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History and adventure can combine to create the greatest entertainment cinema has ever seen. Since as long as filmmaking itself, these two genres have crossed paths to make something truly epic. We are blessed today with these combined efforts, which have enthralled audiences for much of the 20th century. Without this pairing, we wouldn’t have Lawrence of Arabia, Braveheart, or The Man Who Would Be King.
Though the 20th century is full of epic wonder, it’s the 21st century that has seen historical adventures flourish and become top contenders for the greatest of all time. It has become a new age for this special subgenre, with 26 years of compelling highlights that have become staples of modern pop culture. Let’s look at the eight best historical adventures so far that turned this century into a new golden age for both genres. Though some of those mentioned below aren’t the most recognized or universally praised, they still made an impact and showed that there’s one hell of an audience for these types of movies.
8
‘The Patriot’ (2000)
Let’s kick things off with an explosive bang, a historical adventure blockbuster that’s fun, rewatchable, and crowd-pleasing all the way through. Roland Emmerich, the directing mind behind some of our favorite disaster flicks, broke away from his familiar genre to create 2000’s The Patriot, an action-packed epic with a thrilling retelling of history, but not the most accurate depiction of the events. It stars Mel Gibson playing a French and Indian War veteran turned farmer who takes up arms to fight the British during the American Revolution after a ruthless cavalry officer kills his son.
The story is simple and easy; most of the characters are enjoyable, the action sequences are absolutely flawless, and John Williams‘ underrated score perfectly captures the feel of a Revolutionary War-type adventure story. That said, it’s far from being considered a perfect movie, as many critics still to this day complain about how loosely told and almost offensive it portrays real history. Not to mention, there’s a controversial scene where British soldiers commit WWII-inspired war crimes, which heavily oversimplifies one side of the conflict. But while it’s certainly not for everyone, it’s garnered a considerable following over the years and is still enjoyed by many audiences today. It really is a lot of fun, so long as you don’t take it too seriously.
7
‘The Lost City of Z’ (2016)
One of the most riveting adventures in recent memory that you probably haven’t heard of was The Lost City of Z, a 2016 historical drama released by Amazon Studios. Detailing one of the most fascinating yet forgotten expeditions of the 20th century, it retells the unique journey of British explorer Percy Fawcett (Charlie Hunnam), who went missing on his second failed expedition in the Amazon rainforest, searching for a lost city deep within the remote jungle.
It’s a classic tale of hubris ultimately resulting in tragedy, as it follows one man’s obsession and stubbornness in his quest for knowledge getting the better of him in an unfamiliar wilderness. The Lost City of Z is quite fascinating, dramatic, and expertly told, thanks to the sharp writing and brilliant performances from Hunnam and his supporting cast, including co-stars Robert Pattinson and Tom Holland. Now, it’s not the most thrilling or deep historical adventure movie out there, as it’s slower-paced and not as groundbreaking as others in the genre. However, it still tells a simple but effective story that offers a decent bit of history about a doomed journey most of us probably never knew about.
6
‘Apocalypto’ (2006)
From starring in an historical adventure to directing one, Mel Gibson returns here with 2006’s Apocalypto, a big-budgeted, Hollywood-style blockbuster epic that explores the fascinating history of Mesoamerican culture, albeit with a very loose grasp on authenticity. Set sometime around the 15th century during the Mayan civilization’s decline, a lone hunter is kidnapped from his tribe and makes a journey through a land ravaged by disease and death while he’s forced to survive as a prisoner.
Apocalypto is packed with riveting visuals, high-production values, and incredible make-up and costumes created to mostly capture what it may have looked like back then. But, as mentioned before, it has been criticized as being highly inaccurate for both the time period and culture, as the screenwriters seemed to have mixed up the eras and included events, such as the Spanish conquest, that never took place around this time. Not to mention, they’ve mixed up the human sacrifice rituals, as the ones depicted in the film appear more Aztec than Mayan. Yes, while Apocalypto is a history buff’s worst nightmare, it’s still a thrilling epic that doesn’t require much thought to enjoy.
5
‘The Northman’ (2022)
From horror filmmaking legend Robert Eggers comes a break from his usual work: The Northman, an incredible dark fantasy adventure action flick that takes us deep into the exciting world of Viking culture. A film rich with Eggers’ impeccable directing charm and penchant for shooting in stunning locations, this unique journey combines jaw-dropping visuals with commanding acting, following Alexander Skarsgård as a Viking prince traveling through the Middle Ages on a quest to avenge his father.
