We discuss ten movies like Super 8 you must watch. Add these well-recommended and highly-rated films to your watch list.
Super 8 is the J.J. Abrams Sci-Fi-thriller film that was first released in 2011. The film is set in the summer of 1979 when a group of young adolescent friends witness a serious train crash, which leads them to investigate more unexplained events happening in their small town.
Jack Lang, who is the deputy sheriff, uncovers a shocking secret, and eventually, he and his son finally see eye-to-eye and reconcile.
What made this film enjoyable was the nostalgia it brought to audiences, the adventure, and the Sci-Fi elements. Here is a list of ten movies similar to Super 8 if you’re looking for your next adventure.
10 Movies like Super 8
E.T (1982)
Recently described as the perfect film (by the film’s director Steven Spielberg), this Sci-Fi thriller is similar to Super 8 as we watch a young boy on an adventure, this time trying to hide and save his new alien friend, and the two forms an unlikely, heartfelt bond. The film is a personal favorite of mine, as it brings feelings of friendship, love, and nostalgia.
The Goonies (1985)
This feel-good classic 80’s film boasts some young actors who we’ve seen grow into huge Hollywood A-Listers, and if this isn’t enough to watch, the fun, the adventurous storyline is. A group of children stumble onto evidence of a pirate’s treasure, and on their way to find it, they attract the attention of a family of criminals.
Who will get to the treasure first? The stakes are high as this treasure might save the friend’s town from being torn down.
Stand by Me (1986)
Similar to Super 8 and The Goonies, we have another story of a group of young friends on an adventure. Gordie, Chris, Teddy, and Vern are four friends who decide to hike to find the corpse of Ray Brower, a local teenager who was tragically killed.
This film is a coming-of-age story, and while it might not be in the Sci-Fi genre, it is a film everyone should watch at least once for its themes of friendship and shared trauma.
Journey To the Center of the Earth (2008)
Starring the beloved Brendan Fraser, this adventure-fantasy film tells the story of a scientist who sets out to search for his missing brother along with his nephew and their mountain guide.
On their journey, they stumble across a lost world. This film is full of action and comedy and has a few sequels to watch if you need more.
Chronicle (2011)
Staying in the Sci-Fi-thriller genre, this film follows three high school students who make an incredible discovery and develop unbelievable powers. As they learn to control and use their abilities to their advantage, they lose control of their powers and themselves.
The Maze Runner (2014)
The Maze Runner is set in a post-apocalyptic world, and young Thomas (Dylan O’Brien) is deposited in a community of boys after his memory is erased. He quickly learns they’re all trapped in a maze, and a small brave group tries to escape to know the truth. A story of adventure and friendship shares similar themes with Super 8.
Honey, I Shrunk the Kids (1989)
Stepping away from the Sci-fi genre, we still keep the action with this favorite from my childhood. Wayne Szalinski (Rick Moranis) is a wild inventor, and when his kids and the neighbor kids sneak into his lab in the loft, one of his experiments shrinks them.
In a rage, Wayne destroys the machine and throws it and the kids away in the trash. Now their journey through the wildness of their garden back home begins. The scene with the giant ant still brings a tear to my eye.
Home Alone (1990)
When eight-year-old Kevin is accidentally left behind, home alone, when his family leaves for France, he must defend his home against robbers. Similar to Super 8, we have a young boy growing up, learning and dealing with the dangers in the world, but the difference here is that it falls into the comedy genre, as this film is hilarious.
The Labyrinth (1986)
In this film, we have a young female protagonist, sixteen-year-old Sarah, who is given thirteen hours to solve a labyrinth and rescue her baby brother, who has been taken by the Goblin King Jareth. (David Bowie) This film is quirky, fun, and filled with puppets and music, and it is an adventure you’ll want to embark on.
The NeverEnding Story (1984)
Finally, we’re returning to a classic film with a huge cult following. Bastian takes refuge in an old bookstore, hiding from bullies and his mundane life. There, he begins reading an old storybook and finds himself drawn into the mythical world of Fantasia.
Do you have any other recommendations for Movies like Super 8? Let us know in the comments below.
