18 High Octane Movies like National Treasure

National Treasure is a high-octane thriller that the whole family can enjoy. It’s one of the best movies Walt Disney Pictures has produced, in my opinion.

It follows Ben Gates, who seeks to find a long-lost treasure before a group of ruthless mercenaries track it down. It’s full of puzzles, mysteries, and plenty of action.

If you’re looking for movies similar to National Treasure which share some of the qualities it has, you’re in luck. In this article, I’ll be showing you 18 movies like National Treasure, so you can work your way through the list and get your treasure hunt fix.

While I don’t mention it on this list, there is a National Treasure TV show that you can watch on Disney Plus, so add that to your list too… Now whip out your treasure map and make and mark these movies down.

Indiana Jones: Raiders of the Lost Ark

Indiana Jones: Raiders of the Lost Ark is a 1981 action-adventure film produced by George Lucas and directed by Steven Spielberg. It’s the first movie in the Indiana Jones Franchise.

The film follows Indiana Jones, an archaeologist adventurer who’s searching for the Ark of the Covenant, a powerful ancient artefact said to have the power to destroy entire armies.

However, along the way, he must contend with other treasure hunters, Nazis, and deadly traps.

The movie is similar to National Treasure in that both films involve a treasure hunter searching for a powerful and historically significant artefact. And they also involve a mix of action, adventure, and humour, with characters using their knowledge of history and puzzles to uncover clues and solve mysteries.

The cast of Indiana Jones: Raiders of the Lost Ark includes Harrison Ford, Karen Allen, Paul Freeman, and John Rhys-Davies.

Steven Spielberg has done a great job directing this movie; it’s one of the most epic stories around.

Lara Croft: Tomb Raider

Lara Croft: Tomb Raider is an action-adventure film based on the popular video game series of the same name.

The movie follows Lara Croft, a highly skilled archaeologist, as she sets out on a dangerous mission to find a powerful ancient artefact known as the Triangle of Light. Luckily her father, Lord Richard Croft, has left some clues for Lara.

However, Lara Croft isn’t your average archaeologist; she carries guns, loves to fight, and rides a motorbike… yeah, she’s pretty badass.

Along the way, she faces off against a powerful secret cult who will stop at nothing to obtain the artefact for themselves. It’s the perfect movie to watch if you enjoyed Nicolas Cage’s adventure movie.

The Lara Croft: Tomb Raider movie is comparable to National Treasure, as both films revolve around a quest to find a valuable historical artefact and feature intense action and adventure.

Starring in Lara Croft: Tomb Raider is one of the hottest actresses in Hollywood, Angelina Jolie; she’s best known for Wanted, Mr & Mrs Smith, Gone In 60 Seconds, and Maleficent.

Angelina Jolie is joined by Daniel Craig, Iain Glen, Chris Barrie, Noah Taylor, and Jon Voight.

The Lost City

This action-adventure movie follows a popular novelist named Loretta Sage, who’s kidnapped by an eccentric billionaire who’s looking for the ancient treasure described in Loretta’s latest book.

Luckily, a model named Alan, who her book’s love interest is based, is hot on her trail with a mysterious special forces operative.

However, Alan is a far cry from the hero in her books… let’s hope he can pick up a thing or two on his journey. He’ll need to if he wants to go head-to-head with the billionaire’s goons.

Will they find the ancient palace that’s rumoured to be full of ancient artifacts, or is it a wild goose chase that the billionaire has taken too far?

This movie is hilarious, intriguing, and has the same feel to it that National Treasure does. The movie shares similar “treasure-hunting” themes and puzzle-solving without being overly complicated.

This movie stars Channing Tatum, Sandra Bullock, Brad Pitt, and Daniel Radcliffe.

The Independent said, “Sandra Bullock and Channing Tatum prove once again that they’re romcom pros.”

Fool’s Gold

Fool’s Gold is a 2008 romantic adventure comedy film directed by Andy Tennant.

