100 Greatest Hollywood Fantasy Movies

100 Best Hollywood Fantasy Movies

Fantasy films are associated with speculative forms that showcase different themes of fantasy and supernatural events. This article throws light on the best Hollywood fantasy movies.

Fantasy films are known for their larger than life extravaganza portrayed through mythology, folklore, magic or celestial fantasy worlds. Elements of science fiction and horror are also encompassed in the fantasy film genre. Magical and mythical adventure stories form an integral part of this broad-based genre. The popular subgenres in fantasy films are Sword and Sorcery and High Fantasy. Fantasy movies create dreamlike settings that are dark, exotic and surreal. Majority of movies in this genre showcase quasi-medieval settings with magical creatures, wizards and other mythical elements.

 

High Fantasy movies employ characteristics of a richly developed fantasy world with complex thematic visuals. Also, high-fantasy films comprise of a number of characters that form a pivotal part of the movie. Furthermore, movies in this genre often feature a hero that comes from a humble background and fights an epic battle for good over evil. Sword and Sorcery films of the other hand rely on epic action sequences and are plot-driven often showcasing a powerful but unsophisticated warrior up against an evil wizard or any other enemy endowed with supernatural abilities.

Epic medieval dreamlike settings form an integral part of both High Fantasy movies and Sword and Sorcery movies. Many Hollywood movies in the fantasy genre showcase heroic tales of revenge or heroic rescues. It’s the hero in fantasy movies that rescues a beautiful princess or maiden from the clutches of an evil being with supernatural powers. Over the years a subgenre of fantasy films that has become exceedingly popular is contemporary fantasy. A prominent feature in these films is the occurrence of supernatural, fantasy and magical effects in the real world. Over the years Hollywood fantasy movies have had a cult following globally.

While fantasy films have been a part of world cinema since the black and white era, it’s the 90s that propelled the film genre to new heights. A number of Hollywood fantasy films made with big budgets and have had tremendous success at the box-office. The Harry Potter Series and the Lord of the Rings movie series have achieved tremendous financial success and critical acclaim. Over the years many Superhero movies and fairy tale movies too have showcased elements from fantasy film genres.

Epic fantasy films offer a spectacular cinematic experience that appeal to audiences in different age groups. The thematic complexity, action and adventure that unfold in films in this genre are supreme in every sense. Fantasy films are often fast paced and take audiences on a journey that involves mesmerizing visuals of epic medieval worlds. Different types of fantasy movies evoke an overwhelming feeling that soothes the mind and soul.

The different elements showcased in Fantasy Movies are

• Medieval Worlds
• Futuristic Worlds
• Mystical Beings
• Dreamlike Landscapes
• Wizards
• Sorcery
• Wonder
• Fantasy Worlds
• Dark Worlds
• Mythology
• Folklore
• Escapism
• Mythical Creatures
• Heroics
• Evil Landscapes

The lines below showcase a diverse list of the best Hollywood fantasy movies from various decades

