1

E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial

Image: Couleur

E.T. , released in 1982, is undoubtedly one of Steven Spielberg's best films and one of the most iconic in the history of cinema. The story follows an alien lost on Earth who forms a pure and heartfelt friendship with a human boy, who will go to great lengths to help him return home.

E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial is an endearing adventure film that marked the ‘80s and taught us the importance of empathy and embracing each other's differences.

2

The Wizard of Oz

Image: MGM, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

Somewhere over the rainbow is one of the most iconic films we’ve ever seen: The Wizard of Oz (1939). This film marked a turning point in Hollywood , with the angelic Judy Garland leading a troupe of magical beings on a journey to the Emerald City and the dreaded Oz.

A tornado sweeps Dorothy into a technicolor dreamscape populated by munchkins, a cowardly lion, a tin man, a scarecrow, and a wicked witch, prompting a journey down the Yellow Brick Road. Their adventure is largely one of self-discovery : the Lion finds his courage, the Scarecrow his brains, the Tin Man his heart, and Dorothy finally returns to Kansas.

3

Back to the Future

Image: dtavres

A time machine in a DeLorean? Sign me up! What would '80s cinema be without this fabulous trilogy, where a teenager (Michael J. Fox) and a scientist (Christopher Lloyd) share all kinds of adventures together?

First, they travel to the past, then to the future, and finally, to the Wild West. Three movies that took the box office by storm and remain great entertainment for all ages .

4

Lawrence of Arabia

Image: Jack de Nijs for Anefo / Anefo, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons

This Oscar-winning epic biographical adventure drama, based on the life of British army officer and archaeologist, T. E. Lawrence, transports us to Egypt in 1917. Released in 1962, Lawrence of Arabia stars Peter O'Toole, Alec Guinness, Anthony Quinn, and Omar Sharif.

During World War I, Lawrence is sent to support Prince Faisal in his war against the Turks. His adventure across the desert earns him the respect of his army for his courage and his deep appreciation for Arab culture.

5

The NeverEnding Story

Image: _marioosh

For many, this movie left a huge mark on their childhood. Who wasn’t amazed by that enormous flying albino creature called Falkor? Based on the acclaimed novel by German author Michael Ende, The NeverEnding Story (1984) introduces us to Bastian, a shy boy who discovers a mysterious book telling the story of the destruction of the world of Fantasia.

The protagonist’s adventure begins when he realizes he can save this world, inhabited by extraordinary beings, by finding a way to get inside the story.

6

The African Queen

Image: Copyright 1952 United Artists Corp., Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

Two great classic movie stars, Humphrey Bogart and Katharine Hepburn, adrift on a small steamboat in German East Africa during the First World War— this is the epitome of adventure .

The African Queen , directed by the brilliant John Huston and released in 1951, earned Bogart the Oscar for Best Actor and the film the status of an instant classic.

7

Stand by Me

Image: Johannes Plenio

This coming-of-age film, based on a Stephen King story , is perhaps one of the best portrayals ever made of the end of childhood.

The adventures experienced by the four friends in Stand by Me (1986) may not be as spectacular as those of the characters in other films on this list. They don’t have to face fantastic creatures or fight in a war, but they do encounter, for example, an angry dog, a speeding train, hungry leeches, and a dead body lying on the riverbank. It’s a journey of discovery and transformation , filled with tension and drama.

8

Ben-Hur

Image: Reynold Brown, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

This flagship blockbuster of Hollywood’s golden era tells the story of the son of a noble Jerusalem family who is betrayed by a childhood friend and condemned to the galleys, where he is held prisoner for three years. Ben-Hur then vows to regain his freedom and plots his revenge.

Released in 1959 and starring the legendary Charlton Heston, Ben-Hur was one of the most expensive films in cinema history. A classic among classics, its three-and-a-half-hour running time is packed with adventure scenes.

9

Indiana Jones

Image: Intricate Explorer

Who hasn’t fantasized about being Indiana Jones? Traveling to exotic countries, embarking on dangerous adventures involving mythological objects, and wearing a hat that won’t fall off no matter what you do are things no one can resist.

With his unwavering sense of honor, compassionate nature, effortless charm, and witty one-liners, Indiana Jones is the quintessential adventure hero . Along with Harrison Ford’s brilliant performance, this iconic saga showed us just how epic a college professor can be.

10

The Treasure of the Sierra Madre

Image: Hans

This 1948 modern western, directed by John Huston, is based on an adventure novel set in the United States in the 1920s, long after the California gold rush.

A group of American drifters, including Fred C. Dobbs (Humphrey Bogart), embark on a journey into the Mexican mountains in search of gold. However, ambition and envy gradually create more problems than any other obstacle along the way. It’s a fun adventure in the desert and a classic fable about man's greed .

