Crater (2023) is directed by Kyle Patrick Alvarez, follows a group of teenagers who set out to explore a mysterious crater on the moon after the death of one of their friends’ fathers. The film follows the teenagers as they journey to the crater, and along the way, they encounter a variety of challenges. They must deal with the dangers of the moon’s environment, as well as the emotional challenges of dealing with the death of their friend. However, they also learn about themselves and each other, and they form a strong bond.
“Crater” message about the importance of friendship, family, and hope is especially timely, and the film’s visuals are stunning. If you’re looking for movies with similar themes, here are 10 movies like Crater (2023) you’ll eefinitely want to watch.
1. Ghostbusters: Afterlife (2021)
Supernatural comedy film “Ghostbusters: Afterlife” is directed by Jason Reitman. It serves as a direct sequel to the original “Ghostbusters” films from the 1980s and follows the story of a single mother and her two children who move to a small town in Oklahoma. The film stars Carrie Coon as Callie, the mother of the family, and Finn Wolfhard and Mckenna Grace as her children, Trevor and Phoebe. When the family moves into an old farmhouse left to them by Callie’s late father, strange occurrences begin to happen, and the children discover their grandfather’s connection to the original Ghostbusters.
As the kids uncover more about their grandfather’s past, they enlist the help of a local girl named Lucky (Celeste O’Connor) and a returning member of the Ghostbusters team, Dr. Raymond “Ray” Stantz (Dan Aykroyd). Together, they set out to save the town from a new supernatural threat, all while discovering the legacy left behind by the original Ghostbusters.
“Ghostbusters: Afterlife” features many nods to the original films, including appearances by Bill Murray, Sigourney Weaver, and Annie Potts reprising their roles as Peter Venkman, Dana Barrett, and Janine Melnitz, respectively. The late Harold Ramis, who played Egon Spengler in the original films, is also honored in the movie.
2. Zathura: A Space Adventure (2005)
American science fiction adventure film “Zathura: A Space Adventure” is directed by Jon Favreau, and based on the children’s book of the same name by Chris Van Allsburg, who also wrote “Jumanji,” another popular children’s book adaptation. Follows two brothers, Walter (Josh Hutcherson) and Danny (Jonah Bobo), who discover a mysterious board game in their basement. The game, called Zathura, sends them on a wild adventure through space, where they encounter a variety of dangers, including a malfunctioning robot (voiced by Frank Oz), a rogue meteor, and a race of lizard-like aliens.
As the brothers play the game, they soon realize that their moves on the board have real-life consequences in space. They must work together and use their wits to survive and complete the game, which is their only hope of returning home.
Along the way, the brothers are joined by their older sister Lisa (Kristen Stewart), who was also trapped in the game’s reality. Together, the three siblings must navigate the challenges of space and learn to rely on each other to make it back home safely.
3. Zoom (2006)
“Zoom” is a fun and lighthearted film that is perfect for families and children. The film’s use of humor and satire is enjoyable, and the performances by the cast, including Tim Allen and Courteney Cox, are entertaining. The film’s themes of self-discovery, teamwork, and the importance of family are heartwarming and relatable.
Directed by Peter Hewitt, follows the story of Jack Shepard, a former superhero who is recruited by the government to train a group of young superheroes to save the world from an evil scientist named Concussion. At the start of the film, Jack is living a quiet life as a retired hero known as Captain Zoom. However, when the government learns of a threat from the villainous Concussion, they recruit Jack to train a group of young heroes with special abilities. The team includes a telekinetic girl named Summer, a boy with super strength named Tucker, a girl who can turn invisible named Cindy, and a boy with the ability to stretch his body named Dylan.
As Jack trains the young heroes, he struggles to come to terms with his own past as a superhero and his strained relationship with his brother, a fellow hero named Zoom. Meanwhile, Concussion continues to threaten the world with his powerful mind control abilities, forcing the young heroes to put their training to the test.
4. Diary Of a Wimpy Kid: The Long Haul (2017)
“Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Long Haul” is a 2017 family comedy film directed by David Bowers and based on the popular children’s book series by Jeff Kinney. The film follows the Heffley family as they embark on a disastrous road trip to attend their grandmother’s 90th birthday party. The story begins with Greg Heffley (Jason Drucker) getting ready for his family’s road trip. However, his plans to spend the summer playing video games with his best friend Rowley (Owen Asztalos) are dashed when his mother, Susan (Alicia Silverstone), forces the family to go on a road trip to visit their grandmother. Along for the ride are Greg’s older brother Rodrick (Charlie Wright), baby brother Manny (Dylan and Wyatt Walters), and their father, Frank (Tom Everett Scott).
The road trip quickly becomes a disaster, with the family encountering one mishap after another. They get lost, their car breaks down, they accidentally end up at a country fair instead of their intended destination, and they even get into a car accident. Along the way, Greg also has to deal with his parents’ attempts to bond with him and his siblings, as well as his own desire to impress a girl he meets at a video arcade.
As the trip goes on, tensions rise and the family begins to fall apart. However, they eventually come together to save the day when Manny gets lost at a water park. In the end, the family makes it to their grandmother’s birthday party, where they have a good time despite all the chaos they’ve experienced on the way.
