20 Best Movies Like The Da Vinci Code

April 5, 2021, 9 p.m.

Movies

20 Best Movies Like The Da Vinci Code

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Summary The Da Vinci Code explores religion and symbolism through mystery, with Tom Hanks as Langdon.

Sequels to The Da Vinci Code have similar elements, along with action and historical conspiracy.

Movies like The Da Vinci Code include National Treasure and Indiana Jones, focusing on quests for historical treasures.

Movies like The Da Vinci Code have popped up since the original movie came out in 2006, based on the best-selling novel by Dan Brown. However, there are so many films that came out before this Ron Howard film that plays with the same themes and motifs. The Da Vinci Code is a movie that examines the history of religion and the hidden meaning of symbols, bringing Brown's novel to life in the best way possible. The movie features elements of mystery, with Tom Hanks bringing the character of Robert Langdon to life.

Meanwhile, there's action, fantastic dialogue and character development, and elements of eeriness when it comes to Paul Bettany's character Silas. While The Da Vinci Code had sequels in Angels & Demons (2009) and Inferno (2016), there are plenty of other movies like The Da Vinci Code that fans might want to check out to get more of the conspiracy theories, history lessons, and high-stakes adventure from this worldwide box office success. This includes classic mystery thrillers and some more recent additions.

Related Tom Hanks' 15 Highest-Grossing Movies Tom Hanks has built an astonishing filmography over the years, and his movies hit it big at the box office more often than not.

A Remake Of The Classic Political Espionage Thriller

The 2004 Jonathan Demme thriller is a remake of the 1962 movie. The Manchurian Candidate offers fans of movies like The Da Vinci Code a similar experience, with lies, conspiracies, and very powerful people pulling strings. It also offers one man fighting to uncover secrets and make all right in the world.

Much like Tom Hanks in The Da Vinci Code, The Manchurian Candidate also has an Oscar winner in the lead role, with Denzel Washington as a soldier who returns from the Gulf War with the belief that something sinister was done to him there, and one man responsible is now running for Vice President of the United States. It delves more into science fiction rather than historical fiction, but the mystery is just as interesting. The movie picked up positive reviews and Meryl Streep earned a Golden Globe nomination.

19 Tomb Raider (2018)

A Remake Of The Angelina Jolie Video Game Adaptation

Tomb Raider Release Date March 5, 2018 Director Roar Uthaug Cast Alicia Vikander , Dominic West , Walton Goggins , Daniel Wu , Kristin Scott Thomas , Derek Jacobi Writers Geneva Robertson-Dworet

Angelina Jolie made a version of Tomb Raider, based on the video game franchise, but that was a big-budget action movie that is mostly lighthearted fun. The movie did get a sequel, but didn't move beyond that, paving the way for a reboot of the video game movie adaptation.

While it didn't receive great reviews and was dismissed upon its release, 2018's Tomb Raider with Alicia Vikander is a more compelling story and a better version of the video game. Just like Robert Langdon in The Da Vinci Code, Lara Croft wants to find treasure, but for the right reasons, and has to deal with people fighting to get it first, for more nefarious reasons. Also, like similar movies, the story draws from real history to create a fictional account for the audience to enjoy.

18 Enemy Of The State (1998)

Will Smith & Gene Hackman In An Espionage Thriller

Enemy of the State Release Date November 20, 1998 Director Tony Scott Cast Jon Voight , Gene Hackman , Regina King , Lisa Bonet , Will Smith Writers David Marconi

Before he became one of Hollywood's biggest dramatic stars, Will Smith was picking up roles in comedies and making the transition to action movies, including Tony Scott's Enemy of the State. The movie is a political thriller where Smith plays a labor lawyer named Robert Clayton Dean who witnesses the assassination of a congressman, undertaken by NSA agents. They frame Dean when realizing he knows the truth, and he has to work with former NSA communications expert Edward Lyle to help clear his name.

