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.
Pan's Labyrinth (2006)
8.2/10
Director: Guillermo del Toro
Starring: Ivana Baquero, Ariadna Gil, Sergi Lopez, Doug Jones, Maribel Verdu, Alex Angulo
Pan's Labyrinth is Alice in Wonderland for grown-ups, with the horrors of both reality and fantasy blended together into an extraordinary, spellbindin... Read more
Pleasantville (1998)
7.5/10
Director: Gary Ross
Starring: J T Walsh, Jeff Daniels, Joan Allen, Reese Witherspoon, Tobey Maguire, William H...
A kind of "Wizard of Oz" in reverse as two 1990's teenagers become trapped in the golly-gee suburban fantasy world of a 1950's sitcom, where everythin... Read more
Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade (1989)
8.3/10
Director: Steven Spielberg
Starring: Sean Connery, Denholm Elliott, Harrison Ford, Alison Doody, John Rhys-Davies, Ju...
This time the man in the hat joins his father's lifelong quest for the Holy Grail, battling the Nazi's who also want the sacred relic. Harrison Ford,... Read more
Labyrinth (1986)
7.4/10
Director: Jim Henson
Starring: David Bowie, Jennifer Connelly, Toby Froud, Shelley Thompson
Sarah (Jennifer Connelly) wished her baby brother would be taken away by goblins, and now her wish has come true. Jareth (David Bowie), the Goblin Kin... Read more
Indiana Jones and the Temple Of Doom (1984)
7.6/10
Director: Steven Spielberg
Starring: Kate Capshaw, Harrison Ford, Amrish Puri, Roshan Seth, Philip Stone, Ke Huy Quan
Sequel to 'Raiders of the Lost Ark' with its two-fisted, whip-wielding hero, Dr Indiana Jones (Harrison Ford) performing feats of derring-do in Singap... Read more
Arrietty (2010)
7.6/10
Director: Hiromasa Yonebayashi
Aka "The Secret World of Arrietty". Mary Norton's novel "The Borrowers" gets an anime updating in this fun family tale co-written by Hayao Miyazaki. A... Read more
The Visitors ( Les Visiteurs ) (1993)
5.9/10
Director: Jean-marie Poire
Starring: Valerie Lemercier, Jean Reno, Christian Clavier
A record-breaking hit in its native France, Jean-Marie Poire's fantasy/comedy stars Jean Reno and Christian Clavier (who co-scripted with Poire) as a... Read more
Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (2004)
7.9/10
Director: Alfonso Cuaron
Starring: Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint, Emma Watson, Robbie Coltrane, Michael Gambon, Ri...
Alfonso Cuaron ('A Little Princess') takes over the directing reigns for this terrific third instalment (of a projected seven) in the beloved fantasy... Read more
Tales from Earthsea (2006)
6.5/10
Director: Goro Miyazaki
The son of legendary animator Hayao Miyazaki makes his directing debut with this adapatation of the third and fourth books in Ursula K. LeGuin's belov... Read more
The Grand Budapest Hotel (2014)
8.1/10
Director: Wes Anderson
Starring: Adrien Brody, Bill Murray, Edward Norton, F Murray Abraham, Harvey Keitel, Jason...
Grand Budapest Hotel recounts the adventures of Gustave H, a legendary concierge at a famous European hotel between the wars, and Zero Moustafa, the l... Read more