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The Best Fantasy Movies of All Time

Fairy tales, myth and the impossible image: the fantasy canon ranked by our composite score across 20+ lists, awards and polls.

Fantasy is as old as the medium — Méliès was conjuring moon voyages in 1902 — and its canon splits into two great traditions: the handmade European fairy tale (Cocteau's Beauty and the Beast, Powell and Pressburger, del Toro's Pan's Labyrinth) and the full-world epic that Peter Jackson's Lord of the Rings proved could win Best Picture. Between them sits animation's fantasist-in-chief, Hayao Miyazaki, whose spirit worlds carry more list appearances than any studio's franchise.

Spirited Away (2001) leads with a composite score of 4.98. Top 100 of 319 films in our library.

Masters of the genre

  1. 1
    Spirited Away2001 · Hayao Miyazaki · Japan · fantasy, animation, drama
    4.98

    Berlin Golden Bear winner 2002 · Japan Academy Prize winner 2002 · Kehr's annual top 10 2002 #1

  2. 2
    Mulholland Drive2001 · David Lynch · United States · mystery, thriller, crime
    4.61

    Cahiers du Cinéma annual top 10 2001 #1 · Film Comment year-end poll 2001 #1 · Sight & Sound 2022 critics' poll #8

  3. 3
    8½1963 · Federico Fellini · Italy / France · comedy, drama, fantasy
    4.58

    Sight & Sound 2022 directors' poll #6 · Kinema Junpo Best Ten (International) 1965 #1 · Sight & Sound 2022 critics' poll #31

  4. 4
    The Tree of Life2011 · Terrence Malick · United States · sci-fi, fantasy, drama
    4.26

    Palme d'Or winner 2011 · Film Comment year-end poll 2011 #1 · Cahiers du Cinéma annual top 10 2011 #2

  5. 5
    The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King2003 · Peter Jackson · New Zealand / United States · fantasy, adventure
    3.69

    Oscar Best Picture winner 2003 · BAFTA Best Film winner 2004 · Letterboxd Top 250 #11

  6. 6
    Uncle Boonmee Who Can Recall His Past Lives2010 · Apichatpong Weerasethakul · Thailand / France · comedy, drama, fantasy
    3.69

    Palme d'Or winner 2010 · Cahiers du Cinéma annual top 10 2010 #1 · Film Comment year-end poll 2011 #2

  7. 7
    The Seventh Seal1957 · Ingmar Bergman · Sweden · fantasy, drama
    3.58

    Cahiers du Cinéma annual top 10 1958 #2 · Sarris's annual top 10 1958 #1 · Sight & Sound 2022 directors' poll #72

  8. 8
    It's a Wonderful Life1946 · Frank Capra · United States · comedy, romance, fantasy
    3.52

    AFI 100 (2007) #20 · Oscar Best Picture nominee 1946 · Sight & Sound 2022 critics' poll #133

  9. 9
    The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring2001 · Peter Jackson · New Zealand / United States · fantasy, adventure, action
    3.35

    BAFTA Best Film winner 2002 · Oscar Best Picture nominee 2001 · AFI 100 (2007) #50

  10. 10
    Ugetsu1953 · Kenji Mizoguchi · Japan · fantasy, drama
    3.22

    Cahiers du Cinéma annual top 10 1959 #1 · Kinema Junpo Best Ten (Japanese) 1953 #3 · Sight & Sound 2022 critics' poll #90

  11. 11
    The Wizard of Oz1939 · Victor Fleming, King Vidor · United States · fantasy, musical, adventure
    3.17

    AFI 100 (2007) #10 · AFI 100 (1998) #6 · Oscar Best Picture nominee 1939

  12. 12
    The Spirit of the Beehive1973 · Víctor Erice · Spain · drama, fantasy
    2.94

    San Sebastián Golden Shell winner 1973 · Sight & Sound 2022 directors' poll #72 · Sight & Sound 2022 critics' poll #85

  13. 13
    Wings of Desire1987 · Wim Wenders · France / Germany · fantasy, drama
    2.83

