Looking to escape the bitter realities of the modern era? You’re in luck! There’s a whole genre dedicated to doing exactly that! Well, in reality the fantasy genre attempts to examine real world problems through an unreal lens – but I think we can all agree that escapism is why we’re drawn to the genre in the first place. Could I draw parallels between the pursuit of justice in the modern world and the good and evil battles in The Lord of The Rings: The Return of The King? Yes. Am I gonna? I mean, yes, but sometimes I’d rather focus on the gay subtext between its two hobbit stars – making headcanons is the most glorious form of escapism, after all. If you’re exhausted by the unending horrors of real life, it’s time to retreat into the safety of the ten best fantasy movies of the 21st century.
Pan’s Labryinth
In a list dedicated to escaping the horrors of the real world, Guillermo Del Toro’s Pan’s Labyrinth might not be a good place to start. The story is set in the aftermath of the very real Spanish Civil War, and follows a young girl named Ofelia whose mother has decided to marry a fascist soldier – faux pas. While rambling the woods outside a manor, Ofelia is led to a decrepit labyrinth that serves as a gateway to the spiritual world. She’s tasked by an ancient faun to complete three trials that will allow her to become an immortal princess, if she doesn’t get eaten alive first. This dark rhapsody features some of the most terrifying creatures in fantasy – the child eating Pale Man being one, and Ofelia’s sociopathic stepfather Captain Vidal being the other. Just like how art imitates life, fantasy imitates reality in Pan’s Labyrinth – and neither world is kind.
Spirited Away
Hailed as director Hayao Miyazaki’s magnum opus, Spirited Away is the story of a little girl with the worst parents in the world. After stumbling across a creepy countryside town and eating obviously cursed food, young Chihiro’s parents are transformed into pigs – leaving the little girl to fend for herself in the spirit world once the sun goes down. Trapped in a realm of ghosts with no way to return home, Chihiro does what any child forced to grow up too fast does: she gets a job. While working at a bathhouse run by a cantankerous witch, Chihiro works to save her parents and herself from being swallowed up in the dream world. Featuring a carnival of critters from Japanese myth, the film is a phantasmagorical parade of whimsy and terror – with one headstrong little girl leading the march.
Let The Right One In
Tomas Alfredson’s Let The Right One In is a genre-best take on one of fantasy’s most enduring stock characters: the vampire. While many of fantasy’s most famous vamps are dangerous tempters at the height of their powers, this film features a more innocent take on the age-old killers. The plot follows a bullied young Swedish boy named Oskar, whose solitary life is forever changed he befriends a little girl who only comes out at night. Oskar knows that strange little Eli is a blood drinking fiend of the underworld, he just doesn’t care. A coming of age fantasy horror, Let The Right One In is about the kind of love that makes you do anything for someone, even it involves cleaning up the exsanguinated bodies they leave in their wake. The course of true love never did run smooth, sometimes it leaves stains behind.
The Lord of The Rings: The Return of The King
The final installment of Peter Jackson’s magnum opus, The Return of The King isn’t just the greatest fantasy movie of the 21st century – it’s the greatest fantasy movie of all time. The definitive film interpretation of J.R.R. Tolkien’s equally “greatest-ever” fantasy novel, The Return of The King is all the best parts of the story spread across three hours of cinema glory. Frodo barbecues the ring (and Golum with it), Éowyn stabs an undead chauvinist in the face, Aragorn is crowned with a cute little tiara, everyone rides giant eagles happily home. It’s a perfect fantasy story – the ultimate tale of good triumphing over evil. Is there any better fantasy film? Yes, the extended edition.
Big Fish
Tim Burton’s Big Fish is a homespun fantasy that feels as mythic as John Henry and Paul Bunyan – an American fable for the modern era. It’s the unlikely story of Edward Bloom, the ultimate teller of tall tales. If Bloom’s stories are to be believed (and his son usually doesn’t) he once walked with giants, befriended werewolves, and caught the mother of all catfish. As Will attempt’s to piece together the legacy of his ailing father, he discovers that there may be more truth to his dad’s fantastical stories than he originally thought. While not pure fantasy, Big Fish is a magical realism story where the idea of “real” is subjective. Whatever details make the story better, well then, that’s the truth.
