6 Great (But Forgotten) Fantasy Movies, Ranked

Movie buffs are always on the lookout for the best new one imaginary Movies to satisfy their hunger for original stories of magic and wonder. For every new blockbuster hit that becomes part of pop culture, there are dozens of equally catchy movies that are slowly fading from public memory. Many of these big projects originally failed due to bad timing or heavy competition at the box office, but they are still great entries in the genre.

As among the ever-expanding worlds of major franchises Lord of the Rings and Harry PotterAudiences often flock to familiar movie universes, while smaller, independent titles struggle to gain attention when they first hit theaters. Thankfully, fantasy fans are bringing these forgotten classics back into the conversation through streaming recommendations and online forums, proving that low box office numbers don't necessarily mean a bad movie.

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6

Ink is a unique Sci-Fi/Fantasy Watch

A Still From Ink (2009) Image via Double Edge Films

the ink It became a cult hit due to pure word-of-mouth buzz from its creators. The 2009 film takes on a hidden world that exists just beyond our own and follows Ink, a mysterious drifter who kidnaps a young girl and transports her to a dreamlike world filled with supernatural beings. There's also a secret, invisible war where a group called Storytellers protect sleeping humans from the nightmare-spreading Incubi.

Built for a quarter of a million dollars, the ink Transforms its unique fantasy premise into a deeply personal story about family and redemption, boasting striking visuals and imaginative mythology. Unfortunately, many viewers don't even know it exists because it's an independent project that only received a limited theatrical release, but its ambitions exceed its resources.

5

The medieval fantasy film Ladyhawke was released 40 years ago

Etienne of Navarre at Ladyhawke Image via Warner Bros. and 20th Century Fox

Richard Donner's Medieval Adventures, Ladyhawke, Tells the story of a tragic curse: a noble captain, played by Rutger Hauer, turns into a wolf by night, while his true love, played by Michelle Pfeiffer, turns into a hawk by day. Thief, Philip, supported by Matthew Broderick. Ladyhawke is an overlooked gem and a gorgeous, moody romance about the power of devotion.

Despite its A-list cast, Ladyhawke It has mostly disappeared from the pop culture conversation. It's a real shame, because of Ladyhawke The central tragedy gives the story real emotional weight, and the story-like quality gives the film a timeless feel. It may not have the scale of later fantasy films, but its emotional honesty helps it endure 40 years later.

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4

Dragonslayer was overshadowed by Star Wars and ET

Still of the boy on the dragon in Dragonslayer Image via Paramount Pictures and Walt Disney Productions

Dragonslayer is a wonderful dark fantasy adventure, but unfortunately it was overshadowed by the huge space opera franchises of the '80s, such as The Empire Strikes Back and ET The Extra-Terrestrial. Directed by Matthew Robbins, Dragonslayer Follows Galen, a young wizard's apprentice who is trying to save a sixth-century kingdom from a monstrous beast pejoratively named Vermithrax, which has been satisfied with horrific human sacrifices for years.

The practical effects of industrial lighting and magic are still legendary, and Vermithrax is still cited as one of the most impressive dragons ever put on screen. Director Guillermo del Toro called it one of the best creature designs ever made. Dragonslayer It may have been overshadowed at the box office, but it's still one of the most influential fantasy films of the '80s.

3

No fantasy film is stranger than The City of Lost Children

Martha and the Clones in the City of Lost Children Image via Sony Pictures Classics

City of Lost Children is a French steampunk masterpiece co-directed by Marc Caro and Jean-Pierre Jeunet. The dark fairy tale stars Ron Perlman as One, a carnival strongman who fights to save his adopted brother from an evil scientist who steals children's dreams because he can't dream. The result is a whimsical journey through a world filled with clones, circus performers, and unforgettable inventions. City of Lost Children A memorable experience.

City of Lost Childrens environment is unlike anything else in the genre because it embraces fantasy in its purest form. Its unorthodox storytelling may have kept it from reaching a mass audience and it's often forgotten, but it's still a remarkable achievement in visual storytelling and a must-see.

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2

Excalibur is less realistic than modern King Arthur stories, but it is great

Excalibur John Boorman's famously violent and serious retelling of the King Arthur legend. Instead of a light-hearted romp, the 1981 fantasy film dives straight into the gritty, mythological parts of Camelot's rise and fall, as Arthur tries to protect his kingdom alongside the scene-stealing sorceress Merlin. Boorman created an impressively fresh world, using beautiful long shots of real landscapes and shiny armor to create a visual masterpiece.

Excalibur gave American audiences their first look at future superstars such as Helen Mirren, Liam Neeson, and Patrick Stewart, and received an Academy Award nomination for its jaw-dropping cinematography. The Arthurian stories are still popular, however Excalibur It is often left out of those conversations. Still, the film perfectly captures the scale and grandeur of the myth through dreamlike visuals.

1

The Fall is one of the most visually stunning fantasy films ever made

A stable of characters in the fall Image via Googly Films, Radical Media, and Deep Films

The best forgotten fantasy movie fall, Directed by Tarsem Singh. the fall Filming took four years in 28 different countries, and the director famously used absolutely zero computer graphics to create his signature stunning visuals. The story takes place in a hospital in the 1920s where an injured stuntman named Roy, played by Lee Pace, passes the time by telling an epic story to a little girl named Alexandria.

As Alexandria paints the story in her head, her small misunderstanding turns the story into a grand, sweeping journey that secretly reflects the stuntman's deep emotional heartbreak. Although some early bad reviews doomed the start fall'A prospect with major distributors and largely forgotten, this hidden treasure stands as a vividly-colored reminder of how imagination helps us survive in the real world.

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