    Cahiers du Cinéma annual top 10 1987 #2 · Kinema Junpo Best Ten (International) 1988 #3 · Sight & Sound 2022 critics' poll #185

  14. 14
    The Shape of Water2017 · Guillermo del Toro · United States / Mexico · thriller, fantasy, drama
    2.77

    Oscar Best Picture winner 2017 · Venice Golden Lion winner 2017 · Kinema Junpo Best Ten (International) 2018 #3

  15. 15
    Miracle in Milan1951 · Vittorio De Sica · Italy · fantasy, drama, comedy
    2.55

    Palme d'Or winner 1951 · Cahiers du Cinéma annual top 10 1951 #3 · Kinema Junpo Best Ten (International) 1952 #5

  16. 16
    Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon2000 · Ang Lee · United States / Taiwan, China / Hong Kong, China · romance, fantasy, action
    2.44

    TIFF People's Choice winner 2000 · Oscar Best Picture nominee 2000 · Film Comment year-end poll 2000 #6

  17. 17
    The Purple Rose of Cairo1985 · Woody Allen · United States · comedy, romance, fantasy
    2.32

    BAFTA Best Film winner 1986 · Kinema Junpo Best Ten (International) 1986 #2 · TIME All-TIME 100

  18. 18
    Black Orpheus1959 · Marcel Camus · France / Brazil / Italy · fantasy, musical, romance
    2.18

    Palme d'Or winner 1959 · Kinema Junpo Best Ten (International) 1960 #6 · NYT Best 1,000 Movies

  19. 19
    Poor Things2023 · Yorgos Lanthimos · United States / United Kingdom / Ireland · thriller, fantasy, sci-fi
    2.18

    Venice Golden Lion winner 2023 · Oscar Best Picture nominee 2023 · Kinema Junpo Best Ten (International) 2024 #4

  20. 20
    Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind2004 · Michel Gondry · United States · comedy, romance, drama
    2.13

    Film Comment year-end poll 2004 #2 · Sight & Sound 2022 directors' poll #93 · Rolling Stone 100 Best of the 21st Century #17

  21. 21
    Dumbo1941 · Ben Sharpsteen, Norm Ferguson, Wilfred Jackson, Bill Roberts, Jack Kinney, Samuel Armstrong · United States · musical, fantasy, drama
    2.00

    Palme d'Or winner 1947 · National Film Registry (inducted 2017) · NYT Best 1,000 Movies

  22. 22
    A Matter of Life and Death1946 · Michael Powell, Emeric Pressburger · United Kingdom · fantasy, drama, comedy
    1.99

    Sight & Sound 2022 critics' poll #78 · Kinema Junpo Best Ten (International) 1950 #6 · BFI Top 100 British films #20

  23. 23
    My Neighbor Totoro1988 · Hayao Miyazaki · Japan · fantasy, drama, animation
    1.98

    Kinema Junpo Best Ten (Japanese) 1988 #1 · Sight & Sound 2022 critics' poll #72 · Empire 500 (2008) #275

  24. 24
    Princess Mononoke1997 · Hayao Miyazaki · Japan · fantasy, animation, action
    1.97

    Japan Academy Prize winner 1998 · Kinema Junpo Best Ten (Japanese) 1997 #2 · Letterboxd Top 250 #72

  25. 25
    The Discreet Charm of the Bourgeoisie1972 · Luis Buñuel · France / Italy / Spain · drama, comedy, fantasy
    1.80

    Sarris's annual top 10 1972 #1 · Kinema Junpo Best Ten (International) 1974 #6 · TIME All-TIME 100

  26. 26
    Pan's Labyrinth2006 · Guillermo del Toro · Mexico / Spain · fantasy, drama, war
    1.80

    Ebert's annual top 10 2006 #1 · Kinema Junpo Best Ten (International) 2007 #10 · Film Comment year-end poll 2006 #15

  27. 27
    The Exterminating Angel1962 · Luis Buñuel · Mexico · fantasy, comedy, drama
    1.75

    Cahiers du Cinéma annual top 10 1963 #3 · Sight & Sound 2022 critics' poll #169 · NYT Best 1,000 Movies

