What better way to escape reality than watching an epic Fantasy movie! Fantasy movies are full of imagination, magic, and wonder.
Fantasy movies let us dream of endless possibilities while taking us on a journey we could only experience in our dreams and of course – the cinema!
If you want to escape reality, then get your fantasy fix with these 25 Must-See Reality Escaping Fantasy Movies that we are certain you will love!
#1. Mortal Engines (2018)
Who: Robert Sheehan, Hugo Weaving, Hera Hilmar.
What: A post-apocalyptic fantasy adventure of a world where entire cities ride around on wheels, and prey on smaller cities.
Why: Mortal Engines was a highly anticipated movie that in the end was considered a flop. However, it’s worth the watch if you want to be transported into a world you haven’t yet seen before. At times it has a ‘Mad Max’ feel about it which was a treat for the eyes, but there were times it lost my complete attention.
Fantasy Rating: 6.5/10
#2. The Labyrinth (1986)
Who: David Bowie, Jennifer Connoly.
What: Sarah has 13 hours to venture through a maze and save her baby brother from 3. the Goblin King before it’s too late.
Why: This is one of Jim Henson’s masterpieces that became a cult classic for a reason. Full of amazing characters including Hoggle, Ludo, and the creepy little firey fuckers that will probably give you nightmares! Plus, David Bowie sings a few catchy songs while wearing that tight Goblin King getup. 😉
Fantasy Rating: 9/10
#3. The NeverEnding Story (1984)
Who: Noah Hathaway, Gerald McRaney.
What: Bastian hides in a bookstore away from his bullies and finds a book called “The NeverEnding Story”. Basian reads the book and discovers a world called Fantasia that is in a dying need of his help.
Why: This film truly put me into the ultimate fantasy world when I was a kid. And now watching it as an adult I realize that some movies are best left as that memory. However, there’s still something in these 1980’s fantasy movies that make them timeless and this film is no different. Talking Rocks, giant turtles, and a flying dragon! The world of Fantasia will certainly make you forget about your reality for 2 hours.
Fantasy Rating: 8/10
#4. Lord Of The Rings (2001)
Who: Elijah Wood, Ian McKellen, Viggo Mortensen, Orlando Bloom.
What: Frodo Baggins inherits a ring that puts him on a quest to save civilization.
Why: Elves, wizards, dwarfs, and of course Gollem are just some of the characters you will see in this epic fantasy by J RR Tolkien brought to life by one of New Zealand’s top director’s Peter Jackson. Everything you need to take you away from reality is in this fantasy movie!
Fantasy Rating: 9/10
#5. Star Dust (2007)
Who: Claire Danes, Michelle Pfeiffer, Charlie Cox, Robert De Niro.
What: A young man crosses over a forbidden wall into a place of magic to retrieve a fallen star in order to win his crush’s heart.
Why: Watch this movie because it’s AWESOME! Witches, goblins, princes, flying pirates, and shooting stars are woven into a magical love story that is brought to life by some major acting talent.
Fantasy Rating: 8.5/10
#6. The House With The Clock In Its Walls (2018)
Who: Jack Black, Cate Blancett, Owen Vaccaro.
What: After losing his parents, ten-year-old Lewis goes to live with his uncle and helps him uncover a powerful clock that will be responsible for the end of the world.
Why: This is a light-hearted magical fantasy for all ages. It delivers on the fantasy elements but lacks the intensity in the overall story to keep you engaged the entire time. However, performances by the lead cast were entertaining and fun to watch.
Fantasy Rating: 6/10
#7. Pans Labyrinth (2006)
Who: Ivana Baquero, Maribel Verdú.
What: Following a civil war, 11-year-old Ofelia is threatened by her stepfather’s brutality and discovers a labyrinth full of dark and mythical creatures.
Why: A piece of cinematic art that isn’t just a fantasy movie but one that has lots of depth and layers of mystery, suspense and drama that will move you and keep you engaged for the full 2 hours. Del Toro, the visionary director creates a delightful balance between a world of fairy tales and a world of horrific nightmares. Loved it!
Fantasy Rating: 9/10
#8. Jumanji (1995)
Who: Robin Williams, Kristen Dunst, Bonnie Hunt.
What: A Brother and Sister find a board game called Jumanji in the attic of an old mansion that unleashes a magical world full of adventure.
Why: This film will give you a wild ride full of fun and imagination. Deadly jungle animals and natural disasters will become unleashed from the supernatural powers of a unique board game called Jumanji. This is a great Robin Williams movie for the whole family.
