic, independent film
Similar in 81%
Finding Kelly (2000)
Plot Summary:
The surprisingly intricate, nimble plot is about a couple of kids who play amateur detectives one summer in the hopes of collecting a $5,000 reward offered to anyone able to find a missing 17 year old girl. The girl and boy are best friends who have a great, unforced camaraderie with each other. None of the tiresome sniping and bickering that goes on in so many other films of this ilk. And they are given some wonderfully smart, observant dialogue, tons of it. In fact, the film is overflowing with it, much of it tricky and the two actors handle it all like a couple of seasoned pros.
IMDB Rating: 5.7
IMDB Votes: 220
Genere: Comedy, Family, Mystery
Country: USA
Duration: 88 min
Plot tags: humorous, semi serious, captivating, feel good, tense, suspenseful, tension, suspense
Similar in 85%
Dadnapped (2009)
Plot Summary:
Melissa has a bad case of sibling rivalry, only her competition is a fictional character in her father's best-selling novel about a teenage super spy. When her father is "dadnapped" by a group of overzealous fans, it's up to Melissa to help him by tapping her inner superhero.
IMDB Rating: 4.8
IMDB Votes: 3000
Genere: Action, Adventure, Comedy, Crime, Family
Country: USA
Duration: 84 min
Plot tags: suspenseful, exciting, humorous, realistic, semi serious
Similar in 84%
Roxy Hunter and the Secret of the Shaman (2008)
Plot Summary:
Serenity Fall's favorite super sleuth is on the case again! The town is alarmed when a priceless crystal turns up missing. The only suspect seems to be a strange man living in the woods known as Shaman. It's up to Roxy Hunter (Aria Wallace) and her best friend Max to discover the identity of the true thief and recover the precious jewel. Could it be the Shaman? Or is it the person no one would ever suspect? In the tradition of Nancy Drew and Harriet the Spy, here comes the irrepressible Roxy Hunter. In the young sleuth's second adventure, a priceless crystal goes missing on the eve of Serenity Fall's 150th anniversary celebration, leading the entire town to suspect a bizarre recluse known as the Shaman living in the woods. It's up to Roxy and her best friend Max to sort the matter out.
IMDB Rating: 5.8
IMDB Votes: 200
Genere: Family, Mystery
Country: USA
Duration: 90 min
Plot tags: detective, captivating, entertaining, light, sincere, feel good, humorous, semi serious
Similar in 75%
Ace Ventura Jr: Pet Detective (2009)
Plot Summary:
"I will try to be normal" 12-year-old Ace Ventura Jr. promises. Thats cool, except whats normal for him is finding missing mutts, kidnapped kitties or gone gators and creating hilarious chaos every step of the way.
IMDB Rating: 2.1
IMDB Votes: 6000
Genere: Adventure, Comedy, Crime, Family
Country: USA
Duration: 93 min
Plot tags: feel good, humorous, semi serious, realistic, saga, slapstick, detective, ridiculous
Similar in 85%
K-9 Adventures: Legend of the Lost Gold (2014)
Plot Summary:
When Kassie and her friends stumble across an old, broken pocket watch they begin an unexpected journey to unlock the secret of the legendary Garrison Gold. They'll have to solve riddles and follow clues to find the lost treasure. With the help of her faithful dog, Scoot and her gang of misfit friends, Kassie is about to go on the adventure of a lifetime! - Written by BigK509.
IMDB Rating: 5.2
IMDB Votes: 230
Genere: Adventure, Family
Country: USA
Duration: 90 min
Plot tags: exciting, feel good, semi serious, captivating, entertaining, light, realistic, independent film
Similar in 88%
Home Run Showdown (2012)
Plot Summary:
Two little league teams take on their coaches' sibling rivalry, and end up doing battle in a place the baseball world never expected: in the outfield of the Home Run Derby.
IMDB Rating: 4.9
IMDB Votes: 292
Genere: Family, Sport
Country: USA
Duration: 94 min
Plot tags: touching, feel good, humorous, semi serious, realistic, crying
Similar in 89%
Aussie and Ted's Great Adventure (2009)
Plot Summary:
Aussie, a lovable Australian mutt, embarks on a mission to return his young owner's missing Teddy Bear.
IMDB Rating: 5.1
IMDB Votes: 217
Genere: Family
Country: USA
Duration: 89 min
Plot tags: semi serious, sincere, humorous, captivating
Similar in 78%
Charlie: A Toy Story (2012)
Plot Summary:
Get ready for a hilarious fun-filled adventure as 10 year old Caden and his best friend, Charlie, a golden retriever, set out on a wild escapade around town thwarting the evil plans of the bumbling town bullies who are out to break into Caden's Dad's toy shop to steal his new one-of-a-kind toy invention that could literally change the world.
IMDB Rating: 5.7
IMDB Votes: 91
Genere: Drama, Family
Country: USA
Duration: 99 min
Plot tags: humorous, light, captivating, feel good, entertaining, realistic, semi serious
Similar in 89%
Where Is Winky's Horse? (2007)
Plot Summary:
In the sequel to "Winky's Horse", 8-year old Winky looks after the horse of St Nicholas. Then one day the horse runs away.