Much like The Da Vinci Code, the story follows a massive conspiracy that sees the most powerful people in the world controlling the world. While Da Vinci Code is about the conspiracy's ties to a religion, however, Enemy of the State is about politics. If that's not enough to get The Da Vinci Code fans interested though, it also has a stacked ensemble cast that includes Gene Hackman and Regina King.

17 The Crimson Rivers (2000)

A Mystery Thriller Starring Jean Reno

Fans of Jean Reno's turn as the persistent Captain Fache in The Da Vinci Code will want to check out this murder mystery movie where he plays a hard-nosed detective on the case of a string of disturbing murders that point to dark secrets from the past. Vincent Cassel co-stars as an equally tough cop who's drawn into the same case by the desecration of a tomb a hundred miles away.

It's not just Jean Reno's turn as a detective that will appeal to the audience though. There is a similar narrative style to The Da Vinci Code for The Crimson Rivers despite the differences in the stories. Most of the story is told through parallel viewpoints, as it is with the two perspectives of Langdon and Silas in The Da Vinci Code.

16 The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo (2009)

The Swedish Adaptation Of The Popular Stieg Larsson Novel

The original movie adaptation of the first part of author Stieg Larsson's globally popular 'Millenium' series, The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo introduced film audiences to the detecting duo of hacker Lisbeth Salander and journalist Mikael Blomkvist. Fans of The Da Vinci Code's darker elements will have as much as they can handle with this sometimes-brutal murder mystery and the methodical nature of how a labyrinthine literary plot unfolds isn't lost in translation either here.

Just as The Da Vinci Code has more story to tell in Dan Brown's world of sequels and prequels, so does The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo. There are sequel novels and movies, as well as a 2011 adaptation from David Fincher. The expansive and complicated mysteries will keep fans engaged long after watching the first chapter of the story.

15 The Pelican Brief (1993)

Based On The John Grisham Novel

One part of The Da Vinci Code that fans often love best is the conspiracy at the heart of the story. It's impossible to talk about conspiracy movies without talking about Alan J. Pakula. One of his final films was an adaptation of a conspiracy story by John Grisham starring Julia Roberts and Denzel Washington, making it a must-see for its pedigree alone. Grisham is best known for writing legal thrillers and mysteries, and many of his stories have made their way to the big screen.

The murderous cover-ups and assassinations of The Pelican Brief are motivated by politics and business, but the story is driven by intelligent conversations. Da Vinci Code fans should appreciate how the action always provides the story with a degree of threat while the ideas of the plot always stay at the center.

14 Sahara (2005)

Based On The Novel Series By Clive Cussler

Author Clive Cussler's treasure-hunting hero leans far more toward Indiana Jones than Robert Langdon, but the incorporation of mystery with wild historical tales here should be of great intrigue to fans of The Da Vinci Code. Matthew McConaughey takes the lead role in the movie as Dirk Pitt, who uncovers a conspiracy while searching for lost American Civil War gold in Africa.

McConaughey, like Hanks, has a variety of roles under his belt, and this shows off his versatility in an action-role. He and Hanks have different types of charm, but those differing types work in these movies as a scholar and a treasure hunter aren't exactly the same character types. Fans of movies like The Da Vinci Code who enjoy the variety of the journey will get swept up by this sprawling adventure.

Related Matthew McConaughey's Best Movies, Ranked Matthew McConaughey is one of Hollywood's most versatile actors, with a thrilling filmography that offers a nice balance between comedy and drama.

13 As Above, So Below (2014)

A Treasure Hunting Horror Movie

As Above, So Below Release Date August 14, 2014 Director John Erick Dowdle Cast Perdita Weeks , Ben Feldman , Edwin Hodge , François Civil , Marion Lambert , Ali Marhyar Writers Drew Dowdle , John Erick Dowdle Studio(s) Universal Pictures

A movie that puts its own unique and energetic spin on treasure hunting is As Above, So Below. This found-footage chiller amplifies the horror qualities of movies like The Da Vinci Code with a story about a group of young historians and cave explorers searching for the philosopher's stone beneath the Catacombs of Paris. Da Vinci Code fans will enjoy all the dark theories about history and their spirited retelling as well as the religious themes at play in the story, not to mention its surprisingly high degree of emotion.

