Because of its fundamentally imaginative nature, the fantasy genre has always lent itself to visual spectacles, sweeping sagas, and rich worlds. It takes the dedicated efforts of a lot of different people to create something like that, and so a director has an arduous task ahead of them when approaching a fantasy film. But when all that effort pays off, you get some true masterpieces that will continue to entertain and engage audiences for generations to come.
And so, we’ve searched the land far and wide and bring you glad tidings of a handful of such masterpieces, brought to life by some of cinema’s most legendary directors. Covering a wide range of genres and styles, each of these films has transformed our understanding of the genre and cemented their respective auteur’s reputation as a master of their craft. Without further ado, here’s our ranked selection of the most perfectly directed fantasy movies ever made.
8
‘Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban’ (2004)
Directed by Alfonso Cuarón, Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban is the third film of the Harry Potter movie series, starring Daniel Radcliffe as the titular young wizard. The movie follows his third year at Hogwarts, where the atmosphere is unusually tense due to the manhunt for an escaped murderer, Sirius Black (Gary Oldman), who is deeply connected to Harry and his parents. Rupert Grint and Emma Watson co-star as Harry’s best friends Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger, respectively, and Michael Gambon, David Thewlis, Timothy Spall, Robbie Coltrane, Emma Thompson, Tom Felton, Maggie Smith, Alan Rickman, and more appear in important roles.
The most universally loved of all the Harry Potter movies, Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban has been celebrated by critics and fans alike for its visuals, soundtrack, thematic maturity, and impeccable direction. Featuring some of the most compelling performances of the whole franchise and a story with real emotional depth, the film was the second-highest-grossing film of the year when it premiered in 2004, and it went on to receive two Academy Award nominations. It’s easily the best direction and writing the Harry Potter series has ever delivered, and though the later films got progressively bigger, Prisoner of Azkaban remains the best of the franchise.
7
‘The NeverEnding Story’ (1984)
Directed and co-written by Wolfgang Petersen in his English-language debut, The NeverEnding Story is a fantasy film adapted from the first half of Michael Ende’s eponymous 1979 novel. The movie follows a boy who finds a magical book about a young warrior’s quest to save the magical wonderland, Fantasia, and discovers that the lines between fiction and reality are not as distinct as he may have thought. The film stars Noah Hathaway, Barret Oliver, Tami Stronach, Patricia Hayes, Sydney Bromley, Gerald McRaney, and Moses Gunn, with voice acting by Alan Oppenheimer.
Though the film isn’t exactly a faithful adaptation of the book, Wolfgang Petersen’s The NeverEnding Story is still a beloved fantasy film that’s often hailed as one of the best children’s movies of the 1980s. A magical adventure about the power of imagination, the movie is a classic story with beats and themes that may feel familiar to today’s audiences, but are still as enjoyable as they were when the film first premiered. The NeverEnding Story was a critical and commercial success in its day, winning several accolades, and it was followed by two sequels: 1990’s The NeverEnding Story II: The Next Chapter and 1994’s The NeverEnding Story III.
6
‘Who Framed Roger Rabbit’ (1988)
Directed by Robert Zemeckis and based on the Gary K. Wolf novel Who Censored Roger Rabbit?, Who Framed Roger Rabbit is an iconic ’80s fantasy comedy that combines live-action and animation. Set in Hollywood, 1947, in an alternative world where cartoon characters exist alongside humans, the film follows troubled private eye Eddie Valiant as he uncovers a sinister conspiracy while helping the titular toon clear his name after being framed for murder. Bob Hoskins leads the live-action cast as Eddie Valiant, appearing alongside Christopher Lloyd, Stubby Kaye, Joanna Cassidy, and more, with a voice cast that includes Charles Fleischer, Lou Hirsch, Mel Blanc, and Kathleen Turner, among others.
A masterfully directed film, Who Framed Roger Rabbit may not be the first movie that combined live-action and animated filmmaking, but it is the one that did it best. The film was also executive-produced by Steven Spielberg, who managed the impressive feat of getting all the major animation studios to allow their characters to be featured in the movie, which significantly elevates an already entertaining laugh-out-loud comedy. The movie has been a pop culture landmark ever since it first premiered in 1988, and it went on to win three Academy Awards, earning itself a place in the National Film Registry in 2016.
5
‘The Princess Bride’ (1987)
Directed and co-produced by the late Rob Reiner, The Princess Bride is a cult classic fantasy adventure film written by William Goldman and adapted from his 1973 novel. The film stars Cary Elwes as farmhand-turned-swashbuckler Westley, following him on a quest to rescue his true love, Buttercup (Robin Wright), from the villainous Prince Humperdinck (Chris Sarandon). Mandy Patinkin, André the Giant, Christopher Guest, Wallace Shawn, Peter Falk, Fred Savage, Billy Crystal, and Carol Kane star in notable supporting roles.
