Fantasy movies provide a true escape from reality, bringing viewers to faraway lands with magical powers, creatures, and beings. The farthest depths of imagination are brought to the surface in the different stories that fall under the category of fantasy. The extraordinary becomes the ordinary!
The best fantasy movies ever made are those that often inspire massive franchises, introduce novel aspects to the oversaturated genre, or are impactful and memorable enough to stay with audiences for years. These are also the ideal movies for viewers looking for must-see fantasy films, as they defined and continue to change the enduring genre. From recent adaptations of timeless classics like The Green Knight to old seminal masterworks like Disney’s Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, it’s easy to see that the best fantasy movies ever made tend to have an enduring influence on cinema. Thankfully, there’s no shortage of the very best films from the fantasy genre that fans should consider essential viewing.
45 ‘The Green Knight’ (2021)
Director: David Lowery
A visually stunning movie based on the 14th-century poem «Sir Gawain and the Green Knight,» director David Lowery’s 2021 masterpiece is an underrated story of courage, mortality, and what it means to be human. The Green Knight follows Gawain (Dev Patel), as he embarks on a perilous journey to keep his word to the titular character. Along the way, he meets otherworldly creatures and people with bad intentions.
With an enchanting atmosphere that holds viewers’ attention throughout Gawain’s magical odyssey, it’s easy to overlook The Green Knight’s philosophical themes and pressing questions about life and death. The protagonist’s journey is as much a quest to prove himself as it is to discover who he really is, pointing the mirror at audiences and their own paths forward.
44 ‘A Monster Calls’ (2016)
Director: J. A. Bayona
Directed by J. A. Bayona, A Monster Calls is a modern classic that tells the heartfelt story of Conor O’Malley (Lewis MacDougall), a young boy who struggles with his mother’s terminal illness. When the titular Monster (Liam Neeson) shows up on his bedroom window one night, the biggest adventure of his life begins.
Visually striking and emotionally powerful, A Monster Calls seamlessly blends reality and fantasy, highlighting the transformative power of magic and imagination (especially in the darkest times). Its unflinching depiction of grief and the healing effect that stories can have is unmatched, and will likely capture fans’ hearts for years to come.
43 ‘Marcel the Shell With Shoes On’ (2021)
Director: Dean Fleischer Camp
Since shortly after its inception, the movie studio A24 has been praised for spearheading the contemporary indie filmmaking movement. Their library has explored all sorts of genres, including family fantasy. Marcel the Shell With Shoes On is one of A24’s best movies to date, following a small sentient shell living in his Airbnb with his friends, who becomes the subject of a documentarian’s newest outing.
Cute, charming, and funny, but also surprisingly profound in its exploration of themes of mortality and family, Marcel the Shell is, much like its protagonist, a seemingly small and simple thing with a heart that’s multiple times its size. Its fantasy elements are subtle and creatively used, losing no time in trying to give them any more depth than they need.
Marcel the Shell with Shoes On
- Release Date
- September 1, 2021
- Director
- Dean Fleischer-Camp
- Runtime
- 90
42 ‘Who Framed Roger Rabbit’ (1988)
Director: Robert Zemeckis
A groundbreaking movie that combined live action and animation, director Robert Zemeckis‘ Who Framed Roger Rabbit takes place in a reality where Toons (cartoon characters) live alongside humans. It follows the story of Eddie Valiant (Bob Hoskins), an unlucky private detective, as he investigates a murder involving the famous cartoon character Roger Rabbit (voiced by Charles Fleischer).
With its unique mix of film noir and vibrant animation, the 1988 film became an instant hit and introduced fan-favorite characters like the iconic Jessica Rabbit (Kathleen Turner) and the unforgettable Judge Doom (Christopher Lloyd). Who Framed Roger Rabbit was a pioneer in the field of visual effects and animation that’s still astonishingly fun to watch today.
Who Framed Roger Rabbit
- Release Date
- June 21, 1988
- Director
- Robert Zemeckis
- Runtime
- 103
41 ‘Mary Poppins’ (1964)
Director: Robert Stevenson
Director Robert Stevenson‘s Mary Poppins is a beloved fantasy musical movie that transcends generations of fans. Set in London, the film revolves around the Banks family, who hire the titular whimsical nanny (one of Julie Andrews‘ most iconic characters) who has a unique way of caring for the two mischievous children.
Alongside Bert (Dick Van Dyke), a charming chimney sweep, Mary Poppins takes the kids on extraordinary and magical adventures that open up a new world full of excitement and wonder. The influential film is fondly remembered by most as an integral part of their childhood, as it captures the innocent perspective and the imaginative world of young kids. Legendary catchy songs like «Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious» have also helped it maintain its status as a timeless classic.
Mary Poppins
- Release Date
- August 27, 1964
- Director
- Robert Stevenson
- Cast
- Julie Andrews , Dick Van Dyke , David Tomlinson , Glynis Johns , Hermione Baddeley , Reta Shaw
- Runtime
- 140
40 ‘Groundhog Day’ (1993)
Director: Harold Ramis
Bill Murray stars as the cynical and self-centered weatherman Phil Connors in director Harold Ramis‘ Groundhog Day. The iconic film is centered on Phil’s seemingly ordinary task to cover the Groundhog Day events in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania, where he soon finds himself strangely trapped in a time loop, reliving the same day over and over again.
Seamlessly combining humor and philosophy, Groundhog Day explores Phil’s transformation as he learns to appreciate the small stuff that makes every loop bearable. Murray’s standout performance as the protagonist helps his character’s arc and the lessons he learns resonate with viewers, who probably won’t mind watching this more than once.
