The fantasy genre has brought to life some of the most celebrated and enchanting experiences in cinematic history, with each era of film history having its own selection of genre-defining fantasy masterpieces. From all-time classics of Hollywood’s classic era like The Wizard of Oz to massive blockbuster juggernauts like The Lord of the Rings trilogy, fantasy will continue to be a pathway for exceptional filmmaking brilliance. The 2020s have been no different when it comes to impactful fantasy filmmaking, although only a select few fantasy films have managed to achieve genuine perfection in their execution and delivery of the genre’s greatest strengths.
Whether it be stylish and intelligent renditions of classic fantasy stories or brilliantly crafted original stories, each of these fantasy films has a sense of magic and brilliance imbued within them to make them otherworldly in their scope, tone, and execution. More than any other films this decade so far, these fantasy films show that the genre is still as strong as ever, able to create exceptional and masterful cinematic masterpieces just like the days of old.
5
‘Guillermo del Toro’s Pinocchio’ (2022)
Guillermo del Toro has stood as one of the defining architects of exceptional 21st-century fantasy filmmaking for a while now. His original offerings in The Shape of Water and Pan’s Labyrinth are often celebrated as some of the most beautifully striking fantasy films ever made, as his reputation is exceptionally upheld in the 2020s by his exceptional stop-motion adaptation of Pinocchio. The film acts as this exceptional blend of the timeless elements of the original story with del Toro’s distinct dark gothic style, creating something that both aligns with the original novel and feels like its own wholly unique experience. Especially with so many other Pinocchio movies that were released at the same time as this film, the exceptional brilliance of this film stood out that much more as the best adaptation of the material since the original Disney masterpiece.
The film absolutely ramps up the fantasy elements of the already classic fantasy story, adding in elements of the afterlife and repeated lives that this seemingly immortal Pinocchio experiences. Del Toro’s dark and dreary world-building also finds its way to this adaptation, with the film taking place against the backdrop of Italy during the rise of fascism and the ruthless hardships felt by many during the film. However, even with its darkest and most painful story beats, the film manages to stay upbeat and relatively family-friendly, thanks in great part to the masterful stop-motion animation, standing up there with some of the most visually striking in the entire medium of feature-length stop-motion. Even those who aren’t familiar with del Toro’s distinct style of fantasy filmmaking will find a lot to enjoy in his adaptation of Pinocchio, as its masterful exploration of the classic story still holds up tremendously in the years following its release.
4
‘Petite Manan’ (2021)
One of the greatest difficulties that modern fantasy films face is that it is so much simpler to just remix or further adapt already existing stories and fairy tales, rather than create something new that can live up to the same level of recognition or emotional weight as these ingrained classics. This is even more of the case when it comes to films that attempt to replicate a fairy-tale tone and energy, although this difficult task isn’t impossible, as French director Céline Sciamma followed up her romance masterpiece, Portrait of a Lady on Fire, with Petite Maman. This distinct love letter to the fairy tales of old feels sweet and heartwarming in a way that is simply not often seen from many contemporary fantasy films. Gone is the sense of self-awareness and overwhelming focus on craft and spectacle, instead telling a simple yet beautiful story about family, the differences and growth that come with age, and dealing with grief and loss over time.
The film follows a young eight-year-old girl Nelly (Joséphine Sanz), who is still dealing with the confusion and sadness caused by the death of her beloved grandmother. As Nelly is brought to her mother’s childhood home during their process of moving things out of this place, overwhelmed with bittersweet memories, she spends the time exploring the woods surrounding the area. While in the woods, she finds an unexpected friendship with a mysterious girl of the same age, with their unlikely friendship sending Nelly on a fantastical adventure that gives her a greater understanding of her loss and her connection to her family. Like many great fairy tales of old, Petite Maman‘s greatest strength comes from the inherent messaging and insightful feel-good elements that come from its distinctive twists, with its heartfelt love and passion feeling like the cinematic equivalent of a warm hug.
3
‘Puss in Boots: The Last Wish’ (2022)
During the 2000s, Shrek was a fantasy icon that was largely inescapable within the genre, taking part in a multitude of acclaimed blockbusters and adding a distinct edge of satirical wit to the fantasy genre in the process. While the franchise had largely been dormant throughout the 2010s, it made an unexpected return with spinoff sequel Puss in Boots: The Last Wish, with this film surpassing all expectations that a long-dormant sequel to a spin-off that had a mixed reception could actually be amazing. The original Puss in Boots was far from bad, but Puss in Boots: The Last Wish, by comparison, stands as some of the greatest work that DreamWorks Animation has ever released and the undeniable height of the Shrek franchise. The film sees classic fantasy legend Puss in Boots (Antonio Banderas) embarking on a journey to find the mythical Last Wish, hoping to restore his nine lives after he has been brought to his last life, and on the run from a deadly, seemingly unstoppable foe.