There is a difference in the cinematography style, however. While The Da Vinci Code is more of a straight-up action movie in the way its sequences are shot, As Above, So Below is filmed in the found footage style. That means there is more shaky cameras and hand-held shots, but that only adds to the realism of the movie.

12 National Treasure (2004)

Nicolas Cage Searching For Conspiracies

National Treasure Release Date November 19, 2004 Director Jon Turteltaub Cast Nicolas Cage , Justin Bartha , Sean Bean , Harvey Keitel , Christopher Plummer , Diane Kruger , Jon Voight Writers Jim Kouf , Marianne Wibberley , Cormac Wibberley Studio(s) Disney

Though it's slightly less serious or complex than movies like The Da Vinci Code, and it isn't all about religious symbols, National Treasure utilizes puzzles and clues in the same way for a quest that's about secrets from US history and even involves the Knights Templar, as The Da Vinci Code does. Both movies combine known aspects of history with gaps in modern day knowledge to create fascinating mysteries.

This movie follows a treasure hunter as he tries to find a trove of riches hidden from history, with riddles and hints having to be followed to find it. While the story is a little faster-paced, this one feels like a cross between Raiders of the Lost Ark and The Da Vinci Code, and the enthusiasm for history makes it a light experience that Robert Langdon fans should enjoy.

11 Bridge Of Spies (2015)

Steven Spielberg & Tom Hanks' Cold War Spy Thriller

Bridge of Spies Release Date October 15, 2015 Director Steven Spielberg Cast Alan Alda , Mark Rylance , Domenick Lombardozzi , Tom Hanks , Austin Stowell , Amy Ryan , Billy Magnussen Writers Joel Coen , Matt Charman , Ethan Coen Studio(s) Disney

One of the greatest aspects of movies like The Da Vinci Code is the performance of the legendary Tom Hanks. He does an amazing job in the lead role, as he does in so many of his movies. Hanks' rom-coms and family movies, however, likely won't appeal to the same audience members intrigued by the thriller aspects of The Da Vinci Code.

Instead, anybody who enjoys his performance as Langdon should appreciate Bridge of Spies. Hanks once again steps into the lead role in another tense film that features gripping dialogue and a difficult situation that he often has to talk his way out of, just like Langdon. Here he plays James Donovan, who has to negotiate a deal to exchange a spy for a US pilot during the height of the Cold War.

10 Sherlock Holmes (2009)

Robert Downey Jr. As Sherlock Holmes

Sherlock Holmes is one of the most iconic characters of all time, and Robert Downey Jr. brings him to life fantastically in this 2009 mystery adventure. As is always the case with this detective, he and John Watson are searching to uncover a potentially dangerous threat, using clues and their intelligence to work it out. There is also a sequel to the movie for those who wish for more time with these particular characters.

While there's a little more action in this movie, the genius of the characters and how they break things down should feel familiar to fans of movies like The Da Vinci Code. It is a little different in its setup, but both Sherlock and Robert are geniuses who are brilliantly able to solve the trickiest of puzzles. Younger audience members intrigued by mysteries will find similar storytelling elements in Netflix's Enola Holmes movies, which follow the events in the life of Sherlock's younger sister.

9 Zodiac (2007)

The Hunt For The Zodiac Killer

This movie is a lot darker in its tone due to the nature of the content, focusing on the infamous Zodiac serial killer. Here, a cartoonist ends up becoming engrossed in the case due to his ability to work out the puzzles that the killer is leaving behind. The solving of puzzles and figuring out the meaning behind the different symbols utilized is something both movies have in common While it is different in its approach, both movies are intense and firmly focused on the mystery element.

Inspired by the real investigation of a string of murders in California in the 1960s, Zodiac gives a fictional window into theories about what happened. There are numerous opinions on who the real serial killer was, and the movie allows the story to investigate some of them, but not all. It is the different outlooks that create the story. It is very similar to the debates about the Holy Grail in The Da Vinci Code.

