The 10 Most Enjoyable Fantasy Movies of All Time
Marcel is a writer who is passionate about most movies and series. He will watch anything that's good. He is a content manager by day and a videographer when needed. Marcel used to work at a major streaming service based in Asia Pacific as a Content Specialist and was the Distribution Manager for a local movie distribution company.
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Fantasy movies have a unique ability to make audiences forget about the real world for a couple of hours. They can take us to magical lands filled with fantastical beings or transport those fascinating creatures to our world. These movies are often a gamble because they're so hard to get right, but franchises like Harry Potter and The Lord of the Rings have become household names and have legions of devoted fans.
In this list, you will find only enjoyable fantasy movies, ranging from beloved animated adventures to epic trilogies and wildly entertaining blockbusters. Some of them are inspired by original stories, and some are exemplary adaptations from their source materials. These movies have the power to connect with the audience and make them wish they lived and breathed the same air as the characters in their world.
'Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves' (2023)
Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves follows Edgin (Chris Pine), who escapes from prison alongside his barbarian friend Holga (Michelle Rodriguez) and sets out to reunite with his daughter. But the wizard Sofina (Daisy Head) has taken over Neverwinter, so Edgin assembles a ragtag crew consisting of Holga, the inexperienced sorcerer Simon (Justice Smith), and the druid Doric (Sophia Lillis) to defeat the wizard and find his way back to his daughter.
Unlike the maligned 2000 movie adaptation that depicts the D&D universe as a generic fantasy world, this Dungeons & Dragons film is able to emulate the experience of playing the popular role-playing game. It has the unique elements and embraces the unpredictability of an actual tabletop adventure: plans go wrong, spells do not work as they're intended, and characters frequently fail, or even one character is hilariously overpowered. The result is a breezy, fun and funny adventure film that is both rich and entertaining. It's just a shame that the film did not meet the numbers it needed to reach at the box office, effectively closing the chances for a sequel.
'Labyrinth' (1986)
Labyrinth follows Sarah (Jennifer Connelly), a teenager who becomes frustrated with having to babysit her infant half-brother and impulsively wishes for him to be taken away. Her wish is granted by the Goblin King Jareth (David Bowie), who carries Toby into his kingdom and gives Sarah only thirteen hours to find him.
The sheer imagination of Labyrinth is what makes it so satisfying. Jim Henson, creator of The Muppets and The Dark Crystal, fills nearly every corner of the film with something strange to look at. The practical creatures are a marvel in themselves to watch, yet the movie is more than a collection of memorable visuals. Jennifer Connelly delivers a breakthrough performance, while David Bowie gives an unpredictable and weird sense of fun to Jareth. The film was not a success at the box office, but it has since been reappraised and emerged as a cult classic.
'Kiki's Delivery Service' (1989)
Kiki's Delivery Service follows the titular Kiki, a thirteen-year-old witch who leaves home with her black cat Jiji as part of the traditional year-long journey for young witches to become independent. She settles in the seaside city of Koriko, where she begins a delivery service using her ability to fly. While she's excited about living on her own, she also struggles to prove that she can succeed on her own.
Unlike the other fantasy movies on this list, Kiki's Delivery Service is smaller in scale, a slice-of-life story in a fantastical world. It turns something as simple as delivering a package into a delightful adventure. This coming-of-age film captures the excitement of being young and independent while also acknowledging that freedom can be intimidating and lonely. Kiki becomes a very relatable protagonist because her challenges are so relevant and close to us. Hayao Miyazaki's warm touch to everyday details makes the film engaging and heartwarming to watch.
'The Mummy' (1999)
The Mummy follows Rick O'Connell (Brendan Fraser), who joins librarian and aspiring Egyptologist Evelyn Carnahan (Rachel Weisz) on an expedition to the ancient Egyptian city of Hamunaptra. Their search for treasure leads them to the tomb of Imhotep (Arnold Vosloo), an ancient priest who was condemned to eternal punishment after attempting to resurrect his forbidden lover. When Imhotep is accidentally awakened, Rick, Evelyn and their group must find a way to stop the resurrected mummy from unleashing his wrath.