The movie follows a divorced couple, Finn and Tess, who are both treasure hunters. They team up to search for a legendary lost treasure, known as the “Queen’s Dowry”, that’s eluded them for years… who doesn’t love a treasure hunt, right?

But it’s not as simple as it sounds. During their dangerous adventures, they encounter a series of puzzles, a menacing rival treasure seeker, and their own personal issues.

The movie is similar to National Treasure in that it also follows a group of treasure hunters on a quest for a legendary treasure. Both films also have a mix of action, adventure, and comedy.

The cast of Fool’s Gold includes Matthew McConaughey, Kate Hudson, Donald Sutherland, Ewen Bremner, Kevin Hart, and Alexis Dziena.

The Da Vinci Code

The Da Vinci Code is a thriller film that is based on a novel of the same name by Dan Brown.

The movie follows symbologist Robert Langdon (played by Tom Hanks), who is pulled into a dangerous plot involving a secret society, codes and ancient conspiracies.

Langdon is joined by a French cryptographer named Sophie Neveu (played by Audrey Tautou), and they must decipher clues left at a crime scene and unravel the mystery of a religious relic known as the Holy Grail.

The Da Vinci Code is similar to National Treasure in that it centres around a historical conspiracy and the pursuit of a valuable treasure. Both films involve a character who is an expert in their field, using their knowledge to decipher clues and solve puzzles. Robert Langdon could give Ben Gates a run for his money.

Other cast members include Ian McKellen, Paul Bettany, Jean Reno and Alfred Molina.

It might not be starring Angelina Jolie, but it’s pretty awesome in its own right.

The Jewel Of The Nile

The Jewel of the Nile is a 1985 adventure film that’s a sequel to the hit movie Romancing the Stone. Starring Michael Douglas as Jack Colton, a treasure hunter, and Kathleen Turner as Joan Wilder, a romance novelist.

The movie’s plot follows the search for a legendary and powerful gemstone, the Jewel of the Nile, which is said to have the power to change the world.

The Jewel of the Nile is similar to the National Treasure series in that it involves a search for a powerful and valuable treasure that is steeped in historical and cultural significance. Both movies feature characters who are willing to risk everything to find the treasure and uncover its secrets.

The Jewel of the Nile stars Michael Douglas, Holland Taylor, Kathleen Turner, Danny DeVito, and Avner Eisenberg.

The Mummy

The Mummy is a 1999 action-adventure horror film that follows adventurer Rick O’Connell as he travels to Hamunaptra, an ancient Egyptian city of the dead, to find the treasures of the evil priest Imhotep.

Back in ancient Egypt, Imhotep was mummified alive for trying to revive his lover, princess Anck-Su-Namun.

When Rick disturbs one of the booby traps and an ancient curse makes Imhotep come back to life, and he seeks to take over the world.

The Mummy is like National Treasure films in that it also involves a search for hidden treasures and ancient artefacts, with a mix of action and adventure. Both films also feature a protagonist who is a skilled adventurer and treasure hunter, with a team of experts to help them in their quest.

The movie stars Brendan Fraser as Rick O’Connell, Rachel Weisz as Evelyn Carnahan, John Hannah as Jonathan Carnahan, and Arnold Vosloo as Imhotep.

If I’m honest, Rachel Weisz is enough reason to watch this movie.

Pirates Of The Caribbean: The Curse Of The Black Pearl

Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl is a swashbuckling adventure movie that follows the story of Captain Jack Sparrow, a legendary and daring pirate.

Captain Jack Sparrow teams up with blacksmith Will Turner and a nobleman’s daughter Elizabeth Swann to stop the infamous pirate ship, the Black Pearl and its cursed crew from terrorising the Caribbean.

But it’s not that simple; the Black Pearl’s crew are cursed by ancient Spanish treasure, giving them supernatural abilities. It would make a great video game.

Why is this movie similar to National Treasure?

