High Fantasy movies and TV series
High fantasy is defined by its setting: an imaginary, different world rather than our own.
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- DirectorPeter JacksonStarsElijah WoodIan McKellenOrlando BloomA meek Hobbit from the Shire and eight companions set out on a journey to destroy the powerful One Ring and save Middle-earth from the Dark Lord Sauron.Have you exected anything else? The first part of LOTR is to represent the whole trilogy.
- CreatorDavid BenioffD.B. WeissStarsEmilia ClarkePeter DinklageKit HaringtonNine noble families fight for control over the lands of Westeros, while an ancient enemy returns after being dormant for millennia.There's a reason why I didn't make a separate list of Fantasy live-action TV series. There's too few decent examples. Bevore GoT, zero of them were really great.
- DirectorJohn MiliusStarsArnold SchwarzeneggerJames Earl JonesMax von SydowA powerful warrior seeks to avenge the genocide of his people and the murder of his parents at the hands of a snake cult.THE sword and sorcery film. Does NOT represent neither its sequel nor its remake.
- DirectorPeter JacksonStarsMartin FreemanIan McKellenRichard ArmitageA reluctant Hobbit, Bilbo Baggins, sets out to the Lonely Mountain with a spirited group of dwarves to reclaim their mountain home and the gold within it from the dragon Smaug.Not as good as LOTR, but still better than anything else. #1 represents the whole trilogy, but is also my favorite
- DirectorMatthew VaughnStarsCharlie CoxClaire DanesSienna MillerIn 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.Arguably the second best Neil Gaiman adaptation (after Coraline).
- DirectorRob CohenStarsDennis QuaidSean ConneryDina MeyerThe last dragon and a disillusioned dragonslaying Knight must cooperate to stop an evil King, who was given partial immortality.An underrated gem featuring Sean Connery as the Dragon.
- StarsRichard CoyleCharles DanceDavid SuchetA con artist is conned into taking the job as Postmaster General in the Ankh-Morpork Post Office.The best Terry Pratchett adaptation ever.
- DirectorAndrew AdamsonStarsTilda SwintonGeorgie HenleyWilliam MoseleyWhile playing, Lucy and her siblings find a wardrobe that lands them in a mystical place called Narnia. Here they realize that it was fated and they must now unite with Aslan to defeat an evil queen.A great children's film, it represents the whole trilogy, but is also my favorite
- DirectorVadim JeanStarsDavid JasonMarc WarrenMichelle DockeryIt's Hogswatch (equivalent to Christmas) on the Discworld and the Hogfather has gone missing, requiring Death to take his place while his granddaughter Susan endeavors to find out what has happened.This one looks like it was secretly made by Tim Burton. Listed separately from Going Postal, because Terry Pratchett films hardly constitute a real "trilogy".
- DirectorJim HensonFrank OzStarsJim HensonKathryn MullenFrank OzOn another planet in the distant past, a Gelfling embarks on a quest to find the missing shard of a magical crystal, and to restore order to his world.It may be argued that this all-puppets movie should go to amination section. But it was filmed live, in real time, and I think it counts for a live-action movie.
- DirectorWolfgang PetersenStarsNoah HathawayBarret OliverTami StronachA troubled boy dives into a wondrous fantasy world through the pages of a mysterious book.A spectacular German oldie.
- DirectorDave McKeanStarsStephanie LeonidasJason BarryRob BrydonIn a fantasy world of opposing kingdoms, a fifteen-year-old girl must find the fabled MirrorMask in order to save the kingdom and get home.Another from Neil Gaiman.
- DirectorTim BurtonStarsMia WasikowskaJohnny DeppHelena Bonham CarterNineteen-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.Though it's far from Burton's best, it deserves more praise for its design and animation, than it receives.
- DirectorChris WeitzStarsNicole KidmanDaniel CraigDakota Blue RichardsIn a parallel universe, young Lyra Belacqua journeys to the far North to save her best friend and other kidnapped children from terrible experiments by a mysterious organization.It also made the Steampunk list, but it's actually way more Narnia than Laputa.
- DirectorRidley ScottStarsTom CruiseMia SaraTim CurryA young man must stop the Lord of Darkness from destroying daylight and marrying the woman he loves.Panned for its plot, praised for its visuals and style, Legend is the prettiest of 80s fantasy.
- DirectorAndrew StantonStarsTaylor KitschLynn CollinsWillem DafoeTransported to Barsoom, a Civil War vet discovers a barren planet seemingly inhabited by 12-foot tall barbarians. Finding himself prisoner of these creatures, he escapes, only to encounter Woola and a princess in desperate need of a savior.There's so little science fiction in these, I decided in actually fits into fantasy list.
- CreatorSam RaimiJohn SchulianR.J. StewartStarsLucy LawlessRenée O'ConnorTed RaimiXena, a mighty Warrior Princess with a dark past, sets out to redeem herself. She is joined by small town bard, Gabrielle. Together they journey the ancient world and fight for the greater good against ruthless Warlords and Gods.The second best life-action fantasy series I know is so far below the Game of Thrones.
- StarsDavid JasonSean AstinTim CurryA cowardly wizard is roped into a life of adventure. A tale from the first two books of Terry Pratchett's fantasy series "Discworld".Even the worst Terry Pratchett adaptation is good enough to make this list.
- DirectorAleksandr MittaStarsAndrey MironovTatyana AksyutaLev DurovIn a medieval fantasy kingdom, two orphans, May and his sister Martha, live in poverty. A group of robbers kidnap May to use his magic talent: he feels sick when surrounded by gold, therefore he can feel gold from a long distance.Finally, a Russian film in the list. A rare example of Soviet Dark Fantasy, filled with philosophy.
- DirectorRon HowardStarsVal KilmerJoanne WhalleyWarwick DavisA young farmer is chosen to undertake a perilous journey in order to protect a special baby from an evil queen.Warwick Davis and Val Kilmer acting are the best in this otherwise typical 80s fantasy.
- DirectorJim HensonStarsDavid BowieJennifer ConnellyToby FroudSixteen-year-old Sarah must solve a labyrinth to rescue her baby brother when he is taken by the Goblin King.
- DirectorRichard DonnerStarsMatthew BroderickRutger HauerMichelle PfeifferThe thief Gaston escapes the dungeon of medieval Aquila through the latrine. Soldiers are about to kill him when Navarre saves him. Navarre, traveling with his spirited hawk, plans to kill the bishop of Aquila with help from Gaston.
- DirectorUli EdelStarsBenno FürmannKristanna LokenAlicia WittThe legend of Siegfried and Brunhild, loosely based on characters from the Norse sagas and the pre-Christian Germanic heroic motifs outlined in the Nibelungensaga.
- DirectorSergei BodrovStarsBen BarnesJulianne MooreJeff BridgesWhen Mother Malkin, the queen of evil witches, escapes the pit she was imprisoned in by professional monster hunter Spook decades ago and kills his apprentice, he recruits young Tom, the seventh son of the seventh son, to help him.
- DirectorSam RaimiStarsJames FrancoMichelle WilliamsRachel WeiszA small-time magician is swept away to an enchanted land and is forced into a power struggle between three witches.