Part of what makes fantasy such an alluring genre is that it allows audiences to explore worlds far more interesting than that of their own, worlds where magic and monsters exist, giving a more layered universe with the potential for more interesting stories. Cinematic scale is sort of a necessity when dealing with fantasy, as that’s one of the main reasons people consume the genre in the first place, so it’s important that any fantasy movie is appropriately stunning in the visuals department.
Lots of films have committed themselves to being pretty for this reason, but only a select few stand above the others are being truly remarkable in this regard. Whether it’s high fantasy, set in totally different worlds, or low fantasy, set in an altered version of our world, these are the most visually stunning fantasy films, which have become hallmarks of their genre for their level of visual satisfaction.
10
‘Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End’ (2007)
Directed by Gore Verbinski
The Pirates of the Caribbeanfilms are fan-favourites, and are known for being exciting pirate films, though none of them are super renowned for their visuals. Except for the third film in the franchise, anyway. This third movie is the conclusion to the original trilogy, wrapping up many plotlines established in the prior films, and is sure to provide both action and adventure in equal measure. In the process, it also provides one of the largest scales the franchise had seen thus far.
It’s no longer just about random islands, colonial settlements, and the high seas. This time, there’s more to explore, from the hanging red lanterns of Singapore to the endless white desert of Davy Jones’ Locker, and that’s not even including the incredible naval battle over a swirling maelstrom during the film’s climax. This movie is just bigger and better tha the others, and makes sure the audience knows it with how it cranks up the quality in visuals.
9
‘300’ (2006)
Directed by Zack Snyder
300is primarily a historical drama, being a highyl-fictionalized retelling of true events. The story is about the Battle of Thermopylae during the Greco-Persian Wars in the Fifth Century BCE, wherein King Leonidas (Gerard Butler) led 300 of his finest warriors on a sacrificial mission to delay the Persian invaders, giving Greece time to prepare for the invasion at the cost of their own lives. Though it is very loosely based on real events, there are some fantastical aspects to it.
There are creatures and supernatural aspects from Greek mythos that appear, which allows the film to fit snugly into the low fantasy subgenre. One of the main reasons it was so well-received is due to Zack Snyder‘s signature style, involving a lot of slow-motion so that audiences can really feel the battle from up close. The massive onslaught of enemies combined with the auteur-drive cinematography makes it an unconventionally beautiful film, one that makes even war and death look pretty.
8
‘Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory’ (1971)
Directed by Mel Stuart
Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factorycame out at a time when colour films were finally starting to become the norm, but even then, it is still marvellous to look at, even by today’s standards. The family-friendly movie is meant to inspire a sense of child-like wonder that comes with being a kid in a candy store, which is basically what the movie is about. As such, all colours had to be super saturated, meaning much of the film is extremely bright.
Most of the brighter parts are inside the chocolate factory itself, which serves as a stark contrast to the outside world, in which most colours are muted. This is done to make the factory seem more wondrous and interesting than the outside world, which it succeeds at doing. Even though the colours are bright, it’s not jarring or painful to look at, and instead evokes the feeling of happiness. It’s a beautiful film, both visually and morally, which is why this film is still a beloved favourite over five decades later.
7
‘Pan’s Labyrinth’ (2006)
Directed by Guillermo del Toro
Pan’s Labyrinthis a dark fantasy film with a really unique aesthetic that could only come from director Guillermo del Toro. It’s the same signature style that would later become apparent in later films. This is decidedly an adult movie, as much of the imagery is intentionally horrifying, weird, or unconventional, yet beyond it all, it remains morbidly beautiful throughout. This is exemplified not only in its cinematography, but also in its creature and set designs.
The immersive world in which it takes place is strange and unusual, yet deeply engrossing, with the creepy monsters being distinctly different than they are typically described in folklore. There’s really no movie like Pan’s Labyrinth, and this is due entirely to its imaginative visuals. The story is good and all, but the visuals are definitely where the film shines the most. It’s wonderful, and must be seen to be believed.
6
‘The Dark Crystal’ (1982)
Directed by Jim Henson & Frank Oz
Set on the distant planet Thra, Jim Henson‘s The Dark Crystalis a puppet film that is seen as one of the greatest dark fantasy movies of all time. There are no humans in this film–instead, the characters belong to various races native to Thra, with beings like the Gelflings, the Mystics, and the Skeksis taking the spotlight. This is a movie with a really unique, dark, and sometimes disgusting visual style, but through it all, it remains incredible.
