While plenty of incrediblefantasyfilms have come out in recent years — as well as a whole slew of great fantasy movies set to release in 2025 – the genre is also full of incredible classics from years past that every fan must see at some point. Some of these makegreat fantasy movies for beginners; others are more nuanced takes on the art form because of their age or subject matter, or are the launching points of massive film franchises.
These classic movies make for some of the most endearing stories in history, with some surprising similarities. Many are adapted from children’s books or use storytelling as a framing device, which is appropriate given fantasy’s roots in fairy tales and mythology. Many were also critical failures orfantasy box office flops. Yet all have endured for one reason or another, many becoming genuineslow-burn cult classic filmsbecause, at their heart,every one of these movies tells a phenomenal fantasy story.
The Pagemaster
Cast
The Pagemaster is a fantasy film directed by Pixote Hunt and Joe Johnston. It follows a cautious young boy named Richard Tyler, who finds himself transported into the magical world of books while in a library. He must navigate through this literary adventure to find his way back home.
While rumor has it thatThe Pagemasterwas based on a children’s book, it is actually a wholly original adventure film with a phenomenal premise.Young Richard Tyler (Macaulay Culkin) is the kind of boy who is constantly afraid,overthinking every problem and never letting himself take risks. When a freak storm forces him to take cover in a library while running an errand, he literally stumbles into a fantastical world of living books and finds his spirit of adventure thanks to some well-read friends.
“So Much Better Than I Was Expecting”: Macaulay Culkin’s 1994 Cult Classic Gets Rave Review From VFX Artists
Macaulay Culkin’s cult classic film The Pagemaster receives a review from the Corridor Crew, a group of visual effects artists who are impressed.
The Pagemastermay not have been the most unique of movies, but the film still holds up today as a fun adventure story, full of literary references and in-jokes, as well as featuring a star-studded cast, including Christopher Lloyd, Patrick Stewart, Whoopi Goldberg, and Frank Welker. The film is split between live-action shots when Richard is at home, and beautifully animated sequences while he’s adventuring in the world of books.
The Wizard of Oz
Based on Frank L. Baum’s book of the same name, The Wizard of Oz follows young Dorothy Gale (Judy Garland) as she’s swept away to the magical land of Oz. Upon arriving, she falls afoul of a witch, then enlists the help of a scarecrow, a tin man, and a lion in order to find the Wizard and get home to her family.
No list of fantasy classics would be complete withoutThe Wizard of Oz.The original film adaptation of L. Frank Baum’s classic novel was a groundbreaking movie in uncountable ways,from its use of then-cutting-edge special effects to the phenomenal reveal of Munchkinland in glorious Technicolor. Of course, the heartwarming story still resonates because of its themes of wonder, family, endurance, and always coming home.
Everyone knows the story – how Dorothy is carried away by a twister to the magical land of Oz and has to go on an adventure to meet the Wonderful Wizard of Oz so she can get back home. Although modern audiences are heavily focused on theextremely different and historically revisionistWicked, which paints the Wicked Witch of the West in a far more sympathetic light than the original story,The Wizard of Ozis a fantastic film in its own right, even after almost 90 years.
The Last Unicorn
The terrible King Haggard plots to destroy all the unicorns in the world, but a young unicorn discovers that she is in danger and could soon be the last of her kind. She leaves the safety of her forest and enlists the help of Schmendrick, a kind but clumsy wizard. Together, they embark on a long and dangerous journey with one goal: to defeat Haggard and save the unicorns from extinction.
Adapted for the screen by Peter S. Beagle, who wrote the original novel,The Last Unicornis a heartbreaking fantasy cult classic, not at all like production studio Rankin/Bass' more well-known work, which mostly consists of stop-motion Christmas specials and a very divisive adaptation ofThe Lord of the Rings. Despite its original box-office failure,The Last Unicornremains one of the most touching animated children’s films of all time.
When the Unicorn (Mia Farrow) finds that the malevolent Red Bull has chased her fellow unicorns to the ends of the earth, she goes out to try and find them. Along the way, she has to contend with the witch Mommy Fortuna (Angela Lansbury), the helpful but helpless wizard Schmendrick (Alan Arkin), and the dreary and depressed King Haggard (Christopher Lee). From start to finish, the film is a beautiful and family-friendly conversation about love, loss, and regret.
The Princess Bride
Based on the 1973 novel by William Goldman, The Princess Bride is a comical fantasy adventure film that tells a swashbuckling tale of a hero and a princess, read to a young, sick boy in bed by his grandfather. The story itself follows farmhand Westley, who embarks on an epic journey to save his beloved princess from an evil prince as he meets strange but reliable companions along the way.