8 Red Dragon (2002)

The Prequel To Silence Of The Lambs

Red Dragon Release Date October 4, 2002 Director Brett Ratner Cast Ralph Fiennes Harvey Keitel , Mary-Louise Parker , Anthony Heald , Emily Watson , Anthony Hopkins , Philip Seymour Hoffman , Edward Norton Writers Ted Tally Studio(s) Universal Pictures

The focus on symbols and breaking down what they mean is a crucial part of movies like The Da Vinci Code, and that is the same with Red Dragon. This movie, which is part of the Silence of the Lambs world, is a lot scarier and more serious, leaning more towards the genre of horror. However, it's a classic thriller that any kind of mystery fan would enjoy.

The chase of an FBI Agent attempting to catch a serial killer is similar to the detectives desperately seeking Robert and Sophie in The Da Vinci Code, and the tense nature of the entire story is gripping to watch as FBI profiler Will Graham has to work with the terrifying cannibal, Dr. Hannibal Lecter. Both movies provide world-building for their respective franchises as more works set in the same world follow both.

7 The Game (1997)

David Fincher's Mind-Twisting Thriller

The Game Release Date September 12, 1997 Director David Fincher Cast Michael Douglas , Sean Penn , Deborah Kara Unger , James Rebhorn , Peter Donat , Carroll Baker , Armin Mueller-Stahl

The Game leaves audiences gripped from the start, much like The Da Vinci Code. This movie follows Nicholas Van Orton, who is given a mysterious voucher for a game on his birthday by his brother, setting up a puzzle throughout the movie. Initially, Nicholas is annoyed by his brother's gift, then intrigued, and then terrified as the game begins to put his life in danger.

Filled with twists and turns, the story is intriguing for fans of movies like The Da Vinci Code as it's all about conspiratorial secrecy and a deadly game being played. Both The Da Vinci Code and The Game work well because of the mysteries bubbling under the surface, with no one knowing what is real. While it was praised by critics upon initial release, The Game didn't have a massive box office pull. It has since become a cult classic.

Related The 10 Best Performances In David Fincher Movies David Fincher always gets great performances out of his cast and actors like Brad Pitt, Rosamund Pike, and Rooney Mara have stood out.

6 Memento (2000)

Christopher Nolan's Breakout Movie Thriller

Memento Release Date May 25, 2001 Director Christopher Nolan Cast Joe Pantoliano , Guy Pearce , Carrie-Anne Moss , Stephen Tobolowsky , Mark Boone Junior Writers Christopher Nolan Studio(s) Newmarket Films

Another terrific mystery movie that Da Vinci Code fans are likely to enjoy is Memento, which has a large focus on clues and has its unique twist in that the order of the scenes plays out backward, chronologically speaking. The lead character here is a little more like Silas than he is Robert Langdon, however.

The protagonist is unable to create new long-term memories, so he uses notes and tattoos on his own body to remind himself of things each day. It's those notes and tattoos that the protagonist and the audience must use to figure out exactly what happened as they watch the movie unfold. Memento's quirks make it an engrossing murder mystery where the truth is hidden right in front of the audience's eyes, which is something that Da Vinci Code fans will no doubt enjoy.

5 Gone Girl (2014)

An Adaptation Of Gillian Flynn's Best-Selling Thriller

As is the case with most movies like The Da Vinci Code, Gone Girl is another adaptation (this time, based on the novel by Gillian Flynn) filled with a compelling mystery and constant surprises that keep people on the edge throughout. It's next to impossible to predict what is going to happen as the clues and twists continue to pile up for the audience to decipher alongside the characters.

Initially, Nick Dunne spends his time worried, trying to find his missing wife. However, it quickly becomes clear there is more at play within this story, with Amy's vanishing not being what it first appears to be, and in fact, their relationship not being what it initially appears either. Da Vinci Code fans will appreciate how every clue in the mystery flips the story upside down.

