Best Fantasy movies ever made
by prop_fan | created - 10 Dec 2011 | updated - 21 May 2013 | Public- Instant Watch Options
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1. The Dark Crystal (1982)
PG | 93 min | Adventure, Family, Fantasy
On another planet in the distant past, a Gelfling embarks on a quest to find the missing shard of a magical crystal, and to restore order to his world.
Directors: Jim Henson, Frank Oz | Stars: Jim Henson, Kathryn Mullen, Frank Oz, Dave Goelz
Votes: 71,426 | Gross: $40.58M
The most creative movie ever made! Brilliant design/characters/sets, brilliant music and a magical story.
2. Labyrinth (1986)
PG | 101 min | Adventure, Family, Fantasy
Sixteen-year-old Sarah must solve a labyrinth to rescue her baby brother when he is taken by the Goblin King.
Director: Jim Henson | Stars: David Bowie, Jennifer Connelly, Toby Froud, Shelley Thompson
Votes: 149,518 | Gross: $12.73M
Beautifully designed, magical, child friendly, timeless. "Alice in Wonderland" by Jim Henson.
3. The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (2001)
PG-13 | 178 min | Action, Adventure, Drama
A meek Hobbit from the Shire and eight companions set out on a journey to destroy the powerful One Ring and save Middle-earth from the Dark Lord Sauron.
Director: Peter Jackson | Stars: Elijah Wood, Ian McKellen, Orlando Bloom, Sean Bean
Votes: 2,006,159 | Gross: $315.54M
The first has the best pacing of all three. Plus it has this magical feel.
4. Alice in Wonderland (I) (2010)
PG | 108 min | Adventure, Family, Fantasy
Nineteen-year-old Alice returns to the magical world from her childhood adventure, where she reunites with her old friends and learns of her true destiny: to end the Red Queen's reign of terror.
Director: Tim Burton | Stars: Mia Wasikowska, Johnny Depp, Helena Bonham Carter, Anne Hathaway
Votes: 440,876 | Gross: $334.19M
Not Lewis Carrol, but still good. Visually splendid! Good music by Elfman.
5. The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey (2012)
PG-13 | 169 min | Adventure, Fantasy
A reluctant Hobbit, Bilbo Baggins, sets out to the Lonely Mountain with a spirited group of dwarves to reclaim their mountain home, and the gold within it from the dragon Smaug.
Director: Peter Jackson | Stars: Martin Freeman, Ian McKellen, Richard Armitage, Andy Serkis
Votes: 872,741 | Gross: $303.00M
Not as good as the LOTR series, but still VERY well done. Visually brilliant.
6. Clash of the Titans (1981)
PG | 118 min | Action, Adventure, Family
Perseus must battle Medusa and the Kraken to save the Princess Andromeda.
Director: Desmond Davis | Stars: Laurence Olivier, Harry Hamlin, Claire Bloom, Maggie Smith
Votes: 47,721 | Gross: $41.09M
Great story, great music, and the BEST Medusa ever put on screen.
7. Return to Oz (1985)
PG | 113 min | Adventure, Family, Fantasy
Dorothy, saved from a psychiatric experiment by a mysterious girl, is somehow called back to Oz when a vain witch and the Nome King destroy everything that makes the magical land beautiful.
Director: Walter Murch | Stars: Fairuza Balk, Nicol Williamson, Jean Marsh, Piper Laurie
Votes: 30,341
Excellent CLAYMATION FX, mediocre script.
8. Camelot (2011)
TV-MA | 45 min | Drama, Fantasy
When King Uther dies and Britain faces chaos, Merlin presents an unknown named Arthur as the new king by birthright, as the late king's son, against the ambitious desires of his half-sister, Morgan.
Stars: Joseph Fiennes, Jamie Campbell Bower, Tamsin Egerton, Peter Mooney
Votes: 24,642
Im usually not into TV, but this was an excellent retelling of the Arthus Saga.
9. Snow White and the Huntsman (2012)
PG-13 | 127 min | Action, Adventure, Biography
In a twist to the fairy tale, the Huntsman ordered to take Snow White into the woods to be killed winds up becoming her protector and mentor in a quest to vanquish the Evil Queen.
Director: Rupert Sanders | Stars: Kristen Stewart, Chris Hemsworth, Charlize Theron, Sam Claflin
Votes: 302,348 | Gross: $155.33M
Fine performances and FX.