Few films have endured in the collective cultural consciousness likeThe Princess Bride. The beautiful Buttercup (Robin Wright) adores her farmboy Westley (Cary Elwes), and he her, but a happy ending is more difficult. After Westley is kidnapped and presumed killed by the Dread Pirate Roberts, Buttercup winds up betrothed to the detestable Prince Humperdink (Chris Sarandon). Yet when Roberts kidnaps Buttercup, she learns that things aren’t always as they seem – and thatlove, true love, is the greatest force in the whole world.
1988
1987
Best Feature Film Casting – Comedy
Nominated
The Princess Brideis simply one of the greatest love stories of all time, and although its initial box office performance was underwhelming, its phenomenal showing at the awards shows demonstrates that a film’s box office take is no signal of quality. To say nothing ofHome Movie: The Princess Bride, the loving remake of the film that was painstakingly put together on phone cameras by actors during the first COVID-19 lockdown, illustrating the enduring love for the original movie’s sharp humor, classic storylines, and indulgent tone.
The Dark Crystal
Directed by Jim Henson and Frank Oz, and featuring Henson’s signature use of puppetry and animatronics, The Dark Crystal tells the story of two Gelflings, a fictional race of elf-like fantasy creatures, who must embark on a quest to restore balance to their world through the mending of an all-powerful crystal, broken and corrupted by a malevolent race known as the Skeksis. Stephen Garlick and Lisa Maxwell voice the protagonists, Jen and Kira.
While many recognize 1986’sLabyrinthas possibly the peak of Jim Henson’s non-Muppets career, that film wouldn’t have happened withoutThe Dark Crystal, which was Henson’s first collaboration with concept artist Brian Froud.It was Froud’s distinctively macabre style that gaveThe Dark Crystalsuch a unique and terrifying aesthetic,especially in conjunction with the entirely puppet-based visuals.
The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistancewas a 2019 Netflix series, produced by the Jim Henson Company, that served as a prequel to the film. Brian Froud returned to do the concept art and his son Toby (the baby fromLabyrinth) served as design supervisor.
Young Jen (Stephen Garlick), one of the last Gelflings, is given a quest by the dying Mystic Master (Seán Barrett) to heal a powerful crystal before the Great Conjunction of their world’s three suns, or else the cruel Skeksis will rule the world forever. With the help of the one-eyed mystic Aughra (Billie Whitelaw), fellow Gelfling Kira (Lisa Maxwell), and her fuzzy friend Fizzgig (Percy Edwards), he must race to save the world. Scored by fantasy-film legend Trevor Jones, who would also go on to work with Henson onLabyrinth,The Dark Crystalis an eerie and stunning cinematic experience.
The Neverending Story
Based on the German novel of the same name, The NeverEnding Story centers on Bastian Bux, a young boy who finds a book about a fantasy world called Fantasia, and becomes inexplicably connected to the book’s plot as he begins to read it. Barret Oliver stars as Bastian, with Noah Hathaway, Tami Stronach, and Alan Oppenheimer as part of the main cast.
As with many such films,The NeverEndingStoryis a fantasy film about a book that is in turn adapted from a book,specifically the first half of German children’s author Michael Ende’s 1979The Neverending Story. The second half of the book was used for the sequel,The NeverEnding Story II: The Next Chapter, and the third film,The NeverEnding Story III: Escape from Fantasia, has an original story — but the first film is hands-down the best of the three, demonstrating the best of the campy aesthetic with belief and wonder triumphing.
Young Bastian Balthazar Bux (Barret Oliver) steals a book and finds himself engrossed by the epic tale within. The world of Fantasia is beset by the symbolic malevolent force known as The Nothing, and the Childlike Empress (Tami Stronach) has fallen ill. It’s up to young hero Atreyu (Noah Hathaway) to find a way to save her, and he discovers the only cure is for a human child from beyond Fantasia – none other than Bastian – to give her a new name. It’s exciting, fun, and occasionally creepy, and totes the familiar but profound theme of the power of storytelling.
Hook
Directed by Steven Spielberg, Hook stars Robin Williams as Peter Banning, a harried American lawyer who, after his children are kidnapped by Captain Hook, finds out that he is Peter Pan, having lost his memories of Neverland. In order to rescue his children, Peter must find his childlike spirit of adventure and regain his memories as he does battle with Hook and his crew. Dustin Hoffman stars alongside Williams as Captain Hook, along with Julia Roberts, Maggie Smith, and Charlie Korsmo.