11

The Goonies

Image: Nadjib BR

Based on a story by Steven Spielberg , this film is an homage to all adventure films and novels. The possible existence of a great pirate treasure in the depths of an abandoned restaurant seems like the solution to all of Mikey's family problems.

With the help of his inseparable friends, he embarks on an incredible journey. Since its release in 1985, The Goonies has become one of the most influential movies of the genre . Well, let’s be honest: it’s based on an unbeatable formula: friendship, adventure, humor, danger, and reward.

12

Into the Wild

Image: Juho Luomala

This one is a bit different from the rest of the films on this list, but it is an adventure nonetheless. Directed by Sean Penn, Into the Wild (2007) portrays a true story based on Jon Krakauer's novel about Christopher McCandless' diary entries.

Under the name Alexander Supertramp, 24-year-old Christopher sets out into Alaska with a clear purpose: to connect with nature, stripped of his material possessions. While not as flashy an adventure as Indiana Jones, it is a transformative experience that requires great will and courage.

1

Bohemians

Image: Kinga Howard

Bohemianism, an original subculture that ended up lending its name as an adjective often used to describe other subcultures, is a social and cultural movement that embraces a way of life away from society's conventional norms and expectations . The term comes from the French bohème , and it was used to describe mid-19th-century non-traditional lifestyles, especially those of artists, writers, journalists, musicians, and actors.

Today, the term is used to describe anyone who shows disdain for money, dresses in hippie fashion (more on this later), and appreciates everything art-related.

2

Greasers

Image: Alberto Bigoni

Think John Travolta in _Grease_—yes, Grease . Think Biff Tannen in the 1950s segment of Back to the Future . Greasers emerged in the 1950s and early 1960s from predominantly working-class and lower-class teenagers and young adults in the United States and Canada.

An interest in cars, motorcycles, leather jackets, jeans, and rock music was the common theme among greasers. According to some sources, the subculture’s name was applied to its members partly because of their characteristic greased-back hair.

3

Beatniks

Image: Clem Onojeghuo

The first subculture on this list to adopt the adjective "bohemian," beatniks were a mid-20th-century social movement that embraced an anti-materialistic lifestyle, rejecting consumerism and expressing themselves through art, spirituality, drugs, and sexuality.

The term "beat" was first used by Jack Kerouac in 1948 to describe his group of friends and fellow writers, including Allen Ginsberg, William S. Burroughs, and Neal Cassady. Kerouac said that "beat" had multiple meanings, such as "beaten down," "beatific," "beat up," and "beat out." Beatniks are often stereotyped as wearing black clothing, and speaking in hip slang that incorporates words like "cool," "dig," "groovy," and "square."

4

Hippies

Image: Trevar Skillicorn-Chilver

One of the most famous countercultures of all time, hippies are deeply associated with the 1960s. The term "hippie" originally came from "hipster" (more on this later) and was used to describe the aforementioned Beatniks, who were "hip" to all things sophisticated and fashionable. In fact, early hippies adopted much of the language and values of the Beat Generation.

The festivals of Human Be-In (1967), Monterey (1967), and Woodstock (1969) popularized hippie culture, with its fashion and values influencing culture, popular music, television, film, literature, and the arts. Since the 1960s, mainstream society has assimilated many aspects of Hippie culture.

5

Mods

Image: Michael Schofield

The Mods were a group of stylish, London-based young men and women in the late 1950s, named for their preference for modern jazz. This subculture was known for its distinctive fashion, including tailor-made suits, as well as its love for music and scooters.

By the mid-1960s, their musical tastes had shifted toward rock and blues, with bands like The Who and Small Faces gaining popularity among Mods. Mod fashion was a defining element of the "Swinging London" era, and during this time, the subculture spread to other countries, becoming emblematic of the larger youth culture of the period.

6

Punks

Image: Viktor Forgacs

Another popular subculture, thanks in no small part to its striking visual component, is the punk movement, which encompasses music, fashion, ideologies, dance, film, and visual arts, among other forms of expression. Its strong anti-establishment views, stances on individual freedom, and DIY ethic make punks easy to identify.

Punk fashion includes T-shirts, leather jackets, boots, distinctive hairstyles such as brightly colored hair and spiked mohawks, as well as cosmetics, tattoos, jewelry, and even body modification.

7

Yuppies

Image: Nick Fewings

Anyone who has seen the movies Wall Street (the one with Charlie Sheen and Michael Douglas) or American Psycho knows what a yuppie is. The term stands for "young urban professional" and was coined in the early 1980s as a way to describe young professionals living in a city.

Those labeled as yuppies generally dislike the association, because this characterization often suggests a very materialistic approach to life in general and a cutthroat attitude towards the workplace environment.

