Adventure was back in for 2024, with the genre dropping some of the year’s biggest hits on the big and small screens.
From the kid-friendly to the strictly adult, there has been something for everyone in a smash-hit 12 months that looks to extend into 2025.
In the cinema, Dune: Part Two, Damsel, Paddington in Peru, and Moana 2 all had successful ventures in the genre, while Fallout, Star Wars: Skeleton Crew, and Arcane’s second season were hits on TV and streaming networks.
The thirst for adventure hasn’t been limited to viewing either. The gamers have joined in with casino slots like Rich Wilde and the Tome of Madness.
With an adventurer protagonist who navigates an Indiana Jones-esque journey with an ancient mystery theme, users have enjoyed helping Wilde battle through an epic treasure hunt, complete with ghostly rivals.
But what is so endearing and never-ending in this hero’s journey that keeps it so relevant in popular culture?
There seems to be something innate in humans that draws them to want to see heroes succeed in their quest in the face of adversity. Or especially in the face of adversity.
We’d all love to believe we have it in us to overcome great obstacles if we were put in that position, and that’s why it’s a surefire way to engage the audience for movies, TV shows, and games.
With that in mind, 2025 looks set to carry over the momentum.
On the big screen, the highly anticipated Mission Impossible: The Final Reckoning will see Tom Cruise’s final role as spy Ethan Hunt.
Fans can’t wait for the explosive crescendo in the series’ eighth outing, 28 years since the original back in 1996. It’s been a regular hit ever since, grossing over $4 billion worldwide.
James Cameron’s Avatar: Fire and Ash is the third instalment of the fantastical and groundbreaking Avatar series – although fans will have to wait until December to see how it unfolds.
In the series world, A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms: The Hedge Knight should be a hit, set in the Game of Thrones universe. Its lead, Ser Duncan the Tall and his squire Egg are unlikely heroes, yet you can bet their quests will be entertaining.
British action-adventure Atomic is also set to feature unlikely heroes, though it plays with more modern concepts of warfare and morality. Starring Alfie Allen, Shazad Latif, and Samira Wiley, five episodes will air on Sky Atlantic and Now TV in the coming months.
So, while 2024 certainly proved that the love of adventure is still strong for all ages, ardent fans and new converts won’t have to look back on what was a great year because there’s still so much to come.
Old favourites continue to rumble on decades down the line and new ideas breathe fresh life into the genre, which shows no signs of slowing down.