Movies like The Goonies will help you escape the reality of our complex and, most of the time, stressful world. It gives you the key to a door unlocking endless fantasies, mysteries, and adventures. After watching The Goonies, we get you if you feel a good, nostalgic vibe.
Release the inner child in you and watch movies that will make you feel alive. Here are the 14 Best Movies like The Goonies. Welcome to another world!
The Goonies (1985)
The Goonies came into theaters in 1985, bringing adventure and comedy to the crowd. A group of teens called the “Goonies” wanted to help their parents to stop the foreclosure in their community.
One night, they discover an old treasure map in Mikey’s attic. The map, filled with hints and clues, seems to be their one last chance to save their homes.
As the teens embark on their journey, they encounter the wicked Fratelli family. These evil ones seek to get the treasure too. Will the Goonies succeed? Can they prove themselves?
Filled with treasures, fantasies, and adventures along the way, Goonies offers its viewers the bustling energy of children. While it may look old-fashioned, this movie is a classic with gold and pirate treasure hunts. Heartwarming and touching, The Goonies is a comedy film that stars kids going out for an adventure to save their families.
Directed by Richard Donner, The Goonies is a terrific film to watch with kids or even the whole family. You would feel an uplifting and inspiring vibe in every line and scene.
Do you want more of The Goonies? Read on to find the 14 Best Movies Like Goonies. These will supply you with daring exploits and heartwarming tales. Let us start the adventure!
1. Stand by Me (1986)
English 1h 29m IMDb
Director: Rob Reiner
Stars: Wil Wheaton, River Phoenix, Corey Feldman
Walking down the memory lane, Stand by me is about a writer who recounts his childhood journey. During the summer of 1959, the writer and his best friends start an adventure for a lifetime. In the past, a missing twelve-year-old boy sparked their curiosity. They wanted to become heroes by finding the boy’s body.
Funny and heartfelt like The Goonies, Stand by Me tackles the test of friendship in a fun-filled journey. It is a beautiful movie full of memories and adventures. If you want to go nostalgic and reminisce the memories of your youth, you can start with Stand by Me.
2. Hook (1991)
English 2h 22m IMDb
Director: Steven Spielberg
Stars: Dustin Hoffman, Robin Williams, Julia Roberts
You can spot one thing in common between The Goonies and Hook. Both movies reveal the undying and persisting spirit to do what it takes to succeed in a mission adventure.
Peter Pan (Robin Williams) is already a grown-up. He is a lawyer and has a family on his own. However, Captain James (Dustin Hoffman) did an evil thing, kidnapping the children of Peter Pan. Peter Pan must return to Neverland with the help of Tinkerbell (Julia Roberts). Can Peter Pan reclaim his youthful spirit? Will he win against Captain Hook?
The Hook is directed by Steven Spielberg and is filled with charm and magical moments. It’s about Peter Pan, bringing back his inner child to save his family.
3. Jumanji (1995)
English 1h 44m IMDb
Director: Joe Johnston
Stars: Robin Williams, Kirsten Dunst, Bonnie Hunt
Of course, nothing would beat Jumanji when it comes to mysterious, magical films like The Goonies. Jumanji brings us a magical but dangerous board game. It all starts when Alan discovers the game. However, he did not foresee the unimaginable powers of this game until he was trapped with his friend Sarah in the jungles of Jumanji.
After twenty-six years, two kids free him from the game’s curse. Together with the kids, Alan and Sarah try to outwit Jumanji’s powerful forces. Do you want to fill your Sunday afternoons with mysteries and adventures like The Goonies offers? You will never go wrong by starting on Jumanji.
4. Finding Ohana (2021)
English 2h 3m IMDb
Director: Jude Weng
Stars: Kea Peahu, Alex Aiono, Lindsay Watson
Released in 2021, Finding Ohana is your modern action, adventure, and comedy film like The Goonies. Again, the movie is jump packed with finding long-lost treasures and starting an epic adventure with friends. Maybe, you would even find that Finding Ohana is like a reimagination of The Goonies.
In this entertaining film, two Brooklyn-raised siblings find a diary pointing to an old, mysterious treasure. Wanting to find the treasure, they embark on an adventure that later leads them to reunite with their Hawaiian Heritage.
