After starring in two of the biggest films of 2021 inRed NoticeandFree Guy,Ryan Reynoldsis teaming back up withShawn LevyandNetflixfor an original science fiction adventure film.The Adam Projectfollows time-traveling fighter pilot Adam Reed (Reynolds). When he crash-lands in the year 2022, his mission leads him to team up with his 12-year-old self to save the future.
Outside comic-book films, the past decade hasn’t seen many family-friendly science fiction movies break into the mainstream. There have been a handful of animated ones likeCloudy with a Chance of Meatballs, but in terms of live-action science fiction adventures,The Adam Projectharkens back to a genre that has long been dormant. In the mid-2000s, the genre was thriving. Entries likeJourney to the Center of the EarthandSpy Kidswere big hits and spawned sequels. So, if you’re feeling a little nostalgic after watching Ryan Reynolds’s latest, here are seven family-friendly science fiction adventures (both animated and live-action) to check out afterThe Adam Project.
RELATED:How to Watch ‘The Adam Project’: Is the Ryan Reynolds Sci-fi Movie Streaming or in Theaters?
The Mitchells vs. the Machines
The most recent release on this list,The Mitchells vs. the Machinesis a euphoric blast of familial warmth. The Mitchells may not be your average kind of family, but they always stick together. When Katie Mitchell (Abbi Jacobson), joined by her parents (Maya RudolphandDanny McBride) and younger brother Aaron (Michael Rianda), embarks on a cross-country journey to get to college, their road trip is unfortunately interrupted by a machine uprising.
Filled to the brim with gorgeous animation and hilarious jokes,The Mitchellsvs.The Machinesalso pulls at the heartstrings as the dysfunctional family learns how much they all mean to one another. DirectorMichael Rianda, a key creative on the Disney ChannelshowGravity Falls, injects an infectious energy into every frame of his film. With the help of producers,Phil LordandChris Miller, Rianda’s exhilarating trip is a journey that everyone should absolutely go on.
Zathura: A Space Adventure
Two young boys, Walter (Josh Hutcherson)and Danny (Jonah Bobo), are left at home after their father is called into work. When the two start playing the eponymous science fiction board game, their house is suddenly launched into space, and the boys must find their way home. Before he kicked off the Marvel Cinematic UniversewithIron Man,Jon Favreaudirected with underrated science fiction gem.
Based on the novel of the same name, if you think the plot ofZathura: A Space Adventuresounds a lot likeJumanji, you’d be absolutely correct. In fact, the two novels were written by the same author,Chris Van Allsburg, and the films exist in the same universe, withZathuraconsidered a spin-off ofJumanji. Still, with the addition of reptilian aliens, alternate timelines, and a resonant core message about the resilience of brotherhood,Zathuradoes more than enough that allows it to stand on its own.
Spy Kids 2: Island of Lost Dreams
Any of theSpy Kidsfilms would fit the bill butSpy Kids 2: Island of Lost Dreamsis the best of the bunch when it comes to adventure. In the sequel to the very popular first entry, Carmen (Alexa PenaVega) and Juni (Daryl Sabara) Cortez accept a mission to investigate a scientist, played bySteve Buscemi, who has been populating a volcanic island with curious animal mutations.
From spider monkeys to slizzards (snake lizards), the plethora of imaginative animal hybrids is just as enjoyable as the film’s star-studded cast. Buscemi is immensely enjoyable as a philosophical scientist with a God complex, and with an ensemble rounded out with the likes ofAntonio Banderas,Bill Paxton, andCarla Gugino, you really can’t go wrong. DirectorRobert Rodriguezhas made several great family-friendly science fiction films, andSpy Kids 2ranks as one of his best.
A Shaun the Sheep Movie: Farmageddon
BothShaun the Sheepfilms showcaseAardman Animation’s trademark stop-motion animation and visual comedy, but only the second film delves into the genre of science fiction. InA Shaun the Sheep Movie: Farmageddon, Shaun and his flock of sheep befriend a blue alien who has been separated from her parents. As Shaun and the gang nimbly evade the authorities, they try to track down the alien’s spaceship that crash-landed somewhere near the farm.
Keeping in line with the first film,Farmageddon’s story unfolds without a single word of dialogue spoken. Instead, characters all communicate with each other using grunts and gestures. Through its elimination of dialogue, theShaun the Sheepfilms thrive in their playful claymation full of delightful visual gags, and being a science fiction film,Farmageddonhas its fair share of hilarious references to classics of the genre. You don’t need to watch the first film to be able to enjoy this one, but after watching just one of them, you may find yourself unable to resist immediately queuing the other one.
Race to Witch Mountain (2009)
Speaking of aliens needing to be sent back home,Race to Witch Mountainfollows Jack Bruno (Dwayne Johnson), a cab driver who picks up two runaway teens with supernatural abilities. Before Disney began remaking all of their animated classics as live-action films, they released this remake of their 1975 film of the same name. The two teens, Seth (Alexander Ludwig) and Sara (AnnaSophia Robb) reveal themselves to be escaped aliens trying to prevent their planet from invading Earth. Reluctantly, Bruno accepts to help the teens get back to their spaceship.
As government officials remain hot on Bruno’s tail,Raceto Witch Mountainmaintains its full-throttle pace for the duration of its runtime. In an age where Dwayne Johnson essentially just plays himself in every movie, it’s refreshing to see him take on an actual character with a backstory. After learning about Bruno’s past as a convict, it becomes clear that he is helping Seth and Sara as a way to make amends for his past wrongdoings. Their bond becomes the touching core of this action-packed adventure.
Tomorrowland
There are actually a fewBrad Birdmovies that this slot could go to. However, since it’s not terribly hard to convince people to watchThe IncrediblesorThe Iron Giant, maybe it’s time to giveTomorrowlandsome love. The film marked Bird’s second go at a live-action film, and if there were one word to describe it, it would be “ambitious”.
Not based on any pre-existing material except the futuristic themed land found at Disney theme parks,Tomorrowlandtells the story of Casey (Britt Robertson) and Frank (George Clooney), an optimistic teen and disillusioned inventor who are hoping to discover the truths about a mysterious alternate dimension known as “Tomorrowland.” Bird perfectly translates his penchant for imaginative set pieces to the big screen, and the breathtaking original world he creates for the film is imbued with such vivacious life.
Meet the Robinsons
There seems to be a running theme about family-friendly science fiction films and the importance of family. InMeet the Robinsons, a gifted teenage inventor named Lewis (Jordan Fry) finds himself whisked to the future by a mysterious boy named Wilbur (Wesley Singerman). As he meets Wilbur’s family, the abundance of colorful characters vow to help him track down the Bowler Hat Guy (Stephen J. Anderson), who has stolen Lewis’s invention.
From its superhero pizza delivery man to its jazz playing frogs,Meet the Robinsonshas plenty of funny and clever moments to go with its time-traveling premise. And during a time in the 2000s where Disney’s animated offerings were, at best, inconsistent, it stands tall as one of their best films. Its colorful animation is excitingly juxtaposed with its heartwarming story, and its frenetic pace is sure to keep even the most distracted of viewers entranced.