One of the most decade-defining films of the 1980s, The Princess Bride is a widely recognized pop culture landmark and a timeless classic that continues to entertain new generations years after it first premiered. Celebrated by critics and viewers alike for its wit and action, the film is a thoroughly entertaining fantasy adventure with plenty of quotable dialogue, genre subversions, and entertainingly eccentric characters. Awarded numerous accolades in its day, The Princess Bride was selected for preservation in the National Film Registry by the Library of Congress in 2016.
4
‘Star Wars: Episode V – The Empire Strikes Back’ (1980)
Directed by Irvin Kershner, Star Wars: Episode V – The Empire Strikes Back is the second film in the original trilogy of George Lucas’s Star Wars franchise. Set three years after the first movie, the story follows the ongoing conflict between the Galactic Empire and the Rebel Alliance, catching up with Luke Skywalker (Mark Hamill) as he continues his education in the mysteries of the Force under Jedi Master Yoda (Frank Oz), so he can finally confront the evil Darth Vader. Harrison Ford, Carrie Fisher, Billy Dee Williams, Anthony Daniels, James Earl Jones, and more star in other significant roles.
Though it had a mixed reception when it first premiered in 1980, today, The Empire Strikes Back is widely regarded as the best film in the entire Star Wars franchise. The sequel is a darker, more mature expansion of the series that takes audiences deeper into the spiritual and mystical nature of the Force and features one of the most shocking plot twists in cinematic history. The movie has garnered several honors and accolades, and it was selected for preservation in the National Film Registry by the United States Library of Congress in 2010.
3
‘The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King’ (2003)
The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King is an adaptation of J. R. R. Tolkien’s book and the third and final film in Peter Jackson’s The Lord of the Rings trilogy. Directed and co-written by Jackson, the film follows the hobbits Frodo (Elijah Wood) and Sam (Sean Astin) on the last leg of their quest to destroy the One Ring; meanwhile, the other members of the Fellowship wage a final, climactic battle against Sauron and his legions. Ian McKellen, Liv Tyler, Viggo Mortensen, Cate Blanchett, John Rhys-Davies, Bernard Hill, Billy Boyd, Dominic Monaghan, Orlando Bloom, Andy Serkis, and more star in the ensemble cast.
One of the highest-grossing films of all time, The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King was a triumph when it first came out in 2003, and it’s still a beloved and celebrated fantasy landmark decades later. An epic fantasy film that successfully captures the scale and beauty of its source material, the movie is often hailed as one of the greatest fantasy movies ever made. The Return of the King was also awarded several honors, winning a whopping 11 Academy Awards, including Best Picture.
2
‘Pan’s Labyrinth’ (2006)
Written and directed by Guillermo del Toro, Pan’s Labyrinth is a period dark fantasy set in Spain, not long after the Spanish Civil War, following a young girl who arrives with her recently married mother at the home of her stepfather, a ruthless Civil Guard officer. While he pursues a ruthless campaign against anti-fascist resistance fighters, the girl finds herself on a fantastical quest to reclaim her true destiny as the reincarnation of a fairytale princess. Ivana Baquero stars in the lead role, with Sergi López, Maribel Verdú, Doug Jones, Ariadna Gil, Álex Angulo, and more as supporting characters.
A fantasy masterpiece, Pan’s Labyrinth has been universally acclaimed ever since its momentous premiere at the 2006 Cannes Film Festival. Blending historical tragedy with a surreal fantasy story, the film has earned praise for its layered narrative, emotional depth, powerful performances, and visual poetry. Easily one of Guillermo del Toro’s greatest directorials, the film is widely hailed as one of the best fantasy movies of all time. It has won numerous awards, including Oscars for Best Cinematography, Best Art Direction, and Best Makeup.
1
‘Spirited Away’ (2001)
Written and directed by Hayao Miyazaki and animated by Studio Ghibli, Spirited Away is an animated fantasy film that follows a young girl named Chihiro who becomes trapped in the spirit world. Desperate to find a way back to the human world, she gets a job at a bathhouse for supernatural beings while she tries to find her parents and figure out how to free herself. The film’s original Japanese voice cast stars Rumi Hiiragi, Miyu Irino, Mari Natsuki, Takashi Naito, Yasuko Sawaguchi, Tsunehiko Kamijō, Takehiko Ono, and Bunta Sugawara, with Daveigh Chase, Jason Marsden, Suzanne Pleshette, and more voicing the English dub.
Spirited Away is an animation masterpiece that’s easily one of the greatest films directed by the legendary Hayao Miyazaki. The film has been widely acclaimed and is one of the highest-grossing Japanese films of all time, an immersive and imaginative fantasy adventure with a touching emotional journey. The movie has received numerous accolades and notably became the first hand-drawn, non-English-language animated film to win the Academy Award for Best Animated Feature Film.