Best Fantasy Movies

These are the 60 best fantasy movies, ranked by the iRank Score — our composite of IMDb, Rotten Tomatoes, Metacritic and TMDb ratings, weighted by each source's reliability. No single-critic bias: the order reflects broad critical and audience consensus. Pick any title to see its full breakdown and similar recommendations.

Best fantasy movies: classics up to the 70s

  1. It's a Wonderful Life

    It's a Wonderful Life (1946)

    iRank88Frank CapraDramaFamilyFantasy

    Frank Capra's 1946 perennial follows George Bailey, a small-town man whose lifetime of quiet self-sacrifice collapses one Christmas Eve — until an angel shows him how empty the world would be without him. Equal parts heartwarming and surprisingly dark, it earns its uplift through real despair. If its blend of sentiment and hard-won hope moved you, seek out classic feel-good dramas and life-affirming holiday films that find grace in ordinary lives.

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  2. The Wizard of Oz

    The Wizard of Oz (1939)

    iRank87Victor FlemingAdventureFamilyFantasy

    The 1939 musical fantasy whisks Kansas farm girl Dorothy over the rainbow to the Technicolor land of Oz, where she and three unforgettable companions follow the yellow brick road in search of home. A foundational piece of pop culture, its songs and images are woven into the collective imagination. If its wonder and warmth charmed you, seek out classic family fantasies and musical adventures built on heart, song and the longing for home.

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  3. King Kong

    King Kong (1933)

    iRank86Merian C. CooperAdventureFantasyHorror

    The 1933 original sends a film crew to a mysterious island and brings back a giant ape whose doomed fascination with a beautiful woman ends atop the Empire State Building. Groundbreaking in its effects and surprisingly tragic, it's the template for every monster blockbuster since. If its spectacle and beauty-and-the-beast pathos gripped you, seek out classic monster movies and adventure films about wonders that should have been left alone.

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  4. Pinocchio

    Pinocchio (1940)

    iRank86Hamilton LuskeAnimationFamilyFantasy

    Disney's 1940 animated landmark brings a wooden puppet to life on his perilous quest to become a real boy, learning hard lessons about honesty and courage. Dazzling in its hand-drawn artistry and surprisingly dark, it set a benchmark for animated storytelling. If its wonder and fairy-tale peril charmed you, seek out classic animated fables and family fantasies about innocence tested by a dangerous world.

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  5. Monty Python and the Holy Grail

    Monty Python and the Holy Grail (1975)

    iRank86Terry GilliamAdventureComedyFantasy

    Monty Python's 1975 anarchic comedy sends King Arthur and his hapless knights on an absurdist quest for the Grail, skewering medieval legend with killer rabbits, coconuts and surreal non-sequiturs. Endlessly quotable and gloriously silly, it's a comedy landmark. If its absurd wit delighted you, seek out anarchic and surreal comedies that gleefully demolish their own genre.

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  6. The Seventh Seal

    The Seventh Seal (Det sjunde inseglet, 1957)

    iRank86Ingmar BergmanDramaFantasy

    Bergman's 1957 masterpiece follows a disillusioned knight who plays chess with Death itself while plague ravages medieval Sweden, searching for meaning before the end. Stark, philosophical and indelibly imaged, it's a cornerstone of art cinema. If its meditation on faith and mortality gripped you, seek out contemplative classics that wrestle with God, death and the silence in between.

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  7. Fantasia

    Fantasia (1940)

    iRank85Wilfred JacksonAnimationFamilyFantasy

    Disney's 1940 experiment sets eight pieces of classical music to dazzling animation, from dancing brooms to a primordial earth, with no dialogue at all. Bold, beautiful and unlike anything before or since, it's pure cinema as visual symphony. If its artistry and ambition enchanted you, seek out experimental and music-driven animation that lets image and sound do all the storytelling.

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  8. Mary Poppins

    Mary Poppins (1964)

    iRank85Robert StevensonComedyFamilyFantasy

    Disney's 1964 musical brings a magical nanny into a buttoned-up London household, blending live action and animation to teach a distant father what really matters. Joyful, tuneful and quietly wise about family, it's a timeless family classic. If its songs and whimsy charmed you, seek out musical family fantasies and feel-good classics where a touch of magic mends what's broken at home.

