The holiday season is upon us. The urge to Netflix and chill is getting to your bones. But, simultaneously, you want to make the most of your holidays. And the only way to do this is to go through an adventure, make memories, snap pictures and shed the year’s tension. However, you can do it all at home, cuddled in your blanket with a cup of hot chocolate. Here, we bring you movies like Jumanji–filled with adventure and suspense- the most loved movie of all time and transport you back to your childhood.
Jumanji, starring Robin Williams, has the heart of the kids tied with each scene. Before Harry Potter became the talk of the town, it was Jumanji who ruled the screen. After 20 years, the legacy was renewed when an unofficial sequel Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle, put a modern spin on the classic story. Despite the change in the characters, the essence of the story remains the same.
If you loved Jumanji–thrill and adventure are what you seek, then with thorough research and hours of binge-watching, we have curated ten movies. All these will make sure your holidays are spent well.
Table of Contents
1. The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe
A story of every kid that raises the dreamer in you and makes you want to transport to Narnia world yourself. With Movies like Jumanji as goals, this is a perfect watch for weekend nights.
The plot of the film centres on the four siblings, Peter, Susan, Edmund, and Lucy, who are sent to live with a relative in the country as World War I approaches. The four, who reside in a large mansion, stumble across the enchanted land of Narnia after entering a cabinet by mistake. Despite Narnia’s beauty and mystery, they find it as war-torn as the outside world.
The world created by C.S. Lewis was masterfully portrayed on film and fully reflected in the books. The numerous animals residing in this enchanted world have a mesmerising effect on those who encounter them. Aside from all the imagination, the four actors representing the brothers are all incredibly credible. To sum up, Narnia is a breathtakingly beautiful place that must be seen for oneself.
2. The Spiderwick Chronicles
Based on the book series by Holly Black and Tony DiTerlizzi, The Spiderwick Chronicles is a 2008 American fantasy film.
The story follows three children’s journey in New England, where they discover a field guide to fairies with a vision to see them. The visual delight is filled with magical creatures such as goblins, ogres, brownies, trolls, boggarts, and so much more. Further, one of the characters, Jared, discovers a nefarious plot by an ogre in the book and dominates the world.
Now it’s the responsibility of Jared to convince his siblings and save the world.
If you’re looking for some light-hearted movies like Jumanji, this will not disappoint you.
3. The Jungle Book
Despite four versions of The Jungle Book, the plot remains the same–the story of Mowgli, a boy raised by wolves. Even if he is grown and happy with his wolf family, he has to go back to the human world to escape Shere, a man-eating tiger. Thus, he begins his journey of adventure and fun as he passes through the jungle’s mysteries.
The latest 2016 film, starring Neel Sethi, gives the audience more visual adventure using computer-generated imagery to portray the animals and settings. If you have to watch, the latest will be added to your list.
If you need to see forests showcased in movies like Jumanji, add it to your list today.
4. Spy Kids
Spy kid follows the story of Carmen and Juni Cortez, two children who become involved in their parent’s spy business. This movie was the go-to for the early 2000s with its comical and adventurous aspects. Apart from that, the film focuses on one of the essential elements of life, i.e., the unity of family–children have adult-like responsibilities.
But why do you need to watch this movie?
Because James Bond movies heavily influenced it. The first movie was a fusion of Willy Wonka and James Bond, and the second was influenced by “Mysterious Island and James Bond.”
Thereby, watch the whole series as each gives you a new thing to ponder.
5. Zathura
Known initially as Zathura: A Space Adventure, Zathurs follow a similar setup to Jumanji. A mystery board game, bored children, and impending mayhem that threatens to take over their home and their life are present. However, in the case of Zathura, Walter and Danny, two brothers, bicker all the time while their older sister, Lisa, sleeps the whole day.
However, when their divorced father (played by Tim Robbins) leaves for work, the boys find the game that sends their house into space and puts them face-to-face with evil extraterrestrial reptiles called Zorgons, as well as an astronaut who might be related to them in a way neither, could have anticipated.
This is a perfect movie like Jumanji if you want a similar setup.
6. Jurassic Park
A movie that freaked out everyone and chilled them to their bones in 1993–a movie like Jumanji for you.
When a greedy employee chooses to take pregnant dinosaur embryos and shuts off the power at the park, allowing creatures like a Tyrannosaurus rex to wander (and murder) freely, a dinosaur theme park featuring once-extinct dinosaurs that have come back to life almost sounds too fantastic to be true.
The classic action film Jurassic Park still receives praise for its portrayal of the escape of Jurassic Park creator John Hammond’s grandchildren, Lex and Tim, as well as palaeontologists Dr Alan Grant and Dr Ellie Sattler (played by Sam Neill and Laura Dern, respectively), mathematician Ian Malcolm (played by the incomparable Jeff Goldblum).
While many new versions have come up, the original remains the original.
7. The Never Ending Story
One of those movies with so much going on is The Neverending Story, which requires watching it to comprehend fully. In this enthralling tale, a real-life youngster named Bastian becomes lost in a book that takes us to another world. The Childlike Empress, Falkor, a flying dragon dog, and many other highly fanciful creatures are all part of the fantasy realm, along with Atreyu, the youngster at its centre.
As guessed, this movie is based on the book series of the same name. With movies like Jumanji as goals, this can give you a different perception of the world.
8. Night at the Museum Series
One of the most famous comedies and adventure franchises are known throughout the globe is Night At the Museum series by Ben Stiller.
The series follows the journey of Larry Daley, a single father who wants to connect back with his son. To ensure his son lives with him, he works as a watchman at the Museum of National History. However, after he starts working there, he realises things are different here. All the exhibits tend to come to life after sunset. The movies capture how he interacts with this out-of-the-description job and tries to understand why these wax figures are infused with energy.
Now, if this won’t entice you to watch it, then what will? Not just that, the portrayal by Ben Stiller, with his goofy acts, makes the audience laugh and experience an unforgettable adventure. But, if given a rating, the first one will be the true gem.
How is it similar to movies like Jumanji? With its light-hearted quest, adventures of non-living and ability to make you laugh, this is the perfect match.
9. Inkheart
If movies like Jumanji are on the list, then Inkheart has to be your top goal with its magical realm.
The characters from a book come to life. However, they are not monsters but simply the inhabitants of a magical land. Fraser plays a bookbinder who leads a tranquil life with his daughter. The two are ecstatic to discover that they are conversing with book characters because they like books so much.
The disarray and disorientation the characters in the book experience are masterfully conveyed in Inkheart. They may view Earth as a strange planet, and observing how they interact with it is intriguing. This fantastic movie is sure to make the dreamer in you come alive.
10. Journey to the Center of the World
Journey To The Center Of The Earth, an epic adventure film based on the same-named book, sends its heroes into uncharted territory. The story centres on a group’s voyage to the Earth’s core, a place hidden under the surface alive with prehistoric life.
An older youngster who has recently lost his father is given a nerdy uncle, Brendan Fraser. He only has his father’s enigmatic diary. After spending a few days with his disobedient nephew, Brandon drags him on a geological expedition, where they unintentionally find the lost world.
The movie gives the flavour of the 2017 Jumanji film with a quest to solve and rescue the missing family member. Visual effects are the cherry on top–showcasing fauna, deep sea creatures, and dinosaurs.
