Fantasy film

Fantasy filmsare films that belong to thefantasygenre with fantastic themes, usuallymagic,supernaturalevents,mythology,folklore,or exoticfantasy worlds.Thegenreis considered a form ofspeculative fictionalongsidescience fiction filmsandhorror films,although the genres do overlap.Fantasy films often have an element of magic,myth,wonder,escapism,and the extraordinary.

Subgenres

Several sub-categories of fantasy films can be identified, although the delineations between these subgenres, much as in fantasy literature, are somewhat fluid.

The most common fantasy subgenres depicted in movies arehigh fantasyandsword and sorcery.Both categories typically employ quasi-medieval settings, wizards, magical creatures and other elements commonly associated with fantasy stories.

High fantasy films tend to feature a more richly developed fantasy world, and may also be more character-oriented or thematically complex. Often, they feature a hero of humble origins and a clear distinction between good and evil set against each other in an epic struggle. Many scholars citeJ. R. R. Tolkien'sThe Lord of the Ringsnovel as the prototypical modern example of high fantasy in literature, and the recentPeter Jacksonfilm adaptationof the books is a good example of the high fantasy subgenre on the silver screen.

Sword and sorcery movies tend to be more plot-driven than high fantasy and focus heavily on action sequences, often pitting a physically powerful but unsophisticated warrior against an evil wizard or other supernaturally endowed enemy. Although sword and sorcery films sometimes describe an epic battle between good and evil similar to those found in many High fantasy movies, they may alternately present the hero as having more immediate motivations, such as the need to protect a vulnerable maiden or village, or even being driven by the desire for vengeance.

The1982 film adaptationofRobert E. Howard'sConan the Barbarian,for example, is a personal (non-epic) story concerning the hero's quest for revenge and his efforts to thwart a single megalomaniac—while saving a beautiful princess in the process. Some critics refer to such films by the termSword and Sandalrather than sword and sorcery, although others would maintain that the Sword and Sandal label should be reserved only for the subset of fantasy films set in ancient times on the planet Earth, and still others would broaden the term to encompass films that have no fantastic elements whatsoever. To some, the term Sword and Sandal has pejorative connotations, designating a film with a low-quality script, bad acting, and poor production values.

Another important subgenre of fantasy films that has become more popular in recent years iscontemporary fantasy.Such films feature magical effects or supernatural occurrences happening in the "real" world of today.

Films with live action and animationsuch asDisney'sMary Poppins,Pete's Dragon,Enchanted,and theRobert ZemeckisfilmWho Framed Roger Rabbitare also fantasy films although are more often referred to as Live action/animation hybrids (2 of those are also classified as musicals).

Fantasy films set in theafterlife,calledBangsian fantasy,are less common, although films such as the 1991Albert BrookscomedyDefending Your Lifewould likely qualify. Other uncommon subgenres includehistorical fantasyandromantic fantasy,although 2003'sPirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearlsuccessfully incorporated elements of both.

As noted above, superhero movies and fairy tale films might each be considered subgenres of fantasy films, although most would classify them as altogether separate movie genres.

Fantasy movies and the film industry

As a cinematic genre, fantasy has traditionally not been regarded as highly as the related genre of science fiction film. Undoubtedly, the fact that until recently fantasy films often suffered from the "Sword and Sandal"afflictions of inferior production values, over-the-top acting, and decidedly poor special effects was a significant factor in fantasy film's low regard.

Since the early 2000s, however, the genre has gained new respectability in a way, driven principally by the successful adaptations ofTolkien'sThe Lord of the RingsandJ. K. Rowling'sHarry Potterseries. Jackson'sThe Lord of the Ringstrilogyis notable due to its ambitious scale, serious tone, and thematic complexity. These pictures achieved phenomenal commercial and critical success, and thethird installmentof the trilogy became the first fantasy film ever to win theAcademy Award for Best Picture.TheHarry Potterseries has been a tremendous financial success, has achieved critical acclaim for its design, thematic sophistication and emotional depth, grittier realism and darkness, narrative complexity, and characterization, and boasts an enormous and loyal fanbase.

