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From hidden gems to forgotten classics, these fantasy films deserve more love! Join us as we journey through enchanted worlds, magical creatures, and epic adventures that somehow slipped through the cracks. Get ready for dragons, witches, time travelers, and more fantastical wonders you might have missed.
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00:00I know you don't want to go to the doctors, but you just haven't slept the night right through
00:04since the tornado. Welcome to WatchMojo, and today we're counting down our picks for the
00:09most underappreciated fantasy movies ever made. I have a longing to eat a cow. I can't believe it,
00:17an entire cow. Hooves, tail, bones, ears, the whole thing. Number 30, Time Bandits.
00:24Who sent you? The gods? Zeus? Apollo? Athena?
00:32The first of Terry Gilliam's Trilogy of Imagination. Co-written by Michael Palin,
00:37Time Bandits is an absurdist family fantasy film, and a firm favorite with 80s kids.
00:42You stick with these boys, you have a great future. It got a shiny new reboot in 2024,
00:48but it's hard to top the nostalgia of the original. Kevin is an ordinary kid with a passion for ancient
00:53history, whisked off on an adventure by a thieving band of time-traveling little people.
01:07On the journey, he's thrown into the path of John Cleese's Robin Hood, Ian Holmes' Napoleon,
01:12and even Agamemnon, as played by Sean Connery. It's Bill and Ted meets British humor. Surreal,
01:19satirical, and surprisingly dark at times, but you just have to go with it.
01:24The mayor of Castiglione and his council would like very much to surrender now, please.
01:30Look at that! Look at the little fellow!
01:34Number 29, The Flight of Dragons.
01:37Please, hear me out.
01:42I propose we create the last realm of magic.
01:47The animation style is very of its time, but there's no denying that Rankin-Bass Productions
01:52made some ambitious movies. This epic tale of magic and technology flew straight to video back
01:58in 1982, but it's fondly remembered by its original fans, and for good reason.
02:03I did my part, and as soon as Queen Sandmerk was gone, I started to breathe, so Solarius obviously did his.
02:11The film is loosely based on Peter Dickinson's 1979 book, The Flight of Dragons, combined with the
02:19Gordon R. Dixon novel, The Dragon and the George. Although aimed at kids, there are big themes at play,
02:25and some dramatic and complex storytelling.
02:27Maybe, but it's also a highly corrosive acid, much stronger than anything I ever ran into at the lab.
02:33The movie also boasts an impressive voice cast, including James Earl Jones and James Gregory.
02:47Number 28, The Company of Wolves.
02:50They say the priest bastards often turn into wolves as they grow older.
02:55This fairy tale horror, based on Angela Carter's reworking of Little Red Riding Hood,
02:59is just as creative and disturbing as you might expect.
03:08The screenplay incorporates elements from other tales in her book The Bloody Chamber,
03:13and was co-written by Carter herself. For a movie with a low budget, a lot of dream sequences,
03:19and plenty of Freudian symbolism, The Company of Wolves was surprisingly well received.
03:23It still managed to slide into obscurity, but it shouldn't stay there.
03:34Despite the Hammer horror visuals, the film is stylish and atmospheric. Angela Lansbury as the
03:41grandmother as fantastic as ever, and Sarah Patterson as Little Red Riding Hood shines in her film debut.
03:47That's a horrid story. I didn't like it at all.
03:51That's not a story, child. It's the God's own truth.
03:55Number 27, The Spiderwick Chronicles. In an era of long-running sci-fi and fantasy
04:00franchises based on best-selling books, The Spiderwick Chronicles was a standalone adventure
04:05that slipped under the radar. There's nothing I can do about that. One thing I know for sure is that you've
04:11gotta destroy that book. Adapted from a series by Tony DiTralisi and Holly Black, it stars Freddie
04:17Highmore in the dual role of teens Jared and Simon, who move into a creepy old house following their
04:22parents' divorce. Here, alongside their sister Mallory, they discover a secret world of magical
04:28creatures both good and evil. Spiderwick is a whimsical yet dark tale that feels like a throwback
04:43to a golden age of family films. With just enough scares for the kids, and engaging performances from
04:48the cast, we think it's definitely worth a watch. Number 26, The Fall. A passion project for the
05:01director Tarsem, The Fall is an original fantasy adventure concerned with the magic of storytelling.
