Action-packed Date Night: Six Movies Like The Lost City
To celebrate the release of action-comedy The Lost City in cinemas this month we have dug up some treasures from the catalogue that we feel offer some similar escapism. The cast in The Lost City is, let’s admit, hot. Sandra Bullock, Channing Tatum, Brad Pitt, Daniel Radcliffe and Patti Harrison headline.
The story chronicles the adventures of a reclusive author, Loretta Sage (Bullock), and her handsome cover model, Adam (Tatum). While on tour promoting her new adventure novel together, Loretta gets kidnapped by an eccentric billionaire (Radcliffe) who hopes she can lead him to the ancient city and lost treasure from her latest story. Determined to prove he can be a hero in real life and not just on the pages of her books, Alan sets off to rescue her.
The Lost City feels like a perfect date night movie, and if it gives you that itch for more jungle-set hijinks, globe-hopping adventure, romance, sexy stars and all-round silliness then we have some perfect options here.
Romancing the Stone (1984)
What it is about: A romance novelist sets off for Colombia to ransom her kidnapped sister, and soon finds herself in the middle of a perilous adventure and on the hunt for treasure alongside a mercenary rogue. Directed by Robert Zemeckis (Back to the Future) with an equally-entertaining sequel in The Jewel on the Nile, this sexy, old-fashioned jungle-set romp is a distinctive product of the ’80s – a wild fusion of romance, adventure and humour.
Chemistry level: Michael Douglas and Kathleen Turner 🔥🔥🔥🔥
Buy or rent in the Movie Store.
The Mummy (1999)
What it is about: Dashing legionnaire Rick O’Connell stumbles upon the hidden ruins of Hamunaptra while in the midst of a battle to claim the area in 1920s Egypt. Uncovering an ancient tomb while searching the ruins, O’Connell and his treasure-hunting companions unwittingly set loose a 3,000-year-old legacy of terror, embodied in the vengeful reincarnation of an Egyptian priest. A relentlessly fun action-adventure that blends ancient mythology and creature-feature horror, while possessing a genial tone that now feels extinct in blockbuster movies. Raised the bar for what visual effects were capable of in the late ’90s and holds up spectacularly today.
Chemistry level: Rachel Weisz and Brendan Fraser 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥
Buy or rent in the Movie Store.
Jungle Cruise (2021)
What it is about: Dr. Lily Houghton enlists the aid of wisecracking skipper Frank Wolff to take her down the Amazon in his ramshackle boat. Together, they search for an ancient tree that holds the power to heal – a discovery that will change the future of medicine. A big theatrical release was pushed back repeatedly due to COVID, arriving with significantly less fanfare than initially expected. While Jungle Cruise does struggle to stay on course while straddling a corny family-friendliness with darker themes and rather gruesome villain transformations, it is a ride worth taking due to the likeable cast and some outlandish set pieces.
Chemistry level: Emily Blunt and Dwayne Johnson 🔥🔥🔥
Buy or rent in the Movie Store.
The Mask of Zorro (1998)
What it is about: A young thief seeking revenge for his brother’s death is trained by the once-great, aging Zorro, who is pursuing his own vengeance. This movie, directed with a jaw-dropping level of consistency by Martin Campbell (Casino Royale), has everything. Romance, sword fights, slapstick comedy and…sexy dancing. Maybe the greatest swashbuckler ever made, a dashing Antonio Banderas is whipped into shape by Anthony Hopkins (who is having a wonderful time) as he adopts the role of Zorro and infiltrates high society to foil the plans of the tyrannical Don Rafael Montero.
Chemistry level: Antonio Banderas and Catherine Zeta-Jones 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥
Buy or rent in the Movie Store.
National Treasure (2004)
What it is about: Modern treasure hunters, led by archaeologist Ben Gates, search for a chest of riches rumored to have been stashed away by George Washington, Thomas Jefferson and Benjamin Franklin during the Revolutionary War. They believe the chest’s whereabouts lie in secret clues embedded in the Constitution and the Declaration of Independence. This exciting, twist-filled and repeatedly enjoyable globe-hopping mission is headlined by a really likeable and steady Nic Cage. Simply, it is what those early Dan Brown adaptations aspired to be.
Chemistry level: Nicolas Cage and Diane Kruger 🔥🔥🔥🔥
Buy or rent in the Movie Store.
The Princess Bride (1987)
What it is about: While homesick in bed, a young boy’s grandfather reads him the story of a farmboy-turned-pirate who encounters numerous obstacles, enemies and allies in his quest to be reunited with his true love. The Princess Bride has become a cult classic, adapted by William Goldman from his own novel, which itself is a brilliant and hilarious work of literature. This is a twist on the damsel-in-distress fairytale that harks back to the old-Hollywood classics, with romance, peril and parody spliced together to create some iconic sequences and one-liners. If you haven’t seen The Princess Bride before…well, that’s inconceivable. If you have, you’ll know that it is never the wrong decision to hit play on this gem.
Chemistry level: Cary Elwes and Robin Wright 🔥🔥🔥🔥
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