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Fantasy films are films that belong to the
fantasy Fantasy is a genre of speculative fiction involving magical elements, typically set in a fictional universe and sometimes inspired by mythology and folklore. Its roots are in oral traditions, which then became fantasy literature and d ...
genre with fantastic themes, usually magic,
supernatural Supernatural refers to phenomena or entities that are beyond the laws of nature. The term is derived from Medieval Latin , from Latin (above, beyond, or outside of) + (nature) Though the corollary term "nature", has had multiple meanings si ...
events,
mythology Myth is a folklore genre consisting of narratives that play a fundamental role in a society, such as foundational tales or origin myths. Since "myth" is widely used to imply that a story is not objectively true, the identification of a narra ...
,
folklore Folklore is shared by a particular group of people; it encompasses the traditions common to that culture, subculture or group. This includes oral traditions such as tales, legends, proverbs and jokes. They include material culture, rangin ...
, or exotic fantasy worlds. The
genre Genre () is any form or type of communication in any mode (written, spoken, digital, artistic, etc.) with socially-agreed-upon conventions developed over time. In popular usage, it normally describes a category of literature, music, or other f ...
is considered a form of
speculative fiction Speculative fiction is a term that has been used with a variety of (sometimes contradictory) meanings. The broadest interpretation is as a category of fiction encompassing genres with elements that do not exist in reality, recorded history, nat ...
alongside
science fiction film Science fiction (or sci-fi) is a film genre that uses speculative, fictional science-based depictions of phenomena that are not fully accepted by mainstream science, such as extraterrestrial lifeforms, spacecraft, robots, cyborgs, interstel ...
s and
horror film Horror is a film genre that seeks to elicit fear or disgust in its audience for entertainment purposes. Horror films often explore dark subject matter and may deal with transgressive topics or themes. Broad elements include monsters, ap ...
s, although the genres do overlap. Fantasy films often have an element of magic,
myth Myth is a folklore genre consisting of narratives that play a fundamental role in a society, such as foundational tales or origin myths. Since "myth" is widely used to imply that a story is not objectively true, the identification of a narrat ...
, wonder, escapism, and the extraordinary. Prevalent elements include
fairies A fairy (also fay, fae, fey, fair folk, or faerie) is a type of mythical being or legendary creature found in the folklore of multiple European cultures (including Celtic, Slavic, Germanic, English, and French folklore), a form of spirit, ...
, angels,
mermaids In folklore, a mermaid is an aquatic creature with the head and upper body of a female human and the tail of a fish. Mermaids appear in the folklore of many cultures worldwide, including Europe, Asia, and Africa. Mermaids are sometimes asso ...
, witches, monsters, wizards, unicorns, dragons,
talking animals Talking may refer to: * Speech, the product of the action of ''to talk'' * Communication by spoken words; conversation or discussion Other uses * "Talking" (The Rifles song), 2007 * "Talking" (A Flock of Seagulls song), 1983 * "Talking", a son ...
, ogres,
elves An elf () is a type of humanoid supernatural being in Germanic mythology and folklore. Elves appear especially in North Germanic mythology. They are subsequently mentioned in Snorri Sturluson's Icelandic Prose Edda. He distinguishes ...
, trolls, white magic, gnomes, vampires,
werewolves In folklore, a werewolf (), or occasionally lycanthrope (; ; uk, Вовкулака, Vovkulaka), is an individual that can shapeshift into a wolf (or, especially in modern film, a therianthropic hybrid wolf-like creature), either purposely ...
,
ghosts A ghost is the soul or spirit of a dead person or animal that is believed to be able to appear to the living. In ghostlore, descriptions of ghosts vary widely from an invisible presence to translucent or barely visible wispy shapes, to re ...
,
demons A demon is a malevolent supernatural entity. Historically, belief in demons, or stories about demons, occurs in religion, occultism, literature, fiction, mythology, and folklore; as well as in media such as comics, video games, movies, anime ...
, dwarves, giants, goblins,
anthropomorphic Anthropomorphism is the attribution of human traits, emotions, or intentions to non-human entities. It is considered to be an innate tendency of human psychology. Personification is the related attribution of human form and characteristics t ...
or magical objects, familiars, curses and other enchantments, worlds involving magic, and the
Middle Ages In the history of Europe, the Middle Ages or medieval period lasted approximately from the late 5th to the late 15th centuries, similar to the post-classical period of global history. It began with the fall of the Western Roman Empire ...
.


