If movies routinely delve into the depths of the human imagination, the fantasy genre goes one level deeper. Drawn from the tradition of epic storytelling, the best examples feature all living entities in parallel worlds.
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Powerful mages. Evil creatures. Futuristic spaceships. Landscapes of distant planets. When the budget is big enough, all impossibilities become possible. Not to mention the animation, which caters to its own unique layer of limitless potential.
Historically speaking, fantasy films haven't always been critical darlings. However, a list of acclaimed works over the decades has emerged, some of which even dominated during award season.
Meanwhile, certain figures appear repeatedly, such as Tim Burton, Guillermo del Toro, Peter Jackson, George Lucas and Hayao Miyazaki. Each of these masters not only conjures up a unique world, but introduces an identifiable style or aesthetic in the process. In essence, they built worlds within worlds.
Any fantasy movie list will include family-friendly elements, and this one is no exception. However, there is also a special type of fantasy film that is usually aimed at adults and incorporates a psychological element.
The viewer is left wondering if the fantasy is real or just a figment of some character's imagination. Top examples include 1973's "The Spirit of the Beehive" and 2019's "The Lighthouse", to name a few.
To give this beloved genre its due, Stacker features the top 100 fantasy movies of all time. Data was compiled from all fantasy films registered on IMDB and Metacritic. Ties were broken by Metascore.
Here are the best fantasy movies.