IMDB Rating: 6.5
IMDB Votes: 462
Genere: Family
Country: Netherlands, Belgium
Duration: 90 min
Plot tags: feel good, light, captivating, entertaining, touching, humorous, realistic, semi serious
Similar in 88%
Adventures of Bailey: Christmas Hero (2012)
Plot Summary:
It's "Christmas time" at the Baker household, and Bailey is at it again. Worried that he will not get any presents from Santa because he's been a bad doggie, Bailey learns about a mysterious Native American Indian called the "Handsome Fellow," who may be able to make his Christmas wishes come true. With thoughts of tennis balls, stuffed animals and more dog bones then he can count, he sets out to find this legend, inadvertently dragging his brother along for the ride. But when Bailey's misguided missteps cause harm to Duke and even threaten their family's Christmas plans, Bailey must not only find a way to save his brother, but he is also forced to make a big decision... one that just might enable him to finally understand the "true" meaning of Christmas.
IMDB Rating: 6.2
IMDB Votes: 118
Genere: Family
Country: USA
Duration: 87 min
Plot tags: touching, humorous, sentimental, feel good, semi serious, independent film
Similar in 87%
Monkey in the Middle (2014)
Plot Summary:
Chris has just moved to the East Coast, and already his workaholic father is encouraging him to make new friends. Luckily football (soccer) practice is starting up, and Chris meets a few kids on the team-including his cute neighbor Mara. When Mara invites Chris to help liberate some mistreated animals from the local fair, Chris accepts. They head to the fair that night, but get busted by ringleader Malick, who chases them off the grounds. It isn't until the next morning that Chris realizes Momo, a lovable little monkey, stowed away in his backpack. Not wanting to send Momo back to Malick's greedy clutches, Chris must find a way to keep him out of sight. But handling a monkey does have its perks: Mara is spending a lot of time with Chris, and Momo is even lending Chris a paw on the football field. Chris' summer is bound to have a lot of monkey business, but is it enough to drive him bananas?.
IMDB Rating: 4.5
IMDB Votes: 143
Genere: Family
Country: Canada
Duration: 83 min
Plot tags: feel good, humorous, realistic, semi serious
Similar in 84%
Smitty (2012)
Plot Summary:
SMITTY is a family film about a rescue dog. When life gets tough for Ben, a friendly paw is all it takes to pull him through. Mischievous thirteen-year-old Ben is sent to his grandfather's farm for the summer, where he crosses paths with a lovable mutt. With help from the unlikely canine companion, Ben learns the importance of friendship, family and responsibility.
IMDB Rating: 5.4
IMDB Votes: 659
Genere: Drama, Family
Country: USA
Duration: 94 min
Plot tags: sincere, captivating, light, feel good, touching, humorous, realistic, semi serious
Similar in 82%
Babysitters Beware (2009)
Plot Summary:
Seven-year-old Danny Parker is a good kid who loves his parents. But they have to go out on business dinners all the time, leaving him stuck with a sitter. It's not so bad when it's his favorite babysitter, Janelle but he also gets stuck with sitters like Ms. Greene who won't let him have any fun. Danny just wants to spend more time with his Mom and Dad.
IMDB Rating: 4.2
IMDB Votes: 428
Genere: Comedy, Family
Country: USA
Duration: 72 min
Plot tags: humorous, feel good, captivating, light, entertaining, realistic, semi serious
Similar in 83%
Cool Dog (2010)
Plot Summary:
Jimmy lives in the tranquil town of Eagle Rock, Louisiana, with his father, stepmother and his best friend Rainy, a German Shepherd. When Jimmy's father gets a promotion, the family must relocate to an apartment in New York City that has a strict no pet policy. Unwilling to let his master go without a fight, Rainy embarks on a cross-country journey to New York but navigating the Big Apple is just the beginning of his challenging adventure.
IMDB Rating: 3.8
IMDB Votes: 643
Genere: Comedy, Family
Country: USA
Duration: 88 min
Plot tags: humorous, feel good, semi serious, light, road movie, entertaining, exciting, independent film, slapstick
Similar in 88%
Treasure Buddies (2012)
Plot Summary:
Disney's irresistible talking puppies are back in an all-new movie that takes them halfway across the world to the ruins of ancient Egypt. With the help of some exotic new friends, this epic adventure is a treasure trove of pure Buddy fun. In a race against a devious cat, the Buddies and their new friends, Cammy and Babi, must avoid booby traps, solve puzzles and explore a mysterious tomb - all in search of the greatest treasure known to animalkind!.
IMDB Rating: 4.4
IMDB Votes: 2000
Genere: Comedy, Family
Country: Canada, USA
Duration: 93 min
Plot tags: feel good, sentimental, humorous, semi serious
Similar in 85%
Beethoven's 5th (2003)
Plot Summary:
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. When Sara takes Beethoven to spend summer vacation with wacky Uncle Freddie in an old mining town, the mischievous canine "digs up" the missing clue to a legendary hidden fortune of Rita and Moe Selig. Now everybody wants to be the dog's best friend as his discovery unleashes a frenzy of treasure hunting among the community's cast of kooky creatures. With help from Uncle Freddie and Garrett (a friend or maybe more), Sara and Beethoven try to help uncover a secret that has been in the crazy little town for years. Description above from the Wikipedia article Beethoven's 5th (film), licensed under CC-BY-SA, full list of contributors on Wikipedia.
IMDB Rating: 4.1
IMDB Votes: 4000
Genere: Comedy, Family, Adventure
Country: USA
Duration: 91 min
Plot tags: feel good, humorous, realistic, semi serious, entertaining, light