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 are High Fantasy and
Sword and Sorcery Sword and sorcery (S&S) is a subgenre of fantasy characterized by sword-wielding heroes engaged in exciting and violent adventures. Elements of romance, magic, and the supernatural are also often present. Unlike works of high fantasy, the ...
. 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 cite J. R. R. Tolkien's ''
The Lord of the Rings ''The Lord of the Rings'' is an epic high-fantasy novel by English author and scholar J. R. R. Tolkien. Set in Middle-earth, intended to be Earth at some time in the distant past, the story began as a sequel to Tolkien's 1937 children's bo ...
'' novel as the prototypical modern example of High Fantasy in literature, and the recent
Peter Jackson Sir Peter Robert Jackson (born 31 October 1961) is a New Zealand film director, screenwriter and producer. He is best known as the director, writer and producer of the ''Lord of the Rings'' trilogy (2001–2003) and the ''Hobbit'' trilogy ( ...
film adaptation A film adaptation is the transfer of a work or story, in whole or in part, to a feature film. Although often considered a type of derivative work, film adaptation has been conceptualized recently by academic scholars such as Robert Stam as a dia ...
of 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. The 1982 film adaptation of Robert E. Howard's ''
Conan the Barbarian Conan the Barbarian (also known as Conan the Cimmerian) is a fictional sword and sorcery hero who originated in pulp magazines and has since been adapted to books, comics, films (including '' Conan the Barbarian'' and ''Conan the Destroyer''), ...
'', 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 term Sword and Sandal rather 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 is contemporary fantasy. Such films feature magical effects or supernatural occurrences happening in the "real" world of today. Films with live action and animation such as
Disney The Walt Disney Company, commonly known as Disney (), is an American multinational mass media and entertainment conglomerate headquartered at the Walt Disney Studios complex in Burbank, California. Disney was originally founded on October ...
's ''
Mary Poppins It may refer to: * ''Mary Poppins'' (book series), the original 1934–1988 children's fantasy novels that introduced the character. * Mary Poppins (character), the nanny with magical powers. * ''Mary Poppins'' (film), a 1964 Disney film star ...
'', '' Pete's Dragon'', '' Enchanted'', and the
Robert Zemeckis Robert Lee Zemeckis (born May 14, 1952) is an American filmmaker. He first came to public attention as the director of the action-adventure romantic comedy '' Romancing the Stone'' (1984), the science-fiction comedy '' Back to the Future'' film ...
film ''
Who Framed Roger Rabbit ''Who Framed Roger Rabbit'' is a 1988 American Live-action animated film, live-action/animated comedy film, comedy mystery film directed by Robert Zemeckis, produced by Frank Marshall (filmmaker), Frank Marshall and Robert Watts, and loosely ad ...
'' are 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 the
afterlife The afterlife (also referred to as life after death) is a purported existence in which the essential part of an individual's identity or their stream of consciousness continues to live after the death of their physical body. The surviving es ...
, called Bangsian Fantasy, are less common, although films such as the 1991
Albert Brooks Albert Brooks (born Albert Lawrence Einstein ; July 22, 1947) is an American actor and filmmaker. He received an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actor for 1987's '' Broadcast News'' and was widely praised for his performance as a ...
comedy '' Defending Your Life'' would likely qualify. Other uncommon subgenres include
Historical Fantasy Historical fantasy is a category of fantasy and genre of historical fiction that incorporates fantastic elements (such as magic) into a more "realistic" narrative. There is much crossover with other subgenres of fantasy; those classed as Art ...
and
Romantic Fantasy Romantic fantasy is a subgenre of fantasy fiction, describing a fantasy story using many of the elements and conventions of the chivalric romance genre. One of the key features of romantic fantasy involves the focus on relationships, social, ...
, although 2003's '' Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl'' successfully 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 gee 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 of J.R.R. Tolkien's ''
The Lord of the Rings ''The Lord of the Rings'' is an epic high-fantasy novel by English author and scholar J. R. R. Tolkien. Set in Middle-earth, intended to be Earth at some time in the distant past, the story began as a sequel to Tolkien's 1937 children's bo ...
'' and J.K. Rowling's ''
Harry Potter ''Harry Potter'' is a series of seven fantasy novels written by British author J. K. Rowling. The novels chronicle the lives of a young wizard, Harry Potter, and his friends Hermione Granger and Ron Weasley, all of whom are students at ...
'' series. Jackson's ''The Lord of the Rings'' trilogy is notable due to its ambitious scope, serious tone, and thematic complexity. These pictures achieved phenomenal commercial and critical success, and the third installment of the trilogy became the first fantasy film ever to win the
Academy Award for Best Picture The Academy Award for Best Picture is one of the Academy Awards presented annually by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS) since the awards debuted in 1929. This award goes to the producers of the film and is the only categ ...
. The ''Harry Potter'' series 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 in
C. S. Lewis Clive Staples Lewis (29 November 1898 – 22 November 1963) was a British writer and Anglican lay theologian. He held academic positions in English literature at both Oxford University (Magdalen College, 1925–1954) and Cambridge Univer ...
' ''
The Chronicles of Narnia ''The Chronicles of Narnia'' is a series of seven high fantasy novels by British author C. S. Lewis. Illustrated by Pauline Baynes and originally published between 1950 and 1956, ''The Chronicles of Narnia'' has been Adaptations of The Chron ...
'' series and the teen novel '' Eragon'', as well as adaptations of Susan Cooper's '' The Dark Is Rising'', Cornelia Funke's '' Inkheart'', Philip Pullman's '' The Golden Compass'', Holly Black's ''
The Spiderwick Chronicles ''The Spiderwick Chronicles'' is a series of children's fantasy books by Tony DiTerlizzi and Holly Black. They chronicle the adventures of the Grace children, twins Simon and Jared and their older sister Mallory, after they move into the Spider ...
'', Nickelodeon's TV show '' Avatar: The Last Airbender'', and the ''
Fantasia Fantasia International Film Festival (also known as Fantasia-fest, FanTasia, and Fant-Asia) is a film festival that has been based mainly in Montreal since its founding in 1996. Regularly held in July of each year, it is valued by both hardcor ...
'' segment (along with
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (28 August 1749 – 22 March 1832) was a German poet, playwright, novelist, scientist, statesman, theatre director, and critic. His works include plays, poetry, literature, and aesthetic criticism, as well as t ...
's original poem) ''
The Sorcerer's Apprentice "The Sorcerer's Apprentice" (german: "Der Zauberlehrling", link=no, italic=no) is a poem by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe written in 1797. The poem is a ballad in 14 stanzas. Story The poem begins as an old sorcerer departs his workshop, leaving ...
'' Many fantasy movies starting in the 2000s, such as ''The Lord of the Rings'' films, the first and third ''Narnia'' adaptations, and the first, second, fourth and seventh ''Harry Potter'' adaptations have most often been released in November and December. This is in contrast to science fiction films, which are often released during the northern hemisphere summer (June–August). All three installments of the ''
Pirates of the Caribbean ''Pirates of the Caribbean'' is a Disney media franchise encompassing numerous theme park rides, a series of films, and spin-off novels, as well as a number of related video games and other media publications. The franchise originated with the ...
'' fantasy films, however, were released in July 2003, July 2006, and May 2007 respectively, and the latest releases in the ''Harry Potter'' series 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 scholar
Eric R. Williams Eric R. Williams is an American screenwriter, professor, cinematic virtual reality director, and new media storyteller. He is known for developing alternative narrative and documentary techniques that take advantage of digital technologies.Binst ...
identifies fantasy films as one of eleven super-genres in his screenwriters’ taxonomy, claiming that all feature length narrative films can be classified by these super-genres. The other ten super-genres are Action, Crime, Horror, Romance,
Science Fiction Science fiction (sometimes shortened to Sci-Fi or SF) is a genre of speculative fiction which typically deals with imaginative and futuristic concepts such as advanced science and technology, space exploration, time travel, parallel uni ...
, Slice of Life, Sports,
Thriller Thriller may refer to: * Thriller (genre), a broad genre of literature, film and television ** Thriller film, a film genre under the general thriller genre Comics * ''Thriller'' (DC Comics), a comic book series published 1983–84 by DC Comics i ...
, War and Western.Williams, Eric R. (2017). ''The screenwriters taxonomy : a roadmap to collaborative storytelling''. New York, NY: Routledge Studies in Media Theory and Practice. . . P. 21


