6 Best Explorer and Adventurer Biopic Movies

By Vlad Zakh · June 4, 2026

Drama thought provokingintense

Great explorers share a restless spirit, and these biographical epics catch it. Kon-Tiki follows a Norwegian sailing a balsa raft across the Pacific, The Aeronauts has a balloon pilot and a scientist chasing an altitude record, and Amelia follows the aviator’s final attempt to circle the globe. 1492: Conquest of Paradise, The Right Stuff and The Adventures of Marco Polo cover discovery on sea, in space and on the road to China.

The Aeronauts (2019) 01

The Aeronauts (2019)

TMDB ★ 6.7

A daring balloon pilot and a determined scientist risk their lives to break the world altitude record.

Directed by Tom Harper · 1h 40m · Rated PG-13

Where to watch

Stream: Amazon Prime Video, Amazon Prime Video with Ads · Rent: Amazon Video, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home · Buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd
Kon-Tiki (2012) 02

Kon-Tiki (2012)

TMDB ★ 7.0

A Norwegian explorer sails a primitive balsa wood raft across the Pacific to prove an ancient migration theory.

Directed by Joachim Rønning & Espen Sandberg · 1h 58m · Rated PG-13

Where to watch

Stream: Lionsgate+ Amazon Channel · Rent or buy: Amazon Video, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd
Amelia (2009) 03

Amelia (2009)

TMDB ★ 5.5

A dramatisation of the life and disappearance of pioneering aviator Amelia Earhart.

Directed by Mira Nair · 1h 51m · Rated PG

Where to watch

Rent or buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd
1492: Conquest of Paradise (1992) 04

1492: Conquest of Paradise (1992)

TMDB ★ 6.6

Columbus's voyage across the Atlantic leads to the New World and a tragic aftermath.

Directed by Ridley Scott · 2h 34m · Rated PG-13

Where to watch

Rent or buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd
The Right Stuff (1983) 05

The Right Stuff (1983)

IMDb ★ 7.8 RT 96% Metacritic 91

The original Mercury Seven astronauts and the test pilots who paved the way for them.

Directed by Philip Kaufman · 3h 13m · Rated PG

Won 4 Oscars14 wins & 18 nominations

Where to watch

Rent: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home, Spectrum On Demand · Buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd
The Adventures of Marco Polo (1938) 06

The Adventures of Marco Polo (1938)

TMDB ★ 6.0

A young Venetian merchant sets out on a perilous journey to the court of Kublai Khan.

Directed by Archie Mayo · 1h 44m · Rated NR

Where to watch

Stream: Amazon Prime Video, Amazon Prime Video with Ads · Rent or buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

Streaming availability data from JustWatch, via TMDB. Availability changes often, so check the service before you plan a movie night.

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Vlad Zakh

Vlad Zakh

Founder, Movieix

Founder of Movieix. He started the site because most recommendation pages felt like noise. Here, lists are sorted by who's in the film, where it's from and what mood you're in tonight.