Fantasy films have been at the forefront of filmmaking since the inception of cinema itself. The 1930s ushered forth several cinematic classics—The Wizard of Oz, King Kong, and Alice in Wonderland to name a few. Fast forward fifty years to the 1980s, and Star Wars had completely taken over the zeitgeist. Indiana Jones, Batman, and Jurassic Park followed in its footsteps, before Harry Potter and The Lord of the Rings reinvented the genre altogether.
The best fantasy films bring to life the impossible by crafting stories rooted in the realization of the fantastic, transporting viewers into worlds that pose questions against their own reality. They possess the ability to combine the wide-eyed wonderment of childhood with the disillusionment of adolescence to craft one of the medium's purest forms of escapism.
10 Paddington Is An Absolute Delight (2014)
Written and directed by Paul King, Paddington tells the tale of an anthropomorphic bear who becomes adopted by a British family after migrating from the dark jungles of Peru to the bustling streets of modern-day London.
Sweet, charming, and visually pleasing, Paddington weaves together a whimsical yet believable world, delivering a family-friendly adventure as irresistibly cuddly as its star. Skewed towards younger audiences, it's also cheekily speckled with sly gags to draw in older viewers. It's incredibly wholesome to watch, and it's one of the best fantasy films of its respective decade.
9 Midnight In Paris Is Sweet & Sentimental (2011)
Midnight in Paris follows aspiring novelist Gil Pender (Owen Wilson) who, while vacationing in Paris with his fiancée (Rachel McAdams), takes to touring the streets alone each night to fuel his imagination and creativity.
Midnight in Paris immerses the audience in romantic illusion and nostalgia, elevated by a thought-provoking screenplay that makes the most of its beautiful backdrop of a city. Funny, warm, and often enchanting, Midnight in Paris blends charm, magic, and wit to craft an engaging, intellectually-stimulating experience of fantasy.
8 Legend Of The Guardians: The Owls Of Ga-Hoole Boasts Stunning Visuals (2010)
Directed by Zack Snyder and based on the book series by Kathryn Lasky, Legend of the Guardians: The Owls of Ga'Hoole follows Soren, a young barn owl enticed into an epic adventure through uncharted territory.
A surprisingly dark-toned and occasionally violent affair, Legend Of The Guardians ventures into the unknown with stunning landscapes and jaw-dropping scenery, offering a thrilling excuse to soar the skies with beauty and grace. Its cinematography is a thing of beauty, and its atmosphere flaunts something rarely found in the realm of digital animation.
7 A Monster Calls Is A Beautiful Tale Of Tragedy (2016)
Based on the novel of the same name by Patrick Ness, A Monster Calls follows the story of Conor, a child whose mother is terminally ill. One night, he is visited by an unlikely ally when "the monster, "a giant anthropomorphic tree, appears at his bedroom window.
Part fairy tale, part creature feature, A Monster Calls balances mature themes and elements of fantasy with incredible deftness, delivering an engrossing, eminently-moving movie. Directed by J.A. Bayona, its viewing experience is unlike most others in the crowded 'coming-of-age' genre, featuring one of those rare CG creations that actually seems to possess a soul.
6 How To Train Your Dragon Is An Epic Adventure (2010)
Directed by Chris Sanders and Dean DeBlois, How To Train Your Dragon takes place in the mythical Viking village of Berk, where a teenager named Hiccup aspires to become a dragon slayer.
Elevated by a script of surprisingly dramatic depth, How to Train Your Dragon soars with stunning animation and action sequences among the best ever created on a computer. It's an exhilarating epic from start to finish, with heartwarming themes of individuality, acceptance, and teamwork—offering a delightful adventure sided by a surprising dose of heart.
5 Hugo Is An Elegant Celebration Of Cinema (2011)
Directed by Martin Scorsese, Hugo tells the story of a boy who lives alone in 1930s Paris, becoming embroiled in a mystery surrounding his late father's invention, adjacent a plot involving film-pioneer, Georges Méliès.
Hugo emanates an unabashed love for the magic of cinema. Scorsese crafts two hours of truly remarkable cinema, blending a beautifully-imagined treasure hunt with a tribute to one of filmmaking's earliest pioneers. Emotional and deeply rewarding, Hugo is a celebration of the youthful wonder that is concealed in everyone, even those resolved to the cynicism of adult thinking.
4 Coco Is A Colorful, Joyous Affair (2017)
Co-directed by Lee Unkrich and Adrian Molina, Coco follows the story of 12-year-old Miguel who accidentally transports himself to the 'Land of the Dead'.
Colorful, charming, and utterly joyous, Coco is another brilliant installment into an already near-flawless catalog of films from Pixar. Its rich visual pleasures are matched by a thoughtful narrative that approaches questions of culture, family, life, and death to craft a lovingly-detailed epic, elevated by its Latin-American soundtrack.
3 The Shape Of Water Wows With An Emotionally-Resonating Narrative (2017)
Written and directed by Guillermo del Toro, The Shape of Water follows Elisa Esposito, a mute woman working as a cleaner at a high-security government laboratory. Elisa falls in love with one of the lab's captured creatures, a humanoid amphibian, and decides to help him escape death.
The Shape of Water is an unadulterated celebration of cinema, blending elements of classical romance, fantasy, fairy tales, and monster movies to build a beautifully enchanting, brutally mysterious, and visually mesmerizing piece of filmmaking.
2 Kubo And The Two Strings Shines With Jaw-Dropping Stop-Motion Animation (2016)
Directed by Travis Knight in his directorial debut, Kubo and the Two Strings tells the story of a young boy whose peaceful existence comes crashing down upon accidentally summoning a vengeful spirit from the past. Armed with a magical instrument, Kubo joins forces with Monkey (Charlize Theron) and Beetle (Matthew McConaughey) to unlock a secret legacy.
Drawing much of its style from various modes Japanese artistic expression, Kubo and the Two Strings boasts striking imagery in a magnificent display of what stop-motion animation can bring to the silver screen. Its underlying message manages to avoid the generic Disney trope of 'good' and 'evil' by showcasing a level of compassion and empathy for the main antagonist.
1 Paddington 2 Is A Flawless Film (2017)
Written and directed by Paul King, Paddington 2 follows the events of its predecessor, Paddington (2014). Having settled in with the Brown family in Windsor Gardens, Paddington offers his services of emotional support to people in need. When he tries to purchase a unique book for his aunt Lucy's 100th birthday, Paddington is framed as a thief after the antique is stolen.
Paddington 2 is an oasis of niceness and gentility amid a world of increasing cynicism and narcissism. With superb visual stylings and a sincere, unique story, it's an absolute smile generator from start to finish. A perfect, genuinely flawless film.