Fantasy Movie Primer

With another month, it is time for another genre primer. This month is the Fantasy primer. Fantasy is up there with Science Fiction as my favorite genre. Most of my all-time favorite movies fall into one of those two genres. Surprisingly, there haven't been a ton of iconic fantasy movies in the last twenty years. The 80s had a ton of them, and then the 2000s had a few, but that is really about it. Without further ado, here is the fantasy movie primer.

1. Snow White and the Seven Dwarves (1937)

Snow White and the Seven Dwarves is one of the original fantasy movies. Not only was it one of the first animated movies but it was also one of the first big fantasy releases. This movie set the precedent for fairy tale stories and launched Walt Disney Animation as a top-tier studio. The Snow White story was also popular enough that it became the go-to fairy tale story for studios to remake such as Mirror Mirror, Snow White and the Huntsman, several Snow White animated movies, and several Snow White movies just titled Snow White. Aside from being a groundbreaking movie, it has many iconic songs and a highly quoted (and often misquoted) line.

2. The Wizard of Oz (1939)

The Wizard of Oz is not only a staple of the fantasy genre but also just a classic of cinema in general. It was a groundbreaking film in its time with its expansive world-building and use of technicolor. It is one of the most beloved and well-known films of all time. I don't there is anyone out there who hasn't seen this movie. It is also a staple of the musical genre. It is full of iconic songs, memorable sets, and characters and has one of the most iconic villains of all time in The Wicked Witch of the West.

3. Dark Crystal (1982)/Labyrinth (1986)

This spot is a bit of a cheat since it is technically two films but the films are similar enough and I couldn't decide which one to include so I just put them both here. Both of these films are essential to the fantasy genre because of their innovative use of Muppets in the storytelling. Both movies were made by Jim Henson who is known for being the creator of The Muppets. What makes Dark Crystal so unique is that it has no human characters and relies entirely on puppets. The movie is known for its great world-building, dark setting, and intricate puppet design. Labyrinth is similar however it does feature David Bowie and sees him perform several songs. Labyrinth also had great world-building, practical set work, and detailed puppets. Labyrinth is probably more popular but Dark Crystal did set the stage as it came first.

4. The NeverEnding Story (1984)

The NeverEnding Story is one of the first classic fantasy movies for children. This film creates a lot of nostalgia for people who grew up in the 80s and was an early film based on a classic fantasy book, something the genre would be known for later on. The NeverEnding story also has a sweeping and vibrant world that is visually stunning, something else that the essentials of the fantasy genre are now known for.

5. The Princess Bride (1987)

The Princess Bride is probably one of the most popular fantasy movies of the 80s. It has romance, adventure, comedy, and fantasy. While it plays more as satire to the fantasy adventure genre, it is still an essential part of the genre. Many other movies have referenced its storytelling style. Just take a look at Once Upon a Deadpool. The Princess Bride also has so many quotable lines that have been present in the culture for the last 38 years. The movie is also just one of those cult-following movies that is beloved by many.

6. Willow (1988)

Willow is a lesser-known fantasy movie but it is still essential to the genre. This movie was made by the same studio that made Star Wars (Lucasfilm) and essentially launched Warwick Davis's career. Willow also features Val Kilmer right when his role was starting to take off. Willow is just a classic story featuring magic, wizards, witches, and prophecies. The movie also breaks a bit of tradition with its main character being a humble hero instead of a heroic knight. The movie has gained a bit of a cult following over the years and is popular enough that Disney tried to do a sequel series a few years ago.

7. Pan’s Labyrinth (2006)

Pan's Labyrinth is one of the more adult fantasy movies out there but is no less essential to the genre. What makes Pan's Labyrinth so unique from other fantasy movies is its unique blend of dark fantasy and horror. Guellmore Del Toro is an acclaimed director and brings his unique directing style to the fantasy genre. The movie is also full of symbolism and deep themes such as rebellion and the horrors of war. Pan's Labyrinth is also one of the few fantasy films out there to be nominated and win multiple Oscars.

8. Lord of the Rings (2001-2003)

The Lord of the Rings is arguably the greatest fantasy trilogy ever made. It sets the bar for how epic a fantasy tale can be. The movie was groundbreaking in its use of models and visual effects to show big battles and was one of the first films to revolutionize motion capture technology. The way the movies made Gollum is something that was never seen before and arguably hasn't been as good since. The movies were also commercial and critical successes with all three movies grossing close to $1 billion each and each receiving a ton of love at the Oscars. The Return of the King is also tied for the record for the most wins at the Oscars and holds the record for the largest sweep in Oscar history winning all eleven films it was nominated for.

9. Harry Potter (2001-2011)

The Harry Potter series is another cultural and critical phenomenon fantasy series. The movies are so popular that there are five different theme part lands dedicated to the series across two countries. The Harry Potter films made a ton of money and is the 4th highest-grossing film franchise of all time. From a quality standpoint, the Harry Potter series set the bar for how payoff and interconnectivity should work across an 8 movie story. Stuff that is mentioned early in the series is paid off in the final movie. The series perfected the carrying of character arcs across multiple films something that has only been successful since then with the MCU.

10. The Chronicles of Narnia (2005-2010)

The Chronicles of Narnia was the last real big hit pure fantasy series. This original film was praised for its accuracy to the books as well as its sweeping scale and world-building. This series is based on a beloved set of children's books that people still read today even though they came out over 70 years ago. The series was so popular that Netflix has been talking for years about producing a fresh reboot. The Chronicles of Narnia also relaunched the trend of (mostly terrible) movie adaptions of popular fantasy movies such as Inkheart, Eragon, The Golden Compass and so many others.