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  9. Nosferatu

    Nosferatu (Nosferatu, eine Symphonie des Grauens, 1922)

    iRank84F. W. MurnauFantasyHorror

    The mysterious Count Orlok summons a happily married real estate agent to his castle, located up in the Transylvanian mountains, to finalise a terrifying deal.

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Best fantasy movies: from the 80s and 90s

  1. Beauty and the Beast

    Beauty and the Beast (1991)

    iRank87Gary TrousdaleAnimationFamilyFantasy

    Disney's 1991 landmark — the first animated film nominated for Best Picture — follows bookish Belle, captive in the castle of a cursed beast who must learn to love. With its Broadway-grade songs and lush animation, it set a new standard for the form. If its romance, music and warmth charmed you, the Disney animated classics and grand musical fairy tales share its spectacle and heart.

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  2. My Neighbor Totoro

    My Neighbor Totoro (となりのトトロ, 1988)

    iRank86Hayao MiyazakiAnimationFamilyFantasy

    Miyazaki's 1988 classic follows two young sisters who move to the countryside near their hospitalised mother and befriend gentle forest spirits, including the giant, downy Totoro. Warm, magical and almost plotless in the best way, it's a pure distillation of childhood wonder. If its gentle enchantment moved you, the films of Studio Ghibli share its reverence for nature, family and the small miracles of being a kid.

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  3. Aladdin

    Aladdin (1992)

    iRank85John MuskerAdventureAnimationFamily

    Disney's 1992 animated hit sends street urchin Aladdin, a magic lamp and a wisecracking Genie on a whirlwind of wishes, romance and adventure in the city of Agrabah. Fast, funny and bursting with showstopping songs, it's peak Disney Renaissance. If its energy, romance and comedy charmed you, the Disney animated classics share its blend of spectacle, humour and big-hearted wish-fulfilment.

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  4. Neon Genesis Evangelion: The End of Evangelion

    Neon Genesis Evangelion: The End of Evangelion (新世紀エヴァンゲリオン劇場版 Air/まごころを、君に, 1997)

    iRank85Hideaki AnnoAnimationDramaFantasy

    This 1997 film delivers an alternate, apocalyptic finale to Neon Genesis Evangelion, plunging into Instrumentality with shattering imagery and raw psychological extremity. Divisive, brilliant and overwhelming, it's one of anime's most ambitious and disturbing endings. If the series' blend of mecha spectacle and existential dread gripped you, seek out bold, cerebral anime that push apocalypse and the human mind to the breaking point.

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  5. Princess Mononoke

    Princess Mononoke (もののけ姫, 1997)

    iRank85Hayao MiyazakiAdventureAnimationFantasy

    Miyazaki's 1997 epic sends a cursed young prince into a war between encroaching humans and the gods of the forest, refusing easy heroes or villains. Sweeping, violent and ecologically profound, it's Studio Ghibli at its most ambitious. If its grandeur and moral complexity gripped you, the films of Studio Ghibli and epic animated fantasies share its reverence for nature and its refusal of simple answers.

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  6. Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind

    Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind (風の谷のナウシカ, 1984)

    iRank84Hayao MiyazakiAdventureAnimationFantasy

    After a global war, the seaside kingdom known as the Valley of the Wind remains one of the last strongholds on Earth untouched by a poisonous jungle and the powerful insects that guard it. Led by the

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  7. Castle in the Sky

    Castle in the Sky (天空の城ラピュタ, 1986)

    iRank84Hayao MiyazakiActionAdventureAnimation

    A young boy and a girl with a magic crystal must race against pirates and foreign agents in a search for a legendary floating castle.