  28. 28
    King Kong1933 · Merian C. Cooper, Ernest B. Schoedsack · United States · adventure, horror, fantasy
    1.74

    AFI 100 (2007) #41 · AFI 100 (1998) #43 · TIME All-TIME 100

  29. 29
    Who Framed Roger Rabbit1988 · Robert Zemeckis · United States · film-noir, fantasy, action
    1.67

    Kehr's annual top 10 1988 #2 · Siskel's annual top 10 1988 #2 · National Film Registry (inducted 2016)

  30. 30
    Field of Dreams1989 · Phil Alden Robinson · United States · fantasy, drama
    1.66

    Kinema Junpo Best Ten (International) 1990 #2 · Oscar Best Picture nominee 1989 · National Film Registry (inducted 2017)

  31. 31
    Beasts of the Southern Wild2012 · Benh Zeitlin · United States · fantasy, drama
    1.61

    Sundance Grand Jury Prize winner 2012 · Oscar Best Picture nominee 2012 · Film Comment year-end poll 2012 #14

  32. 32
    Holy Motors2012 · Leos Carax · France / Germany · drama, fantasy
    1.61

    Cahiers du Cinéma annual top 10 2012 #1 · Film Comment year-end poll 2012 #1 · Kinema Junpo Best Ten (International) 2013 #6

  33. 33
    Being John Malkovich1999 · Spike Jonze · United States · comedy, drama, fantasy
    1.59

    Ebert's annual top 10 1999 #1 · Kinema Junpo Best Ten (International) 2000 #7 · Empire 500 (2008) #441

  34. 34
    Brazil1985 · Terry Gilliam · United Kingdom / Australia · film-noir, sci-fi, fantasy
    1.51

    Kinema Junpo Best Ten (International) 1986 #8 · TIME All-TIME 100 · BFI Top 100 British films #54

  35. 35
    Star Wars: Episode V – The Empire Strikes Back1980 · Irvin Kershner · United States · sci-fi, adventure, action
    1.50

    Empire 500 (2008) #3 · Letterboxd Top 250 #65 · National Film Registry (inducted 2010)

  36. 36
    Around the World in 80 Days1956 · Michael Anderson, John Farrow · United Kingdom / United States / Italy · adventure, comedy, action
    1.50

    Oscar Best Picture winner 1956

  37. 37
    Faust2011 · Alexander Sokurov · Russia / Germany · drama, fantasy
    1.50

    Venice Golden Lion winner 2011 · Cahiers du Cinéma annual top 10 2012 #9 · Film Comment year-end poll 2013 #34

  38. 38
    Beauty and the Beast1991 · Gary Trousdale, Kirk Wise · United States · romance, musical, comedy
    1.46

    Oscar Best Picture nominee 1991 · Ebert's annual top 10 1991 #3 · National Film Registry (inducted 2002)

  39. 39
    Beauty and the Beast1946 · Jean Cocteau, René Clément · France · fantasy, drama
    1.45

    Kinema Junpo Best Ten (International) 1948 #6 · Scorsese's 39 essential foreign films · Empire 500 (2008) #292

  40. 40
    Groundhog Day1993 · Harold Ramis · United States · comedy, romance, drama
    1.45

    National Film Registry (inducted 2006) · Kehr's annual top 10 1993 #5 · Empire 500 (2008) #259

  41. 41
    Toy Story1995 · John Lasseter · United States · fantasy, adventure, comedy
    1.41

    Siskel's annual top 10 1995 #2 · AFI 100 (2007) #99 · Empire 500 (2008) #99

  42. 42
    Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs1937 · David Hand, William Cottrell, Wilfred Jackson, Larry Morey, Percival C. Pearce, Ben Sharpsteen · United States · romance, fantasy, musical
    1.39

    AFI 100 (2007) #34 · AFI 100 (1998) #49 · National Film Registry (inducted 1989)

  43. 43
    First Cow2019 · Kelly Reichardt · United States · fantasy
    1.39

    Cahiers du Cinéma annual top 10 2021 #1 · Kinema Junpo Best Ten (International) 2024 #5

