Sometimes, we just want to escape from the real world, take a break from our problems, and briefly immerse ourselves in another universe. Fantasy films are the perfect way to do that. We’ve compiled a list of the 7 best fantasy movies, from new releases to unforgettable classics, each offering amazing worlds, characters, and adventures.
Content
- Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone
- The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring
- Paddington
- The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe
- Three Thousand Years of Longing
- Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children
- Wonka
Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone
IMDb: 7.6/10
2001, Adventure, Family, Fantasy
USA, UK, PG
Director: Chris Columbus
Top cast: Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint, Emma Watson
Everyone is familiar with the story of Harry Potter. An orphaned boy lives under the stairs with his cruel aunt and uncle. On his eleventh birthday, he receives a letter from the magical school, Hogwarts. Harry is accepted into his first year at the school of wizardry. This marks a turning point in his life. From now on, every day will be filled with adventure. The teenager with a lightning-shaped scar on his forehead will learn magic, make loyal friends, and defeat the most powerful wizard ever. Sorry, his name must not be spoken.
The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring
IMDb: 8.8/10
2001, Action, Adventure, Drama, Fantasy
USA, New Zealand, PG-13
Director: Peter Jackson
Top cast: Elijah Wood, Ian McKellen, Orlando Bloom
Here’s an adaptation of the fantasy classic by J.R.R. Tolkien. The story centers around Frodo Baggins, a Hobbit living a quiet life, not standing out in any particular way. However, the call of adventure cannot be ignored by a true warrior. Frodo comes into possession of Sauron’s Ring — a powerful ancient artifact that, according to his uncle Bilbo’s advice, must be destroyed. Frodo sets out on a journey to Mount Doom with the Fellowship of the Ring, with one goal: to rid the world of this powerful force once and for all, preventing Sauron from reclaiming it and seizing control of all Middle-earth.
Paddington
IMDb: 7.2/10
2014, Adventure, Comedy, Family, Fantasy
UK, France, PG
Director: Paul King
Top cast: Hugh Bonneville, Sally Hawkins, Julie Walters
A rare bear cub sets out from his home in the forests of Peru and travels to London, hoping to find the man who once visited his homeland. This scientist initially planned to make stuffed animals out of the creatures he found in Peru, but changed his mind when he discovered how intelligent they were. After escaping from his home, which was destroyed by an earthquake, the bear cub — later named Paddington — arrives in the capital of the United Kingdom. There, he immediately faces several unexpected challenges: first, the locals are not as welcoming as he had imagined, and second, finding the naturalist turns out to be much harder than he thought.
The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe
IMDb: 6.9/10
2005, Adventure, Family, Fantasy
USA, PG
Director: Andrew Adamson
Top cast: Tilda Swinton, Georgie Henley, William Moseley
Four siblings from London, a city under heavy bombing, are sent to the countryside to stay with their uncle, where the war hasn’t yet reached. There, they pass the time by inventing various games. One day, while playing hide and seek, the youngest, Lucy, discovers an old, massive wardrobe in the house and decides to hide inside. The wardrobe turns out to be more than just a place to store clothes — it’s a portal to a magical world called Narnia. This world is under the control of the White Witch, and according to a local prophecy, the children are destined to help the lion Aslan defeat the witch and free the inhabitants of this enchanted land.
Three Thousand Years of Longing
IMDb: 6.7/10
2022, Drama, Fantasy, Romance
USA, Australia, R
Director: George Miller
Top cast: Tilda Swinton, Idris Elba, Erdil Yasaroglu
A trip to Istanbul can offer more than just plenty of baklava and endless cups of tea by the Bosphorus. A literature professor, specializing in narratology, has found her very own genie. Alethea arrives in Istanbul from London to give a series of lectures on the intricacies of ancient stories. From the moment she lands, she begins to see strange silhouettes and images. In a small Turkish shop, she buys a poorly made lamp of blown glass. Back in her hotel room, Alethea decides to clean this peculiar item but accidentally releases a genie trapped inside. The genie offers her three wishes, but Alethea chooses to listen to the stories she already knows, this time from the source. She asks the genie to tell her about his past, postponing her wishes for later.
Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children
IMDb: 6.7/10
2016, Adventure, Drama, Family, Fantasy, Thriller
UK, Belgium, PG-13
Director: Tim Burton
Top cast: Eva Green, Asa Butterfield, Samuel L. Jackson
Abe often told his grandson Jacob about his incredible childhood. During World War II, he lived in a mysterious orphanage on the edge of Wales. Abe claimed that he was surrounded by children with extraordinary abilities: some could fly, others were invisible, and some were telepaths who communicated without words. After his grandfather’s death, the teenage Jacob decides to find this unbelievable place. He travels to the island of Cairnholm, where he not only discovers the very house Abe described but also meets all its inhabitants. Jacob finds himself caught in a time loop that takes him back to 1943, just a day before the bombing that destroyed Miss Peregrine’s home.
Wonka
IMDb: 7.3/10
2023, Adventure, Comedy, Family, Fantasy, Musical
USA, Canada, PG
Director: Paul King
Top cast: Timothée Chalamet, Gustave Die, Murray McArthur
The ambitious Willy Wonka arrives in a place he plans to conquer with his innovative approach to making sweets. However, the naive chocolatier is tricked into signing a contract to stay in a cheap hotel. His stay is extended because the fine print states that if he can’t pay for all the services provided, he will have to work off his debt. In other words, he ends up in servitude to the cunning hotel owner. With the help of new friends — fellow debtors — Wonka manages to sneak out occasionally and sell his amazing sweets, all while avoiding the police and the local candy mafia.
