Whether it is offering purse escapist entertainment that enthuses and excites, using its unnatural allure to ensnare viewers in dark tales of despair and consequence, or even just implementing its unique perspective on the world to examine humanity from new perspectives, fantasy cinema has long been one of the medium’s most defining and intriguing genres. As such, its grandest highlights over the last 75 years encompass everything from epic blockbusters that redefined the cinematic landscape to international gems that stand among the most revered movies of all time.
Needless to say, the very best fantasy movies showcase the vastness of the genre, not only showcasing the sword-fighting, spell-casing, mythic beast-slaying mayhem of the most action-packed examples of the genre, but some of the more quietly meditative and dramatic illustrations of it as well. With modern masterpieces, 80s classics, and even enduring highlights from the 1950s all featured, these are the 10 best fantasy movies audiences have been treated to since 1950.
10
‘Ugetsu’ (1953)
Sneaking into eligibility with a release date of 72 years ago, Ugetsu excels as one of Japan’s most impressionable and imposing pictures of any genre. Marrying dark fantasy with war drama, it follows two peasants who go against a sage’s advice and seek to profit from the war in the region by selling their earthenware pots to nearby soldiers. Their self-minded ambitions and personal desires threaten to destroy not only their own lives, but the lives of their families as well, especially as the line between reality and ghostly fantasy begins to blur.
Atmospherically striking and imbued with clear themes centered on morality, lust, and greed, Ugetsu is an iconic cornerstone of world cinema. Kenji Mizoguchi’s spellbinding direction seeks out the visual beauty in the dismal story of lost humanity, resulting in an ensnaring display of 16th century Japan featuring a timeless story of betrayal and consequence. Even after so many decades since its release, it remains a sobering fable of desire and greed that is realized with a haunting dread and a desolate, entrancing majesty.
9
‘Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban’ (2003)
Bolstered by Alfonso Cuaron’s moody yet inviting direction, Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkabanstands as the greatest installment of the Harry Potter franchise with its fantasy splendor, engrossing story, and its intriguing shift towards a darker, more mature tone for the series. It sees Harry’s (Daniel Radcliffe) third year at Hogwarts marred by the threat of deranged killer Sirius Black (Gary Oldman) and the presence of the soul-sucking Dementors. However, tutored by Professor Lupin (David Thewlis) and able to rely on his best friends, Harry not only survives the tumultuous year, but unearths hidden truths about the murder of his parents as well.
Through having the perfect filmmaker at the perfect time, The Prisoner of Azkaban is able to strike an enchanting balance between the childlike wonder of its two predecessors and the grittier leanings of what would follow. Achieved through a mesmerizing visual display, rich production design, and the most immersive individual story of the franchise, The Prisoner of Azkaban is truly a modern highlight of fantasy entertainment, one that appeals to viewers of all ages such is its inviting intrigue and captivating allure.
8
‘Princess Mononoke’ (1997)
Many of the greatest highlights of fantasy cinema over recent decades have come in the form of animated movies, with Studio Ghibili’s anime films a reliable source of involving storytelling and impressive artistry. Princess Mononoke is one of several defining highlights of the studio’s forays into the genre, following a cursed warrior whose conquest to find a cure for his ailment leads him to an ongoing conflict between two warring clans.
Defined by the vivacious brilliance of its animation as well as the sharpness of its storytelling, the film has overcome its initial commercial failure in the U.S.—a result of it eschewing animated tropes like musical numbers designed to appease children—to be regarded as a true classic of the form. Also heralded as a defining achievement in fantasy cinema, Princess Mononoke stands as a bold, decisively mature, and thematically weighted picture that relishes the endless possibilities of both fantasy and animation to stand as a transfixing gem.
7
‘Wings of Desire’ (1987)
A gorgeous picture that uses its fantasy exquisiteness to illustrate the beauty of the real world, Wings of Desire follows two angels who, invisible to humanity, patrol the divided city of Berlin, listening to the thoughts and fears of its citizens and offering comfort where they can. When one of the angels falls in love with a lonely trapeze artist, he wishes to be mortal, not only so he can pursue a romance with the woman, but so he can enjoy all that human life as to offer as well.
Wim Wenders’ directed many films that focus on the idea that love is what makes humanity so special. Few are as marvelous, heartfelt, and achingly sincere as Wings of Desire. Anchored by Bruno Ganz’s tender and thoughtful lead performance, the film’s visual flourishes are outlandish, but never distract from the story’s core focus on the importance of love and humanity. It stands as one of the greatest fantasy movies ever made, and is a beloved gem of German cinema.
6
‘The Seventh Seal’ (1957)
While the genre is known for its adventurous flourishes, otherworldly intrigue, and even its supernatural eeriness, fantasy can also be an excellent vessel for analyzing notions of humanity from a unique and enlightening perspective. That is certainly how Ingmar Bergman used it in his bleak historical classic The Seventh Seal, which follows a Swedish Templar as he treks across his plague-ridden homeland while invested in an ongoing chess game against Death (Bengt Ekerot) that will determine his fate.
Contemplative, compelling, and imbued with the conviction and courage to be contradictory at times as well, the film is a profound exploration of existential themes such as death, life’s meaning, faith and doubt, and how the human spirit intersects with religious beliefs. Complementing its somber reflection on life’s fragile and temporary nature with moments of quiet tenderness and outbursts of black comedy, The Seventh Seal is a mighty thematic undertaking that uses the vast possibilities of fantasy storytelling to push the boundaries of what a film can achieve. Its tone, setting, and insights have made it a truly timeless classic, a defining icon of international cinema as well as one of the most essential fantasy movies ever released.