05:07Lee Pace plays an injured stuntman confined to a hospital bed and thinking of ending it all. That is,
05:13until he meets a young girl and fellow patient, telling her an epic tale. Shot on location in 24
05:29different countries, the film's stunning cinematography is indicative of its vision.
05:34The movie is ambitious, and some might say indulgent, but there's a real emotional core there, too.
05:39Six-year-old Romanian actress Katinka Untaru plays Alexandria, and much of her dialogue was improvised.
05:46I was telling the truth. No, you just said no. You weren't telling the truth.
05:49No, I tell it. Were you telling the truth? Yeah.
05:53The interactions between her character and Pace's stuntman are genuinely moving. Worth a watch.
05:59Show me this time. You should ask someone else. There's no happy ending with me.
06:09Number 25, Peter Pan. Prepare to meet thy doom. Have acting!
06:17There have been multiple reimaginings of J.M. Barrie's Peter Pan, but when compared to Hook or the Disney
06:23animated classic, the 2003 version is all but forgotten. Which is a shame, because it's pretty good.
06:38Does this movie bring anything new or original to the story? Not particularly, but it's a solid
06:43adaptation with a great cast, a stunning soundtrack, and a cozy, Christmassy feel. Plus, it looks gorgeous.
06:51Jeremy Sumter is a charismatic Peter. Wendy and the Lost Boys are perfectly cast as well.
06:56But the real star of the show is Jason Isaacs, Captain Hook.
07:02She'd rather grow up than stay with you.
07:06Isaacs, who also plays Mr. Darling, channels the pantomime baddie vibes, but also brings
07:12genuine pathos to the role. Growing up is such a barbarous business, full of inconvenience and pimples.
07:20His Hook is one of our favorite portrayals.
07:23Number 24, Big Fish. Tim Burton's American Fantasy Fable received mixed reviews back in 2003,
07:31despite collecting a handful of award nominations. The film has a strong cult following and a
07:36respectable reputation, but we still think it deserves more love.
07:40You say I don't have a plan. Well, I do have a plan. I'm gonna find that girl and marry her and spend the
07:44rest of my life with her. Based on the book by Daniel Wallace, the movie's starry cast includes Ewan
07:50McGregor, Helena Bonham Carter, and even a young Miley Cyrus. Big Fish is the story of a father and son,
07:57told through flashbacks and fairytale vignettes, swapping between genres and never failing to surprise.
08:04It's magical realism at its most unapologetic. Surreal, colorful, and full of imaginative twists.
08:16The film more than lives up to its southern gothic aesthetic, and that daffodil scene is pure cinema.
08:22Number 23, The Secret of Nim. It is four years since our departure from Nim,
08:37and our world is changing. Don Bluth's feature film directorial debut may have been overshadowed
08:43by the movies that came later, but we'd argue that The Secret of Nim is still one of the director's
08:48best. Loosely adapted from the children's classic Mrs. Frisbee and the Rats of Nim,
08:53this dark, captivating adventure has an emotional maturity and intensity that sets it apart.
08:59I must tell you about Nim and our plan. Go. Look there.
09:08The traditional hand-drawn animation is a feast for the eyes,
09:12It's the most beautiful sight I've ever seen. And Jerry Goldsmith's score ramps up the atmosphere.
09:18The voice cast also includes acting stalwarts including Elizabeth Hartman and Derek Jacoby.
09:24Uniquely magical, and just a little bit scary, 80s animated movies really hit different.
09:30An accident? Of course. Cut the lines, and the weight of it will crush his bones.
09:38Number 22. Willow. Willow has a very dedicated cult following, and a short-lived Disney Plus
09:44reboot, so we're not sure we can even call it underrated at this point, but we're going to
09:49because it deserves to be celebrated in the mainstream. Back in 1988, critics enjoyed Warwick
09:57Davis' performance and the special effects, but lambasted the movie as unoriginal. It has since been
10:03celebrated as an underrated high fantasy gem, with a lot of heart and a great sense of fun.