History

Fantasy films have a history almost as old as the medium itself. However, fantasy films were relatively few and far between until the 1980s, 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 List of fantasy films is a chronological listing of films in the fantasy film, fantasy genre. Fantasy television programs, including made for TV movies and miniseries, should be listed at List of fantasy television programs. Fantasy films are fi ...


1900–1920s

In the era of
silent film A silent film is a film with no synchronized recorded sound (or more generally, no audible dialogue). Though silent films convey narrative and emotion visually, various plot elements (such as a setting or era) or key lines of dialogue may, w ...
, the earliest fantasy films were those made by French film pioneer
Georges Méliès Marie-Georges-Jean Méliès (; ; 8 December 1861 – 21 January 1938) was a French illusionist, actor, and film director. He led many technical and narrative developments in the earliest days of cinema. Méliès was well known for the use of ...
from 1903. The most famous of these was 1902's ''
A Trip to the Moon ''A Trip to the Moon'' (french: Le Voyage dans la Lune) is a 1902 French adventure short film directed by Georges Méliès. Inspired by a wide variety of sources, including Jules Verne's 1865 novel '' From the Earth to the Moon'' and its 187 ...
''. In the
Golden Age The term Golden Age comes from Greek mythology, particularly the '' Works and Days'' of Hesiod, and is part of the description of temporal decline of the state of peoples through five Ages, Gold being the first and the one during which the G ...
of Silent film (1918–1926) the most outstanding fantasy films were Douglas Fairbanks' '' The Thief of Bagdad'' (1924),
Fritz Lang Friedrich Christian Anton Lang (; December 5, 1890 – August 2, 1976), known as Fritz Lang, was an Austrian film director, screenwriter, and producer who worked in Germany and later the United States.Obituary '' Variety'', August 4, 1976, p. ...
's '' Die Nibelungen'' (1924), and '' Destiny'' (1921). Other notables in the genre were
F.W. Murnau Friedrich Wilhelm Murnau (born Friedrich Wilhelm Plumpe; December 28, 1888March 11, 1931) was a German film director, producer and screenwriter. He was greatly influenced by Schopenhauer, Nietzsche, Shakespeare and Ibsen plays he had seen at th ...
's romantic ghost story ''
Phantom Phantom may refer to: * Spirit (animating force), the vital principle or animating force within all living things ** Ghost, the soul or spirit of a dead person or animal that can appear to the living Aircraft * Boeing Phantom Ray, a stealthy unm ...
'', ''
Tarzan of the Apes ''Tarzan of the Apes'' is a 1912 story by American writer Edgar Rice Burroughs, and the first in the Tarzan series. It was first serialized in the pulp magazine ''The All-Story'' beginning October 1912 before being released as a novel in June 1 ...
'' starring Elmo Lincoln, and
D. W. Griffith David Wark Griffith (January 22, 1875 – July 23, 1948) was an American film director. Considered one of the most influential figures in the history of the motion picture, he pioneered many aspects of film editing and expanded the art of the n ...
's ''
The Sorrows of Satan ''The Sorrows of Satan'' is an 1895 Faustian novel by Marie Corelli. It is widely regarded as one of the world's first best-sellers – partly due to an upheaval in the system British libraries used to purchase their books, and partly due to its ...
''.