Finding Ohana is an American family adventure movie written by Christina Strain and directed by Jude Weng. Do The Goonies leave you hanging? Well, you can move on by watching Finding Ohana. It is available on Netflix.
5. The Never-Ending Story (1984)
English 1h 42m IMDb
Director: Wolfgang Petersen
Stars: Noah Hathaway, Barret Oliver, Tami Stronach
Here’s another movie that will make you relive childhood memories like The Goonies. Starring Barret Oliver, Bastian is a troubled kid who jumps into a beautiful fantasy through the old pages of a mysterious book.
Bastian only wants to escape the bullies in his school when he stumbles upon an ancient storybook in a book shop. As he begins to read, the book draws the kid into the mystical land of Fantasia. He must be a hero in that land to save it from destruction.
Because the crowd loved the adventure behind The Never-Ending Story, the producers released a sequel in 1990. If magic-filled mission adventures excite you, you would indeed like this movie. Add it to your list!
6. Home Alone (1990)
English 1h 43m IMDb
Director: Chris Columbus
Stars: Macaulay Culkin, Joe Pesci, Daniel Stern
Home Alone will pop your search engine if you’re looking for comedy and adventure like The Goonies. This movie will keep your eyes wide awake from start to finish. Why so? Simply because this good, old film will never fail to make you laugh.
The McCallister is off on vacation in Paris, France, with Christmas Season coming. The next day, the rest of the family wants to be at the airport on time. However, they forgot about the youngest kid in the home, Kevin. Left in the house all by himself, Kevin was happy.
However, he later discovers that two thieves were seeking to rob their house on Christmas Eve. Kevin has to make a way. Come along for another set of fun and adventures and watch Home Alone!
7. Holes (2003)
English 1h 57m IMDb
Director: Andrew Davis
Stars: Shia LaBeouf, Sigourney Weaver, Jon Voight
Adventures and drama would never be complete without including Holes in the list. Taking the award of Best Family Film in Las Vegas Film Critics Society Awards in 2004, Holes is a fantastic movie to watch with the whole family.
It follows the journey of Stanley Yelnats IV, a boy falsely accused of stealing. He is presented with an ultimatum: go to jail or Camp Green Lake. From there, he joins the task of digging holes behind mysterious secrets.
Would Stanley find out why he should dig hole after hole? Would he break the curse within himself and his family? Find out what’s the answer to every mystery by watching Holes. You would find the surprising adventures it offers like The Goonies.
8. Spy Kids (2001)
English 1h 28m IMDb
Director: Robert Rodriguez
Stars: Alexa PenaVega, Daryl Sabara, Antonio Banderas
Next on our list is a movie starred by kids like The Goonies. Spy Kids is an action-filled adventure with a touch of humor. You will find it funny. This 2001 American film will let you encounter the best secret agents in the world, Gregorio and Ingrid.
A long time ago, Gregorio and Ingrid were rivals. One has to be killed for the other to emerge as the winner. But the two soon retired and decided to build a family. In nine years, the world’s best secret agents are called back to action. Yet when you least expect it, the two disappeared.
There are only two people who can save them. No one but their kids. Will Juni and Carmen have what it takes to protect their parents’ lives? Discover the truth and watch Spy Kids.
9. The Monster Squad (1987)
English 1h 19m IMDb
Director: Fred Dekker
Stars: Andre Gower, Robby Kiger, Stephen Macht
Movie Squad will welcome you into the fantasy world. Like The Goonies, you would get to see a group of friends in The Monster Squad. It follows the story of a group of monster fanatics who wants to rescue their hometown. Their community is under the spell of Count Dracula and its monsters.
Taking home three wins and four nominations, The Monster Squad is a top-rated film that will let you experience chills and horrors. Enjoyable and entertaining, this movie is worth watching!
Love it or hate it, there are monsters all over the place in this movie. If you can’t get enough of the adventures The Goonies give you, it’s high time to go on with another movie: The Monster Squad.