How To Train Your Dragon
Directed Chris Sanders and Dean DeBlois, How To Train Your Dragon is one of the greatest animated films of the modern era. Adapted from a novel of the same name by Cressida Cowell, it’s the story of Hiccup – the unlikeliest of Vikings. Despite being the son of famed warrior Stoick the Vast, Hiccup’s small frame and sensitive demeanor render him an outcast in the warlike culture of his island home. Hiccup finds unexpected connection with a wounded dragon – the mortal enemies of Vikings – and imagines a future where fire-breathers are befriended and not feared. Building off of a solid story, the film soars to cinematic greatness with its stirring animation and score – the first flight sequence of Hiccup riding his dragon Toothless inspires goosebumps-inducing awe.
Tigers Are Not Afraid
A dark display of magical realism, Issa López’ Tigers Are Not Afraid is the story of Estrella – a little girl attempting to survive in the devastation of the Mexican Drug War. While doing a school project on fairy tales, Estrella’s teacher hands her three pieces of chalk – which she says have the power to grant three wishes. After her mother disappears due to cartel violence, Estrella wishes for her caretaker’s return – though her mother comes back in a form she doesn’t expect. Haunted by the restless ghosts of the dead, Estrella is tasked with tracking down their killer – a dangerous drug lord who is soon to leave more bodies in his wake. Marrying the real life criminal horror of City of God with the dark spirituality of Pan’s Labyrinth, Tigers Are Not Afraid is a chilling modern ghost story.
The Fall
Directed by Tarsem, The Fall feels like a 21st century version of The Princess Bride. While recovering in the hospital, paralyzed stuntman Roy Walker befriends a little girl healing from injuries of her own – entertaining her with stories that he makes up. As little Alexandria brings Roy’s stories to life through vidid imagination sequences, it’s revealed that the stuntman has an ulterior motive for telling his tales: suicide. He wants to trick the little girl into stealing some morphine, which he’ll use to end what he sees as a pointless and depressing life. It’s a beautiful and painful story about a gritty real world seen through the eyes of a child, the telling of which ends up giving its author a reason to keep on living.
Shrek
Shrek isn’t a film, it’s a full blown cultural phenomenon. When Andrew Adamson and Vicky Jenson directed this simple tale of a swamp dweller’s quest for peace and quiet, I doubt they realized that it would permanently change the brain chemistry of a generation. The ultimate fairytale satire, Shrek lampoons the “happily ever after” tales spoonfed to millions by 90’s Disney films – while simultaneously becoming the very sort of fantasy romance that it rejects. Featuring legendary voiceover performances from Mike Myers, Eddie Murphy, Cameron Diaz, and John Lithgow, Shrek‘s irreverent narrative unfolds with storybook whimsy – soundtracked by a slew of bangers that elevated the tastes of ten year olds everywhere. Rufus Wainwright’s version of “Hallelujah”? None of us were ready. Just like none of us were ready for the “Shrek Raves” popping up decades later – but we went anyway.
The Secret of Kells
Directed by Tomm Moore and Nora Twomey, The Secret of Kells is a one of a kind piece of animation inspired by Celtic mythology and medieval art. In 9th century Ireland, 12 year old Brendan lives in the Abbey of Kells – a monastery dedicated to protecting an unfinished illuminated manuscript from Viking attacks and malevolent forest spirits. After the abbey falls to an invasion of the aforementioned, Brendan is tasked with completing what will become the legendary Book of Kells – aided by a shapeshifting forest spirit named Aisling. Illustrated with a gorgeous Celtic knotwork style, The Secret of Kells is a glorious mix of the spiritual and the wild – the essence of the Irish countryside itself.
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