Following the success of these ventures, Hollywood studios have greenlighted additional big-budget productions in the genre. These have included adaptations of the first, second, and third books inC. S. Lewis'The Chronicles of Narniaand the teen novelEragon,as well as adaptations ofSusan Cooper'sThe Dark Is Rising,Cornelia Funke'sInkheart,Philip Pullman'sThe Golden Compass,Holly Black'sThe Spiderwick Chronicles,Nickelodeon's TV showAvatar: The Last Airbender,and theFantasiasegment (along withJohann Wolfgang von Goethe's original poem)The Sorcerer's Apprentice

Many fantasy movies starting in the 2000s, such asThe Lord of the Ringsfilms, the 1st and 3rdNarniaadaptations, and the 1st, 2nd, 4th and 7thHarry Potteradaptations have most often been released in November and December. This is in contrast tosci-fi films,which are often released during the northern hemisphere summer (June–August). All 3 of thePirates of the Caribbeanfilms, however, were released in July 2003, July 2006, and May 2007 respectively, and the latest releases in theHarry Potterseries were released in July 2007 and July 2009. The huge commercial success of these pictures may indicate a change in Hollywood's approach to big-budget fantasy film releases.

Screenwriter and scholarEric R. Williamsidentifies fantasy films as one of eleven super-genres in hisscreenwriters taxonomy,claiming that all feature length narrative films can be classified by these super-genres. The other 10 super-genres areaction,crime,horror,romance,sci-fi,slice of life,sports,thriller,warandwestern.

History

Fantasy films have a history almost as old as the medium itself. However, fantasy films were relatively few and far between until the1980s,when high-tech filmmaking techniques and increased audience interest caused the genre to flourish.

What follows are some notable Fantasy films. For a more complete list see:List of fantasy films

1900–1920s

See also:List of fantasy films before 1930

In the era ofsilent film,the earliest fantasy films were those made by French film pioneerGeorges Mélièsfrom 1903. The most famous of these was 1902'sA Trip to the Moon.In theGolden Ageof Silent film (1918–1926) the most outstanding fantasy films wereDouglas Fairbanks'The Thief of Bagdad(1924),Fritz Lang'sDie Nibelungen(1924), andDestiny(1921). Other notables in the genre wereF.W. Murnau's romantic ghost storyPhantom,Tarzan of the ApesstarringElmo Lincoln,andD. W. Griffith'sThe Sorrows of Satan.

1930s

See also:List of fantasy films of the 1930s

Following the advent ofsound films,audiences of all ages were introduced from 1937'sSnow White and the Seven Dwarfsto 1939'sThe Wizard of Oz.Also notable of the era, the iconic 1933 filmKing Kongborrows heavily from theLost Worldsubgenre of fantasy fiction as does such films as the 1935 adaptation of H. Rider Haggard's novelSheabout an African expedition that discovers an immortal queen known as Ayesha "She who must be obeyed".Frank Capra's 1937 pictureLost Horizontransported audiences to theHimalayanfantasy kingdom ofShangri-La,where the residents magically never age. Other noteworthy fantasy films of the 30s includeTarzan the Ape Manin 1932 starringJohnny Weissmullerstarting a successful series of talking pictures based on the fantasy-adventure novels byEdgar Rice Burroughsand theG. W. PabstdirectedThe Mistress of Atlantisfrom 1932. 1932 saw the release of theUniversal Studiosmonster movieThe Mummywhich combined horror with a romantic fantasy twist. more light-hearted and comedic affairs from the decade include films like 1934s romantic drama filmDeath Takes a HolidaywhereFredric Marchplays Death who takes a human body to experience life for three days and 1937sTopperwhere a man is haunted by two fun-loving ghosts who try to make his life a little more exciting.

1940s

See also:List of fantasy films of the 1940s

The 1940s then saw several full-color fantasy films produced byAlexander Korda,includingThe Thief of Bagdad(1940), a film on par withThe Wizard of Oz,andJungle Book(1942). In 1946,Jean Cocteau's classic adaptation ofBeauty and the Beastwon praise for itssurrealelements and for transcending the boundaries of thefairy talegenre.Sinbad the Sailor(1947), starringDouglas Fairbanks Jr.,has the feel of a fantasy film though it does not actually have anyfantasticelements.

Several other pictures featuring supernatural encounters and aspects of Bangsian fantasy were produced in the 1940s duringWorld War II.These includeBeyond Tomorrow,The Devil and Daniel Webster,andHere Comes Mr. Jordan,all from 1941,Heaven Can Waitthe musicalCabin in the Sky(1943), the comedyThe Horn Blows at Midnightand romances such asThe Ghost and Mrs. Muir(1947),One Touch of VenusandPortrait of Jennie,both 1948.

