TheFantasygenre is not for anyone — admittedly, that does not apply to me personally. However, plenty of people will favor stories that they feel are more relevant to their real lives, and battling (or riding) dragons is usually not that. However, just asGame of Thronesand othershows were loved by non-fantasy fans, there is a selection of fantasy movies that everyone should watch at least once, whether for their notoriety, quality, or ability to appeal to everyone, despite their typical genre preference.
It is certainly possible to watch something likeThe Lord of the Ringsand recognize that the world-building is way too complicated for you, but to enjoy the ambiance just the same. On the other hand,movies likeThe Princess Brideare highly enjoyable, maybe for reasons not having to do with fantasy, but more its clever comedy and compelling characters, even though you can also find that in a rom-com. For varying reasons,it is hard to go through life saying you’ve never seen some of the most beloved and intelligent fantasy movies ever made.
Peter Jackson pioneered modern fantasy cinema, directing a three-part high fantasy saga and a relatively faithful adaptation of J. R. R. Tolkien’s text, which did the same thing for the genre in literature. Even today, one can appreciate the scale ofLord of the Rings, making good use of real locations and embellishing it with special effects, in a story driven by strong themes of what it is like to live through a war with great performances and flawless design everywhere in between.
Every Lord of the Rings & Hobbit Movie Ranked, Worst to Best
Peter Jackson’s Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit trilogies comprise one of cinema’s most famous franchises, but how does each Middle-earth movie rank?
Again, Middle-earth might just be too complicated for some audiences, when Tolkien went above and beyond in creating this world and its lore. However,Lord of the Ringsis enjoyable for its well-planned action and timeless hero’s journey, even if one does not invest too much in the magic system.The first installment in particular best exhibits the lovely, lighthearted magic of the world, and can be viewed as a standalone, if one doesn’t care too much about what happens next and just wants to dip their toes in.
Director Kevin Lima calledEnchanteda “giant love letter to Disney classics” (viaThe New York Times), which clips together plot elements and imagery from various famous Disney movies likeCinderella, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, Sleeping Beauty, The Little Mermaid, Lady and the Tramp, and more into an original story. And this narrative, following a would-be princess who falls down a well in her animated fairy tale and finds herself in modern-day (live-action) New York, cleverly asks what it means to believe in happy endings.
The whole thing is carried by the deeply endearing and charismatic performances of Amy Adams, James Marsden, Patrick Dempsey, and others.Enchantedis almost painfully smart in how it cheerfully makes fun of Disney tropes but still demonstrates such love for these movies,and the performances are all hilarious in one way or another, that everyone should see this creation at least once — safe in the knowledge that it’s a very easy story to understand.
Guillermo del Toro’s magnum opus features one of the most terrifying movie monsters ever and one of thebest fantasy villain performances of all timeand has the potential to frustrate viewers by not clarifying if it is even a fantasy.Pan’s Labyrinth’s ambiguous endingleaves the audience to decide if everything depicted actually happened or if it was all the escapist imaginings of a terrified little girl, which may delight some people and alienate others. However, this ending is what drives home del Toro’s interpretation of the historical setting.
Every Guillermo Del Toro Movie Ranked Worst To Best
From Cronos to The Shape of Water, here’s our official ranking of every movie made by visionary director Guillermo del Toro, from worst to best.
On the other hand, del Toro is the maestro of monsters, brought to life with beautiful practical effects that could never be topped by CGI, which reflect upon the nature of evil.Pan’s Labyrinthis a spooky and disheartening tale that demands some analysis, but it is a must for everyonebecause of the questions it poses about the nature of fantasy — and you are free to say you don’t think it is very helpful.
Like withLord of the Rings, some things demand context, which is why most people will watch at least one of theHarry Pottermovies at least once just to get a sense of the fantasy phenomenon that is such a pillar of pop culture. Ideally, you would start at the beginning, but as the first few movies follow the cyclical plot of Harry returning to wizarding school every year with an otherwise contained mystery adventure, the third installment is also a fine starting point.
Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkabanis Alfonso Cuarón’s brief turn with the franchise,which he imbued with his signature stylistic touches. There are more symbolic visuals to impact here than in any other chapter ofHarry Potter, illustrating the complexities of time itself. With perfect performances from series regulars such as Maggie Smith, Gary Oldman, David Thewlis, and Alan Rickman, this movie stands the best chance at getting anyone on board with the rest ofHarry Potter.
Shrekis an early example of the subverted fairy tale act which directly makes fun of the source material, picking it apart and leaving you with the best parts. Truthfully,Shrekis a clever and heartfelt movie, and its first sequel is perhaps even more so. Even if you are not an avid fan of fantasy or fairy tales,it is worth it to sample this movie to see how it deconstructs the problematic aspects of the narratives that are so ingrained in cultural consciousness.
