Fantasy movies provide a true escape from reality, bringing viewers to faraway lands with magical powers, creatures, and beings. The farthest depths of imagination are brought to the surface in the different stories that fall under the category of fantasy. The extraordinary becomes the ordinary!

The best fantasy movies ever made are those that often inspire massive franchises, introduce novel aspects to the oversaturated genre, or are impactful and memorable enough to stay with audiences for years. These are also the ideal movies for viewers looking for must-see fantasy films, as they defined and continue to change the enduring genre. From recent adaptations of timeless classics like The Green Knight to old seminal masterworks like Disney's Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, it's easy to see that the best fantasy movies ever made tend to have an enduring influence on cinema. Thankfully, there's no shortage of the very best films from the fantasy genre that fans should consider essential viewing.

45 'The Green Knight' (2021)

Director: David Lowery

A visually stunning movie based on the 14th-century poem "Sir Gawain and the Green Knight," director David Lowery’s 2021 masterpiece is an underrated story of courage, mortality, and what it means to be human. The Green Knight follows Gawain (Dev Patel), as he embarks on a perilous journey to keep his word to the titular character. Along the way, he meets otherworldly creatures and people with bad intentions.

With an enchanting atmosphere that holds viewers’ attention throughout Gawain’s magical odyssey, it’s easy to overlook The Green Knight’s philosophical themes and pressing questions about life and death. The protagonist’s journey is as much a quest to prove himself as it is to discover who he really is, pointing the mirror at audiences and their own paths forward.

44 'A Monster Calls' (2016)

Director: J. A. Bayona

Directed by J. A. Bayona, A Monster Calls is a modern classic that tells the heartfelt story of Conor O'Malley (Lewis MacDougall), a young boy who struggles with his mother’s terminal illness. When the titular Monster (Liam Neeson) shows up on his bedroom window one night, the biggest adventure of his life begins.

Visually striking and emotionally powerful, A Monster Calls seamlessly blends reality and fantasy, highlighting the transformative power of magic and imagination (especially in the darkest times). Its unflinching depiction of grief and the healing effect that stories can have is unmatched, and will likely capture fans’ hearts for years to come.

43 'Marcel the Shell With Shoes On' (2021)

Director: Dean Fleischer Camp

Since shortly after its inception, the movie studio A24 has been praised for spearheading the contemporary indie filmmaking movement. Their library has explored all sorts of genres, including family fantasy. Marcel the Shell With Shoes On is one of A24's best movies to date, following a small sentient shell living in his Airbnb with his friends, who becomes the subject of a documentarian's newest outing.

Cute, charming, and funny, but also surprisingly profound in its exploration of themes of mortality and family, Marcel the Shell is, much like its protagonist, a seemingly small and simple thing with a heart that's multiple times its size. Its fantasy elements are subtle and creatively used, losing no time in trying to give them any more depth than they need.

42 'Who Framed Roger Rabbit' (1988)

Director: Robert Zemeckis

A groundbreaking movie that combined live action and animation, director Robert Zemeckis' Who Framed Roger Rabbit takes place in a reality where Toons (cartoon characters) live alongside humans. It follows the story of Eddie Valiant (Bob Hoskins), an unlucky private detective, as he investigates a murder involving the famous cartoon character Roger Rabbit (voiced by Charles Fleischer).

With its unique mix of film noir and vibrant animation, the 1988 film became an instant hit and introduced fan-favorite characters like the iconic Jessica Rabbit (Kathleen Turner) and the unforgettable Judge Doom (Christopher Lloyd). Who Framed Roger Rabbit was a pioneer in the field of visual effects and animation that's still astonishingly fun to watch today.

41 'Mary Poppins' (1964)

Director: Robert Stevenson

Director Robert Stevenson's Mary Poppins is a beloved fantasy musical movie that transcends generations of fans. Set in London, the film revolves around the Banks family, who hire the titular whimsical nanny (one of Julie Andrews' most iconic characters) who has a unique way of caring for the two mischievous children.

Alongside Bert (Dick Van Dyke), a charming chimney sweep, Mary Poppins takes the kids on extraordinary and magical adventures that open up a new world full of excitement and wonder. The influential film is fondly remembered by most as an integral part of their childhood, as it captures the innocent perspective and the imaginative world of young kids. Legendary catchy songs like "Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious" have also helped it maintain its status as a timeless classic.

40 'Groundhog Day' (1993)

Director: Harold Ramis

Bill Murray stars as the cynical and self-centered weatherman Phil Connors in director Harold Ramis' Groundhog Day. The iconic film is centered on Phil's seemingly ordinary task to cover the Groundhog Day events in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania, where he soon finds himself strangely trapped in a time loop, reliving the same day over and over again.

Seamlessly combining humor and philosophy, Groundhog Day explores Phil's transformation as he learns to appreciate the small stuff that makes every loop bearable. Murray's standout performance as the protagonist helps his character's arc and the lessons he learns resonate with viewers, who probably won't mind watching this more than once.

39 'Excalibur' (1981)

Director: John Boorman

Excalibur is an epic medieval fantasy film that retells the legendary tale of King Arthur, the Knights of the Round Table, and the titular sword. Directed by John Boorman, the classic movie draws mythic elements of Arthurian legend to tell its story, which is centered on the rise of King Arthur (Nigel Terry), his quest to unite Britain, and the hindrances he faces from the evil sorceress Morgana (Helen Mirren) and his own flawed knights.

The 1981 film is one of the best medieval fantasy movies thanks to the way it captures the grandeur of Arthurian legend thanks to its lush and visually striking cinematography and sweeping musical score. Aside from transporting viewers to a medieval world of magic and brave knights, the fantasy film is also credited with launching the careers of a number of A-list actors today, including Liam Neeson and Patrick Stewart.

38 'Millennium Actress' (2001)

Director: Satoshi Kon

The incredible Satoshi Kon only made four feature films over the course of his career, and all four of them are absolutely outstanding works of anime. Millennium Actress is easily one of his best, telling the story of a TV interviewer and his cameraman, who meet a former actress and travel through her memories and career. Through a time-bending journey of the kind of surreal fantasy that characterizes Kon's work, Millennium Actress tells a deeply moving story about love and identity.

This is one of the best animated fantasy movies of all time, mixing a beautiful visual style with a surprisingly nuanced and profound script. As much of a celebration of the power of stories and the nature of cinema as it is an intimate exploration of a fascinating character's psyche, Millennium Actress is an unforgettable masterpiece that's executed wonderfully by its director's endlessly creative hands.

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37 'Wings of Desire' (1987)

Director: Wim Wenders

Director Wim Wenders' Wings of Desire is a haunting romantic fantasy set in post-war Berlin, where two angels, Damiel (Bruno Ganz) and Cassiel (Otto Sander), silently observe and comfort the city's inhabitants. One day, Damiel discovers newfound feelings for a lonely trapeze artist, who eventually inspires him to embrace mortality in order to experience human love.

Hailed as a philosophical masterpiece and an incredible existentialist movie, Wings of Desire takes the mundane aspects of the human experience and sheds a magical light on them. Damiel's decision to leave behind his life as an angel to become a mere mortal for the sake of love highlights this moving perspective on the human condition.