Few film genres allow you to escape from reality quite like fantasy. Some of these films are fun-filled adventures. Others are gripping coming-of-age tales. And then, of course, there are heart-pounding stories of betrayal and revenge, all taking place in fantastical worlds, whose only limitations are your imagination.
Netflix has no shortage of fantasy films housed within its massive media library, so naturally, it makes sense to comb through all of them to cherry pick the best of the best currently available for streaming. With that in mind, here are the 10 best fantasy movies on Netflix:
Knights of Badassdom
Director: Joe Lynch
Cast: Ryan Kwanten, Steve Zahn, Peter Dinklage, Danny Pudi, Summer Glau
Knights of Badassdom is a film tailor-made for fans of LARPing (live action role playing). It’s the story of three best friends, who take to the woods to reenact a dungeons and dragons-like scenario fresh out of the medieval times. However, when the trio unwittingly conjures up a bloodthirsty Succubus, hilarity ensues, and the spirited cast manages to eventually emerge from the jokey carnage with their dignity intact. This is a low-budget film, and it certainly shows, but it actually works in the context of the satirical nature of the narrative. While Knights of Badassdom is by no means a great film, it’s oddly likable, particularly if you’re well-versed in geek culture.
Dragonheart 3: The Sorcerer’s Curse
Director: Colin Teague
Cast: Ben Kingsley, Julian Morris, Tamzin Merchant
While certainly not on par with its predecessors, Dragonheart 3: The Sorcerer’s Curse is still a fun fantasy movie with thrilling action sequences and just enough meat to the narrative to keep most viewers entertained throughout the film’s 98 minute runtime. The film follows the story of a squire/aspiring knight named Gareth, whose search for a gold-laced comet instead leads to him finding a set of dragon eggs guarded by the massive Drago (voiced by Ben Kingsley). The film can be cheesy at times, but that’s part of its charm, and the frequent medieval violence more than makes up for the occasional silliness of the script. All in all, The Sorcerer’s Curse is a fun chapter in the Dragonheart franchise, which has managed to maintain a small, but incredibly loyal fanbase for nearly 20 years.
Horns
Director: Alexandre Aja
Cast: Daniel Radcliffe, Juno Temple, Max Minghella
Based on the novel by Joe Hill, Horns is a supernatural thriller that dabbles in fantasy, mystery and romance. In the aftermath of his girlfriend's mysterious death, a young man named Ig Perrish (Daniel Radcliffe) awakens to find strange horns sprouting from his head, which drives the townspeople to confess their sins to him. The film wears many hats, causing it to feel a bit disjointed at times, but it’s still delightful, funny, and quirky, and if nothing else, it gives the viewer an outstanding look at Radcliffe’s incredible range beyond the Harry Potter movies. With a runtime of 2 hours, Horns definitely has the potential to cause viewers to lose interest if you’re not fully invested in the plot. Still, if you’re looking for something that tries to be original but not too overly artsy, it’s well worth your time to give this film a chance.
Atlantis: The Lost Empire
Directors: Gary Trousdale, Kirk Wise
Cast: Michael J. Fox, Jim Varney, Corey Burton, James Garner
In Atlantis: The Lost Empire, we follow a young adventurer named Milo Thatch (voiced by Michael J. Fox), who joins an intrepid group of explorers to find the mysterious lost continent of Atlantis. The film employs a stunning blend of traditional animation with computer-generated imagery, and some of the plot and dialogue surprisingly transcends the status quo for movies intended for a broad or youthful audience. It's probably the most grown-up animated feature Disney has produced, with unusually complex villains and heroes that are incredibly dynamic and well-developed. Although there are some questions left unanswered in the story, it’s still a visual masterpiece, and it’s sure to have something that everyone will enjoy.