5. The Adventures of Tintin (2011)
Animated action-adventure film “The Adventures of Tintin” is directed by Steven Spielberg and based on the popular comic book series “The Adventures of Tintin” by Hergé. The story begins when Tintin purchases a model ship at a market, only to have it stolen from him shortly afterwards. He soon discovers that the ship is linked to a centuries-old mystery involving the infamous pirate Red Rackham and his treasure. Tintin, along with his trusty dog Snowy and the drunken Captain Haddock (voiced by Andy Serkis), sets out to find the treasure and uncover the truth behind the legend.
Their journey takes them to exotic locations around the world, including the deserts of North Africa and the high seas. Along the way, they face many dangers and obstacles, including a villainous businessman named Sakharine (voiced by Daniel Craig) who will stop at nothing to get his hands on the treasure.
As Tintin and his companions get closer to the truth, they discover that the key to solving the mystery lies in a hidden message left behind by Haddock’s ancestor. With this clue, they are able to locate the treasure and put an end to Sakharine’s scheme.
6. The Kid Who Would Be King (2019)
“The Kid Who Would Be King” is a 2019 fantasy adventure film directed by Joe Cornish. The film follows the story of Alex, a young boy who discovers that he is the reincarnation of King Arthur and is destined to save the world from an evil sorceress named Morgana.
After being bullied at school, Alex discovers a sword in a construction site and pulls it out of the stone, revealing his true identity as the legendary king. With the help of his best friend Bedders and a pair of knights from Arthurian legend, Sir Patrick and Sir Gawain, Alex sets out on a quest to stop Morgana and her army of undead warriors.
As they travel through modern-day England, Alex and his friends encounter a variety of challenges and obstacles, including Morgana’s minions and the treacherous Merlin. Along the way, they learn important lessons about friendship, courage, and the true meaning of heroism.
7. Sky High (2005)
Superhero comedy film “Sky High” is directed by Mike Mitchell. The movie takes place in a world where superheroes and villains are commonplace, and follows the story of Will Stronghold (played by Michael Angarano), the son of two of the world’s greatest superheroes.
Will is about to start his freshman year at Sky High, a high school for superheroes. However, there’s just one problem: Will hasn’t yet developed any superpowers of his own. This makes him an outcast among his peers, who are all busy developing their own unique abilities.
Despite his lack of powers, Will is determined to fit in at Sky High and become a hero in his own right. With the help of his new friends, including the technopath Layla (Danielle Panabaker) and the shape-shifter Warren Peace (Steven Strait), Will learns to navigate the challenges of high school and discovers his own latent powers. However, just as Will is starting to feel like he belongs, he discovers a sinister plot that threatens to destroy Sky High and all of its students. With the help of his friends and his parents, Will must use his newfound powers to save the day and become the hero he was always meant to be.
8. Chronicle (2012)
“Chronicle” is a 2012 science-fiction thriller film directed by Josh Trank. The film follows three high school students, Andrew, Matt, and Steve, as they discover a mysterious object in a cave that gives them telekinetic powers. As they learn to control their newfound abilities, they become increasingly powerful and begin to experiment with their powers in dangerous ways.
Andrew, who comes from an abusive home and is bullied at school, initially uses his powers to seek revenge on his tormentors. Matt, the popular and charismatic leader of the group, tries to keep their powers under control and use them for good. However, Steve becomes increasingly reckless with his powers, leading to a tragic accident that forces the group to confront the consequences of their actions.
As Andrew’s mental state deteriorates, he becomes increasingly dangerous and begins to use his powers for personal gain, causing a rift between him and Matt. The film reaches its climax as the three friends engage in a destructive battle, resulting in tragic consequences.
9. The Darkest Minds (2018)
“The Darkest Minds” is a must-watch for fans of science-fiction anddystopian movies. Based on the book of the same name by Alexandra Bracken and follows the story of a group of teenagers who have developed superhuman abilities and are being hunted down by the government. After a mysterious disease kills most of the children in the United States, the surviving children are classified into different categories based on their abilities. Ruby, a young girl with telekinetic powers, is classified as an Orange, the most dangerous classification, and is sent to a government-run rehabilitation camp.
At the camp, Ruby meets other teenagers with supernatural abilities, including Liam, Chubs, and Zu. Together, they escape the camp and embark on a dangerous journey to find a safe haven for people with their abilities. Along the way, they are hunted by government agents and encounter other groups of teenagers with different abilities.
As they travel, Ruby and Liam develop a romantic relationship, but their journey becomes increasingly perilous as they come into contact with a group of individuals who are experimenting on children with abilities. The film reaches its climax as Ruby and her friends must use their powers to fight against their oppressors and secure their freedom.
10. Spy Kids (2001)
Family adventure film “Spy Kids” is directed by Robert Rodriguez. The film follows the story of Carmen and Juni Cortez, two siblings who discover that their parents are retired spies and that they themselves have inherited their parents’ spy skills. After their parents are kidnapped by an evil mastermind named Floop, Carmen and Juni must use their spy skills to rescue them. Along the way, they encounter a variety of gadgets and technologies, including jetpacks, robot dogs, and a submarine.
As they travel through a series of dangerous locations, including a secret island and a castle in the sky, Carmen and Juni must outwit Floop and his minions. They also receive help from a variety of characters, including their Uncle Machete, a gadget expert named Donnagon Giggles, and a group of child spies known as the Spy Kids. As the film reaches its climax, Carmen and Juni must face off against Floop and his robotic creations in a thrilling battle. With the help of their family and friends, they save their parents and put an end to Floop’s evil plans.