An astonishing anticipation of the full "sword and sorcery" genre was made in 1941 in Italy by Alessandro Blasetti.La Corona di Ferropresents the struggles of two imaginary kingdoms around the legendary Iron Crown (historically the ancient crown of Italy), with war, cruelty, betrayal, heroism, sex, magic and mysticism, a whirl of events taken from every possible fairy tale and legend source Blasetti could find. This movie is unlike anything done before; indeed, considering that it was finished fifteen years before the publication of Lord Of The Rings, its invention of a vast, national epic mythology is an act of genius. And while the storytelling is rough - due to the need to insert everything - and the resources limited, Blasetti shows how to make a little go a long way through beautifully staged and designed battle and crowd scenes.

Although it's not classified as a fantasy film,Gene Kelly'sAnchors Aweighhad a fantasy sequence called "The King who Couldn't Dance" in which Gene did a song and dance number withJerry MousefromTom and Jerry.

Because these movies do not feature elements common to high fantasy orsword and sorcerypictures, some modern critics do not consider them to be examples of the fantasy genre.

1950s

See also:List of fantasy films of the 1950s

In the 1950s there were a few major fantasy films, includingDarby O'Gill and the Little PeopleandThe 5,000 Fingers of Dr. T.,the latter penned byDr. Seuss.Jean Cocteau'sOrphic Trilogy,begun in 1930 and completed in 1959, is based onGreek mythologyand could be classified either as fantasy or surrealist film, depending on how the boundaries between these genres are drawn. Russian fantasy directorAleksandr Ptushkocreated three mythological epics from Russian fairytales,Sadko(1953),Ilya Muromets(1956), andSampo(1959). Japanese directorKenji Mizoguchi's 1953 filmUgetsu Monogataridraws on Japanese classical ghost stories of love and betrayal.

Other notable pictures from the 1950s that feature fantastic elements and are sometimes classified as fantasy areHarvey(1950), featuring apúcaofCeltic mythology;Scrooge,the 1951 adaptation ofCharles Dickens'A Christmas Carol;andIngmar Bergman's 1957 masterpiece,The Seventh Seal.Disney's 1951 animated filmAlice in Wonderlandis also a fantasy classic.

There were also a number of lower budget fantasies produced in the 1950s, typically based on Greek or Arabian legend. The most notable of these may be 1958'sThe 7th Voyage of Sinbad,featuring special effects byRay Harryhausenand music byBernard Herrmann.

1960s

See also:List of fantasy films of the 1960s

Harryhausen worked on a series of fantasy films in the 1960s, most importantlyJason and the Argonauts(1963). Many critics have identified this film as Harryhausen's masterwork for itsstop-motionanimated statues, skeletons,harpies,hydra,and other mythological creatures. Other Harryhausen fantasy and science fantasy collaborations from the decade include the 1961 adaptation ofJules Verne'sMysterious Island,the critically pannedOne Million Years B.C.starringRaquel Welch,andThe Valley of Gwangi(1969).

Capitalising on the success of thesword and sandalgenre several ItalianB-moviesbased on classical myth were made, including theMacisteseries. Otherwise, the 1960s were almost entirely devoid of fantasy films. The fantasy picture7 Faces of Dr. Lao,in whichTony Randallportrayed several characters from Greek mythology, was released in 1964. But the 1967 adaptation of the Broadway musicalCamelotremoved most of the fantasy elements fromT. H. White's classicThe Once and Future King,on which the musical had been based. The 1960s also saw a new adaption of Haggard'sShein 1965 starringUrsula Andressas the immortal "She who must be obeyed" and was followed by a sequel in 1968The Vengeance of Shebased loosely on the novelAyesha: The Return of Sheboth produced byHammer Film Productions.The musical fantasy filmMary Poppinswas released in 1964, and 1968 saw the release ofChitty Chitty Bang Bangbased on a story byIan Flemingwith a script fromRoald Dahl.

1970s

See also:List of fantasy films of the 1970s

Fantasy elements ofArthurian legendwere again featured, albeit absurdly, in 1975'sMonty Python and the Holy Grail.Harryhausen also returned to the silver screen in the 1970s with two additionalSinbadfantasies,The Golden Voyage of Sinbad(1974) andSinbad and the Eye of the Tiger(1977). The animated movieWizards(1977) had limited success at the box office but achieved status as acult film.There was alsoThe Noah(1975) which was never released theatrically but became acult favoritewhen it was finally released on DVD in 2006. Some would consider 1977'sOh God!,starringGeorge Burnsto be a fantasy film, andHeaven Can Wait(1978) was a successful Bangsian fantasy remake of 1941'sHere Comes Mr. Jordan(not 1943'sHeaven Can Wait).

