Netflix’s The Adam Project is an absolute blast. An unashamed tribute to cinema’s modern canon, from Star Wars to Back to the Future, the movie pays homage without coming off as slavish or derivative. Shawn Levy knows how to deliver fun and this one is glossy, pew-pew escapism at its very best. (You can read our full review of The Adam Project here, or listen to us talk about the movie on The Goggler Podcast here.)
Once you’ve seen (and loved) The Adam Project, here are 12 other movies you really need to watch. Some of them a direct inspirations while others share a similar sensibility. All of them, however, are absolutely essential to your cinematic education.
So, let’s kick things off with…
1. The Goonies (1985)
Follow the hijinks of the Goonies, a band of teenage troublemakers, as they set out to uncover lost treasure and save their homes from destruction. Whether it be discovering underground tunnels or entangling with a family of criminals, their adventures are sure to keep you on the edge of your seat.
2. Back to the Future (1985)
This is the one that started it all. It is the perfect blend of comedy, romance, adventure, and science fiction hijinks. Marty McFly’s accidental journey back in time and his misadventures in trying to get his parents to fall in love still makes for a tremendous time at the movies.
3. Hook (1991)
What if Peter Pan grew up? That is essentially the driving premise of Steven Spielberg’s Hook. Lessons will be learned. Poignant sighs will be made. Tears will be shed. Robin Williams is beautifully unhinged as Peter. As is Dustin Hoffman’s Hook. But the real star will always be Dante Basco’s Rufio! Bangarang!
4. Cloak and Dagger (1984)
Hands down one of the darkest kid’s movies of the 1980s, Cloak and Dagger is yet another movie in which a young protagonist, struggling with the loss of one parent and the absence of another, is unwittingly roped into a deadly game of spycraft. The scene where the 12-year-old Davey is forced to kill a man in cold blood terrifies me until today.
5. Jumanji (1995)
Forget those modern remakes (they’re alright), and settle down with the original. It’s Jurassic Park, meets Gremlins, meets Honey, I Shrunk the Kids in this surprisingly dense and shamelessly hammy fantasy. Just a whole load of rampant fun. (Robin Williams sure was in a lot of these sorts of movies!)
6. Stand by Me (1986)
Rob Reiner’s heartbreaking adaptation of Stephen King’s novella is the quintessential coming-of-age movie, seamlessly channeling our yearning for youth and nostalgia into a profound mediation on what happens at the precise moment when we first lose our innocence to the terrible truths of being a grown-up. Watch it and weep.
7. Meet the Robinsons (2007)
Mysterious time-traveler Wilbur whisks boy genius, Lewis, into the future, where they meet the Robinsons, a wacky ensemble of characters, that help them uncover a twist that could change their lives forever. Packed with humour, heart, family, and yes, flying cars, it really has something for everyone!
8. Explorers (1985)
Yet another Spielberg inspired fantasy, this is a charmingly eccentric Joe Dante effort that sees two young boys, a dreamer (Ethan Hawke) and a nerdy scientist (River Phoenix), who fashion a spacecraft out of junk, take it into outer space, and make first contact with aliens. Much like what Levy does with The Adam Project, Dante to laces his movie with references to the sci-fi-ers that he grew up with including War of the Worlds, This Island Earth, and Journey to the Center of the Earth.
9. Spirited Away (2001)
Take a plunge into the world of spirits and witches with 10-year-old Chihiro, as she navigates through strange adversities and tries to save her family from an unpleasant fate! Infused with Japanese folklore, stunning animation, and good ole’ Ghibli magical realism, Spirited Away is sure to stir up some childhood nostalgia.
10. The Last Starfighter (1984)
This is one of the better movies to ride the Star Wars train. When Alex Logan gets a high score on an arcade game called Starfighter, he is visited by an alien called Centauri who recruits him as a pilot for the Rylan Star League’s war against the Ko-Dan Empire. It’s Joseph Campbell from start to finish, but boy it sure is fun!
11. Battle Beyond the Stars (1980)
It’s produced by Roger Corman. It’s written by James Sayles. James Horner composed the score. James Cameron did the visual effects. It’s got George Peppard, Richard Thomas, and Robert Vaughan. It blatantly rips off Lucas and Kurosawa. It’s a little bit dumb. But there’s enough cheesy charm to make it a classic. Battle Beyond the Stars is the definition of “so bad it’s good.”
Follow Us