Over the years, thefantasygenre has evolved more times than there were rings of power forged inThe Lord of the Rings. The most pivotal points are characterized by the release offantasy movies that changed the genre foreverby redefining what kind of stories can be told and introducing new cinematic techniques that became staples of every fantasy movie. While they’re fantastic milestone movies, some of them may feel dated or simply irrelevant today and may not be the best films to start with when exploring the fantasy genre as a cinematic genre.
Fantasy is a diverse genre that can capture all aspects of the human experience and has something to offer everyone. From slight modifications to the reality we already live in, toexpansive settings far removed from our world and filled with legendary lore, fantasy as a genre provides viewers a space for them to get lost in. From thebest scary fantasy moviestofantasy movies with the best action scenes, many great films in the genre will make anyone fall in love with it.
Directed by Victor Fleming
The Wizard of Oz
Based on Frank L. Baum’s book of the same name, The Wizard of Oz follows young Dorothy Gale (Judy Garland) as she’s swept away to the magical land of Oz. Upon arriving, she falls afoul of a witch, then enlists the help of a scarecrow, a tin man, and a lion in order to find the Wizard and get home to her family.
1939 was one of thebest years in movie history, and some of the most influential films of all time came out that year, includingGone With the WindandThe Wizard of Oz. It wouldn’t be an overstatement to claim that the latter literally changed cinema forever. While it had been over a decade since Technicolor filmmaking had begun when the movie was released in theaters,The Wizard of Ozpopularized it with its vibrant and imaginative setting that still feels uniquely fresh and energetic today.
Fantasy as a genre was often considered too whimsical and innovative to bring to the screen, and even though we live in a world where everything is possible in a movie,The Wizard of Ozis infectious enough to pull anyone in for its runtime. Theenthusiastic musical numbers, the gorgeous costumes, the stunningly bright locations, and most importantly, the unforgettably quirky characters, keep enthralling audiences today. The sense of joy is simply too palpable for anyone to watchThe Wizard of Ozand not fall in love with the fantasy genre.
Directed by Gore Verbinski
Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl
The Curse of the Black Pearl is the film that kickstarted the Pirates of the Caribbean franchise, a series of supernatural swashbuckling adventures. In 1720, blacksmith Will Turner teams up with eccentric pirate “Captain” Jack Sparrow to save his love, the governor’s daughter Elizabeth Swann, from Jack’s former pirate allies, who are now undead.
He might be amovie character I wouldn’t be able to stand being around, but Captain Jack Sparrow is a one-of-a-kind person who no one forgets once they have seenPirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl. The wily and smart-talking pirate is resourceful beyond measure, and can MacGyver his way through any situation or trap, albeit with major assistance from luck. Watching him run circles around captors and ill-wishers, while the heroic Will tries to stay virtuous and Elizabeth breaks every trope of female character design there is, can be an addictive experience.
2003 marked an important milestone in Orlando Bloom’s fantasy movie career, as he not only appeared inThe Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearlas the secondary protagonist, but also inThe Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King, which won the Best Picture Academy Award the next year.
With a mixture of fantasy and piracy, includingwell-developed lore that feels like a bona fide pirate myth,The Curse of the Black Pearlinvites viewers to occupy its grimy, dangerous, but infectiously liberating world of deceit, action, and bravery. The snappy dialogue, the brisk pace of the film, and the fascinating characters give every viewer something to fall in love with. It rightfully became a record-breaking film franchise that will forever live on as an integral part of pop culture.
Directed by Andrew Adamson
The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe
The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe (2005) is a fantasy film directed by Andrew Adamson. It follows the story of four siblings who discover a magical wardrobe that leads to the enchanted land of Narnia. They join forces with Aslan, the majestic lion, to battle against the evil White Witch. The film features Georgie Henley, Skandar Keynes, William Moseley, and Anna Popplewell in the leading roles.
I will never forget the first time I watched the trailer forThe Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe. Even though I hadn’t read the books and knew nothing else about the world of Narnia beyond what the trailer revealed, I couldn’t be more excited about its release. While epic legends of kings and queens in far-off lands aren’t rare, it is quite unique tostumble into a land of mythical creatures and deep lore while walking through a closet. The simple premise of Narnia will surely make any viewer fall in love with fantasy.
Awhimsical movie that helps you escape reality,The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobeis elevated by C.S. Lewis' fantastic worldbuilding. The blending of fantasy with our lived reality, as if to suggest a great land of epic adventures awaits those who are willing to believe and go looking for it, will undoubtedly convert even the most bitter critics of the fantasy genre. There’s a childlike sense of wonder in the movie that complements the wild and dangerous journey of the main character, and tells a feel-good story with every great fantasy element imaginable.