100 Greatest Hollywood Fantasy Movies

1. The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (2001)
2. Pan’s Labyrinth (2006)
3. The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers (2002)
4. The Wizard of Oz (1939)
5. The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (2003)
6. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1 (2010)
7. Star Wars: Episode 4 - A New Hope (1977)
8. Beetlejuice (1988)
9. The Princess Bride (1987)
10. Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (2002)
11. The Curious Case of Benjamin Button (2008)
12. Edward Scissorhands (1990)
13. Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone (2001)
14. Avatar (2009)
15. Star Trek (2009)
16. Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl (2003)
17. Stardust (2007)
18. Labyrinth (1986)
19. Hugo (2011)
20. Willow (1998)
21. Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest (2006)
22. Star Wars Episode 1 – The Phantom Menace (1999)
23. The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey (2012)
24. The Shape of Water (2017)
25. Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides (2011)
26. The Twilight Saga: New Moon (2009)
27. The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe (2005)
28. The Dark Knight (2008)
29. Big Fish (2003)
30. Twilight (2008)
31. The Indian in the Cupboard (1995)
32. Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End (2007)
33. Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (2005)
34. Jumanji (1995)
35. The Dark Crystal (1982)
36. Ghost Busters (1984)
37. Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (2007)
38. Hook (1991)
39. The Twilight Saga: Eclipse (2010)
40. Beauty and the Beast (2017)
41. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hollows Part 2 (2011)
42. Thor: Ragnarok (2017)
43. The Avengers (2012)
44. Star Wars: The Force Awakens (2015)
45. Looper (2012)
46. Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (2009)
47. Sinbad the Sailor (1947)
48. The Empire Strikes Back (1980)
49. Thor (2011)
50. Clash of the Titans (1981)
51. Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (2004)
52. Doctor Strange (2016)
53. The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn Part 2 (2012)
54. Lost Horizon (1937)
55. The Adventures of Baron Munchausen (1988)
56. The NeverEnding (1984)
57. Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales (2017)
58. Enchanted (2007)
59. Hellboy (2004)
60. The Green Mile (1999)
61. Jason and the Argonauts (1963)
62. Thor: The Dark World (2013)
63. The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies (2014)
64. Justice League (2017)
65. Bridge to Terabithia (2007)
66. The Mummy (1999)
67. The Devil and Daniel Webster (2017)
68. Legend (1985)
69. Star Wars: The Last Jedi (2017)
70. The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian (2008)
71. Excalibur (1981)
72. Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them (2016)
73. Groundhog Day (1993)
74. Darby O’Gill and the Little People (1959)
75. Abraham Lincon: Vampire Hunter (2012)
76. Cinderella (2015)
77. Wonder Woman (2017)
78. The Jungle Book (2016)
79. Chronicles of Narnia: The Voyage of the Dawn Treader 2010)
80. Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory (1971)
81. The Spiderwick Chronicles (2008)
82. Alice in Wonderland 2: Alice Through The Looking Glass (2016)
83. Conon the Barbarian (1982)
84. Eragon (2006)
85. The Brothers Grimm (2005)
86. Alice in Wonderland (2010)
87. Highlander (1986)
88. The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug (2013)
89. A Series of Unfortunate Events (2004)
90. Oz The Great and Powerful (2013)
91. Ladyhawke (1985)
92. Matilda (1996)
93. Crimson Peak (2015)
94. Percy Jackson: Sea of Monsters (2013)
95. The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn Part 1 (2011)
96. Immortals (2011)
97. The Valley of Gwangi (1969)
98. Gulliver’s Travels (2010)
99. Here Comes Mr. Jordan (1941)
100. Heaven Can’t Wait (1978)

Other Notable Fantasy Movies

• A Trip to the Moon (1902)
• Phantom (1922)
• L’Atlantide (1932)
• The Seventh Seal (1957)
• One Million Years B.C. (1966)
• Destiny (1921)
• The Thief of Bagdad (1924)
• 17 Again (2009)
• Dragonheart (1996)
• Mysterious Island (1961)
• Coraline (2009)
• Time Bandits (1981)
• The Golden Compass (2007)
• D-War (2007)
• Chitty Chitty Bang Bang (1968)
• Where The Wild Things Are (2009)
• The 7th Voyage of Sinbad (1958)
• The 5000 Fingers of Dr. T (1953)
• Pete’s Dragon (2016)
• The Invention of Lying (2009)
• The Lovely Bones (2008)
• Dorian Gray (2009)
• Percy Jackson & The Olympians: The Lightening Thief (2010)
• Nightbreed (1990)
• Perfume: The Story of a Murderer (2006)
• Maleficent (2014)
• The Muppets (2011)
• She (1965)
• Muir (1947)
• The Science of Sleep (2006)
• Krull (1983)
• The Golden Voyage of Sinbad (1973)
• Meet Joe Black (1998)
• Scott Pilgrim Vs. the World (2010)
• Die Nibelungen (1924)
• Mr. Nobody (2009)
• Inkheart (2008)
• Nanny McPhee (2005)
• The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus (2009)
• How The Grinch Stole Christmas (2000)
• Portrait of Jennie (1948)
• Elf (2003)
• The Seeker (2007)
• 8 ½ (1963)
• Goosebumps (2015)
• Field of Dreams (1989)
• 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea (1954)
• The Vengeance of She (1968)
• Dead Man (1995)
• Angel- A (2005)
• Mirror Mirror (2012)
• The Mask (1994)
• Snow White and the Huntsman (2012)
• Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (2005)
• What Dreams May Come (1998)
• Sinabad and the Eye of the Tiger (1977)
• Kazaam (1996)
• Midnight in Paris (2011)
• The BFG (2016)
• The Mummy Returns (2001)
• Big Trouble in Little China (1986)
• Enter the Void (2009)
• The Hexer (2001)
• Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time (2010)
• Dark Shadows (2012)
• Ted (2012)
• Mary Poppins (1964)
• In The Name of the King (2007)
• The Master of Disguise (2002)

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