10:24Conceived by George Lucas and directed by Ron Howard, Willow is a classic hero's journey that
10:29hits all the fantasy tropes, but after all, tropes are there for a reason. Is it just nostalgia,
10:35or is this movie unironically great? Absolutely.
10:39Number 21. Return to Oz. Remember how we spoke?
10:45Not to talk about Oz. What possessed Disney to put out this incredibly sinister sequel will forever
10:51remain a mystery. But we're glad they went so off-brand, because Return to Oz is nothing if not
10:57memorable. The movie gets off to a bizarre and terrifying start, with a post-Oz Dorothy being
11:02hauled off to a sanatorium for electroshock therapy. Later, she wakes up in a much more frightening Oz
11:20than we remember, where the evil Princess Mambi reigns supreme, and the nightmarish wheelers roam the
11:25streets. Even Dorothy's friends are vaguely unnerving. Understandably, Return to Oz was a flop,
11:43but putting childhood trauma aside, it was also dazzlingly different and faithful in tone to the
11:49original Oz books. Number 20. Dragonheart. While the golden era of fantasy films could arguably be
12:01the 1960s, 70s, or 80s, the 1990s weren't exactly bereft of fantasy fare. It's Sean Connery's work
12:07as the voice of Draco the Dragon that's perhaps best remembered in 1996's Dragonheart.
12:20Yet the film also does a great job at both celebrating and commenting upon classic fantasy
12:25tropes. This is a world similar to the dying days of the Old West, where dragons are becoming extinct,
12:31and their symbolic meaning is in the transitional period of becoming legend.
12:35I hold you to your bow, knight! There's a pleasant amount of pathos here as a result,
12:40making Dragonheart recommended viewing for fans who felt fantasy films might have peaked in the 80s.
12:45Aside from your misery, what's to lose? My soul.
12:51Number 19. Ladyhawk. The landscape of 1980s fantasy films is littered with quality gems,
12:57yet Ladyhawk still stands out as a somewhat idiosyncratic entry.
13:01Lord, I will never pick another pocket again as long as I live, I swear it.
13:04The 1985 film has a number of things going for it, including quality casting in the form of Matthew
13:10Broderick, Rutger Hauer, and Michelle Pfeiffer. Additionally, Andrew Powell's score sounds inspired
13:15and unique today. Despite being critically scorned during the film's initial release…
13:20I must kill a man.
13:22Tell me, does this walking corpse have a name?
13:29His grace.
13:29Ladyhawk feels like a fantasy movie out of time, thanks to Powell's blending of synthesized progressive rock,
13:36and traditionally rousing orchestral music. This, combined with the film's wonderful production
13:41design and solid cinematography, practically demands a positive reappraisal in the modern day.
13:46Damn you.
13:50Damn you to hell.
13:51Number 18. Krull. Viewers of a certain age will likely possess fond memories of watching Krull back
13:57in the mid-80s, probably on home video or during any of its cable airings. The film was a blend of
14:10science fiction and fantasy tropes, and also possessed one of the coolest weapons ever committed
14:15to a fantasy film, The Glaive. The production design of Krull gave it an expansive, lived-in feel,
14:25while the cast of Lizette Anthony, Freddie Jones, and Kenneth Marshall all feel game to deliver the
14:30goods. Fantasy was a big deal in the aftermath of 1982's Conan the Barbarian, and Krull certainly
14:37fits snugly within this archetype.
14:41Number 17. Solomon Cain.
14:43Writer Robert E. Howard has been lauded over the years for his creation of Conan the Cimmerian.
14:48Yet, the sword and sorcery hero isn't the only Howard character to receive the big-screen treatment.
14:54James Purefoy did a wonderful job at depicting Howard's dour Puritan hero, Solomon Cain, on film.
15:00It's been a long time since anybody said that about me.
15:03The adaptation presents a dark and dangerous world of evil, and Cain feels like the perfect
15:08choice to combat this infestation at every turn. And I need your light to help me find my way.
