Allan Quatermain and the Lost City of Gold (1986)

Allan Quatermain and the Lost City of Gold is the kind of unabashed, Saturday-matinee adventure they don’t really make anymore: big jungle peril, secret civilizations, booby-trapped corridors, and a hero who keeps charging forward on sheer nerve and charm. It knows exactly what it is—cheesy, breezy fun—and leans into that pulp spirit with a straight face, letting Richard Chamberlain’s roguish confidence and a game Sharon Stone keep the banter and momentum lively. The movie’s pleasures are simple but reliable: exotic locales, cliffhanger beats, and the comforting rhythm of a quest where every new doorway promises another trap or revelation. If you’re looking for gritty realism or subtlety, this isn’t your ticket, but if you want a light, escapist romp that plays like an old adventure paperback brought to life, it’s an easy good time.

Allan Quatermain and the Lost City of Gold is clearly trying to be a breezy, pulp adventure in the Raiders/Romancing-the-Stone mold, with romance, quips, and a big “legendary city” hook. The problem is it often feels like a low-rent echo of better movies: the action is routine, the comedy is broad, and the plot hits familiar beats without much surprise or tension. If you need sharp pacing, convincing stakes, or anything beyond Saturday-afternoon camp, this will likely test your patience. Still, if you’re in the mood for unapologetic ’80s cheese and can enjoy Richard Chamberlain’s charm with James Earl Jones adding some welcome gravitas, it can play as a harmless, goofy time capsule rather than a serious adventure.