Look, let’s just be real for a second. Nothing is ever going to be the Goonies. You can’t recreate that specific lightning in a bottle—the Truffle Shuffle, Mama Fratelli’s terrifying snarl, or the way 1980s Astoria, Oregon felt like the edge of the world. It’s a mood.
But people act like the "kids on an adventure" genre died with One-Eyed Willy. It didn’t.
If you’re hunting for similar movies to the Goonies, you aren’t just looking for treasure maps. You’re looking for that feeling of being twelve years old, riding your bike until the streetlights come on, and believing that the old abandoned house at the end of the block actually holds a secret.
Honestly, some of the best recommendations aren't even from the 80s.
The "Monster" Connection You Might Have Missed
Most people will tell you to watch Stand by Me. And yeah, you should. It’s got Corey Feldman and it’s basically the gold standard for childhood friendship. But if you want the energy of the Goonies—the chaos, the gadgets, and the "us against the world" vibe—you need to talk about The Monster Squad (1987).
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It’s basically the Goonies if they fought Dracula and the Wolfman instead of the Fratellis.
Released only two years after Richard Donner’s classic, The Monster Squad was a box office dud that became a massive cult hit. Why? Because it treats kids like actual humans. They swear. They're scared. They have a clubhouse. It has that same "Spielbergian" DNA where the adults are either oblivious or the enemy. Plus, it has one of the most iconic (and slightly crude) lines in 80s cinema regarding how to defeat a Wolfman. You know the one.
Why Explorers (1985) is the weird cousin
If Data was your favorite character, Explorers is your next watch. It stars a tiny Ethan Hawke and River Phoenix. They literally build a spaceship out of a Tilt-A-Whirl car and junk. It’s pure 80s tech-optimism. The first two-thirds of this movie are perfect adventure fuel. The ending? It gets a little weird and psychedelic, which is probably why it didn’t become a massive franchise, but the sense of "building something in your backyard" is 10/10.
Modern Movies That Actually Get It Right
You've probably seen Stranger Things. It’s great. We know. But what about the movies that tried to capture that spirit on the big screen without just being a nostalgia trip?
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- Super 8 (2011): J.J. Abrams basically wrote a love letter to 80s Amblin movies here. It’s got the bikes. It’s got the walkie-talkies. Most importantly, it has a group of kids trying to make a zombie movie on film. The chemistry between the leads feels authentic, not scripted by a committee of middle-aged executives.
- Finding ‘Ohana (2021): This is basically "The Goonies in Hawaii." It even features a cameo from Ke Huy Quan (Data himself!). It follows two Brooklyn-raised siblings who discover a journal pointing to long-lost pirate treasure in Oahu. It leans heavily into Hawaiian culture and heritage, which gives it a soul that many modern reboots lack.
- Attack the Block (2011): This is the "gritty" Goonies. It’s set in South London. Instead of a cave, it’s a council estate. Instead of pirates, it’s bioluminescent aliens. John Boyega is incredible in his debut. It’s fast, funny, and captures that specific tribal loyalty kids have for their neighborhood.
The Treasure Hunt Obsession
If the part you loved most about the Goonies was the literal treasure hunt—the booby traps, the maps, the "X marks the spot"—then your path is clear. You need the swashbucklers.
Holes (2003) is a masterclass in this. It’s not just a "kids in a desert" movie. It’s a complex, multi-generational mystery that pays off every single clue it plants. Shia LaBeouf and Sigourney Weaver are great, but the way the story of Stanley Yelnats ties back to Kissin' Kate Barlow’s buried gold is pure treasure-hunting perfection. It’s one of those rare films that actually respects the intelligence of its audience.
Then you have the big hitters. National Treasure is essentially the adult version of the Goonies. Ben Gates is basically Mikey if he never grew out of his obsession with history. It’s ridiculous, sure, but the pacing is relentless.
Don't sleep on The Sandlot (1993)
You might think, "Wait, that’s a baseball movie." You’re wrong. The Sandlot is a "Beast" hunt movie. The stakes—getting a ball back from over a fence—feel as life-or-death to those kids as escaping a collapsing pirate ship. The legendary status of "The Beast" and the way the kids build myths around their neighborhood is exactly what makes the Goonies work. It’s about the legend, not just the gold.
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Actionable Next Steps: How to Build Your Watchlist
Finding similar movies to the Goonies is about choosing which "flavor" of the movie you want to experience again. Do you want the friendship? The treasure? The 80s aesthetic?
- If you want the 80s "Kids on Bikes" vibe: Start with The Monster Squad or Flight of the Navigator.
- If you want the "Treasure and Traps" excitement: Go for Holes or the first Pirates of the Caribbean.
- If you want a modern spin with better CGI: Watch Super 8 or Dora and the Lost City of Gold (seriously, it’s surprisingly funny and leans into the adventure tropes hard).
- If you want the "Outcasts bonding" drama: Watch Stand by Me or The Outsiders.
The truth is, we're currently in a second golden age of this genre. Thanks to the success of "Kids on Bikes" RPGs and shows like Stranger Things, filmmakers are finally realizing that kids are capable of being the heroes of their own stories again.
Start with The Monster Squad. It’s the closest you’ll get to being back in the Goon Docks without actually being there. Just remember: Goonies never say die, but they definitely need a good snacks-and-movie-marathon plan.
Reach for the remote and pick one. Your inner twelve-year-old will thank you.