  44. 44
    Alien1979 · Ridley Scott · United States / United Kingdom · horror, sci-fi, thriller
    1.37

    Sight & Sound 2022 critics' poll #146 · Empire 500 (2008) #33 · National Film Registry (inducted 2002)

  45. 45
    The Princess Bride1987 · Rob Reiner · United States / Australia · comedy, romance, fantasy
    1.35

    TIFF People's Choice winner 1987 · National Film Registry (inducted 2016) · Empire 500 (2008) #122

  46. 46
    Midnight in Paris2011 · Woody Allen · United States / Spain · comedy, romance, fantasy
    1.34

    Oscar Best Picture nominee 2011 · Kinema Junpo Best Ten (International) 2012 #5 · Film Comment year-end poll 2011 #18

  47. 47
    The Thief of Bagdad1924 · Raoul Walsh · United States · fantasy, silent, drama
    1.34

    Kinema Junpo Best Ten (International) 1925 #1 · National Film Registry (inducted 1996) · Rosenbaum's Essential Cinema

  48. 48
    Cinderella1950 · Wilfred Jackson, Hamilton Luske, Clyde Geronimi · United States · romance, fantasy, musical
    1.34

    Berlin Golden Bear winner 1951 · National Film Registry (inducted 2018) · Rosenbaum's Essential Cinema

  49. 49
    Eraserhead1977 · David Lynch · United States · horror, thriller, drama
    1.33

    Sight & Sound 2022 directors' poll #52 · National Film Registry (inducted 2004) · Empire 500 (2008) #192

  50. 50
    Life of Pi2012 · Ang Lee · United States · fantasy, drama, adventure
    1.30

    Oscar Best Picture nominee 2012 · Kinema Junpo Best Ten (International) 2013 #7 · Ebert's annual top 10 2012 #2

  51. 51
    The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers2002 · Peter Jackson · New Zealand / United States · fantasy, adventure, action
    1.24

    Oscar Best Picture nominee 2002 · Letterboxd Top 250 #45 · TIME All-TIME 100

  52. 52
    Inland Empire2006 · David Lynch · France / United States / Poland · horror, mystery, thriller
    1.23

    Cahiers du Cinéma annual top 10 2007 #2 · Film Comment year-end poll 2006 #10 · Criterion Collection spine #1175

  53. 53
    Mary Poppins1964 · Robert Stevenson · United States · fantasy, musical, comedy
    1.23

    Oscar Best Picture nominee 1964 · Kinema Junpo Best Ten (International) 1965 #5 · National Film Registry (inducted 2013)

  54. 54
    The Canterbury Tales1972 · Pier Paolo Pasolini · France / Italy · fantasy, comedy
    1.16

    Berlin Golden Bear winner 1972 · Criterion Collection spine #633

  55. 55
    Waking Life2001 · Richard Linklater · United States · drama, fantasy, animation
    1.14

    Film Comment year-end poll 2001 #7 · Kehr's annual top 10 2001 #4 · Ebert's annual top 10 2001 #6

  56. 56
    Un Chien Andalou1929 · Luis Buñuel · France · silent, horror, fantasy
    1.11

    Sight & Sound 2022 critics' poll #169 · Empire 500 (2008) #354 · Kurosawa's 100 favorite films

  57. 57
    Satyricon1969 · Federico Fellini · France / Italy · fantasy, drama, comedy
    1.10

    Kinema Junpo Best Ten (International) 1970 #2 · NYT Best 1,000 Movies · Criterion Collection spine #747

  58. 58
    The Fisher King1991 · Terry Gilliam · United States · fantasy, comedy, drama
    1.08

    TIFF People's Choice winner 1991 · NYT Best 1,000 Movies · Criterion Collection spine #764

  59. 59
    Orpheus1950 · Jean Cocteau · France · fantasy, drama
    1.01

    Kinema Junpo Best Ten (International) 1951 #4 · Kurosawa's 100 favorite films · Criterion Collection spine #68

  60. 60
    Invitation to the Dance1956 · Gene Kelly · United States · musical, fantasy
    1.00