For starters, it combines action, adventure, and mystery elements to create a thrilling movie experience. Plus, both films centre around a group of characters trying to uncover the truth about a legendary treasure, with plenty of twists and turns along the way.

Johnny Depp heads the movie and is joined by Orlando Bloom, Keira Knightley, Geoffrey Rush and Jonathan Pryce.

If you enjoy this one, there are several more movies available in the franchise.

National Treasure 2: The Book Of Secrets

National Treasure 2: Book of Secrets is the sequel to the first film.

Yep, I couldn’t make this list without mentioning this awesome sequel. If you loved the first film, you NEED to watch this incredible movie.

Like with the first, it follows treasure hunter Benjamin Franklin Gates (played by Nicholas Cage) as he sets out to clear his ancestor’s name of accusations of involvement in the assassination of President Abraham Lincoln.

In order to do this, he must find the legendary “Book of Secrets,” which contains information about secret government conspiracies and hidden treasures dating back to the revolutionary war. The problem is the only person who knows where it is… is the President of the United States.

It’s a fun ride and is a movie I’m sure the founding fathers would approve of.

Similar to the first movie, the sequel is filled with action-packed adventures and historical mysteries. Each movie involves decoding clues and solving puzzles in order to uncover the truth. Check out this epic family film; it’s one of the best adventure movies around.

Joining Nicolas Cage are Justin Bartha, Diane Kruger, Jon Voight, Ed Harris, and Helen Mirren.

Sherlock Holmes

Sherlock Holmes is a mystery-action movie directed by Guy Ritchie, starring Robert Downey Jr. as the titular character and Jude Law as his partner Dr John Watson.

The film is set in 19th-century London and follows the legendary detective Sherlock Holmes and John H Watson as they investigate a string of mysterious deaths linked to a powerful occult organisation.

Similarly to National Treasure, Sherlock Holmes is an exciting adventure movie that combines mystery, action, and historical fiction. And includes many puzzles that need solving.

Robert Downey Jr and Jude Law head the movie, with Mark Strong and Rachel McAdams supporting.

While I loved the movie, The Guardian News said, “Sherlock Holmes baffles in all the wrong ways”… but I strongly disagree.

The Lost City Of Z

The Lost City of Z is a 2016 historical adventure drama movie that tells the true story of British explorer Colonel Percy Fawcett, who, in the early 20th century, searched for a mysterious ancient city in the Amazon rainforest that he believed was the site of a once-great civilisation.

You’ll notice a few similarities between National Treasure and The Lost City Of Z as they’re both adventure movies centred around the search for a lost historical treasure.

The Lost City of Z stars Charlie Hunnam as Percy Fawcett, with Robert Pattinson, Sienna Miller, and Tom Holland also in the cast.

The Goonies

The Goonies is an 80s classic, and if you’ve not seen it yet, you’re missing out. It’s one of the best movies, like National Treasure.

It follows a group of friends, known as the Goonies, who go on a treasure hunt when they discover a pirate treasure map. Their adventure is filled with danger, excitement and unexpected twists.

One of the reasons why The Goonies is often compared to National Treasure is that both movies feature a group of friends on a treasure hunt adventure filled with action and mystery.

The movie has a young cast with Sean Astin, Josh Brolin, Corey Feldman, Jeff Cohen, Ke Huy Quan, and Martha Plimpton.

Once you’ve watched this movie, you’ll be truffle shuffling all over the place (if you know, you know).

Night At The Museum

Night at the Museum follows the story of a security guard, Larry Daley (Ben Stiller), who gets a new job working as the night guard at the American Museum of Natural History.

When he starts his shift, he discovers the exhibits come to life at night, and he struggles to control the chaos that ensues. It might sound cool, but it’s quite scary for him initially, especially when the T-Rex comes alive.

The movie is similar to National Treasure in that both involve adventure and history, as well as a sense of mystery and intrigue.

There are three of these movies, so you can binge all three before you move on to the next movie on this list.

