Archaeology, and the historical events that archaeologists study, have inspired Hollywood time and time again. Archaeology, or at least a fantasized version of it, is even featured in a few popular fictional movie franchises—Indiana Jones, Lara Croft, The Mummy, and National Treasure. See the lists below for some of our favorites.
| Modern Films | Rating | Year |
|---|---|---|
| Ben Hur Forced into slavery by a false accusation, Judah Ben Hur returns to his homeland to seek revenge but finds redemption instead |
PG-13 | 2016 |
| The Lost City of Z Portrays real events surrounding a British explorer's disappearance in Bolivia while searching for the lost city of Z |
PG-13 | 2016 |
| The Young Messiah The story of Jesus leaving Egypt for Nazareth with his family at the age of seven |
PG-13 | 2016 |
| Finding Altamira Discovery of the Altamira caves in 1879 |
2016 | |
| Risen A Roman soldier's search for Jesus' body after the resurrection |
PG-13 | 2016 |
| Kon-Tiki Thor Heyerdal sets out on a balsawood raft across the Pacific to prove Peruvians could have settled Polynesia |
PG-13 | 2012 |
| Agora Historical drama in Roman Egypt of philosophy and math professor, Hypatia of Alexandria |
R | 2009 |
| Sahara Adventurer seeks lost Civil War ship in the Sahara |
PG-13 | 2005 |
| Clash of the Titans Film loosely based on the Greek myth of Perseus, demigod and son of Zeus |
PG-13 | 2010 |
| The Prince of Egypt Animated telling of the Book of Exodus |
PG | 1998 |
| 300 The Story of the Battle of Thermopylae where King Leonidas of Sparta led 300 men against much more numerous enemy forces |
R | 2006 |
| Alexander Based on the life of Alexander the Great |
R | 2004 |
| The Body Follows the trouble that ensues after a crucified body from the 1st century AD is discovered in a cave in Israel |
PG-13 | 2001 |
| Gladiator When a Roman General is betrayed and his family murdered, he becomes a Roman gladiator to seek revenge |
R | 2000 |
| Hercules Animated Disney version of the story of Hercules |
G | 1997 |
| The Odyssey The journey of Odysseus back home to Ithaca after the Trojan War |
PG-13 | 1997 |
| Passion of the Christ The final 12 hours in the life of Jesus |
R | 2004 |
| The Road to El Dorado Animated film of two con artists who win a map to the fabled city of gold, El Dorado |
PG | 2000 |
| Troy An adaptation of Homer's epic The Iliad |
R | 2004 |
| Stargate A sci-fi film about discovering a planet whose inahbitants speak a variation of Ancient Egyptian and worship the god Ra |
PG-13 | 1994 |
| Classic Films | Rating | Year |
|---|---|---|
| Valley of the Kings An early twentieth century adventure in search of the tomb of Ra-Hotep |
1954 | |
| The Ten Commandments The story of Moses |
G | 1956 |
| Spartacus The Thracian slave Sparticus leads a revolt that spreads across Rome |
PG-13 | 1960 |
| Sphinx An Egyptologist encounters murder, theft, treachery, love, and a mummy's curse during her trip to Egypt |
PG | 1981 |
| Quo Vadis A Roman commander falls in love with a Christian hostage and begins to question Emperor Nero's actions |
1951 | |
| The Robe The Roman tribune who was ordered to crucify Jesus is later tormented by a guilty conscience |
1953 | |
| Monty Python's Life of Brian Brian of Nazareth was born in the stable next to Jesus and spends his life being mistaken for him |
R | 1979 |
| History of the World, Part 1 Mel Brooks history of the world including Moses and Nero |
R | 1981 |
| Jason and the Argonauts Jason leads a team of adventurers as they search for the Golden Fleece |
G | 1963 |
| Julius Caesar Political assassination in 44 BC of Caesar by a group of Roman senators |
G | 1970 |
| King of Kings Life of Jesus Christ |
PG-13 | 1961 |
| Hannibal The story of Hannibal's 218 BC crossing of the Alps and attack on Rome during the Second Punic War |
1959 | |
| Helen of Troy The story of The Iliad told from a Trojan perspective |
1956 | |
| Cleopatra Iconic story of Cleopatra |
G | 1963 |
| David and Bathsheba King David enters into an adulterous affair with Bathsheba which has tragic consequences for his family and Israel |
1951 | |
| Demetrius and the Gladiators This sequel to The Robe features Emperor Caligula's quest for Jesus' robe as he seeks immortality |
1954 | |
| Alexander the Great Life of Alexander the Great |
1956 | |
| Ben Hur A Jewish prince betrayed by a Roman friend is sold into slavery and returns for revenge |
G | 1959 |
| The 300 Spartans Leonidas and his 300 Spartans at the Battle of Thermoplylae |
1962 | |
| The Mummy's Hand An ancient mummy is revived to scare off invaders of tomb raiders in Egypt |
1940 | |
| Abbott and Costello Meet the Mummy Bud and Lou find trouble in Egypt |
1955 |
| Series | Rating | Year |
|---|---|---|
| The Mummy A living mummy stalks a beautiful woman who he believes is the reincarnation of his lost love |
1932 | |
| The Mummy An American archaeologist on a dig accidentally unearths a mummy and chaos ensues when it comes to life |
PG-13 | 1999 |
| The Mummy Returns The mummy of Imhotep is shipped to a London museum, where he awakes and wreaks havoc |
PG-13 | 2001 |
| The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor In China, an archaeologist discovers the mummy of an emperor that comes to life and attempts to enslave the human race |
PG-13 | 2008 |
| National Treasure Benjamin Franklin Gates races to be the first to find the legendary Templar Treasure |
PG | 2004 |
| National Treasure: Book of Secrets Gates uses John Wilkes Booth's diary as he attempts to prove that his ancester was not a co-conspirator in Lincoln's assasination |
PG | 2007 |
| Lara Croft: Tomb Raider Lara Croft crisscrosses the globe encountering danger and adventure as she acquires ancient artifacts |
PG-13 | 2001 |
| Lara Croft Tomb Raider: The Cradle of Life Lara Croft must find the mythical Pandora's Box before it falls into the wrong hands |
PG-13 | 2003 |
| Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Ark Archaeologist Indiana Jones must find the Ark of the Covenant before the Nazis |
PG | 1981 |
| Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom While seeking a mystical stone, Indiana Jones discovers a cult plotting a terrible scheme in the catacombs of an ancient palace |
PG | 1984 |
| Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade After his father goes missing, Indiana Jones follows his footsteps to stop the Nazis from getting the Holy Grail first |
PG-13 | 1989 |
| Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull Almost 20 years later, Dr. Jones returns and is ensnared in a Soviet scheme to uncover the secret of the Crystal Skulls |
PG-13 | 2008 |
| Television | Rating | Year |
|---|---|---|
| Cleopatra The story of Cleopatra, Caesar, and Marc Anthony |
1999 | |
| I, Claudius Claudius' perspective on the events of the fledgling Roman Empire through his death in 54 AD |
1976 | |
| Rome Twenty-two episodes that illustrate the lives of wealthy and powerful as well as ordinary Romans during the last days of the Roman Republic |
TV-MA | 2005 |
| Barabbas The story of Barabbas, whose life was spared because of the crucifixion of Jesus |
2012 | |
| Jason and the Argonauts The story of Jason and the Golden Fleece |
2000 |
