Since the birth of cinema as a storytelling medium, the adventure genre has been by far one of the most popular. After all, there’s no art form better suited to the tropes and characteristics of these kinds of stories: sprawling expeditions, often going through exotic locales, all in a quest to achieve a goal far greater than the adventurous characters who set out looking for it.
Of the many kinds of settings that adventure movies usually take place in, deserts are among the most popular.Desert adventure movies see their heroes having to cross these desolate, daunting landscapesin search of their objective, facing harsh conditions and fearsome enemies. From Westerns likeOnce Upon a Time in the Westto action adventure films likeRaiders of the Lost Ark, these are among the best outings in the genre.
10’The Mummy' (1999)
Directed by Stephen Sommers
Back in the ’30s, Universal made numerous horror pictures, including one about an ancient Egyptian mummy that’s come back to life. In 1999, they revived the story in the form ofThe Mummy, about an American at an Egyptian archaeological dig who accidentally awakens a mummy, who then begins to wreak havoc as he searches for the reincarnation of his long-lost love.
The movie became an instant classic of the genre, thanks to its scary-good tone and the charisma ofBrendan FraserandRachel Weisz. Besides, it’s a well-known fact that a hot cast will always ensure an adventure movie’s classic status, andthere is no adventure movie with a cast hotter thanThe Mummy’s. Critics didn’t love it when it came out, but audiences haven’t grown tired of it even over two decades after its release.
Directed by George Miller
After Australian plastic surgeon and filmmakerGeorge Millerrevitalized his legendaryMad Maxfranchise withFury Roadin 2015, expectations for whatever he did next skyrocketed. It just happens thatFuriosa: A Mad Max Sagaisnot only a worthy successor toFury Roadbut also one of the best desert adventure movies of the 2020s thus far. Part violent coming-of-age, part dystopian revenge saga, it tells the story of a renegade warrior setting out on a years-long quest to return to the home she was snatched away from as a child.
There areplenty of moviesandplenty of TV showsthat are perfect for all those who loved Miller’s latest high-octane extravaganza, an epic character study full of dirt, grime, blood, and sand dunes. Oh, so many sand dunes. The amount of grand world-building and lore development that Miller and his team were able to pack into a 2-and-a-half-hour movie is tremendous, and fans of his style are sure to have a blast.
Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga
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8’Ben-Hur' (1959)
Directed by William Wyler
One ofthe best epic movies of all time, directed by one of Classic Hollywood’s greatest epic directors,Ben-Huris a three-and-a-half-hour long Biblical epic on a scale that has never been seen since. It’s the story of Judah Ben-Hur, a Jewish prince who’s betrayed and sent into slavery by a Roman friend in 1st-century Jerusalem, returning to his homeland for revenge once he regains his freedom.
The gargantuan scope ofWilliam Wyler’s masterpiece is something that truly needs to be seen to be believed.Set pieces like the chariot race(easily the film’s most famous sequence)are among the most impressive and iconic moments in the desert adventure genre, anchoring a riveting tale of revenge, betrayal, and redemption. As trite as the phrase may sound, they truly don’t make them like this anymore.
BeforeMad Max: Fury Roadcame out, no one was likely expecting it to be anything out of this world. After all, it was a legacy sequel to a long-forgotten action franchise, directed by a man fresh off of directingHappy Feet Two. Much to audiences' surprise, it turned out to be one ofthe best action adventure movies of the 2010s, telling the simple story of a rebel and a drifter taking a group of female prisoners across a treacherous desert wasteland and rescuing them from the tyrannical Immortan Joe.
As simple as the movie’s story is, the amount of jaw-dropping action scenes that Miller was able to juice out of it isnothing short of one of the greatest cinematic achievements in the history of the action genre. Furiosa and Max are surprisingly compelling characters (largely thanks toTom HardyandCharlize Therondelivering a pair of admirably committed performances), and the movie overall is exhilarating from start to finish.
Mad Max: Fury Road
6’Dune: Part Two' (2024)
Directed by Denis Villeneuve
Frank Herbert’sDuneis one of the most groundbreaking sci-fi novels in history, and attempts at adapting it for the screen have always resulted either in catastrophe or oblivion. Along cameDenis Villeneuve,who showed that with enough passion and a big enough budget, Herbert’s work could be turned into a pair of tremendous films. The first one is good enough, butDune: Part Two, where Paul unites with Arrakis’s native people to avenge his family’s destruction, is an all-timer.