The Brothers Grimm
Director: Terry Gilliam
Cast: Matt Damon, Heath Ledger, Monica Bellucci
In The Brothers Grimm, two men who have made a career out of spinning outlandish and whimsical stories find themselves bringing them to life in this inventive fantasy inspired by the creators of some of the world's best-loved fairy tales. Rather than being a historical biography of the famous authors, though, this is instead a fantastic make-believe story of the possible inspirations behind the tales of the titular brothers. From a director with a history of making fascinating, important works of surreal art, this is somewhat short of what you'd expect, but for your average light-hearted Hollywood fantasy, it works perfectly fine. It's not a movie you'll learn from or probably want to see hundreds of times. But for the moviegoer looking for beautiful cinematography, a few good laughs, and a fairly suspenseful story, look no further.
Monkeybone
Director: Henry Selick
Cast: Brendan Fraser, Bridget Fonda, John Turturro, Chris Kattan
Monkeybone is a feverishly energetic comedy that combines stop-motion animation and live action from director Henry Selick, creator of The Nightmare Before Christmas and James and the Giant Peach. It follows the story of Stu Miley, a cartoonist who created a spry monkey character called Monkeybone that has taken off in popularity, making him a celebrity. The film is a visually delightful, darkly humorous, and totally refreshing fantasy flick full of great special effects, likable characters, and a style that mixes everything from Brazil to Hellraiser. Some of the scenes feel rushed and poorly plotted, but it’s still an entertaining, competently made film with a good, solid story; more than inventive enough to justify having been made.
Hellboy
Director: Guillermo del Toro
Cast: Ron Perlman, Doug Jones, Selma Blair
In Hellboy, Ron Perlman brings the cigar-chomping titular comic book character to life in a film that’s jam-packed with bombastic fantasy elements, from undead Nazis to a pyro-kinetic love interest in the form of Selma Blair’s Liz Sherman. Hellboy is far from your average hero, but that never stops him from fighting for the side of good, as he battles the evil forces that conjured him during the days of World War II. Hellboy is a fun, supernatural twist on your classic hero vs. villain film, and while it isn’t on the top of every fantasy fan’s must-watch list, it’s still an entertaining, action-packed adventure that’s worth your time if you’re in the mood for something a little bit different.
Trollhunter
Director: André Øvredal
Cast: Otto Jespersen, Robert Stoltenberg, Knut Nærum
This found footage-style film, which errs on the side of mockumentary, follows the story of a group of Norwegian film students that set out to capture real-life trolls on camera after learning their existence has been covered up for years by a government conspiracy. With a healthy dose of dry Scandanavian humor to accent the dramatic and action sequences, Trollhunter never takes itself too seriously. If you enjoy films such as Cloverfield, The Blair Witch Project, or Paranormal Activity, you’ll definitely want to give this thrilling, wildly entertaining twist on Norwegian folklore a chance.
Big Trouble in Little China
Director: John Carpenter
Cast: Kurt Russell, Kim Cattrall, Dennis Dun, James Hong, Victor Wong, Donald Li
While John Carpenter and Kurt Russell have worked together on several films, Big Trouble in Little China is arguably the duo’s greatest collaboration. Set in 1980s Little China, this film is a unique and stylistic blend of Kung Fu, Western, and Fantasy, with Russell leading the show as the goofy-but-tough good guy. It’s the quintessential Action B-Movie, with a vibrant and energetic aesthetic that embodies everything we love about ‘80s cinema.
The Crow
Director: Alex Proyas
Cast: Brandon Lee, Michael Wincott, Rochelle Davis, Ernie Hudson
Based on the graphic novel by James O'Barr, this fantasy follows Eric Draven (Brandon Lee), a rock musician who is murdered along with his fiancée, Shelly (Sofia Shinas), by a group of thugs. However, Draven is brought back to life by a crow a year after he and his fiancée are murdered, as the crow guides him through the land of the living, and leads him to his killers. Brandon Lee delivers his lines to the point that they’re instantly memorable after seeing the film only once. The film is dark, moody, and seductively overwrought; it's an amazingly pure expression of morbid adolescent romanticism. The Crow is a cult-film that continues to fascinate audiences to this day, and most importantly, you don’t have to be familiar with the comic book to thoroughly enjoy it for what it is.