The latest entry in the National Treasure franchise, National Treasure: Edge of History is a Disney+ series that follows Jess (Lisette Olivera), a young woman who gets thrown into a dangerous treasure hunt when she is given a puzzle box that may have ties to her family’s past. Adding to the mystery, is Billie (Catherine Zeta-Jones), a woman in pursuit of the box and its treasure herself. Like the movies, the show contains a mix of humor, action, history, and puzzles that unfold through suspenseful installments. If you enjoyed the show, and its major elements, here are nine movies that would be great to watch after.
9 The National Treasure Franchise (2004-2007)
Buena Vista Pictures
As the inspiration for the series, both National Treasure movies capture the show’s spirit, and are great places to start. The first National Treasure follows historian and treasure hunter Ben Gates (Nicolas Cage), as he must steal the Declaration of Independence to stop a villainous former colleague. The sequel, National Treasure: Book of Secrets, finds Ben searching for Cibola, the lost city of gold – and kidnapping the President in the process – to clear his family’s name. Both are packed with history, fun puzzles, humor, and lots of adventure that will surely delight fans of the show.
8 Tomb Raider (2018)
Warner Bros. Pictures
Based on the Lara Croft video games, Tomb Raider sees Lara (Alicia Vikander) struggling after her father’s disappearance seven years earlier. In an effort to find him, she journeys to the forgotten island of Yamatai, her father’s last known location. The island is the supposed tomb of Himiko, a queen with powers over life and death, whose release could destroy the world. The movie features plenty of history and legends, along with riddles and clues to bring it together. It also has thrilling action sequences, while carrying some emotion in Lara’s relationship with her father.
7 The Da Vinci Code (2006)
Sony Pictures Releasing
The Da Vinci Code adapts Dan Brown’s book, and stars Tom Hanks as symbologist Robert Langdon. Langdon is falsely accused of murdering the Louvre Museum’s curator, whose body contains a coded message. In his escape, he joins forces with police officer Sophie (Audrey Tautou), and the two are led on a path that leads to the Holy Grail. The movie does make changes to the book, and is not an exact adaptation. However, it does still feature many of the intricate puzzles, like the cryptex, along with enough action for an enjoyable ride.
6 The Enola Holmes Movies (2020-Present)
Netflix
Though leaning more into the mystery genre, the Enola Holmes movies are still a great choice for their historical details and intellectual mysteries. Led by a fantastic Millie Bobby Brown as Sherlock Holmes’s sister, Enola, she makes her own way as a detective, solving crimes that seem small, but wind up having layers that could alter the country. Both intertwine the historical setting with lots of action and touches of romance, and make for enjoyable watches.
5 The Night at the Museum Trilogy (2006-2014)
20th Century Fox
If you especially enjoyed the history in the show, Night at the Museum is a great choice to explore that genre further. The first movie stars Ben Stiller as Larry, a night security guard at the Museum of Natural History. At night, due to a magic tablet, all the exhibits in the museum come to life, and he must learn how to control the chaos. The other films follow Larry to different museums, where the tablet brings their displays to life as well. All three feature great humor and have fun with their historical figures, from Robin Williams’s Theodore Roosevelt to Amy Adams’s Amelia Earhart.
4 Jumanji (1995 and 2017)
Jumanji is a beloved movie adaptation of Chris van Allsburg’s book. Siblings Judy (Kirsten Dunst) and Peter (Bradley Pierce) play a mysterious board game, which brings the game’s challenges, like monkeys, to life. Joining them is Alan (Robin Williams), who has lived in the game’s world since he was a kid. The three must brave the jungle elements to beat the game, in a fun and adventurous classic.
The 2017 reboot follows the same premise, but instead sends the characters into a video game, where they must survive a jungle and all its dangers to return home. The setting allows for even more danger and thrills, while the humor from Dwayne Johnson, Kevin Hart, Jack Black, and Karen Gillan softens some of the suspense. It proved popular enough for a sequel in 2019, with Digital Fix reporting that another is in the works.
3 Uncharted (2022)
Another video game adaptation, Uncharted, sees Tom Holland’s Nate Drake teaming up with Mark Wahlberg’s Sully, to save Nate’s missing brother and find a treasure left in Barcelona by Magellan. Holland and Wahlberg have great chemistry and carry this suspenseful adventure. It balances its puzzles, like unlocking the secret passage in the church in Barcelona, with heart-pounding action, like Nate trying to get back into a plane by jumping on cargo crates in mid-air – a scene that Holland said was the hardest action work he’s ever done, per IGN. It all makes for a fun and surprising movie.
2 The Mummy (1999)
Universal Pictures
Starring Brendan Fraser as adventurer Rick O’Connell, The Mummy is a perfect blend of adventure and history. When Rick’s path intertwines with the librarian Evelyn (Rachel Weisz) and her brother, Jonathan (John Hannah), the three are endangered by the release of Imhotep (Arnold Vosloo), a powerful mummy. The three leads bring humor and chemistry that is instantly enjoyable and drives the movie, while still delivering on the action and even touches of horror.
1 The Indiana Jones Franchise (1981-Present)
Paramount
This classic series, with Harrison Ford as archeology professor Indiana Jones, is just as fun and exciting today. Beginning with Raiders of the Lost Ark and continuing with this year’s upcoming movie, Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny, the franchise follows Jones as he grapples with various villains and tries to keep them from controlling powerful artifacts. From the iconic music, to the intense action sequences like the boulder escape, to Ford’s perfect performance, the franchise is still excellent and can appeal to all ages.
