Best Fantasy Movies of the Century: From Dragons to Wizards

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Fantasy movies help viewers absorb themselves into a world unlike ours. Places where the laws of physics or logic know no boundaries. Where you can be anything from a wizard to a shapeshifter. For decades, fantasy movies have become an outlet for people of all backgrounds. Today, we’ll review some of this century’s best fantasy movies that will continue to inspire for centuries to come.  

Lord of the Rings Trilogy

It’s hard to pick just one of the affluential fantasy movies of this century. Based on the books by J.R.R Tolkien and directed by Peter Jackson, Lord Of The Rings is an epic fantasy trilogy. Centered around the Magical One Ring, it was discovered by the main character, Bilbo Baggins. He found the ring in the earlier novel and prequel movie, The Hobbit. The films take place in the magical world of Middle Earth and include various magical creatures like wizards, hobbits, and elves. The Lord Of The Rings trilogy is available to stream on MAX. 

Howl’s Moving Castle 

Best Fantasy Movies of the Century
Image from Unsplash by Rachel Davis

Hayao Miyazaki’s movies are some of this century’s most beloved animated fantasy movies. Howl’s Moving Castle is just one of the many beloved movies by Miyazaki and Studio Ghibli. Insecure hatmaker Sophie is cursed by the Witch of the Waste with the body of an older woman. Unable to break the curse, she finds solace in the mysterious Howls walking castle. As a war continues to break out between the kingdoms, Sophie must learn to stand up for herself. Based on the novel by Diana Wynne Jones, this fantasy movie utilizes animation to help build up the magical world. Howl’s Moving Castle is available to stream on MAX. 

Pan’s Labyrinth 

Guillermo del Toro is one of this century’s most renowned fantasy movie directors. Almost twenty years later, Pan’s Labyrinth is still one of his most iconic works. Set in 1944 Spain, Ofelia is a young girl obsessed with fairytales. After being sent away with her pregnant mother to live with her ruthless stepfather, she encounters a fairy one night. The fairy brings her to the labyrinth’s center, where he tells her she is really a princess. However, she must complete three gruesome tasks to prove herself and meet her true father, the king.  Pan’s Labyrinth is currently available to stream for free on Tubi. 

Harry Potter Series 

Like The Lord Of The Rings trilogy, it’s hard to name just one of the movies as the best. Following Harry Potter and his friends in their wizard boarding school called Hogwarts. Where they learn to be better wizards and fight those who set out to destroy them.  Based on the beloved novels by J.K. Rowling, the Harry Potter movies defined a generation. Even over ten years since the final movie’s release, Harry Potter remains prevalent in the fantasy movie genre. The Harry Potter movies are currently available to stream on Peacock and MAX. 

Dungeons and Dragons: Honor Amongst Thieves 

It is one of the most popular fantasy games ever made and inspired many other pieces of fantasy media. Although many Dungeons and Dragons movies exist, this version brought the game to a broader audience. Following a charming thief, Edgin and his partner in crime, Holga, set out to retrieve a lost relic. They band together a group of unlikely heroes on their journey, but things soon take a dangerous turn. Dungeons and Dragons: Honor Amongst Thieves utilizes the fun spirit of the role-playing game and brings the rich world of D&D to life. Dungeons and Dragons: Honor Amongst Thieves can be streamed on MGM+. 

Final Thoughts on Best Fantasy Movies Of This Century 

Fantasy movies from this century have helped define the genre for today’s films. Despite this, what makes fantasy so great is that films from the genre of the future can make up their own rules. Although future projects might have their own ideas, these films will continue to inspire fantasy lovers. Even if you don’t gravitate to these films, they should still be on your watchlist, as fantasy offers something for everyone. 

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