5
‘The Princess Bride’ (1987)
Fantasy cinema in the 20th century hardly got any better than The Princess Bride, a charming tale of heroism and humor that cleverly offers meta-commentary on storytelling while incorporating elements of romance, adventure, action, and comedy into the fold as well. The bulk of the movie follows Westley (Cary Elwes), a masked fighter of supreme skill who embarks on a conquest to rescue his true love from the clutches of a wicked prince. Teaming up with a friendly giant and a vengeful Spaniard, Wesley and his friends combat the mythical evils of the land of Florin in order to achieve their desires.
Ultimately a refreshing spin on the damsel-in-distress fairy tale, The Princess Bride is a true triumph of tone and character, an inviting and rollicking story of true love and the devil-may-care excitement of adventure. Handled with expert deftness by director Rob Reiner, and soaring off the back of Elwes and Robin Wright’s infectious chemistry that embodies the spirit of young love, The Princess Bride represents fantasy film at its most enthusiastic, heartfelt, and imaginative.
4
‘Spirited Away’ (2001)
Heralded by many as being Hiyao Miyazaki’s magnum opus and the single greatest animated picture of all time, Spirited Awaymarries the visual divinity of anime with the imaginative bravura of fantasy to conjure one of the most enchanting viewing experiences of all time. It follows a young girl forced to work in a magical realm inhabited by supernatural beings in order to save her parents, who have been turned into pigs. Her adventure sees her meet many unusual, powerful, and even dangerous creatures, including a boyish wonder with a mystical past and an ominous demon with enigmatic aspirations.
The creativity and creation of its story world and the many magical, maniacal, and magnificent beings that inhabit it are simply dazzling, as is the journey young Chihiro (Rumi Hiiragi) must embark on if she is to return to the normal world. That fact that Spirited Away is so adept at juggling its fantastical elements with Chihiro’s emotional coming-of-age story with such elegance is a feat in itself. Also rich with symbolism, complex themes, and a rare ability to depict its child characters as children—in all the hopeful enthusiasm and selfish naivety that ensures—Spirited Away is a true modern classic that will long be a defining picture of early 21st century cinema, fantasy or otherwise.
3
‘Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl’ (2003)
A rollicking adventure rife with romantic passion, swashbuckling splendor, absorbing action, and fantasy fun aplenty, Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearlis the greatest example of pure escapist entertainment audiences have seen in many decades. Desperate to rescue the woman he loves from a band of undead pirates, blacksmith Will Turner (Orlando Bloom) enlists the help of the nefarious Captain Jack Sparrow (Johnny Depp), whose own aspirations regarding the cursed crew may clash with Will’s lovestruck heroism.
Coasting on the hypnotic genius of Depp’s swaying, slurring performance, the film captures the essence of adventurous exuberance with a freewheeling sense of creativity that is most apparent in the detail of its action sequences and the presentation of its most fantastical elements. Further aided by Gore Verbinski’s immersive direction and Hans Zimmer’s enthusing score, Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl is a perfect amalgamation of several genres that thrives most earnestly as a ceaselessly entertaining fantasy adventure rife with eye-widening thrills, outstanding characters and performances, and a hearty dose of comedic punch as well.
2
‘Pan’s Labyrinth’ (2006)
A spellbinding dark fairy tale from genre maestro Guillermo del Toro, Pan’s Labyrinthis a mesmerizing picture that blends real-world brutality with fantastical horror while centering its focus on young Ofelia (Ivana Baquero). Dragged into the Spanish mountains with her heavily pregnant mother to be at her stepfather’s side as he leads Francoist military forces against the Spanish Maquis, Ofelia is greeted by a faun who tells her she can return to her throne as princess of the Underworld if she completes three tasks to prove her worthiness.
Blending an entrancing sense of adventure with fantasy chills and graphic violence, Pan’s Labyrinth miraculously manages to preserve an air of childlike innocence while examining both the moral conviction and corruption of war. This feat in itself would be enough to make the picture one of the genre’s greatest, but the unforgettable brilliance of the character design—be it the unsettling horror of the Pale Man or the titular faun’s magical warmth—the gorgeous cinematography, and the enduring quality of its performances make it all the more special. Also bolstered by a certain originality in terms of its tone, Pan’s Labyrinth is a masterpiece of fantasy cinema that has also had a monumental impact on how foreign films are perceived and welcomed by mainstream audiences.
1
‘The Lord of the Rings’ Trilogy (2001-2003)
It may be cheating to place three movies in first place, but any one of The Lord of the Ringsfilms could have been a worthy selection to take the top place on the podium and the trilogy as a whole is so ingrained in the annals of fantasy cinema. Based on J. R. R. Tolkien’s adored novels, the trilogy follows Frodo Baggins (Elijah Wood) as he is tasked with carrying a powerful ring into the evil land of Mordor to be destroyed. As he, accompanied by Samwise Gamgee (Sean Astin), gets dangerously close to his destination, his allies in the fellowship rally the decrepit and vulnerable forces of mankind to stand in defiance of Mordor’s looming assault on Middle Earth.
With the awe-inspiring grandeur of its epic scope, the enriching detail of its production design, the human beauty of its central characters, and, of course, the sheer wonder of its fantasy elements, The Lord of the Rings is perhaps the defining masterpiece of 21st century cinema at large thus far. Capturing Tolkien’s integral themes of friendship, courage, and human decency triumphing over pure evil, the films are a faultless adaptation of the legendary source material. Even over 20 years since the release of The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King, the trilogy stands as an ageless triumph of cinema, one that will define fantasy entertainment in the medium for many years to come.