    Berlin Golden Bear winner 1956

  61. 61
    Kwaidan1964 · Masaki Kobayashi · Japan · horror, fantasy
    0.98

    Kinema Junpo Best Ten (Japanese) 1964 #2 · Letterboxd Top 250 #243 · Criterion Collection spine #90

  62. 62
    The Double Life of Véronique1991 · Krzysztof Kieślowski · France / Poland / Norway · fantasy, drama
    0.97

    Kehr's annual top 10 1991 #1 · Empire 500 (2008) #414 · Criterion Collection spine #359

  63. 63
    Three Crowns of the Sailor1983 · Raúl Ruiz · France · fantasy, drama
    0.96

    Cahiers du Cinéma annual top 10 1983 #7 · Cahiers du Cinéma annual top 10 1982 #9 · Kehr's annual top 10 1984 #6

  64. 64
    A Touch of Zen1971 · King Hu · Taiwan, China / Hong Kong, China · fantasy, action
    0.92

    Sight & Sound 2022 critics' poll #225 · TIME All-TIME 100 · Criterion Collection spine #825

  65. 65
    Arabian Nights1974 · Pier Paolo Pasolini · France / Italy · fantasy, adventure, drama
    0.91

    Cannes Grand Prix winner 1974 · Criterion Collection spine #634

  66. 66
    Dreams1990 · Akira Kurosawa, Ishirō Honda · Japan / United States · fantasy, drama, sci-fi
    0.91

    Kinema Junpo Best Ten (Japanese) 1990 #4 · Cahiers du Cinéma annual top 10 1990 #8 · Criterion Collection spine #842

  67. 67
    Pinocchio1940 · Ben Sharpsteen, Hamilton Luske, Norm Ferguson, T. Hee, Wilfred Jackson, Jack Kinney, Bill Roberts · United States · fantasy, musical, animation
    0.90

    TIME All-TIME 100 · National Film Registry (inducted 1994) · NYT Best 1,000 Movies

  68. 68
    Dead Man1995 · Jim Jarmusch · United States / Japan / Germany · western, fantasy, drama
    0.88

    Cahiers du Cinéma annual top 10 1996 #6 · Hoberman's annual top 10 1996 #3 · Criterion Collection spine #919

  69. 69
    Twin Peaks: Fire Walk with Me1992 · David Lynch · United States / France · horror, mystery, drama
    0.88

    Sight & Sound 2022 critics' poll #211 · Letterboxd Top 250 #123 · Criterion Collection spine #898

  70. 70
    Fantasia1940 · James Algar, Samuel Armstrong, Ford Beebe Jr., Norm Ferguson, Jim Handley, T. Hee, Wilfred Jackson, Hamilton Luske, Bill Roberts, Paul Satterfield, Ford Beebe, Ben Sharpsteen · United States · musical, fantasy, action
    0.87

    AFI 100 (1998) #58 · National Film Registry (inducted 1990) · Vatican film list

  71. 71
    Lost Horizon1937 · Frank Capra, Andrew Marton · United States · fantasy, drama, sci-fi
    0.84

    Oscar Best Picture nominee 1937 · National Film Registry (inducted 2016) · NYT Best 1,000 Movies

  72. 72
    Miracle on 34th Street1947 · George Seaton · United States · fantasy, drama, comedy
    0.84

    Oscar Best Picture nominee 1947 · National Film Registry (inducted 2005) · NYT Best 1,000 Movies

  73. 73
    Russian Ark2002 · Alexander Sokurov · Russia / Germany / France · fantasy, drama, mystery
    0.84

    Film Comment year-end poll 2002 #9 · Hoberman's annual top 10 2002 #3 · Empire 500 (2008) #358

  74. 74
    Peter Pan1924 · Herbert Brenon · United States · fantasy, silent, adventure
    0.84

    Kinema Junpo Best Ten (International) 1925 #3 · National Film Registry (inducted 2000) · Rosenbaum's Essential Cinema

  75. 75
    The Green Mile1999 · Frank Darabont · United States · drama, fantasy
    0.83

    Oscar Best Picture nominee 1999 · Letterboxd Top 250 #182 · Empire 500 (2008) #331