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  8. The Nightmare Before Christmas

    The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993)

    iRank84Henry SelickAnimationFamilyFantasy

    Henry Selick's stop-motion fantasy follows Jack Skellington, the bored king of Halloween Town, who stumbles onto Christmas and decides to run it himself, swapping cheer for ghoulish gifts while his devoted rag-doll love Sally senses disaster. Its handcrafted animation, macabre-yet-tender design, and songbook give it a singular texture that sits between children's fantasy and gothic fable. The film suits viewers who like their whimsy dark and their holiday stories a little strange, and it plays equally well for families comfortable with spookiness and for older fans of Tim Burton's sensibility. A crafted, musical oddity that has earned its dual claim on Halloween and Christmas alike.

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  9. Being John Malkovich

    Being John Malkovich (1999)

    iRank84Spike JonzeComedyDramaFantasy

    Spike Jonze's 1999 debut is one of those premises that sounds like a dare and somehow becomes a fully realized film. A struggling puppeteer named Craig discovers a hidden portal that drops whoever enters into the mind of actor John Malkovich for fifteen minutes. From that absurd hook, the story spirals into questions about identity, desire and the hunger to be someone else. It's a comedy that keeps tilting toward melancholy, playful on the surface and genuinely unsettling underneath. Viewers who prize originality and don't need tidy explanations will find plenty to chew on. Those who want their stories logical and grounded may find its dream-logic too slippery to embrace.

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  10. Who Framed Roger Rabbit

    Who Framed Roger Rabbit (1988)

    iRank83Robert ZemeckisAnimationComedyCrime

    Robert Zemeckis blends hand-drawn animation with live action in a 1988 comedy-crime-fantasy that puts cartoon star Roger Rabbit at the center of a murder case. When Roger suspects his wife Jessica of straying, detective Eddie Valiant is hired to watch her; things escalate when Marvin Acme turns up dead and Roger becomes the prime suspect. It's a noir-flavored mystery filtered through slapstick, ideal for viewers who enjoy genre-mixing invention and the technical craft of characters sharing the frame across two mediums. Expect wit and momentum rather than realism. A good pick for fans of animation history and playful detective stories alike.

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  11. The Princess Bride

    The Princess Bride (1987)

    iRank83Rob ReinerAdventureComedyFamily

    Rob Reiner's 1987 adventure comedy frames a classic fairy tale inside a grandfather's bedtime storytelling, following Princess Buttercup and her true love Westley as they navigate swordsmen, scheming princes and improbable perils. It works on two levels at once: a sincere romantic quest and a gentle send-up of the genre's clichés, held together by quotable dialogue and an easy, affectionate wit. The blend of fantasy, family warmth and comedy makes it accessible across generations, welcoming to children yet knowing enough for adults. If you want charm over spectacle and humor that never turns mean-spirited, this remains an inviting, rewatchable choice with real staying power.

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  12. The Little Mermaid

    The Little Mermaid (1989)

    iRank82Ron ClementsAnimationFamilyFantasy

    Ron Clements's 1989 animated fantasy follows Ariel, an impetuous mermaid princess who falls for the human Prince Eric and risks everything for a chance to be with him, striking a fateful bargain with the villainous sea witch Ursula. A landmark of hand-drawn family animation, it pairs vivid undersea colour with a batch of memorable songs and characters that made it endlessly rewatchable for generations. The story leans into longing, rebellion and the pull between two worlds, staying bright enough for small children yet emotionally direct enough for adults. If you want warm, tuneful animation with a headstrong heroine and a gloriously theatrical villain, it remains a reliable pick.

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  13. Porco Rosso

    Porco Rosso (紅の豚, 1992)

    iRank82Hayao MiyazakiAdventureAnimationFantasy

    In Italy in the 1930s, sky pirates in biplanes terrorize wealthy cruise ships as they sail the Adriatic Sea. The only pilot brave enough to stop the scourge is the mysterious Porco Rosso, a former Wor

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  14. Ninja Scroll

    Ninja Scroll (獣兵衛忍風帖, 1993)

    iRank82Yoshiaki KawajiriActionAnimationFantasy

    Jubei is a masterless ninja who travels the land alone, lending his services to those with gold—or a worthy cause. His fearsome abilities have served him well, but a plot to overthrow the government t

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  15. Groundhog Day

    Groundhog Day (1993)

    iRank82Harold RamisComedyFantasyRomance

    Harold Ramis turns a simple premise into a small comic-philosophical marvel: a cynical TV weatherman, sent with his upbeat producer and dry cameraman to cover Groundhog Day in tiny Punxsutawney, finds himself trapped reliving the same day on endless repeat. What begins as farce gradually deepens into a story about boredom, despair and the slow work of becoming a better person. This fantasy comedy rewards viewers who enjoy wit that sneaks up on real feeling, and it holds up to rewatching as well as its hero relives his day. Ideal for anyone wanting a smart, warm-hearted laugh with an unexpectedly reflective core. A durable, endlessly quotable favorite.

