A well-defined magical system, character-driven stories, and a well-thought-out, all-encompassing world are some key elements needed to claim to be the best fantasy movie of the 21st century. While the ‘80s have timeless treasures like Labyrinth, Willow, and The NeverEnding Story, there are still some jaw-dropping modern fantasy movies to appreciate.
There’s something special about those fantasy movies before CGI took over. But methodical storytelling and gripping character development are forever. When it comes to the 21st century, which fantasy movies deserve a spot on the list? These films should be considered unmatched in the genre.
Stardust’s Magical Cast Delivers a Delightful Fantasy Adventure
The 2007 fantasy adventure movie Stardust takes audiences on a journey to the kingdom of Stormhold. Directed by Matthew Vaughn, with a screenplay by Vaughn and Jane Goldman, Stardust shoots you into a whimsical land where burning candles transport you anywhere you want to go, and stars fall in human form.
Fusing fantasy, humor, fairy-tale lore, and romance, Stardust is a magnetic movie with stunning visuals and bad guys you secretly love. The cast is insanely magical, with Michelle Pfeiffer, Claire Danes, Sir Ian McKellen, Rupert Everett, Robert De Niro, and Sienna Miller as just a few of the highlights. While the 77% RT score could stand to reach a little more for the stars, Stardust is a warm fantasy gem that is the perfect standalone adventure.
Choose Honor or Try to Cheat Death in The Green Knight
The 2021 adventure fantasy film, The Green Knight, takes a different approach to the Arthurian legend. Based on the 14th-century poem Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, the movie dives into themes of honor, fate, and mortality. Written and directed by David Lowery (Pete’s Dragon, Mother Mary), The Green Knight is a dark fantasy that asks if the pursuit of fame and fortune is worth it. The 88% RT score says it’s a journey everyone should go on.
Dev Patel portrays King Arthur’s nephew Gawain, with Alicia Vikander, Joel Edgerton, Sarita Choudhury, Sean Harris, and Ralph Ineson as other characters in the kingdom. This particular retelling might feel slower than some Arthurian tales. The Green Knight approaches the adventures of those in the Court of Camelot with more character development and less action. But the spectacular cinematography and an eerie but magical score more than fill the space.
The Colors and Textures in Coraline Are Masterful
One thing Henry Selick is going to do is traumatize us through stop-motion animation. His 2009 gothic dark fantasy film Coraline follows an 11-year-old girl as she finds a secret door that leads her to a parallel Other World. Coraline is overjoyed at first that the Other World counterparts of everyone she knows in her world seem to be more to her liking. She soon realizes how wrong she is.
With a hauntingly beautiful score, Coraline is a vibrant masterpiece for the eyes and ears. The contrast between the two worlds is stunning, and the animation is gorgeous. While not for the younger kids—currently holding onto a 91% RT score—it’s one of those movies that gets better with each rewatch.
It makes a great first horror movie for fans who want to ease into the genre. The Other Mother terrifies you, and you just want The Other Father to be okay. You’ll never look at buttons the same way again, and you’ll check every bedroom for a “Coraline door” for the rest of your life.
Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban Marked a Turning Point in the Wizarding World
The first two Harry Potter movies are light and cute. As the third installment, the students are all in their teenage years, and the film takes a noticeably darker turn. In Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, director Alfonso Cuarón (A Little Princess, Great Expectations) went for a moodier, harsher year at Hogwarts. There’s nothing dark about the film’s 90% RT score, though.
Elements such as the introduction of the Dementors, Harry’s struggle with his anger, in addition to an escaped dangerous wizard hunting him, and overall teenage angst appear to contribute to a more subdued visual palette. It’s the turning point in the series, and Cuarón created a world that reflected what the young characters would have been going through in their lives. From the score to the cinematography, fans adore Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban for its notable departure from the first two films.
The Shape of Water Masters Emotional Connections
Any fantasy movie that has Doug Jones playing an eccentric, weird character is going to be a masterpiece. In the 2017 Guillermo del Toro dark fantasy film The Shape of Water, Jones plays The Amphibian Man, a creature captured and studied by a devious colonel who later plans to kill the humanoid. Del Toro found inspiration for the romantic fantasy from Creature from the Black Lagoon.
The Shape of Water is so beautifully done and visually mesmerizing. The film received fair recognition, as it was nominated over 260 times and took home 91 awards, including four Oscars. Holding a 92% RT score, the movie flips the idea of what we think of as monsters. The power behind Elisa, played by Sally Hawkins, and The Amphibian Man not speaking is a genius way to show how important communication in any form is.
It makes the musical score that much more important in a film where the two main characters don’t say a single word. Alexandre Desplat won multiple awards for the film’s musical narration, including the Oscar for Best Original Score.
Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl Brings Adventure to the Horizon
Is there anyone who hasn’t heard of Captain Jack Sparrow? Not since the infamous One-Eyed Willy from The Goonies has there been such a well-known pirate captain. Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl brings good old swashbuckling fun back to the screen. Based on the Walt Disney ride, the 2003 action-adventure film with a 79% RT score delivers the most recognizable characters with plenty of hilarious and relatable quotes.
Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl follows Captain Jack Sparrow, played by Johnny Depp, and Will Turner, portrayed by Orlando Bloom, as they rescue Elizabeth Swann, played by Keira Knightley. Depp’s wit and charm as Sparrow propelled the movie along, with the rest of the cast absolutely captivating in every scene. The musical score is unforgettable, and the pacing and action make the almost two-and-a-half-hour-long film go by too quickly.
How to Train Your Dragon Teaches Empathy and Self-Acceptance
If you haven’t acted out the scene where Hiccup turns his head away to touch Toothless on the face for the first time with your cat or dog, we just have to ask—why not? The 2010 animated family fantasy adventure film How to Train Your Dragon brings mythical creatures and Vikings together in the village of Berk. Based on the children’s books by Cressida Cowell, the film tells the beautiful story of a young boy who feels he doesn’t have a place in his village and a dragon who has no one.
Dean DeBlois (Lilo & Stitch, all How to Train Your Dragon movies), Chris Sanders (Lilo & Stitch, The Wild Robot), and William Davies (Twins, Lyle, Lyle, Crocodile) wrote a heartfelt screenplay. It flawlessly captures the relationship between Hiccup and Toothless and injects happiness right into you. You can’t get a whole lot better than a 99% RT score. But you can get emotional every time Hiccup and Toothless take their first ride in the sky together.
Spirited Away Wants You to Discover Your Inner Strength
As one of the best fantasy movies that encourages curiosity and teaches how to turn a negative into a positive, the 2001 animated film Spirited Away can’t be topped. The Japanese fantasy film, written and directed by the legendary Hayao Miyazaki (Ponyo, The Boy and the Heron), Spirited Away is a masterclass in how you can layer elements in a film without it feeling too heavy.
A child, Chihiro, and her parents stumble into an abandoned resort where her parents are then turned into pigs. Chihiro must then work with the supernatural beings to get her parents back into their human form.
The details in the animation are unsurpassed, with a universal coming-of-age storyline that adults and kids enjoy equally. A 96% RT score is impressive, but not as much as winning 32 out of the 37 awards you were nominated for. Not only does Spirited Away aim for personal development, but it also brings attention to environmental issues like humans’ effect on nature and the disrespect for animals’ homes as we clear more land for development.
Pan’s Labyrinth is a Genre-Defining Dark Fantasy Movie
We know. We thought it was a kid’s movie when it came out, too. The 2006 dark fantasy war film Pan’s Labyrinth blends historically accurate times, like Nazi-occupied Europe, with a fantasy journey into a magical labyrinth. As another perfect fantasy from Guillermo del Toro, the film was nominated well over 100 times, winning three Oscars.
Del Toro used CGI in the film, but tried to rely on practical effects, puppetry, prosthetics, and makeup whenever possible to allow the labyrinth to feel more genuine. A 95% RT score says the desired effects were met. The themes of men as monsters, how powerful the imagination can be, and the willingness to sacrifice for those you love are important for adults to remember.
As much as the title might suggest otherwise, it really isn’t a movie for the younger crowd. It’s visually exhilarating, but that leads to characters like the Pale Man, portrayed by frequent collaborator with del Toro, Doug Jones, being too terrifying for kids. Pan’s Labyrinth is a gorgeously crafted fantasy masterpiece that is both heartbreaking and iconic.
The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring Has the Most Pure Friendships
Not that the over 150 award nominations automatically mean the 2001 epic tale The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring is the best fantasy movie of the 21st century, but it backs up the claim. The 91% RT score could be higher. Peter Jackson’s vision for the 1954 J. R. R. Tolkien epic novel couldn’t have been more extraordinary.
The landscapes of New Zealand were instrumental in creating Middle-earth. The merging of practical effects with state-of-the-art CGI brought the pages of Tolkien’s work to life fascinatingly and compellingly. It’s not surprising why The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring is still beloved 25 years after its release.
The friendships between the companions translated beautifully on screen, and you believed all the creatures and races could walk right into your living room. You create a bond with these characters that will carry through the rest of the adventure. Sam, Frodo, and the rest of the Fellowship will always have a special place with audiences, thanks to Peter Jackson’s otherworldly storytelling.