10 Best High Fantasy Movies That You Should Watching Update 04/2024

Best High Fantasy Movies

Mystical and magical places permeate the fantasy film genre, making it impossible to escape. Here are some fantastical films that don’t take place in Middle Earth.

Lord of the Rings has been the standard by which subsequent fantasy epics have been judged and compared for decades. Every subsequent experience was built on the foundation laid by the author. Almost every fantasy novel, film, or television show now on the market pays some homage to the genre.

Nevertheless, Tolkien’s works and the films they inspired have been around for years, and many fans have lingered in Middle-earth long enough.. Many magical and mystical regions are available to those who have gone there and back again in the genre.

1. Dragonlance: Dragons Of The Autumn Twilight (2008)

Dragonlance Dragons Of The Autumn Twilight (2008)

A terrific swords-and-sorcery adventure for anyone who need a vacation from the Hobbits, theDragonlancebooks are the perfect complement to anything written by Tolkien. A film based on the Dungeons & Dragons books was made, and it deserved a lot more attention than it got.

Dragons of the Autumn Twilightis based on Weis and Hickman’s book about a group of adventurers trying to stop a wicked monarch and his dragons. It’s a little conventional, but the primary cast, including Kiefer Southerland, Lucy Lawless, and Jason Marsden, provides some of the best voice acting in the business.

2. The Neverending Story (1984)

Fantasia has a few echoes of Tolkien in its more serious moments, but its world feels more like a dream than a place from a book. However, despite its oddball characters and bizarre settings (including dragons, snails, and stone giants), the game is widely known for its strangeness.

Even if the other films in the series were of varying quality, the original is still considered one of the best films of its time. To transport its audience to a new world, The Hobbit film relies on heroic travels, enigmatic villains, and even encounters with dragons.

3. Princess Mononoke (1997)

Princess Mononoke (1997)

Princes Mononoke, by Hayao Miyazaki, is just as packed with action-packed fights as Lord of the Rings.

There’s plenty for fantasy readers to adore in this book, including magic, warrior maidens, woodland spirits, and a translation by the renowned Neil Gaiman.

Even the best anime movies aren’t for everyone, but this film is so epic in scope that no Tolkien enthusiast could possibly resist such a big trip. Despite the absence of Ents and Elves from the cast, there is some recognizability.

4. Conan The Barbarian (1982)

Although he is most known for his role as Terminator, Arnold Schwarzenegger is best known for his portrayal as Conan the Barbarian in Conan the Barbarian. Like many Middle-earth heroes, he is armed with a formidable sword that he uses to slice his way to victory in bloody battles.

There are no shortage of swords and sorcery in this tale, despite the fact that it is a bit more violent than the typical high fantasy.

5. The Black Cauldron (1985)

Princess Mononoke (1997)

That The Lord of the Rings and The Black Cauldron share a lot of similarities isn’t an exaggeration, but it’s because they drew from the same source material. The War of the Rings was not the primary source of inspiration for this gloomy ’80s fantasy picture, which follows a farm lad who is swept away on a grand adventure with an enchanted weapon of war.

Because they both used Welsh mythology as inspiration for their fictional universes, Tolkien and Lloyd Alexander are likely to share certain similarities. Both have a similar look and feel, but they may be enjoyed by lovers of both genres.

6. Excalibur (1981)

Excaliburi is a fantasy that is pretty much in your face. The original Arthurian legend is completely reworked, with all of the fanciful features cranked up to 12. However, despite the film’s surrealistic aesthetic, it is one of the best King Arthur adaptations ever made.

Even while Lord of the Rings has its own Arthurian themes, this adaption is one of the greatest out there, and it depicts Arthur as he transforms from noble king to violent warrior.

7. The Princess Bride (1987)

The Princess Bride (1987)

Despite the fact that it is a love story straight out of a fairy tale, this film contains a number of beloved fantasy aspects that go perfectly with the film’s sweetness, wit, and comedy. In this fairy tale classic, brave warriors, gorgeous princesses, and wacky old wizards are all part of the package.

The classic fantasy and romance movie components of The Hobbit will warm the hearts of those familiar with The Lord of the Rings.

However, even the film adaptations took creative liberties when it came to portraying the prequel as a story. This is an excellent picture to introduce the idea of adventure to younger audiences.

8. The Dark Crystal (1982)

Both The Dark Crystal and its prequel series are daunting undertakings. The comparison to Jim Henson’s Lord of the Rings has been made by certain fans, and it isn’t entirely unwarranted. It contains elves, monsters, and magic, but it’s in the lore that the analogies begin to emerge.

Tolkien’s work was based on real-world languages, whereas Henson’s was inspired by actual monster designs. It’s only natural that the two would be compared, given their devoted followings and the adoration they get from their respective audiences.

9. Pan’s Labyrinth (2006)

Pan’s Labyrinth (2006)

Where Is The Dark Crystal?

Lord of the Rings was created by Jim Henson, while Pan’s Labyrinth was created by Guillermo del Toro. The film’s setting is filled with mythology and literature-inspired lore. And, of course, it’s a del Toro production, so there are enough of his stunning creations to be seen.

The movie has been called a fairytale for adults, and the fact that it takes place in Francoist Spain only adds credence to that claim. Fairies and fauns abound, making it a lovely and entrancing place to visit. Graphic and frightening on one hand, with horrific beasts and vengeful army leaders with brutality as sharp as a sword. Tolkien would be amazed, to say the least.

10. The Chronicles Of Narnia (2005 – 2010)

The ethereal kingdoms of Aslan’s Kingdom are the only ones that can compete with Bilbo’s, Frodo’s, and Sam’s worlds. Few worlds, literature, or films are as vast and enthralling as Narnia, which stretches from the thrones of Cair Paravel to the Eastern Ocean.

We shouldn’t be surprised that since their novels were first published, people have been comparing and contrasting the fictional worlds of C.S. Lewis and J.R.R. Tolkien. Jackson’s and Disney’s film adaptations reverberate off each other, no matter which one is more revered. It’s nearly difficult to read one book without at least trying the other.