Based on J. K. Rowling‘s acclaimed fantasy novel series, the Harry Potter films have become a quintessential hallmark of 21st-century cinema, following the titular Harry Potter (Daniel Radcliffe) and his friends through their adventures at Hogwarts. The franchise is still adored by a sizable fandom over ten years since the eighth and final movie was released, and moviegoers’ appetite for wondrous and magical adventures remains firmly intact.
Thankfully, there have been plenty of movies like Harry Potter that can satisfy the itch of all Potterheads. Ranging from box office blockbuster sensations to underrated gems, each of these films has an enchanting allure that stems from a mesmerizing story world of fantasy and magic and narrative dedication to adventure and friendship.
35. ‘The Sorcerer’s Apprentice’ (2010)
Directed by John Turteltaub
While it hasn’t aged as one of Disney’s most revered family adventures in recent years, 2010’s The Sorcerer’s Apprentice still has plenty to offer as a charming, kid-friendly blockbuster that makes good use of an exceptional ensemble cast. It focuses on the bond between Balthazar Blake (Nicolas Cage), a centuries-old wizard who was an apprentice to Merlin (James A. Stephens), and David Stutler (Jay Baruchel), a college kid who is revealed to be Merlin’s descendant and Balthazar’s last hope against a growing evil.
Cage operates at his performative, effervescent best, and his chemistry with Baruchel is surprisingly strong, especially as they are supported by a cast that includes Alfred Molina, Monica Bellucci, Teresa Palmer, and Alice Krige. While it didn’t re-invent the genre and has faced some criticism for its narrative clichés, The Sorcerer’s Apprentice is a breezily fun fantasy adventure with an emphasis on its central friendship which is suitable for all Potterheads.
34. ‘Seventh Son’ (2014)
Directed by Sergei Bodrov
Combining an all-star cast with a blockbuster budget, plenty of fantasy intrigue, and the ambitious recruitment of acclaimed Russian filmmaker Sergei Bodrov, Seventh Son didn’t end up being the barnstorming epic it had been conceived as. However, this doesn’t necessarily mean it was terrible. Loosely based on Joseph Delaney‘s The Spook’s Apprentice, it takes place in 16th century Europe as the powerful though young Thomas Ward (Ben Barnes) works with witch hunter Master Gregory (Jeff Bridges) to vanquish an all-conquering evil.
With Julianne Moore, Alicia Vikander, Olivia Williams, Djimon Hounsou, and Kit Harrington making up the supporting cast, Seventh Son‘s release was marred by poor reviews and an unsteady release schedule. Granted, it’s not the greatest movie ever made, but it still offers plenty of magical action thrills that are serviceable for viewers craving an exciting fantasy escape.
Seventh Son
- Release Date
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February 6, 2015
- Runtime
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102 minutes
33. ‘The Golden Compass’ (2007)
Directed by Chris Weitz
Despite being a successful performer at the box office, The Golden Compass never gained enough traction to become a true hit of modern fantasy, but it remains a hidden gem that lovers of the genre can uncover and enjoy. Based on Northern Lights by Philip Pullman, it transpires in an alternate world where people’s souls accompany them as animalistic beings known as daemons. It follows Lyra (Dakota Blue Richards), a young girl, as she sets out to rescue her kidnapped friend from a dark evil that is experimenting on children.
The Golden Compass was harshly criticized for lacking much of the thematic bite of the novel, particularly concerning its brutal commentary on religion, but it still excels as a wondrous and entertaining tale bolstered by a truly awe-inspiring ensemble cast. Sadly, The Golden Compass wasn’t able to become the major fantasy franchise it was designed to be, but it offers enough for genre fans to get some escapist thrills.
32. ‘The Spiderwick Chronicles’ (2008)
Directed by Mark Waters
Based on the novel series of the same name by Tony DiTerlizzi and Holly Black, The Spiderwick Chronicles mixes family drama with fantasy awe to deliver a children’s movie rich with intrigue and wonder. With their parents recently divorced, twin brothers Jared and Simon (Freddie Highmore) and their sister Mallory (Sarah Bolger) are forced to relocate when their mother inherits the Spiderwick Estate. While the kids are initially reluctant to move, they soon find themselves entrenched in a world of wonder, though danger lurks around every corner.
There is a definite feeling that it is riding on the coattails of family fantasies like the Harry Potter movies, but it still uses this tone well to present an adventure of might, courage, and enchanting creatures. It also finds a compelling core in Highmore’s dual performances as the distinctly different twin brothers and Bolger’s strong outing as their brave and assured older sister. While it probably should have had a PG-13 rating given some of the scary imagery, The Spiderwick Chronicles is still an engrossing gem that people of most ages can enjoy.
31. ‘Percy Jackson & The Olympians: The Lightning Thief’ (2010)
Directed by Chris Columbus
Coming from Chris Columbus, the director of the first two Harry Potter movies, the first of the Percy Jackson movies has become something of a cherished cult classic based on Rick Riordan’s popular debut novel The Lightning Thief. It focuses on Percy Jackson (Logan Lerman), a teenager with dyslexia who learns he is a demigod when he is accused of stealing Zeus’s (Sean Bean) master lightning bolt and is tasked with returning it to prevent the tumultuous relations between the Gods from spiraling to all-out war.
