47 Best Fantasy Movies of All Time: From Ghibli to Lord of the Rings

Lena (Natalie Portman) is a scientist whose husband (Oscar Isaac) disappeared and then returned with little memory of what happened before. She finds out he was sent to investigate the Shimmer, a kind of iridescent force field with mysterious origins and effects on the people who enter it. As she journeys into it, alongside a group of other scientists (Jennifer Jason Leigh, Tessa Thompson, Gina Rodriguez, and Tuva Novotny), she finds human-shaped plants and weird animal hybrids alongside other unnatural phenomena. Even though the film’s premise seems initially simple, its philosophical bent and stellar performances create an immersive story that is pushed along by an unusual and killer soundscape. Much of contemporary sci-fi cinema tends to dwell on the more frightening aspects of technology and its consequences on a large scale.

Alien

It questions the very nature of evil itself through Alex’s story, which is inevitably linked with political commentary about the extent of control the government can have over individuals’ free will. The Sun is dying and a bomb the size of Manhattan is all that can save it in this thrill ride from protean filmmaker Danny Boyle. Penned by Alex Garland, Sunshine transcends its sensational premise by grappling with how the vastness of space exposes the fallibility of man, forcing him to reckon with the prospect of an all-knowing creator. Boyle’s dazzling, eye-melting direction finds beauty and terror in juxtaposing the smallness of man against the monolithic Sun.

Connecting the macro with the micro, the creation of the universe gives way to a poignant domestic drama. A spiritual restlessness permeates the narrative and provides yet another fantastical foundation. There were also a number of lower budget fantasies produced in the 1950s, typically based on Greek or Arabian legend. The most notable of these may be 1958’s The 7th Voyage of Sinbad, featuring special effects by Ray Harryhausen and music by Bernard Herrmann. Roger Ebert wrote, “It somehow seems real and important in a way most movies don’t.” The Wizard of Oz was nominated for six Academy Awards and won three. The Wizard of Oz has a long cultural legacy, including many spin-offs and re-imaginings, like The Wiz, Journey Back to Oz, Return to Oz and Wicked.

Directed by Hayao Miyazaki

Bruce Willis plays a low-level criminal in a future earth destroyed by disease, sent back in time to trace the roots of the plague. In the process he manages to fall in love with Madeleine Stowe (fair enough) and gets banged up in a mental institution where he stumbles upon Brad Pitt in one of his first and finest roles as a demented, jittery environmental terrorist. Never a critical favourite, the French filmmaking magnate Luc Besson has resolutely persisted in following his own idiosyncratic taste, and this wayward fantasy has an individuality distinct from Hollywood formula. The plot involves ancient Egyptians, interplanetary invaders and the female embodiment of goodness – all suggestive of a youth misspent poring over Earth, Wind & Fire lyrics.

Terminator 2: Judgment Day

The debut work from Javier Fuentes-León, it won the audience award for best world dramatic feature at the 2010 Sundance Film Festival. If you have to fantasy films watch one of the films in Peter Jackson’s Lord of the Rings trilogy, it should be 2001’s The Fellowship of the Ring. Beast of the Southern Wild is a dreamy tale about a Louisiana Bayou community that feels like a modern-day folktale.

The Dark Crystal was a groundbreaking showcase of the latest in puppetry, animatronics, and practical effects, which all seamlessly combine to create a wondrous world of magical creatures and stunning landscapes. It marked an important point in the fantasy genre in the 80s and was a critically re-assessed hot topic of discussion well into the 90s. The 1981 film is one of the best medieval fantasy movies thanks to the way it captures the grandeur of Arthurian legend thanks to its lush and visually striking cinematography and sweeping musical score. Aside from transporting viewers to a medieval world of magic and brave knights, the fantasy film is also credited with launching the careers of a number of A-list actors today, including Liam Neeson and Patrick Stewart.