The world of fantasy has served as a brilliant means of escapism for audiences. These movies provide a chance to visit vast new worlds as the greatest of heroes rescue the land from cataclysmic events. The subgenre of high fantasy has been the source of so many of the most iconic films under the broader fantasy umbrella. High fantasy is often described as a story set in a secondary world rather than our own, with an epic scope. Filled with elaborate magic and myth, a high fantasy adventure tends to follow a hero’s journey alongside a sprawling cast of characters.
The 21st century has not been short on epic high fantasy masterpieces. From a journey to Middle-earth to a musical in the magical land of Oz, the stories we’ve watched on the big screen have emerged as great, solidifying the genre’s beloved status. The films on this list represent a range of styles, stories, and characters, both original and pulled from iconic source material. What they all have in common is that the scale of storytelling is masterful.
10
‘Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves’ (2023)
Dungeons & Dragons remains one of the greatest tabletop role-playing games of all time. Its allure is the ability to dream up fantasy worlds with extraordinary characters who embark on perilous journeys, and it’s a game meant for friends. Those elements were used to create the brilliant fantasy heist comedy Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves, directed by Jonathan Goldstein and John Francis Daley. The story follows a charming bard, Edgin “Ed” Darvis (Chris Pine), and his merry band of misfits, including Holga Kilgore (Michelle Rodriguez), Simon Aumar (Justice Smith), and Doric (Sophia Lillis). Their quest involves an epic heist into the fortified vault of Forge Fitzwilliam (Hugh Grant), who has kidnapped his daughter, Kira (Chloe Coleman).
A loving tribute to the game that gave us the 20-sided die, Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves captures the chaotic, humorous, and heartfelt adventures as if you’re playing the game with your ragtag team. It effortlessly balances high-stakes magical action with sharp comedy, creative monsters, and deep respect and care for the source material’s lore. It wholly embraces the kitchen sink approach, where magical elements are not only present, but they’re around every corner and just so happen to be an everyday occurrence. Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves is further proof that high fantasy doesn’t always need to be dramatic, balancing sheer spectacle, wonder, and whimsy. Perhaps the bar was set low, but the execution is near perfect.
9
‘Puss in Boots: The Last Wish’ (2022)
Every so often, a side character pops up that just so happens to be as incredible as the protagonist. In Shrek 2, that came in the form of Puss in Boots. Voiced by the perfectly cast Antonio Banderas, the adorable kitty with an Inigo Montoya flair received his first film in 2011, but it wasn’t until the sequel, Puss in Boots: The Last Wish, that he found his stride. Directed by Joel Crawford, the film follows the legendary feline as he realizes he has used up eight of his nine lives. In order to regain them, he journeys to find a magical Wishing Star, alongside Kitty Softpaws (Salma Hayek) and Perrito (Harvey Guilllén), as he confronts his fear of death, literally in the form of a shadowy wolf (Wagner Moura).
A kid-centric film with heart and morality that defied the sequel trend to deliver a perfect magical adventure, Puss in Boots: The Last Wish elevates the non-traditional fairy tale spin-off vibe by offering a deeply emotional, visually stunning exploration of mortality through an accessible lens. Though the themes may be dark and mature, they’re handled with care, and by making Death an unstoppable, quiet, and terrifying force, he becomes a truly menacing antagonist. Disney tends to have the all-star cast game on lock, but Puss in Boots: The Last Wish is filled to the brim with a brilliant voice cast. Among those featured are Florence Pugh, Olivia Colman, John Mulaney, and Da’Vine Joy Randolph.
8
‘The Green Knight’ (2021)
Perhaps the most underappreciated entry on this list is The Green Knight, written and directed by David Lowery. Sir Gawain (Dev Patel), King Arthur’s (Sean Harris) reckless nephew, accepts a challenge from a giant, supernatural Green Knight (Ralph Ineson). Gawain beheads him, obligating himself to travel to the distant Green Chapel in one year to receive an equal blow in return. The result is a coming-of-age journey that tests honor and courage while deconstructing the traditional hero’s journey.
