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Fantasy Films

Fantasy Films, unlike science fiction films that base their content upon some degree of scientific truth, take the audience to netherworld, fairty-tale places where events are unlikely to occur in real life. In mythological or legendary times, they transcend the bounds of human possibility and physical laws. Fantasy films are often in the context of the imagination, dreams, or hallucinations of a character or within the projected vision of the storyteller. Fantasy films often have an element of magic, myth, wonder, escapism, and the extraordinary. They may appeal to both children and adults, depending upon the particular film. Below is a collection of films where imagination has no bounds. Where entire worlds have been created and populated with mythical creatures, magical quests and larger than life heroes and villains.

Howl's Moving Castle (2004)

8.2/10
Director: Hayao Miyazaki
Starring: Voices Of, Christian Bale, Emily Mortimer, Jean Simmons, Blythe Danner, Billy Cr...

With its otherworldly beauty and charm Miyazaki's magical tale of adventure and self-discovery is testament to his limiltiless imagination. 18-year-ol... Read more

Princess Mononoke (1997)

8.4/10
Director: Hayao Miyazaki
Starring: Billy Bob Thornton, Billy Crudup, Claire Danes, Gillian Anderson, Minnie Driver

This stunning masterpiece by animation wizard Hayao Miyazaki is set during Japan's Muromachi era, when a maddened Boar God infects a prince with a dea... Read more

It's a Wonderful Life (1946)

8.6/10
Director: Frank Capra
Starring: Lionel Barrymore, James Stewart, Donna Reed

Classic bittersweet comedy/drama that is the quintessential Frank Capra film. James Stewart is a banker living in the typical American small town of B... Read more

The Princess Bride (1987)

8.1/10
Director: Rob Reiner
Starring: Cary Elwes, Christopher Guest, Mandy Patinkin, Robin Wright, Chris Sarandon, Wal...

A very special, engaging fairy-tale comedy which mixes romance, magic and swashbuckling action as told to a young boy by his grandfather (Peter Falk).... Read more

Brazil (1985)

8/10
Director: Terry Gilliam
Starring: Jonathan Pryce, Robert De Niro, Kim Greist, Katherine Helmond, Ian Holm, Bob Hos...

Terry Gilliam's acclaimed, surrealistic nightmare vision of a 'perfect' future where technology reigns supreme. Spectacular set design, this wildly vi... Read more

Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981)

8.5/10
Director: Steven Spielberg
Starring: Karen Allen, Harrison Ford, John Rhys-Davies, Paul Freeman, Ronald Lacey, Denhol...

Aka "Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Ark". Harrison Ford is an adventure-seeking archeologist after rare and well-guarded ancient artifacts.... Read more

Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone (2001)

Director: Chris Columbus
Starring: Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint, Emma Watson, John Cleese, Robbie Coltrane, Richa...

In this enchanting film adaptation of J. K. Rowling's delightful bestseller, Harry Potter learns on his 11th birthday that he is the orphaned son of t... Read more

The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (2001)

8.8/10
Director: Peter Jackson
Starring: Elijah Wood, Viggo Mortensen, Ian Holm, Ian McKellen, Liv Tyler, Cate Blanchett,...

In the first installment of director Peter Jackson's ambitious and successful film adaptation of J.R.R. Tolkien's fantasy trilogy, Elijah Wood stars a... Read more

Wings of Desire (1987)

8.1/10
Director: Wim Wenders
Starring: Bruno Ganz, Solveig Dommartin, Otto Sander, Peter Falk, Curt Bois

'The first time I saw the film I thought it was a knockout; on second viewing it already seemed a classic,' wrote J. Hoberman of Wim Wenders' re-exami... Read more

The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou (2004)

7.3/10
Director: Wes Anderson
Starring: Bill Murray, Owen Wilson, Cate Blanchett, Anjelica Huston, Willem Dafoe, Jeff Go...

Internationally famous oceanographer Steve Zissou (Bill Murray) and his crew - Team Zissou - set sail on an expedition to hunt down the mysterious, el... Read more