Loosely based on the legend of Amleth from Gesta Danorum by Saxo Grammaticus, The Northman provides a stellar and thrilling adventure unlike anything audiences have ever experienced before. Taking a part of history that’s rarely covered in cinema, the Viking Age, and turning it into a mainstream Hollywood film proved to be a good idea, as it was critically praised for its performances and remarkable costume and set designs. While it underperformed at the box office, The Northman has become a considerably popular adventure film in recent years, and it’s likely to be a classic as time goes on.
4
‘Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon’ (2000)
The turn of the 21st century saw the rise of a new age of action adventures from the East, and cinema was forever changed. From Academy Award-winning filmmaker Ang Lee comes his grand Martial Arts epic Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, a remarkable tale that perfectly mixes action, drama, romance, and history into a two-hour unforgettable masterpiece. Starring Oscar winner Michelle Yeoh and Chow Yun-Fat, it follows two skilled warriors in 18th-century Imperial China who go on a quest to take back a rare sword from a mysterious thief.
It’s important to note just how impactful Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon truly was. Not only was it revolutionary with fight choreography and impressive stunt wire work, but it effectively pushed Martial Arts into the mainstream, becoming a massive critical and financial success in the process. Today, it’s widely hailed as one of the greatest of its genre, an undeniable classic that changed Western audiences’ view of these types of movies. It’s an absolute landmark that defined the adventure genre early in this century.
3
‘The Revenant’ (2015)
From acclaimed director Alejandro G. Iñárritu comes one of the most visually stunning, perfectly shot, and intensely dramatic adventure epics in modern cinema, The Revenant. Loosely based on an incredible frontier survival story, it stars Leonardo DiCaprio in his first Oscar-winning role as outdoorsman and tracker Hugh Glass. After a vicious bear attack, Glass is badly injured and then left for dead in the wilderness by his cutthroat companion, John S. Fitzgerald (Tom Hardy), who also killed his son. Near death but still kicking, Glass struggles to overcome all odds as he slowly journeys back to civilization to get his revenge.
Though its story is mostly fictional, The Revenant still perfectly captures the experience of early 1800s frontier life. Right from its chaotic opening fight sequence, you feel how cold, unforgiving, and bleak it must have been for these travelers of this time. It’s raw, intense, and greatly told thanks to Iñárritu’s exceptional direction, the compelling performances, and the gorgeous outdoor settings. It’s widely praised as a masterpiece now, considered one of the most acclaimed adventures in recent memory, and showing no signs of being forgotten any time soon.
2
‘Gladiator’ (2000)
Epic battles, flawless visuals, tense gladiatorial fights, and powerhouse performances are just a few things to praise about Gladiator, Sir Ridly Scott‘s grand Best Picture-winning historical adventure flick that is in every way a masterpiece. It is a film that only gets better with age, one that fans of action and history will really enjoy. In his career-defining role, Russell Crowe shines as Roman general Maximus Decimus Meridius, who fights his way to the top of the Colosseum’s gladiator fights to get his revenge on the despicable Emperor Commodus (Joaquin Phoenix) for selling him into slavery and murdering his family.
Gladiator is a near three-hour-long journey full of bloody violence and epic drama, anchored by Crowe’s and Phoenix’s remarkable acting talents. Winner of five major Academy Awards, including the mentioned Best Picture and an acting win for Crowe, Gladiator is arguably the most acclaimed adventure film of the 21st century, a testament to its greatness and rewatchability.
1
‘Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World’ (2003)
Taking the top spot goes to one of the most striking and historically accurate adventure movies of all time: Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World. This 2003 war epic is a history lovers’ delight, a visually grand and unforgettable tale that perfectly captures the experience of Napoleonic era naval combat. Set in the early 19th century during Great Britain’s war with France and Napoleon Bonaparte, it sees Russel Crowe as Jack Aubrey, captain of the H.M.S. Surprise, who leads his crew on a dangerous mission to hunt down and destroy a formidable French vessel somewhere off the coast of South America.
Master and Commander delivers an exciting mix of history and adventure all in one film. The story is effective, the characters are rootable and easy to follow, and Crowe delivers another commanding performance, playing a determined and strict captain who’s capable of leading his men through this difficult journey. It also greatly captures the experience of being on a 19th-century British Royal Navy vessel, showing the cramped conditions and harsh discipline that come with being a sailor. It’s very authentic to the time period while also telling a compelling and thrilling story that general audiences can get behind. Overall, Master and Commander tops this list for its top-notch story and its remarkable approach to talking about history.
