Top 10 Most Dangerous Movie Quests Ever

“National Treasure” (2004)
This film is like a throwback to the glory days of “Indiana Jones” and the serial adventure capers of the ‘30s and ‘40s that the “Jones” series was modeled after. Nicolas Cage stars as Benjamin Gates, a historian obsessed with a family legend concerning an unknown treasure. He embarks on a quest to find the treasure, resulting in a slew of dangerous predicaments. He is forced to try to steal the Declaration of Independence. He has to evade and fight the associates of Ian Howe, a former friend and rival treasure hunter. At one point, he’s even arrested by the FBI and left for dead under Trinity Church. Point being, hunting for treasure is not exactly a safe or easy task.

“O Brother, Where Art Thou?” (2000)
Serving as the Coen brothers’ unique 1930s American South reimagining of “The Odyssey”, “O Brother, Where Art Thou?” concerns three escaped convicts attempting to recover a buried treasure. As we established with the previous entry, hunting for treasure is... not the safest task. Before the quest can even truly begin, the convicts are betrayed by one of their cousins and nearly burned up in a barn. And, like Ulysses in “The Odyssey”, the gang encounter myriad issues along the way, including Sirens who ply them with whiskey and a violent rally of the Klan. It’s certainly a funny quest, but one certainly filled with problems, betrayal, and danger.

“Death Race 2000” (1975)
This film presents an alternate history in which the world experienced an ambiguous “crash” in 1979, turning the United States into a totalitarian regime. The government runs the yearly Transcontinental Road Race - a cross-country race that often sees innocent people killed, and the racers scoring points for their deaths. A resistance group led by Thomasina Paine and Annie Smith plans to kill most of the drivers in an act of rebellion. No matter the side, the Transcontinental Road Race proves an extremely dangerous and deadly endeavor, filled with death, destruction, and lots of high-octane action. It’s exactly the type of abhorrent violence the government needs to entertain and placate a discontented population.

“The Wizard of Oz” (1939)
Dorothy is told to follow The Yellow Brick Road. If only she knew how dangerous that was. Dorothy’s quest is simple and relatable - get to Emerald City and hopefully return home to Kansas. However, she and her gang of misfits are continuously accosted by otherworldly magic, most of it stemming from the evil Wicked Witch of the West. The quest isn’t even over when they get to Emerald City, as they are then tasked with obtaining the Witch’s broomstick - a task that eventually results in the poor Scarecrow getting set on fire. This being a kid’s movie, the violence isn’t too drastic. That said, there’s certainly enough scary danger here to satiate even the hungriest adventure fan.

“Apocalypse Now” (1979)
Perhaps one of the most uncompromising glimpses into war, “Apocalypse Now” stars Martin Sheen as Captain Benjamin Willard, a deeply traumatized soldier ordered to find and kill Colonel Kurtz. Kurtz has gone mad and is living in the jungles of Vietnam, waging a guerilla war against Vietnamese forces. To find Kurtz, Willard and his team must essentially venture into the heart of darkness Well, while not literally, the violence and despair they encounter comes pretty darned close to hell on Earth. The quest is rife with brutality, death, and... “the horror...the horror.”

“Raiders of the Lost Ark” (1981)
As noted, “National Treasure” was greatly influenced by the “Indiana Jones” series, and for very good reason. Archaeologist Indiana Jones is hired by the Army to find the Ark of the Covenant, as the government believes Hitler will use it to create a literally unstoppable army. It’s certainly a tough quest, as Jones must contend with violent Nazis intent on recovering the Ark for themselves. Following a string of violent and near-death encounters, Jones and Marion are witness to the opening of the Ark. Suffice to say, it does not make for a very pretty sight. If they had opened their eyes, they would have become victims of the vengeful spirits inhabiting the Ark.

“Interstellar” (2014)
Christopher Nolan’s “Interstellar” is nothing if not wildly ambitious. The story takes place in the relatively near future of 2067, with Earth plagued by violent and debilitating dust storms. Fearing the extinction of humanity, NASA sends a group of astronauts to a mysterious wormhole near Saturn. The wormhole opens near a group of habitable planets, potentially allowing for humanity’s survival. Joseph Cooper and a team of scientists are sent to traverse the wormhole, a dangerous quest that involves numerous deaths, some seriously dangerous planets, and severe time-space craziness. Oh, and also a gigantic black hole that houses a mysterious tesseract. Space doesn’t mess around.

“Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows - Parts 1 & 2” (2010-11)
The “Harry Potter” series is filled with dangerous quests, with each movie containing its own unique adventure. But the most dangerous quest of them all involves finding Voldemort’s horcruxes. This expansive quest spans both “Deathly Hallows” films, and it takes the core group all around the country, fighting off betrayal, Snatchers, and Death Eaters along the way. They are also relegated to live in the woods while harboring pieces of Voldemort’s soul - a living situation that eventually results in the brief departure of Ron. The adventure eventually ends at Hogwarts, with the Battle of Hogwarts resulting in the complete destruction of the school and the deaths of many people, including some beloved characters.

“The Lord of the Rings” Trilogy (2001-03)
J.R.R. Tolkien sure knew how to craft an epic tale. Perhaps the most famous fantasy series ever written — and later adapted for film — “The Lord of the Rings” spans many different fictional cultures and dramatic storylines. But at the heart of the story are Frodo Baggins and Samwise Gamgee, two modest hobbits traversing Middle Earth to destroy Sauron’s One Ring. They must contend with the wily Gollum, a giant spider, and the forces of the Ring itself, whereas the rest of the Fellowship are drawn into a war with the army of Mordor. Sauron serves as the very embodiment of evil, and his forces are both incredibly dangerous and unimaginably countless. This is one of the quintessential quests in fiction.


Before we unveil our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions.

Narnia, “The Chronicles of Narnia” (2005-10)
Kids Are Forced to Free the Land of Narnia

Planet Mongo, “Flash Gordon” (1980)
Flash and His Team Must Save Earth by Defeating Ming the Merciless
Mongo rhymes with bongo

Finding Safety, “The Road” (2009)
A Man and His Son Fight Struggle to Survive

Undead Pirates, “Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl” (2003)
Hordes of Undead Are Terrifying Foes

Quest for the City of Gold, “Aguirre, the Wrath of God” (1972)
Conquistadors Search for El Dorado

“Star Wars: Episode IV - A New Hope” (1977)
The original “Star Wars” shares many similarities to classic adventure stories, including a humble protagonist forced to embark on a quest to unlock their true potential, in order to save the world. “Star Wars” concerns humble young farmer Luke Skywalker, who eventually goes to battle with Darth Vader and the Galactic Empire. Along the way, Luke must evade Star Destroyers and impersonate a Stormtrooper in order to help save Princess Leia. And that’s before leading an attack on the Death Star itself! The quest results in some shocking deaths including the destruction of an entire planet with the Death Star. This is certainly not the quiet farm life that Luke was expecting.