  76. 76
    Videodrome1983 · David Cronenberg · Canada / United States · horror, sci-fi, fantasy
    0.82

    Sight & Sound 2022 critics' poll #243 · NYT Best 1,000 Movies · Criterion Collection spine #248

  77. 77
    Atanarjuat: The Fast Runner2001 · Zacharias Kunuk · Canada · fantasy, drama
    0.82

    Film Comment year-end poll 2002 #7 · Hoberman's annual top 10 2002 #2 · NYT Best 1,000 Movies

  78. 78
    The Curious Case of Benjamin Button2008 · David Fincher · United States · romance, fantasy, drama
    0.81

    Oscar Best Picture nominee 2008 · Film Comment year-end poll 2008 #34 · Criterion Collection spine #476

  79. 79
    The Nightmare Before Christmas1993 · Henry Selick · United States · musical, fantasy, comedy
    0.79

    Cahiers du Cinéma annual top 10 1994 #5 · National Film Registry (inducted 2023) · Empire 500 (2008) #327

  80. 80
    Nouvelle Vague1990 · Jean-Luc Godard · France / Switzerland · fantasy, drama
    0.79

    Cahiers du Cinéma annual top 10 1990 #3 · Hoberman's annual top 10 1990 #6 · Rosenbaum's Essential Cinema

  81. 81
    Here Comes Mr. Jordan1941 · Alexander Hall · United States · comedy, romance, fantasy
    0.78

    Oscar Best Picture nominee 1941 · NYT Best 1,000 Movies · Criterion Collection spine #819

  82. 82
    Lost Highway1997 · David Lynch · United States / France · film-noir, mystery, thriller
    0.77

    Cahiers du Cinéma annual top 10 1997 #3 · Criterion Collection spine #1152 · Edgar Wright's 1,000 favorite movies

  83. 83
    Donnie Darko2001 · Richard Kelly · United States · comedy, drama, fantasy
    0.76

    Empire 500 (2008) #53 · Film Comment year-end poll 2001 #18 · Hoberman's annual top 10 2001 #9

  84. 84
    The Emperor's Nightingale1948 · Jiří Trnka, Miloš Makovec · Czechoslovakia · fantasy, animation
    0.75

    Locarno Golden Leopard winner 1955

  85. 85
    Prince Bayaya1950 · Jiří Trnka · Czechoslovakia · adventure, animation, fantasy
    0.75

    Locarno Golden Leopard winner 1954

  86. 86
    Quest for Fire1981 · Jean-Jacques Annaud · France / Canada · fantasy, drama
    0.75

    César Best Film winner 1982

  87. 87
    Faraway, So Close!1993 · Wim Wenders · Germany · fantasy, drama
    0.75

    Cannes Grand Prix winner 1993

  88. 88
    The Life of Chuck2024 · Mike Flanagan · United States · sci-fi, drama, fantasy
    0.75

    TIFF People's Choice winner 2024

  89. 89
    Cat People1942 · Jacques Tourneur · United States · horror, fantasy, film-noir
    0.74

    National Film Registry (inducted 1993) · Criterion Collection spine #833 · Roger Ebert's Great Movies

  90. 90
    The Magic Flute1975 · Ingmar Bergman · Sweden · musical, fantasy
    0.74

    Ebert's annual top 10 1976 #3 · NYT Best 1,000 Movies · Criterion Collection spine #71

  91. 91
    Bambi1942 · David Hand, James Algar, Bill Roberts, Norman Wright, Samuel Armstrong, Paul Satterfield, Graham Heid · United States · musical, fantasy, drama
    0.73

    Kinema Junpo Best Ten (International) 1951 #7 · National Film Registry (inducted 2011) · NYT Best 1,000 Movies

  92. 92
    Heaven Can Wait1943 · Ernst Lubitsch · United States · fantasy, comedy, drama
    0.72

    Oscar Best Picture nominee 1943 · Criterion Collection spine #291 · Rosenbaum's Essential Cinema

  93. 93
    A Nightmare on Elm Street1984 · Wes Craven · United States · horror, thriller, crime
    0.71

