Movie lovers are always looking for something new imagination movies to satisfy their appetites for original stories of magic and wonder. For every new blockbuster that becomes part of pop culture, there are dozens of equally fascinating films that slowly fade from public memory. Many of these great projects initially failed simply due to poor timing or strong competition at the box office, but they are still fantastic entries in the genre.
Among the ever-expanding worlds of major franchises like lord of the rings and Harry Potterwith audiences often flocking to familiar cinematic universes, while smaller, independent titles struggle to get noticed when they first hit theaters. Fortunately, 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 mean a movie is bad.
8 fantastic movies that exceeded expectations
Fantasy movies haven't always been blockbusters, and even when they've been shrouded in skepticism, these fantasy movies have exceeded all expectations.
6
Ink is a unique Sci-Fi/Fantasy watch
Ink became a cult hit thanks to the sheer word of mouth of its creators. Set in a hidden world that exists alongside our own, the 2009 film follows Inca, a mysterious wanderer who kidnaps a young girl and transports her to a dreamlike realm inhabited by supernatural beings. There is also a secret, invisible war where a group called Storytellers protect sleeping humans from nightmare-spreading Incubi.
Made for just a quarter of a million dollars, Ink transforms its unique fantasy premise into a deeply personal story of family and redemption that boasts stunning visuals and an imaginative mythology. Sadly, most audiences don't even know it exists, as it's an indie project that only saw a limited theatrical release, but its ambitions far exceed its resources.
5
The medieval fantasy film Ladyhawke was released more than 40 years ago
Richard Donner's Medieval Adventure, ladyhawk, tells the story of a tragic curse: the 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. Featuring Matthew Broderick as the witty thief, Phillip, Ladyhawk is an overlooked gem and a wonderfully moody romance about the power of devotion.
Despite its A-list cast, Ladyhawk has mostly disappeared from the pop culture conversation. It's really a shame because Ladyhawke's the central tragedy gives the story real emotional weight, and the fairy tale gives the film a timeless feel. It may not have the range of later fantasy films, but its emotional honesty helps it hold up more than 40 years later.
The 10 Best Fantasy Movies of the 80s, Ranked
The 1980s was a great decade for the fantasy world, and these enduring classics prove it.
4
Dragonslayer was overshadowed by Star Wars & ET
Dragon Slayer is a wonderful dark fantasy adventure, but has unfortunately been overshadowed by massive 80s space opera franchises like The Empire strikes back and ET The Alien. Directed by Matthew Robbins, Dragon Slayer follows Galen, a young sorcerer's apprentice as he tries to save a sixth-century kingdom from a terrifying beast called the Vermithrax Pejorative, which has been propitiated for years by gruesome human sacrifices.
The practical effects of Industrial Light and Magic are still legendary, and Vermithrax is still cited as one of the most impressive dragons ever brought to the screen. Director Guillermo del Toro even called it one of the most perfect creature designs ever made. Dragon Slayer it may have been overshadowed at the box office, but it's still one of the most impressive fantasy films of the 1980s.
3
No fantasy movie is weirder than City of Lost Children
City of Lost Children is a French steampunk masterpiece co-directed by Marc Caro and Jean-Pierre Jeunet. The dark 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 himself. The result is a bizarre journey through a world full of clones, circus performers and unforgettable inventions. City of Lost Children an unforgettable experience.
City of Lost ChildrenThe atmosphere is unlike anything else in the genre as it embraces imagination in its purest form. Its unconventional storytelling may have kept it from reaching a wider audience and left it largely forgotten, but it's still a remarkable feat in visual storytelling and a must-see.
5 Underrated French Sci-Fi Movies
French sci-fi has plenty of great examples, all thanks to a rich film history that has produced a fair share of old classics.
2
Excalibur is less realistic than the modern King Arthur stories, but it's great
Excalibur is John Boorman's famously violent and serious retelling of the King Arthur legend. Instead of light-hearted romps, the 1981 fantasy film dives right into the gritty, mythological parts of Camelot's rise and fall as Arthur tries to protect his kingdom alongside the scene-stealing wizard Merlin. Boorman built an impressively fresh world, using beautiful long shots of real landscapes and shiny armor to create a visual masterpiece.
Excalibur it also gave American audiences their first glimpse of future superstars such as Helen Mirren, Liam Neeson and Patrick Stewart, and earned an Academy Award nomination for its breathtaking cinematography. Arthurian stories are still popular but Excalibur is mostly left out of these conversations. Yet 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
The best forgotten fantasy film is fall, directed by Tarsem Singh. Fall it took four years to shoot in 28 different countries, and the director brilliantly used absolutely zero computer graphics to create his signature stunning visuals. The story takes place in 1920 in a hospital where an injured stuntman Roy, played by Lee Pace, spends his time telling an epic story to a little girl named Alexandria.
As Alexandria rehearses the story in her head, her small misunderstanding turns the story into a beautiful, sprawling journey that secretly reflects the stuntman's deep emotional grief. Although the first few bad reviews ruined it at first autumn'Taking chances with major distributors and largely forgotten, this hidden treasure is a colorful reminder of how imagination helps us survive the real world.
