The 10 Fantasy Films You Absolutely Must See

Fantasy is a literary genre apparently not so often exploited on the big screen. In appearance only. Because long before Stranger Things not popularize again Dungeons & Dragons and without even mentioning a certain Tolkien, cinema has filled us and still fills us with films fantasyalthough this is not always made apparent to the viewer. Indeed, this form of expression touches on the marvelous, in a world where magic is a natural thing for example, thus distinguishing itself from fantasy or even science fiction. In this vein, the fairy tale can be considered a subgenre. Said differently, Snow White is a fantasy film, Harry Potter No. And to help you, the WorldOfSoftware has made a selection of 10 fantasy films to have seen in your life.

Enjoy Lord of the Rings, extended version

The Lord of the Rings trilogy (2001)

Don’t act surprised, we couldn’t make a list of 10 fantasy films without including the adaptation of Peter Jackson. And since we didn’t want to occupy 3 places for a single story, we group the entire trilogy together Lord of the Rings. We are crazy. As the genre began to fall into disuse and Tolkien’s writings were considered difficult to adapt despite a first attempt at animation, the New Zealand director came, saw, conquered, signing one of the most major trilogies in cinema. A critical, commercial and academic success, marking, in a way, a revolution for fantasy. And then the music of Howard Shore.

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Willow (1988)

Before giving birth to a series that has now disappeared (literally), Willow takes us on a journey in the company of a rogue with the coolest name in the world (Madmartigan, played by the late Val Kilmer) and a Nelwyn (Warwick Davis, well known to Star Wars and Harry Potter fans). Willow is a true fairyland where practical effects bring a world full of wonder to lifenot without its share of violence and some nightmarish creatures. Cast, rhythm, soundtrack, Willow is still one of the greatest successes in the fantasy genre, despite its age.

The Neverending Story (1984)

The Neverending Story (for now, we will stick with the first film) is a trauma. Those who saw it, especially as children, will always rememberan iconic scenewith a tear in his eye. Moreover, all the promise of The Neverending Story is in the title. A tale that never endsbecause only the reader’s imagination counts, thus paying the purest homage to fantasy and the book it adapts. If it has aged a little badly, its story, its rather dark atmosphere and its fantastic creatures leave an impression. A poetic work, sometimes lasting, often touching.

Conan the Barbarian (1982)

How not to cite the film that propelled a certain Arnold Schwarzenegger at the forefront? The Austrian oak was born to be the flesh and blood incarnation of literary hero of Robert E. Howard (Jason Momoa learned this the hard way) in front the camera of John Milius. The soundtrack, the actor’s stature, everything here is deliberately disproportionate to give epic accents to Conan the Barbarian. Epic, but also lyrical. Milius’ camera films the great outdoors with a certain poetry, making each shot aesthetically beautiful. Fierce fights, magical creatures and hardened steel, in short, a pure heroic-fantasy film.

Dark Crystal (1982)

Starting from nothing (a rare thing for a fantasy film), Jim Henson, creator of the Muppets, and Frank Oz signed a iconoclastic, daring work where the actors give way to puppets and where the practical effect becomes not a tool, but an integral part of the story. Far from the sometimes childish side of the genre, Dark Crystal on the contrary bathes in a dark, mature atmosphere, and the film will become a reference for many pop culture projectsincluding in video games. A unique feature film which gave birth years later to a prequel series on Netflix which did not have the success it deserved. Just like Dark Crystal when it finally comes out. We then hope that time will remember it.

Donkey Skin (1970)

We admit it, we are not the biggest fans of Donkey skinboth for its appearance musical that for the incestuous story reported from the tale of Charles Perrault. However, it is undeniable that Jacques Demy’s film is a must-see and part of French cultural heritage. Far from the epic side of its foreign cousins, Donkey skin is a poetic work assuming the second degree and the flamboyant side of the fairy tale, a subgenre of fantasy. A deliberately grandiloquent, ridiculous film, with a touch of melancholy. An ode to hybrid cinemawho refuses to fit into a box.

Excalibur (1981)

We couldn’t make a top 10 unmissable fantasy films without delving into the Arthurian legend. Excalibur of John Boorman East a model of visual ambitiondemanding, who is not afraid of sometimes losing the viewer with his quite greedy story, not always crunchy. The feature film does not seek “historical reality”, but embraces the legend, the myth, to tell us the tragedy of King Arthur. It is as much a spectacular film as a ultimately quite intimate workwhich is not afraid to show the less promising aspects of the characters’ history. Pure medieval fantasy.

Princess Mononoke (1997)

If we saw with Dark Crystal that fantasy did not need flesh-and-blood actors, nor does it need real imagery. Princess Mononoke is without a doubt one of the greatest masterpieces of master Hayao Miyazakitime having made the film one of the most important in the history of animation. Just that. A feature film centered on Japanese mythologya rare complexitywhose narrative depth is just as important as the visual generosity. A mature, serious work, which has contributed to animation being also considered as a breeding ground for adult stories.

Dungeons & Dragons: Thieves’ Honor (2023)

After a few adaptations having tarnished the reputation of the iconic role-playing game brand, it was necessary Jonathan Goldstein et John Francis Daley to make us want to roll the dice again. Dungeons & Dragons: Thieves’ Honor doesn’t have the greatness of many of the films on this list, but he has the heart and respect for the genre. Shunned in theaters following a failed promotional campaign, the feature film is excellent entertainment that knows what it’s adapting while not hesitating to make fun of it between the lines. An adventure that respects the player and the simple spectator.

Shrek (2001)

After watching mature fantasy films, a little lightness doesn’t hurt. Shrek East another cornerstone of animated cinema and the genre in general for its irreverent tone, its parodic spirit of fairy tales and its double-reading jokes aimed at both children and adults. In a sense, the film helped make fantasy popular again thanks to his humor and his twisting of codes. We can no longer count the feature films that have been inspired by the spirit of Shrek in the years that followed, while a fifth opus of the saga will see the light of day.