🏷 Discover The Best Artifact Movies & TV Shows To Watch Today

10 titles with this tag

Dive into the captivating world of movies and TV shows centered around artifacts—ancient relics, mystical objects, or powerful items that drive unforgettable stories. Whether you're a history buff, a fantasy enthusiast, or a sci-fi lover, these narratives blend adventure, mystery, and intrigue. Discover the best films and series where artifacts aren’t just props but pivotal characters shaping destinies. From blockbuster hits to hidden gems, this guide highlights the most compelling stories that will leave you on the edge of your seat.

Warehouse 13 (2009) TV Show

7.7 767 votes

Genre: Action, Comedy, Drama

Country: United States of America

Seasons: 5

Episodes: 64

Audience: TV-14

Story: After saving the life of the President, two secret service agents - Myka Bering and Pete Lattimer - find themselves assigned to the top secret Warehouse 13. The Warehouse is a massive, top secret facility that houses dangerous and fantastical objects. Together, Pete and Myka along with fellow agents Claudia, Steve Jinks and Warehouse caretaker Artie, must recover artifacts from around the globe before they can cause catastrophic damage.

Plot: secret government organization, artifact, steampunk, magical object

The Librarians (2014) TV Show

7.2 536 votes

Genre: Action, Comedy, Drama

Country: United States of America

Seasons: 4

Episodes: 42

Audience: TV-14

Story: A group of librarians set off on adventures in an effort to save mysterious, ancient artifacts. Based on the series of "The Librarian" movies.

Plot: library, magic, treasure hunt, artifact, archaeologist, librarian, fringe science, knowledge

Relic Hunter (1999) TV Show

6.8 179 votes

Genre: Action, Drama, Mystery

Country: Canada, United States of America

Seasons: 3

Episodes: 66

Audience: TV-14

Story: Sydney Fox is a professor and globe-trotting "relic hunter" who looks for ancient artifacts to return to museums and/or the descendants of the original owner. She is aided by her linguistic assistant Nigel and occasionally by her somewhat air-headed secretary Claudia. She often ends up battling rival hunters seeking out artifacts for the money.

Plot: strong woman, treasure hunt, artifact, archaeologist, relic, archeology, female archeologist, college professor

Blood & Treasure (2019) TV Show

6.7 136 votes

Genre: Action, Drama

Country: United States of America

Seasons: 2

Episodes: 25

Audience: TV-14

Story: An antiquities expert teams up with an art thief to catch a terrorist who funds his attacks using stolen artifacts.

Plot: thief, artifact, globetrotting

Nothing to Lose (1997)

6.6 712 votes

Genre: Action, Adventure, Comedy

Country: United States of America

Duration: 97 min.

Audience: R

Story: Advertising executive Nick Beame learns that his wife is sleeping with his employer. In a state of despair, he encounters a bumbling thief whose attempted carjacking goes awry when Nick takes him on an involuntary joyride. Soon the betrayed businessman and the incompetent crook strike up a partnership and develop a robbery-revenge scheme. But it turns out that some other criminals in the area don't appreciate the competition.

Plot: infidelity, rap music, loss, road trip, f word, crook, artifact, sociopath, ...

Cast

Karen Gillan

Brenton Thwaites

Katee Sackhoff

Rory Cochrane

Oculus (2014)

6.5 3.2K votes

Genre: Horror

Country: United States of America

Duration: 104 min.

Audience: R

Story: A woman tries to exonerate her brother's murder conviction by proving that the crime was committed by a supernatural phenomenon.

Plot: husband wife relationship, supernatural, haunted house, hallucination, family relationships, artifact, skepticism, ghost, ...

Cast

Shia LaBeouf

Megan Fox

Peter Cullen

Hugo Weaving

Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen (2009)

6.2 9.3K votes

Genre: Action, Adventure, Science Fiction

Country: United States of America

Duration: 150 min.

Audience: PG-13

Story: Sam Witwicky leaves the Autobots behind for a normal life. But when his mind is filled with cryptic symbols, the Decepticons target him and he is dragged back into the Transformers' war.

Plot: chaos, sun, tank, symbol, sequel, alien, artifact, revenge, ...

Place: egypt

Cast

Jackie Chan

Yao Xingtong

Kwon Sang-woo

Zhang Lanxin

Chinese Zodiac (2012)

6.2 904 votes

Genre: Action, Adventure

Country: China, Hong Kong

Duration: 123 min.