8

Skaters

Image: Parker Gibbons

An offshoot of the punk subculture, skater culture rose to prominence in the 1980s when a massive drought in California left numerous empty pools, which skaters used to practice their sport. The rise of magazines like Thrasher and stars like Tony Hawk helped the movement transition from an underground scene to a mainstream sport.

Its aesthetics centered around the preferred type of clothes for skateboarding: baggy and sturdy pants, sneakers, and oversized shirts. Its music was shared by the punk and hardcore movements.

9

Straight Edge

Image: Evgeniy Smersh

Going deeper down the rabbit hole, we encounter the Straight Edge subculture, an offshoot of both skater and hardcore punk cultures. Its followers reject the excesses of the punk scene by abstaining from alcohol, tobacco, and recreational drugs . Many also refrain from casual sex, follow a vegetarian or vegan diet, and avoid caffeine or prescription drugs. The name "Straight Edge" was inspired by the 1981 song "Straight Edge" by the hardcore punk band Minor Threat.

Overall, Straight Edge culture promotes a lifestyle of self-discipline, health, and community, and it continues to evolve while maintaining its roots in the hardcore punk scene.

10

Hipsters

Image: John Fornander

The final entry on the list is dedicated to the most modern subculture in it: the hipsters. Mostly associated with perceived upper-middle-class white young adults who gentrify urban areas , hipster culture has been critiqued for lacking authenticity and focusing on consumption.

As mentioned earlier, members of this subculture typically do not self-identify as hipsters, as the term’s connotations are often unflattering. It is no coincidence that the term evokes the previously mentioned Beatniks, as that subculture can be seen as an early precursor to hipster culture.

1

Brooklyn Bridge, New York: A family affair with an undersung heroine

Designer John Roebling died from tetanus after his foot was crushed during the initial survey in 1869, leaving his son, Washington, to complete the project. Then Washington developed debilitating "caisson disease" (the bends) from working in the underwater pressurized chambers, leaving him bedridden and barely able to speak. For the next eleven years, he directed construction from his apartment window through a telescope, while his wife Emily became his voice , learning advanced mathematics and engineering to communicate his instructions to the workers.

Emily Roebling essentially became America's first female field engineer, though she received no official title or recognition at the time. She walked the bridge on opening day in 1883, carrying a rooster as a symbol of victory—a moment that should have cemented her place in history but was largely forgotten until recently.

2

Golden Gate Bridge, San Francisco: They said it couldn't be built

Engineers insisted it was impossible: the water was too deep, the currents too strong, the fog too thick. Joseph Strauss, the chief engineer, was mocked by colleagues who called his design "Strauss's Folly." The Navy opposed it, claiming it would obstruct their ships. Environmentalists feared it would ruin the bay's natural beauty. Ferry operators lobbied against it, worried about losing their livelihoods.

Yet construction began in 1933, during the Great Depression, providing thousands of jobs when they were desperately needed. Strauss installed a revolutionary safety net beneath the bridge, saving nineteen men who became known as the "Halfway to Hell Club." Tragically, ten other workers still died when a section of scaffolding fell through the net near the end of construction. When it opened in 1937, the bridge was the longest suspension span in the world . Strauss died just one year after the bridge opened, worn out by the battle to build his "impossible" dream.

3

Sunshine Skyway Bridge, Florida: Rising from tragedy

On a foggy May morning in 1980, the freighter MV Summit Venture lost radar during a violent thunderstorm and slammed into the Sunshine Skyway Bridge. A 1,400-foot section of the bridge collapsed into Tampa Bay , sending six cars, a truck, and a Greyhound bus plummeting 150 feet into the water below. Thirty-five people died instantly. The only survivor was a truck driver whose vehicle teetered on the broken edge.

Rather than simply repair the damaged bridge, Florida decided to build an entirely new one. The new Sunshine Skyway, completed in 1987, features massive concrete "dolphins"—protective barriers designed to absorb ship impacts and prevent another catastrophe. The old bridge's remaining sections were converted into fishing piers, now popular spots where anglers cast lines into the same waters where so many lives were lost.

4

Tacoma Narrows Bridge, Washington - Galloping Gertie's fatal dance

From the moment the Tacoma Narrows Bridge opened in July 1940, it moved—undulating, twisting, and bucking in the wind like a living thing. This rhythmic, vertical bouncing reminded locals of a galloping horse, thus earning the bridge the nickname 'Galloping Gertie.' Engineers knew about the movement but considered it within acceptable limits. For four months, Gertie galloped along, becoming a tourist attraction and a source of local pride. Then came November 7, 1940.

In 40-mph winds, the bridge entered an aeroelastic fluttering that tore it apart in spectacular fashion. The only casualty was a three-legged black Cocker Spaniel named Tubby, left in a car by his owner, who fled on foot. Film footage of the collapse became required viewing in engineering schools worldwide. A new bridge opened in 1950 with crucial design changes, and in 2007, a parallel span was added.