Fantasy Rating: 7.5/10
#9. Odd Thomas (2013)
Who: Anton Yelchin, Addison Timlin, Willem Dafoe.
What: Odd Thomas is a cook with clairvoyant powers who battles against evil forces.
Why: If you love Supernatural Fantasy, action, romance, comedy, horror, and a dash of tear-jerking moments then this movie is for you! After watching this film I wanted to watch more, and eagerly hoped for a sequel. Sadly the actor Anton Yelchin who did an amazing job of playing Odd Thomas passed away in 2016, and a sequel without him just won’t be the same. R.I.P Anton Yelchin.
Fantasy Rating: 8/10
#10. The Witches (1990)
Who: Angelica Houston, Rowan Atkinson, Jason Fisher.
What: A young boy stays in a Hotel with his grandmother and discovers that witches are wanting to turn children into mice.
Why: This movie gave me the creepy crawlies when I watched it as a child and turned me against witches for good! (because witches are real mmkay). The child actors are endearing, Angelica Houston makes an epic witch and Rowan Atkinson himself even shows up in the film for some well needed comic relief from the scary-ass witches.
Fantasy Rating: 7.5/10
#11. Thor: Ragnarok (2017)
Who: Taika Waititi, Chris Hemsworth, Cate Blanchett, Jeff Goldblum.
What: Thor finds himself imprisoned in a faraway planet and has to fight his way back to Asgard to save it from being destroyed by the goddess of death.
#12. King Kong (2005)
Who: Naomi Watts, Jack Black, Adrien Brody, Andy Serkis.
What: In 1933 New York a producer takes his film cast to a mysterious island where they encounter a giant ape.
Why: Peter Jackson never seems to under-deliver and this remake of Kong is no exception. Kong is brought to life on a massive scale and I was lucky enough to speak to Andy Serkis (Kong) before the movie’s release. One of his highlights was working with Naomi Watts. After seeing the film myself I would have to agree that she is one talented actress and played the role of Ann Darlow beautifully. A must-watch for King Kong fans.
Fantasy Rating: 7/10
#13. Batman Returns (1992)
What: Batman fights to protect Gotham City against a wicked businessman, an evil penguin, and a seductive Catwoman.
Why: Batman meets Tim Burton which makes for a dark and intriguing take in the world of Gotham city. The penguin is genuinely creepy, and no one can play Catwoman like Michelle Pfeiffer. This classic Batman is one badass movie that is hard to beat.
Fantasy Rating: 8.5/10
#14. Avatar (2009)
Who: Sam Worthington, Zoe Saldana, Sigourney Weaver.
What: A paraplegic marine is sent on a mission to the distant world of Pandora, a world colonized by the Na’vi. There he must make a decision on whether to save this new world from man-made destruction.
Why: James Cameron is the genius behind this revolutionary film, that skyrocketed at the box office with the highest-grossing film of all time earning 2.788 billion dollars. (now that’s gotta say something!)
The special effects are pushed to their limits with the help of the latest high-tech equipment and the lead visual effects company Weta Digital in Wellington New Zealand. One of the themes you might notice in the movie is climate change, which is threaded through a fantasy world which is visually striking. Watching these blue avatars on screen is a wild experience that will definitely help you escape reality.
Fantasy Rating:9/10
#15. Star Wars- Return Of The Jedi (1983)
Who: Mark Hamill, Carrie Fisher, Harrison Ford.
What: Luke Skywalker battles Darth Vader and Jabba the Hut to save his comrades and triumph over the Galactic Empire.
Why: We’ve all seen the world that George Lucas brought to our screens in the ’80s. It was a box office hit and frankly, the following star was movies just couldn’t compete. The battle between Darth Vader and Luke Skywalker was a stand out in movie history, along with memorable characters Chewbacca, Hans Solo and Princess Leia. This has everything you need in a fantasy movie, with sci-fi elements that are awesome.
Fantasy Rating: 9/10
#16. ET (1982)
Who: Henry Thomas, Drew Barrymore, Dee Wallace.
What: A 10-year-old boy finds an alien that’s stranded on planet earth and helps it find its way home while forming a unique friendship.
Why: This popular all-time classic of the 1980s is a movie everyone should watch. It can’t get any cooler than having a freaken alien as your bestie.
Fantasy Rating: 8.5/10
#17. Beautiful Creatures (2013)
Who: Alice Englert, Viola Davis, Emma Thompson, Alden Ehrenreich, Emmy Rossum.
What: Ethan Wate is eager to finish school so he can leave the small town of Gatlin until he meets a mysterious girl who begins to take over his dreams and then later learns that she is a witch.
