Dora and the Lost City of Gold (2019)

Dora has grown up in the jungle with her explorer parents, but now she faces a new challenge unlike any she’s survived before: high school! After a sudden, dangerous turn of events, Dora soon finds herself back on familiar ground as she and her best friend, Boots the monkey, must lead Diego, a mysterious jungle dweller, and a group of kids from her school on a perilous trek through the jungle to rescue her parents and uncover the truth behind the legend of the lost city of gold.

Based on the hugely successful animated TV series Dora the Explorer, this spectacular live-action adventure grossed over $120m at the global box office as the 62nd biggest film of last year.

Dora is played by Teen Choice nominee Isabela Moner (now Isabela Merced), who starred in 100 Things to Do Before High School and Transformers: The Last Knight. The cast also includes Teen Choice nominee Eugenio Derbez (Overboard), MTV Movie Award nominee Michael Peña (Ant-Man, American Hustle), and Golden Globe nominee Eva Longoria (Desperate Housewives), with the voices of Oscar winner Benicio del Toro (Sicario) as Swiper and Danny Trejo (Sons of Anarchy) as Boots.

Dora and the Lost City of Gold has a 84% critics rating on Rotten Tomatoes. “The beloved character of Dora, with whom Gen Z grew up, becomes a winning 21st-century heroine in this perky action-adventure flick that pulls heavily from the Indiana Jones movies and other kid-friendly action-adventure classics,” says Los Angeles Times, praising “Moner’s layered comedic performance,” and adding, “She’s delightfully dorky, a rare commodity in this day and age of sarcastic, wise-beyond-their-years teens.” 

Common Sense Media recommends the movie for ages 8+, saying, “This surprisingly funny, earnest adaptation of the beloved bilingual kids’ show features an unwaveringly positive teen version of Dora. … Peruvian American Moner doesn’t just look like Dora with her large, expressive brown eyes and signature bangs; she nails the precocious, generous, and inquisitive young explorer’s personality.”