1930s

Following the advent of
sound film A sound film is a motion picture with synchronization, synchronized sound, or sound technologically coupled to image, as opposed to a silent film. The first known public exhibition of projected sound films took place in Paris in 1900, but decad ...
s, audiences of all ages were introduced from 1937's ''
Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs "Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs" is a 19th-century German fairy tale that is today known widely across the Western world. The Brothers Grimm published it in 1812 in the first edition of their collection '' Grimms' Fairy Tales'' and numbered as ...
'' to 1939's '' The Wizard of Oz''. Also notable of the era, the iconic 1933 film '' King Kong'' borrows heavily from the Lost World subgenre of fantasy fiction as does such films as the 1935 adaptation of H. Rider Haggard's novel ''
She She most commonly refers to: *She (pronoun), the third person singular, feminine, nominative case pronoun in modern English. She or S.H.E. may also refer to: Literature and films *'' She: A History of Adventure'', an 1887 novel by H. Rider Hagga ...
'' about an African expedition that discovers an immortal queen known as Ayesha "She who must be obeyed".
Frank Capra Frank Russell Capra (born Francesco Rosario Capra; May 18, 1897 – September 3, 1991) was an Italian-born American film director, producer and writer who became the creative force behind some of the major award-winning films of the 1930s ...
's 1937 picture ''
Lost Horizon ''Lost Horizon'' is a 1933 novel by English writer James Hilton. The book was turned into a film, also called '' Lost Horizon'', in 1937 by director Frank Capra. It is best remembered as the origin of Shangri-La, a fictional utopian lamaser ...
'' transported audiences to the
Himalaya The Himalayas, or Himalaya (; ; ), is a mountain range in Asia, separating the plains of the Indian subcontinent from the Tibetan Plateau. The range has some of the planet's highest peaks, including the very highest, Mount Everest. Over 10 ...
n fantasy kingdom of
Shangri-La Shangri-La is a fictional place in Asia's Kunlun Mountains (昆仑山), Uses the spelling 'Kuen-Lun'. described in the 1933 novel '' Lost Horizon'' by English author James Hilton. Hilton portrays Shangri-La as a mystical, harmonious valley, g ...
, where the residents magically never age. Other noteworthy fantasy films of the 30s include '' Tarzan the Ape Man'' in 1932 starring Johnny Weissmuller starting a successful series of talking pictures based on the fantasy-adventure novels by Edgar Rice Burroughs and the G. W. Pabst directed ''
The Mistress of Atlantis ''L'Atlantide'' is a 1932 German-French adventure and fantasy film directed by G. W. Pabst and starring Brigitte Helm Brigitte Helm (born Brigitte Gisela Eva Schittenhelm, 17 March 1906 – 11 June 1996) was a German actress, best remembered ...
'' from 1932. 1932 saw the release of the
Universal Studios Universal Pictures (legally Universal City Studios LLC, also known as Universal Studios, or simply Universal; common metonym: Uni, and formerly named Universal Film Manufacturing Company and Universal-International Pictures Inc.) is an Americ ...
monster movie ''
The Mummy A mummy is an unusually well preserved corpse. Mummy or The Mummy may also refer to: Places * Mummy Range, a mountain range in the Rocky Mountains of northern Colorado in the United States * Mummy Cave, a rock shelter and archeological site in P ...
'' which combined horror with a romantic fantasy twist. more light-hearted and comedic affairs from the decade include films like 1934s romantic drama film ''
Death Takes a Holiday ''Death Takes a Holiday'' is a 1934 American pre-Code romantic drama starring Fredric March, Evelyn Venable and Guy Standing. It is based on the 1924 Italian play ''La morte in vacanza'' by Alberto Casella (1891–1957), as adapted in English ...
'' where Fredric March plays Death who takes a human body to experience life for three days and 1937s '' Topper'' where a man is haunted by two fun-loving ghosts who try to make his life a little more exciting.


1940s

The 1940s then saw several full-color fantasy films produced by Alexander Korda, including '' The Thief of Bagdad'' (1940), a film on par with ''The Wizard of Oz'', and '' Jungle Book'' (1942). In 1946,
Jean Cocteau Jean Maurice Eugène Clément Cocteau (, , ; 5 July 1889 – 11 October 1963) was a French poet, playwright, novelist, designer, filmmaker, visual artist and critic. He was one of the foremost creatives of the s ...
's classic adaptation of '' Beauty and the Beast'' won praise for its surreal elements and for transcending the boundaries of the
fairy tale A fairy tale (alternative names include fairytale, fairy story, magic tale, or wonder tale) is a short story that belongs to the folklore genre. Such stories typically feature magic, enchantments, and mythical or fanciful beings. In most cult ...
genre. ''
Sinbad the Sailor Sinbad the Sailor (; ar, سندباد البحري, Sindibādu al-Bahriyy; fa, سُنباد بحری, Sonbād-e Bahri or Sindbad) is a fictional mariner and the hero of a story-cycle of Persian origin. He is described as hailing from Baghd ...
'' (1947), starring Douglas Fairbanks Jr., has the feel of a fantasy film though it does not actually have any
fantastic The fantastic (french: le fantastique) is a subgenre of literary works characterized by the ambiguous presentation of seemingly supernatural forces. Bulgarian-French structuralist literary critic Tzvetan Todorov originated the concept, charac ...
elements. Several other pictures featuring supernatural encounters and aspects of Bangsian fantasy were produced in the 1940s during
World War II World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the World War II by country, vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great power ...
. These include '' Beyond Tomorrow'', ''
The Devil and Daniel Webster "The Devil and Daniel Webster" (1936) is a short story by American writer Stephen Vincent Benét. He tells of a New Hampshire farmer who sells his soul to the devil and is later defended by Daniel Webster, a fictional version of the noted 19th-c ...
'', and ''
Here Comes Mr. Jordan ''Here Comes Mr. Jordan'' is a 1941 American fantasy romantic comedy film directed by Alexander Hall, in which a boxer, mistakenly taken to Heaven before his time, is given a second chance back on Earth. It stars Robert Montgomery, Claude Rains ...
'', all from 1941, '' Heaven Can Wait'' the musical '' Cabin in the Sky'' (1943), the comedy '' The Horn Blows at Midnight'' and romances such as '' The Ghost and Mrs. Muir'' (1947), ''
One Touch of Venus ''One Touch of Venus'' is a 1943 musical with music written by Kurt Weill, lyrics by Ogden Nash, and book by S. J. Perelman and Nash, based on the 1885 novella ''The Tinted Venus'' by Thomas Anstey Guthrie, and very loosely spoofing the Pygmal ...
'' and ''
Portrait of Jennie ''Portrait of Jennie'' is a 1948 American fantasy film based on the 1940 novella by Robert Nathan. The film was directed by William Dieterle and produced by David O. Selznick. It stars Jennifer Jones and Joseph Cotten. At the 21st Academy Awa ...
'', both 1948. An astonishing anticipation of the full "sword and sorcery" genre was made in 1941 in Italy by Alessandro Blasetti. ''La Corona di Ferro'' presents 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 Eugene Curran Kelly (August 23, 1912 – February 2, 1996) was an American actor, dancer, singer, filmmaker, and choreographer. He was known for his energetic and athletic dancing style and sought to create a new form of American dance accessibl ...
's '' Anchors Aweigh'' had a fantasy sequence called "The King who Couldn't Dance" in which Gene did a song and dance number with Jerry Mouse from
Tom and Jerry ''Tom and Jerry'' is an American animated media franchise and series of comedy short films created in 1940 by William Hanna and Joseph Barbera. Best known for its 161 theatrical short films by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, the series centers on the ...
. Because these movies do not feature elements common to high fantasy or
sword and sorcery Sword and sorcery (S&S) is a subgenre of fantasy characterized by sword-wielding heroes engaged in exciting and violent adventures. Elements of romance, magic, and the supernatural are also often present. Unlike works of high fantasy, the ...
pictures, some modern critics do not consider them to be examples of the fantasy genre.