5

London Bridge, Arizona: The bridge they bought by mistake

American entrepreneur Robert McCulloch bought London Bridge in 1968 for $2.46 million and had it shipped, stone by stone, from London to Lake Havasu City, Arizona . Urban legend claims McCulloch thought he was buying the iconic Tower Bridge and was disappointed when his purchase turned out to be the relatively plain London Bridge. While McCulloch denied this, the story persists because it's too good not to be true.

The bridge was disassembled into 10,000 tons of granite blocks, each numbered and shipped across the Atlantic. Workers reassembled it in the Arizona desert like a giant jigsaw puzzle, creating a channel beneath it afterward to make it an actual functioning bridge.

6

Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel, Virginia: Engineering ambition gone mad

When engineers proposed building a crossing for the 17.6-mile-wide mouth of Chesapeake Bay, skeptics called it impossible. The crossing would need to accommodate massive naval and commercial ships heading to Norfolk, one of America's busiest ports, while also withstanding hurricanes and ocean storms. The solution was audacious: build a structure that would be partly bridge and partly tunnel, diving beneath the water at two points to allow ship traffic through .

The completed structure, opened in 1964, includes two mile-long tunnels, nearly 12 miles of trestle bridges, four man-made islands, and multiple high-level bridges—all exposed to the open Atlantic Ocean. It was immediately declared one of the "Seven Engineering Wonders of the Modern World."

7

Seven Mile Bridge, Florida Keys: Flagler's folly made real

Henry Flagler's dream of extending his railroad to Key West was called "Flagler's Folly" by critics. But Flagler, already wealthy from Standard Oil, was determined to connect the Keys to mainland Florida. Construction began in 1905, facing hurricanes, mosquitoes, brutal heat, and the challenge of building in water up to 40 feet deep. The worst disaster came in 1906 when a hurricane killed over 100 workers—mostly immigrant laborers, whose tragic deaths barely made headlines at the time.

The railroad finally reached Key West in 1912, a year before Flagler's death. For 23 years, it carried tourists and freight until the monster Labor Day Hurricane of 1935 destroyed much of the track, killing hundreds. Rather than rebuild the railway, the state converted the route into the Overseas Highway, with the Seven Mile Bridge becoming its centerpiece . The original bridge served cars until 1982, when a new parallel bridge opened.

8

Mackinac Bridge, Michigan: The bridge that refused to die

Dreams of a bridge between Michigan's Upper and Lower peninsulas dated back to the 1880s, but the five-mile strait seemed unbridgeable. The Great Depression killed early plans, and World War II delayed them further. By the 1950s, the project had died and been resurrected so many times that locals joked it would never happen. Then, engineer David Steinman took on the challenge, designing a suspension bridge that would span the straits despite brutal weather, thick ice, and deep water .

Construction from 1954 to 1957 employed 3,500 workers at its peak. Opening day in 1957 drew 50,000 people, and Governor G. Mennen Williams walked across alongside bridge workers. "Mighty Mac" became Michigan's symbol, though high winds remain dangerous—two vehicles have been blown off in separate incidents, leading to the bridge authority offering free transport for nervous drivers during storms.

9

New River Gorge Bridge, West Virginia: The bridge that became a party

When the New River Gorge Bridge opened in 1977, it was the world's longest single-span arch bridge and the highest vehicular bridge in the Americas at 876 feet above the New River. The structure cut a 40-minute winding drive down to one minute, transforming the region's economy. But locals decided the bridge's annual achievement deserved an equally monumental celebration. Thus "Bridge Day" was born: a festival where the bridge closes to traffic and people are legally allowed to BASE jump and rappel off it.

Every third Saturday in October, up to 200,000 people descend on the tiny town of Fayetteville (population 2,800) to watch hundreds of BASE jumpers leap off the bridge . It's the largest extreme sports event in the world and the only day of the year when BASE jumping is legal in the U.S.

10

Navajo Bridge, Arizona: The bridge to nowhere that changed everything

When the original Navajo Bridge opened in 1929, the closest town was 130 miles away, and the bridge spanned a remote section of the Colorado River in northern Arizona. Critics called it the "bridge to nowhere." But the bridge had a crucial purpose: it was the only crossing of the Colorado River for 600 miles, making it essential for anyone traveling between Utah and Arizona without taking a massive detour.

Over the course of decades, it became a vital link for Navajo Nation residents accessing healthcare, education, and commerce . It also opened the North Rim of the Grand Canyon to tourists, transforming the region's economy. By the 1990s, the original bridge couldn't handle modern traffic, so a parallel span opened in 1995. Rather than demolish the original, it was converted to a pedestrian bridge where you can look straight down 467 feet to the Colorado River.