4 The Mummy (1999)

An Adventure With A Side Of Romance

The Mummy (1999) Director Stephen Sommers Release Date May 7, 1999 Writers Stephen Sommers , Lloyd Fonvielle , Kevin Jarre Cast Brendan Fraser , Rachel Weisz , John Hannah , Arnold Vosloo , Jonathan Hyde , Kevin J. O'Connor , Oded Fehr Runtime 125 minutes

Though The Da Vinci Code is rooted more in historical fiction tied to religion, The Mummy takes on historical fiction in a much lighter way. There are still some puzzles, intriguing stories, and high stakes, but the tones of the movies are very different. Just as The Da Vinci Code had great chemistry between the cast and spawned interconnected stories, however, so did The Mummy.

The movie, starring Brendan Fraser and Rachel Weisz, was a loose remake of one of the Universal classic monster movie concepts, but it has the perfect blend of horror, comedy, romance, and adventure to make it a fan-favorite 25 years later. Fans are still clamoring for a fourth movie in the series just to see Fraser and Weisz in the roles of adventurers getting into mischief with cursed artifacts again.

3 The Librarians Franchise (2004-)

A Different Take On History And Legends

The Librarians: The Next Chapter (2024) The Librarians: The Next Chapter continues the original Librarians TV series aired in 2014. The series follows a time traveler thrust into the future and accidentally releases magic worldwide, forcing him to assemble a new group of Librarians to bring things back under control. Cast Jessica Green Seasons 1 Franchise(s) The Librarians Showrunner Dean Devlin

Though The Librarians is best known as a television series, the franchise actually got its start as a trilogy of made-for-TV movies. Noah Wylie starred in the movies, which feature his character chosen to be the librarian in a library full of artifacts and magical objects tied to history and legends. He passes the torch to a new group of librarians for the television series. Another series inspired by the movies is also in development.

The movies and the television show have a much lighter tone than The Da Vinci Code, but what they have in common is their exploration of the past. The Librarian takes myths and historical stories that the audience might already be familiar with (and some they aren’t) to offer a new perspective on the events and the people involved in them.

2 The Name Of The Rose (1986)

An Unfolding Religious Conspiracy

The Name Of The Rose (1986) Director Jean-Jacques Annaud Release Date September 19, 1986 Writers Andrew Birkin , Gerard Brach , Howard Franklin , Alain Godard Cast Sean Connery , F. Murray Abraham , Feodor Chaliapin Jr. , William Hickey , Michael Lonsdale , Ron Perlman , Christian Slater , Valentina Vargas Runtime 130 Minutes

Part of the appeal of a story like The Da Vinci Code is that it takes aspects of a religious belief long presumed by those of the faith to be fact and blends them with theories that lead to a conspiracy, blending both fictional takes on the religion with some of the conspiracy theories studied in the real world. It’s that blending of fact and fiction alongside a compelling mystery that draws the audience in.

The Name Of The Rose takes a similar approach, but instead, with a murder mystery in an isolated location. It doesn’t have the sweeping blockbuster feel of The Da Vinci Code, but it does have a compelling mystery at the center. Sean Connery plays a friar who takes a young novice with him to a conference at a monastery. There, he finds that several monks have been murdered, and sets out to figure out who the perpetrator is, despite his investigation putting him at odds with the church.

1 Indiana Jones And The Last Crusade (1989)

The Finale Of The Original Indiana Jones Trilogy

One of the best movies like The Da Vinci Code came out years before Dan Brown wrote his novel. Similarly to The Da Vinci Code, Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade is about finding a lost Biblical treasure. In Raiders of the Lost Ark, Indy was looking for the Holy Grail and in Last Crusade, it was a Knight of the Templar. The Da Vinci Code was also about looking for the Holy Grail, and both movies have treasure hunters searching for religious artifacts, protecting them from people who want to use them for devious means.

The difference here, of course, is that The Da Vinci Code is more of a thriller while the Indiana Jones franchise as a whole is made up of adventure movies instead. There's a difference in tone between the two as a result with Indiana Jones having significantly more humor and lightness in its story.