Why: The fantasy elements are great, and you can’t beat a coming-of-age story about a witch. But the best part is the cute and magical romance that develops throughout the film between the two main characters played by Alice Englert and Alden Ehrenreich.
Fantasy Rating: 7.5/10
#18 The Chronicles of Narnia-The Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe. (2005)
Who: Anna Popplewell, Tilda Swinton, William Moseley.
What: Four English siblings are sent to a house where they find a wardrobe that transports them into a magical world of Narnia.
Why: This movie is mysterious, magical and at times dark which was balanced by the loving journey of the siblings and the majestic lion who join forces to defeat the White Witch played by Tilda Swinton who knows how to play an evil character.
Fantasy Rating: 8/10
#19. Edward Scissorhands (1990)
Who: Johnny Depp, Winona Ryder.
What: An old inventor creates Edward Scissorhands, but dies before he can finish his metal scissor hands. A lady discovers him living alone and takes him in her own house.
Why: Tim Burton just knows how to do fantasy, as he creates magical worlds that have a unique flavor only he can pull off. This movie had a beautiful and fanatical atmosphere that was intertwined by characters you could engage and feel for. And one of Johnny Depp’s finest performances. Loved it.
Fantasy Rating: 9/10
#20. Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981)
Who: Harrison Ford, Karen Allen, Paul Freeman.
What: Archaeologist and adventurer Indiana Jones is hired to find the Ark of the covenant which holds the key to humanity’s existence.
Why: You can’t beat a rugged Harrison Ford getting down and dirty and fighting some serious Nazi ass just to save humanity. They don’t make action movies with these kinds of fantasy elements like they use too.
Fantasy Rating: 7/10
#21. Black Panther (2018)
Who: Chadwick Boseman, Michael B. Jordan, Lupita Nyong’o.
What: Prince T’Challa returns home to an advanced African nation of Wakanda and serves his country as the new king, yet soon after is challenged for the throne.
Why: This is a pretty epic Marvel movie that did incredibly well at the box office and won three Oscars! It’s thrilling, and it’s not the normal superhero movie to come out of Hollywood which was refreshing to see. Definitely worth the watch if you like superhero movies.
Fantasy Rating: 8/10
#22.Cinderella (2015)
Who: Lily James, Richard Madden, Cate Blanchette.
What: A young girl finds herself in the care of her monstrous stepmother and steps sisters after her father dies.
Why: Lily James brings to life the famous character of Cinderella that angelic and very likable. Overall a wonderful remake of an all-time classic story that is worth your time.
Fantasy Rating: 7.5/10
#23. Maleficent (2014)
Who: Angelina Jolie, Elle Fanning.
What: The beautiful Maleficent defends her forest kingdom and puts a curse on her enemy King Stefan’s child and finds out that child could be the only way to restore peace.
Why: Angelina Jolie plays the most beautiful villain there is and shows off some pretty cool supernatural powers. Dark and mysterious tones lurk throughout the film and are highlighted with some lighter moralistic moments. Overall a great magical movie that will give you your fantasy fix.
Fantasy Rating: 6.5/10
#24. The Harry Potter Movies
Who: Daniel Radcliff, Rupert Grint, Emma Watson.
What: An orphan boy enrolls in Wizardry school and starts to learn who he really is.
Why: Harry Potter needs no introduction. The series of 8 movies exploded and set a spell on the whole world. The franchise was estimated to earn 7.7 billion dollars! Based on the popular books from J.K Rowling. The Harry Potter films are full of fantasy that will put a spell on you that lingers long after you’ve seen them.
Fantasy Rating: 9/10
#25. Wizard Of Oz (1939)
Who: Judy Garland
What: Dorothy and her dog Toto, are swept away in their house to the land of Oz when a tornado strikes Kansas
Why: You want fantasy? Then here it is, as we saved the best until last. The Wizard Of Oz will take you on a journey down the yellow brick road with Dorothy, Toto, Tinman, the Lion, and the Scarecrow as they encounter witches, flying monkeys, and singing munchkins. You might end up in the magical Emerald City, but then you’ll realize “there’s no place like home“.
Fantasy Rating: 9.5/10
Hope you have enjoyed our 25 must-watch fantasy movies! What’s your favorite fantasy movie that lets you escape reality?
Emmy is the founder and content writer at woopdedo. With a background in the performing arts, she then had a career working on cruise ships, until she decided to return to NZ where she spends most of her time storytelling and freelance writing. You can contact her on the social media links below or visit the work with us page.
