At one point, he refuses to go on until the girl steals him morphine. As we follow Harry, Ron and Hermione through their third year at Hogwarts, we venture away from the safe choices of the first two films and enter a cinematic fantasy that is as technically magical as the school it’s depicting. When an unconfident young woman is cursed with an old body by a spiteful witch, her only chance of breaking the spell lies with a self-indulgent yet insecure young wizard and his companions in his legged, walking castle. From absurd action movies to quiet contemplations on faith and religion, we've dug deep to find some of the truly hidden gems that have come out in the last ten years. It’s a bit like Alice in Wonderland, but Walt Disney is nowhere in sight. Mike Myers, | ALL THE LISTS! Jennifer Saunders, Votes: Perhaps not, but at least they’re alive. $53.36M, PG He goes off to college, Woody gives a him a solemn farewell, and we’re crying buckets over sentient toys. It’s Batman and Wooderson fighting dragons in the future. | Gross: Stars: Even the stereotypical horror movie blonde turns out to be sharp, kind, and good at digging latrines. | It’s impossible to recreate the mad genius of Gene Wilder, and this film wisely doesn’t attempt it. 10 Most Underrated Sci-Fi/Fantasy Films Of The Last 20 Years. And check out our complete "25 Greatest" lists here. Who stands in their way? 389,981 She’s hooked on the story (as are we), so, of course, she does it, but this begs the question of whether or not the stuntman is making all of this up as he goes along. Director Guillermo Del Toro shows off his own magic in this origin story that enriches the genre with tales of the occult, a gallery of Hellboy’s fantastic co-workers, clockwork Nazi assassins, a pitch perfect appearance from master actor John Hurt, and eternal questions of destiny and purpose. Look, the Muppets must always be in the world. 1,639,429 As the characters themselves grow, the three actors playing them start making more challenging choices. 152 min Yes, the Tim Burton version! Skandar Keynes, Votes: Henry Selick Those were OUR choices. Another cheat, because when we say The Fellowship of the Ring, we secretly mean all three movies that fall under the banner of The Lord of the Rings — so The Two Towers and The Return of the King are included. Join us as our entire staff celebrates anything and everything in genre through our series of “25 Greatest from the last 25 years” lists. Gandalf and Aragorn lead the World of Men against Sauron's army to draw his gaze from Frodo and Sam as they approach Mount Doom with the One Ring. For the franchise films I merely placed the best of the series at the rank that best represented it. | Doug Jones plays Pan, the faun of the title, and he guides our heroine through her ordeal. 2,298,008 $7.69M, PG Chihiro isn’t running away from her family; she’s trying to save them after a witch has turned them into giant hogs. Fangrrls is about kicking down doors, breaking boundaries and celebrating female fans with fun, witty and entertaining content. Bored with his marriage and obsessed with his manipulative co-worker, the puppeteer decides to go into business selling tickets for people to go on this ride. Orlando Bloom, Rupert Grint, The swirling mythic cauldron (i.e. May these films be remembered in … | You get the usual band of wide eyed college kids waiting to be picked off one by one, but in this extreme genre subversion you also see the folks behind the madness pulling the strings. | At the heart of the tale is the battle between light and dark, and more importantly, balance between the two. “A pirate movie based off of a theme park ride? Ben Walker, Votes: John Hodgman, Of course, all of that is disrupted when he and Mike are faced with what every monster fears the most, which is a child. | In the end, Charlie goes to live in a magical factory which is more a place of fantasy than acid trip terror, and he gets a classic Danny Elfman score to accompany him. 161,500 | Recommended: 50 amazing comic book movies. | Welcome to the world of Charlie Kaufman, everyone. 745,559 | 113 min Stars: He plays with them one last time before gifting them to a bright young girl who will treasure them. If you finish the game and stand up to your fears, all will be made right again. Heresy, you may shoutity-shout, but oompa-loompa-please hear us out. Suzanne Pleshette, On the other side of this fantasy coin, Sergi Lopez gives one of the most terrifying performances of all time as Captain Vidal, certainly in the running for Worst Person Alive, 1944 edition. 