    National Film Registry (inducted 2021) · Empire 500 (2008) #162 · NYT Best 1,000 Movies

  94. 94
    Shrek2001 · Andrew Adamson, Vicky Jenson · United States · fantasy, comedy, adventure
    0.70

    National Film Registry (inducted 2020) · NYT Best 1,000 Movies · Kehr's annual top 10 2001 #7

  95. 95
    Orlando1992 · Sally Potter · United Kingdom / France / Russia · fantasy, drama
    0.70

    Sight & Sound 2022 critics' poll #157 · Kinema Junpo Best Ten (International) 1993 #10

  96. 96
    The Thief of Bagdad1940 · Michael Powell, Tim Whelan, Alexander Korda, Zoltan Korda, William Cameron Menzies, Ludwig Berger · United Kingdom · fantasy, adventure
    0.68

    NYT Best 1,000 Movies · Criterion Collection spine #431 · Roger Ebert's Great Movies

  97. 97
    Up2009 · Pete Docter, Bob Peterson · United States · adventure, comedy, fantasy
    0.67

    Oscar Best Picture nominee 2009 · Film Comment year-end poll 2009 #23

  98. 98
    Babe: Pig in the City1998 · George Miller · Australia / United States · comedy, drama, fantasy
    0.67

    Siskel's annual top 10 1998 #1 · Ebert's annual top 10 1998 #7

  99. 99
    The Ghost Goes West1935 · René Clair · United Kingdom · comedy, romance, fantasy
    0.63

    Kinema Junpo Best Ten (International) 1936 #2

  100. 100
    The Village2004 · M. Night Shyamalan · United States · drama, horror, thriller
    0.63

    Cahiers du Cinéma annual top 10 2004 #2

Ask ten critics for the best fantasy movies and you will get ten definitions of fantasy. This page settles the question the only way a data project honestly can: membership comes from how the film databases tag the genre, order comes from our composite score — and the result is telling. The highest entry is neither a fairy tale nor a sword-bearing epic but an animated bathhouse for tired gods: Spirited Away (2001), at #22 the highest-ranked fantasy film in our entire library.

A genre that had to earn its respect

Fantasy is as old as the medium — Méliès was conjuring moon voyages in 1902 — yet for most of a century it was canon's disreputable sibling, traditionally held below science fiction and associated with cheap effects and cardboard sorcery. What survived that condescension splits into two great traditions. One is the handmade European fairy tale: Jean Cocteau's Beauty and the Beast (1946), praised for pushing its surreal images past the fairy tale's usual borders; Michael Powell and Emeric Pressburger's A Matter of Life and Death (1946); and their heir Guillermo del Toro, whose Pan's Labyrinth (2006) and The Shape of Water (2017) braid the monstrous into political history. The other is the full-world epic, running from The Thief of Bagdad (1924) through The Wizard of Oz (1939) to its precise coronation date: The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (2003), the first fantasy film ever to win the Best Picture Oscar — the moment the genre's new respectability became official.

The figures who carry the page

By our numbers, three directors dominate. Hayao Miyazaki places three films here — Spirited Away, Princess Mononoke (1997) and My Neighbor Totoro (1988) — and owns the top of the list outright. Peter Jackson's whole trilogy is present, with the canon reversing the box set's order: The Return of the King at #73, The Fellowship of the Ring (2001) at #114, The Two Towers (2002) far behind at #842. And del Toro lands twice, the fairy-tale tradition's strongest living claim on the polls.

How to read our list

Membership here is not an editorial pick: a film qualifies when the genre data our pipeline draws from Wikidata tags it fantasy, and the ranking is purely composite score across the lists, awards and polls we track. That mechanical honesty produces the page's most interesting rows. The databases count the metaphysical and the oneiric as fantastic, which is why The Tree of Life (2011) and Mulholland Drive (2001) sit in the library's top 50 alongside Middle-earth, and why David Lynch places five films on the page — dream logic outranking dragons. It also produces a pointed absence: the respectability boom of the 2000s was driven by Tolkien and Harry Potter together, yet no Potter film makes this list at all. The canon, on the evidence here, kept the myth and returned the franchise.