Groundhog Day
- Release Date
- February 11, 1993
- Director
- Harold Ramis
- Runtime
- 101 minutes
39 ‘Excalibur’ (1981)
Director: John Boorman
Excalibur is an epic medieval fantasy film that retells the legendary tale of King Arthur, the Knights of the Round Table, and the titular sword. Directed by John Boorman, the classic movie draws mythic elements of Arthurian legend to tell its story, which is centered on the rise of King Arthur (Nigel Terry), his quest to unite Britain, and the hindrances he faces from the evil sorceress Morgana (Helen Mirren) and his own flawed knights.
The 1981 film is one of the best medieval fantasy movies thanks to the way it captures the grandeur of Arthurian legend thanks to its lush and visually striking cinematography and sweeping musical score. Aside from transporting viewers to a medieval world of magic and brave knights, the fantasy film is also credited with launching the careers of a number of A-list actors today, including Liam Neeson and Patrick Stewart.
Excalibur
- Release Date
- April 10, 1981
- Director
- John Boorman
- Cast
- Nigel Terry , Helen Mirren , Nicholas Clay , Cherie Lunghi , Paul Geoffrey , Nicol Williamson
- Runtime
- 140
38 ‘Millennium Actress’ (2001)
Director: Satoshi Kon
The incredible Satoshi Kon only made four feature films over the course of his career, and all four of them are absolutely outstanding works of anime. Millennium Actress is easily one of his best, telling the story of a TV interviewer and his cameraman, who meet a former actress and travel through her memories and career. Through a time-bending journey of the kind of surreal fantasy that characterizes Kon’s work, Millennium Actress tells a deeply moving story about love and identity.
This is one of the best animated fantasy movies of all time, mixing a beautiful visual style with a surprisingly nuanced and profound script. As much of a celebration of the power of stories and the nature of cinema as it is an intimate exploration of a fascinating character’s psyche, Millennium Actress is an unforgettable masterpiece that’s executed wonderfully by its director’s endlessly creative hands.
Watch on Peacock
37 ‘Wings of Desire’ (1987)
Director: Wim Wenders
Director Wim Wenders‘ Wings of Desire is a haunting romantic fantasy set in post-war Berlin, where two angels, Damiel (Bruno Ganz) and Cassiel (Otto Sander), silently observe and comfort the city’s inhabitants. One day, Damiel discovers newfound feelings for a lonely trapeze artist, who eventually inspires him to embrace mortality in order to experience human love.
Hailed as a philosophical masterpiece and an incredible existentialist movie, Wings of Desire takes the mundane aspects of the human experience and sheds a magical light on them. Damiel’s decision to leave behind his life as an angel to become a mere mortal for the sake of love highlights this moving perspective on the human condition.
Wings of Desire
- Release Date
- May 6, 1988
- Director
- Wim Wenders
- Cast
- Bruno Ganz , Solveig Dommartin , Otto Sander , Curt Bois , Peter Falk , Hans Martin Stier
- Runtime
- 128 minutes
36 ‘The Thief of Bagdad’ (1924)
Director: Raoul Walsh
Often hailed as one of the greatest silent movies ever made, Raoul Walsh’s The Thief of Bagdad is a crucial masterpiece in the fantasy genre. It’s an adaptation of One Thousand and One Nights and revolves around the classic story of a poor thief who falls for the beautiful daughter of the wealthy and powerful Caliph of Baghdad.
The fantasy-adventure film is a triumph of visual effects and set new benchmarks not just within the genre, but for cinema as a whole. Its ornate sets, gorgeous costumes, and groundbreaking production design immediately set it apart and cemented its place as an influential masterpiece.
Watch on Tubi
35 ‘Life of Pi’ (2012)
Director: Ang Lee
Director Ang Lee’s Life of Pi is a beloved classic that needs no introduction. Based on Yann Martel’s eponymous 2001 novel, the film depicts the unlikely bond and wacky misadventures that two shipwreck survivors experience as they drift on a lifeboat in the Pacific Ocean.
With a stellar performance from Suraj Sharma (who plays the sixteen-year-old survivor Pi Patel) anchoring the magical odyssey, Life of Pi takes audiences on an artful story of resilience and faith. As Pi and the surviving tiger become closer together, the boundless ocean throws life-threatening dangers their way. All in all, the film is a masterful blend of beautiful scenery, thrilling moments, and thought-provoking underpinnings that have made it an award-winning work that has stood the test of time.
Life Of Pi
- Release Date
- November 20, 2012
- Runtime
- 127
34 ‘The Seventh Seal’ (1957)
Director: Ingmar Bergman
The film that helped the legendary director Ingmar Bergman become a renowned figure in world cinema, The Seventh Seal is a timeless masterpiece. It follows the story of a disillusioned Swedish knight Antonius Block (Max von Sydow), who comes home from the Crusades only to be greeted by the harrowing result of the Black Death in his community. When he meets Death (Bengt Ekerot), he challenges him to a chess match that could cost him his life.
A profound and contemplative work of art, The Seventh Seal is a meticulously crafted film that uses symbolism and poetic imagery to discuss philosophical and universal themes like life, mortality, and faith. It’s one of the best existentialist movies of all time, and is a must-see for viewers looking to confront similar tough questions.
Watch on Max
33 ‘The Dark Crystal’ (1982)
Directors: Jim Henson, Frank Oz
The opus known as The Dark Crystal is a fantastical tale chronicling the…