Audience: PG-13

Story: Asian Hawk leads a mercenary team to recover several lost artifacts from the Old Summer Palace, the bronze heads of the twelve Chinese Zodiac animals which were sacked by the French and British armies from the imperial Summer Palace in Beijing in 1860. Assisted by a Chinese student and a Parisian woman, Hawk stops at nothing to accomplish the mission.

Plot: artifact, dangerous mission, chinese zodiac signs, mythical artifact

Cast

Dan Green

Eric Stuart

👤

Scott Rayow

Wayne Grayson

Yu-Gi-Oh! The Movie (2004)

6.1 383 votes

Genre: Action, Animation, Fantasy

Country: Japan, United States of America

Duration: 89 min.

Audience: PG

Story: After the conclusion of the Battle City Tournament, deep below the sands of Egypt, an ancient evil has awakened. Anubis, who was defeated centuries ago by Yugi’s mysterious alter ego – the ancient Pharaoh – has returned for revenge. Wielding the power of the Eighth Millennium Item, Anubis is determined to destroy Yugi and take over the world.

Plot: monster, card game, fight, mythology, artifact, duel, shounen, anime, ...

Place: egypt

Cast

Christian Slater

Tara Reid

Stephen Dorff

Will Sanderson

Alone in the Dark (2005)

3.3 675 votes

Genre: Action, Fantasy, Horror

Country: Canada, Germany

Duration: 98 min.

Audience: R

Story: Edward Carnby is a private investigator specializing in unexplainable supernatural phenomena. His cases delve into the dark corners of the world, searching for truth in the occult remnants of ancient civilizations. Now, the greatest mystery of his past is about to become the most dangerous case he has ever faced.

Plot: island, monster, darkness, professor, detective, museum, paranormal phenomena, alien life-form, ...

The Most Iconic Movies Featuring Artifacts

Artifacts have long been a staple in cinema, serving as MacGuffins, magical items, or historical treasures that propel plots forward. Here are some of the most iconic movies where artifacts take center stage:

Ancient Relics and Historical Treasures

The Mummy (1999) – Brendan Fraser stars as a adventurer racing to claim the cursed Scarab of Amun-Ra before an undead priest awakens.
Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981) – The Ark of the Covenant, the ultimate biblical artifact, becomes the key to preventing global catastrophe.
National Treasure (2004) – Nicolas Cage plays a historian decoding the secrets of the Declaration of Independence to uncover a hidden treasure.

Supernatural and Magical Artifacts

The Lord of the Rings Trilogy (2001-2003) – The One Ring, an object of immense power and corruption, drives the entire epic narrative.
Harry Potter Series (2001-2011) – From the Philosopher’s Stone to the Deathly Hallows, magical artifacts define the wizarding world’s lore.
The Goonies (1985) – A group of kids embarks on a treasure hunt for the pirate One-Eyed Willy’s hidden gold.

Top TV Shows Revolving Around Artifacts

Television has also mastered the art of using artifacts to weave intricate stories, often spanning multiple seasons. These shows keep viewers hooked with mysteries, legends, and high-stakes adventures.

Fantasy and Adventure Series

Fantasy series often rely on artifacts to create mythic worlds and epic quests. These shows blend history, magic, and adventure in ways that feel both timeless and fresh.

Game of Thrones (2011-2019) – The Iron Throne, Valyrian steel swords, and dragons’ eggs are artifacts that shape the political and magical landscape of Westeros.
The Witcher (2019-Present) – The White Wolf’s silver swords and the Phoenix amulet highlight the blend of monster hunting and ancient magic.
Atlantis (2013-2015) – Jason and the Argonauts hunt for the fabled Golden Fleece, encountering gods and mythical beasts along the way.

Mystery and Crime Series

For those who prefer grounded, suspenseful narratives, these crime and mystery series use artifacts as the core of their intrigue, often uncovering historical conspiracies or unsolved puzzles.

Bones (2005-2017) – The Jeffersonian team frequently deciphers ancient artifacts to solve modern-day murders, blending archaeology with forensic science.
Relic Hunter (1999-2002) – Tia Carrere plays an archaeologist tracking down legendary artifacts while evading dangerous factions.
Ancient Aliens (2009-Present) – This documentary series explores the theory that ancient artifacts and structures were created by extraterrestrial visitors.