15:14The violence here feels palpable, as if it can occur at any moment, and the resulting action is
15:22executed with visceral weight and visual flair. Solomon Cain may just be the best late 2000's
15:28fantasy movie you've never seen.
15:30My God. Only you can help me now.
15:33Number 16. Conan the Destroyer.
15:36Opinions continue to be largely split over 1984's Conan the Destroyer, even decades after its initial
15:43release.
15:43You owe allegiance to no one. Is that not so?
15:47It is, and it always will be.
15:49This is due primarily to the film's comfortably lighter tone and tamer violence, at least compared
15:55to its 1982 predecessor. The studio and producers thought the changes would increase the money-making
16:00potential of the sequel. But there's still a lot to like about the film today, too. From Basil
16:09Polidorus' magnificent score, to Grace Jones' over-the-top performance as Zula. Arnold Schwarzenegger,
16:15in the meantime, still shines as Conan, and the film more than deserves the goods in terms of exciting
16:20fantasy action.
16:25Number 15. The Lord of the Rings.
16:28A titan of the animation industry, Ralph Bakshi has a cornucopia of transgressive classics to his name.
16:34His adaptation of The Lord of the Rings, however, remains a crowning achievement for a man with a
16:39truly enviable resume.
16:41One ring to find them. One ring to bring them all. And in the darkness, find them.
16:49This is despite the fact that this adaptation sizes down J.R.R. Tolkien's original source material and
16:55essentially stops at Helm's Deep. What Bakshi's Lord of the Rings does, however, is combine
17:00revolutionary rotoscoping effects with storytelling that doesn't dilute the scale at hand.
17:06By all the shire, you shall have neither the ring nor me!
17:10If the Rankin-Bass Tolkien adaptations are perfect for younger kids,
17:14then Bakshi's The Lord of the Rings is a welcome addition for both adults and children to explore
17:20Middle-earth.
17:21Oh, Sam. Samwise Gamgee. My dearest hobbit. Friend of friends.
17:28Number 14. The Beastmaster.
17:30Conan the Barbarian wasn't the only would-be fantasy classic released in 1982.
17:35Director Don Coscarelli was hot on the heels of his 1979 film Phantasm when production
17:41began on what would become The Beastmaster.
17:43Friends. Who are you?
17:49I'm Dar.
17:50Coscarelli's film would go on to become a seemingly omnipresent feature during the early days of HBO.
17:56It starred Mark Singer as the titular animal-whispering hero. The film possesses a left-of-center
18:02feel that seems to permeate all of Coscarelli's work. From the costume designs and special effects,
18:07to the wonderful animal actors.
18:09And now I have strength.
18:13Your name is Ru.
18:15Co-stars John Amos, Rip Torn, and Tanya Roberts also bring some star power to the material,
18:20burning the Beastmaster into the memories of everyone who watched this epic on a loop growing up.
18:26We will fight.
18:27Number 13. Excalibur.
18:32Different audiences might desire different things from their fantasy films.
18:36Sometimes we're in the mood for some light-hearted fun, other times we want a movie to make us think.
18:41John Borman's Excalibur is one of those hard fantasy films that doesn't hold its audience's hand for a
18:47moment. Instead, the filmmaker's notable independence streak comes to a head with a film that adapts the
18:56Arthurian legend in a unique and unrivaled manner. Excalibur isn't a pretty version of King Arthur.
19:02Instead, this is a world of treachery, subterfuge, and violence, where nothing is quite as it seems.
19:08The production design captures true hardship and misery of living under difficult conditions. Yet,
19:14Excalibur remains a satisfying joy to watch.
19:17If only you could see me wield Excalibur.
19:21Number 12. Dragonslayer.
19:23There have been a lot of cinematic representations of dragons over the years,
19:27but perhaps none of them have equaled the achievement of Dragonslayer from 1981.
19:32The special effects from the George Lucas-founded industrial light and magic have held up remarkably
19:38well. The creature has even been referenced as an influence on Guillermo del Toro and George R.R. Martin.
