Ever since the very beginning of film history, the medium of film has acted as one of the most effective methods of transporting audiences to magical worlds through the alluring energy of the fantasy genre. The genre has continued to be a staple ever since its introduction to film, with a great number of fantasy films being released over the years and enchanting audiences in the process. While the average fantasy film will always hold some inherent value to audiences, there is something truly special about a near-perfect fantasy film that keeps audiences captivated from start to finish.
A truly great fantasy film can be simply unmatched in the realm of cinematic experiences, feeling like an otherworldly experience from top to bottom as it fully engrosses the audience within its world and mythology. Several of these top-notch fantasy films are in conversation as some of the greatest and most influential films of their respective era, continuing to be deeply effective and moving in the modern era as a certified banger from start to finish.
10
‘Enchanted’ (2007)
Directed by Kevin Lima
Considering Disney’s reputation as the absolute masters of fantasy princess films, it makes it all the more refreshing when they flipped the very notions of princess films on their heads with the fantasy rom-com Enchanted. The film combines animation and live-action together as it deconstructs the very notions and conventions that Disney had cemented as their brand for decades up until this point. The film not only found massive success, but its notions of satirical deconstruction of its genre are still widely felt in blockbusters to this day.
The film follows a classic animated princess (Amy Adams) being banished from her magical animated kingdom and finding herself stuck in the gritty reality of modern-day Manhattan. Facing culture shock by how the modern world doesn’t operate on the rules of a fairy tale, she finds herself wandering the city in search of magic, eventually beginning to fall in love with a unexpectedly charming divorce lawyer. At the same time, the original prince that she was set to marry (James Marsden) is on a quest to defeat the evil queen and return the princess to the animated world.
Enchanted
- Release Date
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November 21, 2007
- Runtime
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107 minutes
9
‘The Northman’ (2022)
Directed by Robert Eggers
A grimy and ruthless look at the era of Vikings and Norse mythology, The Northman is a sprawling fantasy action epic that brings the era of Vikings to life in a way never truly seen before on-screen. The film plays out like a classic revenge story, following a young prince who sets off on a lifelong journey of vengeance after witnessing the betrayal and murder of his father at the hands of his uncle. Now, over two decades later and after becoming a hardened and ruthless warrior, Prince Amleth embarks on his long-awaited mission to save his mother, kill his uncle, and avenge his father.
The Northman‘s fantasy elements are relatively reserved in nature, coming through in small bursts to compliment the themes and messaging of the film, yet have an undeniable impact and feel throughout the full viewing experience. Considering how much Norse mythology and Vikings in general are presented and glamorized with a high fantasy lens in media, it’s genuinely refreshing to see a grounded yet still invigorating take on the time period.
The Northman
- Release Date
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April 22, 2022
- Runtime
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136 minutes
8
‘Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban’ (2004)
Directed by Alfonso Cuarón
Few modern fantasy franchises have been more widely recognized and acclaimed than the Harry Potter series, perfectly translating the magic and allure of the books to film and becoming an inescapable cultural phenomenon. While the series was certainly successful with its initial entries, it would soon find its cinematic voice with what would easily be the highlight of the film franchise, Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban.
Under the brilliant direction of Alfonso Cuarón, Harry Potter fully upgrades from a quirky, family-friendly fantasy story into one with genuine stakes, deeply layered characters, and a beautiful visual style. Nearly all the best aspects of the series as a whole can trace their origins back to this massively impactful film, as it would forever shift the direction of the franchise and cement it as a defining fantasy series of the era. Even as the series continued with a multitude of other sequels that raised the stakes and worldbuilding spinoffs, nothing else holds a candle to this top-notch fantasy film.
7
‘Edward Scissorhands’ (1990)
Directed by Tim Burton
Few directors have become so directly synonymous and celebrated for their various contributions to the fantasy genre throughout the 80s and 90s as Tim Burton, with one of his best fantasy outings easily being Edward Scissorhands. All the inherent strengths that make Burton’s storytelling so effective in the fantasy genre are in full force in Edward Scissorhands, blending his gothic and slightly disturbed imagination with genuine emotion and heart to make for a standout experience.
The film follows the story of the titular Edward Scissorhands, an unfinished science experiment who is forced to live a secluded and isolated life due to having dangerous blades for hands. However, despite his seemingly dangerous appearance, Edward proves to be a deeply kind and affectionate soul, with the small suburban town that he lives in quickly falling for his gentle nature. The film acts as the ultimate fantasy version of a “don’t judge a book by its cover” story, as well as being one of Burton’s most iconic films.
6
‘The Wizard of Oz’ (1939)
Directed by Victor Fleming
One of the original icons of fantasy filmmaking from Hollywood’s golden era, The Wizard of Oz is often considered one of the most influential and pivotal achievements in filmmaking history. The film seamlessly brings to life the lavish and colorful world of Oz from L. Frank Baum’s original novel, quickly cementing itself as the quintessential way to experience the story of Dorothy and her journey in Oz. Few fantasy films have managed to have such an intrinsic magical and otherworldly energy as The Wizard of Oz is able to achieve.