1950s

In the 1950s there were a few major fantasy films, including ''
Darby O'Gill and the Little People ''Darby O'Gill and the Little People'' is a 1959 American fantasy adventure film produced by Walt Disney Productions, adapted from the ''Darby O'Gill'' stories of Herminie Templeton Kavanagh. Directed by Robert Stevenson and written by Lawrence E ...
'' and ''
The 5,000 Fingers of Dr. T. ''The 5,000 Fingers of Dr. T.'' is a 1953 American musical fantasy film about a boy who dreams himself into a fantasy world ruled by a diabolical piano teacher enslaving children to practice piano forever. It was the only feature film written ...
'', the latter penned by Dr. Seuss. Jean Cocteau's Orphic Trilogy, begun in 1930 and completed in 1959, is based on
Greek mythology A major branch of classical mythology, Greek mythology is the body of myths originally told by the ancient Greeks, and a genre of Ancient Greek folklore. These stories concern the origin and nature of the world, the lives and activities o ...
and could be classified either as fantasy or surrealist film, depending on how the boundaries between these genres are drawn. Russian fantasy director
Aleksandr Ptushko Aleksandr Lukich Ptushko (russian: Александр Лукич Птушко, – 6 March 1973) was a Soviet animation and fantasy film director, and a People's Artist of the USSR (1969). Ptushko is frequently (and somewhat misleadingly) refer ...
created three mythological epics from Russian fairytales, '' Sadko'' (1953), '' Ilya Muromets'' (1956), and ''
Sampo In Finnish mythology, the ''Sampo'' () is a magical device or object described in many different ways that was constructed by the blacksmith Ilmarinen and that brought riches and good fortune to its holder, akin to the horn of plenty (cornucopi ...
'' (1959). Japanese director Kenji Mizoguchi's 1953 film '' Ugetsu Monogatari'' draws 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 are '' Harvey'' (1950), featuring a púca of
Celtic mythology Celtic mythology is the body of myths belonging to the Celtic peoples.Cunliffe, Barry, (1997) ''The Ancient Celts''. Oxford, Oxford University Press , pp. 183 (religion), 202, 204–8. Like other Iron Age Europeans, Celtic peoples followed ...
; '' Scrooge'', the 1951 adaptation of
Charles Dickens Charles John Huffam Dickens (; 7 February 1812 – 9 June 1870) was an English writer and social critic. He created some of the world's best-known fictional characters and is regarded by many as the greatest novelist of the Victorian er ...
' ''
A Christmas Carol ''A Christmas Carol. In Prose. Being a Ghost Story of Christmas'', commonly known as ''A Christmas Carol'', is a novella by Charles Dickens, first published in London by Chapman & Hall in 1843 and illustrated by John Leech. ''A Christmas ...
''; and
Ingmar Bergman Ernst Ingmar Bergman (14 July 1918 – 30 July 2007) was a Swedish film director, screenwriter, producer and playwright. Widely considered one of the greatest and most influential filmmakers of all time, his films are known as "profoun ...
's 1957 masterpiece, '' The Seventh Seal''. Disney's 1951 animated film ''
Alice in Wonderland ''Alice's Adventures in Wonderland'' (commonly ''Alice in Wonderland'') is an 1865 English novel by Lewis Carroll. It details the story of a young girl named Alice who falls through a rabbit hole into a fantasy world of anthropomorphic creatur ...
'' is 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's ''
The 7th Voyage of Sinbad ''The 7th Voyage of Sinbad'' is a 1958 Technicolor heroic fantasy adventure film directed by Nathan H. Juran and starring Kerwin Mathews, Torin Thatcher, Kathryn Grant, Richard Eyer, and Alec Mango. It was distributed by Columbia Pictures ...
'', featuring special effects by Ray Harryhausen and music by
Bernard Herrmann Bernard Herrmann (born Maximillian Herman; June 29, 1911December 24, 1975) was an American composer and conductor best known for his work in composing for films. As a conductor, he championed the music of lesser-known composers. He is widely r ...
.