19:50Dragonslayer isn't just about the monster, however, since the performances of Peter McNichol,
19:55Caitlin Clarke, and Ralph Richardson feel just as essential to the film's success.
20:00Don't think for a second that Dragonslayer is just an 80s movie. This could be one of the truly great
20:05fantasy movies of all time, full stop.
20:14Number 11. The Fountain.
20:16There is a lot going on with this 2006 film from director Darren Aronofsky.
20:21The Fountain inserts a lot of moving parts within its narrative,
20:24from expansive fantasy tropes to elements of romance, drama, and science fiction.
20:28The Fountain utilizes all of this to discuss themes of destiny and love throughout the ages. Hugh
20:39Jackman and Rachel Weisz work wonders together, and The Fountain highlights their chemistry and
20:44natural talents as actors. Meanwhile, the cinematography is gorgeous, the score evocative,
20:55and Aronofsky's direction feels measured and secure. The Fountain deserves to be seen.
21:05Number 10. Troll Hunter. World mythology is a fascinating subject,
21:09and there's a bevy of historical legends just begging for a proper fantasy adaptation. Troll Hunter,
21:16from 2010, did a great job at updating Norwegian folklore for a modern audience.
21:20The film added a dollop of traditional horror and some found-footage cinematography,
21:28making the events of the film feel vital and nerve-wracking.
21:37The CGI-generated trolls honestly look pretty great, and the film as a whole balances fantasy film
21:43tradition with a clever script and engaging characters. Troll Hunter is an all-around win.
21:49Definitely don't miss this one.
21:56Number 9. The Gate. The worlds of science fiction, fantasy, and horror have long been intertwined.
22:02How else could you categorize the genre film's centerpiece from 1987, The Gate?
22:06It smells like something died in there. Director Tibor Tokac and screenwriter Michael Nankin helped
22:15create a world that served as an entry point for generations of kids seeking to dip their toes
22:21into more adult fare. The Gate gives the viewers fantastical creatures, a legitimately creepy occult
22:33atmosphere, and likable protagonists, anchored by a young Steven Dorf. The direction keeps things
22:39moving along at a brisk pace, and the special effects still capture our imaginations to this day.
22:50Number 8. The Witches. It's dizzying to think of all the creativity involved in getting this film
22:56off the ground. For starters, The Witches is based on a novel by Ruald Dahl. Elsewhere,
23:04the mighty team of Jim Hansen brought the groundbreaking special effects work to life.
23:09Finally, Nicholas Roeg. Known for his cryptic, stylized films including Don't Look Now,
23:14Performance, and The Man Who Fell to Earth, joined as director. All of these moving parts combined to
23:22make The Witches feel less like a fairy tale and more like a cautionary one, with a dark atmosphere
23:28and some mature themes. Number 7. The Adventures of Baron Munchausen. Don't let the fact that this
23:40Terry Gilliam film was a massive box office bomb deter you. The Adventures of Baron Munchausen is truly
23:46One of a Kind. Then again, isn't just about every film from the Maverick director One of a Kind.
23:54The former Monty Python member possesses an incalculable imagination and an unfettered
23:58approach to cinema and the world. As a result, The Adventures of Baron Munchausen does just what it
24:03says on the tin. It brings the titular Baron's tall tales to the silver screen. That includes
24:11fantastical creatures, swashbuckling high adventure, and sweeping romance. It even has an uncredited
24:17appearance from Robin Williams. Number 6. The Last Unicorn.
24:24How important is film music to you? Do you remember a theme song long after its melodies have faded away?
24:31For many, the titular song in The Last Unicorn continues to echo years after this animated feature
24:38hit screens back in 1982. The rock group America still performs the somewhat haunting ballad in
24:53concert. Beyond this, however, The Last Unicorn remains a treasure of early 80s animation.
24:59You may come with me if you like, though I wish you'd asked for some other reward for having freed me.
25:05A lot of this is due to the director-producer team of Arthur Rankin Jr. and Jules Bass.
25:10The adaptation of Peter S. Beagle's 1968 novel lives on today as an offbeat allegory of love,
25:17loss, and the passage of time. Number 5. Stardust.
