Whether you love classic swords-and-sorcery tales, noble knights on their mighty steeds, or just like seeing swashbuckling action, you can’t beat fantasy movies. It can be tough to find the right tone for fantasy, though! Directors and studios have struggled to make good films in the genre. Here are the fifteen best examples of what fantasy has to offer.
Monty Python and the Holy Grail
Sure, Holy Grail is a comedy. And, sure, it’s a low-budget one at that. But, if you’re willing to meet this outrageously funny movie where it’s at, then you’re in for a treat. It’s a witty, fast-paced film with little in the way of plot but plenty of laugh-out-loud jokes at the expense of the entire genre.
Army of Darkness
Sam Raimi’s third Evil Dead outing, Army of Darkness, transports Ash Williams to the Middle Ages. There, he battles zombies, meets King Arthur, and struggles to find his way back to his own time. It’s a movie that prioritizes butt-kicking scenes of Ash destroying zombies and revels in its ridiculous premise.
The Green Knight
The Green Knight is a retelling of the classic tale of Gawain and his journey to repay the titular knight for a promise he once made. It’s a sweeping, epic adventure that allows for a meditative look at concepts like honor, duty, and honesty.
Pirates of the Caribbean
You might not think of Pirates when you think about fantasy movies, but it’s actually among the best. It’s got high-seas adventures, plenty of swashbuckling sword-fighting, and some genuinely frightening undead hordes! While its sequels haven’t been the best-received movies ever, the original has really withstood the test of time.
The Wizard of Oz
It might be pushing 100 years old, but The Wizard of Oz has still got it. This was one of the earliest movies to truly transport audiences to a fantasy realm, using some classic moviemaking magic tricks to immerse the viewer. One of those tricks, its decision to show the Land of Oz in full color, remains one of the most breathtaking cinematography choices in film history.
The Dark Crystal
The Dark Crystal is a bit light on plot, but it more than makes up for that with its delightful visuals. The puppet-based world was created by none other than Jim Henson, and it’s evident that it was a labor of love for the master puppeteer. If you love unconventional fantasy movies, this one is a must-watch.
Labyrinth
Two words: David Bowie. What, you need more than that? Alright, Labyrinth is a weird and uneven movie that is crammed full of stunning visuals and a few truly outlandish performances. It’s got wonderful puppets and costumes, a somewhat nonsensical script, and, yes, a mesmerizing David Bowie as The Goblin King.
Excalibur
Did you know that the 1981 movie Excalibur was going to be an adaptation of The Lord of the Rings before director John Boorman got cold feet? Since a lot of capital had already been tied up on the sets and costumes, they reconfigured the movie into a more straightforward Arthurian tale and spawned one of the best fantasy movies of all time.
The Neverending Story
The Neverending Story is a weird German kids’ movie from the 80s. It’s got somewhat eerie visuals, weird puppet characters, and lots of dark plot beats that seem a bit too gloomy for children. All of these idiosyncrasies make it a cult classic, and it’s well worth a watch even 40 years after its release.
Pan’s Labyrinth
Pan’s Labyrinth is one of the best outings from beloved director Guillermo del Toro. This spooky fantasy film sees a young girl stumble into a bizarre world while following a fairy. There, she finds terrifying monsters and a legend that she might be the reincarnation of the princess of the underworld.
Dungeons and Dragons: Honor Among Thieves
It took a few tries for someone to finally make a good Dungeons and Dragons movie, but directors John Francis Daley and Jonathan Goldstein were finally up to the task with Honor Among Thieves. This rousing Chris Pine-led fantasy film perfectly captures the feel of a D&D adventure while not getting bogged down with all the goofy stuff that marred previous outings.
Star Wars
“Wait,” you cry, “Star Wars is a sci-fi movie!” While that might be technically correct, it’s a movie about space knights who use magic to move stuff with their minds. Unlike traditional sci-fi, there’s a defined “Light Side” and “Dark Side,” and the bad guy literally wields a red sword and wears all black armor. Star Wars is fantasy, and it’s dang good fantasy at that.
The Princess Bride
Who doesn’t love The Princess Bride? This smart, funny, and heartfelt fantasy movie uses the framing device of being a story within a story and uses meta humor to keep the audience engaged with the swashbuckling adventure of protagonist Westley.
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The Seventh Seal
In The Seventh Seal, a knight plays a game of chess against Death himself. The visually charged movie is quite simple but deals with existential questions about the nature of life, death, and faith. It’s a heavy movie to watch on a whim, but it’s a worthy meditation on the impermanence of life.
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The Fellowship of the Ring
While Peter Jackson’s entire Lord of the Rings trilogy is phenomenal, The Fellowship of the Ring proved that Jackson and his team could really transform New Zealand into Middle Earth. This adaptation of the beloved JRR Tolkien books is remembered to this day as one of the best movies ever made, period.
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