1960s

Harryhausen worked on a series of fantasy films in the 1960s, most importantly '' Jason and the Argonauts'' (1963). Many critics have identified this film as Harryhausen's masterwork for its
stop-motion Stop motion is an animated filmmaking technique in which objects are physically manipulated in small increments between individually photographed frames so that they will appear to exhibit independent motion or change when the series of frames ...
animated statues, skeletons,
harpies In Greek mythology and Roman mythology, a harpy (plural harpies, , ; lat, harpȳia) is a half-human and half-bird personification of storm winds. They feature in Homeric poems. Descriptions They were generally depicted as birds with the he ...
, hydra, and other mythological creatures. Other Harryhausen fantasy and science fantasy collaborations from the decade include the 1961 adaptation of
Jules Verne Jules Gabriel Verne (;''Longman Pronunciation Dictionary''. ; 8 February 1828 – 24 March 1905) was a French novelist, poet, and playwright. His collaboration with the publisher Pierre-Jules Hetzel led to the creation of the '' Voyages extra ...
's '' Mysterious Island'', the critically panned '' One Million Years B.C.'' starring Raquel Welch, and ''
The Valley of Gwangi ''The Valley of Gwangi'' is a 1969 American fantasy Western film produced by Charles H. Schneer and Ray Harryhausen, directed by Jim O'Connolly, written by William Bast, and starring James Franciscus, Richard Carlson, and Gila Golan. Creat ...
'' (1969). Capitalising on the success of the sword and sandal genre several Italian
B-movie A B movie or B film is a low-budget commercial motion picture. In its original usage, during the Golden Age of Hollywood, the term more precisely identified films intended for distribution as the less-publicized bottom half of a double feat ...
s based on classical myth were made, including the ''Maciste'' series. Otherwise, the 1960s were almost entirely devoid of fantasy films. The fantasy picture ''7 Faces of Dr. Lao'', in which Tony Randall portrayed several characters from Greek mythology, was released in 1964. But the 1967 adaptation of the Broadway musical ''Camelot (film), Camelot'' removed most of the fantasy elements from T. H. White's classic ''The Once and Future King'', on which the musical had been based. The 1960s also saw a new adaption of Haggard's ''She (1965 film), She'' in 1965 starring Ursula Andress as the immortal "She who must be obeyed" and was followed by a sequel in 1968 ''The Vengeance of She'' based loosely on the novel ''Ayesha: The Return of She'' both produced by Hammer Film Productions, 1968 also saw the release of ''Chitty Chitty Bang Bang'' based on a story by Ian Fleming with a script from Roald Dahl.


1970s

gye the former being predominantly from the same team who did ''Mary Poppins'' the latter again being from Roald Dahl in both script and novel. golu golu madarchaut


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 in ''Clash of the Titans (1981 film), Clash of the Titans'' while Arthurian lore returned to the screen in John Boorman's 1981 ''Excalibur (film), Excalibur''. Films such as Ridley Scott's 1985 ''Legend (1985 film), Legend'' and Terry Gilliam's 1981–1986 trilogy of fantasy epics (''Time Bandits'', ''Brazil (1985 film), Brazil'', and ''The Adventures of Baron Munchausen'') explored a new artist-driven style featuring surrealist imagery and thought-provoking plots. The modern
sword and sorcery Sword and sorcery (S&S) is a subgenre of fantasy characterized by sword-wielding heroes engaged in exciting and violent adventures. Elements of romance, magic, and the supernatural are also often present. Unlike works of high fantasy, the ...
boom began around the same time with 1982's ''Conan the Barbarian (1982 film), Conan the Barbarian'' followed by ''Krull (film), Krull'' and ''Fire and Ice (1983 film), Fire and Ice'' in 1983, as well as a boom in
fairy tale A fairy tale (alternative names include fairytale, fairy story, magic tale, or wonder tale) is a short story that belongs to the folklore genre. Such stories typically feature magic, enchantments, and mythical or fanciful beings. In most cult ...
-like fantasy films such as ''Ladyhawke (film), Ladyhawke'' (1985), ''The Princess Bride (film), The Princess Bride'' (1987), and ''Willow (film), Willow'' (1988). The 1980s also started a trend in mixing modern settings and action film effects with exotic fantasy-like concepts. ''Big Trouble in Little China'' (1986), directed by John Carpenter and starring Kurt Russell, combined humor, martial arts and classic Chinese folklore in a modern Chinatown setting. ''Highlander (film), Highlander'', a film about immortal Scottish swordsmen, was released the same year. Jim Henson produced two iconic fantasy films in the 80s, the solemn ''The Dark Crystal'' and the more whimsical and lofty ''Labyrinth (1986 film), Labyrinth''. Meanwhile,
Robert Zemeckis Robert Lee Zemeckis (born May 14, 1952) is an American filmmaker. He first came to public attention as the director of the action-adventure romantic comedy '' Romancing the Stone'' (1984), the science-fiction comedy '' Back to the Future'' film ...
helmed ''
Who Framed Roger Rabbit ''Who Framed Roger Rabbit'' is a 1988 American Live-action animated film, live-action/animated comedy film, comedy mystery film directed by Robert Zemeckis, produced by Frank Marshall (filmmaker), Frank Marshall and Robert Watts, and loosely ad ...
'', featuring various famous cartoon characters from animation's "Golden Age," including Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse, Donald Duck, Bugs Bunny, Daffy Duck, Droopy, Wile E. Coyote and Road Runner, Sylvester the Cat, Tweety Pie, and Jiminy Cricket, among others.