Paul Atreides’s engrossing anti-heroic arc is a spectacle to behold,and since it’s bolstered by some of the most gorgeous visuals and impressive world-building the sci-fi genre has seen in years, it’s all the more thrilling. The desert world of Arrakis is one ofthe most spellbinding fictional worldsever crafted for a film, populated by fascinating characters and gripping storylines.
Dune: Part Two
5’Once Upon a Time in the West' (1969)
Directed by Sergio Leone
An unparalleled pioneer of the spaghetti Western genre,Sergio Leone redefined the Western in ways that have long been enjoyed and studied by cinephiles, critics, and scholars alike. He did so with films likeOnce Upon a Time in the West, his penultimate Western, and the start of one ofthe best unofficial trilogiesin movie history. In it, a harmonica-playing stranger joins forces with a desperado to protect a widow from a ruthless assassin.
Clocking in at nearly 3 hours long, the film is able to offer a deeply engaging study of the nature of revenge stories and the effect of progress on the Wild West. Shot in Monument Valley, the movie’s many American desert landscapes are as beautiful as they are terrifyingly sprawling. Full of adventure, action, and drama,Once Upon a Time in the Westis a legendary film with an impact that can’t be put into words.
Once Upon a Time in the West
4’Raiders of the Lost Ark' (1981)
Directed by Steven Spielberg
Though it was one of his earlier directing efforts,Steven Spielbergwas already a well-established filmmaker when he madeRaiders of the Lost Arkat the start of the ’80s—the decade that would prove to be the best of his career. It was the start of the iconicIndiana Jonesfranchise, telling the tale of an archaeologist and adventurer hired by the U.S. government to find the powerful Ark of the Covenant before the Nazis do.
Delightfully pulpy and full of artistic merit, this is easily one of the most entertaining adventure movies ever made. Thanks to its memorable characters, numerous action-packed set pieces,and compelling romance, it paved the way for multiple adventure films that would attempt to imitate its charm and success in the future.As for the numerous desert sequences, they’re by far among the best moments in the franchise.
Raiders of the Lost Ark
If movies likeOnce Upon a Time in the Westmade him a legend, thenThe Good, the Bad and the Uglymade Sergio Leone an icon with a pillar all of his own in the pantheon of the greatest Western directors ever. It’s about three men with a complicated relationship who set off on a race to find a fortune in gold buried in a remote cemetery, all while the American Civil War rages on in the background.
Many would callThe Good, the Bad and the Uglythe best revisionist Western ever made, and it would be hard to argue against them.It also has plenty of stunning action scenes and suspenseful desert adventure, led by three engrossing main characters (cleverly referenced in the film’s title) played flawlessly byClint Eastwood,Eli Wallach, andLee Van Cleef.
The Good, the Bad and the Ugly
2’Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade' (1989)
After he madeRaiders of the Lost Arkone of the most popular and influential adventure movies of the ’80s, it was hard to believe that Spielberg would ever be able to top it. Somehow, he did.Indiana Jones and the Last Crusadeis one of the best threequels of all time, this time pairing the adventurous Indy with his dad on a quest to get the Holy Grail before the Nazis do.
While the movie’s premise may make it sound derivative, it’s anything but. With a distinct story, a unique tone, andSean Conneryat the top of his gameas Indy’s dad,it’s pure pulpy thrills one after the other in adrenaline-pumping action sequences, fun character-building moments, and surprisingly effective emotional scenes. While the characters spend a lot less time in the desert here than they did inRaiders, there’s still plenty of Middle-Eastern heat for those who like some gritty sand in their adventure films.
Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade
1’Lawrence of Arabia' (1962)
Directed by David Lean
There are only a few directors who have dedicated large portions of their careers to cinematic epics, and British filmmakerDavid Leanwas king among them. His best movie is arguablyLawrence of Arabia, winner of seven Oscars, including Best Picture. It’s the story ofT.E. Lawrence, the English officer who united and led the Arab tribes during World War I to fight the Turks.
It’s hard to makebiopics about controversial people, but inLawrence of Arabia,Lean made what’s far and away one of the greatest films ever made—let alone the very best desert adventure movie ever. From the film’s striking desert landscapes (shot in multiple locations, from Morocco to Spain), to its exhilarating action scenes, to its nail-biting sense of adventure, it’s easy to see why it tends to be considered one of the best in its genre.