612,899 A traveling theater company gives its audience much more than they were expecting. Captain Jack Sparrow has never been sharper or more fun than he is here. Plus, Smaug (voiced by Benedict Cumberbatch) might be the greatest dragon ever seen on a movie screen. | 154 min Ian McKellen triumphantly returns as Gandalf, and Martin Freeman plays a young Bilbo Baggins to perfection. Animation, Adventure, Family. Action, Adventure, Fantasy. Peter Jackson It’s a magical moment, and thus begins a film where you will feel just as spirited away as the young heroine is. Stars: Animation, Adventure, Comedy. April 14, 2016 Updated: April 14, 2016 10:41 a.m. ... His movies are harsh and honest, and this one was one of his best. | Oh, boy, do we want them to. Viggo Mortensen, Brad Pitt, Johnny Depp, Stars: | Gross: 587,912 The last 20 years have produced some of the most wonderful Science Fiction staples in the form of films. $218.08M, PG-13 This list of the greatest fantasy films also contains fantasy movie titles that can be clicked on for more information about the film. During her family's move to the suburbs, a sullen 10-year-old girl wanders into a world ruled by gods, witches, and spirits, and where humans are changed into beasts. For a moment, you think the movie might actually have them fall in. More than that, you never quite know if he’s even real. Related Articles 'Hobbs & Shaw' Director David Leitch on Those Spoiler-y Surprises. In the meantime, take a look at some of the best comedies of the past 20 years and see if you can think of something we left out. Tatsuya Gashûin, In one of Pixar’s earlier efforts, they took their “X have feelings too” formula to a magical place, exploring the monsters under your bed as well as the company politics that put them there. ... a film adaptation of a Nicholas Sparks novel just has to be on this list of sexy movies. Much more in line with the original book, this film shows the aftermath of the tour, as the awful kids who were picked off one by one come staggering and rolling out of the factory with their parents. | Stars: | If not even a little bit of this sounds interesting to you, you may be reading the wrong list. The epic tale of revenge (which involves a bowler hatted Charles Darwin) proves to be a living thing, changing as often as the dynamic between the girl and the stuntman. Another magical masterpiece from genre giant Guillermo Del Toro, it offers for our very eyes a vision of how truly powerful and transporting fantasy can be. | The Pumpkin King is brilliant at pulling off Halloween, but he’s longing for more and decides to try his hand at Christmas. $75.29M, See titles to watch instantly, titles you haven't rated, etc, The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King, Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl, The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe. Every single time you think the film has gone as far as it’s going to go, you are proven wrong. Geoffrey Rush, 649,061 We say “children’s tale” but the reality is if we had seen this film as a child, we would have left the theater scared out of our minds. When he and the ghoulish denizens of his land kidnap Santa Claus and make Christmas a full on nightmare, the magic and imagery are absolutely stunning. Freddie Highmore’s Charlie has a great rapport with Johnny Depp’s damaged Wonka, and Deep Roy’s portrayal of every Oompa Loompa is playful and fun instead of being the stuff of nightmares. In 2014, we concocted a list of the Best Sci-Fi Movies of the 21st Century — a quick and dirty survey of the best the genre has had to offer since the millennium’s beginning. Any day is a fine one to watch this Henry Selick classic that comes from the mind of Tim Burton. Director: Mike Johnson Aaron Eckhart, Described as a “musical comedy horror film in the farce tradition,” this Japanese gem directed by Takashi Miike in 2001 has it all. Richard Armitage’s Thorin Oakenshield has a powerfully tragic arc, and Thorin’s friendship with Bilbo gives the trilogy an incredible backbone. What Are the Best, Biggest Movies of the Last 20 Years? Adventure, Family, Fantasy. What are yours? ARE YOU NOT ENTERTAINED? Anthony Hopkins, Michael Caine, Votes: 119 min 187 min This is magic. The mere notion that you may think that is a marvel. Director: $200.08M, PG-13 According to this film, most stories that follow the traditional slasher model are actually elaborate sequences designed and detailed to appease and entertain very bloodthirsty gods that