Movies like
Loved the vibe? Here are ten films that hit similar notes—with match scores, reasons to watch, and where to stream in the US.
The BFG (2016) stuck because it commits to its adventure premise without apologizing—viewers remember set pieces and momentum as much as plot. Steven Spielberg's control of tone keeps the ride coherent. The adventure and family blend is the engine: it lets the film shift registers without feeling like two different movies stitched together.
Runtime 1h 57m · ★ 6.3
Mood
Streaming (US)
Era
Showing 10 of 10 picks
★ 6.6 · Family · Fantasy · Adventure · 1h 48m
Why you'll love it
There's a reason The BFG fans keep landing on Alice in Wonderland (2010) — the adventure is unmistakably related even when the plots diverge. Both films operate on the same emotional frequency, especially in their third acts.
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★ 7.1 · Fantasy · Adventure · Action · 1h 37m
Why you'll love it
Maleficent draws from the same adventure well as The BFG, channeling family in ways that feel unmistakably related. The 2014 film makes a natural companion watch — similar in spirit but distinctly its own.
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★ 6.8 · Fantasy · Adventure · Drama · 2h 7m
Why you'll love it
Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children (2016) captures the adventure appeal of The BFG without simply imitating it. The family streak running through both films is what puts Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children at the top of any "if you liked…" shortlist.
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★ 6.9 · Family · Adventure · Fantasy · 1h 46m
Why you'll love it
The adventure appeal of The BFG — that uplifting edge, the family — translates cleanly into The Jungle Book (2016). Different setting, same essential satisfaction.
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★ 7.3 · Family · Fantasy · Adventure · 1h 59m
Why you'll love it
The filmmakers behind Maleficent: Mistress of Evil (2019) clearly understood what makes adventure work — the same quality that keeps The BFG rewatchable. Expect the same uplifting rhythm, executed with a fresh angle.
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★ 7.1 · Adventure · Fantasy · Family · 1h 53m
Why you'll love it
Peter Pan (2003) is the kind of film The BFG fans discover and immediately send to their group chat. The adventure overlap is real, but it's the uplifting emotional pull that seals the recommendation.
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★ 6.4 · Adventure · Family · Fantasy · 1h 43m
Why you'll love it
Pete's Dragon shares The BFG's gift for adventure — the 2016 film delivers family without overstaying its welcome. Consider it required viewing once you've finished rewatching your first pick.
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★ 6.5 · Fantasy · Drama · Adventure · 1h 41m
Why you'll love it
Much of what makes The BFG compelling — the adventure, the family — shows up in Where the Wild Things Are (2009) in a slightly different form. Both films understand that uplifting storytelling works best when it trusts the audience.
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★ 6.3 · Fantasy · Adventure · Family · 1h 45m
Why you'll love it
The adventure energy of The BFG is alive in Pinocchio (2022), filtered through a different story but the same emotional register. It earns its place on this list with a uplifting payoff that rivals the original pick.
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★ 6.6 · Adventure · Animation · Family · 1h 19m
Why you'll love it
James and the Giant Peach (1996) operates in the same adventure as The BFG, but with its own distinct voice and pacing. The uplifting payoff will feel satisfyingly familiar without retreading the same ground.
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