The Green Knight is a visually stunning, haunting fantasy told like a dream. Though rooted in Arthurian legend, it strays from a historical mythic quest in which gods, giants, magic, and destiny shape the laws of nature, thus breaking the high fantasy mold and looking as much like an arthouse masterpiece as it does a fantasy epic. The Green Knight taps into Sir Gawain’s psychological mindset during his adventure; rather than presenting an immortal hero, it’s traded out for a deeply human exploration of fear, temptation, and the personal weight of honor.
7
‘Stardust’ (2007)
Based on Neil Gaiman‘s 1999 novel, Stardust follows a young man named Tristan (Charlie Cox), who, in a quest to win the affection of his village crush, Victoria (Sienna Miller), ventures into the magical fantasy realm of Stormhold to retrieve a fallen star. He soon learns that the star is actually a celestial woman named Yvaine (Claire Danes), whom he must protect from ruthless royal heirs and dark witches hunting her power.
Whimsically balancing romance with action-packed adventure through dark fairy-tale lore, Stardust infuses delightful humor into a timeless story, making for an emotionally resonant journey. Director Matthew Vaughn and co-writer Jane Goldman strike a balance between optimism and darker themes, all while poking fun at the genre’s clichés. A modern equivalent to The Princess Bride, Stardust thrives on the sensational chemistry between Tristan and Yvaine, as well as impeccable world-building. The story wouldn’t be the same without its eclectic menagerie of actors, including Michelle Pfeiffer, Robert De Niro, Peter O’Toole, Ricky Gervais, Rupert Everett, and Ian McKellen as the Narrator.
6
‘How to Train Your Dragon’ (2010)
Based on a novel by Cressida Cowell, How to Train Your Dragon centers on Hiccup (Jay Baruchel), an awkward Viking teen who dreams of hunting dragons to win his village’s respect. Instead, he unexpectedly befriends a rare Night Fury he names Toothless (Randy Thom). Through their newfound bond, Hiccup must now educate his clan that dragons are actually misunderstood creatures.
A brilliant and universal coming-of-age adventure, How to Train Your Dragon is a heartfelt, thrilling narrative that unites families through a deep, mature emotional core centered on questioning traditions, overcoming prejudice, and finding your own path. Rather than falling into the pop-culture trap that some of its predecessors did, How to Train Your Dragon treats the mythical Isle of Berk as a fantastical place you want to visit. The forbidden friendship between Toothless and Hiccup is the heart of the story, feeding off of one another so well and launching a franchise in the process. The only hiccup, no pun intended, the film is trapped in is the Scottish accents in a predominantly Scandinavian Viking lore.
5
‘The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe’ (2005)
Children have been enamored with the magical worlds created by C.S. Lewis, but it wasn’t until Andrew Adamson‘s adaptation of The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe that we were fully engulfed in the splendor of the page. The film follows four English siblings—Edmund (Skandar Keynes), Lucy (Georgie Henley), Peter (William Moseley), and Susan Pevensie (Anna Popplewell)—who are evacuated to a countryside estate during World War II. There, they discover a magical wardrobe that transports them to Narnia, a mystical world trapped in eternal winter by the evil White Witch (Tilda Swinton). Prophecy dictates the four Pevensie siblings will help the great lion Aslan (Liam Neeson) defeat the White Witch and restore peace to the land.
A simply wondrous tale that immerses viewers in a magical world, The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe is a timeless story about courage, loyalty, forgiveness, and sacrifice. Itliterally transports the characters and their audience into Narnia, where fantasies come to life. Between the rich world-building and the extraordinary characters, including Aslan, Mr. and Mrs. Beaver (Ray Winstone and Dawn French), and even Mr. Tumnus (James McAvoy), were brought to life as they came straight from the imagination. The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe is a sweeping epic of good and evil, with the latter personified by the electrifying chill of Swinton’s White Witch.
4
‘Pan’s Labyrinth’ (2006)
The 21st century has given us many visionary directors like Guillermo del Toro. One of his greatest achievements came in the early aughts with Pan’s Labyrinth. Set in 19444 Francoist Spain, the story follows Ofelia (Ivana Baquero), an imaginative 10-year-old girl who moves to a rural military outpost with her pregnant, ailing mother, Carmen (Ariadna Gil), to live with her stepfather, Captain Vidal (Sergi López), a cruel fascist army captain. As she escapes the horrors of war, she discovers a hidden labyrinth and meets a mythic faun (Doug Jones) who claims she is a legendary lost princess.