Put this in the category of "they don't make movies like this anymore." Stephen Sommers The Mummy is an unashamedly fun adventure film with a feel and atmosphere rarely found today, combining elements of the monster movie, romantic comedy, and supernatural horror. Fraser's Rick O'Connell is an immediately likable action hero, Evelyn brings intelligence and enthusiasm to the adventure, and their chemistry gives the movie a surprisingly warm center. With memorable moments, like the Mummy face sandstorm and those creepy beetles, the film is an enduring fan favorite. Fans will be entertained by another adventure in the highly anticipated The Mummy 4.
'The Princess Bride' (1987)
The Princess Bride follows Buttercup (Robin Wright), who believes her true love Westley (Cary Elwes) has been killed, only to discover that he has returned years later as the mysterious Man in Black. After Buttercup is kidnapped by a trio consisting of the scheming Vizzini (Wallace Shawn), the enormous Fezzik (Andre the Giant), and the master swordsman Inigo Montoya (Mandy Patinkin), Westley sets out to rescue her.
Directed by Rob Reiner, The Princess Bride is an inconceivably perfect fantasy film. It has sword fights, castles, pirates, romance, revenge, and impossible rescues, but it approaches all of them with a playful sense of humor that makes it feel breezy and light. At the same time, its comedy never completely destroys the fantasy because the characters genuinely care about what happens to one another. Audiences can never forget the eccentric trio, especially Inigo Montoya. The film is endlessly quotable and just very cozy to be revisited anytime.
'The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe' (2005)
The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe follows siblings Peter (William Moseley), Susan (Anne Popplewell), Edmund (Skandar Keynes), and Lucy Pevensie (Georgie Henley), who stumble into a magical world hidden inside an old wardrobe. Lucy is the first to enter Narnia, where she encounters the faun Mr. Tumnus (James McAvoy), but her siblings initially doubt her story. When all four eventually enter the wardrobe, they discover a kingdom trapped in an endless winter by the White Witch (Tilda Swinton).
The first Narnia film is a Christmas classic that can also be enjoyed all year round. Its premise that there's a magical world just behind a wardrobe is every child's dream. The four Pevensie siblings are also great protagonists. There is something genuinely exciting about watching the world expand from Lucy’s first meeting with Mr. Tumnus into a big high-stakes conflict. Drawing from the rich C.S. Lewis novel, the film is not afraid to be serious, most notably in the final battle, which has an outstanding blend of on-location shooting, practical effects and CGI. A new generation of audiences will be treated to a new Narnia film, directed by Greta Gerwig next year.
'How to Train Your Dragon' (2010)
How to Train Your Dragon centers on Hiccup (Jay Baruchel), a young Viking living on the island of Berk, where fighting dragons is considered a necessary part of life. After encountering an injured Night Fury that he names Toothless, Hiccup secretly begins developing a friendship with the creature and discovers that the dragons are not the monsters his community believes them to be.
Based on a popular book series, the movie is a coming-of-age story wrapped in the pure exhilaration of a fantasy adventure. The relationship between Hiccup and Toothless gives the film its emotional center, while the flying sequences are genuinely thrilling, particularly because Toothless feels like a living creature rather than simply a fantasy being. The film also has an excellent sense of humor, a colorful world, memorable supporting characters, and just enough danger to give its emotional moments weight. How to Train Your Dragon became an acclaimed trilogy, and even has a live-action version.
'The Lord of the Rings' Trilogy (2001–2003)
The Lord of the Rings trilogy follows a group of different people uniting to destroy the One Ring, which was created by the dark lord Sauron to conquer Middle-earth. At the center of it all is Frodo Baggins (Elijah Wood), a young hobbit who undertakes the burden of carrying the Ring all the way to Mordor.
