20 Adventure Comedies Where the Side Quests Are the Highlights

Adventure comedies are often funnier and more engaging because of how the characters try to reach their goal, not the goal itself. The main characters usually start with a clear mission, but they get sidetracked by unexpected challenges – almost like extra levels in a video game. These detours often end up being the most hilarious and memorable parts of the movie. The films below are great examples of when those side adventures become more important than the original quest.

‘Monty Python and the Holy Grail’ (1975)

King Arthur journeys across Britain, gathering knights for his Round Table and searching for the Holy Grail. However, the quest quickly becomes a string of silly, disconnected adventures that don’t really focus on finding the Grail itself. One memorable scene involves the Knights Who Say Ni demanding a shrubbery, and Arthur even battles a deadly rabbit, requiring the use of the Holy Hand Grenade of Antioch. These separate, ridiculous challenges are so over-the-top that the story doesn’t need a traditional ending – and that’s part of what makes it so funny.

‘Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves’ (2023)

Edgin, a charismatic bard, assembles a crew of thieves with a dual mission: rescuing his daughter and finding a tablet that can bring people back to life. Their journey takes an unexpected turn when they need to locate a magical helmet protected by a noble paladin named Xenk. This quest leads them to a graveyard where they have to interrogate the undead for information. The clever and funny way they question the reanimated corpses is a highlight of the adventure. Surprisingly, this helmet-hunting detour proves more exciting than the original plan to pull off the heist.

‘Harold & Kumar Go to White Castle’ (2004)

Two friends leave home determined to get hamburgers from their favorite fast-food restaurant, but their night quickly turns wild. They face a series of strange challenges, including performing emergency surgery and taking an unexpected ride on a cheetah. Things get even crazier when they cross paths with Neil Patrick Harris, completely throwing off their plans. The hamburgers aren’t really the point – they’re just an excuse for a night of total chaos and unpredictable adventures.

‘The Emperor’s New Groove’ (2000)

Emperor Kuzco is magically transformed into a llama and needs the help of a humble villager named Pacha to get back to his palace. Along the way, they encounter funny obstacles in the jungle that bring them closer. One memorable scene takes place at a diner, where they have to disguise themselves to hide from the evil Yzma. The hilarious physical comedy in that diner scene is actually more engaging than the movie’s overall story about power and politics. The simple things – like trying to climb a hill or order a meal – end up being what the story is really about.

‘Shrek 2’ (2004)

Shrek and Donkey travel to Fiona’s parents’ kingdom, but soon get caught up in a new adventure. They need to sneak into the Fairy Godmother’s potion factory to find a potion that guarantees a happy ending. During this daring mission, they meet Puss in Boots, who quickly becomes a beloved character. Along the way, the three friends find themselves in a hilarious, medieval-style police chase that spoofs reality TV shows. These exciting detours add a lot to the story and keep the laughs coming.

‘Zombieland’ (2009)

A group traveling across a zombie-infested America to reach Los Angeles decides to take a break at the home of Bill Murray. This leads to a memorable scene where the actors play golf and recreate moments from the movie ‘Ghostbusters’. While it doesn’t advance the main story, this detour provides a welcome moment of levity and helps the characters connect, and it’s become one of the most talked-about parts of the film.

‘O Brother, Where Art Thou?’ (2000)

During the Great Depression, three escaped prisoners travel across Mississippi hoping to find buried treasure. Their journey is structured like the ancient story of ‘The Odyssey,’ filled with separate adventures that slow them down. By chance, they become famous when a song they record as ‘The Soggy Bottom Boys’ becomes a hit. Encounters with a traveling Bible salesman and a captivating singer by the river are key moments in their adventure. Ultimately, the song’s popularity unexpectedly helps them resolve their legal problems.

‘Pee-wee’s Big Adventure’ (1985)

I remember watching Pee-wee Herman’s Big Adventure and being completely swept away! The whole thing starts with his bike getting stolen, and he goes on this crazy road trip to get it back, following a really bad tip from a fortune teller. There were some seriously unforgettable moments – like hitchhiking with Large Marge, which honestly scared me as a kid! And the scene where he dances on a bar to ‘Tequila’ to impress a biker gang was just wild. But the biggest surprise? When he finally gets to the Alamo, he finds out there isn’t a basement, which meant his whole trip was kind of pointless! It’s those totally random and unexpected things that made the movie so unique and strangely wonderful.

‘Thor: Ragnarok’ (2017)

When Thor’s sister, Hela, seizes control of Asgard, he’s exiled to the bizarre junk planet Sakaar. To earn his way back home, Thor is forced to fight the Hulk in a gladiatorial arena. This adventure introduces memorable new characters like Korg and the Grandmaster. The vibrant, comedic atmosphere of Sakaar provides a stark contrast to the dark events unfolding in Asgard, and ultimately breathed new life into the Thor films with its unique humor and visual style.

‘National Lampoon’s Vacation’ (1983)

Clark Griswold is set on taking his family on a road trip to Walley World, but everything that could go wrong does. Their journey is filled with mishaps and delays, including an unexpected visit with Cousin Eddie and his eccentric family, getting lost in the desert, and even a car crash. After all the trouble, arriving at Walley World feels surprisingly underwhelming.