Ben Stiller stars in the movie and is supported by Robin Williams, Owen Wilson, Steve Coogan, and Dick Van Dyke.

The Sorcerer’s Apprentice

This 2010 fantasy adventure is based on the eponymous poem by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, which was also featured in the 1940 Disney film Fantasia.

A teenager named David is chosen by the sorcerer Balthazar to become his apprentice. David must learn to harness the power of magic to stop an ancient evil sorcerer, Maxim Horvath, from unleashing an ancient and powerful spell.

For David to learn the magic he needs to know, he embarks on a crash course… which is harder than he thought.

The movie is similar to National Treasure in that it is an action-adventure film that involves ancient artefacts and hidden secrets.

Both films also feature Nicolas Cage as the lead character. Other cast members are Jay Baruchel (She’s Out Of My League), Teresa Palmer (Warm Bodies), and Alfred Molina (Spider-Man 2).

Sahara

Sahara is a 2005 action-adventure movie stars a treasure hunter named Dirk Pitt, who sets out on a mission to find a long-lost Civil War battleship in the Sahara desert. The ship is said to contain a massive amount of gold, which could potentially change the balance of power in the region.

During his search, her joins a WHO doctor who’s searching for the source of a deadly plague.

This movie is one of the closest films to National Treasure. Both feature an action-packed plot, with thrilling chase scenes and daring escapes. I loved the sense of mystery in both movies.

Matthew McConaughey stars in this movie with Steve Zahn, Penelope Cruz, and William H. Macy.

It’s one of my favourite movies, like National Treasure.

Romancing The Stone

Romancing the Stone is a 1984 adventure comedy film, the first movie in the series (it’s related to Jewel Of The Nile).

It follows a romance novelist, Joan Wilder, who is sent an ancient map leading to a mystical stone by her recently murdered brother-in-law.

However, she’s forced to travel to Colombia to save her kidnapped sister. On this dangerous journey, she teams up with a rough and rugged treasure hunter, Jack T Colton, to search for a priceless ancient emerald (using her treasure map).

However, the kidnappers demand the map in exchange for her sister.

The film is similar to the Disney classic in that both feature a treasure hunt and have a comedic element, with witty banter throughout.

Michael Douglas and Kathleen Turner star in the movie with Danny DeVito, Zack Norman, Alfonso Arau, and Manuel Ojeda.

Angels & Demons

Angels And Demons is the thrilling sequel to The Da Vinci Code, based on the novel of the same name by Dan Brown.

The story revolves around symbologist Robert Langdon (played by Tom Hanks), who is called to investigate a murder at the Vatican while attempting to stop a potential terrorist attack on the Catholic Church.

However, with a secret cult plotting to destroy the Church using antimatter stolen from CERN, Robert Langdon is in for a thrilling adventure.

The movie is similar to National Treasure as both films involve a main character who’s adept at deciphering clues and solving puzzles.

Angels And Demons stars Tom Hanks, Ewan McGregor, Ayelet Zurer, and Stellan Skarsgård.

It’s one of the best movies, like National Treasure.

Indiana Jones: The Last Crusade

Indiana Jones: The Last Crusade is the third installment in the Indiana Jones franchise and was released in 1989. Like the others, it’s an action packed adventure.

Indiana Jones is back in action as he goes on a quest to find the Holy Grail, the cup used by Jesus Christ at the Last Supper.

He’s joined by his father, Dr Henry Jones Sr. (played by Sean Connery), and together they face off against the Nazis who are also searching for the Grail… those damn Nazis always try to interfere with Indiana Jones’s quests.

The movie is similar to Nicholas Cage’s movie as it’s action-packed and has plenty of adventure.

This instalment stars Harrison Ford, Sean Connery, Alison Doody, Julian Glover, and River Phoenix.

If you’re an Indie fan, you might want to watch the other two movies, not on this list, The Temple Of Doom and The Kingdom of The Crystal Skull.

Which is your favorite on the list, or didn’t it make it? Drop me a comment below as I would love to find out.