Top 10 Fantasy Films of All Time
Video Overview & Insights
Filmmaking has always been about bringing the impossible to life. From the earliest days of Georges Melies and his filmed magic tricks, to Thanos throwing a moon at The Avengers, cinema as an art form has always stayed deeply rooted in the realization of the fantastic. So this Movie List is looking at the movies that do it best and the different ways in to the genre of Fantasy.
Where would you put The Last Unicorn? And do you know The Point? Does that count as fantasy? If you haven't seen it, you should.
From surrealism like Birdman or the work of David Lynch like Mulholland Drive, to David Fincher and Magical realism with The Curious Case of Benjamin Button or the whimsical charm of Paddington, and the Low Fantasy worlds of Arthurian legends like The Green Knight to the epic high fantasy detail of The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings, these are our picks for the Top 10 Fantasy Films of All Time.
This episode was written by Billy Jackson and edited by Michael Huynh.
The Picks:
Surreal Fantasy - Big Fish (2003) Tim Burton
ElfQuest never got a decent movie. But the graphic novels are LOTR or Harry potter quality.
Very Low Fantasy - Being John Malkovich (1999) Spike Jonze
Magical Realism - Uncle Boonmee Who Can Recall His Past Lives (2010) Apichatpong Weerasethakul
Avatar
Low Fantasy - Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon (2000) Ang Lee
Modern/Urban Fantasy - CĂ©line and Julie Go Boating (1974) Jacques Rivette
Nice commentary and all but what about LEGEND and LABYRINTH??!! Also really loved that Reign of Fire was tossed in the cauldron.
Supernatural Fantasy - Wings of Desire (1987) Wim Wenders
Mythic Fantasy - La Belle et la BĂȘte (1946) Jean Cocteau
Whereas you did mention Tim Burtonâs big fish, he passed over Edward Scissorhands and corpse bride
Middle Fantasy - The Wizard of Oz (1939) Victor Fleming
High Fantasy - Howl's Moving Castle (2004) Hayao Miyazaki
Good list, but it should be called the 10 best artsy fartsy fantasy movies
Epic Fantasy - The Lord of the Rings (2001-2003) Peter Jackson
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What about indian in the cabinet
Mission: Impossible, James Bond and the Top 10 Spy Movies of All Time - https://youtu.be/22UoudXbims
Spirited Away, Spider-Man Into the Spider-verse and the Top 10 Animated Films of All Time - https://youtu.be/0Y1fVoImuc0
interesting films
Inglourious Basterds, Moonlight and the Top 10 Meals in the History of Cinema - https://youtu.be/I0OcBx9i9s0
#IGN #CineFix
What s terrible list you've made
More User Perspectives
I'll quickly bow to the superior knowledge of all the contributors to this essay, but I'm shocked, shocked I tell you, that A Christmas Carol didn't even get a nod. Of course, as told by muppets is the best version, but that the story in ANY version didn't even get a nod feels like an oversight.
@stevenkidd642The world needs more content like this.
@LeonhardForster16:00 âTim Banditsâ? đđđ whoops! Although, it sounds like a whole other great movie. đđđ
@jpetersgoyanksBig Fish might be Tim Burtonâs best film and that is saying something.
@jpetersgoyanksthis is comedy not fantasy đ
@CATSMOKERThe dark crystal TV show and movie combined are some of the best fantasy media ever. I highly recommend it if anyone hasnât seen it already. I rank it in the top 2 next to LOTR and the Hobbit if youâre looking for a fantasy epic.
@chrisherber1635Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon wasn't a great movie. There are much better Asian movies usually done in the 70ies/80ies and 90ies. But the best out of the bunch in terms of sword & sorcery fantasy was by far "A Chinese Ghost Story"
Crazy how its forgotten, just because it lacks the PR of mediocre movies on media. Doesn't change anyhting. It will be a masterpiece of asian fantasy art forever.
70% of this list is âhere are 10 movies youâve heard of and like, but our pick is this super niche arthouse movie youâll never care about. â
@74tuposFor me , Fantasy means the movie is set in Medieval times with magic and dragons.
@majorgear1021You missed Dragonslayer (1981), a fantastic high fantasy movie.
@techdavisWonderful picks, but there are even bigger like ''Tempest'' (with Sarandon & Cassavetes), ''Until the end of the world'' (Venders), ''Altered States'' (Will Hurt), ''El Topo'' by Jodorowsky , and more
@borismilivojevic7182no to all the movies
@marcussmith4913Fellowship of the Ring changed the way I view movies and what I expect out of epoch movies. Only Avengers Endgame comes even close to it, and even it is a very distant second.
@Hippydaze35For the middle fantasy, I'm actually shocked y'all didn't give Space Jam an honorable mention.
@CameySaurusRexThe wizard of Oz is a contener!
@jaredharris1940I know you guys got a lot of slack for putting Star Wars as best western but I feel like Star Wars would fit on this list more than Science Fiction
@Year-of-the-RabbitNo Leyend?
No Krull?
No Labyrinth?
No Wizard?
No Clash of the Titans 82?
No Army of the Darkness?
Hellboy?
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What a horrible list
@Phillip-xi2cqI think I will watch LOTR, all 3, as my last conscious decision before shuffling off this mortal coil.
@kcharles8857How is Harry Potter franchise not here?
@geraldineguerrero3380I should add, I haven't seen Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon since the time it was in theaters. And seeing your clips, I realize just how amazingly beautiful it is. My memory tells me that I wasn't much into the actual drama. But I was much younger and may feel differently now. So I look forward to watching it again.
@JohnVanDuyneAt #7 you had two far better choices: Excalibur, and The Adventures of Barron Von Munchousen.
@JohnVanDuyneAlthough I'm deeply, deeply grateful that you rated LOTR first, I'm a little surprised that Fantasia didn't even get a mention. But you seemed to leave off pure cartoons in general, why?
@gaileverettyeah harry potter is definitely 2# here
@noasa-fo2muWell, this is all just speculation and conjecture on someone's part. One's own Top 10 may be completely different, mine is. The point here is to get people to watch and see if they agree, nothing more.
@ericswain4177One movie that should have received mention is The City of Lost Children. Definitely one of my favorite fantasy films. But I do love this list - definitely many movies on here for me to track down!
@joer4WHERE IS LEGEND FROM 1985 ??
@lenoctambule8152Man, the movies mentioned alone was worth the watch.
@FierroSevTotally agree with the first place, but how come LOTR is not a middle ages fantasy?
@tamilllaLord of the Rings: Best! Movies! Ever! In any genre! Enough said.
@AFKaplanLSAThe Dark Crystal
@craigroaringBig Fish would have won big at the Oscars if not for Lord of the Rings Return of the King
@kathleensue1I know I'm not alone, studio Ghibli, however it's spelled, is overrated.
@CappyLarouSometimes watching your videos is very entertaining, other times it's like having a conversation with that one friend that went to film school that you just want to kick in the dick. LOL
@CappyLarouLove (always) the surprises
And love how you toyed with us at the end đ
I moved to New Zealand just because of LOTR
@Pedro.henriquebpI hate that people bash Reign of Fire. That comment was very unnecessary. Do better.
@joulzjmaThis list has to include Harry Potter.
@Vadym-h9fNo movie can replace lord of the rings and hobbit, sadly I have watched this more than 100 times so I do not feel like watching again but nothing can compare these series, harry potter also
@sciencescope846417:35 The Princess Bride is 1987 not 1984
@xyzharrishuang