A few low budget "Lost World" pictures were made in the 1970s, such as 1975'sThe Land That Time Forgot.Otherwise, the fantasy genre was largely absent from mainstream movies in this decade, although 1971'sBedknobs and BroomsticksandWilly Wonka & the Chocolate Factorywere two fantasy pictures in the public eye the former being predominantly from the same team who didMary Poppinsthe latter again being from Roald Dahl in both script and novel.

1980s

See also:List of fantasy films of the 1980s

1980s fantasy films were initially characterized by directors finding a new spin on established mythologies. Ray Harryhausen brought the monsters of Greek legends to life inClash of the Titanswhile Arthurian lore returned to the screen inJohn Boorman's 1981Excalibur.Films such asRidley Scott's 1985LegendandTerry Gilliam's 1981–1986 trilogy of fantasy epics (Time Bandits,Brazil,andThe Adventures of Baron Munchausen) explored a new artist-driven style featuring surrealist imagery and thought-provoking plots. The modernsword and sorceryboom began around the same time with 1982'sConan the Barbarianfollowed byKrullandFire and Icein 1983, as well as a boom infairy tale-like fantasy films such asThe Neverending Story(1984),Ladyhawke(1985),The Princess Bride(1987), andWillow(1988).

The 1980s also started a trend in mixing modern settings andaction filmeffects with exotic fantasy-like concepts.Big Trouble in Little China(1986), directed byJohn Carpenterand starringKurt Russell,combined humor, martial arts and classic Chinese folklore in a modern Chinatown setting.Highlander,a film about immortal Scottish swordsmen, was released the same year.

Jim Hensonproduced two iconic fantasy films in the 80s, the solemnThe Dark Crystaland the more whimsical and loftyLabyrinth.Meanwhile,Robert ZemeckishelmedWho Framed Roger Rabbit,featuring various famous cartoon characters from animation's "Golden Age," includingMickey Mouse,Minnie Mouse,Donald Duck,Bugs Bunny,Daffy Duck,Droopy,Wile E. Coyote and Road Runner,Sylvester the Cat,Tweety Pie,andJiminy Cricket,among others.

1990s

See also:List of fantasy films of the 1990s

The 90s saw theDisney Renaissancein which many successful adaptations of written fantasy works were released byDisney Animation.

Aladdin(1992)

Army of Darkness(1992)

Beauty and the Beast(1991)

Bram Stoker's Dracula(1992)

Dragonheart(1996)

Edward Scissorhands(1990)

Fantasia 2000(1999)

The Green Mile(1999)

Groundhog Day(1993)

Ghost in the Machine(1995)

Hercules(1997)

Hocus Pocus(1993)

Hook(1991)

The Indian in the Cupboard(1995)

Jumanji(1995)

Kazaam(1996)

Matilda(1996)

Meet Joe Black(1998)

Mulan(1998)

Nightbreed(1990)

The Prince of Egypt(1998)

Princess Mononoke(Mononoke Hime) (1997)

Toy Story(1995)

Toy Story 2(1999)

The Wind in the Willows(Mr Toad's Wild Ride) (1996)

The Witches(1990)

2000s

See also:List of fantasy films of the 2000s

The 2000s saw a boom in the genre. This was compounded by the success ofLord of The RingsandHarry Potter,which spurred a movement in film adaptations of fantasy literary works includingThe Chronicles of Narnia,Tales from Earthsea,Eragon,Inkheart,andThe Golden Compass.TheStar Wars prequel trilogyandPirates of the Caribbeanalso saw success at the box office.

13 Going on 30(2004)

17 Again(2009)

300(2006)

Alvin & the Chipmunks(2007)

Anji(2004)

Atlantis: The Lost Empire(2001)

Big Fish(2003)

Bridge to Terabithia(2007)

The Brothers Grimm(2005)

The Chronicles of Narnia(2005-10)

Coraline(2009)

Corpse Bride(2005)

Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon(2000)

The Curious Case of Benjamin Button(2008)

D-War(2007)

Dorian Gray(2009)

Dungeons & Dragons(2000-12)

Elf(2003)

The Emperor's New Groove(2000)

Enchanted(2007)

Eragon(2006)

Fat Albert(2004)

The Golden Compass(2007)

Harry Potter(2001–11)

The Hexer(2001)

How the Grinch Stole Christmas(2000)

Howl's Moving Castle(2004)

The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus(2009)

Imagine That(2009)

Inkheart(2008)

The Invention of Lying(2009)

King Kong(2005)

Lady in the Water(2006)

Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events(2004)

Looney Tunes: Back in Action(2003)

The Lord of the Rings(2001–03)