Bright colours contrast with the shadows and washed-out tones, making the magic feel much more… well, magical. Each set, prop, and puppet is immaculately-crafted with so much care and compassion that it’s impossible not to appreciate every single aspect of the film. From its unique storyline to its different, yet incredible visuals, The Dark Crystal has earned its place as one of the greatest fantasy films of the 1980s.
5
‘How to Train Your Dragon 2’ (2014)
Directed by Dean DeBlois
Pretty much all of theHow to Train Your Dragonmovies are known for their impeccable animation and inherent beauty, but the second film is widely regarded as the best. This is mostly due to a combination of factors, including the brilliant and colourful 3D animation. The dragons and humans are now living in harmony, but that doesn’t mean the world has found peace, because new threats are beginning to present themselves.
From the glimmering scales of the dragons to the sweeping Nordic landscapes, How to Train Your Dragon 2ramps up the production value of its predecessor and expands upon its magical world, showcasing the imagination of its animators and the natural spectacle of the dragons themselves. Watching these many-coloured beasts whirl and dance in the sky is truly something special, and reminds fans why they fell in love with the franchise in the first place.
4
‘The Wizard of Oz’ (1939)
Directed by Victor Fleming
Sure, The Wizard of Ozisn’t anything remarkable by today’s standards, but you’ve got to understand that when this movie came out, no one had ever seen anything like it before. It was released in 1939, and was one of the first movies to be released in colour, though not the very first of its kind. In any case, this was extremely rare, as movies were black-and-white back then, so this movie was a huge deal.
The colours in the film are rich and vibrant, saturated to the maximum in order to showcase the technology used, and to breathe life into the world of Oz and bring it home to the audience. Evidently, this worked, because nearly 100 years later,The Wizard of Oz is seen as one of the greatest, most beautiful films of all time, one that has endured, and that will continue to endure due to how visually impressive it is, not just for the time, but due to its high saturation and vibrancy.
3
‘Spirited Away’ (2001)
Directed by Hayao Miyazaki
Studio Ghibli films are sort of known for being eye-catching with their luscious colours, whimsical and endearing stories, valuable life lessons, and emotional value, but Spirited Awayhas to be the absolute prettiest. The story follows a girl who wanders through a portal to the spirit world, and is forced to work at a local bathhouse in order to escape. The spirits themselves are some of the craziest, strangest beings to ever show up in film, but that’s part of what makes the movie great.
The glowing lanterns that appear in this dimension combined with the insanely creative spirits, the picturesque mountainous landscape, and the carefully-drawn animation make Spirited Away nothing short of a masterpiece, not just visually, but emotionally, too. There are dragons, monsters, ghosts, witches, and more in this incredible Japanese anime flick. Even if one doesn’t appreciate anime, they will be able to appreciate this movie in all of its glory based on visuals alone, if not for any of its other inherent qualities.
2
‘Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 2’ (2011)
Directed by David Yates
The final Harry Potter film takes the top spot in the entire franchise for being the most visually stunning. While all of the films are pretty in their own right, this epic conclusion is definitely number one, largely due to the massive final battle sequence. The Battle of Hogwarts has CGI everywhere, from spells to destructive fires, giant spiders and regular giants wreaking havoc in the courtyards, and other mythical creatures taking part.
This is to be expected, as the final film in a series has to leave a monumental impression on fans, and must provide an exciting experience for fans. The gorgeous, yet destructive beauty of the setpieces are pure eye candy, and the film has no problem delivering a compelling story right along with it. Regardless of which Harry Potter film is actually the best, there’s no denying that this last one is by far the prettiest.
1
‘The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King’ (2003)
Directed by Peter Jackson
The final film in The Lord of the Ringstrilogy might just be one of the best-looking movies of all time, not just in the realm of fantasy. This epic conclusion to the story features numerous large-scale battle sequences featuring hundreds of extras, and came with a scale that has been unmatched by any other fantasy film since. From the fiery wastelands of Mordor to the mountains white citadel of Minas Tirith, this film features some gorgeous environments that could only exist in Middle-Earth.
The cinematography is excellent, featuring a lot of sweeping, wide shots meant to fully show the destruction and chaos caused by the War of the Ring, as well as to help establish some of the most spectacular sights in Middle-Earth. This is a movie that will leave your jaw on the floor throughout, and that will undoubtedly stun you with its splendour and ambition, which is why it’s unquestionably the most visually stunning fantasy film ever made.