Like the Harry Potter films, it follows a young protagonist buoyed by two incredibly loyal friends who join him on a spellbinding magical adventure that meshes the modern world with high fantasy. While the film drew some criticism for its departure from its source material, it did earn a sequel in 2013’s Percy Jackson: Sea of Monsters, while Riordan’s novel series has recently been the subject of a television adaptation which was recently renewed for a second season.
30. ‘Legend’ (1985)
Directed by Sir Ridley Scott
Harry Potter‘s Voldemort is one of the greatest Dark Lords in fiction, but another contender for the title is Darkness (Tim Curry) from Legend. Pained by the existence of the sun, he tasks his minions with tracking down and killing the last two unicorns, which will plunge the world into eternal night and winter. They kill the stallion, but the mare is protected by a coalition of faeries, a nature boy named Jack O’ the Green (Tom Cruise), and Princess Lili (Mia Sara).
Legend has some of the greatest practical effects ever put on film. The main forest set is grand and mysterious: every scene feels like you’re walking alongside the characters in a magical wood, with new surprises around each corner. Meanwhile, Curry melds perfectly with his heavy prosthetics to make Darkness a terrifying and slightly alluring antagonist, while Robert Picardo transforms into a disgusting water hag named Meg Mucklebones. —Tyler B. Searle
Legend
- Release Date
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August 28, 1985
- Runtime
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94 minutes
29. ‘The Flight of Dragons’ (1982)
Directed by Arthur Rankin Jr. and Jules Bass
Rankin/Bass is mostly remembered for their holiday specials, but they also produced several hand-drawn fantasy films with the predecessor to Studio Ghibli, Topcraft Entertainment. One of their most creative was The Flight of Dragons, which combined the book of the same name by Peter Dickinson with The Dragon and George by Gordon R. Dickson. The story focuses on the Green Wizard Carolinus (Harry Morgan), who brings a 20th-century man to a time of magic to help save it from his evil brother, the Red Wizard Ommadan (James Earl Jones).
The film is a fascinating blend of familiar fantasy tropes and scientific explanations, such as a detailed look at how dragons fly and breathe fire. Themes of balance are also found, be it the balance of good and evil, past and future, magic and science, or idealism and skepticism, and each is tackled with nuance and creativity. This is similar to a lot of topics in Harry Potter, such as the dichotomy between Harry and Voldemort. —Tyler B. Searle
28. ‘Willow’ (1988)
Directed by Ron Howard
George Lucas first envisioned the film that would become Willow in 1972, but waited until the 1980s to begin production so that technology could catch up with his vision. He got Ron Howard to direct and Warwik Davis to star as the titular Willow, a Nelwyn farmer who dreams of becoming a great sorcerer. One day, he finds himself swept into an amazing journey when he finds a baby prophesied to bring the downfall of an evil queen.
Davis played Professor Flitwick in Harry Potter, so it’s interesting to see him play an up-and-coming wizard protagonist rather than an experienced master side-character. He balances Willow’s wisdom and experience as a father with wide-eyed excitement at all his new experiences, giving the character so much life and personality. Those effects that Lucas waited for also paid off: a combination of stop motion, practical effects, and morphing CGI bring to life the various magic spells used by the heroes and villains, making for a unique visual experience. —Tyler B. Searle
Willow
- Release Date
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May 20, 1988
- Runtime
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126 minutes
27. ‘Time Bandits’ (1981)
Directed by Terry Gilliam
If you’re looking for a film that follows a ragtag group of troublemakers, look no further than Time Bandits. Directed by Terry Gilliam and featuring fellow members of Monty Python, John Cleese and Michael Palin, the film stars Craig Warnock as Kevin, a young boy enamored by history who runs into six dwarves who have stolen a map of holes in spacetime. They take Kevin along with them on their quest to rob history blind, unaware that they are being watched by the manifestation of all evil, played by the late great David Warner.
Just like how the crux of Harry Potter is the dynamic between Harry and his friends, the interactions between Kevin and the Time Bandits are what give this film its heart. The bandits feel like a dysfunctional family that frequently gets into fights, but are always there for one another, and Kevin does what he can to keep them on a morally good path. The film is also brimming with creativity, especially during the third act, where the characters travel to the Time of Legends, allowing for mythical creatures to grace the screen. —Tyler B. Searle
26. ‘Doctor Strange’ (2016)
Directed by Scott Derrickson
The Marvel Cinematic Universe is arguably the only film series of the 21st century thus far to surpass the influence and pop-culture impact of the Harry Potter films. As the MCU’s resident sorcerer, Doctor Strange’s (Benedict Cumberbatch) films present a magical high point of the superhero franchise, with the 2016 origin film more aligned with the sense of fantasy spectacle and blockbuster fun of Harry Potter compared to the much darker Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness.
In the wake of a catastrophic accident that damages his hands beyond repair, Doctor Strange follows its titular neurosurgeon as he endeavors to find a cure for his ailment, a trek which leads him to Kamar-Taj and the guidance of The Ancient One (Tilda Swinton). Its engagement with its magical elements was its defining quality, making Doctor Strange an appropriately wondrous blockbuster for all fans yearning for more movie magic.