Spielberg’s wild and impressionist sort-of sequel toPeter Panintroduces us to Peter Banning (Robin Williams), whose workaholic behavior has strained his relationship with his family. Yet when he and his wife Moira (Caroline Goodall) come home to find their children kidnapped, and a note signed by the notorious Captain James Hook (Dustin Hoffman), Peter must go to Neverland to rescue them. Although he insists he’s never been there before, as he adventures through Neverland he unlocks some long-hidden memories that help him see himself – and his relationship with his family – in a new light.
Hook: 10 Things You Didn’t Know About Spielberg’s Cult Classic
With a long list of celebrity cameos to a history of musical numbers, these tidbits about Steven Spielberg’s 1991 classic Hook are surprising.
A shocking critical failure at the time (and currently sitting at a measly 29% onRotten Tomatoes),Hookis a genuinely heartfelt film, even if it feels a little rough around the edges now.While Spielberg has since discussed withEntertainment WeeklyandEmpire(viaDen of Geek)how his insecurity as a filmmaker led him to make production decisions he no longer agrees with, a viewer without his personal baggage can see that it’s actually quite good, you just have to focus on the happy thoughts – like howHookhelped launch Dante Basco’s career.
British comedy troupe Monty Python had already made quite a name for themselves by the time they went questing for the Holy Grail. Their 1971 filmAnd Now For Something Completely Differenthad allowed them to revisit and re-record various hit sketches from their TV show,Monty Python’s Flying Circus, but in 1973 the group decided to try something new and began working on a full feature film. There would be action, adventure, romance, copious amounts of blood, and even a killer rabbit. Little did they realize that it would become theHoly Grail of most quotable filmsfor the past 50 years.
While ostensibly following the famous King Arthur (Graham Chapman) as he and his Knights of the Round Table (John Cleese, et al.) embark on a God-given quest to find the Holy Grail,Monty Python and the Holy Grailis still a Python staple, so there’s a great deal of hilarious mucking about along the way.They encounter three-headed giants, the French, some nubile young women, and the Gorge of Eternal Peril, and emerge from the other side not so much “victorious” as “arrested for murder.” It is truly one of the greatest films to ever depict medieval England.
The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring
The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring is the first film in Peter Jackson’s critically acclaimed Lord of the Rings trilogy. The movie follows Frodo Baggins (Elijah Woods) as he is tasked with destroying the One Ring in the fires of Mount Doom after he inherits the ring.
There’s no question thatThe Lord of the Ringsfilms are some of thebest fantasy movies of all time. Even after a quarter-century,The Fellowship of the Ringremains a wonderful epic from start to finish, the perfect beginning to the greatest adventure trilogy ever put to film. With J. R. R. Tolkien’s phenomenal legendarium as source material,Fellowship,and its sequels,The Two TowersandThe Return of the Kinghaven’t been matched by any fantasy films since.
Of course, the most daunting thing about Tolkien is wondering where to start with it all, yetFellowshipis a far better beginning of a trilogy than most of its contemporaries. Through the eyes of Frodo Baggins (Elijah Wood), the viewer is given a first-hand experience of just what it’s like to be dragged out of their cozy little Hobbit-hole into a wide world of adventure and danger. And yes, the Extended Editions are well worth watching, no matter how much longer they are.
Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind
Princess Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind embarks on a perilous journey to save her people and the environment from a spreading toxic jungle filled with dangerous creatures. Gifted with the ability to understand and communicate with the jungle’s giant insects, she seeks to find a way for humans and nature to coexist. As she battles against opposing factions and uncovers the truth behind the devastation, Nausicaä’s courage and empathy become the keys to healing her world.
Many people say thatNausicaä of the Valley of the Windis the first Studio Ghibli film, but it was actually one of the last productions of Topcraft Co., the studio where the legendary Hayao Miyazaki got his start as an animator.It’s also the film responsible for Miyazaki’s notorious “no cuts” policy(viaPolygon) of not allowing international releases of his films to be edited after American distributor Manson International butcheredNausicaäinto 1985’sWarriors of the Wind. Disney’s 2005 redub of the film, by comparison, is a far more faithful representation ofNausicaä’s powerful themes of environmentalism.
10 Behind-The-Scenes Facts About Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind
There are some interesting behind-the-scenes details about Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind that shed a light on some of its hidden complexities.
In a far distant future, Earth has been ruined by weapons of mass destruction that mankind lost control of. Much of the planet is overcome with horribly toxic plant life, which brings with it massive, aggressive insects. Young Nausicaä, Princess of the Valley of the Wind and scientist seeking a cure for the toxic plants, finds her quiet home village threatened when a ship from the militaristic Empire of Tolmekia crashes there, carrying a dangerous cargo that could easily destroy what’s left of the world, making for an incredibly powerful and still relevant story that every fantasy fan must experience.