Shrek Review: I’m Still A Big Believer In Shrek & All The Franchise Represents With Its Perfect Soundtrack & Timeless Characters
Shrek tells an important story about isolation, self-acceptance, and love, with a vivid world and perfect soundtrack that has mostly aged well.
Of course, Mike Meyers, Eddie Murphy, and Cameron Diaz give voice performances that would be hilarious in any genre, and the soundtrack offers a modern, widespread appeal to anyone who can appreciate well-chosen rock songs. Some people may still be put off by the style ofShrek, which goes out of its way to be gross, but at least they can say they are speaking from experience and know what the franchise does have to offer.
Star Warshas a different appeal as it has a sci-fi aesthetic, but some elements are still undeniably fantasy. The first movie that changed the world forever strangely excels at introducing weird world-building aspects that aren’t fully explained and aren’t meant to be, serving as a good test run for the genre if you don’t want to think too much about it. The story is a classic hero’s journey enacted by iconic stars, and some action sequences are still breathtaking.
The first movie, later given the titleA New Hope, was actually never intended to have a sequel and can be viewed as a one-off experience.It is a fun action adventure imbued with real-world history, which became a massive franchise for a reason. Some people still never entirely get intoStar Wars,but this one movie is a perfect taste of one of the biggest staples of sci-fi-fantasy.
After slowly building its credibility in Western pop culture for decades, Studio Ghibli officially broke through withSpirited Away, the touching story about growing up following a girl who is pulled into a spirit otherworld to save her parents and friends. Filled with striking characters like No-Face and Haku, who push the protagonist Chihiro to be braver than she ever could have realized while still comforting her in moments of despair,Spirited Awaydemonstrates so much more emotional nuance than many other animated movies at the time.
There is also the chilling illustration of environmental destruction when Chihiro aids a poisoned River Spirit, adding another layer to the Oscar-winning movie. More adult and more intellectual animated movies are becoming more common and more recognized in the mainstream, butSpirited Awayis still a fantastic, iconic starting point to see what animated fantasy can do when it’s not limiting itself to typical Hollywood practices.
The Green Knightis a heavily symbolic, far more demanding offeringthan most modern fantasy movies. Committing to watching it means accepting that you will have to do a lot of work to understand certain moments, and still not everything will make sense. This is fitting given that it is a reworked adaptation of a medieval text which has been analyzed by scholars for its themes and symbols for centuries.
But there are stunning, haunting performances from the likes of Dev Patel and Ralph Ineson — though I am personally of the opinion that Erin Kellyman steals the show with her brief time on screen — and the movie succeeds in hitting its audiences with themes of corruption and redemption. People may watchThe Green Knightand immediately, understandably, say it is too un-grounded, but it’s another case of pushing the boundaries of fantasy that makes it a good sampling of the genre.
Stardustis proof that a fantasy movie doesn’t need to look likeLord of the Ringsto be wonderful. The Neil Gaiman adaption is goofy in its dialogue and design and indulges in some of the best fantasy tropes.Stardustis something like a modernThe Princess Bridewith a little bit more fantasy in the worldand is less concerned with being a perfect movie than cherishing the magic.
15 Best Fantasy Movies Of All Time
With the release of Warcraft this weekend, we thought we’d try to rank the best fantasy films of all time.
It’s just plain fun, with everything from Robert De Niro playing a theatrical pirate captain to the protagonist dropping the problematic love interest for once. The real love story is surprisingly heartfelt, with the young lovers played by Charlie Cox, who goes through one of the best movie transformations ever, and Claire Danes as a spirited, personified star.Stardustis perhaps a trial in “low-brow” fantasy, but everyone who tries it may be surprised by what they find there.
Wickedtook the world by storm at the end of 2024, and it deserves all the hypeand then some. Everyone needs to watch it to see for themselves how it transforms a classic — prompting audiences to question what they thought they knew — and the earnest performances that mesh flawlessly with the beloved Broadway soundtrack. Cynthia Erivo, Ariana Grande, and Jonathan Bailey hit every note perfectly during their musical numbers, fully becoming their larger-than-life characters.
Wickedis an all-around amazing film, from the performances to the design to the music. It is a new benchmark for any fantasy and/or musical movie, with a sprawling world that surrounds the unlikely, beautiful friendship between two iconic characters. People who haven’t seenWickedyet are missing out when it is riveting in visuals and story from start to finish, and an instant classic for thefantasygenre.