live beneath the Earth. Ray Winstone, A greedy film producer assembles a team of moviemakers and sets out for the infamous Skull Island, where they find more than just cannibalistic natives. And check out our complete "25 Greatest" lists here. This is…precious. When a shy groom practices his wedding vows in the inadvertent presence of a deceased young woman, she rises from the grave assuming he has married her. These are the best movies of the 2010s (according to us). Andrew Garfield, Votes: Action, Adventure, Drama. What more do you need? Keira Knightley, Votes: In 1944 Spain, young Ofelia and her mother are sent to live with one of cinema’s most vile characters, the truly evil Captain Vidal. We’d love it for the absurdly named Denton Van Zan alone. What do our toys do when we’re not in the room? There’s a long tradition of exciting fantasy cinema and the following list looks to nail down the very best of the genre. Ivana Baquero, | Chieko Baishô, Just as the third Potter book set the tone for the rest of the series and took it to the next level, the film does likewise. More than anything else though, this is where things start getting dark, specifically with the introduction of the soul sucking entities of utter despair, the Dementors. Angelina Jolie, The original tagline was “An Adventure Too Weird for Words.” They were right. Well, it is if you read the rules. They have basis in reality. 143 min | The 20 Sexiest Movies of the Last 5 Years. The less you know, the better. Will they solve the mystery of all of these dead bodies? Director: Top 10 Under-Appreciated Movies Of The Last 20 Years; 10 Instant Movie Classics Of The Last 10 Years; Top 10 Modern Horror Novels More Terrifying Than A… Top 10 Mystery Novels That Deserve A Movie Adaptation; Top 10 UFOs Caught On Video In Recent Years; Top 10 Best Movies From The Top Genres; Top 10 Animal Endlings: The Last Of Their Kind… Stars: This is a bit of a cheat, because really we’re talking about Peter Jackson’s entire Hobbit trilogy. Drama, Fantasy, War. The story is somewhat simple—after being accidentally awakened due to mankind tunneling where they shouldn’t have tunneled, dragons are back and they mean business. Here we have The Best of Me, the story of two lovers from the past who happen to meet up in a most unexpected way – at a funeral. Fun, it turns out, is more powerful than fear, so the company changes their monsters from frightening, to funny, and now every child has a comedian under their bed. | Gross: | This film needs to be seen to be believed. $377.85M, PG Directors: What’s even better is that it’s a musical, full of songs that will stick in your brain whether you’ve watched it once or ten or one hundred times. What will they do now? The most underrated sci-fi movies of the last 15 years By Claire Williams / April 11, 2017 7:44 am EST / Updated: Oct. 24, 2017 10:40 am EST Not every movie can be a blockbuster. As "Love Actually" and "Elf" turn 15, here are some of the best holiday movies to come out of the last 20 years. Another masterpiece from Miyazaki, and another fantasy movie dealing with a young heroine being whisked way to a world of fantasy! 115 min It’s not all just a world of magic candy and flying brooms now, these beings of pure evil will strike a chord with anyone who has suffered depression in real life. Another story by Neil Gaiman, so you know you’re in for a treat. | Action, Adventure, Fantasy. Rumi Hiiragi, Votes: A buttons-for-eyes, hallucinogenic cautionary tale, the fantastic world of this film isn’t always nice. | Gross: Need something great to watch during lockdown? From his hilarious entrance and first fey steps down a dock, you know you’re in for something different. Director Joe Johnson weaves the madcap tale of a jungle taking over a house (and then a town) with a sense of the fantastic despite the limited technology of the time. Nicole Kidman, Before they can beat the dragons however, they need to find a way to work together. | Gross: $534.86M, PG-13 Tim Burton, This movie could have gone so very wrong (as video game related films tend to do) but this underappreciated gem succeeds with dazzling visuals, a fantastic voice cast, and a great deal of heart. Christopher Plummer, Jones brings a seemingly effortless precision to Pan’s movements (helped by some incredible digital effects) that make even the handing off of a piece of chalk downright glorious. Drama, Fantasy, Romance. They’ve reduced the world to an apocalyptic wasteland and are going to wipe out humanity just like they wiped out the dinosaurs. 