What are the best fantasy movies to watch when you need an escape from reality? If you ask 100 fantasy movie lovers to list their top 15 favorite films, chances are you’re going to get 100 different answers. Why? It’s simple. There are scads of great fantasy and everyone has their own opinion. That said, there are at least a few that seem to appear on just about everyone’s list! Check out our picks for the best ones to watch! How many of these titles would you add to your list?
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Best Fantasy Movies to Watch
Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring
This is the first film in the LOTR trilogy, based on books by J.R.R. Tolkien. You’ll be introduced to Middle-earth, where a hobbit named Frodo Baggins (along with his friends) travel to Mount Doom to destroy the evil One Ring.
Harry Potter (Series)
There is a total of eight films in the Harry Potter series, all based on books written by J.K. Rowling. Watch Harry and his friends grow up as he attempts to defeat Lord Voldemort.
Pan’s Labyrinth
This fantasy intertwines a mythical world with real world Spain in 1944. Follow young Ofelia as she meets and interacts with strange creatures in a magical garden labyrinth.
The Dark Crystal
Directed by Jim Henson, The Dark Crystal’s main character is a “Gelfling” named Jen. He’s an elf-like being who’s on a mission to save his world by returning a missing shard to a powerful jewel.
Excalibur
As you might guess, the movie Excalibur revolves around the well-known legend of King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table. It premiered in 1981 and remains to be a classic.
Willow
Willow is a simple farmer who is unexpectedly given the task of protecting a special baby from the evil queen. This queen wants to destroy the child and take over the world.
How to Train Your Dragon
This DreamWorks movie takes place in an imaginary Viking world. You’ll meet Hiccup. He’s a teenager who wants to become a dragon slayer… or does he?
Labyrinth
Join Sarah as she goes on a fantasy adventure to save her baby brother from a giant maze. David Bowie stars as a Goblin King named Jareth.
The Princess Bride
The Princess Bride tells the story of a farmer who goes on a long journey to save his true love from a repugnant Prince. Several new friends help the farmer along the way.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VYgcrny2hRs
The Wizard of Oz
This timeless classic takes you to the wonderful land of Oz. Join Dorothy, Toto, the tin man, the cowardly lion and the scarecrow as the fight off the Wicked Witch of the West, in order for Dorothy to get back to Kansas.
La Belle et la Bête
La Belle et la Bête is the French version of the popular children’s classic The Beauty and the Beast.
The NeverEnding Story
The NeverEnding Story is about the adventures of a young warrior who takes on the job of stopping the Nothing (a dark storm) from destroying his world.
Clash of the Titans
Clash of the Titans is the re-telling of the mythological tale of Perseus, the grandson of King Acrisius of Argos. It was the highest grossing movie of 1981.
Monty Python and the Holy Grail
This film, written by and starring the British comedy group Monty Python, is a parody about King Arthur and his attempt to locate the Holy Grail.
Stardust
Meet Tristan. He goes through the wall of his village and ends up in the kingdom of Stormhold. It’s in this magic place that he meets the beautiful Yvaine, who is running away from an evil witch.
I have seen so many of these! I love fantasy and I didn’t even know it!
The Neverending Story and The Dark Crystal are two of my favorite movies. I will have to check out Stardust this weekend.
Fantasy movies are probably my favorite and you had some of my FAVORITE movies on this list. I can seriously watch them over and over again!
Wizard of Oz is of my all time favorite movies! I used to watch it so much when I was little I wore the tape out. Ya not DVD… I’m old. Lol.
these are some very good movies… some of them, like Labyrinth, bring me back to the good old childhood days : )
I love The Wizard of Oz. It was one of my favorite movies growing up. How to Train your Dragon is a good one too.
I was going through the list and thinking – where is Stardust? I’m so glad you included it! I love Princess Bride, Harry Potter, Lord of the Rings, Willow, and Monty Python!
Fantasy movies are the best! I still love watching Harry Potter. Definitely one of my favorites.
I love this list. Especially the classic movies you’ve listed. However, I had nightmares for days when I watched Pan’s Labyrinth. lol
Makes me happy to see the Dark Crystal showing up on more and more of these lists, it was criminially underrated when it came out.