1990s

The 90s saw the Disney Renaissance in which many successful adaptations of written fantasy works were released by Disney Animation. :''Aladdin (1992 Disney film), Aladdin'' (1992) :''Army of Darkness'' (1992) :''Beauty and the Beast (1991 film), Beauty and the Beast'' (1991) :''Bram Stoker's Dracula (1992 film), Bram Stoker's Dracula'' (1992) :''Dragonheart'' (1996) :''Edward Scissorhands'' (1990) :''Fantasia 2000'' (1999) :''The Green Mile (film), The Green Mile'' (1999) :''Groundhog Day (film), Groundhog Day'' (1993) :''Ghost in the Machine (film), Ghost in the Machine'' (1995) :''Hercules (1997 film), Hercules'' (1997) :''Hook (film), Hook'' (1991) :''The Indian in the Cupboard (film), The Indian in the Cupboard'' (1995) :''Jumanji (film), Jumanji'' (1995) :''Kazaam'' (1996) :''Matilda (1996 film), Matilda'' (1996) :''Meet Joe Black'' (1998) :''Mulan (1998 film), 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 (1996 film), The Wind in the Willows'' (''Mr Toad's Wild Ride'') (1996)


2000s

The 2000s saw a boom in the genre. This was compounded by the success of Lord of The Rings (film franchise), Lord of The Rings and
Harry Potter ''Harry Potter'' is a series of seven fantasy novels written by British author J. K. Rowling. The novels chronicle the lives of a young wizard, Harry Potter, and his friends Hermione Granger and Ron Weasley, all of whom are students at ...
, which spurred a movement in film adaptations of fantasy literary works including
The Chronicles of Narnia ''The Chronicles of Narnia'' is a series of seven high fantasy novels by British author C. S. Lewis. Illustrated by Pauline Baynes and originally published between 1950 and 1956, ''The Chronicles of Narnia'' has been Adaptations of The Chron ...
, Tales from Earthsea (film), Tales from Earthsea, Eragon, Inkheart (film), Inkheart, and The Golden Compass (film), The Golden Compass. The Star Wars prequel trilogy and Pirates of the Caribbean (film series), Pirates of the Caribbean also saw success at the box office. : ''13 Going on 30'' (2004) : ''17 Again (film), 17 Again'' (2009) :''300 (film), 300'' (2006) : ''Alvin & The Chipmunks (film), Alvin & the Chipmunks'' (2007) : ''Anji (film), Anji'' (2004) : ''Atlantis: The Lost Empire'' (2001) : ''Big Fish'' (2003) : ''Bridge to Terabithia (2007 film), Bridge to Terabithia'' (2007) : ''The Brothers Grimm (film), The Brothers Grimm'' (2005) : ''
The Chronicles of Narnia ''The Chronicles of Narnia'' is a series of seven high fantasy novels by British author C. S. Lewis. Illustrated by Pauline Baynes and originally published between 1950 and 1956, ''The Chronicles of Narnia'' has been Adaptations of The Chron ...
'' (2005-10) : ''Coraline (film), Coraline'' (2009) : ''Corpse Bride'' (2005) : ''Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon'' (2000) : ''The Curious Case of Benjamin Button (film), The Curious Case of Benjamin Button'' (2008) : ''D-War'' (2007) : ''Dorian Gray (2009 film), Dorian Gray'' (2009) : ''Dungeons & Dragons (film series), Dungeons & Dragons'' (2000-12) : ''Elf (film), Elf'' (2003) : ''The Emperor's New Groove'' (2000) : '' Enchanted'' (2007) : '' Eragon'' (2006) : ''Fat Albert (film), Fat Albert'' (2004) : ''The Golden Compass (film), The Golden Compass'' (2007) : ''
Harry Potter ''Harry Potter'' is a series of seven fantasy novels written by British author J. K. Rowling. The novels chronicle the lives of a young wizard, Harry Potter, and his friends Hermione Granger and Ron Weasley, all of whom are students at ...
'' (2001–11) : ''The Hexer (film), The Hexer'' (2001) : ''How the Grinch Stole Christmas (2000 film), How the Grinch Stole Christmas'' (2000) : ''Howl's Moving Castle (film), Howl's Moving Castle'' (2004) : ''The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus'' (2009) : ''Imagine That (film), Imagine That'' (2009) : ''Inkheart (film), Inkheart'' (2008) : ''The Invention of Lying'' (2009) : ''King Kong (2005 film), 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 (film series), The Lord of the Rings'' (2001–03) : ''The Lovely Bones (film), The Lovely Bones'' (2008) : ''The Master of Disguise'' (2002) : ''Monsters, Inc. (franchise), Monsters Inc.'' (2001-13) : ''Nanny McPhee'' (2005) : ''Night Watch (2004 film), Night Watch'' (2004) : ''Pan's Labyrinth'' (2006) : ''Peter Pan (2003 film), Peter Pan'' (2003) : ''Pirates of the Caribbean (film series), 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 (film series), Shrek'' (2001-10) : ''Spider-Man in film, Spider-Man (Raimi trilogy)'' (2002-07) : ''The Spiderwick Chronicles (film), The Spiderwick Chronicles'' (2008) : ''Spike (2008 film), Spike'' (2008) : ''Spirited Away'' (2002) : ''Stardust (2007 film), Stardust'' (2007) : ''Star Wars prequel trilogy, Star Wars Episodes I-III'' (1999-2005) : ''Tales from Earthsea (film), Tales from Earthsea ((2006) : ''Treasure Planet'' (2002) : ''Twilight (film series), Twilight'' (2008–12) : ''Underworld (film series), Underworld'' (2003-16) : ''Where the Wild Things Are (film), Where the Wild Things Are'' (2009) : ''Zathura: A Space Adventure'' (2005)