For many generations, the film has been the go-to example of what a great fantasy film can be, often being cited as one of the greatest movies of all time. Even over 80 years after its release, there is still an endearing quality that makes the film feel just as brilliant and effective as it did all those decades ago. Especially with modern renditions and evolutions of the story like Wicked, The Wizard of Oz will never truly go out of style as a staple of the fantasy genre.
5
‘Pan’s Labyrinth’ (2006)
Directed by Guillermo del Toro
One of the biggest modern stars when it comes to making deeply engrossing and visually enthralling original fantasy films is director Guillermo del Toro, with his apex of fantasy filmmaking easily being Pan’s Labyrinth. The film has such a timeless and all-encompassing feeling to its worldbuilding and creature designs that gives it a feeling of high importance and everlasting quality, as if it were a classic fairy tale that had always been around.
Del Toro’s signature touch and energy as a creative visionary are in full force within Pan’s Labyrinth, as the film shows off exceptional fantasy concepts one after another to a point of awe-inspiring greatness. The film follows a young 10-year-old girl who finds herself in a mysterious, decaying labyrinth that soon becomes an escape for her from the pains of living with an abusive stepfather. She soon finds herself on a journey of completing three tasks, which, if completed, the fantasy creatures of the labyrinth will bring her to her real father.
4
‘The Princess Bride’ (1987)
Directed by Rob Reiner
An undeniable icon of 80s fantasy filmmaking, The Princess Bride blends together romance, comedy, and an endless amount of charm to be one of the most widely celebrated fairy tale fantasy movies of all time. The film features just about everything that one would want from a perfect fantasy movie experience, with a great deal of magical, otherworldly elements while staying true to the raw human emotion that makes these stories so impactful and effective.
All the characters are memorable and fun to watch in their own way, the film is filled with countless iconic and legendary set pieces, and the pitch-perfect pacing means that not a minute goes by when the audience isn’t entertained. The film has become one of the most widely celebrated achievements of the 80s for good reason, cementing a powerful legacy that continues to grow stronger well after its original release.
3
‘The Green Knight’ (2021)
Directed by David Lowery
Bringing modern stylings and a gargantuan epic scale to a classic Arthurian legend, The Green Knight creates a beautiful and deeply engrossing world while staying true to the message and themes of the original story. Director David Lowery has always been talented at creating an otherworldly feeling of magic and entrancement within his fantasy films, with The Green Knight showing the director at the apex of his abilities. Exceptional performances from the likes of Dev Patel and Ralph Ineson simply bring it all together in terms of making The Green Knight a fantasy icon of recent years.
Whether an audience is highly familiar with the original Arthurian story or entirely unfamiliar with the period as a whole, The Green Knight has a lot to offer for audience members of any and all experience. The visuals alone are enough to make the film a must-watch experience, with top-notch costumes and an overall sense of grime and darkness giving the film a distinct, one-of-a-kind visual style. The film will only continue to grow as a classic of the fantasy epic genre as the years go on.
2
‘Spirited Away’ (2001)
Directed by Hayao Miyazaki
The ability for animated films to bring to life fantasy elements and worlds in ways impossible for a live-action film cannot be understated, with many great fantasy worlds flourishing through the lens of cinematic animation. One of the most widely celebrated masters of animated fantasy films is Hayao Miyazaki, who has created countless fantasy masterpieces over the years that have forever changed the landscape of animation and fantasy filmmaking.
While any of Miyazaki’s fantasy films can be considered a banger from start to finish, it’s hard to deny Spirited Away as the absolute cream of the crop in terms of Miyazaki’s filmography. The film brings to life a fluid and deeply engrossing fantasy world that is unrivaled in terms of its sense of scale and wonder from a singular film experience. Its usage of beautiful hand-drawn animation and deeply compelling characters has helped the film become one of the most acclaimed animated films of all time.
1
‘The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King’ (2003)
Directed by Peter Jackson
J.R.R. Tolkien‘s The Lord of the Rings novels were already a widely celebrated cornerstone of fantasy storytelling long before Peter Jackson took on the Herculean task of adapting them to blockbuster films. However, Jackson’s faithful and deeply impressive adaptations of the material further amplified their legacy and strength as fantasy icons, with each film in the trilogy being a masterpiece in its own right. The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King is simply the culmination of this masterful filmmaking achievement and one of the most critically acclaimed fantasy films of all time.
Few cinematic finales feel as all-encompassing, gloriously put together, and overall entertaining as The Return of the King, as it builds upon all the characterization and story of the previous films for an absolutely perfect payoff. The 3+ hour-long fantasy epic doesn’t lose a second of steam during its runtime, as well as feeling just as impactful whether it’s someone’s first watch or the 100th. Even despite the film only coming out in the first few years of the new millennium, it’s easy to see the film continuing to be an icon of fantasy filmmaking for decades to come.