‘Scott Pilgrim vs. the World’ (2010)

Scott Pilgrim is trying to win over Ramona Flowers, but there’s a catch: he has to defeat her seven evil exes first. Each ex presents a challenge like a boss battle in a video game, stopping Scott and Ramona from getting closer. One particularly funny fight involves the “Vegan Police,” poking fun at strict diets. On top of all that, Scott is juggling his band and dealing with problems from a past relationship. The movie cleverly turns every obstacle in their romance into a real fight.

‘Guardians of the Galaxy’ (2014)

When a team of space criminals is captured, they’re sent to the Kyln, a nearly inescapable prison. To break out, they have to cooperate and use each other’s unique abilities, relying on a clever plan that involves a prosthetic leg. This escape helps them form a working team. Afterward, they head to Knowhere, a mining town, hoping to sell a valuable orb to a collector. These exotic settings add depth to the story while subtly building tension around the danger posed by Ronan the Accuser.

‘EuroTrip’ (2004)

A teen and his friends embark on a European trip to make amends with his German pen pal, but a mix-up lands them in Bratislava instead of their intended destination. They quickly learn how much further their money goes there, and their adventures continue with a wild time at an Amsterdam bakery and a bizarre mime battle in Paris. A visit to the Vatican takes an unexpected and disastrous turn when the Pope accidentally dies. While traveling, the group experiences a series of funny, self-contained incidents in each country, which end up being much more memorable than any potential romance.

‘Bill & Ted’s Excellent Adventure’ (1989)

This movie follows two lazy high school students who build a time machine to gather famous people from the past for a history project. They end up bringing back Socrates, Genghis Khan, and Joan of Arc, and things quickly get chaotic when they unleash them in a modern shopping mall. The most hilarious part of the film is watching these historical figures cause trouble – especially scenes like Beethoven performing in a music store and Genghis Khan trashing a sports equipment shop. The actual history presentation is just a quick ending to all the wild adventures they’ve had.

‘Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle’ (2017)

Four teens get trapped inside a video game and need to return a jewel to a jaguar statue to get out. The game makes them complete extra challenges – like side quests – to progress. They have to explore a bustling marketplace for a hint, all while dealing with their characters’ flaws. At one point, they even have to learn how to flirt from a game character to sneak past guards. This playful approach pokes fun at common video game elements while moving the funny, action-packed story forward.

‘The Princess Bride’ (1987)

Westley’s journey to rescue Buttercup is filled with challenges before he even reaches the castle. He outsmarts the cunning Vizzini and battles the skilled swordsman Inigo Montoya. Later, he and his companions seek help from Miracle Max and his wife Valerie, who manage to bring Westley back from the brink of death. The conversation with Miracle Max is particularly memorable and provides some of the film’s most famous lines. All of these experiences contribute to the growing legend of the Dread Pirate Roberts, leading up to the climactic showdown.

‘Shaun of the Dead’ (2004)

I’ve always loved how Shaun’s just trying to save the people he cares about – his mum and his girlfriend – when everything goes crazy with zombies. His plan is simple: get to the Winchester pub and hunker down. But things get complicated when they run into another group of survivors who are basically a mirror image of themselves! There’s this hilarious scene where they try to disguise themselves as zombies, stumbling around and groaning, which is brilliantly silly. They have this whole scheme to take a car from the pub landlord, but it falls apart, leaving them to walk. Honestly, the trip to the pub is just as much about the arguments and funny moments between the characters as it is about escaping the zombies – it’s a perfect blend of horror and comedy!

‘Rat Race’ (2001)

A quirky billionaire stages a cross-country race from Las Vegas to New Mexico, inviting ordinary people to compete for a big cash prize. But the race is more about the wild adventures the contestants have along the way than actually winning. They face a series of bizarre challenges – one duo ends up stuck in a squirrel museum, while a family accidentally makes off with Hitler’s old car. These separate, strange stories keep the action moving quickly and make for a chaotic and fun journey.

‘Finding Nemo’ (2003)

Marlin travels across the ocean searching for his son, Nemo, and meets many sea creatures along the way – some help him, while others create obstacles. He even attends a support group for sharks who are trying to change their eating habits! During his journey, Marlin and Dory navigate a jellyfish forest, ride the currents with sea turtles, and are even swallowed by a whale, where they have a key realization. These experiences help Marlin overcome his fears before he’s finally reunited with Nemo.

‘Galaxy Quest’ (1999)

The stars of a recently cancelled science fiction series find themselves kidnapped by aliens who think the show was actually a historical record. The aliens send them on a mission to recover a Beryllium Sphere from a risky mining operation. During their adventure, the crew has to get past a nonsensical obstacle – a hallway filled with crushing pistons, a clear example of poor set design. This challenge makes them realize how silly the plots of their old show often were. The entire quest for the sphere is a humorous take on those pointless episodes TV shows sometimes produce just to fill time.

Please share your favorite movie side quests in the comments.

2025-11-28 06:50