Movies like 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea (1907)
The best movies like 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea (1907) are 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea (1954), Where the Wild Things Are (2009) and Percy Jackson: Sea of Monsters (2013). If 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea hooked you with its adventure and fantasy, these 30 similar films are what to watch next, and every pick says why it matches.
Quick picks
- Highest ratedLuca (2021)7.8/10 from 9,231 votes
- NewestMoana (2026)Released 2026
- In FrenchKatak: The Brave Beluga (2023)Also in French
20,000 Leagues Under the Sea (1954)
A ship sent to investigate a wave of mysterious sinkings encounters the advanced submarine, the Nautilus, commanded by Captain Nemo.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both adventure & fantasy
Worth the HypeMovies like thisWhere the Wild Things Are (2009)
Max imagines running away from his mom and sailing to a far-off land where large talking beasts—Ira, Carol, Douglas, the Bull, Judith and Alexander—crown him as their king, play rumpus, build forts and discover secret hideaways.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both adventure & fantasy
Popcorn FlickMovies like thisPercy Jackson: Sea of Monsters (2013)
In their quest to confront the ultimate evil, Percy and his friends battle swarms of mythical creatures to find the mythical Golden Fleece and to stop an ancient evil from rising.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both adventure & fantasy
Popcorn FlickMovies like thisPan (2015)
Living a bleak existence at a London orphanage, 12-year-old Peter finds himself whisked away to the fantastical world of Neverland. Adventure awaits as he meets new friend James Hook and the warrior Tiger Lily. They must band together to save Neverland from the ruthless pirate Blackbeard. Along the way, the rebellious and mischievous boy discovers his true destiny, becoming the hero forever known as Peter Pan.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both fantasy & adventure
Popcorn FlickMovies like thisPeter Pan (2003)
In stifling Edwardian London, Wendy Darling mesmerizes her brothers every night with bedtime tales of swordplay, swashbuckling and the fearsome Captain Hook. But the children become the heroes of an even greater story, when Peter Pan flies into their nursery one night and leads them over moonlit rooftops through a galaxy of stars and to the lush jungles of Neverland.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both adventure & fantasy
Worth the HypeMovies like thisPirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest (2006)
Captain Jack Sparrow’s got a blood debt to pay: he owes his soul to the legendary Davy Jones, ghastly Ruler of the Ocean Depths. To escape eternal servitude aboard the Flying Dutchman, ever-crafty Jack must track down the still-beating heart of Jones. But he won’t do it alone: Will Turner and Elizabeth Swann are drawn back into another one of his perilous quests—assuming they can evade execution for aiding a pirate.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both adventure & fantasy
Worth the HypeMovies like thisThe Sea Beast (2022)
When a young girl stows away on the ship of a legendary sea monster hunter, they launch an epic journey into uncharted waters — and make history to boot.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both adventure & fantasy
Worth the HypeMovies like thisScooby-Doo! Pirates Ahoy! (2006)
It's horror on the high seas when Scooby-Doo and the gang take a creepy cruise into one of the world's most mysterious places, the Bermuda Triangle! If Scooby, Shaggy and the gang can't solve this mystery, they may have to walk the plank.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both fantasy & adventure
Worth the HypeMovies like thisMoana (2026)
Teenage Moana answers the Ocean's call and, for the first time, voyages beyond the reef of her island of Motunui with infamous demigod Maui on an unforgettable journey to restore prosperity to her people.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both fantasy & adventure
Worth the HypeMovies like thisThe King's Daughter (2022)
King Louis XIV's quest for immortality leads him to capture and steal a mermaid's life force, a move that is further complicated by his illegitimate daughter's discovery of the creature.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both fantasy & adventure
Popcorn FlickMovies like thisThe Little Mermaid II: Return to the Sea (2000)
Set several years after the first film, Ariel and Prince Eric are happily married with a daughter, Melody. In order to protect Melody from the Sea Witch, Morgana, they have not told her about her mermaid heritage. Melody is curious and ventures into the sea, where she meets new friends. But will she become a pawn in Morgana's quest to take control of the ocean from King Triton?
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both adventure
Popcorn FlickMovies like thisThe Pout-Pout Fish (2026)
Living on a rundown shipwreck, Mr. Fish one day discovers a hyperactive young sea dragon Pip – who had mistaken his home for a junkyard – pilfering his belongings. The heated argument that ensues leaves both their houses in ruin. But there is hope! Embarking on a seemingly impossible quest in search of the mythical 'Shimmer' to grant them a wish, there’s only one problem: someone else is on the hunt...
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both adventure
Popcorn FlickMovies like thisLuca (2021)
Luca and his best friend Alberto experience an unforgettable summer on the Italian Riviera. But all the fun is threatened by a deeply-held secret: they are sea monsters from another world just below the water’s surface.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both fantasy
Worth the HypeMovies like this20,000 Leagues Under the Sea (1916)
Captain Nemo has built a fantastic submarine for his mission of revenge. He has traveled over 20,000 leagues in search of Charles Denver - a man who caused the death of Princess Daaker. Seeing what he had done, Denver took the daughter to his yacht and sailed away.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both adventure
Popcorn FlickMovies like thisCreature from the Black Lagoon (1954)
When scientists exploring the Amazon River stumble on a “missing link” connecting humans and fish, they plan to capture it for later study. But the Creature has plans of his own, and has set his sights on the lead scientist's beautiful fiancée, Kay.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both adventure
Popcorn FlickMovies like thisUnderwater (2020)
After an earthquake destroys their underwater station, six researchers must navigate two miles along the dangerous, unknown depths of the ocean floor to make it to safety in a race against time.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both adventure
Popcorn FlickMovies like thisFinding Dory (2016)
Dory is reunited with her friends Nemo and Marlin in the search for answers about her past. What can she remember? Who are her parents? And where did she learn to speak Whale?
