The fantasy genre can be difficult to pull off well, but there are some perfect fantasy movies that offer thrills, magic, and fun from beginning to end. The2020s have offered some great fantasy moviesso far, with the likes ofThe Green KnightandDungeons and Dragons: Honor Among Thievesdestined to become classics before long. However, one of the ways fantasy movies earn such reputations is by delivering a complete adventure.
With such big ideas and complex worlds that fantasy movies often have, it’s not easy to have a movie that works all the way through. Some great fantasy movies have stumbled on a lackluster ending, while eventheHarry Potterfranchisehas some entries that are more forgettable. What makes a perfect fantasy movie can vary, from family-friendly adventures to trulyterrifying fantasy movies. Each of these movies represents the fantasy genre at its best with a perfect story from beginning to end.
Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearlwas a movie that many people were ready to dismiss before it was even released. However, the blockbuster take on the Disney theme park ride ended up being one of the most entertaining adventure movies of all time while launching a high-grossing franchise that is still beloved to this day. However, there has been no topping the thrill of the first movie.
Not enough can be said forJohnny Depp’s magnificent performance as Jack Sparrow, as watching him is enough to keep the movie entertaining from beginning to end. However, the action is also filled with wonderful spectacle, with that big-budget feel that defines it as one of the great summer blockbusters.It also has great world-building with a mixture of supernatural elements, pirate legends, and the theme park itself.
The Dark Crystaltakes the classic sword and sorcery genre that was so popular in the 1980s and injects the added magic of Jim Henson and his team.The Dark Crystalis a triumph in the world of puppetry, with Henson and others using ground-breaking animatronics and creature designs to build this fantastical world that is a thrill to journey into. It tells the story of two young heroes looking to restore balance in their troubled land.
That darkness mixed with the nostalgic fantasy feel is exactly the reason the movie has maintained a cult following over the years.
The film was met with mixed reactions when it was released due to the fact that it is much darker than thepreviousMuppetmoviesfrom Henson. However, that darkness mixed with the nostalgic fantasy feel is exactly the reason the movie has maintained a cult following over the years, even earning itself a Netflix prequel series withThe Dark Crystal: The Age of Resistance.
Fantasy movies do not necessarily have to be filled with creatures and magic to be effective, asGroundhog Dayproved that one brilliant fantastical idea can make for a perfect movie.Groundhog Daystars Bill Murray as a cynical weatherman who is covering a town’s belovedGroundhog Dayfestival only to wake up each morning and find that he is repeating the same day over and over.
The iconic time loop movieset the template for many films in the genre that followed. It is a lot of fun seeing Murray trying to make sense of the endless loop and then trying to use it to his advantage. However, like another classic fantasy movie,It’s a Wonderful Life, it uses the fantasy concept to tell a story about someone learning a valuable lesson about life.
Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factorybrings the somewhat surreal and magical tone of Roald Dahl’s writing to life in a live-action movie. Gene Wilder gives an iconic performance as the titular chocolatier, an eccentric and mysterious man who welcomes a group of lucky contest winners into his factory to reveal the secrets behind his delicious treats.
What is unique aboutWilly Wonka and the Chocolate Factoryis that the movie seems to take place in the real world, and it is only when the story enters the chocolate factory that things become fantastical. Indeed, inside this wonderful place is a world that feels plucked right out of a dream, andWilder’s Willy Wonkamakes for the perfect fantasy character to guide the journey.
The firstcollaboration between Johnny Depp and Tim Burtonremains their best and perfectly captures the dream-like quality the two artists always seemed to be striving for.Edward Scissorhandsstars Depp as the titular character, a misfit creation of an inventor who died before he could finish his work. When Edward is discovered by a kind saleswoman, he is taken into a suburban community where he becomes the talk of the town.
Its oddball sense of humor makes for an entertaining comedy while gradually peeling back layers to reveal a genuinely loving fairy tale at its center.