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Best fantasy movies: from the 2000s and 2010s

  1. The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King

    The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (2003)

    iRank91Peter JacksonActionAdventureFantasy

    Peter Jackson's trilogy finale brings Frodo's quest and the war for Middle-earth to a monumental close, balancing vast battlefield spectacle with the small, exhausted heroism of two hobbits crossing Mordor. It's epic fantasy at its most emotionally complete. If its blend of grand scale and intimate stakes stayed with you, Jackson's own Hobbit films offer the nearest return to that world, while sweeping fantasy adventures chase the same sense of journey, sacrifice and wonder.

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  2. Spirited Away

    Spirited Away (千と千尋の神隠し, 2001)

    iRank91Hayao MiyazakiAnimationFamilyFantasy

    Miyazaki's Oscar-winning fantasy follows ten-year-old Chihiro into a bathhouse for spirits, where she must work, grow brave and rescue her transformed parents. Hand-drawn, strange and quietly profound, it's a coming-of-age tale with no true villains — only wonder and consequence. If its imagination enchanted you, the rest of Studio Ghibli awaits: My Neighbor Totoro, Princess Mononoke and Kiki's Delivery Service share its warmth, craft and reverence for the natural and the magical.

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  3. The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring

    The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (2001)

    iRank90Peter JacksonActionAdventureFantasy

    Peter Jackson's trilogy opener introduces Frodo's perilous journey to destroy the One Ring and the fellowship sworn to protect him, conjuring Middle-earth with a scale and conviction fantasy cinema had never achieved. Equal parts wonder, dread and camaraderie, it set the template for the modern epic. If its immersive world and emotional stakes swept you up, its sequels The Two Towers and The Return of the King continue the quest, and grand fantasy adventures chase the same sense of awe.

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  4. The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers

    The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers (2002)

    iRank89Peter JacksonAdventureFantasyAction

    The middle chapter of Jackson's trilogy splinters the fellowship across three fronts — Frodo and Sam edging toward Mordor with the treacherous Gollum, while the others rally for the colossal siege of Helm's Deep. Darker and more propulsive than its predecessor, it balances dread with breathtaking battle. If its scale and momentum swept you up, The Fellowship of the Ring precedes it and The Return of the King completes the quest, with grand fantasy epics chasing the same grandeur.

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  5. Pan's Labyrinth

    Pan's Labyrinth (El laberinto del fauno, 2006)

    iRank88Guillermo del ToroFantasyDramaWar

    Del Toro's 2006 dark fairy tale sets a lonely girl's escape into a labyrinth of fauns and monsters against the brutal reality of post-Civil War fascist Spain. Beautiful and savage in equal measure, it weaves myth and history into one of cinema's great adult fantasies. If its blend of wonder and cruelty gripped you, seek out fantasy and horror-tinged dramas where the imaginary becomes a refuge from real-world monsters.

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  6. Ratatouille

    Ratatouille (2007)

    iRank88Brad BirdAnimationComedyFamily

    Brad Bird's 2007 Pixar charmer follows Remy, a rat with a gourmet's palate, who teams up with a clumsy kitchen boy to cook in a great Paris restaurant. Gorgeous, warm and quietly radical about who gets to make art, it turns "anyone can cook" into a genuine creed. If its wit and warmth delighted you, Pixar's best and other tender animated comedies share its craft and its belief in unlikely dreamers.