It uses the fairy tale crossover elements that were a tool for parody in previous films and creates a dynamic world and story of acceptance and finding happiness within life, even while being aware of its eventual end. However, it still maintains the distinct sense of wild humor that made previous Shrek films so entertaining, especially when it comes to massively entertaining side characters like Jack Horner and Goldilocks and the three bears. The animation is also exceptionally mesmerizing, employing a distinct usage of stylized animation that makes the animation pop on-screen and feel that much more dynamic and entertaining. It has helped the film achieve overwhelming praise not just as an all-time great fantasy masterpiece of the 2020s, but also as one of the defining animated masterpieces of the 2020s.
2
‘All of Us Strangers’ (2023)
The immediate thought process that comes to mind in the fantasy genre is that of fantastical creatures and pure magic on-screen. However, fantasy filmmaking and storytelling can be much more grounded than the most extravagant concepts out there, instead decisively honing in on a few fantasy elements to amplify the emotional pull and weight of the film as a whole. All of Us Strangers is the absolute best example of this type of mellow, mature fantasy drama, utilizing the fantasy genre to explore the pain and emotional weight of coming face-to-face with emotions long since considered dormant. The film follows Adam (Andrew Scott), a lonesome man living an isolated life in London, who has an unexpected surge of emotion after a chance encounter with his mysterious neighbor, Harry (Paul Mescal). This encounter ends up sending Adam on a journey of remembrance of his fractured past, giving him the chance to find peace with the past and hopefully pave the way for a greater future.
All of Us Strangers proves to be much more intricate and emotionally charged than the traditional fantasy film, largely keeping most of its most direct fantasy elements hidden until their slow reveal during the film. However, these fantasy elements, while undeniably important to the narrative and essence of the film, largely feel complementary to the real strength and impact of the film, which comes from these dynamic performances and exploration of emotional depth. It’s the type of film that hits the audience right in the feels, allowing them to reminisce on their own life and placing elements like family, love, and grief all into perspective. It’s certainly a heavier and more difficult film compared to the vast array of comparatively simple fantasy films, but that makes the experience of witnessing its emotionally intelligent filmmaking all the more fulfilling and impactful as an audience member. It’s unmatched in terms of its perfectly paced emotional depth within the fantasy genre and deserved so much more love and recognition than it received when it released.
1
‘The Boy and the Heron’ (2023)
Few filmmakers have laid claim to as many fantasy masterpieces as Hayao Miyazaki, as nearly every fantasy film that he’s directed has been an absolute masterpiece that makes the most of striking fantasy worlds and breathtaking animation. While this means that it isn’t particularly surprising that his return to feature filmmaking after spending a decade in retirement, The Boy and the Heron, is yet another emotionally striking fantasy masterpiece from the director. However, even among the massively celebrated fantasy films that Miyazaki has brought to life over the years, The Boy and the Heron is a masterful swan song that plays to his greatest strengths and acts as one of his greatest, most beautiful films. It plays into the inherent strengths and elements that have made Miyazaki’s storytelling so mesmerizing for generations while also commenting on said elements within his own storytelling, reflecting upon a life of fantasy storytelling and paving the path for a future without him.
It plays out as if Miyazaki had never stopped creating films after The Wind Rises, with him weaving together an intricate tale of fantasy brilliance and emotional weight like it’s second nature. The world and fantasy creatures are as beautiful and striking as ever, and the characters are exceptionally memorable and filled with layers of depth and symbolism. The Boy and the Heron is distinctly aware of its own stature and the legacy that it is tasked with upholding, and as a result, sets out to create about as classic a sprawling fantasy world as imaginable. It continuously finds new ways to delight and charm the audience throughout the runtime, utilizing the strengths of the fantasy genre to their absolute highest strengths with its combination of classic conventions of Miyazaki’s storytelling and new evolutions of his style for the modern age. The film’s importance and impact on fantasy and anime filmmaking grow more and more with each passing year, as it feels largely impossible for this film not to be among the conversation as the absolute best of fantasy in the 2020s when the decade finally ends.
