The 50 Best Fantasy Movies of All Time

When most directors create a film inspired by their childhood, one might expect a typical coming-of-age tale with, you know, a human protagonist. That changes when said director is Tim Burton. And the result, much like the rest of Burton’s canon, is unsettling on its surface and moving at its core. Johnny Depp stars as artificial humanoid Edward Scissorhands who, as you might have guessed, has scissors for hands. When Edward’s physical roadblock to human intimacy is exacerbated by falling in love with the daughter of his caretakers, his development unravels in oddly beautiful ways.

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Nothing says childhood adventure like a trip inside a board game with Robin Williams as your guide. When a pair of siblings inadvertently open a pandora’s box by beginning to play a supernatural board game, all hell breaks loose. Now, they must finish the game in order to reverse the curse it has wrought upon its previous player, who just happens to be trapped inside.

Bonus: if you like the original (which is undisputedly the best) there’s a revamp starring The Rock and Jack Black which is mighty enjoyable, too.

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This internationally beloved wuxia epic (a genre of Chinese storytelling that weaves fantastical tales of martial artists in ancient China), has become a timeless classic in the fantasy canon both for its plot and its spectacular combat scenes. Set in 19th-century China, a master swordsman decides to give up his life of combat to be with his lover, and bequeaths his Green Destiny Sword to a close friend. However, when the delivery is intercepted by a disguised thief, destiny unravels into gravity-defying duels.

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It’s The Wizard of Oz for modern audiences! Peter Jackson’s masterful trilogy (and if you wanna go deep, there’s the overstuffed Hobbit films, too) is the greatest fantasy series of all time. (In books as well, we say.) With transportive scenery, intricate sets and costumes, vast battle scenes, a brilliant score, and phenomenal acting—he fully creates Middle-earth on screen. J. R. R. Tolkien’s beloved series is as real as it ever could be in these once-in-a-lifetime films.

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The Wizard of Oz has all the bells and whistles of the genre—munchkins, witches, and genuinely terrifying flying monkeys. The 1939 musical classic follows Dorothy on her tornado-spurred adventure to the magical land of Oz. While she heads down the Yellow Brick Road on her way to the Wizard, whom she hopes will help her get back home, she makes friends with the Cowardly Lion, Tinman, and Scarecrow, who all have asks of their own for the wizard. While it’s no doubt a trip to a fantasy land, it’ll leave you certain that there’s no place like home.

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Guillermo del Toro’s inspired 2006 film is one that sometimes flies under the radar, but one watch of the dark fantasy and you’ll know why it’s a cult classic. Set in 1944 Nazi-occupied Spain, the main story centers on Ofelia, a young girl whose own adventure into the labyrinth eventually shed light on the devastating effects of war and evil.

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In your mind’s eye, when you think of the rabbit-hole-traveler, the shrinking, the growing, Alice, the Mad Hatter—what do you see? Even though it’s a tad underrated, probably not Tim Burton’s gothic take on Alice in Wonderland. It’s more likely that the 1951 Disney animated outing is the one you see. And for good reason: The Mouse House nailed the wonder, innocence, and adventurous spirit of Lewis Carroll’s classic.

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Another del Toro offering, the 2017 Best Picture winner brings us back Stateside and introduces us to a mute woman who falls in love with a fish-like monster who was captured in South America and transported back to the States. (!) It has the signature mid-century flair of del Toro’s previous work and all the oddities to keep you intrigued. Warning: please keep an eye on your hard-boiled eggs.

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It may not have all the bells and whistles that your more stereotypical fantasy films have, but make no mistake, Mary Poppins is capital F fantasy. Combining the elements of animation and live action choreography, the Disney classic transcended the genre’s boundaries and set a standard that is as exciting as it is family friendly.

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Though J.K. Rowling is working hard to destroy her own legacy on Twitter, legions of fans will not let her present-day bigotry ruin the magic of the Harry Potter series. After the books captured a generation’s imaginations, this film series managed to visualize the vast wizarding world. The casting is spot on, and the films grow in complexity and scope as the characters and the source material does.

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The 1987 American film is an intelligent, comedic fairy tale adventure. Celebrating and subverting the genre at once, it follows Westley on his quest to reunite with his one true love, Buttercup, and battle the evils of the kingdom of Florin along the way. It also features perhaps the most iconic Mandy Patinkin line delivery of all time, if you still needed convincing.

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This beloved animated fantasy film from Studio Ghibli comes from the master writer-director Hayao Miyazaki. The Oscar-winning film follows a young girl whose family is transported to the world of Kami from Japanese Shinto folklore. When her parents are turned into pigs, she sets out to save them and herself so they can return to their own realm. With beautiful visuals, compassionately realized characters, and themes that tackle real world adult issues—Spirited Away is one of the best films of this century.

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The film series, based on the novels by C.S. Lewis, follows the adventures of four siblings who are sent to a hideaway home during WWII and, while there, discover a magical wardrobe in it that leads to the land of Narnia. It’s a mystical land where they befriend creatures and talking animals and join in on the battle to free Narnia from an evil witch’s rule.

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In this vivid stop-motion fantasy, adapted from a Neil Gaiman novel, an imaginative child named Coraline discovers a parallel world behind a secret door in her new family home. Little does Coraline know, the world holds dark secrets, which threaten to endanger the lives of everyone she loves. Come for the madcap fantasy, but stay for the tender coming of age story, wherein one courageous girl discovers the true meaning of home.

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Spike Jonze’s heartfelt adaptation of Maurice Sendak’s seminal children’s book centers on Max, a lonely boy who sails away to the island of the “Wild Things,” who crown him their king. In this spirited story about the joy and wonder of our inner child, Jonze’s signature visual style carries the day, shaping a visually spectacular world of shaggy creatures and spectacular landscapes.

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By far Tim Burton’s best movie (yeah, we said it), based on the novel of the same name by Daniel Wallace, Big Fish is a Southern Gothic fantasy starring Ewan McGregor as a man frustrated by his dying father’s tall tales. On his deathbed (or rather, in his death bathtub), the father looks back on his extraordinary life, which brought him face to face with everything from giants to witches. In a tear-jerking story about fathers and sons, Burton explores the meaning of truth, the fantastical, and the stories we tell in order to live.

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Okay, Labyrinth is legitimately terrifying, but where else are you going to get a David Bowie musical directed by Jim Henson? Nowhere! When Bowie’s evil goblin king kidnaps an infant boy, Sarah (Jennifer Connelly) sets out on a quest to save her brother. She must travel through a fantastical maze populated by some trippy Henson puppets to get him back.

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Has there ever been another animated series that lived on in meme form quite like Shrek? From Smash Mouth to Donkey, an entire generation refused to let this 2001 Dreamworks picture fade away. And though we may remember it best from the clips and photos that still flood Instagram, Shrek is a truly hilarious fantasy comedy and a touching story about loneliness and friendship.

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It must’ve been a swerve at the time: Take this goofy, squeaky, children’s character, and make him the star of a meditative, music-filled tone poem. Fantasia is full of wonder, dazzling animation, and still holds its place as one of Disney’s most innovative films. Who knew that Mickey Mouse could star in something dark enough to give a kid nightmares?

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Pixar has long studied the childlike parts of our brains—the joy, anger, sadness of your single-digit years. And in Inside Out, the creators made a whole damn film about a child’s brain, personifying the emotions of 11-year-old Riley as she’s coming of age. An absolute must watch.

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