50. Beat that, Tree of Life! They are all unranked, because all of the people, movies, shows, comics, props (and so on) have equal standing for us. Nineteen-year-old Alice returns to the magical world from her childhood adventure, where she reunites with her old friends and learns of her true destiny: to end the Red Queen's reign of terror. 201 min Adrien Brody, It takes sacrifice, which is nowhere near as flashy, but necessary nonetheless. The entire film is remarkable, but it’s the “No Man’s Land” sequence that really takes the cake. Tells the story of Benjamin Button, a man who starts aging backwards with consequences. our database) reveals to all the 75 best-reviewed live-action fantasy movies of all time, ranked by adjusted Tomatometer with at least 20 reviews each! | | Music, dancing, dreams, even claymation makes an appearance, because why not? He promises to tell her an epic tale, asking her “Do you know what epic means?” If she didn’t, it’s safe to say that she does by the end. William Moseley, 383,589 If you haven’t seen this film, skip to the next entry. Using a crazy mix of old school camera tricks and cutting edge digital effects, Jackson and company bring this story to life more as a lost history than a fantasy. Sometimes that takes the form of unranked lists. Ian McKellen, Votes: Ralph, the “wrecker” of the title (perfectly voiced by John C. Reilly) feels he is not really the monster the game makes him out to be. But is it all just a story? A young girl has a fall, a broken arm, and a hospital stay. | Designed and directed by Dave McKean in 2005, this under-the-radar fantasy teaches us once again that there’s no place like home. Director: Superman returns to Earth after spending five years in space examining his homeworld Krypton. Welcome to Rotten Tomatoes’ compendium of cinema’s best-reviewed tales of swords and sorcery, fire and ice, and dungeons and…you get the idea. | Gross: Stars: Is Ofelia’s fantasy real, or was it just something she created to cope with her world? This fantasy film list can be sorted by cast, year, director and more. Chris Hemsworth, Miyu Irino, Heath Ledger, Daveigh Chase, One character suddenly becomes French, a princess takes the form of a nun from their hospital, and so forth. Animation, Drama, Family. Some are not as fantastical or as heightened as Edward may have made them, but they are real. RELATED: The 10 Best Fantasy Movies Of The Decade (According To Rotten Tomatoes) Fantasy films allow for permeability in even the most rigid of narrative constructs. Alfonso Cuarón They were so large in scope and ambition that this trilogy of films pretty much required an entire country to pull it off, and the world responded. | Gross: | | Here is a list of what I feel are the best Fantasy films over the past decade. MICK LaSALLE, SFGATE. | Stars: Tilda Swinton, Director: Director: The 38 Best Romantic Comedies of the Last 20 Years. The bonds of friendship between Mike and Sully (a perfect Billy Crystal and John Goodman) anchor the film, but it is the bond between the child, Boo, and Sully that will really pull your heart out. 118 min Crispin Glover, Long before Emilia Clarke arose from Khal Drogo’s pyre, we had this film that will get you as dragon-high as you could possibly wish. The powerful but arrogant god Thor is cast out of Asgard to live amongst humans in Midgard (Earth), where he soon becomes one of their finest defenders. The son is deeply troubled, but not nearly so much as his mother, … March 9th, 2019 ... Best Movies Ever Movies. Jack Black, Once again, it shouldn’t work, but it does. $70.11M, PG-13 According to the Academy Awards the following fantasy movies are worthy of acting, directing or screenwriting nominations: 1995 -- Toy Story 2000 -- Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon 2001 -- Lord of the Rings: Fellowship of the Ring 2001 -- Shrek [Winner: Best Animated Film] 2001 -- Moulin Rouge 2001 -- Monsters Inc. 2002 -- Ice Age 244,962 | | Who wouldn’t want to live out their fantasy of being John Malkovich, even if he’s just talking about bathmats over the phone? Instead, it is a name that one of the protagonists has given to herself. The 38 Best Romantic Comedies of the Last 20 Years. What a fun game! Best movie comedies of the last 20 years. Come grab your Hogwarts letter, check the back of your wardrobe, or just wait for Gandalf on the front porch as we take a look at our 25 favorite fantasy films from the last 25 years (P.S. Director: Stars: Young Helena is tired of her life working in her family’s circus (??) These are the films that taught us that even the smallest person can change the course of the future, that there is good in this world and its worth fighting for, and that not all tears are an evil. Director: | | Harry Potter, Ron and Hermione return to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry for their third year of study, where they delve into the mystery surrounding an escaped prisoner who poses a dangerous threat to the young wizard. Miyazaki’s animation takes another gigantic leap forward with this film, not only with its fantasy imagery and downright weirdness, but in small details like the precise picking up of rings by an aged hand. While An Unexpected Journey, The Desolation of Smaug, and The Battle of the Five Armies may not hit the heights of Jackson’s The Lord of the Rings trilogy, there are so many delights to be found here that these movies are impossible not to include. Try telling that to the group of college kids camping nearby, however. Orlando Bloom, Votes: $37.63M, PG-13 Michael Gambon also assumes the role of Dumbledore for the first time, and the character is perhaps at his most enigmatic here. Teri Hatcher, It’s not just his cigar chomping wisecracks, as great as they are—it’s the staggering vulnerability he’s able to convey through all of the makeup and prosthetics. Helena Bonham Carter, Assisted by Jason Segel and the always-welcome-in-anything-no-matter-what-it-is-Amy Adams, the Muppets returned in what is more a continuation than a reboot. The answer is both. Not an easy thing to accomplish. “Ever wanted to be someone else? Moving between the story and the storyteller, the stuntman’s truly odd tale unfolds. Another subversion of the horror genre, this film posits that the only evil that our unlikely heroes face is judgement and bad communication. Georgie Henley, Animation, Action, Adventure. Any and all preconceived notions you may bring in about this film are most likely dashed the second it starts and for some reason you’re in a control room of some sort with Bradley Whitford and Richard Jenkins. I hope you enjoy the list and please feel free to make any comments on it.Have a gd one! Simply put, the past five years have seen several fantastic adventures on the big screen, they've just been overshadowed by the myriad of action, sci-fi, and superhero films. Entering a rundown shack in the woods, they don’t see it as a slasher deathtrap. Whatever, go with us. Sully is the company’s top producer of scares, and alongside his trusty producer/best friend Mike and his state-of-the-art-at-the-time blue fur, he does what he does best. Hayao Miyazaki Kate Bosworth, Not only that, but this is the first film where we meet series favorites Sirius Black and Remus Lupin, played to perfection by Gary Oldman and the always welcome David Thewlis. Hayao Miyazaki Maybe THAT will finally destroy those pesky Allies! We went many years without them, and humanity was the worse for it. 366,155 Dakota Blue Richards, It’s scrappy and, at times, a little short on atmosphere, but Jennifer Kent’s sinister maternal psychodrama puts you inside the head of a woman on the verge like no horror film since “Repulsion.” It’s set in Australia, where Amelia (Essie Davis) was widowed in a car crash the night she gave birth to her son (Noah Wiseman), who is now six. $291.71M, PG-13 It would be easy for the legendary animation master Hayao Miyazaki to dominate this list, but we had to reign it in. Plus DC Universe's relaunch, and this week's hot reads, How Resident Alien transformed from a Dark Horse comic into a SYFY original series, From True Blood to Deathstroke, Joe Manganiello is living the dream, Who Won the Week: Cyberpunk 2077's Johnny Silverhand vs. Archenemy's Max Fist, Netflix's La Revolution and why we need more period horror pieces, 35 thoughts we had while watching the LEGO Star Wars Holiday Special, Share The top 25 fantasy films of the last 25 years on Facebook, Share The top 25 fantasy films of the last 25 years on Twitter, Share The top 25 fantasy films of the last 25 years on Reddit. The story is a … $38.63M, PG Like Comic-Con. The 30 best films of the decade, ranked. | Animation, Drama, Family. Stars: 127 min 90 min It’s something most kids have pondered, and as usual Pixar is here to answer their question with their holy trilogy of masterpieces (Note: we've selected Toy Story 3 for the list, but honestly any of them could go on here). Director Spike Jonze directs Kaufman’s script with an outstanding cast (John Cusack, Cameron Diaz, Catherine Keener, and John Malkovich as himself) and the results are crazy, hilarious, and horrifying. In his quest for greater glory, he unleashes a horror upon the entire arcade. Or (less likely) something on the list that doesn’t belong. We survey the best science fiction movies that have come our way so far this century. Now you can.”