The Lovely Bones(2008)

The Master of Disguise(2002)

Monsters Inc.(2001-13)

Nanny McPhee(2005)

Night Watch(2004)

Pan's Labyrinth(2006)

Peter Pan(2003)

Pirates of the Caribbean(2003-17)

Prezzemolo(2003)

Race to Witch Mountain(2009)

The Science of Sleep(2006)

The Secret of Kells(2009)

The Seeker: The Dark Is Rising(2007)

Shrek(2001-10)

Spider-Man (Raimi trilogy)(2002-07)

The Spiderwick Chronicles(2008)

Spike(2008)

Spirited Away(2002)

Stardust(2007)

Star Wars Episodes I-III(1999-2005)

Tales from Earthsea((2006)

Treasure Planet(2002)

Twilight(2008–12)

Underworld(2003-16)

Where the Wild Things Are(2009)

Zathura: A Space Adventure(2005)

2010s

See also:List of fantasy films of the 2010s

The early 2010s saw a continuation of the book to screen adaptation fad of the 2000s. Also prevalent in the decade were remakes of older fantasy films especially fromWalt Disney Pictures.

Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter(2012)

Aladdin(2019)

Alice in Wonderland(2010)

Alice Through the Looking Glass(2016)

Aquaman(2018)

A Monster Calls(2016)

A Wrinkle in Time(2018)

Baahubali: The Beginning(2014)

Baahubali 2: The Conclusion(2017)

Beauty and the Beast(2017)

Black Panther(2018)

Brave(2012)

Christopher Robin(2018)

Cinderella(2015)

Clash of the Titans(2010) and its 2012 sequel,Wrath of the Titans

Conan the Barbarian(2011)

Crimson Peak(2015)

Dark Shadows(2012)

Doctor Strange(2016)

Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald(2018)

Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them(2016)

Frozen(2013)

Frozen II(2019)

Godzilla: King of the Monsters(2019)

Goosebumps(2015)

Gulliver's Travels(2010)

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 1(2010)

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 2(2011)

Hop(2011)

How to Train Your Dragon(2010–19)

Immortals(2011)

Into the Woods(2014)

Jack the Giant Slayer(2013)

John Carter(2012)

Life of Pi(2012)

Maleficent(2014)

Maleficent: Mistress of Evil(2019)

Mary Poppins Returns(2018)

Maximum Shame(2010)

Midnight in Paris(2011)

Mirror Mirror(2012)

Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children(2016)

Oz the Great and Powerful(2013)

Paddington(2014)

Pan(2015)

Percy Jackson & the Olympians: Sea of Monsters(2013)

Percy Jackson & the Olympians: The Lightning Thief(2010)

Pete's Dragon(2016)

Peter Rabbit(2018)

Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time(2010)

Puss in Boots(2011)

Sardaar Ji(2015) (Punjabi)

Scott Pilgrim vs. the World(2010)

Snow White and the Huntsman(2012)

Song of the Sea(2014)

Sucker Punch(2011)

The Bastard Sword(2018)

The BFG(2016)

The Hobbit(2012–14)

The Jungle Book(2016)

The Kid Who Would Be King(2019)

The Last Airbender(2010)

The Lorax(2012)

The Muppets(2011)

The Nutcracker and the Four Realms(2018)

Trolls(2016)

The Shape of Water(2017)

The Sorcerer's Apprentice(2010)

Thor: Ragnarok(2017)

Thor: The Dark World(2013)

Thor(2011)

Toy Story 3(2010)

Toy Story 4(2019)

Wonder Woman(2017)

Your Highness(2011)

2020s

See also:List of fantasy films of the 2020s

The 2020s as of 2023 have shown an increasing interest by studios to adapt games into film withMonster Hunter,Sonic the Hedgehog,The Super Mario Bros. Movie,andDungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves

Bloodshot(2020)

Dolittle(2020)

Dragonheart: Vengeance(2020)

Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves(2023)

Encanto(2021)

Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore(2022)

Fantasy Island(2020)

Jiu Jitsu(2020)

Monster Hunter(2020)

Mulan(2020)

Nahuel and the Magic Book(2020)

The Old Guard(2020)

Onward(2020)

Sonic the Hedgehog(2020)

Sonic the Hedgehog 2(2022)

Spider-Man: No Way Home(2021)

The Super Mario Bros. Movie(2023)

Trolls World Tour(2020)

The Witches(2020)

Wonder Woman 1984(2020)

Wolfwalkers(2020)

See also

• Fantasy television
• List of fantasy films
• List of highest-grossing fantasy films