Looking for a thrill without the nightmares? From classic detectives like Nancy Drew and Sherlock Holmes, to newer adventurers like Stanley Yelnats, these family-friendly mysteries and adventures have a mix of suspense, magical creatures and a little sleuthing, perfect for older kids and adults who love a good puzzle without the scares.
‘Nancy Drew’ (2007)
Rated: PG
Streaming: The Roku Channel
Teen detective Nancy Drew (Emma Roberts) is off on an adventure when she accompanies her father on a business trip to Los Angeles. While exploring an abandoned house during their stay, Nancy uncovers a clue that could solve a movie star’s murder.
‘The Great Mouse Detective’ (1986)
Rated: G
Streaming: Disney+
Basil of Baker Street (Barrie Ingham) is the rat version of Sherlock Holmes. He’s enlisted to solve a mystery after a little mouse girl’s father is abducted.
‘The House With a Clock in Its Walls’ (2018)
Rated: PG
Streaming: Amazon Prime Video, Hulu, Paramount+, YouTube TV
Young orphan Lewis Barnavelt (Owen Vaccaro) moves in with his uncle Jonathan (Jack Black) and discovers a life full of magic. When an evil warlock threatens the world, Lewis must help his uncle stop him — before time runs out.
‘The Spiderwick Chronicles’ (2008)
Rated: PG
Streaming: Amazon Prime Video, Paramount+, Hulu, Tubi, YouTube TV
Three siblings discover a hidden world of fairies, goblins and other magical creatures through an old field guide, unraveling the mysteries of their new home, the Spiderwick Estate.
‘The Secret Garden’ (1993)
Rated: G
Streaming: Amazon Prime Video
Orphaned Mary Lennox is sent to England to live with her reclusive Uncle Archibald. Lonely at first, Mary entertains herself and uncovers the estate’s hidden secrets — including a bedridden cousin. Together, they reveal the wonders that lie beyond the garden wall.
‘National Treasure’ (2004)
Rated: PG
Streaming: Disney+
Benjamin Franklin Gates (Nicholas Cage) comes from a family of treasure hunters, devoted to uncovering treasures left behind by the nation’s forefathers. When a new clue emerges, Ben races to uncover a hidden treasure that has eluded his family for generations.
‘Night at the Museum’ (2006)
Rated: PG
Streaming: Disney+, Hulu
Larry Daley (Ben Stiller) lands a job as a night security guard at the Museum of Natural History. Everything is going well until Larry discovers the exhibits come to life. He must unravel the museum’s magical mysteries and protect the exhibits from chaos.
‘Scooby-Doo 2: Monsters Unleashed′ (2004)
Rated: PG
Streaming: Amazon Prime Video, HBO Max, YouTube TV
The Mystery Inc. gang is back on the case in Coolsville and must save the town from their past monsters being brought to life by a mysterious masked figure.
‘Holes’ (2003)
Rated: PG
Streaming: Disney+
Stanley Yelnats IV (Shia LaBeouf) comes from a family cursed with bad luck and is wrongfully sent to Camp Green Lake, where he must dig holes as punishment. When a hidden artifact is uncovered, Stanley begins to suspect the camp — and his family’s “curse” — may be connected.
‘Mr. Holmes’ (2015)
Rated: PG
Streaming: Amazon Prime Video, MGM+, YouTube TV
A retired Sherlock Holmes (Ian McKellen) faces a haunting unsolved case from his past that he can’t quite remember.
‘Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children’ (2016)
Rated: PG-13
Streaming: Amazon Prime Video, HBO Max, Hulu, YouTube TV
Jacob (Asa Butterfield) discovers a trail of clues that leads him to the magical place of Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children, where he makes new friends with unique powers as well as enemies. He soon learns his own peculiar gifts can save him and his friends.
‘Enola Holmes’ (2020 and 2022)
Rated: PG-13
Streaming: Netflix
On her birthday, Sherlock Holmes’ (Henry Cavill) quick-witted sister Enola (Millie Bobby Brown) wakes to find her mother missing. Sent to finishing school by her brothers, Enola has other plans — solving the mystery herself while outsmarting everyone in her way.
‘The Mummy’ (1999)
Rated: PG-13
Streaming: AMC+, Tubi, The Roku Channel
Two groups of explorers are interested in the same treasure. When an ancient curse awakens the mummy, they must figure out how to survive and send the undead back where it came from.
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‘ Some details of this article were extracted from the following source www.deseret.com ’