2010s

: ''Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter (film), Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter'' (2012) : ''Aladdin (2019 film), Aladdin'' (2019) : ''Alice in Wonderland (2010 film), Alice in Wonderland'' (2010) : ''Alice Through the Looking Glass (2016 film), Alice Through the Looking Glass'' (2016) : ''Aquaman (2018 film), Aquaman'' (2018) : ''A Wrinkle in Time (2018 film), A Wrinkle in Time'' (2018) : ''Baahubali: The Beginning'' (2014) : ''Baahubali 2: The Conclusion'' (2017) : ''Beauty and the Beast (2017 film), Beauty and the Beast'' (2017) : ''Black Panther (film), Black Panther'' (2018) : ''Brave (2012 film), Brave'' (2012) : ''Christopher Robin (film), Christopher Robin'' (2018) : ''Cinderella (2015 Disney film), Cinderella'' (2015) : ''Clash of the Titans (2010 film), Clash of the Titans'' (2010) and its 2012 sequel, ''Wrath of the Titans'' : ''Conan the Barbarian (2011 film), Conan the Barbarian'' (2011) : ''Crimson Peak (film), Crimson Peak'' (2015) : ''Dark Shadows (film), Dark Shadows'' (2012) : ''Doctor Strange (2016 film), Doctor Strange'' (2016) : ''Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald'' (2018) : ''Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them (film), Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them'' (2016) : ''Frozen (2013 film), Frozen'' (2013) : ''Frozen II'' (2019) : ''Godzilla: King of the Monsters (2019 film), Godzilla: King of the Monsters'' (2019) : ''Goosebumps (film), Goosebumps'' (2015) : ''Gulliver's Travels (2010 film), Gulliver's Travels'' (2010) : ''Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 1'' (2010) : ''Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 2'' (2011) : ''Hop (film), Hop'' (2011) : ''How to Train Your Dragon (franchise), How to Train Your Dragon'' (2010–19) : ''Immortals (2011 film), Immortals'' (2011) : ''Into the Woods (film), Into the Woods'' (2014) : ''Jack the Giant Slayer'' (2010) : ''John Carter (film), John Carter'' (2012) : ''Life of Pi (film), Life of Pi'' (2012) : ''Maleficent (film), Maleficent'' (2014) : ''Maleficent: Mistress of Evil'' (2019) : ''Mary Poppins Returns'' (2018) : ''Maximum Shame'' (2010) : ''Midnight in Paris'' (2011) : ''Mirror Mirror (film), Mirror Mirror'' (2012) : ''Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children (film), Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children'' (2016) : ''Oz the Great and Powerful'' (2013) : ''Paddington (film), Paddington'' (2014) : ''Pan (2015 film), Pan'' (2015) : ''Percy Jackson & the Olympians: Sea of Monsters'' (2013) : ''Percy Jackson & the Olympians: The Lightning Thief'' (2010) : ''Pete's Dragon (2016 film), Pete's Dragon'' (2016) : ''Peter Rabbit (film), Peter Rabbit'' (2018) : ''Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time (film), Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time'' (2010) : ''Puss in Boots (2011 film), Puss in Boots'' (2011) : ''Sardaar Ji'' (2015) (Punjabi) : ''Scott Pilgrim vs. the World'' (2010) : ''Snow White and the Huntsman (film), Snow White and the Huntsman'' (2012) : ''Song of the Sea (2014 film), Song of the Sea'' (2014) : ''Sucker Punch (2011 film), Sucker Punch'' (2011) : ''The Bastard Sword'' (2018) : ''The BFG (2016 film), The BFG'' (2016) : ''The Hobbit (film series), The Hobbit'' (2012–14) : ''The Jungle Book (2016 film), The Jungle Book'' (2016) : ''The Kid Who Would Be King'' (2019) : ''The Last Airbender (2010 film), The Last Airbender'' (2010) : ''The Lorax (film), The Lorax'' (2012) : ''The Muppets (film), The Muppets'' (2011) : ''The Nutcracker and the Four Realms'' (2018) : ''Trolls (film), Trolls'' (2016) : ''The Shape of Water'' (2017) : ''The Sorcerer's Apprentice (2010 film), The Sorcerer's Apprentice'' (2010) : ''Thor: Ragnarok'' (2017) : ''Thor: The Dark World'' (2013) : ''Thor (film), Thor'' (2011) : ''Toy Story 3'' (2010) : ''Toy Story 4'' (2019) :''Wonder Woman (2017 film), Wonder Woman'' (2017) : ''Your Highness'' (2011)


2020s

: Bloodshot (film), ''Bloodshot'' (2020) : Dolittle (film), ''Dolittle'' (2020) : ''Dragonheart: Vengeance'' (2020) : ''Encanto'' (2021) : ''Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore'' (2022) : Fantasy Island (film), ''Fantasy Island'' (2020) : Jiu Jitsu (film), ''Jiu Jitsu'' (2020) : Monster Hunter (film), ''Monster Hunter'' (2020) : Mulan (2020 film), ''Mulan'' (2020) : ''Nahuel and the Magic Book'' (2020) : Onward (film), ''Onward'' (2020) : Sonic the Hedgehog (film), ''Sonic the Hedgehog'' (2020) : ''Sonic the Hedgehog 2'' (2022) : ''Spider-Man: No Way Home'' (2021) : The Old Guard (2020 film), ''The Old Guard'' (2020) : The Witches (2020 film), ''The Witches'' (2020) : ''Trolls World Tour'' (2020) : ''Wonder Woman 1984'' (2020) : ''Wolfwalkers'' (2020)


See also

* Fantasy television *
List of fantasy films List of fantasy films is a chronological listing of films in the fantasy film, fantasy genre. Fantasy television programs, including made for TV movies and miniseries, should be listed at List of fantasy television programs. Fantasy films are fi ...
* List of highest-grossing fantasy films


References


External links

{{Authority control Fantasy films, Film genres History of fiction