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both adventure
Worth the HypeMovies like thisWaterworld (1995)
In a futuristic world where the polar ice caps have melted and made Earth a liquid planet, a beautiful barmaid rescues a mutant seafarer from a floating island prison. They escape, along with her young charge, Enola, and sail off aboard his ship. But the trio soon becomes the target of a menacing pirate who covets the map to 'Dryland'—which is tattooed on Enola's back.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both adventure
Popcorn FlickMovies like thisRuby Gillman, Teenage Kraken (2023)
Ruby Gillman, a sweet and awkward high school student, discovers she's a direct descendant of the warrior kraken queens. The kraken are sworn to protect the oceans of the world against the vain, power-hungry mermaids. Destined to inherit the throne from her commanding grandmother, Ruby must use her newfound powers to protect those she loves most.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both fantasy
Worth the HypeMovies like thisThe Incredible Mr. Limpet (1964)
Milquetoast Henry Limpet experiences his fondest wish and is transformed into a fish. As a talking fish he assists the US Navy in hunting German submarines during World War II.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both fantasy
Popcorn FlickMovies like thisThe BFG (1990)
Sophie is snatched from her orphanage early one morning by the BFG (Big Friendly Giant), whom she witnesses engaged in mysterious activities. She is soon put at ease, as she learns that BFG's job is to collect, catalog and deliver pleasant dreams to children. She joins him that night, but a mean giants follow them, planning to eat the children of the world.
Why it matches: Similar story and style · both fantasy & adventure
Popcorn FlickMovies like thisThe Princess Bride (1987)
In this enchantingly cracked fairy tale, the beautiful Princess Buttercup and the dashing Westley must overcome staggering odds to find happiness amid six-fingered swordsmen, murderous princes, Sicilians and rodents of unusual size. But even death can't stop these true lovebirds from triumphing.
Why it matches: Similar story and style · both fantasy & adventure
Worth the HypeMovies like thisThe Adventures of Timmy the Tooth: Molar Island (1995)
Timmy dreams that he and Brushbrush win a dream vacation to Molar Island. Timmy ends up helping the locals when the ancient crown of King Cuspid has been stolen by the Gingivitis Tribe and the island will sink if the ancient crown of King Cuspid is not returned to the hole it was placed over.
Why it matches: Similar story and style · both adventure
The Aerial Submarine (1910)
Using a futuristic submarine, pirates kidnap a young couple, torpedo a passenger ship, travel under the sea to salvage bullion, then make their escape by taking to the air.
Why it matches: Similar story and style · both fantasy
Katak: The Brave Beluga (2023)
While his peers have all turned white, Katak is still small and grey. To prove that he has grown up and to grant the last wish of his adored grandma, Katak departs on a perilous journey to the Great North.
Why it matches: Similar story and style · both adventure
The Good Night (2007)
Gary, a musician, is trapped in an unhappy relationship with his live-in lover, Dora. He becomes enthralled with a beautiful seductress who enters his dreams, and tries to control his dream-state so he can spend more and more time with her. When Gary sees his mystery woman's face on a bus billboard, he discovers she is real, and fate brings him an opportunity to meet her.
Why it matches: Similar story and style · both fantasy
SnoozefestMovies like thisThe Bothersome Man (2006)
Forty-year-old Andreas arrives in a strange city with no memory of how he got there. He is presented with a job, an apartment - even a wife. But before long, Andreas notices that something is wrong. Andreas makes an attempt to escape the city, but he discovers there's no way out. Andreas meets Hugo, who has found a crack in a wall in his cellar. Beautiful music streams out from the crack. Maybe it leads to "the other side"? A new plan for escape is hatched.
Why it matches: Similar story and style · both fantasy
Worth the HypeMovies like thisDream a Little Dream (1989)
Bobby Kellar has a crush on Lainie Diamond, girlfriend of school jerk Joel. Coleman is working on an experiment which will help him move into a place where Dreams are reality. When an accident occurs Coleman finds himself in Bobby's body and can only contact Bobby in his dreams.
Why it matches: Similar story and style · both fantasy
SnoozefestMovies like this20,000 Leagues Under the Sea (1980)
The television adventure film, based on Verne's novel of the same name, Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea, tells the adventures of three shipwrecked prisoners aboard the legendary submarine Nautilus.
Why it matches: Similar story and style · both adventure
Alien Hunter (2003)
Government agents find evidence of extraterrestrial life at the South Pole.
Why it matches: Similar story and style · both adventure
SnoozefestMovies like this
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Frequently asked questions
What are the best movies like 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea?
The closest matches to 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea are 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea (1954), Where the Wild Things Are (2009) and Percy Jackson: Sea of Monsters (2013). Below are 27 more, each with the reason it matches.
What should I watch after 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea?
Start with 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea (1954), the closest match to 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea.
What is the highest-rated movie like 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea?
Luca (2021), rated 7.8/10 by 9,231 TMDB users.
What is the newest movie like 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea?
Moana (2026) is the most recent release on this list.
Are there French movies like 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea?
Yes: Katak: The Brave Beluga (2023).
How are movies similar to 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea chosen?
First come films that Trakt’s viewers watch alongside 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea, then TMDB’s recommendations and films it rates as similar in story and genre. Each pick says which signal put it there.