10 Movies & Shows Like Flash Gordon (1936)

Description: A classic adventure tale of explorers searching for legendary treasure in Africa, featuring dangerous wildlife, hostile tribes, and thrilling escapes.

Fact: This was the first color adaptation of H. Rider Haggard's novel. The film's success spawned a whole series of African adventure movies in the 1950s.

Description: A colorful adaptation of the classic pulp hero, featuring a superhuman adventurer and his team battling villains in exotic locales with a mix of action and humor.

Fact: Doc Savage was one of the first 'superhero' characters in pulp fiction, predating Superman. The character's real name, Clark Savage Jr., may have inspired Superman's civilian name, Clark Kent.

Description: A nostalgic throwback to 1930s serials, featuring a jetpack-wearing hero battling Nazis and gangsters with a mix of action, humor, and period charm.

Fact: The Rocketeer's design was heavily inspired by classic pulp magazines and serials. The film's director, Joe Johnston, later went on to direct Captain America: The First Avenger.

Description: A mysterious crime-fighter with psychic abilities battles villains in a stylized 1930s New York, combining pulp heroics with supernatural elements.

Fact: The Shadow was originally a radio drama narrator before becoming a pulp fiction hero. The character's famous catchphrase 'Who knows what evil lurks in the hearts of men?' was first spoken on radio in

Description: A science fiction adventure featuring explorers traveling to an alien world through a mysterious portal, encountering ancient civilizations and battling oppressive rulers.

Fact: Stargate's concept was originally developed as a potential trilogy before becoming a standalone film. The movie's success later spawned multiple television series that greatly expanded the universe.

Description: A pulp-style adventure featuring a masked hero fighting villains in exotic locations, blending action, mystery, and a retro aesthetic.

Fact: The Phantom is based on a comic strip that debuted in 1936, making it one of the longest-running superhero franchises. The character's costume was the first to feature the now-iconic skin-tight superhero look with a mask.

Description: A thrilling adventure combining ancient curses, daring heroes, and supernatural threats in exotic locations, with a perfect blend of action, humor, and horror.

Fact: The Mummy's success revived interest in classic monster movies and led to a whole franchise. The film's opening sequence depicting ancient Egypt was originally much longer before being cut for pacing.

Description: A visually stunning homage to 1930s sci-fi serials, featuring daring pilots, futuristic technology, and a globe-trotting adventure against a mysterious threat.

Fact: Sky Captain was one of the first major films to be shot entirely against blue screens, with all backgrounds added digitally in post-production. The film's aesthetic was heavily influenced by vintage Popular Mechanics magazines.

Description: A swashbuckling interplanetary adventure featuring a heroic Earthman battling on an alien world, with exotic creatures, ancient civilizations, and thrilling action sequences.

Fact: John Carter is based on a series of novels that began in 1912, predating both Flash Gordon and Buck Rogers. The character's ability to leap great distances due to Mars' lower gravity inspired the creation of Superman.

Description: A globetrotting adventure featuring a young reporter and his companions solving mysteries and battling villains, with a mix of humor, action, and exotic locations.

Fact: Tintin was created in 1929 and is one of the most popular European comics of all time. Steven Spielberg had been trying to adapt Tintin since the 1980s before finally succeeding with this motion-capture film.