From the opening moments that depict the colorful suburban neighborhood with a dark gothic castle in the distance,Edward Scissorhandsnails its tricky tone.It is as if a storybook character landed in the typical 1980s America and tried to fit in. Its oddball sense of humor makes for an entertaining comedy while gradually peeling back layers to reveal a genuinely loving fairy tale at its center.
While there are a lot ofclassic Christmas moviesthat have fantasy elements, the beautiful messages ofIt’s a Wonderful Lifeextend beyond the holidays. The film begins with angels attempting to save the life of a troubled yet selfless man, George Bailey (James Stewart), as they look back on his life and how it brought him to this place.
What is interesting aboutIt’s a Wonderful Lifeis that, for much of the runtime, you might forget that it is a fantasy movie as it is such an engrossing tale of this heroic, grounded man. However,the final act, as Stewart’s George Bailey is given a glimpse at his life if he were never born, is a brilliant fantasy storytelling approach that many stories have taken from since. It is a moving and uplifting reminder of the impact people can have on the lives of others.
Guillermo del Toro is a filmmakerwho has long melded the aesthetics of fantasy and horror into his stories.Pan’s Labyrinthis one of the best examples of this while also showing how beautiful the end result can be. Set in 1944 Spain, the movie follows a young girl who journeys with her mother to live with her new, cruel stepfather, only to be approached by a magical fawn who takes her on an adventure to realize her true place in the world.
The movie has haunting imagery and incredible creature designs, with the practical effects standing out among the modern CGI-filled fantasy films.Most impressively, the movie manages to blend these fantastical elements with human aspects of the story, which are grounded in the brutality of the real history of this time period. It grabs the audience from the first magical frames and holds them right until the bittersweet ending.
It is a rare movie that can bring a modern sense of humor into a fantasy story and still have a sense of wonder.The Princess Bridepulls off this feat with a witty and subversive fairy tale that works perfectly as part of the genre. With the adorable setup of a grandfather telling a story to his grandson,The Princess Brideexplores long-lost lovers, a vengeful swordsman, a gentle giant, and the fight for true love.
It manages to maintain its perfectly balanced tone the entire time, resulting in a funny and exciting adventure that is immensely rewatchable.
All of these elements are treated with earnestness to make the audience care about this tale, but there are also plenty of laugh-out-loud moments with the characters all having a quirky outlook on the world they inhabit. There are also hilarious performances from the likes of Billy Crystal, Carol Kane, and Wallace Shawn. It manages to maintain its perfectly balanced tone the entire time, resulting in a funny and exciting adventure that is immensely rewatchable.
The fantasy genre has grown so much over the years that it is hard for an older movie to stand out among the spectacles that the modern audience is used to. However,The Wizard of Ozremains a beloved fantasy adventure that is still enjoyed by generations of fans to this day. Even with the acclaim of the musicalWicked, it doesn’t hold the same magic feel as the original film.
WhileThe Wizard of Ozis not the first color movie, it uses it in such an effective way that it is like seeing it for the first time on screen.The moment Dorthy exits her black-and-white life of Kansas and steps into the technicolor world of Oz is one of the most awe-inspiring fantasy moments in movie history. From the iconic characters to the catchy songs to the universal message, it remains a true classic.
The Lord of the Rings
It is impressive enough to have a fantasy movie be perfect from beginning to end, but to accomplish that with a trilogy of films is seemingly impossible. However, Peter Jackson delivered the impossible with theLord of the Ringsmovies, which many argue is the greatest trilogy of all time. Indeed,each of the entries is a cinematic triumph in its own right, but they combine for one complete, beautiful, and epic story.
The Fellowship of the Ringsis the perfect entry into the world of Middle-earth, and these characters we come to love.The Two Towersups the stakes with an emotional story that includes one of the greatest battle scenes in movie history.The Return of the Kingis sometimes criticized for its long-winded ending, but it surely deserves it in bringing this gigantic tale to a completely satisfying conclusion.