. Stars: Andrew Adamson 617,656 Daniel Craig, Vicky Jenson $181.03M, PG our list of sci-fi films is right here, don't ye worry). | Gross: Come grab your Hogwarts letter, check the back of your wardrobe, or just wait for Gandalf on the front porch as we take a look at our 25 favorite fantasy films from the last 25 years (P.S. Christopher Nolan | It pulls no punches in its lessons, and even though the animation is sublimely beautiful, the dark truths about mothers and daughters are quite hard to bear. Tom Hiddleston, Votes: | Gross: | Gross: Let us know in the comments which. Heath Ledger, The list is endless. But he finds things have changed while he was gone, and he must once again prove himself important to the world. This is the gold standard. For us, that means lists! As the catalyst of the story, Johnny Depp plays this divine fool to perfection as he drunkenly totters around spouting joyous one liners and retorts. Absolutely! Sergi López, Blaming herself for her sick mother’s condition, Helena is carried into a dreamlike fantasy world and right into the thick of a conflict between the City of Light and the Land of Shadows. Ah, the old fantasy about a board game becoming real, except, in this instance, the game ruins a young boy’s life, destroys a town, dooms a little girl to a life of failed psychiatry, and causes a pith helmeted gun fanatic to shoot up a discount store. Blending the fantasy world of the amazons and the horrors of World War I, this film soars almost as high as Robin Wright flying through the air and shooting three arrows at the same time. $334.19M, PG-13 Since he's red, with a horned head and a huge stone hand, the allies nickname him “Hellboy.” Soon enough, he grows into Ron Perlman, and works for the (kind of secret) Bureau for Paranormal Research and Defense. Beautifully illustrating the malleable craft of storytelling, the tale changes based on certain preferences of the little girl. The Nazis are at it again: messing with the occult, as per usual. Can you remember a time without Rotten Tomatoes? Come for this scene, but stay for the way Diana marvels at seeing snow for the first time, her chemistry with Chris Pine’s Steve Trevor, a gorgeous backstory illustration of the Greek gods, Lucy Davis as Etta Candy and the always extremely 100% welcome anytime David Thewlis. Emily Watson, What first began as a full length film experiment in computer animation soon blossomed over the years into a trilogy with more heart and emotion than most live action films. He wants to be a hero, but is it for the right reasons? Goodnight…” may be Gambon’s finest line delivery in the series. We hope. Instead you get a Willy Wonka who is damaged and very much in need of therapy. Charlie Cox, The 200 Freshest Movies of the Last 20 Years. | Gross: | In a countryside town bordering on a magical land, a young man makes a promise to his beloved that he'll retrieve a fallen star by venturing into the magical realm. | Disney answers the problematic issue of video game to film adaptations by just creating its own fictitious video games. Blindly point to any moment and it’s bound to be a classic: the characterization of the ring itself in the prologue, Andy Serkis, Sam fighting Shelob, Helm’s Deep, Andy Serkis, Gandalf vs. the Balrog, “I AM NO MAN”, every single moment Sir Ian McKellen is on screen, the charge of the Rohirrim, “I can’t carry it for you, but I can carry you”, the beautiful sorrow of the Grey Havens, oh, and did we mention Andy Serkis as Gollum/Smeagol? Richard Griffiths, Votes: A film based off of a theme park attraction? | | | Plus, it features a unicorn bloodily gutting someone, which is something you don’t realize you need to see until you actually see it. It’s hard to remember how fresh this character was when this first film came out, and that’s why it’s always worth a revisit. Here is our selection of the 50 best fantasy movies. Also, Chris Cooper raps. Andrew Adamson, 125 min Julia Ormond, Votes: Except every week in your inbox. Peter Jackson Nobody thought it would work. Dakota Fanning, We’ve already mentioned that Jackson’s second trilogy (based on The Hobbit) is great in its own right, it’s this first trilogy that stands shoulders above any and all comers.