10. The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (2003)
PG-13 | 201 min | Action, Adventure, Drama
Gandalf and Aragorn lead the World of Men against Sauron's army to draw his gaze from Frodo and Sam as they approach Mount Doom with the One Ring.
Director: Peter Jackson | Stars: Elijah Wood, Viggo Mortensen, Ian McKellen, Orlando Bloom
Votes: 1,978,256 | Gross: $377.85M
One word: EPIC !
11. Hansel & Gretel: Witch Hunters (2013)
R | 88 min | Action, Fantasy, Horror
Brother/sister duo Hansel and Gretel are professional witch-hunters who help innocent villagers. One day they stumble upon a case that could hold the key to their past.
Director: Tommy Wirkola | Stars: Jeremy Renner, Gemma Arterton, Peter Stormare, Famke Janssen
Votes: 216,675 | Gross: $55.70M
Fun mix of Fantasy, Horror, Action and Humor.
12. Poltergeist (1982)
PG | 114 min | Horror, Thriller
A family's home is haunted by a host of demonic ghosts.
Director: Tobe Hooper | Stars: JoBeth Williams, Heather O'Rourke, Craig T. Nelson, Beatrice Straight
Votes: 179,490 | Gross: $76.61M
The best movie about ghosts. Excellent FX, cast and music
13. Excalibur (1981)
PG | 140 min | Adventure, Drama, Fantasy
Merlin the magician helps Arthur Pendragon unite the Britons around the Round Table of Camelot, even as dark forces conspire to tear it apart.
Director: John Boorman | Stars: Nigel Terry, Helen Mirren, Nicholas Clay, Cherie Lunghi
Votes: 67,140 | Gross: $34.97M
Great cinematography, great music and magical. The best Arthur saga movie to date.
14. Legend of the Guardians: The Owls of Ga'Hoole (2010)
PG | 97 min | Animation, Action, Adventure
Soren, a young owl, is kidnapped by the evil owls of St Aegolious and want to turn him into a soldier. He escapes with some of his friends and warns the mythical guardians about the evil plan.
Director: Zack Snyder | Stars: Jim Sturgess, Hugo Weaving, David Wenham, Emily Barclay
Votes: 87,591 | Gross: $55.68M
Most beautiful CGI movie ever.
15. Fire and Ice (1983)
PG | 81 min | Animation, Adventure, Fantasy
At the end of the ice age, an evil queen and her son are set on conquering the world using magic and warriors. The lone survivor of a crushed village fights back as does the king of Fire Keep.
Director: Ralph Bakshi | Stars: Randy Norton, Cynthia Leake, Steve Sandor, Sean Hannon
Votes: 12,618 | Gross: $0.76M
My favourite animation movie. Frazetta!
16. One Million Years B.C. (1966)
Approved | 92 min | Adventure, Comedy, Fantasy
Prehistoric man Tumak is banished from his savage tribe and meets pretty Loana, who belongs to a gentler coastal tribe, but he must fight caveman Payto to win her favors.
Director: Don Chaffey | Stars: Raquel Welch, John Richardson, Percy Herbert, Robert Brown
Votes: 9,621
Some very memorable moments and FX. Atmospheric music and good photography.
17. When Dinosaurs Ruled the Earth (1970)
G | 96 min | Adventure, Fantasy, Romance
Sanna escapes being sacrificed and meets Tara. Together, they live in a seaside tribe that worships the Sun God and survive the dangers of the creatures from the Mesozoic Era.
Director: Val Guest | Stars: Victoria Vetri, Robin Hawdon, Patrick Allen, Drewe Henley
Votes: 2,885 | Gross: $0.37M
Laughable, but some very memorable moments and great FX. Atmospheric music and good photography.
18. Logan's Run (1976)
PG | 119 min | Action, Adventure, Sci-Fi
A police officer in the future uncovers the deadly secret behind a society that worships youth.
Director: Michael Anderson | Stars: Michael York, Jenny Agutter, Richard Jordan, Roscoe Lee Browne
Votes: 61,011 | Gross: $25.00M
Great story, great matte paintings, bad city models. A fascinating idea and an overall great movie.