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  7. The Tale of The Princess Kaguya

    The Tale of The Princess Kaguya (かぐや姫の物語, 2013)

    iRank87Isao TakahataAnimationDramaFantasy

    Isao Takahata's 2013 Ghibli masterpiece retells an ancient Japanese folktale: a tiny girl found in a bamboo stalk grows into a princess who can never quite belong to the world she's given. Rendered in breathtaking watercolour-like animation, it's a sublime, melancholy meditation on life's fleeting beauty. If its artistry and quiet sorrow moved you, the films of Studio Ghibli and lyrical animated dramas share its grace and depth.

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  8. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2

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

    iRank86David YatesAdventureFantasy

    The grand finale of the Harry Potter saga brings Harry, Ron and Hermione to their final confrontation with Voldemort, culminating in the battle for Hogwarts. Epic, emotional and a fitting send-off to a generation's defining fantasy, it pays off a decade of story. If its magic and high-stakes farewell moved you, the wider Harry Potter films and grand fantasy adventures share its blend of wonder and sacrifice.

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  9. A Dog's Will

    A Dog's Will (O Auto da Compadecida, 2000)

    iRank86Guel ArraesComedyDramaFantasy

    This beloved 2000 Brazilian comedy follows two penniless tricksters in the rural Northeast whose schemes, lies and small cons spiral toward a riotous reckoning. Funny, folkloric and big-hearted, it became a national treasure of Brazilian cinema. If its sly humour and regional warmth charmed you, seek out picaresque comedies and folk tales about lovable rogues outwitting a hard world.

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  10. Monsters, Inc.

    Monsters, Inc. (2001)

    iRank84Pete DocterAnimationComedyFamily

    Pete Docter's 2001 Pixar comedy imagines Monstropolis, a city powered by the screams of children, where the lovable Sulley and his wisecracking partner Mike Wazowski are the top scare team at the Monsters, Inc. factory. When a small girl named Boo wanders through a closet door into their world, the monsters are the ones left terrified, and the duo must hide her and get her home. Blending animation, comedy, family adventure and fantasy, it pairs inventive world-building with genuine warmth and plenty of gags for grown-ups. Its heart lies in an unlikely friendship and gentle reversals of what scares whom. Ideal family viewing that rewards younger and older audiences alike.

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  11. How to Train Your Dragon

    How to Train Your Dragon (2010)

    iRank84Dean DeBloisAdventureAnimationFamily

    Dean DeBlois turns a Viking coming-of-age story into a warm animated fantasy about a boy who refuses the path expected of him. Hiccup, a slight teenager in a village where killing dragons proves your worth, downs a feared beast and finds he cannot finish the job; instead he befriends it and names it Toothless. The film balances soaring flight sequences with a genuinely tender friendship and quiet father-son friction. It suits families wanting adventure with real emotional stakes, and viewers who appreciate expressive animation and a hero defined by curiosity rather than muscle. A gentle, confidently made 2010 fantasy that rewards younger and older audiences alike.

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  12. Wolf Children

    Wolf Children (おおかみこどもの雨と雪, 2012)

    iRank84Mamoru HosodaAnimationDramaFamily

    After her werewolf lover unexpectedly dies in an accident, a woman must find a way to raise the son and daughter that she had with him. However, their inheritance of their father's traits prove to be

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  13. Howl's Moving Castle

    Howl's Moving Castle (ハウルの動く城, 2004)

    iRank84Hayao MiyazakiAdventureAnimationFantasy

    Hayao Miyazaki's 2004 animated fantasy follows Sophie, a quiet young milliner who is transformed into an old woman by a witch that curses her in her shop. Seeking a way to break the spell, she crosses paths with the wizard Howl and is drawn into his resistance against fighting a war for the king. Rendered in Studio Ghibli's lush, hand-drawn detail, the film moves with dreamlike logic through a world of walking castles and shifting identities. Its themes of aging, self-worth and refusing violence give it real tenderness. Ideal for viewers who love imaginative, warm-hearted animation over tightly plotted adventure.