Peter Jackson's Lord of the Rings trilogy was a game changer in Hollywood, shot back-to-back without any guarantee of success. The cast mostly were not household names, and the films were Jackson's first foray into big-budget filmmaking. However, the gamble paid off. The trilogy has spectacular CGI, engrossing characters, and large-scale production that is almost unseen in current times. Each film feels like another stage of the same enormous adventure, with events and character arcs building toward genuinely satisfying payoffs. Many attempts have been made to capture the same magic, but the OG The Lord of the Rings trilogy remains untouched.
Collider Exclusive · Middle-earth Quiz
Which Lord of the Rings
Character Are You?
One Quiz · Ten Questions · Your Fate Revealed
The road goes ever on. From the green hills of the Shire to the fires of Mount Doom, every soul in Middle-earth carries a destiny. Ten questions stand between you and the truth of who you are. Answer honestly — the One Ring has a way of revealing what we most want to hide.
💍Frodo
🌿Samwise
👑Aragorn
🔥Gandalf
🏹Legolas
⚒️Gimli
👁️Sauron
🪨Gollum
01
You are handed a responsibility that could destroy you. What do you do? The weight of the world falls on unlikely shoulders.
02
Your closest companion is heading into terrible danger. You: True loyalty is revealed not in comfort, but in crisis.
03
Enormous power is within your reach. Your instinct is: Power corrupts — but only those who reach for it.
04
What does "home" mean to you? Where we long to return reveals who we truly are.
05
When a battle is upon you, your approach is: War reveals what we are made of — whether we like it or not.
06
Someone comes to you for advice in their darkest hour. You: Wisdom is not knowing all the answers — it's knowing which questions to ask.
07
How do you see yourself, honestly? Self-knowledge is the most dangerous kind.
08
Which of these best describes your relationship with the natural world? Middle-earth speaks to those who know how to listen.
09
You encounter a wretched, pitiable creature who has done terrible things. You: How we treat the fallen reveals the height of our character.
10
When the quest is over and the songs are sung, what do you hope they say about you? In the end, we are all just stories.
The Fellowship Has Spoken Your Place in Middle-earth
The scores below reveal your true character. Your highest number is your match. Even a tie tells a story — the Fellowship was never made of simple people.
💍 Frodo
🌿 Samwise
👑 Aragorn
🔥 Gandalf
🏹 Legolas
⚒️ Gimli
👁️ Sauron
🪨 Gollum
You carry something heavy — and you carry it alone, even when you don't have to. You were not born for greatness, and that is precisely why greatness chose you. Your courage is not the roaring, sword-swinging kind; it is quiet, stubborn, and terrifying in its refusal to quit. The Ring weighs on you more than anyone can see, and still you walk toward the fire. That is not weakness. That is the rarest kind of strength there is.
You are, without question, the best of them. Not the most powerful, not the most celebrated — but the most essential. Your loyalty is not a trait; it is a force of nature. You would carry the person you love up the slopes of Mount Doom if it came to that, and we both know you'd do it without being asked. The world needs more people like you, and the world is lucky it has even one.
You were born to lead, and you have spent years running from it. The crown is yours by right, but you know better than anyone that right means nothing without the will and the worthiness to back it up. You are tempered by loss, shaped by long roads, and defined by a code of honour you hold to even when no one is watching. When you finally step forward, the world shifts. Because it was always waiting for you.
You have seen more than you let on, and you say less than you know — which is exactly as it should be. You are a catalyst: you do not fight the battles yourself, you ignite the people who can. Your wisdom comes not from books but from an age of watching what happens when it is ignored. You arrive precisely when you mean to, and your presence alone changes what is possible. A wizard is never late.
Graceful, perceptive, and almost preternaturally calm under pressure — you see things others miss and act before others react. You do not need to make a scene to be remarkable; your presence speaks for itself. You are loyal to those you choose to stand beside, and that choice is not made lightly. You have lived long enough to know that the most beautiful things in this world are also the most fragile, and that is why you fight to protect them.
