While we don’t think twice about calling a movie “science fiction,” we much less frequently call a movie “fantasy.” Sure, works like Harry Potter, The Hobbit, and The Lord of the Rings immediately scream fantasy, but beyond these notable examples, things start to get murky. Read on to discover the many kinds of fantasy movies.
Fantasy Movie Types
What exactly are these genre blends and subgenres?
Many films are classified as action, adventure, thriller, horror, or comedy, but these classifications are too broad and can include both fantasy and non-fantasy films; thus, it would be more useful to focus on the following:
1. Epic Fantasy Films
These “fantasy movies” are the most recognizable. They are typically based on literature and feature swords, spells, wizards, dragons, quests, princes, and princesses, among other elements one may expect from a typical fantasy.
The Lord of the Rings, The Hobbit, Harry Potter, Stardust, The Chronicles of Narnia, Eragon, The Neverending Story, The Golden Compass, and The Wizard of Oz are just a few examples.
2. Horror Movies/Paranormal Thrillers
Yes, not all horror movies are fantasy movies, just as not all horror books are fantasy books, but many of them are, especially when ghosts and other supernatural beings are involved. Vampires, werewolves, witches, ghosts, and the occult are frequently featured in movies, often in settings based on the real world. These movies frequently fall under the “thriller,” “horror,” and “action” categories, so they aren’t necessarily classified as “fantasy.”
Examples include Paranormal Activity, Let the Right One In, The Conjuring, The Others, The Ring, The Sixth Sense, Dracula, Constantine, Van Helsing, The Frighteners, The Exorcist, and The Underworld.
3. Disney Animated Features
Almost all of the animated movies produced by Disney are fantasies. Even though they are practically all fairytale fantasies, I have assigned them their category because Disney is such a well-known company and because viewers often regard Disney movies as belonging to a distinct genre.
Frozen, Tangled, Aladdin, The Little Mermaid, Beauty and the Beast, Pinocchio, and The Lion King are just a few examples.
4. Fairy Tale Films
Many Disney animated movies, as well as other animated movies and many live-action movies, have strong fairy tale influences or a fairytale-like atmosphere to them.
Several examples are Red Riding Hood, Hansel, and Gretel: Witch Hunters, Jack the Giant Slayer, Edward Scissorhands, Maleficent, Mirror Mirror, Snow White, and the Huntsman, Once Upon a Time, Ever After, and Jack the Giant Slayer.
5. Superhero Movies
Yes, some superhero movies use science to explain away the superpowers, but in general, superhero movies are just as much science fiction as they are fantasy, if not more so, considering how many superpowers are fantastical and impossible.
The Hulk, Spider-Man, Superman, Mystery Men, Watchmen, The Avengers, Hellboy, The Avengers, The Incredibles, and Thor are a few examples.
6. Children’s Films
Since so many children’s movies feature magic or other impossibly fantastical events or animals, we frequently ignore these elements and refer to them simply as “children’s movies” or “family movies” instead. In this genre of film, talking animals and supernatural abilities are so commonplace that we hardly notice them when they appear.
As an illustration, consider How to Train Your Dragon, Toy Story, The Witches, Jumanji, Mary Poppins, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, Matilda, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, The Lego Movie, The Princess Bride, and Monsters Inc.
7. Monster Movies
Under the veil of scientific credibility, many monster movies are more science fiction than fantasy (e.g., Jurassic Park). However, some of them include just as much fiction, with fantastical creatures emerging from hiding to terrorize nations and cities.
Godzilla, The Mummy, Dracula, Van Helsing, and The Creature from the Black Lagoon are a few examples.
8. Christmas Movies
While many Christmas movies are fantasy movies, not all of them are. Things tend to be very firmly in the world of magic and the impossible once reindeer, elves, and Santa Claus are involved.
A few examples include Elf, Gremlins, A Christmas Carol, The Nightmare Before Christmas, The Santa Claus, and The Polar Express.
9. Magical Realism
Whether magical realism is indeed a form of fantasy is a subject of much debate (often it involves the magic being not real but imagined by the characters, or being something symbolic rather than something tangible). Because I have a broad understanding of fantasy, I include it.
Sucker Punch, Alice in Wonderland, The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus, Amélie, Life of Pi, and Big Fish are a few examples.
10. Magical-twist Romantic Comedies
You know the type I’m talking about, but I call them that since I don’t have a better name for them. Suddenly becoming a teenager again, changing gender, becoming considerably older, being able to hear what other people are thinking, becoming God, or experiencing any other improbable, miraculous event can all drastically alter someone’s life. These, I must admit, are fairly light on the fantasy aspect, but they still rely on a little fairy dust or magical voodoo to make things happen.
Several instances include Suddenly 30, Dating the Enemy, Bruce Almighty, Shallow Hal, 17 Again, Liar Liar, Groundhog Day, and About Time.