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  14. Donnie Darko

    Donnie Darko (2001)

    iRank84Richard KellyFantasyDramaMystery

    Richard Kelly's 2001 film blends comedy, drama, fantasy and mystery around a troubled teenager who, after narrowly surviving a bizarre accident, is haunted by visions of a large, unsettling rabbit that goads him toward a string of crimes. It's a deliberately strange, mood-heavy piece that leaves much to interpretation, trading clean answers for atmosphere, dread and dark humor. The tone slips between suburban unease and something more otherworldly, and its puzzle-box structure invites rewatching. This one suits viewers drawn to ambiguity and cult oddities rather than tidy resolution. If you like films that linger and provoke debate, and don't need every thread neatly tied, it's worth seeking out.

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  15. The Lego Movie

    The Lego Movie (2014)

    iRank83Phil LordAdventureAnimationComedy

    Phil Lord's 2014 animated adventure follows an utterly ordinary Lego mini-figure, mistaken for a legendary MasterBuilder, who gets swept into a quest to stop a tyrannical Lego overlord from conquering the universe. Bursting with rapid gags, pop-culture riffs and a bright, brick-built visual style, it works as both breakneck family entertainment and a sly commentary on conformity versus creativity. Beneath the frantic surface sits a surprisingly heartfelt idea about the value of imagination and being told you're special. It suits families and adults alike, rewarding attention with jokes pitched at every level. If you want animation that's clever, kinetic and genuinely funny, this is a joyful choice.

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  16. Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban

    Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (2004)

    iRank83Alfonso CuarónAdventureFantasy

    Alfonso Cuarón takes over the wizarding saga in 2004, and his touch darkens the series noticeably. Harry Potter is endangered again when Sirius Black, a dangerous escaped prisoner from Azkaban, is believed to be heading for Hogwarts. As adventure fantasy, this instalment trades some childhood whimsy for a moodier, more autumnal atmosphere and a sharper visual style. If you appreciate a franchise entry that treats its young audience as maturing and leans into mystery and dread, it's a rewarding watch. Newcomers should know it builds on earlier films, so context helps. Fans of the books often single this one out for its confident, more grown-up direction.

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  17. Ponyo

    Ponyo (崖の上のポニョ, 2008)

    iRank82Hayao MiyazakiAnimationFamilyFantasy

    When Sosuke, a young boy who lives on a clifftop overlooking the sea, rescues a stranded goldfish named Ponyo, he discovers more than he bargained for. Ponyo is a curious, energetic young creature who

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  18. Shrek

    Shrek (2001)

    iRank82Andrew AdamsonAdventureAnimationComedy

    Andrew Adamson's 2001 animated adventure sends a grumpy green ogre on an unexpected quest. Shrek would rather be left alone in his swamp, but circumstances push him to rescue a princess guarded by a fire-breathing dragon, saddled with a chatterbox donkey he never asked for. What follows blends adventure, comedy and family warmth, poking fun at fairy-tale conventions while quietly honouring them. The gruff hero and his motor-mouthed sidekick give the film its odd-couple charm, and the humour works on two levels for children and grown-ups alike. It suits families wanting bright, irreverent fun with a soft centre, and anyone fond of animation that winks at the stories it borrows from.

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  19. Coraline

    Coraline (2009)

    iRank82Henry SelickAnimationFamilyFantasy

    Henry Selick's 2009 stop-motion fantasy follows 11-year-old Coraline, who, wandering her rambling old house in a dull new town, finds a hidden door to a strangely idealized version of her life. To stay in that fantasy, she must make a frighteningly real sacrifice. It's a handcrafted family film with a genuine undercurrent of unease, using tactile animation and eerie design to explore the seductive danger of getting exactly what you wish for. The uncanny alternate world is beautiful and quietly menacing at once. Best for older children and adults who like their fairy tales shadowy, it rewards viewers drawn to imaginative craft, gothic atmosphere and stories where wanting more carries a cost.