Directed by John Boorman
Excalibur
Excalibur is a 1981 film directed by John Boorman, which retells the legend of King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table. Starring Nigel Terry as Arthur and Nicol Williamson as Merlin, the movie covers the mystical origins of Excalibur, Arthur’s rise to power, and the eventual betrayal by his closest allies. The film is notable for its striking visuals and adherence to the traditional Arthurian mythology.
It is a daunting task to tell the story of a man’s entire life in less than two and a half hours, and especially so when the man in question is King Arthur Pendragon. Yet,Excaliburnot only proves up to the task, but is also a chaotic and fanciful interpretation of the legend of King Arthur. While the familiar story beats keep the plot moving forward,there is nothing remotely conventional aboutExcalibur.
While there are gritty realities explored and there is no lack of gory battles inExcalibur, the film also manages to be silly and funny.
With psychedelic visuals, and more sexual content than one usually expects from such a film,Excaliburstands out as an experimental fantasy movie that will undoubtedly appeal to the skeptics who dismiss the genre as being too clean and moral. While there are gritty realities explored and there is no lack of gory battles inExcalibur, the film also manages to be silly and funny. The wild experience perhaps isn’t for every fan of the genre, but everyone can find something to love about it.
Directed by Barry Sonnenfeld
The Addams Family
The Addams Family is directed by Barry Sonnenfeld and follows the eccentric Addams family as they reunite with a man claiming to be the long-lost Uncle Fester. As the family plans a celebratory gathering, suspicions arise about Fester’s true identity, challenging the family’s trust and unity.
Be it the morbid romantic exchanges between Morticia and Gomez, who share sizzling chemistry thanks to the superior performances by Anjelica Huston and Raúl Juliá, respectively, orChristina Ricci’s charming wickedness as Wednesday Addams, there’s simply no dearth of reasons to fall in love withThe Addams Family. Perhaps it’s the severed hand known as Thing who will get you hooked, or the Frankenstein-esque butler Lurch.
The sense of something sinister lurks subtly underneath the surface in every member of the Addams family, and even barring Lurch and Thing, there is still a sense of fantasy in the world they live in. They haunt their own mansion, and they all have the most twisted fantasies involving broken bones, mutilated bodies, and relentless gore. However, the family is quite harmless, thus subverting the expectations of the horror/fantasy genre, and as such,The Addams Familyis a family comedy film that will make many fall in love with fantasy.
Directed by Hayao Miyazaki
Princess Mononoke
In this epic animated fantasy by Hayao Miyazaki, Princess Mononoke explores the struggle between the supernatural guardians of a forest and the humans who consume its resources. The story follows Ashitaka, a young warrior inflicted with a deadly curse, as he navigates a battle that pits the industrialized human society against the gods of the forest, alongside San, a fierce girl raised by wolves.
Hayao Miyazaki’s unique style of animation has captured our hearts and imaginations for years, and the veteran director is showing no signs of stopping, as there is apparently anew Hayao Miyazaki Studio Ghibli moviein the works. Captivating is perhaps the word that best describes the animator’s style, as he creates vast worlds in the form of gorgeous frames that are brimming with life and detail. An air of innocence hangs over most of Studio Ghibli’s movies, even one so gory and gritty asPrincess Mononoke.
The guiding principle of the titular character is so pure and powerful that even the biggest cynic’s heart will melt from the heat of the bright hope she burns with. A fierce warrior and leader, Mononoke is a representative of nature and puts up an impressive fight againsthumans whose exploitative tactics have depleted the forests and are threatening all other forms of life. The message about the environment, the gorgeous and energetic animation, the empowering presence of Princess Mononoke, and Hayao Miyazaki’s wondrous worldview – how can you not fall in love with fantasy after watching the film?
Directed by Ang Lee
Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon
Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon is a martial arts film directed by Ang Lee. Released in 2000, the story revolves around warriors Li Mu Bai and Yu Shu Lien, played by Chow Yun-Fat and Michelle Yeoh, as they pursue a stolen sword and encounter a mysterious young aristocrat. The film is renowned for its lush visuals and choreographed fight scenes, blending romance and adventure against a historical Chinese backdrop.
Wuxia films tend to be expansive, but Ang Lee’sCrouching Tiger, Hidden Dragonchanges the meaning of that word with its humongous scope. It permanently changed martial arts cinema in the West, with its imaginative use of practical effects and technology to bring some of the wildest action sequences to life. Not only do warriors exchange blows with their swords every other minute and ninjas go flying at one point, but every scene inCrouching Tiger, Hidden Dragonalso has a rich emotional backdrop.
Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragonwas nominated for ten Oscars, including Best Picture and Best Director, and won four awards, including Best Foreign Language Film.
The barrage of epic action in the film is driven by the personal motivations of characterswhom viewers can easily identify with and root for. A compelling romance brews alongside the action, and an epic unfolds before the audience’s disbelieving eyes. Despite the energy on screen, there is a sense of serenity that envelopes any viewer who willingly submits to the force of nature that isCrouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, as its gorgeous and fleshed-out world offers some respite from reality.
Directed by Daniel Scheinert and Daniel Kwan
Everything Everywhere All at Once
In Everything Everywhere All at Once, a middle-aged laundromat owner (Michelle Yeoh) is distracted from her financial and family issues by a multiversal crisis. With just her husband (Ke Huy Quan) to support her through the confusion, she must contend with her overbearing traditional father (James Hong), a pencil-pushing auditor (Jamie Lee Curtis), and her emotionally-distant daughter (Stephanie Hsu).
Fantasy doesn’t need an epic legend or a quest for a mythical item to work as a genre, and the Daniels’Everything Everywhere All At Onceis the biggest proof of that. With a premise that sounds both silly on paper and impossible to make a feature-length film on, the movie follows a woman whosuddenly finds the ability to connect with other versions of herself from alternate universes, being able to tap into their minds and use their abilities to fend off an evil force that threatens to destroy her world.
Despite the bonkers idea and even more chaotic execution,Everything Everywhere All At Oncetells a story full of heart that addresses the emotional weight of carrying generational trauma and explores the bond between a mother and her daughter in full depth. With body humor that plays on the disorienting effect of connecting with a different version of your own mind, the film has great action sequences as well. As one of thebest martial arts adventure moviesthat offers all kinds of entertainment,Everything Everywhere All At Oncecan make everyone fall in love with fantasy.
Directed by Peter Jackson
The Lord of the Rings: The Motion Picture Trilogy
TheLord of the Ringsmovies were and are epic and one can argue that they can only be experienced on the big screen. But, these are the types of cinematic titans that Blu-ray was made for.The Lord of the Rings: The Motion Picture Trilogyis the special edition Blu-ray at its best.
No one person has had a bigger impact on the fantasy genre than J.R.R. Tolkien. The blueprint of fantasy storytelling, involvingmultiple clans of people, a noble goal, impossible odds, expansive battles, and a considerable amount of magic, was created by Tolkien when he wroteThe HobbitandThe Lord of the Rings. So, it’s not surprising that when Peter Jackson successfully adapted his books, he changed the cinematic landscape of the fantasy genre forever.
The Lord of the Ringswill leave you with wanderlust, a yearning for more films of its kind, and an eternal love for the genre.
There is no work of fiction that deserves to be called epic as much asThe Lord of the Rings. There’s simply too much lore, too many unique worlds and cultures, and too many individual quests for it to not elevate the very meaning of the word epic. Despite having large-scale stakes, the film is character-driven with personable moments that move the story forward. Regardless of your own thirst for adventure,The Lord of the Ringswill leave you with wanderlust, a yearning for more films of its kind, and an eternal love for the genre.
Directed by Dean DeBlois and Chris Sanders
How to Train Your Dragon
How to Train Your Dragon is a 2010 animated film set in the Viking world of Berk, where Hiccup, the son of Stoick the Vast, befriends a dragon and defies the village’s traditional dragon-slaying ways, leading to a reevaluation of the Viking-dragon conflict.
Be itThe Chronicles of Narnia, orThe Lord of the Rings, orA Song of Ice and Fire, dragons have been part of fantasy literature since its conception, as fearful beings who hoard treasures and fry everyone who crosses them to a crisp. So, when Hiccup inHow to Train Your Dragondoesn’t kill a dragon, but befriends it, and even learns to ride him, naming him Toothless, it takes everyone by surprise. A beautiful tale of heart and friendship with a classic fantasy hero,How to Train Your Dragonis sure to make everyone fall in love with fantasy.
There is a host of uniquely quirky characters, a well-developed lore about dragons, a short and sweet romantic subplot, and epic sequences of Hiccup riding Toothless through the skies. The simplicity ofHow to Train Your Dragonis perhaps what makes it so charming, as there’s no complicated backstory or twist, and it just flies you through a series of memorable scenes on its way to the iconic title card with which the film ends. If nothing else,John Powell’s incredible composition,Test Drive, is sure to live rent-free in your headfor hours after the credits have rolled.