You are loud, proud, and absolutely formidable — and beneath all of that is one of the most fiercely loyal hearts in Middle-earth. You don't do anything by half measures. Your friendships are forged like iron, your grudges run as deep as mines, and your courage in battle is the kind that makes legends. You came into this fellowship suspicious of everyone and ended it willing to die for an elf. That is not a small thing. That is everything.
You think in centuries and act in absolutes. Order, dominion, control — not because you are cruel by nature, but because you have decided that the world left to itself always falls apart, and you are the only one with the vision and the will to hold it together. You were not always this. Something was lost, or taken, or betrayed, and the version of you that stands now is the answer to that wound. The tragedy is that you're not entirely wrong — just entirely too far gone to course-correct.
You are a study in contradiction — pitiable and dangerous, cunning and broken, capable of both cruelty and something that once resembled love. You are defined by loss: of innocence, of self, of the one thing that gave your existence meaning. Two voices war inside you constantly, and the tragedy is that the better one sometimes wins, just not often enough, and never at the right moment. You are a warning, yes — but also a mirror. We are all a little Gollum, given the right ring and enough time.
'Shrek 2' (2004)
Shrek 2 picks up after Shrek (Mike Myers) and Fiona's (Cameron Diaz) marriage, with the newlyweds returning from their honeymoon only to be invited to meet Fiona's parents in the kingdom of Far Far Away. The visit quickly becomes awkward when Fiona's parents discover that their daughter has married an ogre, while Shrek feels that he does not belong in Fiona's world. Meanwhile, the sneaky Fairy Godmother (Jennifer Saunders) wants Fiona to marry her son, Prince Charming (Rupert Everett).
Shrek 2 might be the best animated sequel ever made. It doubles down on its premise that makes fun of the traditional fairy tale stories while also delivering a truly heartfelt story. New characters like Antonio Banderas' Puss in Boots, Prince Charming, and the Fairy Godmother are worthy additions to the story. Packed with smart jokes, pop culture references, and a great soundtrack ("Holding Out for a Hero" is now synonymous with this film), Shrek 2 is a truly satisfying and entertaining film for all ages and every generation.
'Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl' (2003)
Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl follows Captain Jack Sparrow (Johnny Depp), who seeks to reclaim his stolen ship from Barbossa (Geoffrey Rush). Jack's path crosses with Elizabeth Swann (Keira Knightley), the daughter of a British governor, who is kidnapped by Barbossa to lift the curse that befell his crew. Blacksmith Will Turner (Orlando Bloom), who is in love with Elizabeth, joins the adventure to save her.
It must be noted that everyone thought adapting a theme park ride was a bad idea, especially a pirate-themed one. Gore Verbinski proved the world wrong with this swashbuckling fantasy adventure. Led by an eccentric yet never annoying performance by Johnny Depp, the first Pirates film is an exemplary feat of filmmaking. It boasts an iconic soundtrack, challenging CGI effects, and an all-round fun atmosphere. Most of the scenes were shot on location, with an actual Black Pearl set built. The franchise went bigger with the next two films, which many argue could be one of the best blockbuster trilogies of all time.
- Cast
- Johnny Depp, Geoffrey Rush, Orlando Bloom, Keira Knightley, Jack Davenport, Jonathan Pryce, Lee Arenberg, Mackenzie Crook, Damian O'Hare, Giles New, Angus Barnett, David Bailie, Michael Berry Jr., Isaac C. Singleton Jr., Kevin McNally, Treva Etienne, Zoe Saldana, Guy Siner, Ralph P. Martin, Paula J. Newman, Paul Keith, Dylan Smith, Lucinda Dryzek, Michael Sean Tighe, Greg Ellis
- Runtime
- 143 minutes
- Director
- Gore Verbinski
- Writers
- Ted Elliott, Terry Rossio, Stuart Beattie, Jay Wolpert
KioskNews shows a cleaned-up reading view extracted from the publisher’s page — the original always lives on their site, not ours.