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  20. The Secret World of Arrietty

    The Secret World of Arrietty (借りぐらしのアリエッティ, 2010)

    iRank82Hiromasa YonebayashiAnimationFamilyFantasy

    14-year-old Arrietty and the rest of the Clock family live in peaceful anonymity as they make their own home from items "borrowed" from the house's human inhabitants. However, life changes for the Clo

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  21. How to Train Your Dragon 2

    How to Train Your Dragon 2 (2014)

    iRank81Dean DeBloisActionAdventureAnimation

    Dean DeBlois's animated sequel widens the world of Berk five years on, as young Hiccup and his dragon Toothless fly beyond home and stumble upon a hidden cave of wild dragons and a mysterious rider tied to Hiccup's past. As the ruthless conqueror Drago Bludvist moves to seize control of dragons and people, Hiccup must grow into a leader and defend his home from war. It's a family adventure with soaring flight sequences, real emotional weight and themes of identity, loss and responsibility handled with unusual seriousness for the genre. Great for kids and adults alike, especially viewers who loved the first film and want a bigger, more heartfelt continuation.

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  22. Midnight in Paris

    Midnight in Paris (2011)

    iRank81Woody AllenComedyFantasyRomance

    Woody Allen's 2011 romantic fantasy follows a nostalgic screenwriter who, on a Paris trip with his fiancée's family, discovers that at midnight each night he is mysteriously transported back to the 1920s. Allen turns the conceit into a gentle, wistful meditation on nostalgia itself, letting the city serve as both dream and character while the hero's longing for a golden past collides with his present-day relationship. The tone is light and whimsical, the pace unhurried, and the humor rooted in charm rather than edge. Viewers who enjoy literate romantic comedy, a soft dose of magic and postcard-pretty Paris will be won over; those wanting sharp conflict may find it too featherweight.

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  23. Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire

    Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (2005)

    iRank81Mike NewellAdventureFantasy

    Mike Newell steps into the wizarding world with the fourth chapter, and the shift in tone is unmistakable: the Triwizard Tournament pits Harry against older students and three schools, while darker signs of Voldemort's return gather at the edges. It's an adventure-fantasy that leans into spectacle and mounting dread rather than the cozier magic of earlier films. Best suited to viewers already invested in the saga, or anyone drawn to a story about a reluctant competitor pushed into trials beyond his years. Newer arrivals may want the previous films first, since much of the weight here rests on relationships built across the series. A transitional, more adolescent entry in the franchise.

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Best fantasy movies: recent

  1. Violet Evergarden: The Movie

    Violet Evergarden: The Movie (劇場版 ヴァイオレット・エヴァーガーデン, 2020)

    iRank89Taichi IshidateAnimationDramaFantasy

    This 2020 anime film closes the Violet Evergarden story: a former child soldier turned letter-writer still longs for the officer she lost to war, even as a changing world moves on without him. Sumptuously animated and unashamedly emotional, it's a meditation on grief, language and learning to feel. If its tender melancholy and exquisite craft moved you, seek out heartfelt anime dramas and films about love, loss and the words we struggle to say.

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  2. Wolfwalkers

    Wolfwalkers (2020)

    iRank87Tomm MooreAdventureAnimationFamily

    Cartoon Saloon's 2020 hand-drawn marvel follows a young hunter's daughter in 17th-century Ireland who befriends a wild girl able to turn into a wolf, upending everything she's been taught about nature and freedom. Gorgeously stylised and quietly radical, it's animation as folklore and protest. If its artistry and spirit moved you, seek out lyrical hand-drawn animation and fables about the wild, the tamed and the bonds between them.

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  3. Justice League Dark: Apokolips War

    Justice League Dark: Apokolips War (2020)

    iRank86Matt PetersActionAdventureAnimation

    This 2020 animated film caps the DC animated universe with a grim, all-out war against the tyrant Darkseid after the heroes' first assault ends in catastrophe. Brutal, emotional and unafraid to break its characters, it's a bold, bloody finale to a long saga. If its dark stakes and scale gripped you, seek out mature animated comic-book films that treat their heroes' losses as seriously as their victories.

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  4. Flow

    Flow (Straume, 2024)

    iRank86Gints ZilbalodisAdventureAnimationFamily

    Gints Zilbalodis's 2024 dialogue-free animated wonder follows a solitary cat who, displaced by a great flood, must share a drifting boat with other animals and learn to cooperate to survive. Wordless, beautiful and quietly profound about fear and trust, it became an awards darling. If its serene wonder and emotional purity moved you, seek out dialogue-light animation and nature fables that speak entirely through image and feeling.