A film that unites a fantastical world with whimsical nightmares, Pan’s Labyrinth is a dangerous tale that showcases the dual worlds for a story about the loss of innocence, the nature of morality, and the power of imagination. Del Toro flawlessly contrasts the harsh realities of fascist Spain with a dark yet haunting fantasy world. Not only is it a brilliant juxtaposition, but the film is also layered with symbolism and allegory of how we use our imagination to survive the darkest times. Is magic a coping mechanism, or is it real? With its ambiguity, del Toro allows the audience to decide for themselves, making it a more personal adventure in the end.
3
‘Wicked’ (2024-2025)
For this entry, we will discuss the story in the context of both films: Wicked and Wicked: For Good. Directed by Jon M. Chu, Wicked lifts the Stephen Schwartz and Winnie Holzman musical, which in turn is inspired by Gregory Maguire‘s novel. Serving as a prequel to L. Frank Baum‘s 1900 novel The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, the story tells the unlikely bond between Elphaba (Cynthia Erivo), a misunderstood, green-skinned outcast who goes on to be the infamous Wicked Witch of the West, and Galinda (Ariana Grande), a privileged, popular girl who goes on to become the infamous Glinda the Good.
Across both films, the stage play is fully realized. Chu’s eye for splendor is on full display, employing a rich, tangible set and practical effects to transport audiences straight to Oz. With grand set pieces and dazzling costumes, Wicked transforms the source material into something truly magical, remaining faithful to its stage iteration while elevating it to cinematic heights. A major reason for its success is the cast. Between the two leads and the likes of Michelle Yeoh, Jonathan Bailey, and Ethan Slater, Wicked is done to perfection. Though the first film is far superior, Wicked is still the gold standard of how to bring a musical to the silver screen.
2
‘Spirited Away’ (2001)
It wasn’t until 2001’s Spirited Away that the mainstream truly grasped the brilliance of Studio Ghibli, and the animated world has never been the same since. In Hayao Miyazaki‘s magnum opus, Chihiro (Daveigh Chase/Rumi Hiiragi), a 10-year-old girl, inadvertently wanders into a magical spirit realm. When her parents are transformed into pigs by a witch, Chihiro must work in a magical bathhouse run by a sorceress named Yubaba (Suzanne Pleshette/Mari Natsuki) to free them and find her way home.
For starters, the animation style is next to perfect. Through hand-drawn animation, Miyazaki’s story is fluid and seamless, drawing viewers along with Chihiro on her journey. From there, there is fantastic world-building and character creation, including the likes of the dragon Haku (Jason Marsden/Miyu Irino) and No-Face (Bob Bergen/Akio Nakamura). A quintessential millennial film, Spirited Away is more than just an important coming-of-age story; it’s a reminder of the importance of identity and the power of memory. Winning the Academy Award for Best Animated Feature, Spirited Away is an animated game-changer.
1
‘The Lord of the Rings’ Trilogy (2001-2003)
There are no other high fantasy films of this century that are more highly regarded than Peter Jackson‘s profoundly epic The Lord of the Rings trilogy. Bringing J. R. R. Tolkien‘s novels to life, The Lord of the Rings tells the tale of Frodo Baggins (Elijah Wood) as he embarks on a perilous quest to destroy the One Ring, an ancient artifact of ultimate evil. To save Middle-earth from the Dark Lord Sauron, Frodo and his diverse fellowship must travel to Mount Doom, the only place where the ring can be undone.
The trilogy combines a timeless, emotionally resonant story of hope with groundbreaking filmmaking to create a large-scale spectacle in an immersive fantasy world. Filming all three films back-to-back, the continuity is not just present; it’s essential to Jackson’s seamless storytelling. Through perfectly casting a giant ensemble and the perfect filming location of New Zealand, The Lord of the Rings becomes a genuine, tangible experience that never feels daunting. Though it’s a long experience, there’s a reason why devoted fans binge the series as a trilogy. Establishing a blueprint for epic storytelling, craftsmanship, and adaptation, The Lord of the Rings served as a cinematic game-changer, remaining one of the most essentialfranchises of all time.