25:26Director Matthew Vaughn may be better known for his high-octane action fare like Layer Cake, Kick-Ass,
25:31and the Kingsman franchise, but don't sleep on this fantasy tale from 2007.
25:37Well, that sounds rather final. Stardust is a wonderful adventure with an impressive cast,
25:43including Charlie Cox, Claire Danes, Ricky Gervais, Sienna Miller, Peter O'Toole, Robert De Niro,
25:51Michelle Pfeiffer, and Ian McKellen. Stardust feels like a love letter to the fantasy fairy tales of
26:02our youth, and is helmed with a steady hand that ensures this feeling never leaves the film. With
26:07its charming romance and humor, the movie is a shining example of an underrated fantasy film.
26:23Number 4. Bedknobs and Broomsticks. It's truly a shame that Bedknobs and Broomsticks isn't as
26:28well-remembered as its more famous Disney cousin Mary Poppins. Still, one of the wonderful things
26:40about film is how efforts such as these can be rediscovered by different generations, who continue
26:46to take in all of the magic at hand. Bedknobs and Broomsticks is the sort of whimsical fantasy that
26:51screams classic Disney, and boasts a triumphant headline performance by Angela Lansbury.
27:05Animation collides with live action in that inimitable Disney way,
27:09as Bedknobs and Broomsticks captures our hearts and leads us back to our childhoods.
27:21Number 3. Legend. In Ridley Scott's brilliant 1985 fantasy film,
27:27There May Never Be Another Dawn. The tagline is quite telling, because Scott's vision for Legend
27:32is unapologetically dark in places. The film features Tim Curry as darkness, perhaps the best
27:39depiction of a devil ever committed to screen. We are all animals, my lady. Most are too afraid to see it.
27:48Legend doesn't stop there with the fantastical creatures either, since both the goblin Blix and
27:54the witchy Meg Mucklebones still haunt our dreams years later. Plus, Tangerine Dream's amazing
28:05electronic score combines with a soundtrack of pop hits from artists like Brian Ferry to create pure,
28:11unadulterated movie magic. We'd definitely count this one as legendary.
28:16Have faith in yourself. It is the greatest lesson you have learned.
28:21Number 2. The Black Cauldron. Tragically, not every film is released at the proper time,
28:26or receives the attention it deserves. The production of Disney's The Black Cauldron was
28:31notoriously troubled. The Black Cauldron? An awesome weapon, tyrant.
28:37It almost sunk the company's entire animation department for good. Thankfully, new generations of
28:42movie watchers have since reappraised the film, with its dark tone and gorgeous animation.
28:50Oh no! Tyrant! Give me your hand!
28:53Believe it or not, this thing was actually conceived to be darker than how it ended up,
28:58and we honestly might wish we lived in a universe where that was a thing. At least we can rest easy
29:03knowing that The Horned King remains one of the most harrowing Disney villains. Full stop!
29:09Our time has arrived!
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29:17about our latest videos. You have the option to be notified for occasional videos or all of them.
29:23If you're on your phone, make sure you go into settings and switch on your notifications.
29:271. The Dark Crystal The career of Jim Henson has been
29:33rightfully praised for all of the joy it brought to families. That said, it's also important to note
29:38that Henson's creations weren't always just for kids. Whether it was the adult jokes that populated
29:49the puppet spots on early episodes of Saturday Night Live, or this 1982 classic, Jim Henson's puppetry could
29:56achieve just about anything. The Dark Crystal in particular presents high fantasy with some
30:01legitimately terrifying villains in the form of the Skeksis, a group of evil, bird-like reptilians.
30:11It's not all bleak, however, since The Dark Crystal also showed audiences the beauty of Henson's
30:17imagination and the glory of fantasy filmmaking at an elite level.
30:21The prophecy didn't say anything about this. What's your favorite underrated fantasy film?
30:25Let us know in the comments. And in the days following Draco's sacrifice,
30:30Bowen and Kara led the people in a time of justice and brotherhood.
30:42Let us know in the comments.
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