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  5. Soul

    Soul (2020)

    iRank85Pete DocterAnimationDramaFamily

    Pixar's 2020 film sends a jazz-loving music teacher's soul on a cosmic detour the moment his big break arrives, forcing him to ask what really makes a life worth living. Inventive, soulful and quietly profound, it's animation at its most philosophical. If its warmth and big questions moved you, the great Pixar films and thoughtful animated dramas share its gift for turning existential ideas into deep feeling.

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  6. Chainsaw Man - The Movie: Reze Arc

    Chainsaw Man - The Movie: Reze Arc (劇場版 チェンソーマン レゼ篇, 2025)

    iRank85Tatsuya YoshiharaActionAnimationFantasy

    This 2025 anime film adapts one of Chainsaw Man's most beloved arcs, plunging Denji into a tender, dangerous romance shadowed by devil-hunting violence and betrayal. Expect the series' signature blend of brutal action, raw emotion and bold style on the big screen. If Chainsaw Man's mix of gore and aching longing hooked you, seek out dark action anime that pair extreme violence with bruised, lovesick hearts.

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  7. Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba Infinity Castle

    Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba Infinity Castle (劇場版「鬼滅の刃」無限城編 第一章 猗窩座再来, 2025)

    iRank83Haruo SotozakiActionAnimationFantasy

    The Demon Slayer Corps are drawn into the Infinity Castle, where Tanjiro, Nezuko, and the Hashira face terrifying Upper Rank demons in a desperate fight as the final battle against Muzan Kibutsuji beg

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  8. My Hero Academia: Two Heroes

    My Hero Academia: Two Heroes (僕のヒーローアカデミア THE MOVIE ~2人の英雄~, 2018)

    iRank83Kenji NagasakiActionAdventureAnimation

    All Might and Deku accept an invitation to go abroad to a floating and mobile manmade city, called 'I-Island', where they research quirks as well as hero supplemental items at the special 'I-Expo' con

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  9. The Boy and the Heron

    The Boy and the Heron (君たちはどう生きるか, 2023)

    iRank83Hayao MiyazakiAnimationDramaFantasy

    While the Second World War rages, the teenage Mahito, haunted by his mother's tragic death, is relocated from Tokyo to the serene rural home of his new stepmother Natsuko, a woman who bears a striking

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  10. Rascal Does Not Dream of a Dreaming Girl

    Rascal Does Not Dream of a Dreaming Girl (青春ブタ野郎はゆめみる少女の夢を見ない, 2019)

    iRank83Soichi MasuiAnimationDramaFantasy

    In Fujisawa, Sakuta Azusagawa is in his second year of high school. Blissful days with his girlfriend and upperclassman, Mai Sakurajima, are interrupted by the appearance of his first crush, Shoko Mak

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  11. Bāhubali 2: The Conclusion

    Bāhubali 2: The Conclusion (బాహుబలి 2: ది కన్ క్లూజన్, 2017)

    iRank83S. S. RajamouliActionAdventureFantasy

    When Mahendra, the son of Bāhubali, learns about his heritage, he begins to look for answers. His story is juxtaposed with past events that unfolded in the Mahishmati Kingdom.

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  12. Jujutsu Kaisen 0

    Jujutsu Kaisen 0 (劇場版 呪術廻戦 0, 2021)

    iRank82Sunghoo ParkActionAnimationFantasy

    Yuta Okkotsu is a nervous high school student who is suffering from a serious problem—his childhood friend Rika has turned into a curse and won't leave him alone. Since Rika is no ordinary curse, his

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  13. Maquia: When the Promised Flower Blooms

    Maquia: When the Promised Flower Blooms (さよならの朝に約束の花をかざろう, 2018)

    iRank82Mari OkadaAnimationDramaFantasy

    Fleeing the war, the immortal Machia, graced with eternal youth, finds a baby abandoned in the forest and decides to raise it as her own child, sparking a moving story between a mortal and a being who

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Ranked by the iRankMovies editorial teamUpdated August 2026MethodologyData sources