19. Clash of the Titans (2010)
PG-13 | 106 min | Action, Adventure, Fantasy
Perseus, a demigod and the son of Zeus, battles the minions of Hades and the Underworld in order to stop them from conquering Olympus and Earth.
Director: Louis Leterrier | Stars: Sam Worthington, Liam Neeson, Ralph Fiennes, Jason Flemyng
Votes: 292,673 | Gross: $163.21M
Weaker story, bad music and a less scary Medusa than in the original movie, but still enjoyable for its well staged fantasy action.
20. The Thing (1982)
R | 109 min | Horror, Mystery, Sci-Fi
A research team in Antarctica is hunted by a shape-shifting alien that assumes the appearance of its victims.
Director: John Carpenter | Stars: Kurt Russell, Wilford Brimley, Keith David, Richard Masur
Votes: 466,368 | Gross: $13.78M
Carpenters best. Suspenseful, ice cold, + the craziest monster FX ever made. This may belong more to a Horror movies list, but it is still a fantasy after all.
21. Krull (1983)
PG | 121 min | Action, Adventure, Fantasy
A prince and a fellowship of companions set out to rescue his bride from a fortress of alien invaders who have arrived on their home planet, Krull.
Director: Peter Yates | Stars: Ken Marshall, Lysette Anthony, Freddie Jones, Francesca Annis
Votes: 36,242 | Gross: $16.52M
Star Wars + Excalibur + Cyclops. Strange mix, but it works! Often boring, but it has some great moments and an excellent score by James Horner.
22. Little Shop of Horrors (1986)
PG-13 | 94 min | Comedy, Horror, Musical
A nerdy florist finds his chance for success and romance with the help of a giant man-eating plant who demands to be fed.
Director: Frank Oz | Stars: Rick Moranis, Ellen Greene, Vincent Gardenia, Levi Stubbs
Votes: 86,324 | Gross: $38.75M
Best animatronic puppet EVER! The only problem I have with it: Its a theatralic musical.
23. Dragonslayer (1981)
PG | 109 min | Action, Adventure, Fantasy
A young wizarding apprentice is sent to kill a dragon which has been devouring girls from a nearby kingdom.
Director: Matthew Robbins | Stars: Peter MacNicol, Caitlin Clarke, Ralph Richardson, John Hallam
Votes: 19,940 | Gross: $14.11M
Best movie dragon ever made! Atmospheric settings, so so story.
24. Æon Flux (2005)
PG-13 | 93 min | Action, Adventure, Sci-Fi
Æon Flux is a mysterious assassin working for the Monicans, a group of rebels trying to overthrow the government. When she is sent on a mission to kill the Chairman, a whole new mystery is found.
Director: Karyn Kusama | Stars: Charlize Theron, Frances McDormand, Sophie Okonedo, Marton Csokas
Votes: 132,750 | Gross: $25.87M
It may not be a "geat" movie, but its visual style and ideas are very memorable.
25. Wrath of the Titans (2012)
PG-13 | 99 min | Action, Adventure, Fantasy
Perseus braves the treacherous underworld to rescue his father, Zeus, captured by his son, Ares, and brother Hades who unleash the ancient Titans upon the world.
Director: Jonathan Liebesman | Stars: Sam Worthington, Liam Neeson, Rosamund Pike, Ralph Fiennes
Votes: 195,513 | Gross: $83.67M
Great FX, great action, and the best Cyclops ever put on film.
26. Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (1937)
Approved | 83 min | Animation, Adventure, Family
Exiled into the dangerous forest by her wicked stepmother, a princess is rescued by seven dwarf miners who make her part of their household.
Directors: William Cottrell, David Hand, Wilfred Jackson, Larry Morey, Perce Pearce, Ben Sharpsteen | Stars: Adriana Caselotti, Harry Stockwell, Lucille La Verne, Roy Atwell
Votes: 215,337 | Gross: $184.93M
Still one of the best animation movies.
27. Land of the Lost (2009)
PG-13 | 102 min | Action, Adventure, Comedy
A space-time vortex sucks scientist Rick Marshall, his assistant Holly and a survivalist Will into a world populated by dinosaurs and painfully slow creatures called Sleestaks.
Director: Brad Silberling | Stars: Will Ferrell, Danny McBride, Anna Friel, Jorma Taccone
Votes: 75,282 | Gross: $49.44M
So so movie, but the Dinosaur FX are amazing! Some great jokes too.
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