8 Fantasy Movies That Surpassed Expectations

Movies are a gateway to different worlds that can bring monsters, knights, and warlocks to life. Films have come so far that worlds from some of the most mystical places ever thought up can be created for viewers’ enjoyment on the silver screen. Grand stories of kingdoms, knights, and evil demons can be told that take movie-goers on magical adventures across a mythical fantasy world.

Related

Buffy The Vampire Slayer Reboot: 7 Characters Who Should Not Return

With the Buffy revival under works, there are some characters that are better left in the past instead of bringing back in the reboot.

There have been dozens upon dozens of fantasy movies released over the years, and as one of the most challenging types of films to make, only a small few have risen above expectations and accomplished successes just as grand as their budget. Here are some of the best fantasy movies that surpassed all expectations and still remain some of the best movies to watch today.

8

The Princess Bride

A Classic Tale With A Surprising Adventure And A Star-Studded Cast

The Princess Bride

Release Date

October 9, 1987

Runtime

98 minutes

Director

Rob Reiner

Writers

William Goldman

• 
• 

William Goldman and Rob Reiner delivered a memorable masterpiece with The Princess Bride. Adapted from a novel by Goldman, The Princess Bride takes viewers on a magical journey of romance and corruption as a beautiful young woman named Buttercup is taken as the hostage bride of the corrupt Prince Humperdink.

Related

6 Biggest Changes In The Premiere Of The Last of Us Season 2 From The Games

Did Max make some good changes for The Last Of Us Season 2 premiere? These are some of the key differences fans will notice.

During a failed kidnapping, she is saved by a cutthroat named Pirate Roberts, who turns out to be her long-lost love. With the Prince and his Henchman hot on their tails, Buttercup and The Pirate Roberts must run for their lives. The Princess Bride is a medieval fantasy story that checks all the boxes of sword fights and magic potions. It is also a fantastic story that is a surprise, considering it lacks all the fancy CGI bells and whistles of other genre entries.

7

Hellboy

A Dark And Magical Take On A Superhero Movie

Hellboy

Release Date

April 2, 2004

Runtime

122 minutes

Hellboy was an incredible creation from top to bottom, and while it started as a superhero movie, it instead transcended into an epic dark fantasy action movie. Ron Perlman stars as Hellboy, a demon from another dimension who is raised by a human and becomes a protector of the innocent against others of his kind.

As a hulking red-skinned devil, Hellboy fends off the things that go bump in the night while dreaming of standing in the sunlight free from judgement. The film is a breathtaking culmination of brilliant visuals and direction by Guillermo del Toro, known for The Shape of Water and Pan’s Labyrinth.

6

Pirates Of The Caribbean: Curse Of The Black Pearl

A Perfect Mixture Of Myth And Legend

In one of Johnny Depp’s most beloved roles, Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl tells the rebellious story of Captain Jack Sparrow and his quest to recover his stolen ship, The Black Pearl. Having been mutinied and deserted, Jack Sparrow finds his way to Port Royal, where a chance encounter with Will Turner, played by Orlando Bloom, gets him locked in jail.

Coincidentally, this is on the same eve that the Black Pearl attacks the port and drags Jack Sparrow and Will Turner into a dark quest to free Turner’s love, Elezabeth Turner, played by Kira Knightly, from the new captain of the Black Pearl, Barbosa. Pirates of the Caribbean melds worlds in an epic saga of films loaded with curses, monsters, undead pirates, and powerful goddesses.

5

Harry Potter And The Sorcerer’s Stone

A Perfect Adaptation Of The World Of Magic And Monsters

The name Harry Potter has become synonymous with fantasy, as the 2001 film surpassed all expectations and became a box office blast during its release. Based on the fantastic novel series by J.K. Rowling, Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone is the first film in a nine-movie series that stands as the starting point for a magical cinematic universe.

Harry Potter is known far and wide in the world of witchcraft and wizardry as the boy who survived the power of the Dark Lord Voldemort. After living most of his life among human beings, he has been invited to the most prestigious school for magic users in the world, Hogwarts, to learn to use magic. However, Harry’s arrival triggers a chain of events that threaten to break the wizarding world apart. Harry Potter was an unforeseen success, capturing all the magic of the books that inspired it, becoming a household name and changing the lives of thousands worldwide.

4

Shrek

A Perfect Film With Comedy And Excitement

Shrek

Release Date

May 18, 2001

Runtime

90 minutes

Director

Andrew Adamson, Vicky Jenson

Dreamworks is known for delivering incredible works of art, but none have stood the test of time and continued to provide laughs and cries like Shrek. Starring Mike Myers as the not-so-jolly Green Ogre, Shrek lives peacefully in his swamp until a nearby kingdom declares war on fairytale creatures, forcing them to flee into his territory.

Taking fate into his own hands, Shrek confronts the king of the neighboring kingdom to get to the bottom of this ordeal. This results in Shrek setting out on a quest to save a princess in return for the kingdom leaving his swamp alone. What starts as a comical adventure ends with a heartwarming romance that no viewers saw coming. Shrek has expanded into four films with a fifth on the way, greatly surpassing its original expectations.

3

Bridge To Terabithia

An Imaginative Adventure That Turns Into A Heartbreaking Story

Director Gabo Csupo makes his debut with this iconic story about two young kids who discover each other and a magical world just when they are at their lowest. Josh Hutcherson plays Jessie Aarons, a poverty-stricken young boy living an unremarkable middle school life.

Related

10 Best Superhero Movies That Explore Mature Themes

These superhero films use their iconic characters to explore complex themes like social injustice and existential questions.

With no friends and dealing with bullying every day, Jessie finds his first ally when Leslie moves to his town. Leslie and Jessie become fast friends and, while exploring, they birth a magical kingdom that allows them to escape the stress of their normal lives. Bridge to Terabithia is a magical tale that told a story no one expected and became a cult classic that received impressive acclaim.

2

The Mummy

The Perfect Package Of Magic, Action, And Drama

The Mummy

Release Date

May 7, 1999

Runtime

125 minutes

Director

Stephen Sommers

The Mummy became one of the grandest movies of all time, revitalizing an old genre of horror movies and breathing new life into it by adding wondrous fantasy elements. After being imprisoned for nearly a decade, Rick O’Connell becomes the escort for Evelyn and Jonathan Carnahan as they travel to Egypt in search of fame and fortune.

Related

8 Best Movies On Netflix, Ranked

Netflix has showcased a wide variety of films and shows, each vying for viewers’ attention. These are the best movies on Netflix.

The journey turns dire when Evelyn reads a spell that returns an ancient evil to life, one that seeks to unleash a dire plague on the world. Now Rick, Evelyn, and her brother must put a stop to the evil before it’s too late. The Mummy brought back the trope of a creeping ancient evil and turned it into a fantasy epic of primordial proportions.

1

The Lord Of The Rings: The Fellowship Of The Ring

The Most Legendary Tale Ever Written Breaks The Mold In Live Action

Fantasy was changed forever with the publishing of The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien, which was highly praised and became the foundation of what most high fantasy is today. However, the sequel to the story, The Lord of the Rings, became a monumental success and once again reshaped the fantasy genre as a whole.

The Lord of the Rings received so much recognition over the years that it would receive a live-action adaptation fifty years after its publication, one that many long-time fans were skeptical could live up to the exceptional source material. However, The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring would become just as memorable and successful as the original books it was based on, and became the crown jewel of fantasy movies for fans all over the world.

More

Best Val Kilmer Movies

Val Kilmer is one of the great actors to step into the role of Batman, but these great films of his shouldn’t be overlooked.