10. Honey, I Shrunk the Kids (1989)
English 1h 33m IMDb
Director: Joe Johnston
Stars: Rick Moranis, Matt Frewer, Marcia Strassman
A scientist’s father has been working on perfecting his shrinking machine for a long time. However, at one snap, he accidentally shrinks his two children and two other teens to the tiny size of insects.
The two kids and the boys next door must find their way home. They must go through the thick grass in the backyard to do this. On top of that, they need to fight against the sprinkler, lawnmower, and, worst, giant bugs. Would they find their way back home?
This unforgettable backyard adventure movie, like The Goonies, played with technology and science, all gone wrong. But it is perfect for the whole family.
Enjoy your movie marathon by watching the sequels Honey; I Blew Up the Kid (1992) and Honey; We Shrunk Ourselves (1997).
11. Labyrinth (1986)
English (United Kingdom) 1h 41m IMDb
Director: Jim Henson
Stars: David Bowie, Jennifer Connelly, Toby Froud
Undoubtedly, Labyrinth is one of the films that the whole family gets to love. Magical and musical, this film explores adventure and fantasy with an underlying moral lesson of valuing the family.
It’s about being careful what one wishes. Labyrinth revolves around 16-year-old girl Sarah. She is left with no choice when her father and stepmother force her to take care of her stepbrother, Toby. All that Sarah wishes for is for Toby to vanish.
A Goblin King Jareth grants her wish. She was given 13 hours to save and rescue Toby from danger. Like The Goonies, Labyrinth touches the heart because of its emphasis on the love of family.
You’ll get teary-eyed and warm because of the uplifting vibe that Labyrinth will give you.
12. E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial (1982)
English 1h 55m IMDb
Director: Steven Spielberg
Stars: Henry Thomas, Drew Barrymore, Peter Coyote
We are down to the top 12 on our list of best movies like The Goonies. Here’s a 1982 classic film that will take you into another bunch of adventures. Directed by Steven Spielberg, E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial won four Oscars with a 7.9/10 IMDB score and 91 Meta score.
E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial tells the tale of a gentle alien who becomes stranded on planet earth. He starts to make a unique friendship with a ten-year-old boy, Elliot. Everything seems to be going fine when the government soon finds out about the alien’s existence.
Featuring themes of sci-fi, fantasy, magic, and adventure, E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial will take you into another realm like The Goonies.
13. Night at the Museum (2006)
English 1h 48m IMDb
Director: Shawn Levy
Stars: Ben Stiller, Carla Gugino, Ricky Gervais
Awarded as Top Box Office Films in 2007, Night at the Museum is a fun flick overflowing with adventure and comedy. Larry Daley (starring Ben Stiller) feels like a complete loser. Divorced and unemployed, he has nowhere to go until he is recruited as a night security guard.
All he has to do is take care of the Museum of Natural History. Little did he know that the Museum turned into complete chaos at night.
The statues come to life during the night. Later, two sequels followed this film in 2009 and 2014: Night at the Museum (Part 2) -Battle of the Smithsonian & Night at the Museum (Part 3)- Secret of the Tomb.
14. Dora & the Lost City of Gold (2019)
English 1h 42m IMDb
Director: James Bobin
Stars: Isabela Merced, Eugenio Derbez, Michael Peña
Dora & The Lost City of Gold hit the box office on August 9, 2019, in the United States. When you catch a glimpse of this film, you will feel that this movie seems to be a modern remake of The Goonies. You would find endless actions, mysteries, and of course, treasures!
A teenage explorer, Dora, and her friends set on an adventure where they got to rescue her parents. Plus, they should unlock the mystery and secret behind the lost city of gold. While highly criticized, Isabel Dela Merced bagged the Best Actress in Feature Film (2020) because of her stellar performance portraying Dora.
Overall, this modern film garnered four wins and two nominations. Never miss out on anything adventurous and watch Dora & The Lost City of Gold.
Final Thoughts
A big hoorah! Finally, we’ve gone through the list of the best similar movies like The Goonies. These films are all jump packed with adventures that you will find entertaining and relaxing. Are you still in the undecided mode?
If you can’t wait for another fantasy, here’s your key. Indeed, magic happens when you start watching these 14 Best Movies like The Goonies.
