Something is exciting about the rugged adventure that usually comes with films about treasure hunting. Perhaps it's the illegality of stealing a valuable artifact or the moment they find it after such a difficult journey. Either way, treasure-hunting movies will always be a fun staple in media for just about everyone.
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For history geeks and adventure fans alike, these films remain iconic. Whether the "treasure" is a single jewel, a chest of coins, or an entire city, it's a thrill ride to watch characters solve various puzzles or translate ancient texts to find what they're looking for.
10 Raiders Of The Lost Ark Introduced Indiana Jones To Generations Of Thrill Seekers
The Indiana Jones franchise is quite an icon in the treasure-hunting genre that has spurred many just like it. It all started with Raiders of the Lost Ark. No one could have expected Harrison Ford in a brown hat slinging a whip around and stepping into booby traps would become such a cultural staple, but it is.
The film focuses on archeologist Indy and his adventure into the world to stop the bad guys from finding the treasure Ark of the Covenant. From start to finish, audiences can't help but root for Jones to make it past the dangerous traps to stop the evil goons from causing irreversible chaos.
9 Monty Python And The Holy Grail Is A Silly Parody Of Arthurian Legends
Although an outrageously silly parody of Knights of the Round Table, Monty Python and the Holy Grail is still a treasure-hunting film at its core. Broken into different segments focusing on individual characters, it details each one on their hunt for the highly sought "Holy Grail."
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The film does well with satirizing Arthurian tales and even becomes somewhat meta by including a modern documentarian as an additional character. It involves elements of danger and riddles that make the knights' quest all the more challenging.
8 As Above, So Below Is A Claustrophobic Film About "The Philosopher's Stone"
The film, As Above, So Below is not just a horror film, as it involves characters trudging through the unknown to find the "philosopher's stone." The main character, Scarlett, is determined to honor her late father's legacy by finding the stone.
The catacombs of Paris are more than tunnels of entombed skeletons. In this film, they also lead to immortality. Unfortunately, the treasure hunters/documentarians don't quite make it. It's a solid movie with horrifying aspects sprinkled throughout the claustrophobic tunnels and a bit of treasure-hunting fun.
7 Uncharted Is An Imperfect Take On One Of The Greatest Treasure Hunters Of All Time
The film adaptation of the beloved game series Uncharted might not be what everyone had such high hopes for, but it is an entertaining film nonetheless. It features a young Nathan Drake just before his puzzle-solving/tomb-raiding adventures when he meets Sully for the first time. Soon after, Sully recruits Nate to help him find the treasure lost aboard Magellan's ship.
The movie does a great job of incorporating some minor and more significant moments from the game series to make even disappointed fans smile. More importantly, it's a fun film for treasure-hunting enthusiasts.
6 The Goonies Is Every Kid's Dream
It's hard to imagine any child with an imagination and sense of grand adventure who wouldn't want to go on a treasure hunt with their friends. The Goonies is a 1985 classic that does precisely that. Seven kids venture out to find "One-Eyed Willy's" treasure when they discover a treasure map in Mikey's attic.
While the treasure hunt at first seems like a long shot, they're captured by a criminal family who also wants the loot. The movie is a heartwarming tale of friendship and lighthearted fun, characteristic of any Steven Spielberg production.
5 Pirates Of The Caribbean Spurred A Trilogy Of Treasure Hunting
The first Pirates of the Caribbean is a highly celebrated film based on a Disney attraction of the same name. In this case, characters – particularly pirates – are on the hunt for treasure. The treasure is an Aztec gold coin they previously stole and need to return to break their curse of immortality.
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The movie is full of humor, love, and adventure that scratches every itch. While rooting for pirates isn't realistic, it's still fun to watch them run in circles to find the missing piece.
4 The Lost City Of Z Details A Man's Discovery Of An Ancient Civilization
Based on the true story of British explorer Percy Fawcett, The Lost City of Z details his continuous adventures to find the supposed lost Amazonian "city of gold." He travels to Brazil with a fellow explorer and their accompanied party. While the prospect of finding a city seems like a needle in a haystack situation, Fawcett is confident.
With convincing proof from local pottery findings, he returns with his son, promising to find the city. The film essentially ends on a cliffhanger, and no treasure is found, but it checks off every mark of the treasure-hunting tropes.
3 O Brother, Where Art Thou? Is A Musical Take On The Odyssey
When three runaway convicts seek a buried treasure, they stumble across several hurdles. It includes several legendary references, such as sirens from The Odyssey and others like the backstory of Robert Johnson. The film is a uniquely southern tale of friendship, love, and hardships complemented by folk music.
Though the "treasure" isn't reasonably what audiences might expect, the journey the men take to get to the end is worth the watch. From its wonderful music to the compelling characters, O Brother, Where Art Thou? is a Coen brothers staple.
2 Without A Paddle Ponders Where D.B. Cooper's Treasure Went
Without a Paddle is a humorous take on what grieving best friends would do to honor their late friend's wishes. Their friend, who has passed, dedicated his life to finding the infamous D.B. Cooper's treasure. They find his map and take the journey up a river and into the forest to find the money.
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The film is harmless fun, and full of heart when the men band closer together, considering adults tend to grow apart from childhood friends. In the end, they each receive closure, including a bit of the treasure they struggle to find.
1 National Treasure Features Nic Cage Stealing The Declaration Of Independence
While Harrison Ford gave audiences the forever iconic Indiana Jones, Nicolas Cage introduced viewers to Benjamin Franklin Gates. National Treasure never received half the love it deserves for being the funny and adventurous film it is. As a boy, Ben is told to believe in a coveted treasure hidden in the US by secretive organizations.
He eventually discovers the clues that lead to the treasure, taking his partner in crime along for the ride. For fans of treasure hunting, or those just curious about the unlikely possibility of sneaking the Declaration of Independence out like a gift shop souvenir, the movie hits all the right marks.
NEXT: Indiana Jones' Most Valuable Treasures, Ranked
